Rainy Day

The weather in England today was as dismal as my predictions of the past two! And I also hate it when I'm right, so let us hope that when all is said and done tomorrow, I will have been wrong. "To what is she referring?" you may be asking yourself. No. Actually, you're probably thinking more along the lines of, "What is she talking about?" or "What is she referring TO?" (If you know me well, you know why I felt the need to put those two sentences in this paragraph.)

I'm talking about Lindsay Davenport, of course. If you remember, I thought Kim Clijsters would take Lindsay out of the tournament. Upon Lindsay's victory over Clijsters, I decided to change my mind about Ms. Davenport and put her into the finals. It looks promising but it isn't in the bag, yet. What I wouldn't have given to watch the match between Lindsay and Amelie Mauresmo today! Mauresmo took the first set in a tie break and Lindsay took the second in the same manner. Rain stopped the match late in the third with Davenport up 5-3. Mauresmo is serving. The suspended play serves Amelie. Lindsay was on a roll and with this overnight break, Mauresmo has a chance to regroup and rethink. Lindsay? Well she's a toughie, but at this point I would venture to say anything can happen in this match. As I said earlier, I hate it when I'm right, so let's hope I'm not!

Venus took out Sharapova. Okay. Enough said there.

Weather permitting, the men will play their semi-finals tomorrow. Can everyone say "Federer/Roddick rematch?" Perhaps. Johansson has been playing some truly stunning tennis, advancing quietly. Roddick struggled against Grosjean. We'll see. I think the Hewitt/Federer match will be a good one, provided our friend Lleyton can get over the idea of being on the opposite side of the net from Roger..again.

Swing away!

Three Out of 4 Ain't Bad..

Hewitt, Federer, Roddick (whew!), and Johansson have moved into the semi's. If you remember, I predicted Nalbandian over Johansson. I did go against my instincts on that one, but what the hey. It made for an interesting afternoon at work, anyway. It has been so dog-slow there! I am constantly reminded to be thankful for internet access in my office so I can keep track of the real time scores. Here's an intriguing thing: You know how there is a time delay while the spoken word travels across phone lines, etc? Well, the same holds true for radio via the 'net. I've had Radio Wimbledon on some during the fortnight-while watching the live scoreboard and have noticed that the scores tend to run about 2 points ahead of the commentary. Yeah. Intriguing. (I told you it's been slow at work!)

So tomorrow? Davenport & Sharapova. I wish I could watch Venus/Sharapova live. That promises to be a real slug-fest. I think Davenport/Mauresmo will be more of a thinking/strategy-laced game. Oh - for her age, Sharapova thinks well. Imagine what she'll be like when her mind game reaches the same status as her physical game! I think we have the makings of another Steffi...or better.

I didn't really care for Steffi that much. I like Sharapova. I hope it stays that way.

Another Wimbledon Wednesday

The most amazing thing about this year's Championship is the weather! There has been only one rainy day this fortnight and even it wasn't a total wash-out. After saying that, I am sure I have jinxed the remainder of the tournament. There is a chance of rain in England today ~ so I guess we will have to wait and see.

I did extremely poorly yesterday. It was my first "losing" day of the tournment. Davenport has been a nice surprise to be sure. I had her out in the round of 16 against Clijsters. Since then, I've changed my tune and have put her into the finals. You know what that means, right? Bingo. She will lose to Mauresmo tomorrow. Amelie, for her part, has had a wonderful 2 weeks. It would be nice to see her win a title ~ still, for Lindsay to leave the game while at the top would be a nice bow out for her, don't you think? Sampras did the same thing. It worked for him.

I really wanted Mary Pierce to take out Venus. The nagging doubts were present, of course ~ as once again I went against my gut instincts. I really need to stop doing that! No matter. I think Sharapova will do it for me. She had a teeny little wake up call yesterday with Petrova. It is my assumption that we will not see anymore sloppy play from Maria.

And what about today? I did bat 1.000 with the Gentlemen's side for the round of 16. If I were betting on these matches, I would not make much money today as I'm going with the favorites. Federer, Hewitt, Roddick, and....a very tough choice here....Nalbandian. Why David? Just like Lindsey, he has surprised me throughout the tournament.

Things are heating up in London. My television will be tuned in this weekend to be sure.

And Now a Word from Our Sponsor

FOOD!

Oh man, the food I had while in DC! The first night was Italian night, found in Old Town Alexandria, right on King Street. I had a very nice Chicken Marsala, but Jerry's Rigatoni was better. And if you ever want prosciutto in your alfredo, go where we went. (Sorry, Shannon!)

