Bron Bron

Hey peeps!  Natalie is enjoying her time in Midland.  She did not get into doubles.  Truth be told, she was probably happy!  

Natalie continues to participate with the community outreach programs.  As well as work with the local youth on the courts.  She had great visits to a couple local schools.  Here's a peek:

And here are the "boys"....

Sorry! I don't know the name of the two cuties on the left.  Andrew is on the right and is Nat's house brother.  

This is Bron Bron....who according to Natalie and Diane...he misses me!  Ugh!

Natalie is in Midland thru the weekend! She loves Midland, the tourney and especially the people.  All of which she will soon miss.

Wishing all of you a month of live and blessings....Sherry!

Midland Update

Greetings from Vegas!  I'm here and Natalis is in Midland, Michigan.  The weather is to turn to snow for her by Tuesday.  Being one of her favorite tourneys, she won't mind it.

Natalie was looking forward to seeing the Frickeys including my favorite...Bron Bron the dog.  This moose of a dog scares me to no end, but as Diane is quick to point out...."he loves you Sherry".  Yup, he is always at my side, which for me ...a person VERY afraid of big dogs ...is unnerving.  Let alone I'm very allergic to him.

Annnyyyywayyyy, Natalie is enjoying her time with all of them.  She has been able to work with several groups of kids on the courts.  As well as, take part in a kids questioning session.  That I might add had a stumper of a question, "what's your favorite thing?".  Natalie and Nicole Gibbs were for a loss with that tough one.  Lol!

At this point, Nat is not in the 100k in Midland.  We won't know for sure until 12:01 p.m. tomorrow.  Not looking good.   

Here are a few pics of Natalie and friends....

The ladies, Savannah, Clair, Mia, Salma and Natalie.

Team Pluskota....woot!

Natalie and Nicole

Daytona, Midland

Greetings from Georgia!  Sorry for the delay in blogging, but this week has been eventful and not in a good way!  We returned to GA yesterday, after a three day hiatus in Tampa.  A bit of a regrouping if you will.  More bout that at a later date.

Last weekend, we packed up the car including Natalie's brother Nic and the dog (Princess Peach).  Nic is post op and on sick leave from work, so we convinced him a change of scenery would be good for him.  And Peach, just cuz!

We made our way to Daytona Beach.  Very grateful for the wild card opportunity into the 25K.  Natalie partnered up with Katia Kamendova, a local pro.   Because Natalie's ranking is so low, that was the only hope of getting into the tourney.  We didn't know Katia before this pairing, but knew others that know her.  She is a very sweet young lady, who is loved at her tennis center.

Unfortunately, our team drew a tough first round opponent.  Cako/Loeb, both seasoned tour doubles players.  This would be Katia's first attempt.  Although our team had many chances, our poor serving and ground strokes made it wayyyy tooo easy for the opponents.  Losing 1-6, 3-6.

Here are a few pics from Daytona:

Natalie will head to Midland, Michigan next week.  Hoping for a wild card into doubles of that 100K.  The chances are slim, but she will attempt it.  She loves that tourney and would love to play this year, we shall see.  Last year she made the journey there and helped with the community outreach program.  Natalie's favorite program of all tourney.  She is looking forward to seeing the Frickey family, including  Bron Bron.....the dog!  According to Nat, my favorite host dog.....lol!

Hate that I will miss Midland again this year.  Not only are the people awesome, the tourney is first class.  But I always enjoy the snow, for I love snow....or at least I love visiting snow.  I know they will take great care of Natalie and she will enjoy herself and Midland.  Love and Blessings.....Sherry

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

From Our Home to Yours!

Love and Blessings.....Sherry

Speaking of Spirit....

Merry Christmas Y'all!  Hope this brief blog finds you and yours in good health and spirits!

Speaking of spirit.....if you are in the giving spirit and would like to help Natalie in her quest for success as a professional tennis player.....please feel free to gift her via the PayPal account listed in the left margin of our blog.  Thanks for your consideration!

Here's a lil message.....

Save the Logo....the Lady Vol Logo that is

Season Greetings from Georgia!  Hope everyone is getting ready to have a great time celebrating Christmas and the reason.....Jesus!  And if you happen to celebrate a different holiday, Happy Holidays to you!

Last weekend Natalie heading to Knoxville on Saturday morning.  After practicing with some of the men's team, she was able to hang out with some friends.  Always a great thing to do in one of her favorite places.

On Sunday, Amy, Jeanne and I headed to Kville too.  We were to support Natalie and the others, in the movement to Save the Lady Vol logo.  A rally was scheduled at the statue of Pat Summitt, prior to the basketball game.

