Oh, you know...

Have you ever been to Senor Frogs?

2012-02-12T19:03:00.000-08:00

I asked this question of my grandmother as we passed by the notoriously omnipresent bar of the tropics.

Her answer?

What? Oh, no. I've never been to Prague.

Yes, a great time was had by all as I sailed through the Caribbean with my mom, sister-in-law, and the quotable quoter herself, Gram. Below you'll find a photo overview, but there's just too much to fit in one post. More to come!

On the eve of our voyage, we celebrated Gram's Shady Eighty. She makes it look pretty darn good.

Clearly I was excited about our departure.

From here on out, you'll notice that most of the photos are of startlingly better quality than you're used to seeing on the ol' blog. That would be thanks to the sister-in-law's "real" camera. I was amazed that even I could take a decent picture on that thing. Now I want one. Curses.

Strolling in San Juan

Meandering in St. Maarten

Sailing and Snorkeling in St. Thomas

In seventh grade we had to answer daily journal questions in Mrs. Woodall's English class. I'll never forget when she asked what kind of boat we would want to own and what we would want to name it. At the time, I wanted to buy a canoe, paint it orange, and call it the Peaceful Papaya. Up until a few days ago, I still thought that was the perfect name for any watercraft. Then I saw this gem at a dock in St. Thomas. Brilliance.

Swimming off into the sunset.

Beauty.

Heading back in the Transporter Three. And yes, Jason Statham was at the wheel.

Basking in the Bahamas.

Formal Nights

Gram won big on the penny slots. Riveting stuff.

Gram, thanks for giving us a great excuse to get away for a week. It was glorious.

Happy Monday!

Out of the Office

2012-02-02T18:43:00.000-08:00

I'm heading out of town tomorrow. Way out of town. As in, the Caribbean. You see, Gram "Cruise Master" DiSesa is turning 80. She thought we should board a giant boat to celebrate. I did not object. I'll miss writing on the old blog for a week, but something tells me I'll get over it. Plus, I'm sure I'll have some good stories upon my return. Get excited! ;)

Just for fun, here's a mini photo-ode to Gram:

Classic Ten-to-Two

Gram the model. The 16-inch waist was not genetic.

The wedding.

Au Revoir, Mes Amis!

It's part of the game, dude.

2012-01-25T20:14:00.000-08:00

There are some hard-core tennis fans out there. Fans that will set their alarm clocks for three in the morning so they can see Roger play ~~Ben the Bachelor~~ Rafa at the Australian Open. I, however, am not one of them. I prefer to read about the action the next day and watch clips online. A few days ago, Tomas Berdych dominated my morning headlines after his failure to give Nicolas Almagro a post-match handshake got him booed off the court by the fiery Australian crowd. You see, Almagro accidentally hit Berdych with a forehand toward the end of their fourth and final set. Despite the fact that he won the match, Berdych apparently couldn't handle a little physical contact. C'mon man. Almagro didn't have the time, nor was he in a position to set up for an intentionally direct hit. And even if he was, that's just the way the proverbial ball bounces.

As kids we used to play games like Peg and Bloodball where you automatically won points for a body shot. We absolutely went for retaliatory contact in college doubles matches if our opponents got a little too aggressive at the net. I even played volley games with one of my college teammates where we would actually try to hit each other. When we succeeded, we laughed hysterically.

Don't get me wrong. It's no fun to get hit by an opponent. In fact, it can be downright embarrassing. But why give him/her the satisfaction of knowing you're upset? I'm guessing after hearing the crowd's reaction, Berdych regretted his decision to deny Almagro the handshake. Live and learn.

P.S. Tomas, he didn't hit you in the face.

Dad Would Be Proud

2012-01-24T20:10:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned Panera Bread before on the blog, and at the risk of sounding like I have no life, I'm going to mention it again. When I got off the court late last night, I headed to Panera to pick up some dinner. Before I detail my experience, I should say that my last couple of meals there have been exceptional. As in, the bread was warm and doughy, and my panini was soft, not hard or crunchy. At a place called Panera BREAD, that may seem like a given, but sadly, high quality carbs are not always the norm.

I ordered my usual "You Pick Two" dinner last night and got bread on the side. Actually, that's not completely true. Given how delightful the French baguettes had been during my last two trips, I coughed up $.59 for an extra piece. I then watched the lone man behind the counter make my dinner. I also eyed the bread basket. There was just one piece left, and it looked, well, stale. I waited with baited breath to see if he would pull out a fresh baguette, but instead, he threw the reject slice in my bag and then asked me if I would like a whole grain baguette for my extra piece.

While whole grain may be better for me, it tastes terrible. My answer was a polite no.

After confirming that I could redeem my additional piece at a later date, I headed toward the door. But before I left, I just had to ask someone why the bread is dense and doughy one day and airy and stale the next. It just doesn't make sense!

As I searched for a manager, the employee who made my food caught up to me and triumphantly announced that he found an extra French baguette! As he rummaged around behind the counter, I had a chance to ask my bread quality question. The answer? Apparently the bread consistency depends on the baker.

Before I could ask the logical follow-up questions (i.e. "Doesn't everyone follow the same recipe? Doesn't it tell you how long to leave it in the oven?"), the man ripped the newly found baguette apart and had me do a "touch test." (I won't lie...it was an uncomfortable moment as I stood in front of several other Panera patrons while poking the inside of a giant bread stick.) Though it was a little overcooked for my taste, it was dense and doughy on the inside. The dutiful employee then surprised me by handing over the whole thing! Ha! There was no theft involved, but I left feeling like Abu from Aladdin and/or Jean Valjean. It's not everyday you walk around with a bat-sized baguette in your hand.

Clearly I'm the daughter of a man who once told an Original Pancake House waitress (in the nicest way possible, I'm sure) that his Apple Pancake was dull, grey, and lifeless. It is the curse of frequenting the same places on a regular basis. When you know what quality looks like, it's hard to accept anything less.

via

Know what I mean?

Slow News Day

2012-01-22T19:29:00.000-08:00

It was a quiet weekend on the homefront. After joining the women's tennis team for their two victories this weekend (Go OWLS!), Tyler and I attempted to go see a movie (twice), but just didn't end up making it out of the house. We did, however, make a trip to the campus bookstore. I figured I should document this mural on the lower level before they decide to tear it down or paint over it, which I'm pretty sure could happen at any moment.

Yes, I overcame public embarrassment to pose with my own picture, but I'm pretty sure Tyler (the photographer) suffered the greater humiliation, ha.

Happy Monday!

Bagpipes and Black Ties

2012-01-16T20:15:00.000-08:00

As promised, here is a play by play of ~~the wedding of the century~~ our friend Joe's wedding to Jenn. On Saturday I learned that they have more friends and loved ones than anyone I've ever known. I also learned that Joe is some sort of baseball player.

Jan. 9: It's five days before the first black tie event of our (relatively) young lives. I curse the fact that this would not be the case if I had already realized my dream of an Oscar nomination.

Jan. 10: Tyler knows not what to wear. Buy a black suit? Rent a tux? What to do? If he goes with a suit, I wonder if my husband will look chach-like among his tuxed-out peers. But a tux requires paying a significant amount of money for something you have to give back. I don't like this idea.

Jan. 11: We perform a cost-benefit analysis. We call on resident fashionista, Clay Reichenbach. He offers this nugget of wisdom: "You can absolutely wear a black suit. If someone says something, you should first be impressed that they can tell the difference [between a black suit and a tux]. Then you should call them a d#!%@* b@& for calling you out."

Jan. 12: My very fashionable grandmother echoes said advice (in so many words). We learn that a small village is invited to the wedding and realize that no one will notice what Tyler is wearing. Tyler gets a great suit at a bargain price! Score!

Jan. 14: Wedding day is here, and I begin preparing to be sophisticated. I ask Tyler if he likes my hair half up or down. He says down. I wear it half up. He is not surprised.

7:00* - We arrive at the church. Women are wearing gowns. I, however, am not. I keep staring at my hands that have turned an odd shade of orange after an ill-advised spray tan. You'd think I would have learned my lesson.

7:05 - We sit down fairly close to the front of the church. I applaud our punctuality.

7:10 - I peruse the program. It says there will be bagpipes. The anticipation builds.

7:30 - The ceremony is starting, and I turn to see the massive crowd that has filled in behind us. I realize with sadness that if you gave me two weeks and a million-dollar prize, I still wouldn't be able to come up with a guest list of this size.

7:31 - The family begins processing. I get excited as I sit in the pew and realize that I will be able to use the word "processing."

7:35 - The family is seated. The men enter from stage right. I half expect to see the groom sprint the perimeter of the church as the tux-clad crowd chants, "Let's go, Joe!"

7:40 - I hear the telltale drone of the bagpipes warming up. I'm lying. I actually have no idea what that sounds like.

7:40:15 - Ah, but I was correct! A real, live bagpiper walks down the aisle. He is wearing a kilt. He has the most massive calves I've ever seen, which is saying a lot, given who I married.

7:42 - The bagpiper finishes his song. A clock starts chiming. Seriously. It was the most impressive and dramatic buildup in wedding history. I will now recommend bagpipers and chiming clocks to everyone I know.

7:43 - Tyler whispers that he's always wanted to learn how to play the bagpipes.

7:48 - The beautiful bride and her father complete the procession. Our friend, John, performs a beautiful, Christ-centered ceremony.

8:15 - The new couple is announced. The bagpipers (another one popped in mid-ceremony!) and a snare-drummer finish things out.

8:30 - We head to the reception. There are people everywhere. The band is impressive. We find a comfy corner and hang out there for most of the night.

8:35 - Because said corner was near the bar, we see a revolving door of long lost friends.

9:00 - I meet Jill Clausen. She is a lover of the blog. I hug her (and everyone else that mentions the blog that night). I silently thank Alan Shelby who, through his tireless inclusion of my blog in the Rice Update, has ~~forced~~ gently encouraged people to read about my life. They then feel compelled to mention it upon meeting me, making me feel very loved.

9:30 - I turn to my right. Tyler is discussing an economics brain-teaser with some Rice friends. He is making a diagram with napkins. This is not surprising.

10:45 - After talking with many old and new friends, Tyler and I live up to the term "old, married couple" and head home.

11:00 - I regret not taking more pictures.

*All times are approximate.

I'm fairly sure this picture is as close as I will ever get to time travel. Best background ever.

Congratulations Joe and Jenn!

I Have a Problem

2012-01-15T13:25:00.000-08:00

Chuy's has become a post-church lunch hangout for Tyler and me on Sundays. Ty hasn't always been a fan of my favorite Mexican restaurant, but then he discovered that we can eat there for less than it would cost to stop at Panera Bread on our way home. Bargain!

I've previously mentioned Chuy's creamy jalapeno dip on the blog, so it should come as no surprise to you that upon sitting down, we ask for two servings (his and hers, if you will) to go along with the crispy tortilla chips. The waiter today must have noticed the sheer delight on our faces as we ate (that, or he was desperate for a generous tip), and before our lunch was over, he presented us with this:

Yes, that is a massive side of creamy jalapeno. On one hand, I was embarrassed that my addiction was that obvious to a random observer. On the other hand, I was a tad surprised this was the first time it's happened.

Now the question is, should I eat it? I'm worried that consumption outside the actual restaurant might cause diminishing marginal utility issues. What to do?

Like I said...I have a problem.

Up next on the ol' blog will be a play by play of last night's Savery wedding. Until then, here's a four-word, alliterated preview: Big, Bagpipes, Black Ties.

Get excited.

Things I'm Loving - Holiday Edition

2012-01-07T12:21:00.000-08:00

Monogram Necklace
One of my lessons in Houston wears the cutest monogram necklace that I may or may not have been admiring from afar over the past few months. Thanks to a tip from Tyler, my generous mother and father-in-law were able to surprise me with it for Christmas. Love it!

Lululemon Stay on Course Jacket
Thanks to a generous club member down in Florida, I ended up with some money to spend at Lululemon. I just happened to find the greatest jacket of all time (the picture doesn't do it justice). It's light without looking like a windbreaker, it has a lined collar (not pictured), and best of all, it dips down in the back so as to cover my hind quarters. Genius.

Caribbean Cruise
This wasn't exactly a Christmas present, but I just had to slip it in there. My grandmother turns 80 in February, and I got invited to go on a "girls" cruise with my mom and sister-in-law (and Gram, of course) to celebrate. It's less than a month away, but there are lots of lessons to be taught and stories to be written before then. I can do it! I can do it!

Thorlo Socks
If you haven't tried these yet, you should. I've been wearing Thorlos since I can remember (it helps to have parents who stock them in their tennis shop), but I got some new ones for Christmas. The feeling of slipping on a new pair of these babies just never gets old. It's like walking on a cloud, and it makes teaching a nine-hour day that much more tolerable.

Maybelline Falsies Mascara
I always thought there had to be a less expensive equivalent to my Clinique mascara at the drug store. But I figured I would just waste money in the process of finding a cheaper brand that I liked. That's when I just happened to stumble upon a random blog (whose name I can't remember for the life of me) extolling the virtues of Maybelline Falsies Mascara. After a two week trial, I can say that this stuff works great and costs half what I had been paying. Bargain!

Citizen Ava Straight Leg Jeans
Skinny jeans freak me out. I doubt I'll ever own a pair, but luckily for me, Citizens of Humanity makes the next best thing: the Ava Straight Leg. They are pricey, but wonderful (especially if you have someone who wants to gift them to you for a birthday, Christmas, etc.).

via

It began with a poem. It ended with T-Pain.

2011-12-25T14:44:00.000-08:00

You never quite know what to expect on a DiSesa Christmas morning. I jokingly asked Dad on Christmas Eve if he had a poem written for his annual Christmas day oration. Turns out he did. It achieved both humorous and heartfelt high notes, and may or may not have drawn tears by the end. Impressive work.

The Crew

The boys. I know for a fact that my brothers were far more excited to see Tyler when we arrived in Florida than they were to see me. I'm okay with that.

Drew and Brittney (or Brittles as we call her...she loves it).

Yep, here I am doing the annual orange squeezing, otherwise known as the-job-I-do-so-I-don't-have-to-be-involved-in-the-preparation-of-real-food. It's a win-win for everyone involved.

A little known fact about my dad is his love for disco and dance music. The disco craze was a little before my time, but during my summers in New York as a kid, I gained a healthy appreciation for the greatness that is Le Click, Ace of Base, and The Real McCoy. So I decided to make my dad a Christmas CD of all the songs we used to hear on the radio (shout out to 103.5 KTU!). While I was at it, I made another CD of current songs (that he has certainly never heard) that I thought he might like. Based on how loud he had them playing in his den, I'd say he liked it. In fact, I thought I'd sneak in and take a picture of him reading his newspapers while blasting T-Pain (Best Love Song - catchy tune).

Well, you'll be glad to know that he wasn't dead. Just dead asleep.

We are so incredibly blessed to have families that go out of their way to make Christmas fun for everyone, but even better than that is the gift of God's Son. We didn't deserve it, but we're so thankful.

Happy Almost New Year!

Christmas Day Time Waster

2011-12-25T10:46:00.001-08:00

Not only do we get to celebrate Jesus's birth on Christmas day, but we also get to spend time with family, eat ridiculous amounts of food, and do absolutely nothing (in a good way). If you want some brainless entertainment during your time away from work, feel free to enjoy some "Behind the Horn" clips. They are addicting, and I don't know why. Thanks (or no thanks) to my Bro for introducing me. Here are a couple of my favorites (there are many more where this came from).

And one more just for fun.

A DiSesa Christmas recap is coming soon. It includes a poem reading and Dad listening to T-Pain. You know, the usual.

Merry Christmas!

