Trendy or Trashy?

I love to wear black on the court.  Red, not so much. Flesh-colored booty shorts with a flouncy lace overlay and matching corset top?  Not in this lifetime.  Having proclaimed my share of feminist manifestos over the years, I get it.  It's about expression, design, confidence, and the freedom to choose. As a liberated woman, I applaud Venus's right to sport this outfit in lace, tulle, or studded leather on the top of the Eiffel Tower and on the courts at Roland Garros.  That said, even though she's got game and guts, I think she missed her "make it work" moment here. Just sayin'....

Cedardale vs. Newburyport

The USTA ladies brought home two team points this week, just one shy of the team win.  Lisa Raess pulled in her signature singles' victory, and Shawn played her first 3.0 match in a singles line-up demonstrating, once again, that she's got a great all-around game.  Jeannie and Ann fought hard nearly pulling in a point in the tiebreak.  Season partners, Betsey and Lisa, played well together delivering the second team point, while Susan and Julie were schooled by a pair who were clearly 3.5 players by anyone's ranking system.  Just remember, ladies, when you post numbers like that it's usually of sign of one funky smell in Denmark. 

Susan introduced the team to a new beverage, and it's only a matter of time before Shawn and Julie mix it with vodka.  Onepointeight (Ochocinco's got nothing on her!) claims that it's a homeopathic product that works to improve memory, balance, and energy while keeping your glycemic index in check.  In consultation with our willing-to-engage-in-pharming pharmacologist, Kristine, I'm going to check with the World Anti-Doping Agency and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists to make certain that we aren't jeopardizing our future standings at sectionals, nationals, and our quest for the gold.  Stay tuned.

What happens when...

...you arrive to the Cedardale end of the season tennis party at 8:45, which according to Adam is when all the "cool people" arrive?  For one thing, all the food will be gone.  For another, the bar will be out of orange juice, cranberry juice, and wine.  You will be left creating a vodka concoction mixed with pineapple juice and red grape juice, which remains notably plentiful.   The last call will occur within 30 minutes, and you will need to slam your plastic-cupped, pineapple libation quickly, a move that drives your  glucose level through the ceiling and increases your risk of heart disease and diabetes.  Thanks.

On the upside, most of the crowds will have dispersed making plenty of catwalking room for The Divine Ms. D to prance and prowl about in her newly-awarded Cedardale Captain's fleece. The pullover is an attractive back-up to her 2007 navy blue National's model, and a clear improvement over the club's embroidered, scrunchy-bottomed vests that would make even 1.8 Dwyer look like a pear a$$.

Cool late people of note: Coaches Rick, Adam, and Ryan, the bartender, Dorian, Lesley Gold, Lisa Pratt, Nancy Greeley, Arlene Iosif, and Moi.

Summer 2010: USTA!!!

Kicking off the USTA Cedardale 3.0 summer league under Coach Sharon Kamens and Captain Shawn Licari are Lisa Brennan, Lisa Raess (pronounced RACE!) Leslie Bisson, Susan (Yes, I can play up! Check the regs!) Dwyer, Ann Tavenner, Marybeth Sampson, Jeannie (Do NOT make me come over there!) Deluca, Dorian (Tiny Dancer) Brown, Betsey Natale, Kristine (Can't we all just get along?) Sheehan, Cruise Director, Julie Menezes, and your favorite blogger and baseline runner, Kathy Nielsen-Dube. Look for the ladies on the court this week in Newburyport where we hope to begin the summer run with a little cleaning!

Closing the 2010 A1 Northshore run...