Friday, October 26, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Texas Bound....
Morning ...just waiting to take off into the wild blue.... Flight is empty, well thought was gunna be good but then momma and tiny baby arrive to sit next to me. She cheerfully moved to empty row in front of us.... Prayers the real owners of those seats don't show up.
Anyway...play to begin on Sunday. staying with another "hook up" host family .... Many thanks to Kennedy! Can't wait to meet them!
See you on the flip side, when I get to go follow the bouncing yellow ball! Love and Blessings!
Anyway...play to begin on Sunday. staying with another "hook up" host family .... Many thanks to Kennedy! Can't wait to meet them!
See you on the flip side, when I get to go follow the bouncing yellow ball! Love and Blessings!
Monday, October 22, 2012
Rock Hill Rocks Open Pics....
Rock Hill Rocks Open - 25K Tournament
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| Natalie and Tessa |
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| "T" and Natalie |
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| Brad, Natalie and Kristin |
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| Marine challenge....trying to get that free tshirt! She did! |
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| Add caption |
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| Our awesome hosts.....Cassandra and Lance |
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| Mayor Doug Echols presents the trophies and gifts |
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| The Champions! |
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| Winner, Winner...... |
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| Body Art via Pluskota |
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| The Loftin kids and Natalie |
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| Natalie, Mayor Echols and Jackie |
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| Jackie, Cassandra, Lance, Natalie |
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| The trophy and the Swatch watch gift |
Rock Hill Rocks Open....wrap up
Before I wrapped up the tennis part of Rock Hill. I must speak about our friends new and old. We had the pleasure of staying with new friends Lance and Cassandra in their lovely home. Lovely in so many ways, most importantly it is filled with a wonder couple. We so enjoyed their company and great meals. And btw....Natalie and Jackie owe their win to Lance....who before every match gave Natalie's tennis bag a "magic touch" for luck.
We had a great time getting to know Jenny Webber and her hubby "hot lips" Webber. The parents of a good friend of Natalie's Andrew, they drove up to see some tennis. It was so interesting to listen to their love and passion (ok mostly Jenny's) for shooting pictures in cemeteries. Which I have and do find it very interesting to tool around in one and look at the stones, so I could understand. We thought their two best stories were....being locked in a cemetery because they missed closing time. The second, Jenny's only memory of going to a football stadium was what happened under the bleechers....hence the "hot lips". Thank goodness back in our day....lips were the only thing touching.
We were able to see Kristin, Kelsey, Brad, Tessa and "T". Many thanks to them for some great meals and strolls down memory lane. They lived in Newnan for a couple of years before moving to Charlotte. Was fun to see how great Kelsey looks and have the chance to see where she works. Then we saw Tessa cheer at her last home game as a junior in high school.
Was great to spend time with all of these wonderful folks. We were in Charlotte and Rock Hill for eight days. Most of the time, that many days on the road just drags on and on. Because we were able to be with all of these wonderful folks.....it seem like a "flash" of time.
OK....time to talk tennis....the finals....
Natalie and Jackie faced Chieh-Yu Hsu and Chi Chi Scholl in the finals at Rock Hill. Their ranking for this tournament was 550....and Nat/Jac's was 694.
Natalie and Jackie came out strong. Breaking Chi Chi's serve with great returns and volleys. You could tell our team was gunna be aggressive today. Was our serve and we made quick work of it and were up 2-0. All four of these ladies have great hands at the net. However, the opponents prefer to stay one up and one back, which for us ....worked to our advantage. Natalie and Jackie came in strong and big to the net. They owned it all day. Our team took the first set pretty quickly, 6-2.
