August 25-28

Carmel, California

Like ships passing in the night, Matt, Melissa and I go our separate ways! I got back to California on Monday; Melissa flew to San Francisco on Tuesday. She will be coming to Sacramento on Friday. I lef

t on Thursday to drive to Carmel with April and Regan for USTA Sectionals. Matt will be driving back to San Diego on Friday or Saturday. The four of us will not see each other together. What is that saying about when it rains it pours?

The three of us arrived in Pebble Beach and met Vickie and Paula.

The five of us took a great 90 minute clinic with the pro at Spanish Bay named Matthew. He was clear, concise and visual - we all appreciated this clinic given to us by Lanie. After the drill, we all drove over to Vickie's rental house and showered. We had dinner a la Mike Dowd and sat around their firepit until after 8pm. Then April, Regan and I drove to Lindsay's parents' home and went to bed. Our first USTA match was at 11:30 followed by another one at 3:30.

We arrived at Chamisal Tennis Club and checked in - all wearing o

ur zebra skirts. I have to admit, we looked pretty darn cool. Leslie and I were put on center court against Lafayette Tennis. During warmups I heard one of the spectators make a comment about how out of shape Leslie and I appeared and that we probably couldn't move very well. In hindsight, I am thankful for that comment. I was so focused on my movement to prove that person wrong, I was not nervous. Center court has all the fans from the cafe watching and there are tables with umbrellas along one side. A grassy mound is on the other side. There could be 100 people watching at any one time! Leslie and I moved very well that match and won quite handily! I was so grateful. Our team lost 2-3 but two of our lost lines were very very competitive.

Our next match was against Rafael Tennis. We won all five lines. But the match of the weekend was a close one. We all got to watch Candace play two long long sets of singles. The ref came by and said if he could give sportsmanship awards to players, these two players would get them. He said they were both playing questionable balls that unsportsmanlike players would have called out. He was so impressed with both ladies. Candace pulled it out but both players excelled!

Dinner tonight was at Lindsay's. It was potluck and delicious. Everyone was in a good mood and we just drank margaritas, water and chatted.

Saturday - we all went for a walk in the fog as our first match wasn't until 12:30. The weather here is wonderful but I am the only one of the group who likes the fog and clouds!

We played Sunnyvale at 12:30. They are nearly all Asians and half our age. Wonderful players who just wouldn't let us get any rhythm going! I was stumped and stymied and had to bow down to them for some of their shots! Seven deuce games, none won by Leslie and me. In one hour and 37 minutes, we lost 6-2, 6-2. That's 12 games to 4. Had we won those 7 deuce games, we'd be up 11-5. Ah, the disappointment! But this team was just better. Everyone lost except for Regan, who played singles!

We were all licking our wounds when tennis was put into perspective. Jim Wright received a text message letting us know that Ron Peeters of Fair Oaks Racquet Club had drown while salmon fishing on the American River. He had been missing since Thursday and his body had just been found. We had a moment of silence and said some prayers for Ron and Clairen.

That evening we went to The Rio Grill, a place that I took Michael for his 30th birthday! Such good food in a friendly atmosphere. From there me, Regan and April went to Vickie's rental house for the firepit time! Candace, Eileen, Jim, Dave and Lindsay went back to Lindsay's place.

Sunday was our last match - against Courtside Racquet Club. Leslie/Karen won in three sets. It was the first time in a long time where the sun played a major role in affecting my serve from the deuce side. The sun had no impact until I was serving for the match! I was completely blinded on that side and lost my serve. We lose the next game and now we've lost the set. In between the changeover, I just stared at the sun. Now I'm ready. We won the tiebreaker - mainly because this team expected nothing from my serve and they were on during the tiebreaker!

Vickie/Candace lost, Lindsay/Regan won. Kathy Davis won her singles too and Paula lost. We won 3-2. That's a nice way to end the Sectionals. Sunnyvale will proceed into Nationals. The only thing that bothers me is that we would be going to Nationals had Sue, Christy and Michelle not been grieved. No one grieves in the other leagues. We played many a self-rated player this weekend with equal or better records than our grieved players. Someone said to me that is the reason Sacramento does not historically do well past Districts.

I rush home to have dinner with Melissa, Michael, mom and Kim. Matt left that morning for San Diego, having spent Friday night and all day Saturday with Melissa. Then on Monday, Melissa and I worked together at the kitchen table all day. She worked on her stuff and I worked on SATA schedules. We joined Michael for lunch at Mikuni's and loved their BBQ tuna and sushi rolls. It was so nice spending time together. We had to get up at 3:30am to drive Melissa to SFO to catch a 6:50 flight back to Chicago.

It's still hard to see your kids take off - Matt on Sunday and Melissa on Tuesday.

