Cedardale vs. Manchester

Court One: Carol and Lesley dominate, as usual. However, during the match opponent "B" decided that Lesley's gum snapping was far too distracting and requested that she dispose of her wad in the net bucket.  Lesley (I'm still shocked by this) complied but proceeded to deliver an on-court thrashing that would make the Serena/line judge episode look hospitable.   Bet player "B" invests in some earplugs and zips it next time. 

Court Three: Ann and Susan had to trek outdoors in order to find their court, which nearly rendered 100 pound, bare-legged Susan hypothermic. Relegated to a loud and zany outdoor bubble (what would the distracted one do in THIS situation?), Susan warmed up and alongside Ann the two before-and-after schooled the Manchester partners. Major props to Ann who delivered not one but THREE ace points.

Jeannie and Kristine, who according to recent Facebook postings played in the nude, WON.  It's my sense that Kristine needs to pay closer attention to what she wears given her ability to attract topless Russian women and headband-wearing screamers. I know DahhhLOOOcahh has her back, but you just can't be too safe these days.

Lisa Raess (pronounced "race") and Leslie Bisson brought in another team point, and Nancy, playing with sub Kathy Hocking, made that five for a TEAM WIN.  Nicely done, ladies.  We're back on our turf next week, so jog it out for quesadilla Fridays, you cheese heads!

Party like it's your birthday....

Happy Birthday, Betsey and Jenn!  We celebrate you and wish you a wonderful year ahead.  Betsey continues to play in the top-four and remains famous for her sliced serves and put-away volleys.  Jenn, a newcomer to the team this year, not only has game but also a winning attitude.  Who else calls her opponents, "Tex" and "Babe" while poaching like Jeannie on steroids?  We're glad both of you are playing on our side of the net!

Pictured left to right are:  Lisa Pratt, Lesley Gold, hi-fivin' Jenn, and birthday girl, Betsey (peeking over Betsey's shoulder is wanna-be 3.0er Susan Dwyer).

Cedardale vs. Andover

You know that the world has gone utterly mad when you witness Kristine, the Queen of Sweetness, begging her opponents from the service line, " Please, just stop!  Really, PLEASE STOP!! Come, on, this is suburban tennis!" I watched Kristine leave after that match still burdened with the weight of the morning.  During this time of double-digit unemployment,with two wars still raging, with rainy season descending upon the Haitian community, and school districts that must rely on parent and community donations to supply Kleenex and markers in their classrooms, Kristine's words do carry weight.  This IS suburban (read privileged) tennis where passion, if marshaled, should be directed toward issues that truly matter.

We did secure wins on three courts Friday morning.  Lesley and Carol brought in a team point as did Betsey and Lisa Brennan, in honor of Betsey's birthday no doubt. Dorian and I played one of our strongest matches of the season.  It was just one of those days when you communicate, anticipate, and execute in ways that keep you in love with this game.

In other news, USTA is looking for tennis models and summer registration. ALL of you need to sign up for both immediately.  Also, Cruise Director, Julie, has promised to plan a Ladies & Pros, lycra-free evening out soon, so keep those schedules flexible.... 

Cedardale vs. Winchester

After losing six of the eight courts, we're really not in the position to discuss anything tennis.  We can, however, discuss fashionista Lisa Raess's tip du jour.  Lisa arrived wearing a classic, mid length trench that was minimally detailed yet sophisticated in its tailored lines over her tennis togs.  A woman who clearly knows how to look polished, posh, and feminine, Lisa did her part to bring sexy back to tennis outerwear. Now, if only she could help us bring our game back...Keeping us from getting swept were Lesley and Carol, who are having a great season run.  A few courts over, Dorian and I locked up another win in straight sets.  It seems to help when the Cap'n walks up to you and says (without covering her mouth, mind you), "We are NOT taking this to a tie-break today!"  Next door to me, Kristine and Jeannie were working some full-contact, fly-into-the-nets-and-backdrop action that keeps the fans coming back; unfortunately, they ran out of time to produce a win. Lisa and Jenn and Nancy and Fran lost by only one game. 

Non sequitur alert: There is absolutely no way that I can agree to call Jeannie a gazelle; however, instead of a rhino on the Serengeti, I will consider a new metaphor ~ A bull in Pamplona.  Variety works.  