Have Yourself a Henley Little Christmas

2011-12-22T15:45:00.000-08:00

Our visit to Colleyville to see Tyler's side of the family culminated last night in a veritable Christmas extravaganza. Though our gift exchange did not include the Gift of the Magi scenario I had envisioned (i.e. I give Tyler Modern Warfare 3 only to find out that his Christmas gift to me included selling his Machine of Mental Decay, also known as an Xbox), we did have a great time with the whole Henley family.

Tyler's younger brother, Carson, provided the entertainment, which included trying on every piece of ski equipment he received in preparation for his upcoming trip to New Mexico. He then opened a gift that appeared to be the class ring we saw him wearing the day before. We were all quite confused as he tried it on and announced that it fit perfectly. "Don't you already have a class ring?" a few of us wondered aloud. That's when we realized that he had wrapped a present to himself. I, of course, laughed hysterically.

Later, the sisters-in-law modeled our matching fur vests from Mama Ginny. Love it.

Tomorrow we head to Florida to relax for a couple of days before I start work for my dad. Jupiter Island Winter Madness is upon us. Always a good time.

Looking forward to seeing the DiSesa clan tomorrow. High of 81? Yes, please.

Thanks, but no thanks.

2011-12-18T18:58:00.000-08:00

You gotta love a good rewards card. You know, buy ten subs at Jersey Mike's and get the 11th free, spend 100 dollars at Banana Republic and get $10 to spend, buy five pairs of shoes at DSW get a discount on the sixth, and so on.

Just this year, one of my frequent food stops, Panera Bread, introduced the My Panera Card. I was delighted to think that my faithful Panera patronization (despite their perpetually horrendous quality control and service) would finally be paying off. There are no bread-shaped stamps to acquire or holes to punch. They simply slide your card upon ordering and tell you what sweet treat you're eligible for. In fact, at the Buffalo Speedway location, there's a sign on the register saying they will take a dollar off your order if they fail to ask the all important question: "Do you have your My Panera Card?" Last time, my order specialist did not, but I couldn't summon the aggressiveness needed to tell her she failed at her job and that she owed me a dollar. Next time I'll be better prepared.

But let's talk more about the card itself. When we lived in Arizona during the Fall League, we frequented Panera Bread's sister store Paradise Bakery and Cafe. They had a reward card that gave you a free muffin after you had purchased five. When it came time to get that fifth muffin, not only did I feel like I had earned the complimentary sixth one, but I was expecting it.

Not so with the Panera Card. You have no idea what you might get and when you might get it, and you have 60 days to accept your reward. "That's part of the fun - it's always a surprise," says their website. Currently I have a pastry and a specialty drink waiting to be redeemed. This is not nearly as exciting as it might sound. I do not need a pastry no matter how clearly I can hear them whispering my name from the other side of that plexiglass wall. Now, thanks to the Panera Card, I must psyche myself up in the car before I enter the restaurant. "Do not accept your free pasty. Do not accept your free pastry."

I'm sure Panera meant well with their reward system, but it has actually discouraged my business. I'm also confident that most people have far better self-control levels than I and/or have no self-control at all, making this a genius marketing plan. I'm a big fan of incentives, but just not in this case.

Clearly it's been a slow week for blog topics;)

Have a great week!

It's that time again

2011-12-13T20:21:00.000-08:00

Today Tyler and I are celebrating three years of wedded bliss (or something like that). And by celebrating I mean we had Chick-fil-a for dinner after Tyler spent the day finishing an accounting paper. I was going to compile a list of the top 5 things I've learned about Tyler and the top 5 things he's learned about me over the past three years, but when I asked Ty what he would say, he replied, "...that you're weird?"

Though he is correct in his assessment, I decided at that moment that I was going to abort the "Top 5" idea. I will say that we've learned more about each other in the last year and a half than we did in the previous 3.5 years of dating and marriage combined. In addition to facing some disappointments and a bundle of uncertainty that still seems to be a constant companion, we also lived with the other's family for extended periods. It's impossible to emerge from that communal living experience without a greater knowledge of how the other ended up the way they are. ((On the flip side, when Tyler started saying "Okay, Bill" when I would subconsciously mirror my dad's (Bill's) distinctive reactions to crisis situations (i.e. when another family member ate the last of my grapes), I knew we needed to get out.))

We're now better teammates than we ever thought possible. I'm so blessed that God provided me with such an amazing example of what strong faith looks like. Happy Anniversary, Ty!

However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Eph. 5:33

I'm not bitter.

2011-12-07T19:28:00.001-08:00

It's been a long week. In case you haven't heard, it's been freezing in Texas. And in case you were wondering, hitting tennis balls with a 32 degree wind chill is less than enjoyable. As I wearily walked in the front door after a long day yesterday, Tyler told me to take a look in the freezer.

My immediate response: "[Gasp] Did you buy me Christmas Cookies?"

I had casually mentioned to Tyler (one or seven times) that I would like to try Blue Bell's holiday flavor, Christmas Cookies. I hear it's delightful. So I hobbled to the freezer (darn plantar fasciitis) and threw open the door. Not since the lady at the local Baskin Robbins informed me that they no longer stock their "Birthday Cake" flavor has my joy turned to utter despair so quickly. I should tell you that the Baskin Robbins incident was only a couple of weeks ago, but that's neither here nor there.

In short, I was not greeted by a pint of Blue Bell Christmas Cookies. Instead, I saw meat. Everywhere. In the freezer of a couple who just recently cooked food (i.e. not soup and/or some form of macaroni and cheese) for the third time in the past three months. Makes sense, right?

Actually no, it makes no sense at all. You see, when Tyler shot his first buck a couple of weekends ago, I thought he was leaving his friend's ranch with some pictures and a sense of manly pride that guys apparently get when they sit in a box waiting to shoot animals that are lured to an open field by the promise of tasty deer snacks. I did not know we would also be receiving the buck in question. In pieces. In the freezer of an apartment home that we may or may not live in two months from now. Makes sense, right?

Actually no, it makes no sense at all. Then, as I was counting my wad of teaching money that we haven't yet deposited (don't judge...I was just curious), I noticed something (one Ben Franklin) was missing. That's when I realized that either my mental calculator was on the fritz or we paid to have our freezer (the freezer of a couple who barely cooks chicken, much less wild game) filled with deer meat. Makes sense, right?

Actually no, it makes no sense at all. But I'm over it. It just took a few hours and a back rub. Kidding, sort of.

I am quite proud of my gun-toting husband for dropping his first deer. And for wearing a holster with an actual gun in it. And for skinning a wild animal without fainting at the sight of copious amounts of blood (he's been known to do that). Such a man.

I promise I'm not bitter. Just a proud wife.

Miss Spontaneous

2011-12-04T06:33:00.001-08:00

I do something spontaneous around one time per year (give or take), and with my window closing on 2011, I figured I should hurry up and meet my quota. So after reading approximately 714 reviews, I settled on a local master stylist to chop my perennially long locks off. After living in Houston for the better part of 10 years, I've yet to find someone who seems competent in the cutting category (which is probably why my hair stayed so long for so long). But, like I said, I was going for spontaneity, so I went ahead and made an appointment without employing my usual strategy of asking the opinion of every friend I've ever made. I did ask Tyler, of course, but our conversation went something like this:

Blair: Do you think I should chop all my hair off?

Tyler: Um, I think you should do whatever makes you happy.

Blair: I appreciate that, but aesthetically, do you prefer long or short hair?

Tyler: I think you'd look good either way.

The conversation went in circles for another five minutes or so before I realized I couldn't expect to get any spousal encouragement one way or the other. So, I went for it.

I recently saw a friend who gave her long hair away to Locks of Love, so I decided I should do the same (mine actually went to L'Oreal because Locks doesn't accept bleached hair). Lest you think that was noble or unselfish in any way, I should say that I was using the donation as a good will hedge should my newly chopped mane inspire horror in myself or others. (i.e. When someone says, "Ah, what did you do to your hair?!" I can respond by saying that I donated it to a child in need. They'll nod sympathetically, giving me time to excuse myself before I burst into tears.)

When I reached the salon, I explained to my well-coiffed stylist, Van, what I wanted to do (sidenote: Why is it that I lose the ability to speak the English language as soon as I sit down in one of those hair chairs? Seriously...I resort to making strange hand motions and primitive diagrams. It's an unfortunate and bizarre phenomenon.) Aaaanyway, he proceeded to secure my hair with a tiny elastic and whip out the largest pair of scissors I had ever seen. When the last strand was severed, he held up at least a foot of hair for me to see. I started to ask if I could take a picture of it with my phone when he proceeded to drop half of it on the floor. Neither of us knew what to say. He started apologizing profusely (once outside the rubber band, the hair is tangled and useless), and I just sat their praying this wasn't a harbinger of things to come.

But fear not. Once Van was finished, I felt like a new person.

Short hair is definitely a lot more work (I can't throw it up in a bun every day), but I'm glad I did it. It lessens the chances of me clogging the shower drain on a regular basis, and I'm sure I'll be saving tons on shampoo and conditioner costs. Overall, the experience was one of very few spontaneous acts in my life that hasn't ended in disaster and/or tears. Perhaps next year, I'll up my quota.

By the way, this was supposed to be a short post. How does this happen?

We're Alive!

2011-11-25T18:35:00.001-08:00

Well, I cooked. And thus far there is no evidence of food poisoning and/or impending death. Tyler and I stayed in Houston for Thanksgiving, and with a rare afternoon free, I figured there was no excuse not to at least attempt acting like a homemaker.

Now, lest you think I actually tried to cook a turkey, let me clarify. First of all, I don't really like turkey. I usually take the obligatory one or two slices and fill the rest of my plate up with things that look much better to me (i.e. stuffing, stuffing, and more stuffing).

In fact, I recently came upon this turkey description, and it was like the author was reading my mind!

"Unpopular-opinion alert: Turkey isn’t delicious. Thanksgiving is all about the sides. Turkey is only there to transport stuffing, provide a job for that man of the house, and give you an excuse to douse your entire plate in gravy. If turkey is so good, why do we eat it only once a year?

That three pounds of leftover turkey in your fridge right now isn’t lunch for the weekend — it's homework, a chore, a burden. You really want to order a pizza tonight but you can’t because you have cold, dry, mangled turkey meat sitting in some Tupperware looking at you and saying, “Pizza, dude? Really? You are just going to let me sit here and go bad while you are ordering pizza?” Don’t let that turkey boss you around, buddy. Look that thing right in the thigh and say, “Hey pal, last night you were only half decent when I mixed you with a slew of side dishes that make bacon look like wheatgrass. Today, you are only acceptable when I drown you in mayonnaise. You're overplaying your hand here, leftover turkey, and I am calling your bluff. I don’t care about the guilt. I'm ordering a pizza. And you know what else, turkey? They put everything on pizza: ham, steak, chicken, pepperoni, pineapple, and spinach. They even put artichoke on pizza — artichoke, dude. You know what they don’t put on pizza? Turkey. You know why? Because it doesn’t taste good. I rest my … Whoa, are you crying, leftover turkey? Oh man, now I feel bad. Fine, I won’t order pizza, I’ll make you into a stupid turkey sandwich. But first I have to go to the store and get more mayonnaise. Half a jar isn’t going to be enough.”

So true. But I digress.

In preparation for my meal, I cracked open the CrockPot cookbook my mom recently sent me (she knows me well). And for those of you who don't think Crock Pot cooking counts as actual cooking, well, I disagree. You see, Food Preparation and I get along about as well as my brothers and I did circa 1996 - in other words, not well. Any time I have to shop for ingredients that together will (supposedly) create something delicious, that counts as cooking in my book. Also, if you think it's not possible to mess up a Crock Pot recipe, I'm here to tell you otherwise. That happened a couple of months ago. And because of that, my psyche going in to our Thanksgiving meal was A-Rod-grade fragile.

I decided early on that I was going to make something with chicken, but my Crock Pot cookbook had WAY too many options. Just as I was on the verge of short-circuiting, I handed the recipe choice over to my mother (who has the same cookbook at home). She texted me to say she liked recipe's #2, #3, and #6 on page 170-171.

As I looked at her choices, I was puzzled. They were complicated (i.e. >3 ingredients). Thinking she believed in my abilities enough to suggest a 10+ ingredient recipe, I took a deep breath and accepted the challenge. About one hour into my grocery shopping trip, however, my resolve was waning. I was wandering around like a lost toddler, but instead of screaming for Mommy, I simply called her on the phone instead. I needed to make sure I was getting the right kind of chicken.

I asked her about my options and heard a pause on the other end of the line. "Now, what recipe did you end up picking?" she asked.

"Number 6!" I said.

It was at that point my mother realized that we had different editions of the same cookbook. Yes, that's right. She did not intend to challenge me with a recipe far beyond my skill level. Number 6 in her edition did, in fact, have approximately three ingredients.

I was now dangerously close to a meltdown amongst the poultry. Despite my mom's urging, there was no way I was going to put everything I had already bought back on the shelf. I had come too far.

But seriously...whyyyy?!

This would never happen to someone who actually likes to cook. Or at least that's what I stood there telling myself.

So I sucked it up. After my Thursday lessons, I came home and threw the chicken, veggies and seasonings in that magical Pot. Five hours later we emerged with this:

It doesn't look like much, but it tasted really, really good. And just in case it didn't, I made some stuffing (I couldn't stand the thought of Thanksgiving without it).

Thanksgiving dinner on a card table? Yes! This is what life looks like when you have no idea what tomorrow holds. Also, if we ever decide to start an organized crime ring, we could easily skip town with minimal losses.

Thanks to my mother-in-law's Kentucky Derby Pie recipe, we had some dessert as well. Nevermind that the pie dish I went out to buy especially for this occasion was double the size necessary...it still tasted good.

So, I spent a few days out of comfort zone. I hated every minute of it (except the eating portion), but the competitor in me was glad to have triumphed over my arch nemesis. That said, I've come to the conclusion that it just doesn't make financial sense to cook for two people. It's not cheaper for us, and we end up wasting tons of food. In some ways this is good news because if we actually saved money by cooking, I would have to force myself to do it on a more regular basis. I'm know that time will come eventually. For now, I'm choosing not to think about it.

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

*Happy Weekend*

Back by Popular Demand

2011-11-21T04:00:00.000-08:00

Apparently Tyler's First Day of School pictures from a couple of months ago elicited some chuckling from my faithful readers. Tyler is still mortified. But that didn't stop me from insisting he pose again as he headed off to a job interview (for posterity's sake, you know). I woke up at 6:00am to get these shots. Totally worth it.

Happy Monday!

P.S. That golf club is indeed there for protection (if, in the case of a home invasion, I cannot think clearly enough to remember the code to the the gun safe and/or how to load/shoot said gun). In other words, I will most certainly die. But you can't be too careful these days.

15 Things

2011-11-14T19:06:00.001-08:00

Since it's the Thanksgiving Month, otherwise known as November, I thought I would list 15 things that I'm thankful for. Why 15? Well, I thought 30 things (one for every day of the month) might be too many. Not that I don't have 30 things that I'm thankful for, but I figure after approximately 15 things, I might move into the boring or perhaps overly personal category (i.e. I'm sure you don't care - or simply don't want to know - that I'm thankful for Tyler's smooth and mostly hairless pectoral region).

Here we go (in no particular order):

- I'm thankful for my family. I know how blessed I am to have two families who love and support me.

- Specifically, I'm thankful for Tyler. I'm pretty sure I hit the Husband Jackpot. We are both acutely aware of the fact that the last year and a half could have gone one of two ways (as far as our relationship was concerned), and I am so grateful that we emerged better teammates than we were going in.

- I'm thankful for the knowledge that God has a plan for my life. Not sure how I would get through each day without knowing that Jesus loves me, and that I'm here on earth for a reason.

- I'm thankful for our apartment - it isn't exactly homey, but from what I'm told, we'll have years to have a huge comfy couch and a washer and dryer.

