Can't keep the foot out of mouth disease

I have recently started women's doubles league tennis. It's a 5.0 combo, so we do have some women who have not been playing too long and still have not totally mastered score keeping. I don't mind - there have been people over the years who have helped me figure out the details of tennis, and I am happy to help out people just getting started.

The other day I had my first match. It was Saturday morning, and I returned home about 12noon. I casually walked in the house, and Hubby immediately asked how the match had gone. "Double bagel." (which means 6-0, 6-0 for those not too familiar with the game) Hubby glanced at me for a moment, and then said, "Sorry you lost."

"Lost?! What made you think we lost without winning one game?" He realized his error rather quickly and spent a great deal of time backtracking and hopelessly trying to cover up the continual foot in mouth disease. I know he expected me to come in doing the chicken noodle dance by winning so decidedly, but it's hard to be too enthusiastic when one of your opponents is still trying to figure it all out.

He did figure it out though - the next match my only response was "3 and 2," (meaning 6-3, 6-2), and he had enough sense to assume we had won.

Hubby and I did play mixed doubles together the other day - first time in years. He actually didn't say anything too terrible, but he did almost bean me with his serve one time. How awful, one might think, if he had hit my back while I waited at the net for the service return. But then, par for the course, would have been my thought. He did actually get me one time before, but Restless' physician hubby was there at that time to make sure I wasn't too damaged!

Virginia Tech

Being a campus minister hasn't been easy this week. Not only do all the students and community here identify with the people of Virginia Tech - but some have lost very dear friends. One of the girls in my group has lost her best friend from home. It's hard to walk around campus and not continually be reminded of what horrific thing occurred.

The campus ministers had a service of remembrance and hope this morning here at UNCG. The house was packed (even media), and fortunately God was with us so that people found the service meaningful. One of my colleagues, Zach, wrote a reflection that you must read. They are words we need to hear

Caught

Here's a good story from my weekend at Davis Cup. The interesting thing about watching tennis is that you can't get up and wander around at concessions and bathrooms at will. One has to wait until after odd numbered games or in between sets or matches. Therefore, the time in between matches can create unbelievably long lines for the bathroom. Our line wove through a good part of the concourse and by a concession stand. And you know women - we have the longest line and we always start talking.

A couple women behind me (who were about my mom's age) started talking about the good looks of several of the tennis players. Then they decided that entire Spanish contingent was really hot. I decided to chime in at that point. "Especially Feliciano Lopez," I added. "I haven't minded watching him play at all!"

Then from behind me I heard a voice, "Talking about the hot Spanish players again?" I turned to see Hubby holding popcorn, and then rolled my eyes.

"What makes you think that?"

"You had a particular grin on your face." I rolled my eyes again and let my fellow waiters know that this man was Hubby. Hubby laughed.

"I swear I didn't start the conversation. I just joined in." And throughout the afternoon, anytime I took the binoculars during Lopez's match, Hubby started laughing again. You'd think a women's bathroom line would be a safe place to talk.

USA Davis Cup vs. Spain

Davis Cup is an international tennis competition. Teams play for their country, and the USA team hosted Spain in the quarterfinal this past weekend in Winston-Salem. I can't quite express how excited I was to be able to go. Not only was I seeing professional men's tennis, I was able to enjoy it with my family and with my tennis buddy, Restless Mama, and her two boys. We saw Andy Roddick, James Blake and the Bryan brothers take on a Spanish contingent that included no. 6 Tommy Robredo.

This weekend's Davis Cup was a sell-out. Supposedly George Clooney was even in the crowd (he has been filming in the area). The USA won and the players attributed it in part to the enthusiasm of the crowd. It has even prompted Bob Bryan to request that if they make it to the final it should be played in WS.

I have lots more pics I'll post in the coming days. Being able to see a Davis Cup match was certainly one of the highlights of my life, and being able to see these particular players was an added bonus. Sonny Boy, who resisted our family outing because he thinks tennis is not as cool as snowboarding, was even heard to say, "This was more fun than I thought it would be."

How hard can sewing be?

When I was in high school, most the girls I knew took home ec. I didn't want to waste my time - I wanted to get all the AP courses I could and besides, surely someone else would cook and sew for me. But we all know what happens to our best plans.

I have learned to cook (fairly well, I think) over the years. I can follow directions, and I do love my cookbooks. Sewing has been a different story. I still save hems and buttons for my mom. Mom has taught Princess to sew. She even bought her a sewing machine for her birthday last August. I have quite a collection of pillows now.

Last Friday I reached a crisis with the window covering in our guest room. The cheap blind (which came with the house) had finally fallen apart. I went to the discount bed and bath store (Anna's Linens) but could not see anything at all that I liked. A fabric store was right next door, so I walked in and immediately saw the perfect fabric. How hard could it be to make a basic panel? I bought the material I thought I needed and had them point out the correct thread. I had Princess thread the machine later that day. And then while she spent the next day Geocaching with the Girl Scouts, I had a pleasant day of sewing. Well, perhaps except for the carpal tunnel, the couple desperate phone calls to a student who sews and a friend who was carting around 3 feuding girls all day, a flung bobbin or two (who the heck ever named those ridiculous things bobbins?), a flung instruction book, and a few choice words mumbled here and there.

And didn't it turn out well? (and please, never look too closely when you come to the house)