The second night we went to a place at Pentagon City called California Pizza Works. Guess what I learned? If it can be put on a pizza, they do it. Again, mine was great - a vegetarian delight - but Jerry's was better, with steak, basil pesto, tomatoes, and I can't remember what all. Yum!

The third night we went Greek - back in Old Town on King Street. I had Dolmades something-or-other. Basically shredded sirloin, mint, & rice wrapped in grape leaves (yes, you eat them) and covered in a yum-yum sauce. Guess what? Yeah. Jerry's was better. He had a sampler platter of sorts and a few of the items on that plate! Oh My Gosh!

The next time we go to DC, I'm just going to wait & see what Jerry gets. When it is my turn to order I'll simply point at the major and tell the waiter, "What he said." That will guarantee me the best possible meal.

I stepped on the scale this morning. 110. This is a good place to be. I've gained 4 pounds and really don't need any more.

~WE now return you to your regularly scheduled program, already in progress~

Whoops!

I'm tardy with this entry, I know. Okay folks, let's remember I'm on vacation! I spent a lot of yesterday walking around in the heat and not much time with "my friend the computer." Considering today is a rest day at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, I'm going to forgive myself.

A recap would be the place to start, I guess. When last we talked, day five was not completed due to rain. Once the matches for that day were complete, I ended up with a .625 batting average for the men's side, and actually did hit that elusive 1000 on the ladies'!

My stats as a whole have been fairly consistent. I've had a steady .594 for both rounds 2 & three on the men's side and .813 for the ladies'. I figured my batting average for days one through 3 and came up with the following: .696 - men's, .714 - ladies'. I really have no reason to be disappointed.

However, with my decline on the gentlemen's side, I began to analyze my motives behind the picks I was making. Everyone has a favorite player or two. I have several. It is much like football. I don't have one team that I follow to the death. I can appreciate different playing styles and the many facets behind the game. While there may be a terrific serve-volleyer that I admire, I might also see raging talent in a baseliner. I marvel at the power players and respect the strategists. How can a person choose just one player to follow?

So what are my motivating factors? What makes me choose an unseeded Bjorkman over Youzhny? While I just stated that I do not have any one favorite player, there are some I prefer over others. While this isn't a scientific or logical way to choose a winner there is some merit behind making a choice along these lines. Let's be honest: it isn't often that a person would choose a consistent loser! The other side of the "like" factor is that there are times when I would just like to see a particular player do well. Bjorkman is one of those. He is consistent, but hasn't won many majors. He's there plugging away tournament after tournament and has talent. He is also aging and doesn't have much time left. Sure, I'd like to see him win one more big title before he retires. I feel the same about Davenport. And Taylor Dent. He's another who has been around and around and around. How about a title for this cutie?

New faces bring fresh excitement to the game. Andrew Murray falls along these lines. He has potential, he is young and personable, and let's be honest here: he took out Stepanek who is a seasoned player and was seeded 14th. Every now and then the temptation to predict a Murry over a Nalbandian is too much to bear. So the stats take a hit to the negative side. Newcomers to the scene equal hope for the future of the came.

And then there are the tried and true players: Davenport, Federer, the Williams' sisters. The have won titles. They understand the stresses and head games the majors bring. They have learned to handle it and win. There is a certain allure to automatically pick these players over a Hantuchova, a Kiefer, or a Safina.

Why should a person who keeps stats and makes predictions on tennis matches go against their gut feelings? My own statistics have suffered because of that very thing. There have been several instances when I have squelched my inner voice and 'gone with the numbers.' The Gimelstob/Massu match was one of those. I knew Justin had another win coming to him, but Massu was a seeded player and Gimelstob a lucky loser!! I went with Wimbledon's pick rather than my own gut feeling. Great choice there, let me tell ya! *rolls eyes* I should have known better. Did I or did I not complain about Wimbledon's seedings?

The last determining factor to my predictions is how well the player has done throughout the tournament. If there has been a lot of struggling...unforced errors, double faults, long matches...then I am more apt to take them out of the running. Now, that just makes sense!

