One of this year’s goals has met: swim the fly stroke. Although a lot of implements are needed but I can swim the length of the pool and back. So it’s an achievement for little old me.
A really good match
Teaming up with my twin bro, we won 7-5 and 6-4. The first set we came back from 0-3 down. We usually do well when we aren’t wearing black
My serve is getting a little better, def needs more work: I had a double.
I videoed myself, to see how my other forms are doing … all need improvement, oh well.
… some hitting after the game
Golf … the first time
My first lesson with a pro, at Ace. It’s an hour long session, with five players in the group. The pro did little other than showing us how to swing. When my friend asked him about another how to, he replied, “for that, you’ll have to take a private lesson when I have more time.” But he has plenty time, that he checked his phone often…
Looking at this drive video, one take away is to keep your left arm straight.
I don’t have my own set, have to borrow his. Looking at numerous clubs, I’m lost. Actually, there are perhaps only three that being used often according to this 2023.12.01 post:
- Putter at 53%
- Wedges at 19%
- Driver at 17%
- Iron 4%
- The rest 7%
… so why do weekend hackers buy so many?
My serve, David and Edwin
Continuously, I’m working on my serve: keep left arm up, getting rid of the waiter’s tray. After posting my videos Senior Tennis Tips, many players provided good feedbacks, thank you all.
Last Saturday I teamed up with Tony played David and Jay: 1-6 and 7-5. It was an awesome game. Today, David and I lost 3-6, 4-6 to Edwin and Pu, also a very good match.
Team tourney: the 4th
We played the second to the last team tournament. Due to the contractor’s change of schedule, I missed last week’s play when my mates won 5 out of 8 games: my team is better off without me -:).
Today’s games are flawless, everyone, us and opponents played well and no bad line calls at all.
My 3 games:
- w/ Bev, v. Matt / Bob: 1-11
- w/ Linda, v. Tia / Jeff, 11-9
- w/ Barb v. Matt / Tia, 1-11
Ultimately, we won 4 and lost 4 games from the #1 standing team the Kitchen Crew. Their cumulative total win is at 23 (us at 14). One more match to go, against the current #2 who had 18 wins.
Paint over
When you’re not satisfied with the color, you can re-glaze it. The re-painted piece needs longer time to dry, before going into the kiln.
The Chinese value
Playing Guandan with Chinese from mainland is quite an experience: they talk A LOT, like telling their teammates, how their hand is, and what should they play, especially toward the end, with fewer cards, it’s usually the most exciting time of the game: testing your playing and bluffing skills. It looks like cheating to me. But because they don’t see it that way, therefore, they do it openly and continually.
They say …
- … my hand is lousy, you guys go
- … you can’t play single
- … you’ve to play double
- … what should I play
… so I wrote the following on WeChat. A few playmates are in my friends circle. One of them, with a PhD from Oxford, replied, “[偷笑][偷笑]等打出来默契后,就不需要通气了” Google translates “Once a tacit understanding is established, ventilation (talking) is no longer needed.”
I disagree.
掼蛋 … 老太婆也时髦
还记得我们小时候在北京, 牌都很旧, 毛边 每张都很厚. 现在的娃们可能都不知道俺在说什么
昨天晚上我的牌一直都挺好 (归功于观看的娃[拥抱]谢谢 希望常来喔) 大家打的都好 双双晋级到A – 我们先到珠峰 但是第一次没有打过. 他们奋起直追 连续打了几个胜仗🐮… 小嫉妒大开心. 我们第二次才打过A. 俺的二个搭档都棒 (会打牌的那种) 舍命陪君子 又肯牺牲色相[闭嘴]俺的护航舰队[得意]
同胞们打牌都很热闹
商榷 推敲牌技[强] 相互通气[弱] 不知道打桥牌是不是也这样?
桥牌是例外一班人马. 很早以前一次见俺搭档犹豫不决 我多口说了句 ♥️K已经出了. 他们三人虽然没有出声 但明显感觉很不当[闭嘴] 很难为情. 搭档选择出♠️ … we didn’t make the contract.
Lesson, learned [捂脸]
Tennis & diving
It’s a glorious day for tennis.
Better yet, I won all my three sets with three guys. We played at vl.
… perhaps because I wear my dive shop’s t shirt – how do I look? -:)
A dream hand
An unbelievably handsome hand to cap the girls night in.
Joyce to my left dealt, who has 12 hcp, bid 1♥️. My partner passed. Linda paused and then said, 4N. She has 26 hcp: 4 aces, 2 K+J and 1Q.
Me? A lonesome ♦️J. So I passed, reluctantly.
Her partner Joyce, looking pleased, 5N.
My partner Barb said cheerfully, pass, she was blessed with a ♥️J.
After I led with my only prized possession and the dummy laid down her hand, Linda said, “let’s not to play …” ha ha ha… no point, indeed.
… asking for aces 4NT & kings 5NT: ♣️4 or none,♦️1, ♥️2, ♠️3 kings.
Ira: Correct response to 4N (asking for aces) sb 5C (all or none); next bid sb 5N (asking for kings since they have all the aces) correct response sb 6H (2 kings) then 7N
… 7N is the proper bid.
Artists: squeeze bottles
All my potter mates are artistic and creative. Me? Practical, making plates and bowls … as if I don’t have too many of them already. I’m just a lazy bone, don’t even want to use my brain to imagine.
One of my mates, Amy purchased pottery glaze squeeze bottles from Amazon and teacher showed us how to use it – above the first two photos: the left (first) is before the firing and the middle pic is after – due to gravity. She did say that it will look totally different once it has been fired. Note: the under glaze won’t bleed – will stay as painted – but not as shiny and colorful as the clear glaze. It’s a two step process but you don’t need to fire in between. The right photo is made by me – practical, and … don’t they look like the unearthed cultural relics 出土文物 lol
I made three of the Four ¼ for my 24″ lazy susan turntable Saturday. Today I finished the last 1/4 pie, with imprint. I inscribed the wrong date tho 11.26 – should be 11.27. Many of them are on the molds, should take off after about a day or two.
3 pieces from this one clay dough: white square bowl hump; push plate and rectangle tray
