Sweet Spot Journey

Roll With the Punches

2010-11-08T23:08:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it’s best to roll with the punches. Occasionally, things will work out for the best. I should have known the weekend was going to be slightly offbeat when the skies opened up and poured sleet instead of rain, late Friday afternoon. I saw the storm clouds rolling into the eastern part of Dekalb County, but I was expecting rain, not sleet. That’s pretty extreme for a place where the first frost doesn’t fall until the month of November. I wish I had photographically chronicled the event and the look of sheer disbelief that had to be present on my face. I’m sure it was some crazy wild-eyed look. The sleet eventually gave way to rain and most of Dekalb County was soaked. If you noticed, I said “most”. It was unfortunate for us that the entire county didn’t experience rain. Quite possibly, a rain out would have been a better outcome than the loss my 7.0 USTA Mixed Doubles team suffered. What looked like a promising chance for the team to make a city final appearance didn’t quite materialize, and I can’t say I contributed much to change that outcome. I definitely had to roll with that punch because it was almost as unexpected as the sleet. While there is a sting that comes along with every loss, it isn’t all for the bad. Instead of juggling practice and matches for three different teams, I’m only obligated to two teams.

On Saturday an event I was scheduled to attend was canceled and I decided to pass on the company picnic because of the cold weather. This opened the door for time at home. Once again, I rolled with it and made the most of my time indoors by knocking out my seasonal wardrobe changeover and making a huge dent in the housework that had been staring me in the face for over a week. Unlike the previous day, so much was accomplished, and everything achieved allowed me to get a little closer to being better organized. Time rolled back one hour and Sunday rolled along at an even easier pace than the previous two days. I took time out to attend church, spent a couple of hours at the courts watching friends, and wrapped up my weekend. What started out as a wacky weekend ended up being a completely unplanned, yet productive weekend. I don’t think I could have planned it better if I had tried. It just goes to show that sometimes it’s best if you’re flexible and roll with whatever life throws your way.

I’m No Dummy

2010-11-04T21:52:00.003-04:00

More and more, I believe those who work with me are catching on. I’m no dummy when it comes to automotive. Yeah, I’m new to government fleet, but I’m not new to fleet and I am fairly well versed in automotive lingo. GVWR, axle capacity, torque, and horsepower don’t scare me. Male dominance in the fleet arena doesn’t intimidate me. Since I’m not intimidated, I won’t back down when I know what I know. Sorry guys, but you can’t just tell me change option “x”, that’s it for the changes, and think I’ll just roll with it. Men you can’t really believe that I’m not going to dig through the specifications and talk to my vendors until I find every change that needs to be made or discussed before I spec out a vehicle. You can try it, but just know that I’m no dummy. Maybe it’s all those years I spent searching the country for cars, trucks, and vans, or quite possibly it’s all those order seasons that I spent all day curled up with vehicle order guides; whatever the reason, I won’t be punked. So commit this to memory - SweetSpot Is No Dummy.

SweetSpot!

Wednesday Wisdom

2010-11-03T00:13:00.003-04:00

Driving in Atlanta can be frustrating. The commutes can be time consuming, and the traffic can be outrageous, as well as unpredictable. If I couple the traffic with some of the bad and reckless driving tactics I encounter daily, then it's almost enough to make me hate driving. I've seen it all when it comes to bad driving, well... maybe not, but I've definitely seen my fair share.

While at work, I met with a gentleman who was explaining his need for more reflective markers, warning strobes and lights on his work vehicles. We swapped driving war stories; his were work related, and mine were personal. Since he works in an area responsible for ensuring our streets were properly striped with painted lines, I thought I would share my logical theory for why I encounter so many oncoming drivers who fail to maintain their lanes and attempt to share mine.

SweetSpot: "The problem has to be the stripes on the road. They aren't bright enough."

Gentleman: "No, I think you have that mixed up. It's the driver's on the road who aren't bright enough."

You know what? I think I like his theory a lot more than I like my own.

Gaining wisdom!
SweetSpot

Do or Die

2010-11-01T23:02:00.000-04:00

This week is all about results and making it happen. Friday is my "do or die" day. For me, it is a day of great importance. A hard deadline is in place at work requiring all of my fleet orders to be completed by Friday. This will be my first real test at the new job, and despite my reliance on others, I'm going to make it happen.

On that same Friday, my two teams will begin their journeys toward becoming Atlanta's USTA Mixed Doubles Champions. If I make it on the court, then my mindset is "do or die". This isn't a round robin format so both teams have to perform; I have to perform and my partner has to perform. We have one shot at making it to the next round, and I'm ready to give my all to keep the team rolling.

I'm focused and I'm putting in the time to make everything fall into place on Friday to achieve my desired results. I'm going to make it do what it'll do, or damn near die trying.

Getting it done!

SweetSpot

Rolling Along Just Fine

2010-10-29T22:01:00.003-04:00

Today marked a big day for me in both my career progression and my tennis world. I'm finally starting to feel like things are back on track and beginning to roll along just fine.

In regards to my career progression, today I completed two months on my new job and thus far I’ve received promising feedback on all of my efforts. Many of you are not aware, but I'm back in the fleet world. I've moved from corporate fleet to government fleet, which doesn't sound like a big deal, but there is a huge difference, and for me, a huge learning curve. Now instead of just cars, trucks, SUV's, and vans, my fleet world has expanded to included just about anything with a motor or anything that can be pulled or hauled by something with a motor. I learned a lot about fleet operations while working in corporate fleet, but that only represents a fraction of what I will be required to learn for government fleet operations. Corporate fleet allowed me to deal with an automotive mix - everything from the not-so-sexy cargo van to the oh-so-sexy luxury vehicle. In government fleet, sexy doesn't exist, especially when you're dealing with taxpayer’s dollars and refuse vehicles (that’s garbage trucks, in laymen terms). It's not sexy, but I'm enjoying the new challenge, the environment, the people, and let's not forget get the checks.

While my professional endeavors have been slowly improving and gaining speed, my tennis endeavors have been more like a roller coaster ride until tonight. This evening both of the mixed doubles teams I play on clinched division titles. It felt good to have a season in which I am a part of not one, but two winning teams. This feeling of success and elation comes less than a week after the end of my most disappointing women's season since I began playing. Two regular season division champion bag tags are just the beginning of what I am anticipating on the courts. I have city playoffs, and hopefully, city finals for both teams in the upcoming weeks, as well as the start of my women’s winter season. It may be getting cold outside, but I think it’s about to heat up on the courts, well, at least on the courts where I play.

Things really are starting to look up in my world and I think I’ll just allow the momentum of it all to carrying me for a while.

Rolling!!!

SweetSpot

I Wouldn't Be Caught Dead in This Ride... Literally

2010-08-27T01:31:00.000-04:00

I love Chevy Silverados, but I'm not too keen on the one I spotted tonight.

This evening, while I was riding through the city, I ran across the vehicle pictured above. This is a customized Silverado that has been morphed into a biggie sized hearse. This oversized hearse is at least one of the transportation options being mobilized by a local funeral home to address its need to transport those who would have been classified as morbidly obese. Just seeing this processional bohemoth provided me with all the weight loss motivation I will ever need for the next 50 years.

Blame It on the La-La-La-La-La-La-LaCrosse

2010-01-07T23:50:00.001-05:00

If the old GM is dead, then someone might want to share that information with my great-aunt Zelma, or as we call her, Sister. While I can't tell you her exact age, I can tell you she is older than her sister, my grandmother, who just celebrated her 80^th birthday. Regardless, in her mind, age must only be a number because at 80+ years of age she has declared she is going to get her license (for the 1^st time) and she is going to buy herself a "brand new" Buick. Look out world, and I do mean look out world! Be on the lookout for an octogenarian 1^st time driver in a shiny, new Buick.

I'm almost certain Sister can't name a single Buick model, past or present, I'm sure in her mind there are still images of some Buick Electra 225 she held in high esteem, that represented success.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette thought at least one Buick model was "unmistakably modern and sure to challenge the stereotypes of consumers who still think a Buick is a dull car for the geriatric set," and I'm sure that is what Buick intended. Well, that image won't change if America catches a glimpse of Sister in the driver's seat of any Buick currently available.

Just wait 'til she gets a load of the new Buick lineup. Hmmm… Maybe she was paying attention when I picked her up in the new 2010 Buick LaCrosse GM let me demo for a week. I'm sure the combination of her ride with me and her agitation with her current source of transportation, my bossy, control-freak grandmother in her old Ford Taurus, is what drove her to seek a new Buick as a means of asserting her independence, and even a little one-upmanship.

In said case, I should apologize to both GM and Buick. I'm sorry. Truly, I am. I had no idea her ride with me in that LaCrosse would contribute to feeding a storm that was brooding. Obviously, that one ride in the new 2010 LaCrosse evoked old memories and made her remember why she used to love a Buick. I know I'm apologizing, but I should also say we (all of pre-retirement age family members) have absolutely zero belief that Sister will ever pass the driver's examination. Therefore, she'll have no need to purchase your shiny, new Buick. So Buick executives, you can breathe a sigh of relief, you don't have to worry about negative media images of any of your new awarding winning Buicks' being splattered across news channels in the form of a crumpled heap of metal. It ain't gonna happen, but if it did, then you might want to blame it on the LaCrosse.