And so Monday brings some tough pairings. Here are my thoughts:

1. Federer (why argue with near perfection?),
2. Gonzalez,
3. Hewitt (sorry, Taylor!),
4. Lopez,
5. Dementieva (who appears to have timed the peak of her game well)
6. Mauresmo
7. Kuznetsova (and...big breath here)
8. Clijsters

I have been considering the impending Clijsters/Davenport match since Day One. Lindsay is a veteran who has the ability to keep her nerves under control. Clijsters has been in a constant struggle with that very thing. However, I see something new in Kim this season. I think it could be a new freshness and inner strength. The physical side of her game is the best I've ever seen it. Lindsay, the quiet fighter, will have a full plate served to her in Kim Clijsters. It should be a great match!

And so it begins...

The rain, that is. Last year's Wimbledon was the rainiest in recent history. In constrast, the first week of The Championships, 2005 has been sunny and uncharacteristically hot. Some of the Russian players have had a hard time dealing with the conditions. I think the Germans are probably having similiar difficulties.

As a result of the rain, Day 5 was not completed. No matter. There were exciting moments and upsets, anyway. Take for example Marat Safin, who up til today was breezing through. He was upset by #26 seed Feliciano Lopez...in straight sets! Roddick needed all five sets to take out Andreev who to his credit had a great run. And then there is the #21 seed, Fernando Gonzalez, who easily ousted the #11, Johansson.

When one considers that only five of the 8 scheduled matches were completed, the day's stats are rather remarkable. I'm still pulling for Bjorkman ~ though he is down at the moment. Jonas tends to do well at Wimbledon. He is aging and doesn't have many years left. I'd like to see him make it to the quarters. Taking into account the completed matches only, I have predicted 3 out of 5 correctly. I'm fairly certain about Federer & Ferrero, so I'll end day five's stats over .500.

Just as the men have become less predictable, the women have become moreso. With six of the pairings complete, I'm sitting at 1000 for the first time this tournament. The numbers alone tell the story: the higher seeds are winning. I'm a little uncertaing about the round of sixteen, though. The big question is: Can Davenport beat Clijsters? The veteran Davenport has maturity and experience on her side, while Clijsters has a new-found focus and youth on hers. I think the determining factor will be Clijster's nerves.

That wraps up today's doings. The stats & winners keep moving back and forth, much like the tennis ball flying over the net.

Wookee at Wimbledon!

No, I don't mean Chewbacca was spotted at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club today. Actually, I was attempting a childish form of humor - one often used by this author: Elmer Fudd/Tweety Bird Speak.

It is no secret that Tim Henman was a big disappointment today. He seemed to just ... go away. I honestly thought he had a chance late in the 5th. There seemed to be a steely resolve in his facial expression. Little did I know that resolve was one of defeat. God love him, Tim has been quoted as saying he feels he can play the tournament for another five years. Yeah.

The good news is Andrew Murray. I think the Brits, fickle and hateful as they are, will drop poor Tim for this new hope. I find it funny that England is claiming this 18 year old powerhouse. Murray himself claims he is a hope for Great Britain, not just England. He is, afterall, from Scotland! The Brits seem all too willing to overlook that fact in lieu having no hopes in the near future.

Serena Williams has been an interesting study. Her body is definitely on the court - more conservatively than usual - but she's there. I wonder about her heart and mind, though. Sure, there is talk about the ankle injury that has kept her off the circuit for the past 8 weeks, but that could be an excuse. Both Serena and Venus have varied interests off the court. Is retirement at the age of 22 or 23 unheard of?

Pat has asked me about my picks for the US Open. What?? Wimbledon hasn't completed its first week, yet! The problem is this: he cannot find anyone betting on Wimbledon, so he no longer sees the value of time and effort spent on this tournament. This much is certain: it is a very good thing I didn't put money on any of today's matches!

Someone told me they thought the tournament ran mostly "with the numbers" today. I was quick to point out the number of seeded players who fell, and I fear more will walk off the court in short order.

I seem to have gotten into a groove when it comes to the ladies' side. I did well today, predicting 12 of 16 correctly. I'll spare you the math-trouble: that's .750! My picks for day five are: Davenport, Clijsters, Maleeva, Kuznetsoa, Mauresmo, Likhovtseva (who is this girl, anyway?), Myskina, and Dementieva. Dementieva needs to get her act together and quickly if she wants to make it much further.

The accuracy of my predictions for the men's side have been sliding over the past couple of days. I am going to assume Roddick will get his act together and finish out his match with Bracciali succesfully. That victory will give me a dismal .500 batting average on the day. Tomorrow's picks: Federer (duh), Gerrero, Johansson, Bjorkman, Hewitt, Dent (I'm proud of this cutie!), Ancic, and Safin. With the exception of Bjorkman, I'm running straight with the numbers on this one.

