CHRISTMAS DOINGS AROUND THE QUADRANGLE

Sunday was another of those semi-wretched cold, damp, overcast days when you just have to find a way to get out there and hit anyways. Once you do, you often find that you can get down to your short sleeves and even your shorts or skirt and feel the blessed fresh crisp air on your skin and actually work up a sweat mayhaps. Ahh, sweet mystery of life, persistence does pay off.

Doreen Massell was there on court one with her usual Sunday game. A tight match with Ms. Jane Strickler and Keno. Theo, the artist, showed up and William King got up some CLASS A stuff with Jeff and Joe (not little Joe, this one's the bartender at Bones that always wears the wide brimmed straw hat and has a game as spiffy and stellar as his headgear). Still nursing the left foot, I just hit with always the gentleman and lovely player, Jim Wyatt. Jim has a printing/photography business and took pictures of the Tree Bar Dedication that should be coming soon. He also plays a lot of tournaments and is an expert on racquets. His current choice: he kinda goes between the Babolat Pure Drive (did I get it right, Jim?) 107 and 110 centimeter frames. Baby Bear showed up and wanted to hit which is always a challenge. Sort of David trying to hit with Goliath. On just a regular human speed of a forehand, I had been making some real progress on the topsin. But Baby Bear, even ratcheting back 40 notches, is still bouncing that dang ball over my head. Hercules: get yourself straight to Monaco and hit with Raffa immediately!! Still he's an awful good sport to slum it with the likes of me. Thanks, BB!

Here's what I'm excited about: Mike Bernard (double PhD retired Tech Prof and organizer of the senior men's tennis and Weed Rep--those are really cool oversized rackets--and ultimate expert and best deal stringer and one of the all time classic mainstays of Bitsy AND who just acquired himself a sassy new convertible: LOOK OUT LADIES!!) called me especially to invite me to play in the men's group on Tuesday and attend their Christmans party!! I AM SO EXCITED! More so, cause he said something like-- we want to show you what a real party is like. A party throw down! You gotta love the battle!

Tonight the Friends of Bitsy Grant Board and some others are going to have their December meeting at a festive location and that will be fun to see what these folks look like after they've had a shower and put on real clothes. Everybody's worked really hard for Bitsy and it will be nice to get together and celebrate all the hard work and good fun. Here's to our fearless leader, Mel Locklear, for all his hard work! Persevere, man! And Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Go Jackets! See you round the quadrangle and at the NEW TREE BAR for a wassail soon! AD