Friday, December 17, 2010

WHERE ARE WE NOW: AT TT WILDERNESS LAKES UNTIL DECEMBER 23

It was a good day for ducks (geese) when we arrived at TT Wilderness Lakes on Friday afternoon.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

LADDER DAY AT TT PALM SPRINGS, CA

Sunset through the Palms at TT Palm Springs Wednesday evening before Ladder Day.



Thursday, 12/16 – Today was Ladder Day at the Pickleball Courts. Rick started this at the beginning of the season, based on an outline on the USAPA website. Each Thursday when we play we are assigned into a group of four players based on our previous points scored. Everyone plays three games throughout the morning, changing partners within the group for each game. Individual points scored in each game are recorded. At the end of the third game the points are tallied and averaged in with previous scores. That determines your level of play for the next Ladder Day.

The thinking is that everyone would enjoy more competitive play because they would be matched with players of approximately the same level.

Here is some of the action today, showing each of the foursome groups.


Larry and Lynn played against Dottie and Ken for this round.

Judy and Jim P. play against Larry M. and Olan.

Becky and Don take on Mike and Guy.

Ed and Daryl against Dick and Kim.

During the morning's play, whenever some of the guys had a break between matches, they did some Road Work!!! (That's why I have inserted the work pictures in the middle of play.) Rick said they are preparing this area of the road to make a temporary Pickleball court for use when there is a large number of players. It will alleviate the long wait times.
Phil and Neal play against Paul E. and Roy.

Faye and John played against Bob and Jim T. (Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of our worthy opponents!) The second picture is of some of the players waiting to play.
Judy was the fourth player in a second group to make enough players. Here she plays with Rick against her husband Brian and Rick's wife Linda.

It was a good day of play but a lot of wait time. I'll be glad when the temporary court is finished!!

Monday, December 13, 2010

STEAK AND EGG BREAKFAST BUFFET AT AUGUSTINE CASINO

Monday, December 13 – Canadian friends Bob and Muriel told me about the Monday Steak and Egg Breakfast Buffet at Augustine Casino. The price was only $3.50 after applying the $1 discount with the Players Club Card and the $2 Food Coupon given to each person at the Players Club desk. In addition, the Casino gave each person $2 free play at the Slots.

Bob and Pam, Dottie and Larry joined us early this morning for the Buffet. We all checked in at the Players Club Desk. We discovered that we were already members from back in 2005 when we were out West. They updated our Players Club Cards, gave each of us our $2 free play, and the $2 Food Coupon. We were happy.


Then we discovered our friends were all new members of the Augustine Casino Players Club. They each got: the Players Club Card with $7 free play, a $2 Food Coupon, a $5 Food Coupon, AND a free Golden Gamers tee shirt!!! We protested but to no avail!! All the extra goodies were for NEW members only.

The buffet was very good, the steak delicious!! Bob and Pam ended up winning close to $20 on their Players Cards. Our slot play ate up our Free play plus some more $$$, and we ended up with $0!! Not sure how Dottie and Larry did at the Slots!!

Anyway, WHAT A DEAL!!! Thanks Bob and Muriel for the "Heads Up"!!

THOMAS IN HIS FIRST HORSE SHOW!

My grandson Thomas who is 13 years old and lives in Raleigh, NC has been taking horseback riding. He loves it and is becoming a real horseman!!

Here is the link to a video of his First Horse Show!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rl133iYrA8

Great job, Thomas!!

Sunday, December 12, 2010

CATALINA SPA WELCOME BACK TOURNAMENT

Saturday, December 11 – We spent a fun day over at Catalina Spa, Desert Hot Springs, where they were having a Welcome Back Tournament. We used to know quite a few people over there and several of our friends were playing in the tournament.

The first people we saw were Steve, Cheryl and Paul who were in charge of Food Services and serving hamburgers and all the trimmings. We would return later for our lunch.

The first matches we watched were friends Jim P. and Linda. We sat with Jim’s wife Shirley as we watched the pair go down to the ultimate winners of the Gold Medal.

Jim and Linda came back to win their next matches only to meet up with their first opponents for a second time in a match to determine which team won Gold.
The Medals were presented: Bronze Winners; Gold Medalists; and Jim and Linda took home the Silver. Great matches!!

Our very good friends Marion and Tom leave just outside of Catalina Spa. Marion came over to visit with us while we were in their neighborhood. We were enjoying Steve’s hamburgers when Marion and other friends joined us.

Jessie, Marion, Frank, Ken, Faye

Tom was refereeing one of Jim and Linda’s matches so we went over to watch. When he was finished, we all enjoyed a beer together.

It was not long before Tom and his partner Ray played their match. It was against none other than Jim P. and Linda's husband Rick!!
(Notice the mountains in the background!)


It was a beautiful day to watch a lot of Pickleball!! Congratulations to everyone who played!!

CATCHING UP WITH KEITH B. AT LAST!!

Saturday, December 11 – Almost from the time we first learned to play Pickleball, we have heard about Keith B. Keith has recruited and taught more Pickleball players than you can count!! I guess about half the players we meet said “Keith taught me to play.” Of course we wanted to meet him but it seemed when we were in the West he was in Florida. And the whole time we were in Florida, he was in the West!! We did meet Keith one time briefly in the spring of 2006 for a couple of games of Pickleball; then he was gone.

Imagine my surprise when Keith B. himself showed up here at TT Palm Springs!! We have chatted often during our time here and I even played a game with him today. Somehow he managed to pull it out, even with me for a partner!! Tells you what a terrific player he is, and a very nice and humble man as well. Another surprise – I found our names in his infamous black book at Verde Valley, Spring of 2006!!