And now for my disclaimer: These predictions are being made without the benefit of much tennis being observed. I have been listening to the commentary on Centre Court via Radio Wimbledon, but until today I haven't actually seen any tennis. I'm doing pretty darn well, aren't I?

Wimbledon Wednesday

Whoa, Wimbledon! It has got to be the most upset-prone tournament out there. Not that today had many, with the possible exception of Davydenko having to withdraw, moving Bjorkman on to the third round after just a set and a half of play and Monfils taking out number 22 seed, Hrbaty.

The players are experiencing thrills and spills this year. For the past two days on Radio Wimbledon I've been hearing the commentators talk about the 'little pimples' located on the player's shoes. Apparently, these nubs wear out and don't seem to be helping with the traction problem. Rafael Nadal has fallen the most, but some of the women have taken dives as well. This shouldn't be much of a problem at the beginning of next week. The base and service lines are usually so chewed up in the second half of the fortnight that traction isn't an issue anymore unless you are a Boris Becker.

So how did The Lady fare in her predictions today? Surprise, surprise! On the gentleman's side, the batting bar has lifted to .875! I took a nose dive on the ladies', though, falling to .688. Ah, well. Tomorrow is another day and will complete round 2 of the tournament. We'll see what transpires.

Tomorrow's Picks: Mirnyi, Novak, Tipsarevic, Stepanek (going against the seeding, here), Kucera, Nalbandian, Nadal, Henman (only because he must be on a high after Tuesday's performance), Popp, Garcia-Lopez, Grosjean, Coria, Roddick, Andreev, Melzer, and Elseneer.

Women: Daniilidou, Pennetta, Ivanovic, Pierce, Venus, Hantukova, Bartoli, Serena, Petrova, Razzano, Martinez, Zvonareva, Dechy, Panova, Srebotnik, Sharapova.

On a side note, Pat has disclosed that he has found a tennis booking agent online. He encouraged me to get in on the action by saying, "I can put $1500 in an account for you right now, Mom." Then proceeded to shame me when I turned him down by retorting, "You have this talent and you refuse to use it. What a waste!" There was a compliment from both he and Anj, though. They remarked that it takes really knowing the game to be able to do as well as I'm doing.

Positive strokes feel good. Even if they aren't the type found on a tennis court.

Worrisome Wimbledon Woes...

It was another day of upsets at the All-England Club today. (Isn't that a snotty name? Leave it to the Brits!) My girl, Justine Henin-Hardenne, was upset by Eleni Daniilidou (Greece). I knew Eleni would give Justine a run for her money, but I didn't think it would be a marathon in which Justine couldn't keep up. At this point, the ladies' draw on that side of the tournament is wide open! Well, Sharapova is the clear favorite, but who can say? With all of the upsets, predictions are reduced to educated guesses.

Wait a minute: isn't that what predictions are, anyway? Silly me.

The official "Match of the Day Award" undoubtedly has to go to Tiger-Tim Henman. He was two sets down and then pulled it out. Henman isn't new to these super-human efforts. Today's squeak-by marks the seventh time in his professional career that Tim has pulled off this type of victory. I should do some research for the purpose of finding out if any other player has done it that many times. It's fairly remarkable, which is why I'm making my remarks about it!

My stats are staying pretty consistent. Just like yesterday, there is one uncompleted men's match hanging out there. As of now, I'm batting .640 on the women's side and .730 on the men's. I guess as long as I stay above .500, I'll be happy. I think I'm doing pretty well considering it's my first attempt.

My picks for Day Three? Federer, Keifer, Ferrer, Verdasco, Johansson, Gonzalez, Youzhny, Davydenko, Hewitt, Massu, Dent, burgsmuller, Ancic, Hrbaty, Lopez, and Safin.

For the ladies: Davenport, Safina, Vinci, Clijsters, Arvidsson, Maleeva, Vaidisova, Kuznetsova, Mauresmo, Tanasuqarn, Farina, Likhovtsera, Myskina, Jankovic, Washington, and Dementieva.

Today's "predict pefectly" tip: Think long and hard before choosing a clay courter to win on grass. There have been plenty of Spaniards, French, and Germans to win the tourney, but the clay court specialists seem to struggle on grass more than others.

Let's hear a big 'woohoo' for Wimbers! ....why is my voice the only one I hear?

