Cedardale vs. Willows

October 17, 2008. We took on one of the toughest teams in the league and came up short. OK, really short. We did, however, give them a good run on many of the courts. Dorian and I played one of the closest team matches, losing by only one game in the tie break. Dorian delivered three beautiful overheads in a row (shoulder turned, left hand toward the sky...just perfect). But, I'll let Dorian's own words speak the rest:

Actually, my partner (pahtnah) Kathy decided she was playing too well in the first set so she tattooed herself in the second. She hit herself in the eye bone (that's medical terminology), bled and bruised IMMEDIATELY, and then took the deuce point!. She is no delicate flower, that one. Shawn, you still have that eye patch??? Pass it on to blondie.

I think we were paid a compliment because one opponent said to us, "that was a really good game....our matches usually only last about 40 minutes." Can anyone say Humility 101? During post-match debriefing we heard them ask their coach what they could do so that that wouldn't happen again. (I'll refrain from any McCain debate references here in the spirit of straight up, non-partisan tennis blogging). Lisa and Leslie, taking on the hairdressers, served one tight match (playing an hour and fifteen minute first set - winning it 7-6!!!) and gave everyone some really great tennis to watch. Even better, they made their "we really don't want to sweat....we have to go to work after the match" opponents SWEAT. As usual, there were antics-a-plenty on Court One. In addition to making her opponent duck in order to avoid a tattoo induced hematoma, Shawn decided that she could control the ball via command. Yes, she screamed at the ball to "SIT!!!" but like most dogs, and children for that matter, the ball chose its own path. Shawn maintains that it was a golf reference. All in all, Arlene and Julie are right - good fun and sportsmanship were had, KATE GRONDIN showed up to cheer us on before heading into work, no wraps were served, and the eye that I popped open in the second set off my own bloody racket while running down a lob in the back court is still purple but a whole lot less swollen this morning. Life IS good.

Evenfall Restaurant & Bar

Off the court at Evenfall. At the bar and looking rather fetching, I'd say ~ Lisa, Kristine, Kathy, Leslie, Betsey, Marybeth, Dorian, and the Cap'n Shawn (first outing post flu - no SOLID food consumed).

Coach Vernon and the A1Lower Ladies of Cedardale. Cap'n Shawn, Betsey, Marybeth, Lisa, Arlene, Kathy, Dorian, Ann, Leslie, Kristine, and Julie.

Ann, of the love-ly accent, and Dorian, of any and all accents. It's called DISCLOSHAHHH...


We love to celebrate each other! Kristine, making a wish...

Cedardale vs. Andover

October 10, 2008: three team points earned, zero wraps served. Your blogger apologizes for heading to NYC for two (I suspect related) reasons: One, clearly my pacifist karma travels with me, and Two, Jeannie (thanks for subbing for me???) crushed a first serve into the back of my partner's head in my absence! Admittedly, there is not one among us who hasn't enjoyed watching Jeannie's driven net play, especially when an opponent unwittingly floats a short ball anywhere near her. As Cap'n Shawn will tell you, "Jeannie makes them eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!" Their match win, coupled with a boatload of organic Lavender, Inspiration, and Thieves spritzah (essential oils from Provence, duh!), helped salve Dorian's injury. Danielle, fresh off oral surgery, took a ball to the eye in the first 15 minutes of play. Triage informs me that her contact lens stayed in place, which leaves me wondering, at this point, about the condition of her cornea; hopefully, she has a few leftover painkillers. Arlene drove a not-so-happy ball into Julie's umm, well, "backside," though after the thrashing the partners apparently came to a consensus on the etymologies of the words "bounce" as opposed to, say, "out." Yet, all was not awash in team injury. Liz earned herself some tennis ink, and Susan and Ann held their own having moved to a higher position. AND, Dorian ripped her first match ace of the season. Coach Vernon, who clearly heeded the message that WE call the shots about how to dress, showed up in team colors proving, again, that he is one smart man. Ultimately, though, it was Cap'n Shawn wearing a red bra and an eye patch; it was our cuisine du jour, our ability to stand firmly together against the wrap, that made us downright tennis mavericky...

Everyone please...

...just say no.

Cedardale vs. Cedardale

October 3, 2008. Another match tie. More wraps served. But, Vern's right - we really are the best team in the club. Here's why: in the name of solidarity, Danielle hobbled in with a taped-up ankle and swollen hip fresh off her stairwell ride, later players arrived early, early players stayed late, and foregone was Dorian's beauty rest in order to sub on her bye. I, too, gave my day off to cheer and there was plenty to cheer about. Cap'n Shawn and Liz dominated on Court One, which gave them time to focus on down-the-shirt ball antics, and Jill's flashing from the viewing area. Jeannie (aka Jennie B) and Kristine Flash Gordon had good reason to fist pump (not the terrorist kind the New Yorker profiled, but the non-threatening Tiger Woods version); first, for Jeannie's usual testosterone-driven net play, then for Kristine's ability to chase down anything. Susan and Ann get the Project Runway nod for ripping out the attached sports bras from their $55.00 Nike tanks in order to look like fashionistas AND be comfortable; yeah, they played awesome, too. Julie demonstrated excellent partner communication with Arlene by reminding her about "happy balls," and Leslie and Lisa both ratcheted up their tattoo totals; in fact, I think we set a match record for tennis ink this week. I counted minimally five...