August 21

Chicago

We decided to attend church at Willow Creek Downtown. Melissa and I had been there a few years ago and enjoyed it. Matt, Melissa and I met my cousin Ray there with his girlfriend Stephanie. It was a good service and Bill Hybels was there speaking because they would be opening a brand new ministry building that day.

After church, Melissa and Matt walked to Melissa's office to get her laptop. Ray, Stephanie and I cabbed it to Water Tower Place to shop and just hang out. Melissa and Matt walked to Nordstrom's and Melissa bought Matt a great new silk tie for his birthday. It matched the new shirt he got yesterday at Banana Republic. Then we all met back at the apartment around 1:30. From there we picked up Adam and all walked to Quartino's Italian Restaurant, about a 6 block walk. We were going to a family reunion!

Auntie Iku took the train and a bus; Patty, Titus and Angel drove in from Justice; Brandon Mita and his fiancee Dorothy Hollingshead walked. It was a nice way to get to meet Dorothy and Stephanie. Unfortunately with long tables, Melissa and Adam didn't get a chance to mingle much with Brandon and Dorothy. They are about the same age and live in the same neighborhood. Hopefully they will connect on their own.

It's hard to believe that we will be leaving in the morning. There is so much more to do and see here. I haven't had the opportunity to contact aunt Lucille. Wat and Yoshiko are in Okinawa now. And I would have liked to connect with some of the Warren/Niles East friends. I guess there is never enough time.

After our late lunch, Adam had to go to another study group. Melissa and Matt started working on projects including Matt taking the Google ad words test. I walked to the store and bought fixings for udon and tea. I came back and starting cooking and packing.

August 20

Chicago

Melissa and I got up early and walked to Starbuck's for Awake tea and then went to the neighborhood farmer's market. We bought oyster mushrooms, sunflowers, raspberries, blueberries, green onions, cheese. We went home and made spectacular omelets! And then the clouds opened up and it poured and poured!!! And then we all went shopping!

First stop was Water Tower Place. We were looking for a professional laptop messenger bag for Melissa to use when she had her business trip to meet Facebook and Google. We ended up at Banana Republic. Great messenger bag, great shirt for Melissa. Great slacks and sweater for Matt! We continued walking around, window shopping and people watching. Rain does not bother us - much to the surprise of those under umbrellas!

We ended up walking to Nui Sushi, a place that Matt and Melissa found when he visited in March. We had a light sushi lunch and then cabbed it back home. We had dinner reservations to get ready for!!!

Adam was working on a group project and couldn't go with us to Carnivale. It's a Latino fusion restaurant. This place is so colorful! You can't help but look at the walls and light fixtures - such vibrant colors! We had a family birthday celebration for Matt (okay - it was his second "early" family birthday dinner but who's counting???). Of course Matt ordered a marvelous seafood dish. I had a Peruvian chicken dish and Melissa had ceviche. Of course there were mojitos and skinny pirates! Then they brought out the birthday dessert and we added a fresh fruit tarte to share. Undoubtedly,that was the best best "free restaurant" dessert ever. It was cream cheese ice cream with a chocolate mousse cake. It sounds unusual and heavy, but it was the most delicate flavorful dessert ever! We were all amazed!!! And the fresh fruit tart had fruit from the local farmer's market.

Back at the apartment, Matt opened his birthday gift - 6 days early!! He got a new iPod, one that can handle his

20,000+ songs!

August 19
Chicago

Today Matt and I slept in. My feet were a bit sore from the previous day's walking. So we took a cab down to the river and took an architectural boat tour on the Chicago River. It was great!!! It was 90 minutes of history as we floated up and down the river. What amazed me was how much the riverbank has changed since I left in 1973. Most of the buildings seemed to have been built in the 1980's and 1990's, despite a lot of them looking pre-war!

I had wanted to take this tour with Melissa and Adam on Saturday but the weather did not look good - thunder and rain are predicted. Today was the perfect weather! It was sunny, a slight breeze, about 80 degrees with low to moderate humidity!

















After we got off the ship, we were hungry. Matt used his iPhone (Around Me app) and found a Greek gyros place about 6-8 blocks away. We followed his map and we found Med Kitchen.
We chose this place because it had a 87% rating. We were not disappointed. We were the only ones in the clean restaurant. Matt had a whole wheat gyros with lamb and beef, tomatoes, onions and cucumber/yogurt sauce. I had a white gyros with lamb and beef, tomatoes, onions, spicy feta and cucumber/yogurt sauce. Matt and I decided that these gyros were essentially as good as our favorite place in Arden Fair Mall! The only difference (to the negative) was their sauce is very thick and doesn't spread. On the positive, I loved their spicy feta cheese!

Well with full stomachs we went back to Melissa's place and did some work. Melissa and Adam came home and we decided to walk to The Water Tower Place and eat at their dining place called Foodlife. It's a conglomeration of 14 different types of food in one place. You simply hand them a card when you order something from their stand. When you leave, they run your card through the register and you pay then. I had the best Italian Meatball soup ever! And the best cranberry oatmeal cookies!