Wimbledon & Baseball

The excitement over The Championships at Wimbledon: Day One has started to wane. In an earlier post I mentioned my plans to keep close tabs on the tournament and attempt some predictions. Today, I was quite pleased with the results, especially on the men's side. I batted .774 on the day, with one match still hanging in the balance. That particular match is tied at 2 sets apiece, 3 games apiece. Should that match turn out the way I think, my batting average for Day One, Gentlemen's Title will improve to .781. If I'm wrong, I'll drop to .750. Still, I'm pleased. In fact, Pat took a peek at my stats and frowned. Upon looking at me he remarked, "Mom, why aren't you doing this for money?

The ladies' side did indeed prove more difficult, as I suspected. My batting average for day one is .656. Justification for the lower stats is forthcoming: There were several upsets today in the women's draw. Ai Sugiyama, seeded 23rd and who typically makes it at least as far as the round of sixteen, was ousted by Roberta Vinci - an unseeded player from Italy. Other seeded players fell as well: Patty Schnyder, Shinobu Asagoe, Karolina Sprem, and Amy Frazier all walked off the court today. Who would have foreseen Schnyder, seeded 10th, would be beaten by Serra-Zanetti? I've never heard of her! (Not that I am a real expert.)

Am I whining? I don't think so. I am guessing that other people who have more at stake were just as surprised as I was at today's results. I am well over my disappointments of today and am eagerly looking ahead to tomorrow. Thank goodness for internet access at work and Wimbledon.org!

Happy Tennis!

The Food Diaries

I am going to assume that my next several posts will consist of two main subjects: Wimbledon and food. If you are not interested in either topic, let me kindly suggest that you not return to this blog until after the Fourth of July. If you are as addicted to blog surfing as I am, read on!

One nice person has taken up the challenge of keeping me answerable for my diet. In fact, this same person actually backed off after a few words and said they would no longer 'nag' me about eating. The apology was sweet, but unnecessary. They were doing exactly as I had asked!

Also, I think rather than making a new post every time I want to say something about food, I will edit and add to this post instead. That will make things easier all the way around.

Sunday, 19 June:

One Scrambled Egg
Two Slices Bacon
Two Pieces Toast, buttered
Glass Orange Juice
Tuna Sandwich that was not enjoyed
Three Lance Cracker Sandwiches (Smokehouse Cheddar)
3-4oz Ribeye Steak
Seven bites Parslied Red Potatoes
Seven bites Caesar Salad

The result? A very upset stomach by 8:00pm. No other food was ingested on Sunday.

Monday, 20 June:

Two pieces toast, peanut buttered (yummie!)
Seven Tostito Gold chips
One Plum
4oz Pork Chop
Fettucini w/garlic & butter
Applesauce (I forgot to buy broccoli again!)

The result? An upset stomach in the other direction.

Tuesday, 21 June:

2 Eggo Waffles (butter, not syrup)
1/2 Vanilla Carnation Instant Breakfast
2 String Cheese
1 Red D'Anjou Pear
2 Lance Sandwich Crackers (Smokehouse Cheddar)
Handful "Vegetable Thins" Crackers
10 Cheetos
Pasta w/Chicken in Creamy Red Sauce
8oz. Pineapple

Wednesday, 22 June ~ I stepped on the scale this morning. I've gained back three pounds already. I'm still under 110, but at least the scale is moving in the right direction. Three more pounds and I'll be happy. Five would be pushing it.

Wednesday, 22 June:

2 Eggo Waffles - butter, no syrup
1/2 Vanilla Carnation Instant Breakfast
4oz Pineapple
2 String Cheese
12 Vegetable Thins Crackers
2.75oz Hamburger - with cheese, bacon, lettuce, bun
Dozen or so French Fries
5 or 6 Onion Rings
6oz Vanilla Malted

More Food Tales

Anyone who has known me for any length of time knows I like food. In fact, I love to eat! Italian, Southwestern, Asian, American junk; you name it, I eat it. Fish may be the exception, but we are told there are exceptions to almost every rule. For the record, I am a "salty" more than a "sweet." Specifically, popcorn and french fries appeal more to me than ice cream and chocolate. Yesiree, the Lady likes food!

While walking down the hall yesterday I caught my reflection in the mirror. I know what you're thinking: Ah ha! She's put on weight! Au contraire. I was taken by how gaunt my face appeared. Now, it is true that I had less than four hours of sleep on Friday night. I thought that explained my waif-like appearance. However, after stepping on the scales I had to sit down for a moment to get over the shock. I've lost 8 pounds.