The second set was much like the first. With some additional entertainment for us and the radio audience coming from Natalie's challenge to the chair umpire. You see....the opposing team was serving, Natalie receiving. The line judge behind Nat called the serve out, but almost in the middle of the word "out"...she stopped herself or finished it in more quiet tone. The girls continued the point and once over, Natalie spoke to the chair. Stating what happened at that the point should be replayed as a "let". The chair told Nat that they should have not continued the point and that he didn't hear the call. Natalie turned to the lady who made the call and asked her if she called it out. The lines person said she had. The chair then told Natalie that they should have stopped the point. Natalie stated that the players are told to continue play and that the line judge should have stopped the point not her or Jackie. The chair agreed and they replayed the point.
I guess my "lil angels" voice and opinion came out loud and clear on the radio coverage. For we have had many contact us since to let us know they hear it. Funny indeed....but right is right as they say.
Natalie and Jackie won the second set 6-3, they were up 3-0 before having aaahhhh a brain fart. Then regained control and finished it off. Champions! In addition to a glass tennis racquet trophy they each received a Swatch watch. Both are very nice and the ladies were very excited to say the least!
We had a great time getting to know Jenny Webber and her hubby "hot lips" Webber. The parents of a good friend of Natalie's Andrew, they drove up to see some tennis. It was so interesting to listen to their love and passion (ok mostly Jenny's) for shooting pictures in cemeteries. Which I have and do find it very interesting to tool around in one and look at the stones, so I could understand. We thought their two best stories were....being locked in a cemetery because they missed closing time. The second, Jenny's only memory of going to a football stadium was what happened under the bleechers....hence the "hot lips". Thank goodness back in our day....lips were the only thing touching.
We were able to see Kristin, Kelsey, Brad, Tessa and "T". Many thanks to them for some great meals and strolls down memory lane. They lived in Newnan for a couple of years before moving to Charlotte. Was fun to see how great Kelsey looks and have the chance to see where she works. Then we saw Tessa cheer at her last home game as a junior in high school.
Was great to spend time with all of these wonderful folks. We were in Charlotte and Rock Hill for eight days. Most of the time, that many days on the road just drags on and on. Because we were able to be with all of these wonderful folks.....it seem like a "flash" of time.
OK....time to talk tennis....the finals....
Natalie and Jackie faced Chieh-Yu Hsu and Chi Chi Scholl in the finals at Rock Hill. Their ranking for this tournament was 550....and Nat/Jac's was 694.
Natalie and Jackie came out strong. Breaking Chi Chi's serve with great returns and volleys. You could tell our team was gunna be aggressive today. Was our serve and we made quick work of it and were up 2-0. All four of these ladies have great hands at the net. However, the opponents prefer to stay one up and one back, which for us ....worked to our advantage. Natalie and Jackie came in strong and big to the net. They owned it all day. Our team took the first set pretty quickly, 6-2.
The second set was much like the first. With some additional entertainment for us and the radio audience coming from Natalie's challenge to the chair umpire. You see....the opposing team was serving, Natalie receiving. The line judge behind Nat called the serve out, but almost in the middle of the word "out"...she stopped herself or finished it in more quiet tone. The girls continued the point and once over, Natalie spoke to the chair. Stating what happened at that the point should be replayed as a "let". The chair told Nat that they should have not continued the point and that he didn't hear the call. Natalie turned to the lady who made the call and asked her if she called it out. The lines person said she had. The chair then told Natalie that they should have stopped the point. Natalie stated that the players are told to continue play and that the line judge should have stopped the point not her or Jackie. The chair agreed and they replayed the point.
I guess my "lil angels" voice and opinion came out loud and clear on the radio coverage. For we have had many contact us since to let us know they hear it. Funny indeed....but right is right as they say.
Natalie and Jackie won the second set 6-3, they were up 3-0 before having aaahhhh a brain fart. Then regained control and finished it off. Champions! In addition to a glass tennis racquet trophy they each received a Swatch watch. Both are very nice and the ladies were very excited to say the least!
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Saturday, October 20, 2012
What Champions are made of.....