- I'm thankful for my job. I would prefer not to teach tennis until I'm of retirement age, but I'm incredibly thankful that I've had work in every place Tyler and I have lived over the past few years.

- I'm thankful for tennis in general. It's my therapy. I still love playing after all these years, which isn't as common as you would think after playing four years of college tennis.

- I'm thankful for my friends. I have some really great ones scattered all across the country. Just this weekend one of those friends introduced me to the Twilight movies. I'm totally hooked. Don't judge me.

- I'm thankful for my health. There's not a day that goes by that something doesn't ache, but I know I'm lucky to be able to run around for a living.

- I'm thankful for grapes. It sounds ridiculous, but they are such a delicious fruit. In Numbers 13:23 it talks about the Israelites cutting off a single cluster of grapes from the Land of Canaan that had to be carried on a pole between two men. Can you imagine? That's the stuff dreams are made of.

- I'm thankful for a full tummy. Though I often joke that my stomach could stand to be bit emptier on a more frequent basis, I know that poverty is far too common in our world today. I'm blessed to have food in the fridge.

- I'm thankful for a dad who understands my quirks (because he has them, too). He has selflessly supported me in my tennis career and as I've worked to become a writer. He's the best editor I could ever ask for.

- I'm thankful for a mom who I can jokingly call my "caddy." She does EVERYTHING for everyone in my family and still has time to run a business. I don't know how she does it.

- I'm thankful for this blog. I love writing the posts, and I hope I can make you smile every now and then.

- I'm thankful for a computer to write on. Love my Macbook.

- I'm thankful that I can stay warm in the winter (for the most part). It's been well documented here how much I despise chilly temps, and like my sister-in-law Cassie explained on her blog, there are a lot of people who will be cold this winter.

Happy Thanksgiving Month!

Ducks Fly Together!

2011-11-09T20:27:00.000-08:00

A few days ago I received this text from my brother:

Tell me you have read the D2 Mighty Ducks article on Grantland.

You see, he knows that I consider D2: The Mighty Ducks to be one of the best sports movies of all time. Heck, it may be one of my favorite movies in any genre (I don't watch a lot of movies). It also happens to be the only film I can quote (see post title). The author of D2: The Undeniable Cultural Impact of the Mighty Ducks Franchise brought a host of hockey-related childhood memories flooding back. Thank you, Rembert Browne.

I was 11 in 1994 when my grandmother took me along with my brother and cousin to see D2. It was so good that the audience started clapping when Team USA would score a goal! Actually we thought that was pretty ridiculous at the time, so we decided we would start quacking instead of clap along. Grandma didn't think it was funny.

I left the theater wanting to be Julie "The Cat" Gaffney ((she was such a good goalie, the audience didn't even notice she saved Gunner Stahl's triple deke (glove side) shot until a solid 13 seconds after the fact!)), and my brother secretly wanted to be Charlie Conway. For the record, I have not officially confirmed this with him, but I'm pretty sure it's true. In addition to the Mighty Ducks craze, the Florida Panthers concluded their first season in 1994 - we were huge fans. Both of my brothers joined roller hockey leagues, and I practiced my triple deke on the hockey net we had at home. Best of all, the older of my two brothers used to play goalie while I served balls at him in our backyard...don't worry, he belted pillows onto his arms, legs, and midsection to protect himself.

Unlike the author, my brothers retained their hockey love for more than a summer. There were dozens of hockey puck holes in our old garage wall to prove it. And I will always love going to hockey games thanks, in part, to Gordon Bombay and his Ducks. Also, in case the need ever arises, I know how to have a proper hockey fight - stick, gloves, shirt.

"Let's go shake their haaands."

You Gotta Try This Stuff

2011-11-08T10:20:00.000-08:00

I know it's winter time (and I know most people who live outside of South Florida are not thinking about the best way to protect their delicate skin from the sun), but just in case you want to file it away for future reference...

You gotta try this stuff. I spotted this Neutrogena liquid sunblock fairly recently and decided to give it a shot. Normally sunscreen gives me an unwanted greasy glow, but this stuff absorbs right into your skin. It's fabulous!

On the other hand, you should stay far, far away from this Neutrogena product:

It is the opposite of sheer and lightweight. In fact, it turns white when you sweat. Not a cute look, and a painful waste of $12.

So why do I care about finding a good sunscreen? Well, let me tell you a little story. My dad has been teaching tennis for close to 40 years and his skin has paid the price. Recently my mom was babysitting a friend's little three and four year old, and after hanging out with my dad in his den for a bit, they marched back out to my mom in the other room. When she asked what they had been doing, they replied: "We were playing with your daddy!"

Bahahah:)

In my dad's defense, his white hair probably threw them off. But, long story short, I do my best to protect my skin so that 20 years from now people won't think I'm Tyler's mommy.

Happy Tuesday!

I'm sure you've probably seen this, but...

2011-11-05T20:39:00.000-07:00

...I just had to put it up here anyway.

When my brothers and I were little, Dad mandated that our candy had to be tossed after Halloween night (so we were warned in advance). But if we were allowed to keep the sugary morsels, I absolutely would have had a meltdown if I were told someone else ate it all (though, let's be honest, I probably would have stashed it away immediately upon return from Trick or Treat-ing). Is it bad that I might still cry if someone ate my candy? Hmm.

Thanks to my friend Yasi for bringing this video to my attention. Classic.

Happy Weekend!

Acting Like a Texan

2011-10-27T18:10:00.000-07:00

Tyler and I spent last weekend at a friend's ranch, and during my less than 48-hour stay, I felt like a real Texan. And I laughed...a lot. Here's a photo recap.

Appropriate ranch gear was modeled by our hosts. Apparently I need to buy some yellow mud boots and, more importantly, a holster and camo pants.

My exceptionally tall (and fun and pretty) friends, Annie and Eli, contemplated resting their elbows on my shoulders for this photo, but thankfully decided against it.

Princess Leia?

We shot guns.

Not well.

But we looked okay doing it.

Thank goodness we had some manly men to help us.

We roasted a pig that was actually captured in the wild - a concept that completely short circuited my Floridian sensibilities. Our fierce canine companions also brought home a reptilian prize.

We rode various vehicles and checked out the hog trap (which gave me the willies). It brings to mind the wild boar scene in Old Yeller. My parents didn't make many mistakes as overseers of my childhood, but letting me watch that movie may have been one of them. I was convinced I would die of rabies for months afterward.

We tried on animal skulls and made chocolate chip cookies.

We watched baseball on TV.

And then...we boxed.

Jeff taught us all about combos. Left, left, right.

This following sequence gave me a good chuckle (it appears that I'm less good at blocking). Props to the photographer.

Gotta love these two.

We got a vehicle stuck in a lake. Don't worry, the men rescued it by morning.

We played Pop-a-Shot (a must-have for any ranch home).

We fought off the deadly beasts of the bush.

Of course, we also played some good ole fashioned cornhole. And because there were too many people there for me to deny it, Tyler beat me and regained what Annie likes to call the "Love Trophy." I'm so bitter.

As we left on Sunday afternoon, I felt more relaxed than I have in a long, long time. There's just something about enjoying God's creation with great friends...aaaahhhhh. Many thanks to Jeff and Annie for letting us hang out for the weekend...you guys are great!

The Great Mosquito Invasion of 2011

2011-10-24T20:22:00.000-07:00

Approximately five days ago, the bloodsucking beasts of the air returned to Houston - with a vengeance. The infestation is so bad that it led the lone Australian on the women's team to ask: "Is it a plague?" Apparently mosquitoes aren't as vicious Down Under.

Tyler offered to pick me up some bug spray on his way home today (so I wouldn't get eaten alive during my lessons tonight), and this is what he found - or what he didn't find - at Walgreens.

Yep. This is the insect repellent shelf.

I headed to Randall's shortly afterward and ended up buying one of the three cans of spray they had left...and their repellent section was about twice the size of this one. I suppose it's comforting to know that we're all suffering together. Seriously. There are mosquitoes in my house. There are mosquitoes in my car. They are everywhere. There's a cold front coming on Friday and for the first time, I'm actually excited at the thought of shivering my bohunkus off. Luckily for me, I can put on layers of sweats. Mosquitoes, on the other hand, will literally freeze to death. Ha!

Soup and Guns

2011-10-17T19:24:00.000-07:00

My mom came to Houston for a visit this weekend, and what did we do? Among other things, we ate tortilla soup at Chuy's. It was delightful. The company was not so bad either.

Tyler had quite the weekend as well. On Saturday morning, while I was working, Tyler picked my mom up and went to the shooting range. That's right - they went and shot guns together. And it was my mom's idea. You see, they're both married to similarly intense and often irrational personalities, so let's just say they relate well to each other (as in, Tyler has been known to call my mom if I do something extra ridiculous because she is the only one who knows exactly what he's talking about).

Long story short, a good time was had by all. It was definitely nice to see my mom while not also living with her. She's pretty great. And thanks to her ability to do everything from fix electronics to perfectly wrap presents to cook great meals to run a business, I have a Domestic Hotline I can call 24 hours a day. I'm still not sure how I received approximately zero percent of her skills, but ya win some, ya lose some.

Oh, and just because I appreciate a good chuckle (even if no one else is chuckling with me), you must watch Geico's newest commercial. Seriously, who thinks of this stuff?

"It's kinda strange...such a simple word."

Bahaha:)

Behold, the Cup!

2011-10-16T19:52:00.000-07:00

Tyler and I had been dating just a few weeks when he celebrated his 21st birthday. There had been no DTR (Determine the Relationship) talk at that point, and I was in that awkward what-do-you-get-for-someone-who-you-are-only-sort-of-dating middle ground. So what did I do? I called my mom (a.k.a. The Gift-Giving Master). Less than a month into our relationship, Tyler and I had played just about every sport together, so Mom suggested I get a trophy made for the whoever happens to be the sporting champion of the moment. I didn't think about the fact that the trophy (or Champion's Cup) would sit on Tyler's dresser for years after that birthday as a reminder of my athletic inferiority.

Of course, I have had a few victories along the way: I once won a chipping contest (but Tyler was using righty clubs). I later won a few games of ping pong (but Tyler didn't have his personal paddle...yeah, yeah). The only two victories I can claim outright are one win in H-O-R-S-E and another in...wait for it....ski-ball.

So when Tyler and I headed to the bowling alley on a whim the other night, it's safe to say my expectations were low. I mean, look at this guy.

In the past, I've bowled left-handed when, in fact, I'm not a lefty. My right elbow doesn't quite feel right when I straighten it out holding a 10-pound bowling ball, so in the interest of avoiding a career-ending injury, I started using my left hand years ago. But that was back when I actually cared if I could win a tennis match or not. Now my interest lies in holding on to any chance of beating my ridiculously athletic husband.

So I broke out my exercise band and did a solid arm warm-up before approaching the lane. Then I began my campaign to execute the biggest upset in Palace Bowling Lanes history.

In the interest of Tyler's dignity, I'll spare you the details. I need only to show you this...

Right after I did a victory lap.

Winning one game was great and all, but Tyler could easily say that was a lucky round. So we started another and then the nerves set in. I knew a victory here would be the most significant of my Marriage Athletics career, so I started with some healthy, constructive self-talk. You can't choke. You can't choke. You can't choke. He'll never let you live it down. Clearly, Tyler has a way of getting in my dome.

It was a tense 10 frames, but the result was glorious. Behold!

As I looked up at the final score, the heavens opened and the angels broke into song. Aaaah-ohhhhh-AAAAAAhhhh!

As I read over this post, I can hear my dad saying, "Act like you've been there before."

But here's the thing - I haven't. It may be short-lived (let's be honest), but the Champion's Cup is mine!
Sadly, there are no pictures of said Cup because it is in a box somewhere, but that's neither here nor there.

Happy Monday!

Rain, Laughs, and Serena Williams

2011-10-09T18:57:00.000-07:00

Let me start by saying that it rained all day in Houston today!! I had nearly forgotten what gray skies looked like after a summer spent in bone-dry Dallas and then moving to much of the same in H-Town. Tyler and I enjoyed a glorious Sunday afternoon nap, and instead of being lulled to sleep by the sound of Ebb Tide, we got to enjoy nature's sound machine to the tune of "Thunder Storm." Loved it!

And for some Sunday night laughs, you must watch this video. Tyler and I first saw this a few days ago when it had 80,000 views. It now has close to 4 million. So much for giving my blog readers an exclusive look at a future star. But even if you've already seen it, you should watch it again. Tyler did. In fact, I could hear him watching it multiple times after I went to bed the other night.

Also, in case you haven't heard, Serena Williams is likely done for the year. I'm not shocked. But for a while there (granted, a short while), I thought her near death experience with a pulmonary embolism may have provided her with a long-term attitude adjustment. Turns out, I was duped. You can read my thoughts on the subject (and on her bizarre U.S. Open rant last month) here.

As with anything Serena related, everyone has an opinion. At one point in the story, I mentioned that I think Williams should have apologized to the umpire she berated.

"If Serena's emotions just got the better of her, as she later claimed on Twitter, why not throw in a simple I'm sorry? Those words go a long way in American sport. Just ask Kobe Bryant, Alex Rodriguez or Michael Vick."

My point being that American fans have forgiven for much, much worse than Serena's mini-outburst. All she had to do to help people get over her juvenile display was type a 140 character Twitter apology. Apparently that wasn't clear to one reader, but don't worry, another reader set her straight. Ahaha:)

Let me be clear: I hope Serena plays professional tennis for long, long time. Her train-wreck quality makes her fun to watch, and as far as her tennis goes, no female player can rival her shot-making ability and athleticism. I just don't get her the-world-is-against-me attitude. But apparently there are plenty of people who do. To each his/her own, as they say.

Have a great week!!

P.S. My friend, Elizabeth, is giving away a gift certificate to Barn Owl Primitives. If you want a chance to win it, go to her blog and enter!

Tidbit Tuesday Night - The Reverse Samson

2011-10-04T20:03:00.000-07:00

I'm not a huge football fan. And by that I mean I don't have a team I follow with religious zeal and/or fervor. That said, I found this Grantland.com (where else?) football article on Tom Brady thoroughly entertaining. I'm guessing that's because it wasn't exactly about Tom Brady - it was about his hair.

source

By shaving his flowing mane in between an embarrassing loss to Buffalo and a dominating performance against Oakland, the writer says he committed a "reverse Samson." He later calls Giselle Bundchen (Brady's supermodel wife and the reason he kept his hair long for so long in the face of constant ribbing and ridicule) a "reverse Delilah." Brilliant. Gotta love a good Biblical reference.

I also particularly enjoyed this sentence about Jets QB Mark Sanchez:

Sanchez has a breathtaking handsomeness that's both antique and of-the-moment — part 1930s movie star, part Bachelor Season 17 — and he has real, confident style.

Ah, to write like that! Maybe one day. I'll just have to keep studying articles like this.

Oh, and speaking of newly shorn locks, I have it on good authority that Bryan Kest (see below) has cut off his curly mop, which is unfortunate. His wind machine (i.e. fan) is now useless! What a waste.

Happy Midweek!

Weekend Recap

2011-10-02T19:24:00.000-07:00

This weekend I got to celebrate the impending arrival of little Luke Janish with my friend Maria. It was great to see her (and lots of girls I haven't seen since college). It was also nice of Maria to have both cupcakes and cakeballs on hand in my honor. It was much appreciated;)

In other news, I've decided that in my old age, I should really attempt to improve my flexibility (which is currently nonexistent). I'm on the court for hours every day, often competing with 20-year-olds. Taking it easy isn't an option, so I figured I should take some precautionary measures to make sure I don't end up sidelined by a pulled hammy, quad, etc. When my bro and sister-in-law gave me an Amazon gift card for my birthday in September, I figured it would be a perfect opportunity to start my exercise dvd collection. After reading what seemed like hundreds of reviews, I decided on buying Bryan Kest's Power Yoga.