What happened? The only thing I could come up with is the fact that while I love food & eating, I do not eat if I am not hungry. There were a couple of skipped dinners this past week. A few lunches that consisted of a small apple and some pretzles.

EIGHT POUNDS?

I haven't tipped the scales at below 110 in years. I mentioned the loss to Andy. He said, 'I thought you felt mighty light when you were walking on my back for me yesterday.' He proceeded to pick me up and toss me around as if to test my mass. I felt fragile. It was scary.

After forcing down a Dove bar - dark chocolate over creamy vanilla ice cream - I made a promise to myself: No more skipped meals! I can eat small portions, but I have to eat something.

Today, I woke up hungry. I normally ignore that sensation in the mornings. Eating early holds no appeal. It is a good thing today is Father's Day. I made breakfast for Andy and then joined him. One scrambled egg, 2 slices of bacon, 2 pieces of toast, and a glass of orange juice.

This entry serves two purposes:

1. To remind myself of the promise to eat.
2. To ask for your help. I need people to keep me answerable.

Will you help?

Tennis, Everyone?

"Tennis, Everyone?" is a familiar status message for anyone who has ever talked with me via Yahoo! Messenger. In case you hadn't heard, Wimbledon is coming! Wimbledon is considered the tennis tournament of the year. It is certainly the most prestigious of the four grand slam tennis events. Apologies for ranking Wimbledon above the US Open (tennis, not golf) will not be spoken. Truth is truth. Age and tradition deserve respect.

Watching Wimbledon has long been a custom in my house. It started when I was young. My earliest recollections are of Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, and John McEnroe, to name a few. I do have some memories of my mother talking about "Nasty Nastase", but I can't picture his game in my head. To be fair, I will mention some of the ladies: Goolagong, Evert, and Navratilova, who in my book is the most incredible female player ever. Argue if you must, but Martina perfected the female serve/volley game and I do not think we will see any other women in the tennis world still competitive in doubles at the age of 49.

Marriage and starting my adult life did not hinder the Wimbledon ritual. I brought it with me. Sadly, the only other halfway tennis enthusiast in the house is Pat. He really loved Pete Sampras. Since Sampras' retirement, Pat's interest has waned.

Still, the family knows: Wimbledon equals Mom controlling the television. I ask for the television three times a year - all for tennis tournaments. I do not think that is too much to ask. However, I think Andy goes through remote control withdrawal. (lol)

This year I am trying something new. I have printed the draw for both the Gentlemen's and Ladies' singles championships and I have done a little analyzing and predicting. One thing was immediately noticeable: the Wimbledon officials gave an unusually high number of their Wild Cards to British players. Yes, I know. Wimbledon is played in England. Still - after careful perusal, I don't believe their Wild Card choices to be entirely fair. Several good players had to qualify while unproven British unknowns have been allowed to walk onto the court. If all is fair in love and war, I suppose tennis could be included in the list.

In my opinion, Rafael Nadal has the easiest draw on the men's side. I like this young man. He is humble and soft spoken. I think this quality will get him far. I doubt he will have the same struggles Hewitt and Roddick had - arriving on the scene with a loud obnoxious roar - and then proving to be disappointments. Don't misunderstand: I like Roddick & Hewitt, too. They have come a long way. I just think Nadal will not have to travel as rough a road as the other two.

In contrast, the Hewitt/Safin side will be more difficult. I'd like to see those two gentlemen in the quarter finals. In fact, that is my prediction. Roddick should make it through his portion of the draw, as well. Now, I don't mean to dismiss Henman, but let's be honest. He is aging, he has never won a major, and I think he'll have a hard time getting past Grosjean in the round of 16 if he can make it past Alexander Popp.

Does all of this mean I'm automatically putting Federer in the final? I think it's probable. He may be in for some good matches, though. Robredo and Davydenko have been playing well. Wouldn't a Hewitt/Federer semi be sweet? So would Nadal/Roddick. Hey, a person can wish, right?

I have had a harder time with the ladies' draw. Will we see Mauresmo/Dementieva in the quarters? In the top half of that draw, I don't dare guess beyond the round of 16, and even then I'm uncertain. Davenport/Clijsters; Snyder/Kuznetsova?

