Sometimes things don't go as planned

I think it's important to realize that just because you planned something doesn't mean it's going to happen...and if it doesn't happen, you can't just give up on it ever happening. I didn't run last night. Tennis practice came first and we ended around the same time the sun was going down and I don't neccessarily feel comfortable running around my neighborhood in the dark (with good reason).

So, I went to bed early in hopes of getting up around 7 this morning and running then. (HAAAaa, good one). I absolutely can't seem to run when I'm cold but now that it's getting warmer in the mornings, it could be a possibility that I'd get up and run. I wouldn't be worrying about running the 10k if it were here in Lincoln, but since it's up in the mountains I'm a little wary. At any rate, I'm in good shape and I guess I'll just have to squeeze the runs in when I can and not worry about my time. (not that I really do)

Last night's tennis practice was fun. We brought along our friend Kari (above) and Matel (below) had bought another bag of balls this time so we wouldn't have to run around picking up the 6 we had before. Matel thought she ought to show Kari some form

Always step into your forehand with your left foot (unless, of course you're left-handed...or maybe not...maybe you still have to play like you're right-handed? Our instructor Dave does, but he's also a pimp so...*shrug*)

There are so many small things to think about when you're working on your form. Keeping your wrists firm, not scooping or swinging at the ball but rather, moving your feet to get to the ball and follow-through on all hits. Follow-through is hard to remember when you're mid-play but it is very important for control and aim.

All of these things were floating around my head the whole time but I could really only grab one idea at a time to put into practice. Of course, I'm sure that once you get better this all comes very naturally. Already I can differentiate between a good hit and a not so good one, but making them all feel like good hits is tricky. Last night I made some progress in my serve. It's all about where you toss it and waiting for the right moment to swing forward and hit it just so. I think I know where this spot is and I can't wait to practice serving more.

That's where I'm at in the game. We took a lot of photos last night but they were pretty blurry. This was my best action shot, though I'm pretty sure it's bad form to approach a forehand holding the racket with both hands...

My balls are hanging out--how embarrassing.

Saturday we have another lesson. It could be a little hairy considering Matel and I plan on staying out late Friday to see the Bel-Airs at the zoo (9pm $8 cover)... but I'll bring my camera anyway and get some good shots.

Also, this Sunday is my "say no to everyone" day. Where I say no to anyone's plans that are not mine. I'm going to spend the afternoon clearing out the garden and turning it over. Hopefully it's very sunny and I can soak it up.

Til next time,

H

Not that I'm a Runner, Really

I enjoy running, I enjoy the zen that comes after 3 miles when you just go and are no longer only thinking about your aching shins, or ankles, or knees...I just can't do it on the treadmill. I don't get the zen when I'm thumping along on the road to nowhere, creepy men stopping by the window watching, other treadmill runners continuously checking my progress. Uck. I've been doing it, but not enjoying it. I go to 2 spinning classes a week at the YMCA and that's fun (I have NEVER gotten that good of a workout on my roadbike outside), I like lifting weights in the weight room upstairs at the Y too.

Point is, this evening I'm going on my first outdoor run of the season (I freakin' better seeing as how I'm running the Bolder Boulder 10k Memorial Day weekend), followed by a little tennis practice with Matel. We've been going to the UNL courts on 17th and Vine. They're nice, well-lit and there are lots of people playing that we can watch and learn a little something from. Or, more gratifying, the other suckers playing that are worse off than us.

We didn't go to a lesson last Saturday because our instructor was in Kansas City doing something. During our second lesson he couldn't believe how much better we'd gotten over 1 week. "Have you guys been practicing" "No Dave, we haven't" "Well, wow! Good work!"
Though, it's one thing to practice with Dave hitting hundreds of balls at you for an hour and constantly praising and whatnot...it's a fish of a different color to practice just the two of us and 6 balls. Exhausting, to say the least. Maybe, tonight we'll actually succeed in volleying more than 3 times.

Wow, this is getting very long, so I'll save my little gardening talk for the next entry (which will be sooner than last time--I didn't mean to get behind). Also, I promise more photos next time...I'm not used to carrying my camera around. Should be, but am not.

Wish me luck on the outdoor run (I can do 4.5 easily on the treadmill, so I figure that translates to 2 or 3 in the great outdoors)! Happy Earth Day everyone!

Hannah

Tennis-ass

My right butt-cheek aches. So do my shoulders, biceps, forearms, and hands. My good friend Matel has become my accomplice in the tennis mission, and I think she'll agree that it is quite the undertaking. We had our first lesson yesterday and though I didn't really even break a sweat during the 1 hour lesson, I began to hurt pretty much 25 minutes into it (which isn't really a good sign...day after aches are always expected, same day aching? Surprised to say the least).

The first embarrassment of the lesson was that I had a child's racket. HA, I had thought it seemed small. Dave (our instructor) let me use an adult's for the day. My ego was bruised, but at least I hadn't claimed to be anything more than a beginner.

