September 8, 2008

Monday morning practice and the beginning of our North Shore A1 Lower 2008 run. Under the direction of Coach Vernon (who has declared us the BEST team playing out of the club) enter the Tennis Women of Cedardale Green: Cap'n Shawn Licari, Liz Torrisi, Julie Menezes, Arlene Iosif, Jeannie DeLuca, Kristine Sheehan, Marybeth Sampson, Danielle Tjalsma, Dorian Brown, Leslie Bisson, Lisa Raess, Ann Tavener, Jill Formichella, Betsey Natale, Susan Dwyer, and your blogger, Kathy Nielsen-Dube. And we are ready to play: we voted in our captain, picked our team colors, and after having Leslie, PLAYER DOWN ON COURT ONE!!, show us how the follow through on the serve is really done, we are equipped with ice packs, bandaids, and steri-strips. Yeah, we're ready...

August 12, 2008

Lob for Leukemia Tennis Fundraiser

August 15, 16 & 17

Cedardale Health & Fitness

Sign up deadline is August 13. Contact Amy Beaton at 978.807.9837 or Jeff Beaton at 978.994.2601 for more details. All proceeds from the tournament will benefit Mass General Cancer and Leukemia Research.

August 5, 2008

It's time to get ready for the US Open 2008...

August 1-3, 2008

We're about promoting a healthy lifestyle AND saving the planet. Dinner a la Dorian: The Flatbread Company in North Conway, New Hampshire. A great restaurant where you can order nitrate free meats, free range chicken, and organic, locally grown produce all prepared in a primitive wood fired cauldron or a hand built wood burning earthen oven. Plus, you can sit in these really cool Boheminan (hemp covered?) couch settings!

Pahhhtnahs, Kathy and Dorian

Lisa and Shawn looking beautiful, as always.

August 1-3, 2008

Kathy, Dorian, Shawn, and Lisa

New England Tennis Holidays - 2008. North Conway, NH. Of course, we play between leagues. That's what gives us our competitive edge. Luckily, with Dorian and Shawn around these things always come together. The learning curve can be steep sometimes, but here's what we took away from some awesome pros:

1. Square your racket 2. Play with your non-hitting hand 3. Don't step across - shuffle 4. Check grip changes 5. Keep it loose 6. Set it - then forget it. But, the learning didn't end there...

• I will never say to Shawn (especially when she is drinking water), "I swear we were just told to talk to V-Jay Jay."
• From Danke Schoen himself: "Get in your box! Dorian, you're in the wrong box." Of course, we embraced his make-up and shopping tennis metaphors - maybe, just maybe, we'll get to vote someday, too!
• If you're thinking of going really sharky blond, Lisa thinks she can match Wayne's color for you; although, you may be asked to sign a damage waiver.
• Not only did Warren buy us apres tennis libations, but he also gave us some of our best material for the weekend. I know Shawn was helped by, "That may work at your club, but not here!" And, "WHY are you standing THERE???" was particularly useful. Who could forget, "I don't want to ruffle any feathers, but you're being discourteous!"
• I also learned that, in fact, you can have too loose of a grip, as evidenced by my 31' racket launch from baseline to net. None of the pros discussed whether or not yelling "Four!" was done at this club.
• If you're in need of a Farberware egg and pancake chicken mold, talk to Lisa.
• Dorian may need a private lesson in how to drive from the condo to the courts.
• Luckily, I found a liberal soulmate and fellow Obama supporter in Kurt. Who knew he could teach us about fashion, too? Never wear non-wicking grey sweatpants to tennis camp. The spotting can be unsightly during backside videotaping.
• We learned a ton from the icy one in green. Guys: your job in couples tennis is to make your wife, girlfriend, partner look good. Always. If you ever put a shot past her, she won't eat lunch with you. Other punishments may follow. Ladies: if you see yourself in this description, a good ol' Victorian slap may be necessary. Geesh!
• What about Bob??!? Our all-time favorite co-camper and uber gentleman. We love your frog umbrella and will keep your secret(s) safe! Thanks for keeping it fun....