The DVD came with three different workouts (beginner, intermediate, and advanced). Of course, I decided to start with the advanced workout...brilliant. I pushed play and then this man appeared on my screen.

This is Bryan Kest. I only wish you could witness his soft curls blowing in the wind-machine-manufactured breeze. Within the first minute, he taught me a new word: equanimity.

Def: mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, esp. in a difficult situation.

The headstand we were supposed to attempt during the "warmup" would qualify as a difficult situation. Bryan told me that it was "okay to fall...just fall with a little equanimity." Yeah, let me just say that composure and evenness of temper are not often words that describe me, especially when I've just crashed feet first into the kitchen table while unsuccessfully attempting to stand on my head.

He also told me that the only difference between a stiff person and a flexible person is that a stiff person has to go farther to get to the same place. Thanks, Bryan.

In a few more weeks I'll let you know if I'm making any progress and/or improving my equanimity.

source

Happy Sunday Night/Monday!

Things I'm Loving...or Not

2011-09-24T13:16:00.000-07:00

Loving!

I do realize that there are many aspects of my daily life that resemble that of an infant's. Namely the fact that my day revolves around my meals, I get cranky when my eating schedule is thrown off for what I consider to be an avoidable reason, I enjoy naps when I can get them, I can be soothed by the dulcet tones of my mother's voice, I occasionally cry for no reason, I can...okay, I need to stop.

Though I'm not proud of it, I have recently added a new infantile aspect to my daily life in the form of a sound machine. I originally purchased my magical noise-maker before my freshman year of college, you know, to ward off the late night din of the dorm. I used it intermittently throughout my time at Rice, but somehow it made its way back to my parents' house in Florida. Luckily for me, I rediscovered the sound machine after living at home last year. Tyler and I have been using it since we moved into our own place and the gentle lull of "Ebb Tide" has been rocking us to sleep ever since (Foghorn, Steam Engine and Babbling Brook are also top sound selections). You should try it. I'm serious.

Not Loving :(

One of the compromises we had to make to get a nice, clean apartment close to Rice was living without a washer/dryer in our unit. I go through two, sometimes three outfits a day, and if you add that to Tyler's dirty clothes contribution, well, that's a lot of dirty clothes. As soon as we do a few loads, the bins fill right back up. It stinks. Pun intended (shock).

Loving!

It's rare that I'm anything but indifferent when it comes to my financial institution. Then I started using Chase Mobile Banking. It allows you to deposit checks by simply taking pictures of the front and back. When you are paid by check as often as I am (not every two weeks like most people), this is a fantastic invention! Technology these days...

Not Loving :(

I didn't think there was anything that could make me even remotely interested in running another half marathon. Then I happened to see that Sarah Palin recently ran one....in one hour and 46 minutes. My first reaction? You've gotta be kidding me. She's over 20 years older than me and has five kids (or something like that). How the heck did she beat me by seven whole minutes? Then one of my dear friends told me Elisabeth Hasselbeck ran her first half marathon in 1:44. Ugh.

Really Sarah?

Loving!

I've never been a huge Gatorade drinker, mostly because of the sugar and the calories. But, I have recently discovered mini grape G2's and they are delightful. At just 30 calories and less than half the sugar of regular Gatorade, they are the perfect thirst-quenching drink. As Tyler says, "That purple liquid is more expensive than gasoline!" True, perhaps. But they're so worth it!

That's all for now!

Happy Weekend:)

Thoughts - U.S. Open Edition

2011-09-16T13:58:00.000-07:00

It was an interesting U.S. Open. Here are my thoughts after watching two weeks of tennis...

- Rafa Nadal is a classy guy (who also happens to share an uncanny resemblance to the next Bachelor). Novak Djokovic has owned him the last six times they've played and yet he still has a good attitude in his post-match press conference. I was often inconsolable for ~~days~~ hours after a loss (I was not exactly graceful in defeat), so I can't imagine having to talk about losing in the U.S. Open final to the same person who has beaten me over and over and over again.

- Djokovic's crosscourt winner while two match points down to Roger Federer was one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen. Then I watched him play to the crowd and proceed to win the next point, too. After that, it was no surprise that he went on to win the match. Unreal.

- Sam Stosur put her biceps to good use on the way to her first Grand Slam title. If we ever meet in person, I'm fully prepared to ask her if she could bench press me. Now that would make a good blog post. Aaanyway, she easily could have crumbled under the pressure, but instead she completed an absolutely amazing performance against one of the best women to ever play the game. After Stosur lost in the final of the French Open last year, I wrote a story on her physique and the fact that her game style is often compared to that of a man's. I generally don't love the actual writing process, but that was a fun one.

- Ah, Serena. She always gives people something to talk about, which is why I hope she stays in the game for many years to come. That said, her outburst in Sunday's final was like reading a transcript from a fight that went down in the local junior high school. And of course, there was no apology afterward. I also wrote about that. If and when it gets published, I may have to go into hiding.

- I've decided I need to become friends with Andy Roddick. He seems to know everything.

- I don't like the "intentional hindrance rule." You know, the one that sparked Serena's tirade against the chair umpire in her final match. The same thing happened in a match I was following earlier in the week (Bartoli vs. McHale), and I was shocked that they didn't replay the point. Of course, just because I think it's a faulty rule doesn't mean I condone belittling an official. Apparently, the umpire for the final, Eva Asderaki, is one of the best in the business and now she'll probably be banned from Serena's matches because of something completely out of her control. Boo.

-I'm doubting even those diehard tennis fans out there watched the men's doubles final, so here's a crazy highlight (or lowlight, depending on how you look at it) for you. So, Jurgen Melzer and Philip Petzschner emerged victorious, but not before Petzschner lied about an amazing shot he "hit." Turns out, the ball in question never hit his racket, a fact his opponents noticed right away. Unfortunately, the chair umpire didn't see the ball actually ricochet off his LEG and Petzchner denied it! Really?

-Last, but not least, here's a clip that my brother sent me. I'm still laughing. So even if you care nothing about tennis, you should watch this video.

Another Grand Slam in the books!

Good To Be Back

2011-09-10T12:22:00.000-07:00

I've missed Houston.

Here are the Top 10 reasons why:

1. Convenience - Everything I could ever need is within a ten mile radius.

2. Running trails - There are at least two great ones in the area and it makes running so much more enjoyable. The people watching is beyond compare, which by the way, is the main reason I wear sunglasses while jogging. If I see something truly bizarre, I can hold my gaze slightly longer than I would if the person could actually see me staring.

3. Food - Ok, let's be honest. You knew this was going to make my list. I've lived in a lot of places in my life, but nowhere else have I witnessed the culinary cornucopia that is Houston, Texas.

4. Chuy's - Technically this falls in the "Food" category, but I'm giving Chuy's restaurant and its creamy jalapeno dip/tortilla soup combo its own bullet point. It's like crack...except I don't need to sell my gold jewelry to sustain my addiction. Not necessarily a good thing.

5. Non-communal living - Thank goodness for our families. Without them we would have spent loads of money on short term leases and furniture rentals over the past year. But that said, I got a little misty when we finally moved into our own apartment in Houston. It's been a long road to get to this point, and I almost forgot what it was like to live as a "real" adult. It's glorious (in case you were wondering).

6. Friends - I have some great friends in Houston. Here are a few of them at (where else?) Chuy's.

7. Accountability - I'm a loner at heart. As much as I enjoy my friends and miss them when I'm away, I generally don't fall into a dark depression when I'm stuck in a city where I don't know a soul. I do, however, miss being in close contact with the friends who can help keep me accountable in my faith. I have many of them here.

8. Working for Myself - I've had some great bosses over the past few years, and I've been so thankful for the great people I've met thanks to the fact that I teach tennis. It is nice, however, to work outside of the club structure. It's a good change of pace.

9. Dessert - Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Never have I lived in a place that has multiple options just for dessert (i.e. Chocolate Bar, Dessert Gallery, Ruggles, etc.). Going out for the occasional slice of Ruggles red velvet cake is so much better than going out and getting a gallon of ice cream. That may be because of my PCD (Portion Control Disorder), but that's neither here nor there.

10. Squirrels - (note: this is when I realized I should have probably capped the list at 9). Unlike the Dos Equis Most Interesting Man in the World, I do not find squirrels untrustworthy. I actually find them cute. And you'll never see chubbier squirrels than in Houston. In fact, I saw my neighbor feeding one yesterday.

There you have it:) It's good to be back.

Best Gift Ever

2011-08-31T11:37:00.000-07:00

In honor of my upcoming birthday, I'd like to share with you the best gift Tyler has ever given me. Oddly enough it wasn't even a birthday present. It was a "just because I love you" present. Well, that's what I call it anyway.

So here you have it!

Tyler got me a slumber mask (yes, that's the technical term) over two years ago. The straps are now hanging by a thread (which isn't all bad because I have a monstrous head), but I'll wear it 'til it dies. I sleep so well with this thing...seriously! It's great for naps, for car rides or for dozing if you have a spouse who doesn't exactly have the same sleep schedule. I'll admit, it's a bit of a utilitarian gift, which I typically dislike (Tyler learned that when he gave me an external hard drive for Christmas a couple years ago), but it's like giving the gift of sleep! What could be better? Ha.

Other gifts that are sure to make me smile?

Massages

Sweets

and

Massages

Also, if you are interested in my most recent opinion on Serena Williams, you can check it out here. Her behavior as of late has perfectly set up an "I've been duped!" follow-up editorial, but given the sensitive nature of anything even mentioning Serena's name, I don't think anyone would dare publish it.

Happy Wednesday!

Talking Points

2011-08-29T18:39:00.000-07:00

Ready for some randomness? Here we go...

-I've never played racquetball, but I was able to watch people playing from the treadmill at my gym in Colleyville. Can someone tell me what it is about that particular sport that says even the most marginally talented players should don headbands? I'm thinking it must be the only arena where such garb is socially acceptable.

Reminds me of this:

-Which reminds me that the U.S. Open starts today. It's hard to imagine anyone beating Serena, but I'd like to think that Rafa is going to break out of his mental slump brought on by the dominance of one Novak Djokovic. Novak has been swimming in the Spaniard's proverbial dome for months. Nadal's gotta snap out of it at some point, right? The U.S. Open seems like a good time for that.

-This week I also got my first taste of what it's like to ghostwrite, and let me tell you, there's nothing more bizarre than writing a story in first person as someone else. It gets even more strange when you see the story published under someone else's byline. Just one more new experience to add to the list.

-Fresca is underrated. It's just so darn refreshing! If you've never tasted the grapefruit-y drink, you should.

- In my last week teaching at my old job, I asked the kids a question that got an interesting answer.

Q. Who is your favorite athlete?

A. Seven-year-old boy: Tiger Woods! [Pause] Well, wait...I guess he was my favorite athlete until he started acting strange a few months ago.

Ha! Strange. Yes, that's the word.

That's it for me!

The Platform

2011-08-24T19:46:00.000-07:00

We really met some amazing people during our three-ish month stay in the Dallas area. Tyler, in particular, was incredibly blessed by the Airhogs chaplain who facilitates Baseball Chapel for the players each week. Over a month ago, Tyler volunteered to speak at the Airhogs' "Faith Night" event on August 12th, but soon after that, we began considering (for multiple reasons) leaving Dallas a little earlier than originally planned.

Baseball provides a unique platform for Tyler to share his faith, and given that we don't know how much longer he'll be playing, we both agreed that he should stick around for what could be his last opportunity to use his "ballplayer" status. What we didn't expect was that I would be invited to speak with him. I'm sure everyone who attended that night was thinking, "Now, who is she again?" but I, too, was thankful for a chance to share what God has been doing in our lives.

We spoke on a panel with (from l to r) Tom Roy, the president and founder of UPI, Arnie (Tyler's chaplain who organized and ran the whole event), Pat Combs who, in addition to being a former first rounder and pitcher for the Phillies, is the Chairman of the Board of FCA, and former PGA Tour Pro Randy Wolff.

Focusing?

Tyler did a great job.

Proof that I'm a "handtalker."

Tyler's former youth pastor and his family came out to support us as well as several people we knew from church.

The Henley Fam (minus a few) - we are so thankful for their support! Special thanks to Tyler's brother Carson who was our photographer for the night.

There's no doubt it's been a challenging year (and three months) for Tyler and me, but we both sincerely feel that God has been working on us throughout. As I've mentioned before on the ol' blog, it takes me a little longer than Tyler to get over myself and do my best with what God has given me today (not next week or next month). Perhaps that's why our little rough patch has lasted so long...hmm. Here's to hoping I'll have an improved reaction next time less than favorable circumstances come our way:)

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:34

First Day of School

2011-08-22T08:47:00.000-07:00

Parents all around the country sent their kids off to school today. I, on the other hand, sent my husband.

These aren't my best photographic works, but I had 13 seconds (give or take) until Tyler realized these pictures are to his "cool" factor what Obama's Martha's Vineyard vacation is to his presidential approval rating. Welp, too late now:)

Happy Monday!

Update!

2011-08-19T14:36:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure by the time I finish this post it will seem like I just used my mom's Crockpot cooking strategy of "Just throw it in!" In other words, this will be a mish-mash of mostly useless information, but together, I hope it ends up being a semi-coherent blog posting. Feel free to let me know how I did.

First up, let's start with random tidbit. No, it's not Tuesday. And, for the record, Tidbit Tuesday has not been the best idea. I just can't seem to confine my tidbits to one day of the week. So here you have it: the truth about watermelon seeds. Clearly I found this story long ago. Then I kept forgetting to post it on a Tuesday. This is me giving up.

Next, as you may remember, I recently wrote about Owling (a.k.a. the newest trend for people who have too much time on their hands). Well, apparently Owling has gone the way of Planking. It is out. Leisure diving is in. Below you will find a small taste of what you are in for if you head to www.leisuredive.com. Just like its predecessors, the leisure dive makes me giggle.

Source

Up next? We are moving! Coming from us, I realize that statement is about as newsworthy as "We brushed our teeth this morning!" It's definitely not quite as exciting when you change locations every few months, but we're headed to Houston tomorrow so Tyler can hopefully start classes at Rice on Monday. I say "hopefully" because he has currently only been able to get into two of the four classes he needs to graduate in December. Tyler's thoughts on this dilemma? It will all work out. My thoughts? Are you serious? Do they understand his situation isn't like everyone else's? SOMEONE has to be able to help! This shouldn't be so hard! Unbeliev----ahem. Sorry about that. Just one more example of how I do not gracefully handle crisis. Or perhaps I just define "crisis" a little too loosely.

Back to the matter at hand. It's been a stressful few weeks trying to set everything up in Houston, from health insurance to our apartment, but we're almost to the finish line. Tyler was able to amicably part ways with his team, and we're looking forward (sort of) to focusing on school for the next few months. For those wondering, Tyler will look for another team to play for in the spring. If it happens, great. If not, he'll start the job hunt. I will be the volunteer assistant for the Rice team and will be teaching lessons at the courts. Given that we aren't sure how long we'll be in town, it's the perfect setup.

Last but not least, I haven't been blogging much because I've been writing elsewhere over the past couple of weeks. With the U.S. Open approaching, I've had an opportunity to do some tennis coverage starting with a mini-feature on Christina McHale (the fourth-highest ranked American woman at No. 76). I was scheduled to do a phone interview after her match in Cincinnati on Wednesday. Well, it just so happened that she upset the No. 1 player in the world that day. Didn't see that coming. While it didn't make for the best interview (by the time I talked to her, she had played two matches and talked to countless media outlets), it was a great opportunity to work on a tight deadline. I'm pretty sure I now have a hole in my stomach lining, but it's all for a good cause.

That's all I've got for now!

Happy Friday to you:)

This is when you know...

2011-08-12T13:17:00.000-07:00

...you are really short.

Either that, or you have really tall friends.

Did this really happen?