One thing I took delight in seeing was Venus/Serena in the same half of the same draw. I don't think either one of them will make it past the semis, and perhaps Venus will be taken out in the third round when she'll meet up with Hantukova. (Provided Hantukova can put her serves in the court) The way it looks, Pierce and Henin-Hardenne will meet up in the round of 16. I think Pierce, as likeable as she is, deflated after Roland-Garros. It wouldn't suprise me to hear of her retirement after the US Open. Then again, Davenport has hung on longer than I thought she would.

See what I mean about the women's side being more difficult? Davenport's end of the draw appears the most difficult and Sharapova's looks to be the easiest. I am fairly certain Dementieva will get all the way to the semis, perhaps taking out Mauresmo in the process.

A lot remains up in the air. One thing is certain: this is going to be a great Wimbledon! If you have never really given tennis a try before, let me encourage you to do a new thing. For the brand new spectator, I'd recommend waiting until the middle/end of next week before tuning in. That way the matches you see will not be one-sided (non)wonders.

Again I say: Tennis, Everyone? Enjoy!!

Unfriendly Fast Food

Before I get into the meat of this post, the title reminded me of a tongue twister. I think Pat made it up, but I’m not 100% certain on that. I goes something like this:

Fat-free Fast Food French Fries
(Oh c’mon! Say it 3x fast!)

As if there could ever be such a wondrous creation that actually tasted good enough to eat! However, perhaps if the french fries were indeed fat free, I would not feel the need to post this entry.

Since school has been over, I have been “running out” during my lunch breaks, which have lengthened from 30 to sixty minutes. Typically, the time has been used to perform necessary errands. I am thankful said errands do not have to be taken care of after work. Who wants to fight the traffic and the heat at 4:00?

There is a problem, though. My consumption of fast food has increased dramatically. Taco Bell. Mmmmm! Taco Bell…and Arby’s, Scholtzsky’s, Maccie D’s, Andy’s, and even Cold Stone have become the staples of my diet.

During the school year I ate lunch at my desk most of the time. Fruit and cheese, crackers and deli meats were kept in my nifty lunch-box sized cooler. Several staff members commented about how healthily I was eating. And I managed to keep my weight down this school year, even with the increased sitting time my new job requires.

I guess healthy-food Connie is waging war against fatty fast food Connie. My body is protesting! I will spare you the gory details, but suffice it to say I have become convinced that fast food is a tool of the evil one. I must be more careful. Fast food must return to its original place: an occasional treat. It really is for the best.

For lunch today I think I’ll have…

Two crunchy tacos from Taco Bell. But I won’t get a soda. Or make the tacos supreme. That will cut out the sour cream. After all, one must make these types of changes slowly so as not to toss our bodies into shock. Don’t you agree?

What's All the Hoopla About?

A co-worker brought in a fresh box of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts this morning. They were still warm and gooey, the way most people appear to like them best. The staff members who are working over the summer were visibly drooling at the sight of the box and in order to feel a part of the group, I joined them in their admiration.

I happily walked away with a doughnut in my hand. It is nice to be positively received into nearly any crowd. However, I do not know why I accepted the offer to partake. I have never been a fan of Krispy Kreme. Cast me out if you must, but I will go with my head held high. At least I am honest.

The half-eaten doughnut is lying in the bottom of my trashcan. I almost feel guilty for taking it. Someone else could have munched on the glazed wonder and enjoyed it much more than I.

Garden State (The Yard, Not the Movie)

Digging around in the dirt just hasn't appealed to me this spring. By this time last year I had several hanging baskets of pink & white petunias, plus maroon & purple pansies. (Ben helped me with the hooks last year.)I had a profusely blooming hibiscus, a crazy-growing palm, and three pink dianthus in a window box. My family often asked me when I was going to do the "flower thing." I brushed them off, replying that I would get to it. Honestly, I didn't think I was going to this year. I just didn't wanna!

Until this weekend. I don't know what hit me on Saturday morning. Andy and I decided to make an ordinary trip to Lowe's. He needed ordinary things. And then he asked the oft-repeated question: Do you want to look for flowers? I was non-committal in my reply: "I'll see what they've got," I said flippantly.

Well, 90 minutes and $171.70 later we were on our way home. I spent several hours outside Saturday, repotting plants and deciding where to put them. Look what I can do! Look what I can do! I have flowers that I have never had before!

First, the poor sad palm that barely survived the winter is making an attempt. The bar isn't very high on my hope meter. However, I am quite pleased with some of the other things. First of all, I now have a large trailing impatiens on the table that is in the middle of my front porch. It has large orange blooms. Very happy-looking. I smile every time I see it. When I got home from work this afternoon, I could see the heat had taken its toll on this sweet plant. It was wilted and laying pitifully on the edges of the pot. A little water and 10 minutes later....*Boing!* It's perky again!