August 18
Chicago

Matt and I decided to walk around the neighborhood. We walked along the Magnificent Mile. We stopped at the Apple Store and got Matt's iPhone fixed and just kept going. We decided to meet Melissa at her new office but she had a review meeting at noon. She would not be available until after 1:30 or 2pm. So Matt and I crossed the Chicago River and found a little Asian restaurant to grab something light to eat. It is there that I got a text message from Julie West that Brad Babcock had just died. Unfortunately with the tall buildings, internet and 3G service is horrid around the downtown area. We could not get any details.

We kept walking and got to Melissa's office as she was getting out of her review. She received glowing reviews of her work and her ethics! Of course!!! We spent a little time there and then her boss Laura and co-worker May and us went out to lunch. We picked up smoothies at The Protein Bar and went back to her office. After sharing lunch together, Melissa needed to get back to work. Matt and I decided to go to the Sears Tower (Willis Tower) next door and go out on The Ledge. We took PPCA's mascot Groody with us for a photo.

I was somewhat proud of myself to step out onto the Edge. It was a bit freaky at first, but then it was okay. If I had not been wearing a skirt and had tons of people waiting their turn, I might have tried to sit down on the Ledge. I figure "no regrets". The views from the Sears Tower are spectacular from the 103rd floor.


After The Ledge, we walked back to Melissa's office and waited for her to be done. Then we bought some sandwiches at a local sub shop and got picked up by Adam.We went to IIT and ate and drank in Adam's corner office with his friend Andy and his girlfriend Jill. Then we walked to the new Comisky Park for a Sox/Indians game. I hadn't been to the new Comisky Park - the locals look funny at me when I say "new" because it has been there for quite awhile! What a great park. We all sat in the bleachers but the benches had backs to them. Very comfortable! What a pleasant evening despite the Sox losing. My feet were a bit achy when we got back home. We figured Matt and I had walked over 7 miles today in sandals!!!

August 17
Chicago, Illinois

JoAnn and Bill contacted Melissa and said their family would be in Chicago for dinner on the 17th. Michael couldn't get off work but Matt and I caught a very early flight on Wednesday. Actually it coincided with Courtney's flight back to Tucson. She had a 6am flight and Matt and I had a 6:45 flight.

We arrived in Chicago at 2pm CST. Adam picked us up and we went to their apartment. Their place is great - and so centrally located to shopping and nightlife! The three of us got ready for dinner and picked up Melissa. We had dinner reservations at Sunda Japanese Fusion Restaurant. We met Josh, JoAnn, and Bill. Poor Emily had gotten food poisoning that day and was back at the hotel. Sarah was in school. But it was a great get together with the three of them getting the chance to meet Adam. We celebrated JoAnn's birthday and Matt's birthday. It was a great way to start off our little trip!!





Josh just proposed to Lindsay and they plan to marry next year! He has a job offer in Golden, Colorado which he starts in October. And the Bregar's and Schaidle's agreed to meet in Chicago this year for Christmas!

August 12 - 14, 2011

This weekend was USTA District Championships at Broadstone Racquet Club. It was an amazing weekend filled with good tennis and success! The nerve-wracking part was getting players, specifically singles players.

Friday: We played Sun Oaks from Redding. Paula and Candace won their singles. Karen/Leslie, Lindsay/Eileen and Vickie/Regan won. We won all five lines without dropping a set!

This is only the second time I have partnered with Leslie - we seem to calm each other down which is a good thing.

Saturday we played the Marin ladies. Leslie/Karen, April/Lindsay, Regan/Vickie, Candace and Paula played and won. Again we won all five lines and dropped one set!


Sunday I decided to shake things up a bit. Candace and Regan played singles. Karen/Vickie, Lindsay/April, Eileen/Paula. I decided to sit our Leslie in fear of a 3rd strike. Candace lost in two close sets. Lindsay and April lost in two set. Paula/Eileen won in three sets. Karen/Vickie won in two sets. We won three lines to two lines.

So now we go to Carmel for Sectionals!!! Who would have thought??

What is funny is that Michael, Matt and Courtney came on Sunday to root me on. Michael was there from the 1st game. When Matt and Courtney arrived (like the 4-5th game in the 1st set), Michael told them I was losing. Vickie and I were playing an incredibly hard hitter with a consistency problem. Most of the time, you just had to duck. We won 6-2, 6-2. When we were done, Michael told them we had lost. But he thought Vickie and I were the best losers!!

It's been a month since I've returned from Kenya. Even before I left on my trip, there was talk about "processing" the trip upon our return. I tended to ignore those conversations. In the month since I left Kenya, I slowly am beginning to understand and comprehend the "processing" process. And so I decided to dust off the cobwebs and get my thoughts down on this blogsite.