2011-08-07T19:41:00.000-07:00

It's been about six weeks since I ran my half marathon, and I had almost convinced myself that it was all a bad dream. But, alas, our raceday photographer just sent photographic evidence that I did, in fact, run a foot race just for "fun."

This first picture was taken as we were waiting in the longest line of all time. I only used the bathroom of the nearby hotel three times as we waited to board the yellow school bus that took us to the race site. By the third trip they had run out of toilet paper. Fabulous.

Aaanyway, as we waited, I started to think that riding my running partner, Yasi, would make the process easier. I take it she didn't feel the same.

When we reached the sea of people jockeying for position behind the starting line, we only had about 35,000 people willing to take a picture for us. Yes, Jeri's boyfriend wore our official race shirt in a show of solidarity. He also spent the entire weekend cleaning up after us...he's a saint.

PEOPLE!

Just the girls (minus one...she joined us at the end).

Finito! After waiting for everyone to finish, I was thoroughly chilled. That explains my super cute tin foil skirt. It was surprisingly warm and snuggly.

And there you have it. The marathon documentation is complete. Now I will actively try to forget that it happened.

*Happy Monday*

Stadium Singing - The Bad and the Ugly

2011-08-02T20:41:00.000-07:00

As I sat through a surprisingly competent rendition of "God Bless America" last night, it got me thinking. I've heard America - the Blessed, the Beautiful and the Home of the Brave - lauded in song more times than most. Though I'll admit I don't often arrive at Tyler's games pre-National Anthem (in fact, I've become quite good at rolling in just before his first at-bat), I have heard some Anthem doozies. And thanks to the post-9/11 institution of "God Bless America" during the 7th inning stretch, we get two performances for the price of one.

I've jotted down a few of the most unfortunate things I've seen in the world of stadium singing. Before I share them with you, let me throw out a simple disclaimer: I have immense respect for anyone who can go out on a baseball field and sing a song that surely would have been made vocally and instrumentally easier if the composer knew the Average Joe was going to attempt it on a regular basis.

1. The Electric Guitar Solo of '09- It was a sweltering summer evening, and I just happened to make it to Tyler's game in time to hear those all too familiar notes - F D Low B D F B. Interestingly, I heard no voice. Just an electric guitar. It was slow. It was painful. I was immediately transported back to the 8th grade handbell solo* where my performance of "Greensleeves" ended in a choke so epic that it rivaled Jana Novotna's collapse in the '93 Wimbledon final (except she got comforted by a Duchess). I learned during my post-performance smattering of polite applause that hitting a foul note is far more mortifying with an instrument than with your voice.

It was no different for the guitar soloist who I quickly recognized as an employee at the field. Word to the wise: unless you are the greatest guitarist of all time, I don't recommend attempting this at your place of work. You can't just ride off into the sunset. Instead you have to relive the most embarrassing moment of your life every single day. [Note: I have just been informed that this poor guy had to jump in that day to replace a no-show performer...I now feel like a terrible person for making him No. 1 on my list.]

2. What Not to Wear - Number two on my list came up very recently. Though I didn't see the national anthem, I'm thankful that Tyler's team brings the same singer back for a God Bless America encore. Here's where I insert my thoughts on the Stadium Singing dress code: 1) Heels are a no-no. 2) Skirts should be fingertip length (at least). 3) Cleavage is usually unnecessary. 4) Cleavage in a spaghetti-strap tank top is always unnecessary.

I'm sure this woman was very sweet, but all I could think was, She knew she was singing the National Anthem and that's what she picked out of her closet? It was one of those awkward moments where you know you're supposed to be looking at the flag blowing in the breeze, but you just can't stop staring at the singer. For a minute, I was reminded of Serena Williams's infamous U.S. Open boots/jean skirt combo. It was ridiculous looking, but she got away with it because she's that good. Sadly, this sweet lady was not the anthem-singing equivalent of Serena Williams. I'll leave it at that.

source

3. The Group Performance - I've seen some good groups. I've seen some bad groups. But I'll never understand why they give the 27-member church choir just one microphone. There's always one bass or overzealous alto who steals the show (and not in a good way).

An honorable mention goes to the singer who knows they may be experiencing their only chance to perform in front of an audience and decides to give us a 7 minute 16 second rendition of what is otherwise a two minute song. Whyyy?

~~~

I'm sure I'll have more moments where I wonder what exactly goes on during the Stadium Singer screening process. Do they even exist in the world of minor league sports? I'll never know. But either way, we get to honor the good old US of A. And that's the whole point.

~~~

*it was cool at the time

Quotable Quotes II

2011-07-27T20:59:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned before that I teach an interminably long kids' clinic five days a week. That means I have lots of time to talk to the lucky children whose parents trust me with their well-being.

Snack time provides a daily 10 minute respite from the blazing Dallas sun and also provides ample time to converse with my young charges. Recently I watched one of my 7-year-old boys struggling to open his Fruit-by-the-Foot. Before I could offer to help, he announced, "Can someone open this for me, please? No girls allowed." I had already held out my hand to assist him when he threw out that stipulation. He apparently saw my gesture and reconsidered:

"But I will let a woman open it for me," he said, handing it over.

~~~

Yesterday I had a new little boy in my 5 and 6 year old class. He didn't quite understand the concept of putting balls on his racket to pick them up with greater efficiency. He didn't quite understand the concept of picking up at all, but that's neither here nor there. I was collecting balls myself (a strategy I employ often lest we spend the entire clinic ball-wrangling) when I heard this exchange:

Boy's mom: "Why don't you the put the balls on your racket? [Points in my direction] See what Coach Blair is doing?"

Boy: "Of course she can do that. She's an older woman!"

~~~

While snacking, another boy was talking about his dad, and I asked what he does for a living. This was his response:

"Uh, uh, uh, um, uh, he's a, he's a, um, a, um a Tax Return!"

Me: Oh, he's an accountant?

Boy: No, definitely a Tax Return.

Bahaha:)

~~~

And so you don't think the boys provide all of the laughs, I have one little girl who loooves to talk.

Today she was telling me how her dad tore his Meningus. Meningus/Meniscus...close enough.

Later she was explaining how the balls roll like little Gerblets. I asked her what a Gerblet was. She said, "You know, like a hamster." Again, Gerblet/Gerbil...close enough.

~~~

Quick sidenote: My friend Elizabeth is having a giveaway on her blog for a pie dish. I can enter by mentioning it here. Yes, it's true the odds of me baking a pie in the near future are only slightly better than the odds of it raining in Dallas between the hours of 8am and 12pm anytime in the next 21 days. Let's just say I'm preparing for my Homemaking Renaissance (which may or may not happen in the next seven to ten years).

Tidbit...Sunday

2011-07-23T21:11:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it's not Tuesday. Sadly this means my need to slip gratuitous alliteration into my everyday life will not be satisfied today. I can't have it all.

Here are a few tidbits that I've recently stumbled across while attempting to use my time wisely in between Tyler's approximately four at-bats per game.

~Let's start with a gem from Grantland.com. I don't know Katie Baker, but after reading her story called "Sabermetrics, the Sunday Times, and the So-Called Women's Sport Section," I briefly considered joining Twitter just to follow her. In short, she used to write a column poking fun at the New York Times wedding section. Over the years, she's honed in on exactly what traits and qualities the Times values in selecting the elite couples who get their smiling faces and sparkling accomplishments heralded in what is apparently also known as "the sports section for women."

Perhaps this was so incredibly entertaining to me because I spent the summers of my formative years living amongst the same slice of society that often finds its way to the wedding section. Lest that statement be perceived as a "humblebrag," I was definitely (to borrow a Biblical reference) "in and not of" that crowd. When you grow up in the country club business (particularly anywhere on the eastern seaboard), it's just impossible to avoid. Not that "it" is a bad thing. It's just a different world.

Also increasing the number of times I laughed out loud while reading this article was the fact that my dad habitually reads the Times wedding section and often points out to me many of the exact same things to which Katie Baker so hilariously assigned point values. In fact, I sent him the story only to have him call me two more times that day to tell me categories and point values he would have added to her assessment.

Typical...and awesome.

~ Next up? Rollercoasters. Apparently they're dangerous. See Exhibit A and a slightly less terrifying Exhibit B. Tyler and I went to Six Flags Over Texas a couple of weeks ago to satisfy our mutual coaster love, and while it was fun, I left feeling a tad woozy. It's embarrassing to admit. I pride myself on my iron stomach (which does not apply, FYI, if I happen to see someone else vomit in front of me), but on one coaster in particular, I actually thought I might black out and/or throw up. I've since decided that it's probably time to call it a day when the edges of my vision start blurring.

By the way, the mid-air stall of the Texas Giant (described in Exhibit B) happened just two days after we road the same coaster. Now that would have been a good blog post.

~ Some headlines are better than others. "Bald Eagle Saved by Vet's Mouth-to-Beak CPR" is one such example.

~ I've spent summers in many different cities, but never have I experienced weather quite like that of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. As a tennis pro, you tend to value the occasional rainy day. That apparently does not exist in this part of Texas. At this point, I would settle for a few clouds, but even that seems to be too much to ask. Though I don't like being cold, I am thankful that a guy named Willis Carrier decided to invent air conditioning, so I can enjoy some level of relief at night under my fluffy covers. Here is a brief history of how cooled air in our homes came to be so commonplace. It really is interesting...I promise.

That's all for now. Tidbit Tuesday will eventually return on its assigned day.

Happy Weekend!

Whaaat?

2011-07-15T20:32:00.000-07:00

I'm not gonna lie. Seeing pictures of people "planking" makes me giggle. I do realize most find it absolutely ridiculous, but I also know that I tend to ~~laugh hysterically~~ chuckle at things that could also be deemed stupid and/or completely inappropriate.

I first heard about the phenomenon when someone died after falling off a balcony railing mid-plank. A cautionary tale, to say the least. But that led me to explore Google Images, which then led to uncontrollable laughter.

source

You get the picture. Pun definitely intended. [And I'm laughing all alone right now.] But, alas, planking is old news, so I give you the newest craze to sweep the world:

source

Friends, I give you "Owling!" Perhaps my uncontrollable laughter stems from the fact that I have a soft spot for [Rice] Owls, but this is so ridiculous that it's funny (to me at least:). It's the little things in life, ya know?

Oh, and speaking of puns...

There was a man who entered a local paper's pun contest. He sent in ten

different puns, in the hope that at least one of the puns would win.

Unfortunately, no pun in ten did.

Nice one!

Happy Weekend!

3,000

2011-07-09T15:08:00.000-07:00

When my brother heard that I was heading to New York for the weekend to visit, he thought it would be fun to see a Yankees game. When asked if I would be interested in going, "yes" was not on the tip of my tongue. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Yankees fan to the core. As kids, my brothers and I spent our summers listening to games on the radio with my dad and heading to games whenever we got the chance. I can't tell you how many times I've heard John Sterling say, "The Yankees win! The-e-e-e-e-e Yankees Win!" It's also possible that I had a thing for Don Mattingly and possibly Wade Boggs back in the day. Gotta love a good mustache. Manly.

source

Aaanyway, as you can imagine, I spend lots of time at Tyler's ballpark. It's no Yankees' Stadium, but still. And if I'm being completely honest, the game of baseball hasn't left the greatest taste in my mouth over the past year. Long story short, I wasn't jumping for joy at the thought of trekking to the Bronx to watch a sport that I get my fill of at home. But last week when he got the tickets, my bro reminded me that we might have a chance to see Derek Jeter get his 3,000th hit. That changed things.

I love Derek (or DA-rhek, as they say in New York), though not for the usual reasons that girls love Derek. He may be good-looking, but his sports mentality is one-of-a-kind. I don't even play competitively anymore, but I want to be like him in my everyday life. He's just so cool. You know, like a cucumber. He never seems affected by what people say about him or how poorly his day may be going. In 2004, he was hitting .189 six weeks into the season. I can't imagine how many times he had journalists ask him, "What's wrong with you?" Something tells me I wouldn't handle that very well. True to form, he finished the year hitting near .300 with 23 homers.

So when I realized I might get to see DA-rhek make history, I was pumped for the chance to be at the game. Too bad the game was last night. Too bad it got rained out. Too bad he did "it" in his first two-at bats today. Noooo! Why? Why did it have to rain yesterday? Brutal. Or, as Derek Jeter would say, "It's okay, Blair! You still got to see my historic hit on television on this beautiful Saturday afternoon!"

You're right, Derek. Thanks for helping me look on the bright side.

Bikram Yoga: A Play-By-Play Analysis

2011-07-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been making a conscious effort to expand my horizons. I really can't stand new things, so sometimes I just need to give myself a swift kick in the buns. Life is short, you know? So when my friend, Jeri, asked me if I wanted to do Bikram Yoga with her on my last day in Seattle, I said, "Sure!" even though internally I was saying, "Heck no!"

I had heard stories about Bikram Yoga. In fact, I recently watched a TV special on the founder, Bikram Choudhury. Yep, that guy.

source

For those who aren't familiar, Bikram Yoga is set apart from regular yoga by one main component: temperature. Most rooms are heated to approximately 105 degrees. Good thing I didn't look that up before we went. But to be honest I wasn't so concerned about the heat alone. I was more concerned about the combination of heat and yoga. You see, I'm about as flexible as one of the rocks I used to collect as a kid. In fact, I can't even sit Indian style (ridiculous, I know). So a couple of years ago when Tyler started raving about the yoga he did as part of his baseball training, I agreed to go with him. And I gave it a fair chance, I did. I went for weeks, and though I did see improvement in my flexibility, I always felt like I had been hit by a truck afterward. Tyler, on the other hand, bounded out of our sessions asking me, "Wasn't that great?!" and "Don't you feel fantastic?!" In a word...no.

You can see why Bikram Yoga scared the junk out of me. But I lived to tell about it, so here's the recap:

11:00: We enter the small room, yoga mats and several towels in hand. I immediately looked around for the bonfire. It didn't smell like smoke, but I could have sworn the room was ablaze.

11:00:30: I roll out my mat and arrange my towels. I'm not sweating yet. A good sign. I mentally pat myself on the back. Then I glance uneasily around the room at my fellow students who must have gotten there at 10:59 to "warm up." In the front of the classroom a woman contorts her body on the floor. She isn't moving. Her leg is stuck awkwardly beneath her body. Then she springs to life.

11:01:30: "Welcome," she says in a voice that reminded me strangely of my one-time pole dancing instructor. Then we begin.

11:02: My skin is starting to get moist.

11:05: As I'm touching my toes I realize that tops of my feet are sweating...something I haven't witnessed in a lifetime of being a profuse sweater.

11:10: Beads of sweat are turning to streams.

11:15: We are in the plank position. I am shaking. Sweat drops are tickling my nose.

11:25: I'm exceeding my yoga pose expectations. Perhaps it's because I'm focusing less on the pain and more on trying not to faint and/or vomit.

11:30: I'm in the Downward Dog position. As soon as I get my buns up high in the air, there is a deluge of sweat streaming from chest and neck straight up my nose. I was being waterboarded by my own perspiration. An unfortunate way to die, I thought.

source

11:40: We try a backbend. I almost throw up.

11:45: We do a move that requires me to bend to the side. I now have sweat in my ear.

11:46: We are told to attempt the pose our instructor was in when we entered the room. It involves tucking one leg under and across your body and laying down on it. I try. Not happening. I do the revised version for people who can't even sit Indian style. After several seconds of stretching my hip flexors, I try it again. Absolutely no shot.

11:50: I'm on the home stretch. We are asked to do the wheel pose. Not to be outdone by my fellow students, I try it and nearly break my arm. I come crashing back down to the mat. Embarrassing.

source

11:55: I lay flat on the mat that is now drenched in my sweat. We are told to reach inward to our souls or something like that.

12:00: I am inches away from reaching my soul when we are dismissed.