SweetSpot

A Rolling Junk Drawer

2010-01-06T00:41:00.004-05:00

When I moved from my last residence, I banned all junk drawers. I think every household has one. It's that conveniently available drawer that ends up becoming a catchall for miscellaneous papers and extraneous items. I've found that many times a junk drawer is typically located in the kitchen, since that is where you usually have an abundance of drawers, but they have been known to crop up in nightstands or even dresser drawers. My parents had one in every house they lived in and still have one to this day. Once you start a junk drawer it never seems to go away, and this is why I banned them in my household. I may have banned the junk drawer from my house, but apparently I didn't do the same in my car. Last month, at the request of my mechanic, I went in search of all my vehicle service receipts. The most obvious and best place for me to keep them was in my car's glove compartment. I assume it was named a glove compartment because vehicle manufacturer's thought it would be a convenient place to store your driving gloves. Let me tell you, there are no gloves in that compartment of my car. I found a lot of paper, a lot of old paper, and here's what it looked like:

When I inventoried all that was crammed into my glove compartment here is what I found:

Old vehicle registrations – November 2000 – 2009; Georgia Emissions test results - 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008; vehicle service receipts dating back to 2000; tire purchase receipts - 2002, 2004; (1) owner's manual; (1) insurance bill from 01/2004; (4) insurance cards (from 2 different insurers) the oldest being March 2000; bill pay envelopes to the local electric company; (1)home electric bill from 08/2000, 09/2000; (1) credit card bill from 02/2002; (1) mobile phone bill from 06/2002; napkins; (2) handwritten driving directions; (1) grocery list; (1) fax receipt - 07/2008; (1) coupon for Caltrate that expired 12/31/07; (1) Kroger Plus Shopper's Card; (1) temporary parking pass; (1) mobile phone earpiece instruction guide; (1) graduate school bill statement from 02/2002; GA State personal tax letter; (2) drinking straws; (1) broken floppy disk; (1) computer data cable; (1) purchase contract agreement for my car dated 03/2000; (1) final lease billing statement from AHFC for my previous car a 97 Honda Civic & the FedEx tracking information for the payment; (1) pack of 4mm flat washers; (1) pack of 4-40 x 1 SS Machine Screws; (2) Tire warranty information brochures – Bridgestone, Firestone; (1) empty can of air sanitizer; (1) stick tire pressure gauge; (1) digital tire pressure gauge – broken; (1) ice scraper; countless service receipts dating back to 03/2000.

My mechanic's shop burned to the ground in 2007 and all of his service records for my vehicle were destroyed. The search for those service receipts will have to continue on another day. I was looking for service receipts to provide him with the service documentation for that time period, but no such luck today. I have the 2007 receipts, but they just aren't in that glove compartment. I guess, by 2007, space in the glove compartment was limited and there was only room for the necessities – the insurance and registration cards. I have no idea where I filed those receipts, but I can say they were not in that disorganized cluster I call a glove compartment. If I'd been stopped by a police officer, the there's no telling how long it would have taken me to produce my registration.

My rolling junk drawer has been cleaned out and now there is only the owner's manual, current 2010 vehicle registration, the receipt for the current tires on my car and the warranty information for them, an ice scraper, and tire gauge. My glove compartment now has only the necessities, but what about yours? Send me a picture. I'd love to see what's going on in your glove compartment.

Maybe now that my glove compartment is clean I can actually store a pair of driving gloves in their rightful place.

SweetSpot

I Let It Fly

2010-01-05T15:57:00.004-05:00

For some reason, I love this commercial…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ksZMfoJV8I

I had the hair, but what I didn't have was the courage to look like this…..

It could have been me, but today… Not so much. Sorry Jeep, but I cut my hair so there isn't much of it left to let it fly. Regardless, prior to my hair cut, it's highly unlikely that my hair would have ever blown so sensuously.

Armed with my new haircut, I have a renewed confidence in my appearance. With all my hair gone, I can now achieve open air freedom and let vanity fly right out the window, but it won't be in a Jeep. I won't have to worry about looking like Buckwheat afterwards, either. Now, I feel the freedom to take a note from the advertisers. I'll just have to roll down my windows, open the sunroof, and let it fly (once it gets warmer, of course). Thanks for my cue to experience freedom. I think I'll take that advice, and apply it to every aspect of my life. It can be achieved, and it doesn't have to be experienced "only in a Jeep". ;)

Let it fly!
SweetSpot

Holiday Moments

2010-01-04T21:43:00.000-05:00

I had looked forward to my great escape (by car, of course) from Atlanta, GA to North Carolina. Honestly, I was ready for an escape from the year 2009. Christmas vacation was just a great excuse to shut down operations early and coast into the New Year. Say no more, I shut it down and headed home where I spent the week driving Ms. Daisy and Morgan Freeman, among other things. Despite playing chauffeur, I had a ball and spent time with my parents. The holidays are over and I'm still struggling to get over them. Here it is almost a week after my return home and my mind is still not thinking in automotive related terms. Because my mind hasn't quite made it out of 1^st gear, and there really isn't much going on in the automotive world that I wanted to talk about today, I thought I would share a few of my holiday moments.

I almost didn't make it out of Atlanta (twice). First, someone's great grandmother (I suppose) almost caused me to get run down by an 18 wheeler. Second, a big, barreling Buick decided he liked the space I occupied in my lane better. Big, barreling Buick vs. Honda Civic = Buick victory. I bailed on that lane, thankfully, no one was beside me….. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord – TWICE!!!
Realizing that every highway through Charlotte must run like it's under a yellow caution flag at the Charlotte Motor Speedway…. Get the heck on up the road!!!
Having each parent tag team to call me almost hourly asking, "Are you there yet?"…. Shouldn't this only happen if I have kids inside my vehicle??!!!
Ripping across I-540 through Raleigh, NC at 85 mph with no cops in sight….. Thank God, otherwise, I'd have no license right now.
Never paying for a thing. Home is a real money saver for me…. I may as well have hit the lottery.
Revoking the driving privileges of my mother (Ms. Daisy) and my father (Morgan Freeman)…. They drove too slowly for me.
My father suggesting that since I'm in need of a job I should consider one as a race car driver…. Haha!…Wise guy! (**side eye**)
Catching myself before I mistook the dog treats as chocolate covered peanuts, and moments later witnessing my father's reaction after he failed to pay attention, mistook the dog treats as chocolate covered peanuts, and popped a few in his mouth….PRICELESS!!!
Watching the excitement on my parents' faces as their granddog, Bruno, received his gifts from them - a red leather cap and a wool sweater….. Somebody have a grandchild for these people – quickly!!!!
Celebrating my father's birthday by going to an adult content comedy show featuring comedienne, Cheryl Underwood….. Okay, I know I'm an adult, but that felt strange.

I hope you all had a great holiday, but now it's back to the grind…. Come on brain, it's time to shift gears!!!

Sweet Spot

The Illuminated Sleigh

2009-12-19T20:48:00.001-05:00

It's Christmas and now is the time when people have chosen to deck the halls and adorn Christmas trees with lights. For those who aren't into Christmas trees, but still enjoy the lights, I'm sure they wonder why lights should be limited to your tree. That had to be my friend's thought when he decided now would be the perfect time to use his car's wheels to display his Christmas cheer. Seven different LED light colors illuminate all four of his chrome wheels to transform his ride into a modern day Christmas sleigh with lights that glow, pulse and strobe. Although I was privy to a short daytime demo, the glow of the wheels on his BMW 745 Li could not truly be appreciated or captured in pictures prior to sunset. After seeing that, all I could say was "'tis the season"! If Santa can let Rudolph with his glowing nose illuminate his flight, then why not illuminate your wheels. Santa will park his sleigh and corral Rudolph, but my friend will keep rolling on with his illuminated wheels throughout all of next year. His car was the first I've seen with this aftermarket accessory, but who knows how many others will receive this illuminating gift for Christmas. If you want to light up the Christmas of your friend or loved one, then you can order a set from Motionlite. I hear Tiny, of "Tiny & Toya" fame, already has her set. I'll be on the lookout for others who will be spreading Christmas cheer throughout the year.

Quet

I’m a Fan of the Wagon?

2009-12-18T23:37:00.001-05:00

I've become a fan of crossover vehicles (CUVs), and at this time I'm completely smitten with the new 2010 Cadillac SRX Crossover. To me, crossover vehicles are SUV-like, but smaller and more efficient, which makes them better suited for my lifestyle and my wallet. I have to admit I haven't been a fan of every CUV that has hit the market, but over the last couple of years automotive manufacturers have upped their CUV game. I would have to assume they needed to find a happy medium vehicle that allowed Americans to still experience the comfort SUVs had provided while sizing them down to make them more efficient. With plummeting sales that can be (at least partially) attributed to the mass exodus of consumers suffering with rising fuel prices, as well as consumer and government pressure for more fuel efficient vehicles, the CUV has offered a reasonable alternative.

