She Da Bomb!

Liz is the bomb.

Thanks for showing me this feature.

I do appreciate it!

Racquetball

One of the topics for this blog is racquetball.

Above are some pictures of a racquetball court. Below is a link to a site focused on the sport.

U.S. Racquetball Association

http://www.usra.org/

[PTC - You need to show me how to add these links seamlessly like you do.]

The last player to challenge my domination of the black division was 6-1. I, 7-1, barely lost to a player he beat soundly [41-26], which for you non-racket swingers means... Three games comprise a match. The first two games are decided by a player scoring 15 points first. You don't need to win by two points, so in some cases, it is a race and chess duel to achieve a win. If you split the first two games, then a third game is needed to complete the match. The third game is played to 11, otherwise referred to as OT.

So, if I win game one 15-12 and game two 15-14, then I automatically pick up the 11 points in the third game, which was not needed. That is how a player wins by the usual score of 41 to ?? or in the example provided 41-26.

A decent win is 41-30.

A great win is 41-twenty something.

A player dominates if their opponent cannot score enough to break 20 total points.

A mismatch is a score of 41-5 or anything under 10.

You get the point... I will break down the mechanics of winning a game in another post.

At my local YMCA, two very fine individuals run a league that is very successful. Success can be judged in many ways, but the one that is most important is growth. Every year the wait list for this league grows longer, which attracts more and more of the better players in the Tampa Metro area. Within ten plus divisions racquetball players of all skill and gender can be matched up against similar talent creating a super competitive sporting environment. If you never played racquetball before, then the Green division would make you feel comfortable and provide an opportunity to play the game. The skill level increases all the way up to Open level players. I love playing in this league.

From an exercise and activity perspective - this is my passion. However, I am locked into the competitive aspect almost as much as my love for the game itself. I am building my equipment base with each season, so I am in this for the long haul.

Okay, back to the division show down...

My opponent lost to a fella I squashed 41-5, so this was certainly a match I had my eye on. Game One: 15-14 - I won. Tough, tough game that lasted way longer than it needed to. I broke out like I usually do to a huge lead. At 12-3, I was sitting pretty and actually starting to wind down so I can continue the high pace into the second game. All of a sudden, my opponent discovers my Achilles heel, which is not normally discovered until late in the second game if at all. A high bounce shot to my backhand in the corner is my most challenging shot to return. A player has two main options. Return a ceiling shot to the player (a defensive shot) or try for a kill shot. I am not at a level where my kill shot attempt is above 80% accurate. Playing with a lead, I don't go for it often and focus more on the defensive shots. Much higher percentage closer to 98% accurate, but it leaves a very hittable shot for my opponent. Before I knew it, the game was tied. I took timeouts like I should. I hit my shots in the places I normally do, but nothing was working. Just like in the match I lost, I was not playing smart and utilizing my strengths. Totally mental - this is everything! Well, I ended up breaking his serve and I hit an ace to close out game one.

Incidentally, I win 70% of my points off service. I have a very good drive serve and I am lefty, which to a right handed player is freaking lethal.

Game two started out just as tough... and hour and twenty minutes into this match we were only 5-4 in our second game. Usually, a match is completed well within an hour - so I was getting tired. Unfortunately, this match was never to be... at 10-7 when I was just starting to take over the game and compensate for my glaring exposed weakness my opponents back went out and I won WBI. (Win By Injury)

Very unfulfilled, I took the win. My final match could not make it so I took a WBF. (Win By Forfeit)

Black Division Champ: 9-1

The tourney will start next week and I will get a first round bye. I am expecting every player to know where the put the ball on me... now it is up to me to practice and surprise them with something they do not expect!

Pay Day...

So this is what it is like to be paid for time served? Unlike some people I know, my first meal (not my last) was a pizza from our local pizza shop. It is a tribute to my new found infusion of cash... as we all know -

I SCREAM AND HOLLER FOR THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR!

The coffer is empty.
I got a pay check.

... what would you do?

When asked, my eldest child replied, "Daddy, I would put the money in my piggy bank. Now go put that away so you do not lose it."

I can't make this stuff up. If you knew El Tornado, then you would chuckle and simply say the apple does not fall far from the tree. After a very good laugh, I threw out that sound advice and put the gang in the car and went to go buy pizza. Not that I need to actually say this, but there was change from this transaction to go put in the piggy bank. It is not the greatest job, but it does pay higher than unemployment!

PTC - remember our transition from Mill to Wall. I am back at that exact figure!

Good Idea

Fantasy sports, as we all know, is fun when you have the information. Here is my personal time allocation:
Debra
kids
family
friends
email / comms with everyone
racquetball
xbox 360
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at this point I am nearly 99% utilized even when out of work... now it seems that is just time enough!
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list continues...
fantasy sports
educational studies
TV (science, discovery, animal planet)
Movies

I can't even tell you when I saw movies on a regular basis... 300 was the last, but i was not gonna miss that for anything.

Did you see it btw? Thoughts?

Without a cell phone I am really disconnected. Until I get another, this will have to serve as my communicator.