After the dubs match, stop for a quick bite, an appearance at a football game then back home for some yuuummmmyyyy gumbo (thanks Cassandra & Lance)....had nothing left in my tank for blogging. Soooooo here we go.....
First, let me say how proud of Natalie and Jackie for the manner in which they conduct themselves both on and off the court. Never being rude or disrespectful to their opponents. Wish the same were true of their opponents. Anyway.....I digressed.
Jackie started out serving, and with a few great serves and great Pluskota volleys we were up 1-0. Able to break their serve easily we were up 2-0. In the middle of Natalie's service game the opponents asked for a trainer. Yes, a trainer in the 3rd game of the first set. Natalie served well, Jackie volley well and we were up 3-0 prior to the trainer's appearance.
The trainer and player spoke for a few moments, poking her stomach. Then the opponents started to question the USTA rep concerning if she defaulted could she leave and go play the next tournament in Florence that started tomorrow (Sunday). And what are the penalities. Wait, I'm I in the twilight zone or are we on medical time out???
The official was explaining that if she defaults she can't play until Monday, meaning she would miss the first round on Sunday. That if she played out the match she could play on Sunday and suffer no pentalities. Then a her parent/coach starting having a convo in Russian with the two players on the court. AGAIN....am I in the twight zone or is this a medical time out??
To the credit of the USTA rep, she did stop that convo and continued with rule information. About 10 - 15 minutes into all this....FINALLY .....the chair umpire says ....'XXXX is now taking a medical time out".......wait ....WHAT? Exactly what kind of break had she been on????? Now, she gets 10 more minutes......UNBELIEVABLE!!!!
Ten minutes went by, and we were off and running. It was clear from the laughing, attiutude and mocking of our team that our opponents were just playing to not get penalized. Their rudeness and lack of sportmanship made me soooo thankful for the awesome women and players of Natalie and Jackie.
Natalie and Jackie won the second, 6-0. And away to the Championship we goooooo!
Of course, I think Natalie and Jackie are Champions already both on and off the court. Congrats Ladies for representing yourselves, your families, the USA and your coaches sooooo well!
First, let me say how proud of Natalie and Jackie for the manner in which they conduct themselves both on and off the court. Never being rude or disrespectful to their opponents. Wish the same were true of their opponents. Anyway.....I digressed.
Jackie started out serving, and with a few great serves and great Pluskota volleys we were up 1-0. Able to break their serve easily we were up 2-0. In the middle of Natalie's service game the opponents asked for a trainer. Yes, a trainer in the 3rd game of the first set. Natalie served well, Jackie volley well and we were up 3-0 prior to the trainer's appearance.
The trainer and player spoke for a few moments, poking her stomach. Then the opponents started to question the USTA rep concerning if she defaulted could she leave and go play the next tournament in Florence that started tomorrow (Sunday). And what are the penalities. Wait, I'm I in the twilight zone or are we on medical time out???
The official was explaining that if she defaults she can't play until Monday, meaning she would miss the first round on Sunday. That if she played out the match she could play on Sunday and suffer no pentalities. Then a her parent/coach starting having a convo in Russian with the two players on the court. AGAIN....am I in the twight zone or is this a medical time out??
To the credit of the USTA rep, she did stop that convo and continued with rule information. About 10 - 15 minutes into all this....FINALLY .....the chair umpire says ....'XXXX is now taking a medical time out".......wait ....WHAT? Exactly what kind of break had she been on????? Now, she gets 10 more minutes......UNBELIEVABLE!!!!
Ten minutes went by, and we were off and running. It was clear from the laughing, attiutude and mocking of our team that our opponents were just playing to not get penalized. Their rudeness and lack of sportmanship made me soooo thankful for the awesome women and players of Natalie and Jackie.
Natalie and Jackie won the second, 6-0. And away to the Championship we goooooo!
Of course, I think Natalie and Jackie are Champions already both on and off the court. Congrats Ladies for representing yourselves, your families, the USA and your coaches sooooo well!
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