Until 2 days ago, as far as I was concerned, a CUV was a vehicle type similar to a SUV. I didn't put great thought into its vehicle classification until I read a commentary, by Automotive News' John K. Teahen Jr., discussing the CUVs impact on the car market. Mr. Teahen explains while CUVs are counted as trucks, they are the current day station wagon. Eeerrrr….Stop! Oh no, no, no, no, no! Please don't tell me I've been had. The latest and greatest vehicle type introduced to the automotive scene that has me so intrigued is a glorified station wagon? That just bites! While I hate the assertion, when I think about it and look at the evidence provided by Mr. Teahen, it does make sense. Don't get me wrong, the station wagon met certain needs and had its place (until the introduction of minivans) with moms, but I'm not a mom and a station wagon, even the label station wagon, is sooo….WACK (for lack of a better term). A wagon has no place in my life; my needs are on the opposite end of the spectrum.

My needs may be at the opposite end of the spectrum, but at least the manufacturers' have created a middle ground vehicle with the ability to merge the needs of more than one automotive consumer segment. It works for women with no family, such as me, and my solo income that can't sustain a gas guzzler. It also works for the mother who has the family, but is over the minivan and definitely isn't considering a wagon. As a future vehicle choice, it isn't a bad one. Unless lottery-like statistics work against me, and I become a mother to quadruplets, it is an option that has transition potential. I may be a SINK (single income, no kids) today, but who knows, that may change within the next five years and I may need the flexibility offered in a CUV. According to John Teahen's article, through November, there were 1.8 million CUVs sold in 2009 – this provides some comfort in knowing I'm not the lone fan of a wagon. Until the next great vehicle hits the market, I will submit to being a fan of the CROSSOVER-wagon (emphasis on crossover, please).

Quet

An Alternative Source

2009-12-09T12:21:00.000-05:00

The call for a replacement vehicle beckons, but must be ignored. While I'd love and prefer a new car, it is a far-fetched idea. A more reasonable compromise is a used car. Although it is more a more feasible option, I typically purchase new vehicles. During a breather from the waiting area, I stepped outside for some fresh air and noticed there were several vehicles parked in the lot that appeared to be for sale. I counted at least three vehicles (all lacking license plates) located throughout the lot that obviously weren't there for service work.

Of all the cars on the lot the burgundy Lexus stood out, it was an older model LS sedan with a clean interior and only a few body dings. I have patronized my repair shop for years, and throughout that time countless vehicles have been parked in Jeff's lot by his customers and friends to accelerate their efforts to sale them. Many times, Jeff's shop has handled all of the service work on the vehicles and he willingly answers any questions about them. I stepped back in to inquire with Jeff, the shop owner, about the car and he gave me a little information about the Lexus. According to the Jeff, the car belonged to a customer who was ready to sell it. While I didn't get all the details on the vehicle, and I didn't drive it, Jeff was able to tell me it was in good condition and valued at $3500, but the owner had priced it for sale at $3100. He then went on to say the gentleman who sold the vehicle was so ready to sell it that he had taken an offer of $2500 just a few days earlier.

Most of Jeff's customers (including me) are women and we are longstanding, repeat customers. While I can't speak for Jeff's other customers, I can attest to the fact that I've never had to take my car back to his shop for the same problem and he doesn't try to sell me parts and services that are not necessary. As a matter of fact, he won't. I once tried to get him to replace both of my headlights because I wanted them to glow at the same brightness and he flat out refused because he said the other one worked just fine. Additionally, he's always giving me breaks on parts or freebies. I think he gave me 4 sets of wiper blades in one year because I refused to replace the windshield that was damaging them. The short of all this – I trust him. Since I am a woman who hates being played for a patsy, I need a used car from a source I can trust. Buying a car that has been serviced by my repair shop is a great option. I've never seriously thought about it because I've never needed a vehicle. With the need for a vehicle and limitations on cash for a purchase, alternatives must be considered. Just because a car is at a repair shop doesn't mean it's ready for the junkyard. Who knows Jeff just might have the right car at the right time, priced just right.

Give the Gift of Direction

2009-11-23T09:48:00.000-05:00

It's almost the Christmas season, and Black Friday, which marks the start of the holiday shopping season, is fast approaching. It's not my plan to partake in much Christmas shopping this year, but if it were, and if I had the bank account capable of supporting it, I would purchase GPS navigation systems for select teammates. It is, by far, the most needed automotive accessory for my teammates, and probably the rest of the world. One of the most frustrating, but necessary responsibilities of a captain is to provide navigational directions to teammates who are clueless, hopelessly lost, or stuck in traffic with no inkling of alternatives. To prevent total line up overhauls and the forfeiture of match points, it has become an expected and regular task.

The frustration experienced by the navigator (me) and the directionally challenged (the teammates) during these "Where in the World is Diego" excursions is enough to make me scream and hang up the phone. If you want to see peeved, then you should witness my facial expressions when I get the "Help! I'm hopelessly lost" call. During the entire conversation, I silently pray to prevent from swearing aloud. When it's all over I'm too frazzled to play my match in a calm state, and those teammates who've been lost and in fear of defaulting a match are equally frazzled. If I were the captain for my current team (thankfully, I'm not), then this would have been the case on Saturday when a teammate got stuck in traffic on the way to our match. Fortunately, she was not alone; the other team was dealing with the same situation for at least one of their team members. Unfortunately, I wasn't familiar with the area so I couldn't help; instead she had to endure her father's poor directions given over the phone while driving at a break neck speed to make it to the facility on time.

I'm convinced everyone has someone like this in their lives; for all I know, that someone could be you. We may all encounter unfamiliar territory or a situation that requires us to seek an alternative route. Be the person who enhances everyone's travel experience, recognizes and accepts navigational limitations, and reduce everyone's frustration level by purchasing a GPS navigation system. For the sake of others, if you or a loved one is directionally challenged or a road warrior, then do us all a favor and invest in a GPS system - the best navigational tool invented since the compass and the map.

To help you in your buying endeavor, here is a link to PC World's Holiday Gift Guide to GPS - http://bit.ly/5qQqTc . Happy navigating!

Journey on!

Quet

Happy New Year!!!

2009-11-09T00:13:00.000-05:00

I know you all are thinking – Happy New Year??!…Ahhhh, hello – we haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas. I know there are a couple of big holidays left to celebrate in 2009, but tomorrow I'm celebrating the start of my "Personal New Year". For me, tomorrow is New Year's Day.

My last personal year wasn't the best, and that's really putting it mildly. I had more personal catastrophes and disasters to occur over the course of 365 days, than I choose to recount. Overall, it was a rough and tumble year for me, I was living the "hard knock life", and it seemed as if Murphy's Law was in effect nonstop. I take full responsibility for breaking a mirror during the year, but that was sometime after the onslaught of personal hiccups and miscues. Regardless, I've never bought into superstitions about breaking mirrors, splitting poles, etc. Unfortunately, this just hasn't been the most shining period in my life, and honestly the last period even remotely close to matching up was 15 years ago. When I look back, that period 15 years ago was a transition period for me. My collegiate years were coming to a close; my friends were graduating and headed in many different directions; I was trying to find my fit in the professional world; a car replacement loomed; finances were tight, and I was reliant upon others for some of life's basic necessities. My personal situation 15 years ago, while not exactly the same, looks very similar to my current situation.

Just as it was 15 years ago, this is a season of change for me. I could consider my current situation to be a setback, but instead I prefer to view it as a setup for my comeback. Fifteen years ago, I started my adult life with pretty much nothing, and now 15 years later, I have only slightly more than I did then. Back then, I took it one day at a time, and one goal at a time. I'm all set to get rolling with a fresh, new attitude and approach towards building a fully satisfying and complete life that will exceed what I built for myself 15 years ago. November 9^th, 2009 marks the start of my "New Year", and I'm looking forward to achieving and experiencing so many new and positive things.

Happy New Year, All!!
Quet

Weekend Banger’s Friday Funky Jam

2009-11-06T14:27:00.017-05:00

Music has always had a place in my life. My entire youth was spent performing as a singer. Although I'm no longer a performing artist, music still lifts me up when I'm down, and it speaks to almost every event in my life – good or bad. I can think of or locate a song that represents my state of mind for anything that has occurred in my life. Being able to pinpoint that perfect situational song is essential because, I'm allowed to find one song that will arouse my competitive, fighting spirit and transition me from my normal laidback state of mind to a warrior state of mind. While my laidback, sedentary lifestyle is great for everyday purposes, it has the ability to put me in wrong state of mind for competition. If ever there is a time when I need to be transitioned, then it's when I have to step on a tennis court. To prepare and transition, I use really upbeat music. The louder & funkier it is, the better it is – hence my Friday Funky Jam.

The Friday Funky Jam is a song I've picked for my weekend tennis escapades when I should be high energy and ready to "bang" with the best on the recreational courts. This song may vary in genre and age. Undoubtedly, it will almost always have vocals – I am a former singer. Last, but not least, it will be a song that I've heard during the week that is "hot" (at least, hot for me) and representative of what my mindset should and will be by match time.