What great laughs and memories. Florida definitely awaits...

July 16, 2008

As serious tennis players we know the difference between pain and injury (and we still win through both!). Just ask Jill - this oozing blister is pain. When her crown fell out during the match - that was injury.

July 16, 2008

Cedardale vs. Cedardale. Wednesday evening and our final match of the flight. With Courtney and Ryan cheering us on we swept all five courts. Bonnie brought us energy fueling fruit with dip, and Dorian supplied us with the ever refreshing peppermint spritzah. Since I was that last person on court (and being stalked by a to-remain-nameless male club member), my teammates deemed it fitting to flash me during my 10 point tie break from the window. Now, that's, albeit hooligan-esque, team solidarity! How could I not pull off the win!?!

L to R ~ Lisa (sports bra), Bonnie (pretty bra), Leslie (sports bra), Jill (sports bra) Dorian (sports bra) , Kathy (the flashee) , Julie (sports bra), Cap'n (sports bra), and Kristine (sports bra)

July 9, 2008

Cedardale vs. Manchester. Wednesday evening. Like WE control the weather and Cedardale's court assignments?!?! The club (NOT THE TEAM) scheduled all three courts outside for the doubles matches instead of the usual one. The sky opened up at 6:02; so, let it be known that ONE we cannot call the match early per USTA regs and TWO the Manchester ladies were already en route. Suffice it to say they made it plain and clear they were none-too-happy with any and all circumstances. With the courts still awash as the thunderstorm passed, Lisa and Kristine were allowed onto a clay court since it had dried out rather quickly. Seeing this, the Manchester ladies slated for Doubles 2 insisted that a court be squeezed, mopped, and readied for play. Despite the danger Bonnie and Salina, The Sunshine Girls, agreed (try pulling that on our Cap'n or anyone else and tell me how it goes!), playing well past dark. Seeing this, Cap'n moved to reschedule Doubles 3 immediately. Playing in the sauna, er, the indoor courts, Molly handed Manchester's Mimi her first ever loss of the flight. Karma? Oh, I think so...

L to R~ Coach Courtney with Salina, Kate, Shawn, Julie, Bonnie, Leslie and Molly

July 3, 2008

Cedardale vs. Willows. Wednesday evening on our home courts Team Licari racked up another flight win. Salina and Kate showed not only the Willows, but also the 4.0 ladies (who took cover under the snackshack roof), whose got real grit. With zero tolerance for whining, fogged-up glasses, and OSHA safety standards, they played through the rain and ripped a doubles win on the outdoor courts. Never overshadowed, Bonnie and Leslie not only dominated their second set indoors and delivered a few complimentary tattoos (previous authorization secured), but also took the tie break for the second team win of the evening. Kristine Flash Gordon made her singles debut on the #2 court and brought home the third match win to secure an overall team victory. The only one surprised by the win was our own leggy blonde pharmacist! Thanks to our Cap'n for buying the victory round, and to Julie who was ready to play AND pour drinks. You guys are awesome! Now, where's Manchester?!?

July 1, 2008

Practice, Tuesday morning. Clearly, airlines and doctors aren't the only businesses that overbook. There we were crammed onto Court Two. Coach Courtney, Julie, Cap'n, Dorian, Kristine, Kate, Leslie, and me flanked by 52 tennis hopefuls all under the age of six on Courts One and Three. Julie proved to be a role model to the youngsters by skipping work to attend practice, but it is Kristine who took the yeah, you wear the pant(s)kirt award by driving two down the line past Courtney on his birthday! Kathy and Dorian, still aglow at the idea of their future partnership, arrived at the club in nearly matching uniforms sans morning phonecall. Omigod! Let's just hope Tuesday's vibes, slices, lobs, and ally shots show up large for Wednesday's match against the Willows women...