Just a quick review for anyone that may have missed prior blogs on the subject.  When the University hired the new AD....Dave Hart, one of his first decisions and projects was to rid the teams of the Lady Vol Logo.  That on top of combining the women's and men's departments.  In the process he got rid of 15 positions.....12 of which were filled by women.  Yea.....in my opinion.....he doesn't give of flip about the female athlete.....nor employee.

Anyway......all but ONE of the female team's were stripped of the logo this past July.  Anding salt to the wound, the basketball team was allowed to keep the logo.  I call BULLSHIT!  It should be all or all!  Pat Summitt and all the Lady Vol athletes worked long and hard to earn the much deserved title of Lady Volunteer!  Removing said logo is a slap in the face to them and all women as far as I'm concerned.

At the Save the Logo Rally, TN State Rep. Roger Kane made an important announcement.  He, along with others introduced several Bills concerning the matter.  One of which is to made the Lady Volunteer Logo a law.  In doing so, we will never have to have this discussion again.  The University will have no choice but to use the logo ....FOREVER!

If you live in Tennessee, have family  or friends there....PLEASE contact Kane and any other government official to support our efforts.  Here is a website if you are interested:

bringbacktheladyvols.com

Here is a short video comprised of the pictures taken that day.....please enjoy:

https://youtu.be/jn_Tulr2eN4

....And Begging....

Hello from the dreary, yet beautiful Smokey Mountains.  Enjoying a lil peace, quiet and amazing stress free sleep.  Ooo yea, and a lil poker, the WSOP to be exact.

Spent yesterday in my room trying to draw up a plan of action for Natalie's 2016 tour.  The ITF,  USTA changed the schedule.  Which threw a wrench into our plans.  We thought she could start the season in Florida, playing 10Ks.  But now there are only three 25Ks there.  With her ranking in the 1,200s and the fact the 25Ks are the first of the year....we doubt she would get into the draw.  Again, a bite in the ole AS* for not playing last spring.

Anyway, I searched the schedules in different countries.  Looked at the maps in said countries.  Checked airline ticket prices.  Evaluated the safety issues involved with travel to such places like Turkey.  And still .....no plan of action.

Although, she worked last summer to fund her return to the tour.  It is hard to spend upwards of 4-5K on a three week tour to France, England or Asia.  So we debate, do we fundraise to send her, do we wait till March to play the 10Ks in the USA.  Do we send her to a possible unsafe country....HELL NO!

For now we put out feelers, are there any wild card tournaments for doubles at any tourneys here in the USA?  Can she get into any qualifying draws for dubs?  Can she secure any dubs wild cards?  As you can see, soooo very much involved.  We continue on, planning, working, hoping, praying.....

.....and begging......

If you happen to have some end of the year extra bucks around and would like to gift them to Natalie and her tour.  Please feel free to do so via her PayPal.....link in the left margin of blog.  OR  Contact Natalie or myself for another method of gifting.  Please be reminded, no gift is too small.....every dollar matters.

Thank you!

Tomorrow, I rest in my room again, thank God for free rooms.  Waiting to play in the ladies tournament on Saturday.  And wait for Natalie, Amy and Jeanne to arrive.  Natalie will only spend the night, then head to the University of Tennessee for practice.  As well as, a rally to be held on Sunday, prior to the basketball game.  Rally....what rally.....you ask.

As many of you know,  the UT Athletic Director, Dave Hart decide to get rid of the Lady Volunteer Logo.  A logo I might add, that Pat Summitt and her teams, spent many years earning and fighting for.  In July, Hart stripped the logo from all the lady's teams except the basketball team.  Viewed by many as a slap in the face to the other female athletes and their teams.  The basketball players are called Lady Vols, the rest just Vols.

Since, spring Natalie and many others have been active in the quest to "bring the logo back".  Many of you may remember reading an article Nat wrote, that I linked here on the blog.  She has been invited to attend the Rally at the Pat Summitt statue at 12:30 on Sunday.  There is to be an announcement at the Rally.  One of which, we have no official word as to what it is.....we can only HOPE that Hart got a HEART and the logo will be back.

The rest of us, will play in the ladies tourney on Saturday.  Then head to UT for the Rally and game on Sunday.  Guess I will be a UT tour guide, which of course I love!  Will have to take Amy and Jeanne to the UT Tennis Center and show them who is "hanging" around.  And maybe a sneak peek at the indoor football facility and a quick hello to Donna Thomas.  Gosh, I miss her and her sense of humor.  What an amazing Assistant Athletic Director....altho I don't know her new title....and really don't want to look it up.  Anyway, she's a big wig....deservingly so!  She was and is a great role model to Natalie and me.  She too, has done much in the world of female sports on behalf of our athletes.

Before I close, must send our thoughts and prayers to those in San Bernardino affected by the horrible terrorist attack.  God Bless America!

Love and Blessings......Sherry!