This week’s selection….

Tye Tribbett – “Victory”

Note: If you computer is as slow as mine, it’s best to let this song load completely before listening.

To all my weekend bangers, aim for your “sweet spot” and keeping banging!

Quet

My Last Hurrah

2009-05-26T22:51:00.005-04:00

My last hurrah on the Atlanta courts didn't live up to my expectations or desires. My partner and I lost in straight sets. I don't remember the exact score, and really don't want to remember it. That loss only added to mounting number of consecutive match losses I've experienced over the last two seasons in two different leagues. I'm on a 4 match losing streak, and that's not how I wanted to wrap up my Atlanta tennis career, so I'll be back. Doubt me is you want, but you'll see. I'm not going out like that! Until then, I'll be missing Atlanta tennis.

-Chequetta

I Have to Play Tonight?

2009-04-27T23:24:00.005-04:00

Less than 1 day after my proclamation that I would be taking a "vaca" from tennis, I received a last minute phone call at almost 5 p.m. today asking me to play a 6:30 p.m. USTA Women's Combo match. Despite the late notice, I couldn't say no - I had previously committed. All my plans for the evening immediately went up in smoke. My 6:30 match turned into a mini-marathon - lasting more than 2 hours. I was really looking forward to the end of my long weekend being topped off with a one day break between tennis and work. A nice day of rest. No dice. Now, I'm tired all over again and my week is just beginning. Geez!

It Wasn't Meant to Be

2009-04-26T23:03:00.006-04:00

The team needed a lot of things to happen to make it beyond the regular season. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. Our season ended today with a 1-4 loss. Although the season ended sooner than we would have liked, I think we can all be proud of just how competitive we were for the majority of the season. We proved to ourselves that we could compete at a higher level. My ladies were great! 3-peating as ALTA City Champion is tough, and while we weren't able to 3-peat, I know we will be back in the City Championship match again. We have all summer to work on our weaknesses, I'm sure this will result in improvements during the fall season.

Personally, I'm planning to reduce the amount of tennis I play this summer. There are some other things that require my attention, but that doesn't mean you won't hear me chime in about some random match here or there. As long as there are courts and players willing to play, I'll be somewhere in the mix.

Chequetta

Ahhh, This is the Life!!!

2009-04-25T23:11:00.006-04:00

Today was my day to enjoy watching others play tennis. I'm a fan of the game, so I like to watch just as much as I like to play. Supporting my friends' teams is something I do as often as possible. With the hectic schedule I had for the past month, playing a supportive fan has been somewhat difficult this season. This was the first Saturday I was able to get out to a men's match, and it was a great choice - if I may say so. The weather was absolutely beautiful for Atlanta - mid 80's and no humidity (imagine that). I wasn't about to sit in my house, let alone one with a busted air conditioner, on such a lovely day. Since it was warmer in my house than outside, going to a tennis match was a no brainer. I picked up a few beverages, drove to the courts, set up my lawn chair under a shady oak tree, and kicked back with good friends to pass the time. It's leisurely days and ocassions such as this when my love of tennis, and all that it has brought into my life is truly appreciated. For me, this is the life.

Is It Meant to Be?

2009-04-24T23:47:00.001-04:00

While I'm not trying to get overly religious on any of you, I truly believe that things happen the way they're supposed to happen. If something is meant to be, then it will be. No matter how many options there are to select from, or the changes that are made, the outcome has been determined. We may not know what the outcome will be, or how things will play out to allow a predetermined result to come to fruition, but that's life and fate.

Truthfully, that's tennis as well.

"Whatever limits us, we call fate." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Chequetta

Orderly Pursuits

2009-04-23T22:39:00.005-04:00

Okay, this is serious business. I absolutely must pursue the creation of some sense of order in my space. I have four consecutive days off. Thank God! There is no travel planned, and limited tennis until Sunday. Spring is here, and that means it's time for a fresh new start when it comes to organization. I refuse to be distracted. Beyond my rescheduled tennis practice tomorrow, I have no plans to do anything, except immerse myself in my pursuit of order. I won't rest until I have achieved my goal. The clock is ticking, and I plan to rest up tonight because tomorrow I begin.

Chequetta

Let's Get 'Er Done!

2009-04-22T22:33:00.003-04:00

Now that my body has recovered from my marathon match against the Golden Girls, I'm ready to play. Practice is tomorrow, and it's the teams last chance to work out any kinks before our final regular season ALTA match on Sunday. It's pretty much do or die so we might want to get 'er done! If we don't, then the possibility of us being done for the season is strong.

Chequetta

What a Jam!

2009-04-21T21:06:00.004-04:00

The division standings for my ALTA league have been partially updated, and viewing them has left me a little concerned. My team has gotten itself into a bit of a jam. Unfortunately, we are now very dependent upon the performance of other teams, or rather, the failure of other teams to perform. While we are relying upon others to fail, we've also put ourselves in a situation that now requires us to put up our best scores of the season. That's not good, and it's definitely not the position we want to be in at this point of the season. If I thought last Sunday was tough, then this Sunday won't be any easier. I may as well get ready to battle and leave it all on the court.

Chequetta

My Senior Moment

2009-04-20T00:42:00.000-04:00

I've been on the courts, but I haven't been blogging....for shame. Well, I'm back. Life got really hectic for a while - shoot, my life is still hectic, but I can't put the blog on hold any longer to wait for my life to slow down. It may never slow down, so I have to get back to it.

I'm recovering today and completely out of it. My body is still aching after this weekend's doubles match. Yesterday's match had to be the worst I've played - EVER! Mentally, I was shot out. Off the court events that I encountered in my captain role had me in a tizzy, and it showed in my player role. My partner and I played two senior citizens who gave me (yes, just me) fits. Now I know why I hate playing senior citizens. I shouldn't just limit it to seniors, but that's who was on the court yesterday and those are the players who know how to make us younger players work while they stand and place using their racquets like they are knives - just slicing everything that comes their way.

I don't know how we won, but somehow my partner and I perservered and escaped with the ugliest victory of the season. I was glad and probably lucky to get off the court with a win. I'm sure my racquet was just as glad since it suffered the brunt of my abuse. I'll definitely have to play better next Sunday, or I could find myself sitting at home while some other team moves on to the playoffs. I'll spend this week recuperating, practicing and mentally preparing for my next tennis court battle. I'm certain it will be a battle so I may as well be prepared.

Chequetta

25 + Random Things About Me

2009-01-22T22:47:00.007-05:00

Over the past day or so some of my Facebook friends have decided they should send me notes detailing 25 random things about themselves and tag me to respond to their notes with my own list of 25 random things about myself. It was an exercise to share information about myself with people that I wanted to know more about me. Normally, I refuse to participate in such tedious activities, but tonight I decided appease them and cooperate with their request. Once I started, I found that I was able to compile the list of 25 random things about myself rather quickly. After I had completed my list, and posted it on my Facebook page, my mind kept working. What had originally started as a list of 25 random things about myself grew longer and longer, until it was a list of more than 40 random things about myself. Then, I decided why not share it with the readers of my blog. Are there 25 random things about yourself that you would be willing to share with others who may not have that knowledge. Below is my list of "25+ Random Things About Me." Enjoy.

25+ Random Things About Me

1. My favorite activity is playing tennis, and I’m completely addicted to the game.
2. I have no children.
3. I don’t own any pets, even though I keep playing with the idea of purchasing a dog to be my constant companion.
4. I’m not involved in a serious relationship, and at this time I’m not incredibly remorseful about this situation.
5. I love the freedom I have to come and go as I please.
6. Despite having majored in English in college, I haven’t found the time to read my ever growing collection of books.
7. I am allergic to the sun; I break out in a dreadfully itchy rash when I fail to wear sunscreen.
8. When I am playing tennis in the spring and summer I have to ramp up the sunscreen SPF to 75…and you didn’t know there was such a thing.
9. I love being outdoors from sunrise to sunset.
10. I dig sunsets, and sunrises (when I can wake up to see them).
11. I’m a night owl and who functions better as it gets later.
12. My friends call my adamant reluctance to cooperate and quirkiness “Quetisms”.
13. I enjoy good food and cooking good food.
14. I hate to repeat meals so I cook new and different things frequently – you’re not likely to see the old Southern staples too often at my house.
15. I love to cruise in the early fall – shoot, I just love to cruise, regardless of the season.
16. I am glad that I have two loving and extremely hilarious parents still present in my life.
17. I can’t imagine a day without coffee.
18. I really love and appreciate the friends I have made throughout the years.
19. I desperately want to go to the Sony Ericsson Tennis Open in Miami this year, so if anyone runs across any tickets they would like to share with me…please call.
20. I wish I could figure out which talents I possess that will allow me to work for myself so that I spend my vacations at all of the major tennis tournaments.
21. I am no longer a fan of a road trip that requires me to drive.
22. I’m the biggest fan of everything Adidas.
23. I would do my college years all over again just because they were so much fun, and I hated when they ended.
24. I am enjoying my 30’s and feel like I am really coming into my own.
25. I absolutely adore anything that can make me laugh until I cry.
26. I miss the following things about North Carolina
a. Being less than 6 hours from the beach.
b. Eastern North Carolina style BBQ & slaw sandwiches.
c. Seafood whenever I want.
d. The ACC Basketball Season and Tournament.
e. Going to a real farmer’s market.
f. The N.C. State Fair in October.
27. I love wrapping up in a blanket and curling up on a comfy sofa on rainy days to watch movies.
28. I love going to outdoor jazz and music festivals in the summer.
29. I prefer intimate concert venues.
30. I enjoy listening to soulful music with lyrics that are relevant to my life.
31. I relish feeling enveloped by the warm breeze from the sea.
32. I desire a career opportunity that excites me, challenges me, and allows me to maximize my skills.
33. I am looking forward to moving to a new living space that will put my mind at ease and provide me with the peaceful surroundings I need to thrive.
34. I’m looking forward to creating building a recession-proof financial situation for myself.
35. I despise waking up to an alarm clock.
36. I am thankful for my 15 year friendship with my friends – Christie, Kesha, Stephanie, and Katina.
37. I grateful to have a friend like Christie who sees so many possibilities within me and for me when I can’t.
38. I’m glad to have a job that I can still go to that pays the bills.
39. I love seafood.
40. I was a lover of naturally and locally grown food before it was ever cool.
41. I still truly miss my friend, Arnette Ford-Simmons. Rest in Peace.

