Pistols Up

Greetings from a soggy south!  Sorry for the delay in blogging, unfortunately I've been very sick.  Went to the doctor a week ago Tuesday, but the PA didn't give me strong enough meds to handle the situation.  In reality, don't think he knows an asthma patient unless the are wheezing.  I don't wheeze, so I don't think he took me seriously.  I traveled to Biloxi, and by the weekend I was in a full blown acute asthma attack and had acute bronchitis.  OOOO and they thought I was having a heart attack.  Boy, did they take care of me fast and thank God they did.  I very much appreciate the staff at the Regional Hospital, especially the clerk that knew upon sight of me that I was in distress.  And I was taken to the back within seconds.  Job well done!

I spent three days in the hotel room trying to get strong enough to drive home.  On Monday evening, I turned on the news to see the weather report and knew I had to set out Tuesday morning.  What would normally be a four and half hour drive took me six.  For I had to stop and take a two hour nap, but I did it and got home safe and sound.  Been in bed ever since, feeling better but have a ways to go.

Well, now you know why the delay in blogging.....let me get to the point.....

Last weekend the OSU Cowgirls took on Tulsa, and won.  The first time they beat Tulsa since 2006, so a huge win.  Exciting indeed!  Here is a glimpse of Natalie and some of the gals getting ready....Pistols Up.....

PLEASE NOTE:   I HOPE, I HAVE THE FOLLOWING INFO CORRECT, Please forgive me if I have the event, names or any info incorrect:    

Happy to say that Natalie was invited to help raise funds for the Music Department at OSU.   Ms. Greenwood put together the fundraiser known as the Tennis Center Musicale.  It was a great success, anyone wanting to make a donation can do so by contacting Natalie for the information.  Here is a picture for the wonderful Musicale event:

Left to Right:  I pray I have this correct.....Jane Clark, Jeri Seefeldt, Jamie Gable, Anne Morris Greenwood,
 Courtney and Natalie

This week, Natalie has been working hard on her PT.  She happily reported that she did 25 x 40 yarders.  Milestones being met, a great thing.  Our gal has been standing at the baseline hitting tennis balls too.  All the puzzle pieces are slowly coming together, a good thing.  

This weekend starts with Nat and the team taking on SMU tonight.  The Cowgirls are currently ranked #12, SMU #47.  So, on paper OSU should be the heavy favorite.  But as we all know, any team can win or lose on any given day.  Being a home match gives the Cowgirls the advantage.  On Sunday, they will travel to play Oklahoma.

Well, there you have it....again sorry for the delay in blogging.  But I'm sure you will agree, I had my reasons....LOL!  Love and Blessings.....Sherry!

Nat Opened the Package

Good Day Folks!  Hope everyone is thawing out and surviving their winter woes.  Hard for me to complain about weather when sooooo many are must worse off.  For it's just cold here in Georgia.  However, our gal hasn't been happy with her weather in Oklahoma.  As most of you know, Natalie does not like the cold, you add snow to that and she is not a happy camper.  Oooo well, she chose it, LOL!

Have to make mention, that while Natalie was in Midland she lost something.  Although she didn't realize it at the time, she would a have eventually.  For an outfit would not have been complete without it.  And she couldn't go with out it, for it's winter.  But thank goodness her house mom Diane found it and mailed it.  Don't you know how made giggles were let out when Nat opened the package that contained her lost sock.  BBBAAAAHAHAHAHAH   love it Diane.....thank you!  We love our house moms and their families.  The Frickey's are some of the best!  xoxoxo

Natalie is helping the team get ready for the upcoming dual match with Tulsa.  A team they haven't beaten in years.   (hope I remember that right)  Anyway, it's a big a match and will take place on Saturday.  Nat mentioned that the team is very focused on winning and even practiced on their off days on their own.  As a side note, when college kids practice on a day off they are serious.  For normally, a day off is for catching up on rest, laundry and school work.  So, definitely a sign of focus.

Spoke to Nat last night, she said rehab is going well.  Cutting back and rearranging the exercises has made a difference.  Only having a lil stiffness at this point.  Progress indeed!

