Key West Tennis and Spa

Oh the beauty and fun of Key West.  Decided to check out Key West again, having been there in over 17 years.  I'm a much different person now, with many new interests.  We did everything thing there is to do in this town,  tennis, relaxation, whooping it up and a little history to boot.  We chose bicycles over mopeds this time which I have to say I like better.  Every time I get on a bike I feel like a free child again.  So much fun.  We rented a cottage near Duval street that we found off of vrbo.com. It was the way to go, close to everything, relaxing and private.  We toured the Hemingway House, road the trolly tour and visited all the touristy things.  

https://www.pierhouse.com/spa,

Our first full day was rainy and quite chilly for a January day in Florida.  We decided the best thing to do was to make it a spa day.  We chose the Pier House Spa, for its beautiful location as well as it is a full spa with amenities.  It does not compare to one of my favorites, in Orlando, Ritz Spa, but it is better than just any old day spa.  It is a very busy spa, so book ahead.  We all had a wonderful massages and facial was very relaxed.  The steam room was not working properly and it wasn't the cleanest or most well run spa I have ever been to, but it certainly did the trick on a rainy day.

http://www.friendsofthekeywestcemetery.com

Tennis on the Island, at Bay View Tennis courts, it is a lovely park with 5 tennis courts for public use.  It is super fun to ride your bikes to the the park for a fun morning of tennis and exercise as well as take in some site seeing along your way.  We walked thru the Key West Cemetery on the way home.  Many historical monuments and some ghost stories to go along with. 

One of the best lunches we had was at the 2 Cents Pub.  We had the most fun server/bartender who was playing a plethora of 70s light rock.  We had a blast!  We dined on the brussel sprouts, sliders and Greek salad with the grilled catch!  It was so yummy and the atmosphere was great.  They also had a wonderful selection of craft beers that our husbands would have loved, they weren't there so we took pictures to make them super jelly!!!  It's a must do in Key West. 

http://m.mainstreethub.com/2centskw

Night life was fun to go to the Green Parrot and Hogs Breathe Saloon and Sloppy Joes, saw one of the most spectacular bands play at Sloppy Joes… "The Doerfels" http://www.thedoerfels.com  What a talented group of young people!!! They are a bunch of home schooled brothers so cool.  I fould that their mom even blogs about their lives. Its a family affair.  LOVE IT!!!

http://www.thedoerfels.com

I wish they would come to Orlando!!! 

  

https://www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov/egov/apps/locations/facilities.egov?view=detail&id=1

How many tennis teams is too many????

Join Another Team??? 

I play on three tennis teams this season.  This is the first year I have tried to juggle this.  I've managed to do all my duties, dinner has been on the table every evening, my house is super clean.  Besides being tired a few weeks when I had to play all three teams in three week, and of course 3 sets each, I've only had one big problem this.  Unfortunately, I made a huge mistake. I  I received a text from a captain to play that particular week~ but it was another captain.  I failed to show up and my team had to forfeit.  That made me so sad! I screwed up.  Fortunately, for me... this was my really, really cool team.  They all just laughed at me and we moved on.  

Now the dilemma for next season… Do I join a fourth team?  I received several invitations to do so and don't know if I can actually  do it???  So many dedicated tennis ladies, who are moms, wives, employees, business owners, they all manage to do it.  They actually play for 4 or even 5 teams.  I used to think these ladies were crazy, now I find that they may be the coolest of them all.  No drama, happy to play, like to drink wine and they all seem to funny!   But I don't think I'm actually ready~ maybe some day!!!  WhoooHoooo!

Chardonnay recommendation~ Bread and Butter!!!  

I ordered in in a restaurant snapped a pic so I would remember.  Found it at Publix for about $20.  I ordered a case online with shipping came to about $13 per bottle.  Yummy and oh soooooo buttery.

http://www.breadandbutterwines.com

 

Sassy Girl Tennis (TM): Tennis Toe YUCK!!! How to protect your pedi 101 ...

Sassy Girl Tennis (TM): Tennis Toe YUCK!!! How to protect your pedi 101 ...:         I'm a girly girl~ I like to look good.  I also like to play hard, and my feet and toes have paid the price big time.  Some ...

What the Felt?? Types of tennis balls.

A funny today.... WHAT THE FELT????

"What? I'm not using your balls.  I bought a can of clay court balls just this morning on the way to the court!!!  Your balls are not soft court balls!  Yes they are! no they are not !  I'm not using your balls I'm using my balls! This is not fair."  Unfortunately, Clay balls did not win.  They were thrown to another court.  I was giggling on the inside cause this was a real huge argument.  I mean one lady stopped at Publix on the way to the courts to buy her balls, her soft court balls (we starting play at 8am.) That is serious ball commitment. These ladies have "BALLS" ;) … and some serious ball issues.  They were protecting their balls.  I was just laughing at how many times they said "No not your balls... my balls".  I know there are different types of balls, used on different surfaces.  But are these fuzzy balls all that much different?  That's why I had to ask…  should you ever come between a lady and her soft balls?  How about her hard balls?  Must we protect our balls at all costs ? Do we need to carry several types of balls in our bags?  Do we use someone else's balls?  