12:01: I made it! And shockingly, I actually feel refreshed (or lightheaded). One can't be too sure. Bikram preaches the ability of yoga + heat to purge your system of toxins, so I assume that's what happened. I'm pleasantly surprised!

So there you have it. I tried something new and kinda sorta liked it. If you've been wanting to try Bikram, you should. Just make sure you drink approximately 7.5 gallons of water beforehand.

Peace out!

Part II

2011-07-01T21:35:00.000-07:00

After re-reading my last post, I decided that it came off slightly more negative and depressing than I planned. The race really wasn't so bad. Okay, yes it was, but still I should be thankful I have legs to run on and great friends to run with.

So here's a photo recap of the rest of our Seattle adventure.

The place where they throw the fish!

Sadly when we went, there were no fish to be thrown.

The original Starbucks.

Corny. But I love it.

The Gum Wall. Gross, yet fascinating.

I saw this guy on the street corner and immediately thought I should attempt a paparazzi shot from behind a nearby brick column. We don't see this stuff in Dallas or Palm Beach Gardens, if you know what I mean. So as I'm awkwardly sticking my camera out from behind the post (and wondering if there is money to be made by inventing a camera that works like a periscope), I heard someone say, "Wait! Wait!" Yes, he was talking to me. As I shamefully emerged, he proudly struck a pose that surely took him years to perfect. Then I gave him a dollar. I fell right into his trap...what a dope. Ha.

The day after the race was absolutely amazing. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

Mt. Rainier as seen through sailboat masts.

And again at dusk. Heaven?

During that glorious day, we took Jeri's American Bulldog, Maya, to the most amazing dog park I have ever seen. I could have stayed for hours and watched the dogs chase balls their owners chucked into the lake.

Just when I thought the day couldn't have gotten any better, I got a visit from my old Rice friend Gello (like the jiggly snack), his wife Kate, their adorable baby Blake and their dog, Jenga. Gello was so nicknamed after a certain baseball coach continued to pronounce his last name Jillepsie instead of Gillespie. Now that he's a family man and a successful Seattle engineer, I feel like I should call him by his first name. But I didn't. It was just like old times.

It went back to being cool and rainy after this gem of a day, so Jeri took me to do Bikram Yoga. More on that later.

Happy Fourth of July!

Self-Inflicted Torture Part I

2011-06-29T12:53:00.000-07:00

Well, I have returned. I am alive. I am sore.

Let me start with a little picture overload. We are certainly much better at posing than we are at running.

Don't let the sunshine and greenery fool you. It was cold in Seattle (at least for the first two days I was there). And as someone who avoids frigid temperatures like the Wicked Witch of the West avoids water, well, I was a tad concerned about waking up at 4am on race day and throwing on a sleeveless shirt.

But, as evidenced by our smiles in the following photos, we somehow banished any stray thoughts of impending doom long enough to have a fun lunch and grab our race packets on our first day in Seattle.

My stomach lurched at the sight of the countdown clock. Why were we doing this again?

We may or may not have overdone the fake running pose.

Pre-race pedicure.

I'm still waiting to get the shots one of the girls took on race day, but in the meantime, I'll paint a little word picture. At 4:00 am on Saturday, I awakened to my lovely former teammate yelling, "Run Forest! Run!" in my doorway.

I rocketed out of bed with enough adrenaline already flowing that I was worried I'd run out before I even got to the starting line. After grabbing some food, we took a cab to the hotel where we were to wait for a shuttle to take us to the marathon site. I arrived to see the longest line I have ever witnessed in person, and it was the first of many times that day when I thought I might have a touch of agoraphobia.

With at least 35,000 runners, there was no escaping the massive crowd, and just like during my tennis days, I wasn't actually nervous until I saw my competitors. Don't get me wrong, I definitely walked by a few people and thought, Well, At least I won't finish dead last. But, still, that wasn't a huge comfort. I was more distracted by the hoards of people noisily sucking down Gu and stuffing bagels down their throats like they've never seen a carbohydrate before. I had entered an alternate universe where quad muscles are so large that they actually hang over the kneecap. Weird.

We stood in line for close to an hour, then hopped on a school bus which took us to the race site. I had no idea how far we had to drive, and as a result made the unfortunate decision to get on a standing room only bus. By the time we reached the race, I had been standing for a good hour and a half. I'll admit, running didn't sound like a terrible thing at that point.

Once we got off the bus, we headed to our corral (a fitting name, I thought). We really were like mooing cows packed solid in between metal gates. An annoyingly perky emcee started off a corral every minute, so at approximately 7:18 am, I officially embarked on my first road race of any kind.

Within minutes, I had lost any hope of ever getting in the elusive running "zone." There were people everywhere! I mean, I know I should have expected this, but I also didn't realize I would be avoiding potential collisions for 13 straight miles. After passing several water stations, I also don't think I ever mastered the art of the run and chug. With a ratio of one teaspoon swallowed to every 72 teaspoons spilled all over my face and neck, I finally decided on Mile 11 that I should probably stop and drink a decent amount so as to not die from dehydration (which apparently happens regularly at these things according to the marathon veteran in our group).

Also preventing any hope of finding the zone was the fact that I did not bring an iPod. As this was a "Rock 'N Roll" Marathon, the website told us to "leave iPods at home." This turned out to be one of those instances where I regretted being such a staunch rule follower. The bands were, um, underwhelming.

I ran with two friends up until the last mile or so when I decided that the faster I ran, the faster I would be done. I met up with one of my running partners just past the finish line and instead of sharing relief and euphoria, we both looked at each other and said, "That was awful."

I was so hoping to get a taste of the mysterious, magical high real runners must feel when they complete a race. After all, there was a woman there that day who was completing her 240th marathon. People actually do this a second time! But it was not to be.

I'm glad I finished with a respectable (and much faster than anticipated) time of 1:53, but I left failing to understand the appeal. And I certainly can't fathom running a full marathon. Long story short, I will not be proudly slapping one of those 13.1 stickers onto my car bumper.

Now that I've had time to reflect on the experience, I've decided the closest real-life comparison to marathon running is - wait for it - pregnancy and childbirth (minus the bundle of joy at the end). I know what you're thinking (She doesn't have children, does she?), but hear me out. I've been told that by the time a woman is 9 months pregnant, she is so ready to expel the child, that the fact it needs to come out an impossibly small opening doesn't faze her. Then after the child is born, many women decide that the pain is worth the end result, and they decide to do it again. Likewise, by the time you reach race day, you are so sick of the miserable training and waiting that getting it over with doesn't seem so terrible. Then you run the race, and it is, in fact, terrible. Then you realize moments (or days later in my case) that it might be possible to be convinced to do it again. See? It's a perfect comparison. Just kidding (sort of).

Once we recovered we headed out for a spectacular Mexican dinner. It was glorious.

That's all for Part I. More to come!

What's wrong with this picture?

2011-06-22T20:42:00.000-07:00

I probably won't have a chance to blog again until after I get back from Seattle on Monday, so I leave you with a little brain teaser.

What's wrong with this picture?

Luckily for you, there are three correct answers.

1. Tyler is on a treadmill. This has happened exactly zero other times in my presence during the 5 years I have known him.

2. Tyler is reading an electronics textbook (for fun) on a treadmill. If you had asked me on my wedding day whether or not I could foresee my husband executing that particular combination of activities, I would have said he had a much better chance of performing as a backup singer on opening night of my first Broadway show. Alas, I was wrong.

3. Tyler is reading a book on a treadmill at 8:15am on the morning after a game (which you astute observers out there may have been able to gather judging by the I'd-rather-be-anywhere-but-here look on his face).

He did all of this to support me during my long run last weekend. While I sprayed sweat drops every which-way from the treadmill next to him, he waited patiently for me to finish. He's pretty great. The past 13 months (but who's counting?) would have been a lot worse if we didn't have so much fun together:)

Peace out!

Tidbit Tuesdays

2011-06-21T05:39:00.000-07:00

Apparently alliterated weekly features are thing to do in the blog world. I've seen Wordless Wednesday, Target Tuesday, What I'm Loving Wednesday, Thankful Thursday, Manic Monday...you get the picture.

So as I spent another evening in the stands reading news articles while periodically glancing up to watch one of Tyler's at bats, I thought I would compile some of the most interesting, random or thought provoking articles I came across this week - tidbits, if you will.

First off, let's talk hockey. The sport may be second only to soccer in its lack of popularity in the US of A, but there was a time, circa 1994, that I could name the starting lineups for both the Florida Panthers and the New York Rangers. As kids, my brother and I played a fuseball-like hockey game incessantly, commentating for our teams with the ease of Barry Melrose or, my personal favorite, Denny Potvin.

Aaaanyway, it's been a long while since I've actually paid attention to what's going on in the NHL, but I happened to catch a clip of the Canucks' Daniel Sedin taking multiple, unreciprocated hits from the Bruins' Brad Marchand. Then I read how Barry Melrose said Sedin should be embarrassed for not fighting back. WHAT? Shouldn't this guy be celebrated for not taking the bait and starting a huge, unnecessary brawl that would have ended with inevitable time spent in the penalty box? See for yourselves:

I immediately called my bro who explained that European hockey players are generally known as wimpy, drama kings who take any an every opportunity to draw penalties. Sedin and his twin brother Henrik are commonly known as the Sedin Sisters. Okay, so they may be soft, but I still don't think it's a terrible thing to see a hockey player exercising some restraint. Right?

Next up? Anthony Weiner. Let's be honest, his personal woes have monopolized the editorial sections of just about every newspaper in America. But here's a story that I thought was particularly insightful. Sidenote: As I'm sure many of you are aware, the NY Times has started charging for its content once you exceed 20 articles per month. I am not pleased. $3.75 per week doesn't sound like a lot until you add up the cost for one year. Boo.

Apparently the FDA has come out with new sunscreen guidelines. This isn't earth shattering news for most, but since I slather on that gross, milky-white lotion just about every day of the week, I thought I should be aware of the changes. On the sun protection front, I've decided I may have to bite the bullet on wearing a full coverage hat when I'm on the court. I've been putting off this sad reality for quite some time now, but my skin isn't looking any younger.

Finally, let's talk reality TV. Over the past couple of years I've faithfully watched the Bachelor/Bachelorette and there is but one reason why: ihategreenbeans.com. The author writes an absolutely hilarious recap that is oh so much funnier if you actually watch the episodes. So I do. The more painful to watch, the more brilliant the recap.

Also, if you haven't checked out Bill Simmons' new website Grantland.com, you should. It's highly entertaining. In fact, they have put together a reality TV fantasy league. No joke. Other than the Bachelor/Bachelorette, I indulge in just one other reality show (which shall remain nameless so as not to embarrass my mother), but the Grantland rules, regulations and scoring system for this season make me giggle. If you've every watched a reality show, you should take a gander just for fun:)

That concludes the flagship installment of Tidbit Tuesdays. While you are enjoying your week, I'll be daydreaming of what it might be like to be carted off a marathon course by paramedics. Fabulous! (Said like the Orbit Gum Girl).

Happy Tuesday

Quote of the Day

2011-06-16T20:54:00.000-07:00

In addition to my other lessons, I'm currently teaching a daily two hour tennis clinic for seven-year-olds. Said clinic is no less than one hour and fifteen minutes too long for kids of that age.

Approximately 45 minutes into today's drill, one astute pupil remarked:

"I feel like I've been here for 50 bajillion hourrrrrrrsssss!!!!!!!"

You took the words right out of my mouth, Wee One.

Later I caught the same child explaining to his fellow camper that the Gushers she brought for snack time were bad for her because they included chemicals. His claims were refuted by a third party seven-year-old, to which he responded, "I'm telling the truth! Gushers are full of artificial flavors and colorings."

I felt his pain. As a small child, my parents withheld gummy snacks from me for the same reason (chemicals!), which left me no choice other than to barter with my fellow first-graders. With or without my parents' help, I found ways to partake of the forbidden fruit [snack]. But that's a story for a different day.

Happy Friday!

A Man and His Shoes

2011-06-10T18:47:00.000-07:00

Tyler has lots of ideas. As his far more realistic wife, I have a tendency to break out my .22 and shoot holes in some of them. It's a bad habit. Don't get me wrong, sometimes he needs someone to bring him back down to earth, but sometimes it's good to foster creativity, right?

Several years ago, Tyler told me that he was going to attempt making more comfortable cleats by using spikes from an old pair and fitting them into the soles of a pair of basketball shoes. My reaction went something like this:

"Huh?"

I wasn't exactly seeing the vision. And when he would come in covered in rubber shavings after spending hours sawing away in the garage, well, it didn't really clear things up for me. But eventually I saw the finished product, and they could be described in one word: Sa-weet. Since then he's made a few more pairs, including the Jordan's he transformed for his 2009 season. Even his manager was impressed until, that is, Tyler hit a triple, slid into third and his glued-in spikes dislodged and landed at his coach's feet. I'll never forget seeing them fly off from the stands and watching his manager pick them up and hand them over. Ha.

Needless to say, he's since made some adjustments and was able to transform these Lebron's into cleats in no time.

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Here's a picture of Tyler talking to the home plate umpire about said shoes. He'll often get comments from other players, catchers in particular, who see his sweet kicks and are instantly confused. When Tyler explains that he made them, you can see the "No Way!" look in their eyes. More importantly, the shoes are actually comfortable, which is apparently tough to come by in the world of cleats.

So, here's to you, Tyler. Congratulations on paying no attention to my strange looks and sideways glances. Your positive attitude and dreamer's outlook is one of my favorite things about you, so keep up the good work:)

And Happy Birthday, Ty! Sorry you have to spend it in El Paso.

Checking In

2011-05-30T10:13:00.000-07:00

Well, helllooooo!

Here's a little rundown of what we've been up to:

Before we left Springfield, Tyler and I walked around at the art fair outside of our ~~hotel~~ house. I never thought I could talk him into it, but persistence pays!

We saw a dog that looked like a horse (the picture doesn't do it justice)...

And mini-horses that looked more like dogs.

We saw a guy that played pipes with spatulas...

...only after I did a little street performing of my own. HA.

I've done a little teaching since I've been in Colleyville, but I won't be starting up full time for another week. My first official ladies' group was actually an extended warmup for the team's league playoffs, and it provided me with a "first" in my tennis teaching career. One woman decided she didn't want to play practice points - in a match warmup - because she is superstitious and didn't play points in her last match warmup. Ooooh-kay.

I have been training for my half-marathon. I'll say it once, and I'll say it again...I am not a runner. If I could strum on my hamstrings guitar-style right now, they would have the high-pitched "ping" sound you get before things start to snap. No bueno. I have, however, had fun making our race t-shirts. We may die, but at least we'll look cute.

I've written a couple of stories for this website. Less than 24 hours after I finished the first one on the "comeback" of tennis player Dinara Safina, she decided to take an indefinite leave of absence from the game due to chronic back problems. Uh, safe to say I didn't see that coming. The next story was also yanked at the last minute. Fantastic.

I had my first independent baseball experience. Tyler got picked up by the Grand Prairie Air Hogs last week, and after six days spent in Iowa and Kansas, he had his first home game a couple of nights ago. Here's what I observed:

-When the National Anthem singer walked out in boots, an untucked flannel shirt and a

cowboy hat, I knew I was in for a treat.

- The stadium is incredibly nice. I didn't exactly have high hopes, but the facility was

impressive.

- They sell pretzels with cheese for $3.50. What a bargain! I may or may not have danced a
celebratory jig.

     - Tyler is a different person. He's having fun playing baseball again, and his play is
   reflecting that. It's just one more confirmation that getting out of Springfield may not
   have been the worst thing. God knew what he was doing...imagine that.

- There were 31 total hits - and 8 homeruns - in Game 1. Longest game eveeeeerrrr, but

fun to watch.