Well, my friends stay safe and warm.....spring is coming!  Love and Blessings.....Sherry!

The Good News.....

Hello from a sunny south, although it is cold....the wind is very cold.  Hard to go back to since we were in the 60s a few days ago.  Hopefully, it will be back up in temps in a week or two.  Then we will be over the hump.

Our gal spent most of the past week trying to catch up on rest.  After being in Midland and then going straight to indoors, she was spent.  Hopefully, she will continue to rest this weekend since she has most of it off.  HOPEFULLY!

On Monday, Natalie called excited that the team's ranking went up to the highest in school's history.  As well as their #1 dubs team moved into the top five, also for first time in school history.  Looks like many school records are and will be broke this semester.  Awesome indeed!  Goo Cowgirls!

The good news, Nat started running sprints this week.  The bad news....she pushed it a lil too far.  The day after her sprints, she did a gym work out complete with jump rope, box jumps, etc.  I guess wayyyy to much for two days in a row.  The other good news, after a day off the foot is feeling good.  So, she sprinted again yesterday and is feeling good this morning.  When we spoke this morning, she was on her way for a mini pool workout, something to just loosen her foot and calf.

Happy to say that tomorrow I will head to GA Tech to see the Lady Vols play.  Unfortunately, Natalie stood us up for this event as well as our Valentine's Day date,  but I will get it done.  Looking forward to wearing orange and rooting on Jo and Cat, as well as the rest of the Lady Vols.  My predict Lady Vols win 5-2.  A prediction made without seeing the Lady Vols play this year, but I've seen GA Tech.  We shall see if I'm right or not.

Happy Valentine's Day, may it be filled with love and laughter.  Love and Blessings....Sherry!

Don't Poke Em! LOL!

Regards from a rainy Georgia!  Natalie, Chris and their team made it safe and sound to Virginia for National Indoors.  Unfortunately, they didn't get off to a good start.  On Friday, they lost to UNC, from what I could tell on the live video.....the nerves got the best of them before the first match even started.  None of the players have ever played at Indoors, let alone it was the first time a team from their school qualified.  That is a lot of self imposed negative pressure.

On Saturday, they played Bama.  A nice taste of "home"....SEC.....for Natalie.  She always enjoys catching up with coaches that she knows and Bama's is one of the best.  Although the Cowgirls played better, Bama was able to go away with the win.

Can only imagine how the gals felts Saturday night after losing two matches in a row.  For I'm sure they knew they could do better.  So, I can only imagine they went within themselves to prepare for Sunday.  The last opponent of the weekend was to be Vandy, yet another taste of home for Natalie.  Our gal said she was able to catch up with Aleke, Vandy's assistant coach.  And one of us Pluskota's favorite.

Sorry, I digressed.  The Cowgirls came out strong and took the doubles point.  Then move onto singles and took a win on courts 1, 5 and 6.  To win 4-2, beating a top 12 team.  That was an awesome way for them to finish the weekend.  For Vandy beat Duke a top 8 team the day before, so this win for the Cowgirls should move them up in the rankings.  A great thing!  Sooo good job Cowgirls!

Spoke to Natalie yesterday afternoon.  They were ready take off for OK.  With all the flights and layovers, they were to arrive around 1 a.m.   I would suggest staying away from the bear or should I say bears today.....don't poke em!   LOL!

Nana update, she is doing well.  Seems to have recovered mentally from that last fall and knock on the head.  Although she slips away from us a lil more ever day.  We are thankful for the moments we have with her.

As for me, been trying to catch up on Natalie's scrapbooks.  Getting the items cut out, laminated and organizing for mounting.  Feeling pretty accomplished bout it too!  Also, been playing a lil poker, which always is fun.  Having been raise in Chicago, we played board games and cards all winter long.  My brother Mark, sister Gloria and my BFF Karen Adams would spend hours every day playing cards.  And on the weekends....10s of hours.  I love to play cards and board games.