Out of Touch

2009-01-11T20:51:00.003-05:00

O.k., somehow I managed to lose all contact with cyberspace at home. I have no access to the internet, so I haven't posted since last week. A fix is supposed to be on the way at some point this week, but we'll see. My time on the phone with technical support last week wasn't too promising. I'm praying the the solution my internet provider has come up with will resolve my issues, but only time will tell. In the meantime, here is an update on what's been going on with me:

Goals for 2009

I've created my "Master Plan" progress notebooks to keep up with personal goals, financial goals and career goal.

Tennis

My mixed doubles season has started. We are two games into the season. The first game wasn't pretty, but the team pulled out a victory in our second match. Yea, team!!!

My women's season is winding down. While it wasn't the outcome we wanted I had fun.

I've put together the roster for my Spring women's season and I seeking to add women to the team, but I really excited about the upcoming Spring season.

Well folks, that's it for now. I'll be back soon, so stay tuned.

Thinking of a Master Plan

2009-01-05T22:52:00.004-05:00

Today, during lunch, I sat down and wrote an entry into the journal given to me by my tennis partner, Leisa. The fact that I "wrote" (yes, with a pen and paper) anything down is a sheer miracle. I have some odd aversion to writing, but that may have something to do with my hand cramping after the first four sentences. Anyway, back to what I was saying, I wrote an entry in my journal that listed all of my goals for 2009. Many of these goals were among my 2008 goals, but there is a slight difference, these goals have been chronicled, documented, recorded, or any other synonym you can think of along those lines.

I figured if I put it in writing, then I might be more accountable for my actions and the results of those actions. Even better, if I let others know there is a list, then there is a little more pressure to accomplish at least some of the goals on my 2009 list. Any accomplishment would be an improvement over 2008. While my 2008 list was short and never documented, I know what was on the list. I also know that I was unable to scratch anything off that list. That list has been transferred over to my 2009 list, and it has grown in length. That was discouraging, but it served to remind me that if I didn't develop a plan, then I would lose sight of what I'm supposed to be accomplishing. I guess when John Beckley said, "most people don't plan to fail, they fail to plan", he knew what he was talking about.

Now that I have my list, I've got to think of a "master plan" that will enable me to achieve as many of those 2009 goals as possible. I feel as though I'm setting myself up with this next promise, but there will be progress reports throughout the year and that is how you will know what is on "the list". The idea of sharing the list and my progress with the list is frightening, but so are ineffective efforts - so why not? Keep checking back in the coming months to see how things are going, there will definitely be more to come.

Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen

2008-12-31T00:12:00.001-05:00

Sorry, all. I've been a poor blogger this month. Unfortunately, there is no real excuse for it. I can't blame it on tennis, tennis practice, or even the usual holiday bustle that happens around this time of the year, because I haven't participated extensively in any of those things. To date, I have played one tennis match this month (the only one scheduled for the month), I have attended one tennis practice, I haven't purchased a single Christmas gift (online or otherwise), and the only Christmas cards were hastily prepared and given out during a team function celebration. Since this is the last day of the year, I thought it would only be fitting to wrap it up with one final blog.

Lately, I've just suffered from a case of "woe is me". You know, "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen". Honestly, I wanted to post new entries, and I had even started drafting new entries to post, but as you can see, I've been unable to post anything for your reading pleasure. I allowed my plethora of "woes" to get the best of me for a while. Instead of feeling "joyful", I've been feeling pretty "woeful". As sad as it may sound, it's the truth.

Right around Thanksgiving, things started to go awry in my life; I even mentioned this in an entry posted on Thanksgiving day. Well, since then things have continued to be out of wack. I guess the endless series of calamities wore on me. I recited my chant - "next point"- repeatedly. Despite my mental preparation for the "next point", life continued to bang winners in my direction. I analyzed the previous events and had some strategies in mind; I used every strategy in my arsenal, but once again life had a reply for them all. I tried to stay active and keep moving thinking that life would be distracted by the activity, but once again that was not the case. Nothing seemed to work.

At this point, I can say that I have not acquired all the weapons necessary to win this "life" match. Sometimes, it happens that way. There are instances when the opponent you are facing is just too strong, but that doesn't mean that you won't have another chance. While I have been bested this time around, I am now fully cognizant of my weaknesses. They have been exposed and I've seen just how those weakness can place me at the mercy of everyday unexpected life events. Although, it is too late to change the outcome of the past few weeks, it is never too late for me to target those deficiencies for improvement. For this particular match, there are more points, but I will have to see how they play out for 2009. I'm praying I can stop singing that Louis Armstrong song that I sang for most of 2008.

A New Rec Love for Chequetta?

2008-12-02T22:19:00.002-05:00

Okay, please don't think I've lost my mind - because I haven't, but I'm seriously thinking about incorporating golf into my recreational sports repertoire. Don't ask me where the funds will come from to bankroll this new sports adventure, but I believe there is a God. I trust that God knows the positive influence recreational sports (mainly tennis) have had on my life, and he will make a way for me to continue to benefit from tennis and very soon – golf. I know this seems like it came out of left field, and you're thinking – "What the heck?" Tennis is this chick's thing, so how did golf get into the picture?

Before I ever played tennis, I was a fan of the game. The same is true with golf. Last night, I attended a Women's Night function at Golfsmith. Golfsmith is primarily a golf store with a significantly smaller focus on tennis. So you ask, what was my draw for attending the event? Easy, it was a $25 gift card to spend in the store, as well as the lure of other prizes to be given away. I have to admit the tennis activities at the event were limited, but it didn't matter because I had the gift card.

While waiting for the event to wind down, a teammate (who happens to play golf) and I encountered a golf pro that convinced us to try out the teaching facility that was set up with artificial turf, tee, a net to catch the ball and video equipment. He wanted to see us hit, nothing technical (I guess), just a simple drive. That doesn't sound too tough until you consider that I can't remember ever holding a golf club in my hands, not even at Putt-Putt Golf, let alone hitting a golf ball. Of course you know, and I shouldn't have to tell you, that I let my teammate go first.

After watching their session and video of her technique (yeah, it was taped), it was my turn. Completely unprepared, with totally inappropriate golf attire – skintight jeans, three inch boots, and a form fitting leotard - I took my place on the artificial turf. First, our golf pro showed me how to hold the golf club, then he showed me the proper stance, and finally he instructed me on how to swing the club. Afterwards, I took a couple of test swings minus the ball. With a few corrections came a couple more test swings, and then he said I was ready to hit a ball. As he placed the ball on the tee in front of me, I mentally replayed all the instruction I had receive in the last ten minutes. I checked my grip, my stance, and the position of my head. I checked to make sure the triangle was formed, and then I started my backswing. Left arm straight, right arm bending, left foot remains planted, don't take the club too far, okay time to swing forward….keep your legs slightly bent, don't raise up, follow through – no alligator arms….WHACK!!! OMG!!! I made contact, I couldn't believe it. Not only did I make contact, but according to my golf pro - it was a solid hit. AMAZING!! When we reviewed my video, he told me that my technique was good, and had it not been for the high heeled boots, then it would have been even better. He said that for someone who had never held a club I did a better job hitting the ball properly than my teammate who had received lessons and played. I was stoked!

That was it; I had confirmed that golf would be my next sport. Immediately following our lesson, my teammate and I started talking about taking group lessons with the golf pro when the weather improved. When I left my lesson, I called my sponsor. I know you're thinking…sponsor? What sponsor? Now, you all couldn't have possibly thought I could play all this tennis without a sponsor. That wouldn't be possible – at least, not on my income. Anyway, I talked to my sponsor and he was supportive of my newest recreational venture. I got the green light to proceed, but I have been told, at some point, to expect some competition to test my acquired skills. That only means my sponsor knows that I have a good chance of excelling at golf and is fearful of being beaten by a beginner. Honestly, I have to admit, my sponsor should be fearful.