So here's what I learned as I did a little research today.

It's All About the Felt~ what the felt? 

The balls are similar in size and weight and must bounce between 53 to 58 inches when dropped from a height of 100 inches. "The only difference is the felt", claims Jason Collins, global business director for Wilson tennis balls. The felt of the extra-duty ball (hard court balls) has a high nylon content combined with wool, has a looser weave and is slightly thicker than the regular-duty. The felt of the regular-duty ball(soft court balls) has a higher wool content and a shorter nap. The subtle differences apparently directly affect the speed, bounce and durability of the ball.  

So what the heck is the nap?   It's the fuzz, the fibers that surround the ball.  That's why all of the pros are looking at their balls... they are examining their balls before they serve it up.  They are looking for the perfect fuzz... a nice bit of fuzz on their balls, not patchy or fuzz sticking out, apparently that slows the ball down.  Wet balls can create problems and slow your game down as well.  We want our balls fresh, fast and bouncy on every surface. ;)

So there you have it… Pay attention to your balls, examine your balls, protect your balls, be selfish with your balls, keep your balls dry, fight for your balls!!!  It's all good fun for tennis!!!  

Where's My Holiday Tennis Spirit???

 As I was sitting at my tennis Christmas party yesterday my mind kept wandering to my son.  My beautiful son is going away to college this next year.  It is not sitting well with me.  I should be doing more.  Less tennis, maybe contribute financially to what this next year is going to bring us.  I still have my littlest at home, no time for a job, the guilt that plagues me that the burden solely lies on the amazing husband who has given us this extraordinary life. This family has been, and still is my job, for the past 20 years.  I do not want it to change.  The internal fight that my mind and body are struggling with is taking over my every thought.  It's not empty nest cause my nest is not empty yet.  Pre-Empty Nest Anxiety Disorder.  I'm suffering from a disorder that does not exactly exist for me yet.  The same way when I was pregnant for 2 days in 1995,  I was never pregnant, but I cried and morned that baby I never had.  My mother-n-law still laughs at me over that.  I worry about things.  I worry about this boy/man that I have raised. But I know he's got this, we've done a really, really good job.  He is an extraordinary kid with cool quirks that make him tick to his own beat.  He's an amazing tennis player, that never fell in love with it.  Maybe he will someday. 



I've watched some tennis friends go through this empty nest syndrome.  What do they do?  Seems like they play more tennis.  Why am I feeling like the opposite could be true?  Find that happy tennis place, my new tennis place?  Tennis used to be an exit from the hum drum of every day life of a house wife and mom.  Exercise, friends, getting out of the house.   Now what is it?  What's it going to be for me as I grow old?  Right now I just want to be locked away inside my house, huddled close with those babies and my love.  I do not want to go out, I don't want to be with anyone else.  Just here, just home, no more parties, no more tennis, no more chardonnay.  Just me and my peeps together for our last unchanged holiday months.  Where they are still my babies in my nest with me protecting them, where nothing else in the world matters.... Like the first month of his life when I stayed in my pjs all day, feeding him taking naps.   That life was wonderful and simple.  

Ahhh yet, another client dinner tonight and a happy face I will put on as I order that chardonnay.     

Gisele's Tennis Today

There was NO tennis for Gisele today!!!! 

And it has been kinda of nice.  I so needed this Christmas break.  During my time off I am reflecting on the way women interact on a tennis team, it has me sad.  This is a team sport, where all of us take time away from our families, jobs, school, etc.  It just seems like everyone should just enjoy this time of exercise and fellowship with their teammates, their tennis friends.  But it is not always that way. :(  Which has caused me to step down as captain of my more competitive team, not because I don't love it.  I do love it, many aspects.  I love "most" of the other captains (hee hee) and I love our camaraderie before and after a match.  I love recapping the week of tennis in silly funny emails.  I love the Christmas parties and the lunches.  I do love these teams.  However, something has changed, and I do not really like it.



My grandma used to say a few bad apples can spoil the bunch and I'm afraid that this metaphor applies to my team situation.  I'm feeling rotten inside and I do not want to be captain anymore.  I like people to like me.  It matters to me.   It's a shame that when you volunteer for a position, give freely of your time, people find ways to be negative and to criticize the job you're doing.  I know this happens in all aspects of our lives... jobs, PTA, church groups~ not just in ladies tennis.  But for now I'm just tired :(

So, now that I have that off of my chest... decision made... I'm just going to try be like all the other players on the team, just a player.  Show up on match day, play.  Go to clinic if I want, stay home and clean the house, if I'd rather.  Will someone step up to do my old job? Maybe, maybe not.  But my core, my sweet little apple core, will feel better. Life is too short. I want to love tennis again.   Cause Gisele LOVES tennis!!!   

Too much wine drinking and it is only Tuesday.  

Trying to take the night off.  

Sassy Girl Tennis (TM): Top 5 strategies to win with any partner.

Sassy Girl Tennis (TM): Top 5 strategies to win with any partner.: Win With Any Partner Don't be mad at your captain, isn't this team tennis?  The same old adage stands true today...  there...