- Tyler had a 10-year-old bat boy tell him that his mother's friend has "the hots" for him.
Ha, that gave me a little chuckle.

- While reading during the game, I came across this story. Whaaat?!

- Tyler's mom had a great time in the stands. No really, she did;)

That's all folks! Thanks again for all of the prayers and well-wishes. We're so thankful.

Where in the World are Blair and Tyler?

2011-05-18T12:31:00.000-07:00

Not that we're as cool or noteworthy as, say, Carmen San Diego, but I have gotten a few calls and emails from friends and family asking, "So where exactly are you guys?" After one more week in Springfield, we decided to head to Colleyville (Tyler's hometown) for a little while so he can continue to work out in case he gets an opportunity with another organization. So far it seems like most teams are already set in the outfield (and it doesn't help that the draft is only a few weeks away), but we still have a few options we're exploring.

Anyway, there's a lot of baseball stuff I don't discuss on the ol' blog, but suffice it to say that if I were in Tyler's shoes for the past year, I would have been sitting in a psychiatrist's office long ago (just kidding, sort of). He lasted a lot longer than I would have before things started affecting him mentally, and selfishly, I really hope he has the chance to enjoy playing baseball again.

Only time will tell, but in the meantime, Tyler has a place to work out, and I've already started teaching here. Thank goodness for the small tennis world. There aren't many jobs I could get when I have no idea what's going to happen even 24 hours from now.

That's the update. Regardless of where were are physically living, you can find us taking things one day at a time. It's kinda liberating. You should try it:)

And just because laughter is the best medicine, check out this video if you haven't already.

Identity

2011-05-07T20:41:00.000-07:00

As Tyler and I headed to church tonight, we drove right past the ball field where as of 24 hours ago he was employed as a professional baseball player. The sun was setting as we watched a sea of fans stream in through the front gates. The song on the radio station played quietly in the background...

Don't you give up now, the sun will soon be shining;

You gotta face the clouds to find the silver lining.

No joke. I was waiting for the director to come in and say "Cut!" It would have made a riveting movie scene. But unfortunately, it was no feature film (though I'm pretty sure our dramatic performances last night could have easily earned us best actor and actress Oscar nods). Playing time was scarce from day one of this season, and we knew something would have to give eventually. Sadly, that didn't make the news of Tyler's release any easier.

Through each challenge we have faced over the last year, we've convinced one another to stay the course, to survive until the season starts. Little did we know that the "chance" we'd been counting on would be so slim.

But there's something Tyler said while we were still in Florida that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Hours into the interview for the AP story that was published several weeks ago, we were asked how we would feel if our time in the world of baseball were to end. Tyler answered by saying that of course he would be sad and disappointed, but in the end, his identity is not defined by the fact that he plays professional baseball. His identity is first as a child of God, and second as husband and provider for his wife.

And he means it. I know because I see the evidence daily.

We have no idea what tomorrow holds (do we ever?), and I'd be lying if I said there wasn't fear accompanying that realization. But deep down there's perhaps a sliver of relief that God has removed us from a particularly painful and frustrating situation. Despite seeming silence from our Heavenly Father, we know he has us in the palm of his hand. Until the next door opens, we'll be waiting patiently (or in my case, as patiently as possible). In the meantime, we're thankful for all the friends and family who have shown their love and support for us. We love you guys.

Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:14

And Happy Mother's Day to Julie DiSesa and Suzanne Henley. Tyler and I are lucky to have you.

I'm Versatile!

2011-05-03T18:37:00.000-07:00

It's been a big few days, folks. Yes, American justice has been served. But Elizabeth over at Elizabeth Ann's Recipe Box also gave me "The Versatile Blogger Award!" I know Elizabeth from my Houston Bible study and one of her brothers also played baseball at A&M/in the minors, so she has an idea of how crazy this baseball thing can be...plus she is an unbelievable chef/baker. Seriously, her blog almost makes me want to cook (and that's sayin' something). I'm so glad we can stay in touch via blogland!

When receiving this award the rules are:

1. Thank and link to the person who awarded you

2. Share 7 facts about yourself

3. Pass on the award to 7 new-found blog friends

4. Let your friends know they were awarded!

So here are my 7 facts:

1. I hated everything to do with planning my wedding, but I love looking at other people's wedding pictures and watching Say Yes to the Dress (New York, not Atlanta). It boggles Tyler's mind. Also, in case you were wondering, this admission does not mean I was a fan of the royal wedding. One word: Overkill.

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2. The worst part about living in a hotel (besides having to hoard quarters for the washer and dryer) is having to call down to the front desk every time I need to have our trash picked up or (in today's case) I need more toilet paper. I always imagine they are down at the front desk saying, "Wow, they must be dirty people!" or "Wow, they need more toilet paper already? They've only been here for a week!" It's all in my head, right?

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3. I just read A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller. I read his bestseller Blue Like Jazz several years ago and was not a fan, so when my mother-in-law gave me A Million Miles, I was skeptical. Then I read that Anne Lamott loves Donald. And I love Anne (her book Bird by Bird changed my life). So I figured I could give Don another shot. And I'm glad I did. I loved the book. It's all about making the best of the "story of your life" (i.e. the short time we have on earth). Read it.

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4. I've mentioned it before, but I'm addicted to red grapes and green apples. Along with peaches, pears and peppers, they are the most likely fruits to be highly contaminated with pesticides. My mom has always warned me about Chilean grapes in particular...but I just can't resist those crunchy purple orbs.

5. As much as I could do without living in a green-carpeted hotel room, I don't know what I'm going to do when I actually have my own place to decorate. Much like anything else that falls in the "domestic" category, I don't have a passion for decor. I predict a lot of black and white and brown in my future.

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6. I'm an expert fake hair spotter. Toupees, wigs or transplants - I can see them a mile away. Seriously. Not to toot my own horn or anything.

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7. The new Orville Redenbacher commercial makes me laugh out loud (and yes, I know that's not saying much). The wife cracks me up...and I love how it makes fun of the fact that Criss Angel is such a strange, strange man. I chuckle when he tells them to "Come..." As I write this I'm realizing how not funny this will be to most people. Ha. Sorry, I can't help it. Bahahahaha:)

Here are my 7 picks for The Versatile Blogger Award.

Jacky and Kara

These are two of my favorite people from Houston. Elizabeth already gave them the award, but since I really want to know what their 7 random facts will be, I'm just going to award it to them again. Just because I can.

Cassie

Cassie is my sister-in-law (Tyler's brother's wife), and I've been so blessed by her friendship since Tyler and I started dating almost 5 years ago. If I am the definition of "undomestic," she would be classified as "super domestic." She's a sew-er (not sewer), a cook and a decorator extraordinaire. It's impressive. And in addition to producing our two cute nephews, she and Tyler's bro Austin are preparing to welcome two foster children into their home later this year. I'd say that's versatile, wouldn't you?

Joy

Joy is one of my Bible study friends from Houston. She is so fun to be around, and she shares my secret dream of performing on Broadway (except she can sing, so she's actually got a shot). She hasn't blogged in awhile so I'm hoping this will coax her out of hibernation.

Angie

Angie is another Houston friend from church. She just came out of blog hiding the other day and it reminded me of how much I love reading what she has to say. Hopefully this will encourage some more posts soon!!

Lauren

She's crafty and she's the fiancee of one of Tyler's former teammates. Definitely versatile:)

Abbi

Abbi is another Houston Bible Study friend and she has the cutest daughter ever. Seriously. She writes about her adventures as a mom and as a child of God...it's a great combo.

Kristen

Kristen is a great friend and former roommate from Houston. She is an amazing chef and can answer any and all questions relating to pop-culture...it's a skill;)

And for you girls that don't have 7 blog friends to give the "award" to, just post your 7 facts if you have a chance...because I love to learn strange things about other people.

Happy Tuesday!

Ode to the Accord

2011-04-25T19:59:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I said goodbye to a faithful companion - my little white Accord. The time had come to move on to something bigger and well, bigger. I had so many things going on before I left Florida that I didn't really have a chance to give my first real car a proper farewell...so here it goes.

Oh White Accord, I'll miss you so. Nine years we roamed the road.

You saw me through from high school grad - for that I write this ode.

A scratch, a nick, you had a few, but collisions? There were none.

Unless you count that concrete pole...okay, okay just one.

Much sweat and sunscreen you sustained - your leather fell apart.

But never did you once complain, and still it warms my heart.

I laughed in you, I cried in you, I even took some naps,

Directions weren't my strong suit as we crossed the country's maps.

But extra miles, you didn't mind, your engine never faltered.

City after city - one small constant as life altered.

Despite what Tyler says, I think I took good care of you.

Three thousand dollars you were worth, they got a bargain, too.

I've packed you up so many times and now that you are gone,

I've lots more space, but don't forget, your memory lives on!

And for my friends and family who are now worried about me because I had time to write a poem about a car, well, it really didn't take that long;)

Thanks to lots of help from Tyler's parents we were able to get a Honda Pilot SUV. To say it made the packing process easier would be a massive understatement. It's magnificent! We can't thank Van and Suzanne enough. Also, because Tyler was already in Missouri, I got to fly solo (for the most part) in the car buying process. I may never buy a car again. It was miserable. But I'm proud to say that despite wanting to get the heck out of car dealerships forever, I stuck to my guns until I found what I considered to be the best deal. FYI - it was not in Miami.

Happy Late Easter...He is Risen!

Day's End

2011-04-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

I'm spending Easter weekend in Orlando to help coach the Rice team at their conference tournament. Go Owls! Last night as we were waiting to pick up the girls from the airport, we got a pretty incredible show.

I think God was reminding me that his power stretches far beyond the day to day struggles we face - he can handle all of it. It was a much needed lesson.

⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

II Cor. 12:9

Things I'm...

2011-04-17T11:49:00.000-07:00

In honor of my recent arrival in Springfield, here's a list of the Things I'm Lovin' and the Things I'm Not Exactly Thrilled About. Creative, I know.

Lovin'

The Central Time Zone - I'm not sure what it is, but I love being back in the middle of the country. It's nice that the few shows I watch on TV are all on one hour earlier, and best of all, I'm in the same time zone as Tyler (meaning I don't have to wait up until after midnight if I want to talk to him post-game).

Living Arrangements - This season we are living in...wait for it...a hotel suite. Add that to the list of things I never thought I would do in my life. But I can't complain - it's cheap, fully furnished and easy to leave (if need be).

Free Breakfast - This one's in honor of Tyler. When he was trying to convince me that living in the hotel was the way to go, he called specifically to say, "Guess what?! I can't believe I forgot to tell you this!!" At this point, I'm thinking the room has a in-room jacuzzi tub and an on-call masseuse, or something like that. Then he continued, "We can have free breakfast every morning!!!"

Alone Time - With Tyler, that is. We have lived with family for the last eight months, and though we're very appreciative of their hospitality, we were itching for some time to ourselves. One word...glorious!

Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili - If you like a little kick in your food, you have gotta try these. And, they have zero grams of trans fat...at least that's what I tell myself half a bag later.

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Not Exactly Thrilled About

Dannon Greek Yogurt - You may remember when I recently professed my love for Chobani Greek Yogurt. Well, sadly the local Dillon's grocery store doesn't carry it, so I've had to settle for Dannon. It's not as good. Boo.

Living Arrangements - I'm definitely thankful to have a place to live, but the jury is still out on whether or not living in a hotel will leave me with recurring nightmares about endless green carpet and copper-colored couches. It's definitely a little dark and dreary, but I'm hoping some sunshine and warmer weather will lift my spirits.

Free Breakfast - Tyler may be ecstatic about unlimited eggs and bacon, but I tried to explain that watching him eat what I wish I could be eating is not, in fact, enjoyable in any way. "You can just have some fruit!" he said. Yeah, thanks a lot.

Freezing Temperatures - Holy Cold Weather! I was totally fooled when the temps sat in the mid-70's the first day I was in Missouri. Less than 24 hours later, it was gray, rainy and FREEZING! Thank goodness Tyler's game was rained out last night because I don't think I was going to make it. I thought that made me a wimp/terrible wife, but I was relieved when Tyler said he'd think I was crazy if I sat through through that. Phew!

Living the Baseball Life

2011-04-12T17:10:00.000-07:00

Just days after my espnW.com story ran a few weeks ago, I got a Facebook message from a photographer from the Associated Press. He had been pursuing a story on minor league life for some time and decided to try contacting me after reading my essay. As a sorta/kinda journalist myself, I knew I would appreciate a response if I was in his shoes, so, after getting the okay from Tyler, I wrote back.

Turns out he was stationed in Orlando, but got the go ahead to come down and hang out with us for a night (and by "us" I mean my parents, Tyler's parents and my bro and sis-in-law). It was a full house, but he had no problem chillin' with the DiSesa/Henley clan. After taking lots of pictures and asking lots of questions he headed home only to come back and ask more questions a few days later.

Let me tell you, I don't think Tyler and I have ever thought that much about why we do what we do, how it effects us as a couple and what we will feel like when the baseball life ends. Well, I take that back. I have probably thought about it, but Tyler on the other hand...not so much. I actually really enjoyed hearing his answers to some of the questions. My dear husband was perhaps ~~a lot~~ a bit more thoughtful with his answers than he would have been if I was asking them, ha.

Because it was an AP story, you have no idea who will pick it up until the day it runs. Well, it was published this morning, and let me tell you, I was not thinking the exposure would be so...extensive. But other than the fact that some of the quotes made me sound slightly less aware than I like to think I am, it was a really well-written story and we're glad we did it.

Here's are some links if you are interested in checking it out:

ABC News

Beaumont Enterprise (this has all of the pictures)

Also, if you have some extra time on your hands, you should check out the photojournalist's website. He has seen some amazing things and captured some unbelievable images - goldmanphotos.com.

And, for the record, I promise I don't cry every time Tyler has a bad night;)

Just the Two of Us

2011-04-09T05:59:00.000-07:00

Tyler is a really good sport. Though he was mortified that this story included personal pictures (including one of him in a drugged stupor just after surgery last year), he got over it after a few hours. Then I ~~persistently begged him~~ asked him nicely if he would let my longtime friend, Melissa, take some pictures of us. We never had engagement pictures and though I'm not a huge fan of doing anything that might be perceived as "mushy," I thought it would be fun to have the memories. Plus, Melissa (co-owner of Stay Forever Photography) was taking the pictures just because she's such a good friend (read: for free). She did an unbelievable job, and I can't thank her enough! My only regret is not having time to get my hair re-highlighted prior to our shoot...oh well.

Here are some favorites:

Clearly we don't do "serious" very well.

Not sure what our instructions were on this one, but I laughed at the result.

How cool is this tree!

Tyler figured he wouldn't have to think about these pictures again except to see them framed in our house, but that was until one of his teammates in a big league game said, "Hey, I saw some pictures of you with your wife!" Turns out, that player was out one night and ran into Melissa's business partner who proceeded to show him the pictures on her phone, ha. Tyler's response? "Well, I'm only a little embarrassed..."

Poor guy.

Over the past ten months, Tyler and I have had to lean extensively on each other. I couldn't think of a better partner to walk through the tougher times with, and I'm so thankful God gave us one another.

How's that for mushy? ;)

Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" -Jeremiah 32:26-27

I'm Back!

2011-04-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been awhile. On Saturday I emerged from Jupiter Island's version of March Madness...three straight weeks of enough tennis lessons to keep eight pros busy from 8am to around 6pm. At the end of the day, I could barely speak in complete sentences and/or keep my eyes open, so I thought it best to stay away from the blog. This year's vacationers enjoyed some of the best possible Florida weather. Here's a picture I took on my way home one night last week that pretty much sums up what we saw just about every day.