The golf pro told me that golf is one of the most addictive sports to play. Uh, not good! I'm already hooked on tennis and balancing two addictive sports could really become an issue. There definitely wouldn't be enough time for me to work – haha! Okay, okay…I promise to do my best to balance the rest of my life with my recreational loves, but it'll be tough. Regardless, you all should look out, because I'll be coming to a golf or tennis club near you soon. I can't wait to see the lessons in life that golf has to offer.

Thoughts From My Thankful Thanksgiving Thursday

2008-11-27T20:33:00.006-05:00

Last week wasn't easy for me. Personally, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. It was a week where I can definitely attest to the fact that Murphy's Law was truly ruling over the events in my life. Now that the dust has settled I realize there is so much for me to be thankful for. While the events last week were troubling, they were not devastating. I have options, and for this I am most thankful.

On the court, I can't linger on the points that I don't win, and the same is true in everyday life. Tennis players live by the mantra - "next point", and right now, that is all I can do. I can choose to focus on the events of the past week, but why? Will that allow me to focus on winning or excelling at the next shot fired at me in life? I don't think so. Rather than allowing myself to get caught up in things that are beyond my control or naturally occuring events, I have decided to approach it the way I would on the court - accept it, analyze it, strategize, and keep moving. I can't say that none of those situations will never arise again, but you know what? I will be thankful to have those past experiences to reflect back on. Because it will be those past experiences that will serve as situational life lessons that will prepare me for even tougher shots fired my way.

6 Days and Counting.

2008-11-24T22:51:00.008-05:00

I haven't played a lick of tennis in 9 days...Who would've thought that could happen. Most assuredly, not my friends. No, I'm not sick, and no, I definitely didn't fall and crack my head...well, at least not this time. It really isn't my fault that I haven't played. For the lack of a better tennis term, it's been a "mixed combo".

I won't bore you with the details, but there were forces (career-related) that interfered with my lifestyle. Now, there are new forces (family-oriented) that interfere with my lifestyle. In a nut shell, my real life is not cooperating with my tennis life. Oh, well (sigh).....at least I've been able watch. Friday night, I watched my team get stopped cold (literally) in our effort to become the USTA Atlanta 6.0 Mixed Doubles City Champion. Although the temperature was hovering in the mid-30's and I had to endure driving with the car window half down - that's another story too detailed for this blog - to sit on the coldest concrete seat ever, wrapped up like a cheesehead (of Green Bay Packer fame), I went out to support my team. Okay, that wasn't the only reason; I just couldn't stay away....addict. Call me Pookie, but the courts just kept calling me. While I may not have been on the court, just being that close was close enough to bring me joy and reduce my anxiety.

I guess I had better wrap myself in the comfort of that memory because there are another 6 days left before I'll have the chance hit the court again to get my next fix. Oh, brother!!

Food for Thought Friday

2008-11-21T09:00:00.001-05:00

Here's something for me to to chew on over the weekend. If I'm writing about my two passions in life (tennis and food), then why is there only 1 food post?!?! Hmm...

Published Author...Check!

2008-11-18T22:30:00.013-05:00

On Sunday, I submitted my 1st article, "Sleep: An Afterthought", for publication on Divine Caroline. Divine Caroline published it on Monday. Yeah!!!

It started as a blog (and it still is a blog), but it got so long and I spent so much time crafting it that I was determined that someone other than me was gonna read it. I've been resistant to the urgings of my good friend, Christie, who does a ton of writing and has her own blog - My Life....A Work in Progress. She has been on me for months, if not years, to write and submit my writings - so she gets the credit for it finally happening. Thanks, Chris!

I can't say why I've been so apprehensive to publish any of my writings, but I'm glad that I have my first article under my belt. It definitely won't be the last - there are others already in the works, as well as ideas for future articles. I don't know how many people have read my article, but I know at least 2 people, other than me, liked what they read. For me, that is affirmation that it wasn't such a bad idea. Finally, I can add published author to my list of accomplishments.

Check it out if you get a chance.

Sleep, an Afterthought

2008-11-16T21:21:00.007-05:00

For the first time since July, I have an unprecedented amount of free time to myself. Most of this year has been dominated by tennis oriented events and activities - multiple teams, multiple weekly practices, multiple matches, tournaments, and tennis socials have filled my calendar week in and week out. This was mostly due to the success of the majority of the teams on which I've played. I guess you could say that I am a victim of my own success. For next the six weeks, I have only one league, one match, and one practice each week. With that being said, there is an entire list of things that I probably used to take for granted that are now luxuries. While that list may be extensive, the one indulgence that stands out most prominently, and holds the #1 slot is sleep.

While I've never been one to indulge in sleeping my day away, and getting more than seven hours of sleep (in the past) seemed excessive, I’ve come to realize that it was one of my most pleasurable daily activities. My ability to squeeze in the minimum daily sleep requirement has been greatly diminished. Being a team captain has required me to start before everyone else and stay later than everyone else. While my team members may be afforded the privilege of showing up right before match time, and thereby maximizing their sleep time, that is not a possibility for me. The earlier a match time is scheduled, then the earlier I'm required to start. Now on the weekends, just as during the work week, it seems to be a requirement for me to set my alarm, and that absolutely sucks!

Sleep during my work week - ha! That's a joke. Maybe this is my primer for motherhood, I don't know, all I know is during the work week there is not a dedicated time slot in my daily schedule for sleep. It's something that finally happens after work, after my Superwoman quick change from business attire to court attire, after 1.5 hours of coached practice, after succumbing to peer pressure to stay on the court for 1 hour after coached practice, after the drive home from practice, after scoffing down a fast food meal in lieu of one prepared by my own hands, after extinguishing fires which result from listening to, reading, and responding to the emails and voicemails of team members, family, and friends, after a frustrating search through my closet for the next day's work attire, after the shower required to combat the stench of sweat and funk, after a hopeless attempt to keep up with my ever reducing rotation of television shows, after the nightly news, after an attempted blog entry, after the decision to neglect organizational demands, and after sitting on the edge of my bed in a zombie-like state staring at the destruction around me - I finally submit. I submit to the silence of the night around me, to the realization that I’m probably the only lunatic who isn’t asleep, and to the delirium associated with sleep deprivation.

After all of my daily obligations, that afterthought called sleep descends upon me like the effects of Nyquil on a cold sufferer. It ends up being a pseudo-drugged sleep that is so heavy and near paralyzing that the sound of my blaring alarm clock each morning doesn't register. Most times, I can barely remember hearing the alarm sound or the trip over to alarm clock to turn it off. I've tried diligently to drag myself out of bed, but obviously when the clock sounds I must be right in the middle of some very good REM sleep, so good in fact, that I am lulled back into my coma. That is not a good thing because there is this small issue called work. Oversleeping for work has become more the norm than the exception. Good thing no one keeps count, or I would most assuredly be fired. Unfortunately, despite the semi-tennis lifestyle that I currently live, I am not amongst the privileged who can afford to live the complete tennis lifestyle. Yes, work is a necessary evil that presents itself daily as an interference that must be addressed. Until, I can find the career that allows me to work from home and set my own schedule, I am forced to conform and request a schedule change at my job.

Sorry, I don’t have the 401k or the courage of one of my coaches who decided to quit working and succumb to the call of the tennis lifestyle. For the time being, there is no great money making scheme, idea, invention, or great novel in the works. For now, I guess I will relish the next six weeks of freedom and seize every opportunity to regularly indulge myself with the luxury of a full night’s sleep. The clock is ticking, and before I know it my schedule will once again be filled with everything tennis. Sleep will once again abate and only appear in statements that sound like distant memories of times long gone. My frenetic lifestyle will gobble up every waking moment, as well as those which weren’t meant to be spent awake. Sleep will once more be an afterthought.

Next Top Models

2008-11-12T00:48:00.030-05:00

When I started playing tennis I didn't own a stitch of tennis apparel - no cute skirts, no court shoes, or compression shorts. I only owned a racquet. Well, more than two years have passed and I've more than made up for that wardrobe deficiency. Normally, I've taken a willy nilly approach that involved rummaging through Ross, TJ Maxx or Filene's Basement's sales and clearance racks. Whatever they had for the low-low has been subject to end up in my wardrobe. By shopping in discount stores, I've acquired quite an extensive collection of tennis attire and tennis gear, but you can never have too much (at least, not as far as I'm concerned). Recently, I elevated my game and started purchasing matching sets. I've decided, if I'm going to play with the top dogs, then I have to dress like the top dogs. To do this, it's essential that I not only be able to play well, but I also have to look fashionable and coordinated while I'm on the court. I've always have a tennis wish list (in my mind) and it's mostly Adidas but, I've never written it down. Many times I've gotten distracted and made random purchases that don't really make much tennis fashion sense. In light of this, I've decided that it would be best to stick to a list.