So, snap up a tennis-sheik trench, put on a little lipstick, and set the table pretty. We WILL post stronger numbers this Friday.

Remember: Her hips don't lie.

I think the song is better in Spanish, but the language may be inconsequential given the stunning view...

Cedardale vs. Middleton

Not all substitutes are created equal.  Butter and milk substitutes are just plain nasty.  Yet there is no substitute for talent, which was depressingly absent this week.  More importantly, there is no substitute for our subs, Stephanie and Jacky, who saved us from a full-team court annihilation and sweep. It can't be said enough: Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!  I watched Leslie Bisson and Lisa Raess fight hard in the second set to put pressure on their opponents, which helped to close their final numbers.  Dorian and I had way too many unforced errors to claim a win, although most would agree that we dominated the warm-up and executed some great post-match points.  Who even cares.  Nancy tells me that Fran left frustrated, but I'm hoping that the wonderful lunch spread helped to salve her wounded tennis pride.  Thanks, again, to Betsey and Lisa Brennan for hanging in the there to cheer on the latter four courts. It's always great looking over and seeing your smiling faces.  On the upside, we can take comfort in knowing that we'll be doing our part to revive the economic down-turn by signing up for lessons and extra court-time!      

The Battle of the Dales

Of course, we can all just get along.  At lunch! On the court, everyone prefers to win than to lose.  Everyone.  And win we did.  Taking seven of the eight courts, Cedardale Green nearly swept Cedardale White, and good sportsmanship was duly noted by those who note such things. As Typhoid Mary, I vacated the premises immediately following my doubles win in a super tiebreak with the Divine Ms. D (who landed a perfectly-placed, up the middle match-winning lob to die for!!), and consequently saw very little team match play.  Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jeannie make a great get, Julie and Shawn cheering us on, Susan in her stunning pullovah, a fabulous lunch spread, and loads of yeah-we-owned-this-one smiles.  Well done, ladies.

Evenfall 2010

Yes, we do own clothing without wicking and spandex. See??!!  Thanks to Jules for putting together our social calendar, as a sub no less!  It's tough to get everyone together with such a large band of traveling husbands, hockey, book clubs, work schedules, and pole dancing clinics, yet we have fun trying.  Ellen Balboni (yes, from the National Team!) joined us, as did Coach Vern who kept Woburn tactics and antics far too close to the vest. I think he may have turned spy.  With not one but THREE National Team (NT) members present, we responded with a lob. Topics (we're willing to tell you) we discussed: all that is "Jeannie", Russian bathing suits and other locker room ecoutrements (ok, was she really wearing toe socks, too???), team ranking, tennis summer camp, feminism, Sunday preaching, cheerleading, yes-you-can, no-you-cant, injuries, Dorian's "healing" hands and other products. Overheard in convo: (from Captain's early womens' studies group) "Don't call anyone a son of a b$#@! because it reflects poorly on the mother.  Just call them f#@$*ers!" Remember, too, that if someone saves their whole life to open a pole dancing studio, you WILL be asked to sign a waiver for the studio, the pole, the parking lot, yourself, and anything related to any activity associated with the hard-earned studio, pole, and parking lot.  Just sign it.  Pictured here:  Captain D (NT), Susan, Betsey, Nancy, Coach Vern, and Kathy (NT).  Not pictured Jules and Ellen (NT). 

Evenfall. Be there.

Find your coach, partner, babysitter, and driver and head over to Evenfall this Monday, January 25.  Thanks to the organizing efforts of our very own cruise director, Jules Menezes, the A1 Ladies will be there at 7:00 doing our very best to ring in 2010 . 

Thanks to Captain Lady D

Please join me in thanking my partner and our lovely and brilliant Captain the next time you see her. A few of you know how much time goes into heading the squad ~ organizing, phone calling, emailing, pricing, arranging meals, working with the coaches, dealing with her partner's ridiculous schedule, baseline antics and swinging volleys, providing gum and peppermint spritzahhs to all, collecting money, attending meetings, and giving fabulous healing treatments. Just be advised that if you pull a calf muscle, her massage treatment will register between nine and ten on the pain scale provided below. I did feel some relief after but since my pre-treatment pain was about a three, I'm reluctant to grant a full endorsement just yet. Most of all, Dorian, thanks for bringing some much-needed verve to ladies' suburban tennis. You ahhh the best!