Unfortunately, while blazing sun and cloudless skies are great for the people laying out on the beach, it's not so great when you are toiling out on the tennis court all day. Sunscreen can only do so much. And speaking of sunscreen, I'd love to know if anyone reading this uses a lotion that doesn't turn their clothes yellow. I finally found one that I can use with my all-white teaching uniform, but unfortunately it contains zinc. Zinc may be great in moderation, but I don't recommend using it 21 days in a row. After week one my skin was itching, burning and peeling...did I mention it was a kid's sunscreen?

Perhaps my most embarrassing moment came when Tyler told me I had some crumbs near the collar of my sweater. Yep, you guessed it...they weren't crumbs, just part of my molting neck. Gross.

To celebrate the end of my teaching marathon, I got to head to an open house for a great friend of mine who now works as a house mother to 21 neglected children in Romania. I saw many people I hadn't seen in years, and loved supporting a friend who has put so much of her personal comfort aside to serve God overseas.

Rebecca (the missionary) and her sister Jordan were my two best friends growing up. We spent just about every weekend together along with our younger brothers.

(Dressing up was always my excuse to wear lipstick as a kid...don't judge.)

Here we are just a few days ago. Every time we all get together, we laugh about the ridiculous things we used to do to entertain ourselves back in the day. Great memories!

In other news, Tyler has left for another season, but that's a story for another post.

Happy Wednesday!

What have we done?

2011-03-17T04:50:00.000-07:00

Some of my old teammates and I have been organizing what we hope will become an annual reunion of sorts. After heading to Houston for a bachelorette party last year, we decided on visiting one of the girls in Seattle this time around. Sounds like fun, right?

Well, as we're sending emails to each other trying to coordinate everything for our trip at the end of June, we realized that the tickets are crazy-expensive for the dates we wanted...so much so that we decided to abandon that weekend. Until Annie (i.e. last year's bachelorette and running extraordinaire) mentioned that the Seattle Marathon is taking place on that weekend.

Let me preface this by saying that I have never ever ever had the urge to run a race of any kind. Ever. Never ever.

So I ask myself...How did this happen?

Because this will be fun for us to look back on, I decided to document it. I warn you...it's long...and it's even been abridged!

Subject: Re: Party Time!!!

On Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 8:58 AM, Annie wrote: Go ahead with the best weekend for you guys. I secretly got excited about end of June bc that's the weekend of Seattle marathon/half marathon. Any interest?!?!?

On Mar 9, 2011, at 11:40 AM, Yasmin wrote: I wish my stupid ticket weren't so expensive! I would love to do my 1st half marathon (the full is out of the question, I'm too lazy) with my besties!

On Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 12:49 PM, Jeri wrote: If it's the Rock 'n' Roll marathon, I hear that race fills up fast. If that weekend won't work for all of us, then no worries if the race is full or not. And I can breathe easy knowing I don't have to train to run more than my all-time high of around 3 miles at one time. ;)

Subject: Re: Party Time!!! From: Yasmin - How awesome would that be if we cld do the race together!! I wonder if that's the reason tickets spiked that weekend?

From: Blair Subject: RE: Party Time!!! I would totally do a half marathon with you girls! And that is the only time that I would actually say yes to such a thing. We may die (except for Annie, of course), but that would be such an adventure, ha:)

(FYI, at this point, I'm still thinking there's no way this is actually going to happen.)

On Mar 9, 2011, at 11:08 AM, Steph wrote: haha...ok you girls know i am so not running!

On Mar 9, 2011, at 1:36 PM, Yasmin wrote: I wanna do a half marathon! It would be so much fun. I know I can't run 13 miles but I think my only shot would be to do it with you girls.

On Mar 9, 2011, at 2:37 PM, Yasmin wrote: Okay girls I am willing to fork over the cash to do this. I feel like it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to do something I would never otherwise do.

On Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 4:47 PM, Jeri wrote: Seriously, we're gonna do this?! I'm excited and nervous at the same time! Last year it sold out in a couple months--this year it looks like there's still space. Maybe bc the people who ran it last year died bc it was too hard?! Kidding. Oh Snaz, it will be impossible for me to run the whole time. I plan to stop at every mile to listen to each band (author's note: a Rock 'n Roll Marathon has a band at every mile marker), aka rest.

Jeri wrote: Steph, you gotta run with us! I swear I'm going to walk most of the time. But if you wanna cheer us on, be the official photographer, and carry me when I can't walk after the race, that's cool too :)

On Mar 9, 2011, at 3:48 PM, Blair wrote: I cannot believe I am saying yes to this! Can anyone do Friday to Monday instead of Thursday to Sunday? I feel like it might be nice to have more time together after the race than before (i.e. if I'm going to go out for the first time this year, I would hate to have that contribute to me fainting on mile 8;). And yes, Steph, you've gotta do it!

On Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 7:02 PM, Jeri wrote: Anners, prepare to be frustrated with my snail speed...

On Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 7:09 PM, Yasmin wrote: Anners can run ahead and then come back to find us!

On Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 7:24 PM, Annie wrote: Yes yes yes!!! Seattle is a legit race. Bet there will be >10,000 runners. It's a bit pricey, but that money goes to snack/gatorade stations and also pace groups.

On Mar 9, 2011, at 4:41 PM, Yasmin wrote: We definitely need to get matching outfits for this race!!

On Mar 9, 2011, at 8:01 PM, Jeri wrote: Oooh! But what about a tank top so we don't get as bad of a farmer's tan? Then again, the race starts at 7am.

From: Yasmin - I think matching tanks is the best idea!!! We have 100 days to train for this bad boy - I'm sure glad we have our priorities straight and are coordinating outfits first!

http://shop.lululemon.com/RunSpeed_Short/pd/c/580/np/580/p/3254.html (shorts) http://shop.lululemon.com/RunSwiftly_Tech_Short_Sleeve/pd/c/540/np/540/p/2956.html (top)

On Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 7:37 PM, Blair wrote: Registered! So regarding our outfits...have y'all ever worn Lululemon shorts? They are super cute, but VERY short. Not a big deal most of the time, but I worry about chafage over the course of 13.1 miles if the shorts aren't long enough to cover my bulbs (fatty upper thigh region). I may check out some t-shirt sites when I get a chance...like Yas said...priorities!

On Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 8:24 PM, Jeri wrote: Just registered also! Holy crap, I can't believe I am signed up to run a half marathon. Just training for it sounds exhausting and painful!

On Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 8:44 PM, Annie wrote: This will be such an AWESOME experience!!! I'm so excited, just registered and figuring out tickets now. We have time to train AND coordinate! Wow, I'm really excited.

On Thu, Mar 10, 2011 at 10:46 AM, Steph wrote: ok ok ok....did not check my personal email yesterday....are you girls crazy!!!...you want me to run not a 5k but a half marathon!!! ARE YOU CRAZY!!...ok, i know it was a long time ago, but do you ladies really remember me running stadiums in college!!...it took me days to recover!!..and that was before two kids!!....can i just be the girls in the outfit who cheers the whole time!!...i am sweating just thinking about this...haha.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

This was peer pressure at it's best. I'd also like to note that I said yes to this just days after my chiropractor and I discussed the sad fact that after having back injections twice (and suffering from miserable plantar fasciitis), my running days are probably over. I suppose my official retirement date will be pushed back by a few months. Let's just hope I don't have a career ending injury before then.

I'll admit there's no better crew to do this with. We may collapse, but I'm hoping we at least look cute in our matching outfits, ha:)

Consequences

2011-03-16T18:19:00.000-07:00

Tyler says I owe him big for this. He was prepared for the words, but not the pictures. What can I say? They requested "art" to go with the story.

It's Here!

2011-03-11T09:49:00.000-08:00

Tyler started Spring Training yesterday. Finally.

I think I speak for both of us when I say we thought this day would never come. It's been almost eight months since Tyler's surgery, eight months of living with my family (parents, bro and sis-in-law), eight months of wondering if Tyler's elbow was going to heal correctly and eight months of trying not to think about what this new season might hold.

Now the proverbial ball has started rolling, and though I'm a tiny bit anxious about where it's headed (I have visions of it crushing us, Indiana Jones style), I would prefer a moving ball to an agonizingly stationary one. At least we have action, right?

One thing's for sure: Tyler and I are not the same people we were last year at this time. In fact, exactly one year ago, I was doing a Beth Moore Bible Study on the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control). As I was going through my weekly "homework" I clearly remember thinking (gasp!) This may not be the best study for me right now because I feel like I'm actually doing okay in most of these areas.

Three words: Ha, Ha, Ha. I've certainly been taught a thing or two since then. I've also been increasingly thankful that we don't live in Biblical times because I'm fairly sure I would have been struck dead (Acts 5) or turned into a pillar of salt by now (Gen. 19:26)...just kidding. Of course, I know God isn't just anxiously waiting to smite me when I screw up, but I really do think think this year was probably necessary to grow our faith.

Though the off-season has been one big reminder that we have no clue what tomorrow might hold, we're so thankful to report that Tyler is, by all accounts, fully recovered. If nothing else, his healthy elbow will allow him to one day fulfill his dream of playing league tennis with me (seriously;).

Let us hope unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23

Nature vs. Nurture

2011-03-08T10:05:00.000-08:00

In our house we grew up with my dad's "Two-Pronged Approach" to maintaining our ideal weight. Prong #1: Food. Prong #2: Exercise.

As long as both prongs are in check, one should be fit and healthy. That seems logical enough, but now that the obesity issue has reached epic proportions in the U.S., there have been many studies done on people who seem predisposed to a heavier weight.

So where am I going with this? Well, my mom stumbled across a bunch of stuff she had saved from when we were kids including a few of my quotable quotes. Take a gander...

Age 5

Mom: So what did you learn at the dentist's office today?

Blair: I learned that I don't want braces.

Mom: Why?

Blair: Because there are too many foods I can't eat.

Age 4
While watching my Grandmother eat a cinnamon roll...

Blair: Would I have liked it?

Gram: Yes, because you like just about anything.

Blair: Thank you for the compliment!

Age 4
While throwing up into a bucket, between heaves...

Blair: What does this mean about breakfast tomorrow? What can I eat?

Then there was the time that my baby teeth got demolished after a tug-of-war gone wrong. My first question through my hysterical tears? "How am I gonna eat?"

And, of course, I couldn't end this post without mentioning the story that sums up my seemingly genetically-driven love of everything edible.

It was Halloween 1988. I was five and my grandma made me the cutest little Snow White outfit. My excitement was palpable - not only did I get to dress up like a princess, but I was about to receive candy from complete strangers! After returning home with my loot, my dad laid down the law that served as our Halloween mantra for the rest of our trick-or-treating careers. My brother and I could eat as much as we wanted that night, but the next day it was going in the trash.

So I got to work.

My parents were in awe of my resolve, but they were puzzled when I started periodically trotting into the kitchen as I neared the bottom of my candy-filled plastic pumpkin. So, my dad decided to follow me. What he saw is something my family will never let me forget.

I was so full that I could not possibly swallow one more mini Milky Way or Three Musketeers. So, lest I waste my golden opportunity to consume as much sugar as my little heart desired, I chewed the candy, savored the glorious taste, then ran to spit it out in the trash can. And then I came back for more.

As soon as my parents figured out what was going on, they put an end to my gluttonous Halloween extravaganza. My brother, on the other hand, was completely uninterested in the contents of his bucket. So why did I have to get the "sweet" genes?! Seriously...

Do you see the common theme? Food was not a big deal in our household, so where the heck did these ideas come from? They're hardwired in there, I tell ya!

Ho-ly Cow!

Speaking of good ol' DNA, here's one more gem that proves my tendency to worry and obsess over the future was there long before I really knew what worry was.

When my mom came in to check on me after she heard me crying in bed I said, "I don't want to go away to college. Grammy told me that it was against the law not to go to school. I'll go to the next school (i.e. Pre-K), but I don't want to go to college."

I was four. Clearly, I was doomed from the start.

We laughed so hard reading some of the stuff that my mom had saved. Apparently I wrote many "books" as a child. I also tried to sell some of my work to my grandparents - I was asking $3.00, but I settled for $.50. I was probably trying to save up money for college. Ha.

Happy Tuesday!

Things I Spotted from the Stands...

2011-03-01T18:50:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking about making this a regular segment once the baseball season starts ('cause I've seen some car-azy things from my perch out in right field), but in this case, I am referring to the stands I sat in while watching countless hours of tennis last week.

Let's start off with this guy. Not gonna lie...he had me going. I immediately put him in the South-Florida-retiree-who-just-can't-let-go-of-his-glory-days category, but seconds after I snapped this shot, he took off the hair! That's right, it's a hat with a built-in 'do. I went from rolling my eyes to chuckling to myself...I can totally see myself doing something like that when I'm 65 plus. Perhaps I shouldn't be admitting that.

I imagine that a lot of you saw the infamous Serena foot fault/lineswoman debacle at the 2009 U.S. Open. Just in case, here's a little refresher. (I tried to embed it, but for some reason it wouldn't let me.) Anyway, I'm not sure how I would have handled it if Serena Williams told me she was going to shove a ball down my bleeping throat, but this particular lineswoman (who I hear is one of the best on tour) is still going strong. Here she is doing her thing in Delray (below). Speaking of tennis umpires, I also spotted the woman who chaired most of my home matches at Rice. We had a reunion in the tournament bathroom. It was special.

Next up...the Volley Girls. I was so confused by this. Who decided it was a good idea to have "dancers" perform on-court during the changeovers? (Hmm, probably the same people who thought it was smart to have girls dancing on top of minor league dugouts between innings.) Awkward is the word that comes to mind.

Perhaps the only thing more awkward than watching the Volley Girls was watching a wanna-be Volley Girl mimicking their movements from the stands. I couldn't look away! And yes, that's a sequined belt she's wearing.

That concludes this installment of "Things I Spotted from the Stands."

But in addition to having some time to kill while charting matches, I really enjoyed my week covering the tournament. I spent a lot of time in the media room...and yes, the lighting was as unflattering as it looks.

The tournament press conferences were by far the highlight for me. To be honest, I kept thinking how much I would love to be interviewing the players on TV. Maybe one day.

Here are some of the most quotable quotes from the week.

Janko Tipsarevic, 26, when asked what he is currently reading:

"I’m reading at the moment a Serbian writer, Treasure of the Serbian King. It’s a psychological story. That and I’m reading the Bible, but I don’t believe in God. It’s an exercise. At the moment I don’t believe, but I feel the need to know exactly what it says...not just what people are saying about it."

Not exactly your typical answer from a professional athlete.

Kei Nishikori, 21, on his fame in Japan:

“No one knows me [in the U.S.], so it’s much easier for me. If I stay in Japan all the time I might get crazy. I have to wear the sunglasses and hat. It’s fun sometimes when everybody knows me…it’s good feeling.”

Tournament winner and 2009 U.S. Open Champion, Juan Martin Del Potro, on his outlook after missing all of 2010 with a wrist injury:

"I’m trying to enjoy it, you know. You never know what’s going to happen in the future."

Wise words, Juan Martin.

This next one is a little tougher to explain. Sam Querrey, who never really looks like he cares when he's on the court, again looked less than inspired in his second round match against fired-up fellow American Ryan Sweeting. On Sweeting's second match point, he [Sweeting] hit a service winner and proceeded to celebrate with the screaming crowd. Then the umpire informed him that his serve was a let, meaning he had to replay the point. Sweeting started to argue, but Querrey proceeded to shake his hand, conceding the match. Everyone assumed that it was an act of sportsmanship on Querrey's part, but after the match, we found out that it was a surrender of sorts:

"Actually, I heard a let, but it was a good serve," he said. "I had three other calls go my way that I probably didn’t agree with."

He went on to say in so many words that his shoulder wasn't 100 percent and he didn't think he could have played a third set. It sure looked like he tanked the match, but I don't think anyone expected him to admit it.

The one thing that was confirmed for me after my week in Delray was how hard it would be to make a living as a sportswriter not named Bill Simmons or Rick Reilly. Sigh. Ya gotta do what you love, though, right?