Rather than a hibiscus, I opted for the challenge of a hybrid long-stemmed rose bush. (The first picture is one of the actual rose I bought.) Roses and I have had a love-hate relationship for years. In fact, I haven't even tried to raise them for probably 5 years or more. I don't know why I chose it, but there it sits, in the spot formerly occupied by the hibiscus. I have already had to severely prune a branch due to the dreaded black-spot fungus, but there are four buds on the bush and I can't wait to see them bloom!

The hanging pots this year contain lavendar and white verbena (who'd have thunk the japanese beetles would love them so much) and portaluca which is seriously nifty. There are different colored blooms on the same plant! The tables on the deck are adorned with a lovely blue flower called plumbago.

All of the flowers are of the "cluster" variety. I did that for a reason. I want to attract butterflies! I haven't been disappointed. The verbena wasn't on the hooks five minutes before I had one. Yaaaay!

After all of the re-potting and flower-placement, I mowed the lawn. Yep. Several hours of sunshine on my shoulders, nose...back...arms..legs...and it was great! I wasn't very smart, though. I did slather sunscreen on my shoulders & nose (both of which freckled up nicely), but didn't think to protect anything else. Silly me. How was I to know there would be a 3-inch strip of skin showing between my shorts and my top? I can honestly say that little bit of flesh ended up just shy of blistering. It has been fun finding outfits to wear to work this week.

Three days til the weekend. I can't wait to get out there and weed the front bed, mow the grass again, and trim up the new flowers. Now..just where did I put that sunscreen?

The Times, They Are a-Changin...

It doesn't take a Crane brother or Freud to figure out I have been issue-laden lately. I am starting to figure it out. (Took me long enough!)

I have come to the conclusion that my life....my very identity, has been defined by the different roles I play. No, this does not make me any different from anyone else. I know that. For some stupid reason, I just thought I was not like everyone else. I would not have the same mid-life (there, I said it..are you satisfied??) troubles that other women my age have because I was..am...ME!

So, what are the roles I play? What are my defining parameters? Wife. Mother. Friend. Office and Co-Worker. Worship Leader. Sister. Daughter. Most assuredly, there are more. I am just too impatient to sit here and think of them.

With that in mind, let us (okay, me) review the past year. (1)My work role changed from teaching assistant to office worker. I made the transition. Some things were easy. Some were more difficult, but I feel mostly successful in that regard. However, the new job created some changes in the area of (2)Friend. I've lost contact with some people that I admired and respected. Some I have managed to hang onto, but the easy rapport is gone. (3)Worship Leader. No need to revisit that disaster. I am no longer serving in that capacity. I no longer have that definition to my existence, so there is an empty spot where "Worship Leader" used to live. This one has been very hard to process and accept. And, there is (4)Mother. My children are grown up. My daughter is soon to stretch her wings and fly the cuckoo's nest. I am not needed as much as I used to be. Sure-Kiddo and I are good friends. In my heart, she is among the few that I have designated as "best". Pat...well, I think he could have moved out years ago. He's here and he's friendly but he doesn't "need" me. A few years ago he needed me a lot. I moved into that role because I had to. I'm the mama. Pat and Julie are apparently a permanent couple. It is a good thing, and I am taking my rightful place in the background. I refuse to be the meddling mother-in-law that everyone hates. (No, they have not set a date!)

So - four defining areas of my life have been redefined. Only one of them was by my own choosing. The other three have left these huge gaping holes in my heart, mind, and sense of purpose.

Who am I (now)? Was I ever really "me" or did I just fit myself into the roles I had to fill? Is that what everyone does? If that is the case, how does 'everyone' else handle this stage of life?

At least I know why I've been depressed. Now I need to figure out what to do about it.

Thoughts during the "Refocus" Conference...

I realized...while singing a song Mike Cox wrote:

"I surrender me to You
It's the only thing I can do
For the love that proved
Itself so true
I surrender me to You"

It is not what I think or feel I can give, but what He wants me to give. With the remembrance that all I can give..all I can do..is filthy rags without His grace & His will...It is no wonder that He doesn't want what I have to give. I need to surrender and give God what He wants me to give.

The thing is ... I want to do for Him. I just don't know what He wants from me. Still, I think this is a step in the right direction.