We never played poker, that is something my sons taught me bout 4 years ago.  And I'm so thankful they did, for poker has filled many a lonely night on the road with Natalie.  If we were in a town that happened to have a casino or poker room I would go play.  What a great distraction from the many hours at the tennis courts.  Lucky for me I could find a tournament to play for $30-40, which would keep me busy for 4-6 hours.  A ton of fun!  Locally, we have a company that hosts free poker.  They offer the locals a chance to build points monthly which entitles them to play for $1,000 purse tourney.  I'm happy to say that I won $700 and the trophy last month and 3rd place and $308 this month.....WOOT!  Goooo Me!  Again, a great way for me to get out and have a distraction.

I hope the New Year has been good to you!  Love and Blessings....Sherry

Midland Update

Good Morning Folks!  Hope this blog entry finds you feeling good and ready for the day!

Our gal has been in Midland, Michigan since last Thursday.  An appearance/working trip.  The Dow Corning tourney was to be the first of many tourneys for Natalie post surgery.  But that didn't work out, so instead she went there to do a lil work.  In hopes of banking some dollars for her return to the pro circuit in the fall.  As well as pay her bills as they say.

Although her trip was cut short due to National Indoors, it was a good trip.  Due in part to her host family.  For the third year in a row, Diane made sure Natalie's favorite soup was waiting for her upon arrival.....hence the bragging picture I was sent:

Then of course the next picture Natalie sent me was of Bron Bron, the family dog.  Which of course I'm afraid of and who of course follows me around and thinks I'm his best friend:

One way our gal likes to give back to her host family is to provide free tennis lessons.  The least she can do for all the wonderful things they are providing or willing to do for her.  So, she started with Mia, her host sister.  I'm amazed how tall Mia and her brother Andrew have grown, soooo tall.  Pretty soon they will pass up Natalie.  Anyway here is Mia, Natalie and their silliness:

Don't let Natalie's pale face convince you she is sick.  She just very pale in the winter.  Which she is annoyed by because everyone asks her if she is feeling well.  The price for tanning so well in the summer months???

Natalie spent all day Saturday conducting mini sessions with high school players.  Then filled the rest of her time with school visits or private lessons. She also had a chance to go watch Andrew (host brother) train for his ice hockey team.  Was fun to hear her speak about ice hockey, something I grew up playing and watching.....all new to her....well the training part anyway.   Here's Natalie and Andrew:

And here are the mini ladies that Natalie practiced with:

Left to Right:  Clair, Andrea, Savannah, Mia (host sister), Anna

It's always nice to catch up with old friends or in this case "tour buddies".  So on Sunday,  Diane and Darryl opened their home up for a last minute Super Bowl Party.  Natalie was allowed to invited peeps over to watch the game.  Which of course was a big hit for many reasons.  Catching up with friends, great food over a sporting event.  I mean can life get any better?  Here's a few pics sent to me:

Front Row Left to Right: Kristie, Asia, Lauren, Samantha
Back Row Left to Right:  Natalie and Sanaz
Side Note:  Natalie has played dubs with all but Kristie

This is the ladies sending me a "hello".....awe I miss seeing them and all the craziness of the tour!


Natalie was able to see this sweetie, Nicole and sent me this picture:

Is it me or can Natalie play the lead role in Wicked?  Looking a lil pale green.....LOL!
And she is feeling great!

Although Natalie's trip was cut short by five days, it was still awesome and productive.  She loved spending time with the Frickey's, a host family that is near and dear to both of our hearts.  As well see some of the "mini ladies" and spend time working with them.  But all the fun had came to an end when she flew to Virginia yesterday.  After a very long and delayed day of travel she and "the team" arrived safe and sound around 2 a.m.  I don't think I would poke the bear today....just saying!  Hopefully, they will get to sleep in late before heading for practice.  For tomorrow they will play UNC in their very first trip to the NCAA National Indoors Tourney.  Good Luck Cowgirls!

Well, have a dentist appointment this morning, so shower time!  Make it a good day folks....Love and Blessings.....Sherry!