I searched the internet for some things that I'd love to add to the wardrobe and posted them below for all to see. You may notice that the list is heavily weighted with Adidas attire, and that has a lot to do with my love affair with Adidas tennis attire. I never really identified with it, but the Run-DMC song, "My Adidas," now actually has some relevance in my life.

Here are my "Next Top Models"

1. Wilson nCode N6 Racquet

2. Adidas ClimaCool Divine 2 Court Shoes

3. Bolle Swiftkick Polarized Sunglasses

4. Adidas Edge Warm Up Top

5. Adidas Response Court Warm Up Top & Pants

6. Adidas Beanie

7. Adidas No Show Socks

8. Stella McCarthy for Adidas Tennis Track Pants

Saturn's Ride n' Drive.

2008-11-11T23:24:00.002-05:00

I had a ball today at Saturn's Ride n' Drive. I haven't done one of those since my fleet leasing days, and made me remember just how much I love cars, especially new ones. While my sports car day are (temporarily) behind me, airing out Saturn's Sky convertible was big fun. The Saturn Outlook was a great ride and being that it's a crossover vehicle I'm inclined to say that this would be closest I will ever allow myself to come to driving the dreaded minivan. I'm not a mom and so it's a cool compromise that falls somewhere between the minivan and SUV. I have never been the biggest fan of American vehicles, but I could easily accept the Outlook as a future vehicle when I find enough folks to ride around in it regularly. Although neither the Sky, nor the Outlook really fit my current lifestyle, I thought both were great vehicles for the future me.

The Saturn Vue Hybrid could make it into my "Next Top Model" vehicle search. It represents the present me; a perfect size for my family of just me. It's safe and efficient - that's a must have for me. While the other vehicles were equally as nice, this vehicle was more me. I don't care what I drive, but it has to have some get up and go. This puppy accelerated well. My concerns about a lack of power due to its usage of a battery were assuaged. I didn't have to turn off the a/c to have enough acceleration to prevent the maniac Atlanta drivers from mowing me down. Sounds funny, but believe me I've driven cars where it wouldn't be prudent to consider pulling out in front of another vehicle without shuttting down the a/c. I'd rather not see my life flash before me.

It had plenty of room. I know that there is only me, and typically that is the only person that I'm concerned with, but it's always good to be able to accomodate a few others. It also comes with a 3rd row seat, which I would probably never use, but it's good to know that there is room for expansion should I choose. Plus, I can carry around all of my tennis gear with no problem.

The ride was smooth and comfortable, I didn't feel the impact of every pothole or road imperfection. The seats were comfortable; they didn't feel like bricks. I'm big on the layout of the dash and it's appearance, which is normally pretty unimpressive in many American vehicles, but this is more along the lines of what I would like to see in a vehicle. No everything wasn't lit up like it would be in a Lexus, but it's modern and I won't go blind from the dash lights or appear to be driving down the the road with a spotlight shining on me as if I'm about to shoot a video.

I've avoided the temptation to be among the obnoxious SUV drivers who seem to have taken over the road, but testing out theVue has definitely made it more appealing.

Victory is Mine, Well...Ours

2008-11-09T18:33:00.001-05:00

We won. A repeat, wow! I had put the goal out there for some of my team members before the season started, but I never really thought it would actually happen. It was just a goal, and it required a collective effort on the part of my team, but it came to fruition. It wasn't an easy road to the championship. We definitely had a lot of obstacles to overcome. Most teams don't repeat as champions at two different levels in two consecutive seasons, let alone do it after losing a quarter of their championship team. So winning back to back was no small feat.

This season served as a true inspiration to me for goal setting, overcoming obstacles, perservering, and rising to the ocassion. So, I guess this is evidence that if you take the time to establish a goal for yourself then you have a starting point. I can't say that I've been that good at doing that.

Continuous effort is a necessity; my team never gave up, we kept fighting. If each person in the line-up was able to find the energy to keep fighting through the longest matches, then why haven't I been able to do the same. Guess I better take a note from the team.

We won our division by 1 point, but that one point kept our hopes for a championship alive and kept us motivated to play for more. It doesn't really matter if I just barely make it to crucial milestones, just as long as I make it. Making it can only show me that I am capable of that and more.

While the ALTA fall season has ended and all business on the court has been handled, there is still more for me to work on to make it to the next level in my life off the court. I guess it's time to start my new season. I was a part of our team victory, but now I'm better prepared to battle to a victory that is mine.

Championship Bound

2008-11-02T23:16:00.000-05:00

We're on our way!! My team is going to the "'ship"! That's short for "championship" for all those who don't know.

Back to the Kitchen

2008-11-01T19:08:00.003-04:00

Okay, I can't hold out any longer. My cooking boycott is over. I am sitting on my bed with my laptop, surfing the net for sales and recipes in preparation for my re-entry into the cooking arena. My skin, stomach, palate, and pocketbook can't handle it anymore. No more fast food for me. The clock has been set and my mission has only begun to find the right financially achievable and time permissive menu options. By this time tomorrow, I expect to have a healthy, appetizing meal ready to eat.

Playoff Hopes

2008-10-31T20:08:00.003-04:00

I can't wait until Sunday. My team is playing in the 3rd round of the ALTA City Playoffs; this match determines whether we will have a shot at winning another ALTA Sunday Women's City Championship. Boy, I would love to repeat, especially since the road to the championship has been so much harder this season. Shoot, making the playoffs was a feat and quite an accomplishment. It is definitely nothing to sneeze at, but that doesn't diminish my desire win another championship. As far as I'm concerned, that desire won't be satisfied until Championship Day - Sunday, November 9th.

Revelation

2008-10-28T22:30:00.003-04:00

I'm too socially oriented for my current job!!

Sportsmanship on Sunday's

2008-10-26T23:20:00.007-04:00

My letter of concern to my ALTA (Atlanta Lawn & Tennis Association) tennis league Coordinator in regard to the lack of sportmanship my and I experienced on Sunday during our 2nd round playoff match.

Hi Laura,

I am writing this email as a follow-up to our earlier conversation. As I told you earlier, I played line 3 and we had a lot of problems with our line 3 opponents. My partner and I found the behavior of one of the players, Chris, to be very unsportsmanlike, obnoxious, inconsiderate and distracting, not to mention she was very loud when she was talking. Chris played line 3 with the captain, Tina, but that did not seem to alter her behavior at all. Chris kept voicing her opinion about line calls aloud. She wanted to make calls on both sides of the court. She did not simply say, “are you sure about that call”, instead she would voice out loud her doubt about our line calls.

There was one occasion when I was receiving a ball on the baseline and I called it back, and Chris said aloud, “oh, o.k., if it’s close, then it’s out – I see how they are so remember that when we have close balls - its out.” She just kept repeating – “if it’s close, then it’s out.” While I may have called the ball out, I also returned the ball and my return landed in. I didn’t make the call because I missed the return; I made the call because the ball was actually out. After Chris made her statement, my partner and I said to each other that until today we had never before heard anyone admit out loud that they would intentionally make a retaliatory call.

There was also another call where our opponent, Tina was serving to my partner Leisa. I was watching the service line and it appeared that the ball caught the back of the line, so neither my partner, nor I called the ball back, instead my partner made a good short cross court return. It was a good shot, and the server (Tina) could not have gotten to the ball. Instead of saying nothing or “good shot”, Chris chose to once again voice her disagreement aloud. She told her partner, “that was way back honey”. She went on to say to her partner, “your serve was way back.” She also informed us that it is our job to make good line calls, and then she said but it’s your call to make. I approached the net while she (Chris) continued to make her statement loudly from the service line. I told her that we understand the procedure and advised her we were making good calls and then went back to the baseline. Basically, she was insinuating that we were making bad calls. We never questioned any of their line calls at any point in the match and that doesn’t mean there weren’t any questionable calls. We just chose to move on to the next point and not worry about a call that was never ours to make.

We had another instance with Chris when my partner, Leisa, was serving late in the match. It was my partner’s second serve and she didn’t see that Chris wasn’t set (ready), so when Leisa served the ball Chris sent the ball back and asked her to serve again because she wasn’t ready. I turned to my partner and said, “Leisa, do it again she wasn’t ready”. This time Leisa waited until she appeared to be set and served the ball again, but Chris once again returned the ball and said "no, no, do it again". So for the 2nd time Chris claimed she wasn’t. Leisa asked her to please put her hand up and signal that she wasn’t ready next time because she appeared to be set and that is why she served the ball. Leisa served the ball again but this time she double faulted. I was watching Chris when Leisa served the ball the 2nd time and she appeared to be ready…she had no problem returning the ball to ask that it be served again for the 3rd time. After Leisa double faulted she took longer to serve because she was trying to re-focus, even then Tina (captain) said aloud "are we playing games now"... this is while Leisa was trying to serve.

At some point, late in the match, Chris even decided to animate playing an air guitar on court while she was waiting for us to play the next point. I can’t even explain what the air guitar playing was all about.