When you're a beginner they have these foam balls the size of softballs that you volley around to better practice your swing and form (moves much slower). They also have tennis balls that have a little less air in them, mostly for the same reason as the foam balls, but they bounce. We learned our forehands, backhands, lobs, and serves with those. When Dave gave us a couple shots with real tennis balls they felt super heavy and our serves suffered (well, mine did--Matel's actually something of a natural I think...I thought I'd be good since I watch so much tennis on t.v, but my osmosis-learning theory is stupid). Dave said I'm very "wrist-y, like a raquetball player" and I'd find myself self-correcting, but unable to remember to keep my wrist firm while also focusing on my follow-through.

After the lesson, we went to Target to get me a real racket. We'd gone earlier that morning to get Matel one (she chose a Wilson Slope racket--mostly because it was pink and supports the breast cancer society...we both bought the matching pink tennis balls too because they're cute), and now it was my turn to choose a racket. I bought a Wilson racket too (brand recognition in action), but I chose the one I did because it had a picture of Roger Federer (my celebrity man-crush) on it and it reads "Federer" on the side.



No one hate on that.
I haven't played with the racket yet because of aforementioned uber-pain, but I'm sure it's perfectly adequate for me. I've read a lot about Prince brand rackets in a couple magazines, and it Tennis really holds my attention and passion, maybe I'll make an investment. *shrug*

That's all for Tennis. The only real step I've taken toward my garden is that I'm ditching the "ride-to-Denton-every-morning" plan, and I'm going to take control of Matel's garden. It's a good-sized space for a starter garden, and she's already laid down some pigeon poop on it. Excellent. I still need to tell Marty and Rachel I'm ditching out on them...but if I want to be realistic, I might enjoy biking 40 miles a day for 3 days but then I think it'd become a real time-sucker considering I work at noon everyday. If I had a car, it'd be doable. But, then I'd have a car.

Matel and I have practice Tuesday night, I'll let you know how that goes.
thanks for reading,
Han

Blog Project

Hi, I'm Hannah and I'm a chronic project-starter. Rarely a project-finisher. The other day I realized just how many plans and ideas I had in my head that I intended to start this spring. I am very good at beginning projects, even the planning isn't so bad...it's the follow-through that really sucks. Call it a short attention span, call it multi-tasking to the max... I don't know--I can't even finish a sentence. This is a problem of mine and one I plan on fixing, and perhaps this blog will help me. Here's where you come in reader, I need encouragement, tips, and the occasional scolding in my endeavors. I list the projects and detail the progress I make toward each little goal. You get to laugh at my failings (because I usually do), and celebrate in my triumphs (hopefully there some sort of triumph involved). Before you become really disinterested, let me tell you what I have planned this spring/summer/fall...

Project 1: Tennis Lessons. I have always loved watching tennis, and now I want to play. I'm not entirely sure what an adult beginner can do with tennis lessons, but I'd like to get involved in some sort of competitive sport. I like running but I'm not really any good at it on a competitive level. I am very good at ultimate frisbee, but until I go to school, there's really no way to play that for any glory either. (here's where you can tell me what people do with tennis skillz, or where you challenge me to a match or something)

Project 2: My very own, very first, I'm in charge garden. I've been spending a lot of time reading about gardening, gardening practices and tips in this big book I've got about homesteading--but I don't really know jack-diddley about gardening and probably won't learn anything until I get my hands dirty (literally). Initially the garden was going to be on my friend Anna's family farm out near Branched Oak Lake, but there's really no safe bike route out there, so it's not very practical for me. My friends Rachel and Marty offered up the gardening plot on their farm for me to use and I accepted. Their farm is equally far away (near Denton), but it's on a bike path and I think I can make the trek most days of the week. I'll just have to drag myself out of bed--which I find to be much easier when the weather is warm. I'm going to do some soil samples here pretty soon and decide what is best to grow there, etc. I'll keep you updated, and please, anyone who knows anything about gardening, chime in anytime.

Project 3: School. Oh, yeah, school. This fall. I just have to... a.) get transcripts, b.) apply c.) pay d.) take compass test (apparently, my ACT scores don't count after 5 years... ) e.)rock.
I don't know what I want to do, I just know I have to get the general crap out of the way and then figure it out. Maybe I'll be a pro-tennis player and horticulturist. We'll see.

Project 4: I guess this blog kind of counts as a project itself. I plan to include lots of pictures and whatnot. I mostly just need a means of being held accountable for what I'm doing, and a sort of creative outlet for all of it. There are more projects in my head, but, like in reading I try not to read more than 4 books at a time. Just too confusing.

Thanks for reading and look forward to a new layout (it's been tricky for me), lots of pictures and, hopefully, an accomplishment or two.

Yours, Hannah