There were breaks being taken after almost every game. At first I didn’t really think about it. When they walked to the sidelines so did my partner and I until I realized the breaks were occurring after almost every game. I asked my partner why we were breaking after every game and she said she hadn’t even noticed that it was every game and that she was only going to the sideline to break because they were. I told her not to take another break unless it was an end change because we were not supposed to. When my partner and I mentioned to our opponents that they could not take a break between the games because there was no end change involved, Chris spoke up and said “well we are” and then she and Tina remained on the sideline to complete their break. Leisa and I just stood on our end of the court and waited for them to finish.
We were not the only people that found Chris to be distracting – one of my players from line 4 who was also playing at the same time made mention of it after the matches had completed. I had at least three of my teammates mention that they also thought she was a distraction and she was loud. I had been sitting near Chris before we ever got on the court to play, but I moved after she kept making a lot of negative comments about on court events during the line 1 & line 2 matches. After our match Danielle Charles (our Captain) was speaking with some of Chris’ teammates and they stated that this was normal behavior for that line.

My partner really found her behavior to be mentally distracting and was very annoyed with the entire situation. I instructed her to not make a big deal about Chris’ behavior and to do her best to ignore any comments and definitely not make any comments back.

I’ve met many players who are bubbly and have talkative personalities, but that is not what we were dealing with here. I really don’t know what her problem was, but there was something definitely wrong with her behavior. I have never experienced anything like it, and hope to never experience anything like it again. There was no end to the behavior we were subjected to and the captain (Tina) didn’t help or attempt to rein it in.

I know there may be no way for ALTA to punish this behavior, but at the very least, it should be noted and brought to the attention of the Captain (Tina) and Chris as unacceptable & unsportsmanlike conduct. Thank you for accepting my call to discuss this matter and for asking for an email to document this complaint. Any assistance that you can provide to prevent or deter this type of behavior from occurring in the future would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Chequetta Allen

Another Victory

2008-10-26T23:15:00.001-04:00

Thank goodness my teammates, won their matches. It served a dual purpose, the first and most important - it keeps our championship hopes alive, and secondly, it ended the most bizarre and torturous match I've ever endured. Yeah, I said endured. You'll have to read the next post for more detail.

Nutritional Nightmare

2008-10-24T23:57:00.002-04:00

I hope peanuts, bagged lettuce, Coke, and coffee are sufficient to supply me with all of my daily nutritional needs. Yeah, right! I know they aren't, but that has been the extent of my diet for the last 4 or 5 days. I'm sitting her wondering why my muscles hurt, not to mention I have no energy.

I'm finding it pretty amazing that I have managed to sustain for this long, especially since I consider myself to be a foodie, champion of healthy eating, and home chef. Unfortunately, there is no apparent end in sight - at least, not if it requires me to plan a menu & go to the grocery store. It won't happen...at this point in my life there is no time, no funds, and no motivation.

Oh well (sigh), I can't always get it right. Maybe next week.

Tennis Alone Won’t Do It

2008-09-25T23:23:00.001-04:00

I am always looking for ways to improve my level of physical fitness and maintain a healthy weight. One of the reasons for me taking up the sport of tennis was to provide me with a physical activity that was fun, but didn't focus on the actual task of exercising. I find it much easier to motivate myself to go out and play a game of doubles than to motivate myself to go out for a 5 mile walk. Doubles is fun, social, and it doesn't really feel like you are working out. While doubles is a good way for me to keep moving and to get in some physical activity, I have discovered that it's not enough. Tennis, at least doubles, alone won't do it. There has to be more physical activity for me to improve my level of fitness and drop some additional pounds. For the most part, since beginning tennis, I have been able to maintain my weight and sometimes lose a few pounds, and to some degree my level of physical fitness has improved. Unfortunately, I don't play enough, recreationally, for me to get the level of benefit I had hoped to achieve. With that being said, I decided that I needed to add some additional activities to my exercise regimen.

About three weeks ago, I decided to utilize my lunchtime to walk. This has allowed me to get in 30 minutes of cardio 4-5 times a week. Additionally, I decided that throwing in a few games of singles tennis against a willing teammate during one of my team's two practice nights would be equally beneficial. While I have not dropped a ton of weight during that time, I have lost a few pounds and I have noticed a change in the fit of my clothing. My goal is to get back to where I was, fitness-wise, ten years ago. I can't tell you exactly what my weight was because I didn't have a scale. What I can tell you is that I visited one of those traveling health buses that crisscross the country to educate the public on health and fitness, and I was very lean for a woman and well within a healthy BMI for a woman of my height. Playing the amount of recreational tennis that I play has further magnified the importance of maintaining a healthy level of fitness. If it wasn't evident prior to tennis, it has become more evident with each tennis season and with each level I move up on the recreational skill ladder. I have come to understand that if I want to continue to excel at the game and remain injury free, then I am going to need to continue to work hard off the court to keep up with those who are younger, more fit, and possibly more skilled. I now know that tennis alone won't cut it. My love of tennis, unwillingness to give up the game, and growing desire to excel has made me even more dedicated than ever to continuing to improve my physical fitness. While I may not make it all the way back to where I was ten years ago, the physical, mental, and spiritual happiness I gain daily from my efforts is well worth the investment.

OMG am I OCD?

2008-09-24T23:43:00.001-04:00

Okay, that may be a little extreme. It's a term that in today's culture is used loosely, but I'm not discounting those who actually suffer from the disorder. I'm not OCD and have never seen a mental health specialist, or had a reason to see a specialist to have an official diagnosis made, but I can be a little extreme. When I undertake activities it's all or nothing, and that is every activity. There is no happy medium for me. I may procrastinate about the task or activity for some undetermined amount of time, but when I decide it's time to act, boy do I act. It can be anything, research for a project, cleaning my room, organizing a cabinet, or even playing tennis, but whatever the activity may be, I won't stop until it's done. I will completely focus on the task and it will completely occupy my mind until I've finished. I will obsess over the details of how I should complete the task, and how long it will take to complete, and what my outcome should be. Maybe I'm more anal than anything else, who knows. At home it may be good because I actually accomplish any organizational goals for myself, and truthfully, it's just me doing my own home projects so no one else is affected.

One of my favorite shows is the Dog Whisperer. I'm utterly in love with the way Cesar Milan can come into a home and snap a dog out of its detrimental mental state and back into its "calm submissive" state. I finally have realized that maybe Cesar needs to come and visit me on the court. There are days and times on the court where I need a partner who can act as the "Tennis Whisperer". I need someone who has the ability to literally kick me, say "tst", and bring me back to a calm submissive state. I need someone who can get me out of that circular OCD pattern, and thus far no partner has been 100% successful at accomplishing that. This occasional mental psychosis that occurs during some matches can be detrimental to not only me, but also my partner. Needless to say, there are some that I can't play with. Sometimes these partners need their own Tennis Whisperer for different reasons, and unfortunately two partners on the court that need assistance to mentally focus are not the two partners who should be paired together. It has taken a while for me to understand this and now I have taken steps to ensure that never happens again. I constantly remind myself that I'm only playing for recreational purposes – there is no $1,000,000 champion's purse. I am working on learning to let go of the errors that mount up during each game, set, or match. Honestly, I wear my emotions on my shoulder, so every emotion I feel during a match (even if for only a moment) can be read by all spectators, and unfortunately my partner. This is a necessary realization for me because it means that in my effort to be the best sportsman possible, I must now tackle my past inability to look at the glass as being half full versus half empty. Finding the solution to this will ultimately bring out the "calm submissive" inner player on the court and banish that OCD nightmarish player who has a tendency to appear. Being that calm, submissive, and optimistic player I desire to be will enable me to create better opportunities for myself and my partner to bring home a win for our team.

Can Tennis Do That For Me?

2008-06-19T04:01:00.000-04:00

While standing in the grocery store check out line last night, I spotted a copy of this month's Ebony magazine with Serena Williams on the cover. Anyone who knows me also knows that when it comes to tennis players, Serena is one of my fave's. She is a strong, beautiful, spirited women with great athletic ability. There are men (my father included) who admire not only her athletic ability, but her physique. Looking at Serena, on the cover, posing in a sleek, body hugging swimsuit makes you wonder, "can tennis do that for me?" I'm here to tell you that it can. While the picture seems to focus on the external Serena, you can also see her internal strength and beauty glowing through. Because I don't put the same amount of time and effort into my tennis workout as Serena, I can guarantee I probably won't have a body like hers anytime soon. And while, I may not have taken full advantage of all the physical workouts, tennis has provided me with an array of mentally draining workouts. All have served as a driving force behind my improved mental strength and confidence as well as my desire to become more competitive. Now when I look at myself in the mirror everyday my response to the question is, "It already has."

Diary of a Mad Captain

2008-06-18T22:28:00.000-04:00

While playing tennis is the most rewarding activity of my week, being a captain has to be the most frustrating activity. After having to deal with the line-up drama caused by two players who refused to take responsiblity for maintaining their match availability, I am convinced it would be easier to keep up with a class of 20 kindergarten students. Every player should be required to endure one season as a team captain, and then they would have a lot more respect for the amount of effort required to have a whole team show up for a match....nevermind all of the other things we captains are responsible for.