I'm sore

This past Saturday, one of our "dog-walking-friends," invited me to her health club for "tips" with the tennis pro. I used to play tennis every day when I was in high school. I played a whole bunch when I was a grad-student, though Arizona's a really HOT place to play tennis. When I lived in Gettysburg, PA, I played quite a bit with the Gettysburg Review folks. In the winters, we'd convert the basketball gym into a tennis court with a roll-away volleyball net. After I moved to Utica, I stopped. I guess I got lazy about it . . . you know, moving to a new area, trying to find hitting partners, etc.. I tried to find hitting partners when I first got into town, but then it became evident that no one on faculty played. So, I gave up.

Recently, I got bit by the tennis bug. When we were in Paris, I tried to get tickets to see the French Open and got as far as the gate. Now Wimbledon's on television and I've been watching the matches. I've been driving out to the courts and practicing serves. I'm glad that I can still hit a serve, though it's pretty much the only shot I have left. It's funny, but it's one of the harder shots to execute after time off and yet it's giving me no trouble. The problem now is my groundstrokes are bloody awful. I've been spraying balls all over the courts. There's a hitting wall on one of the courts and I've been trying to hit against the thing. I'll be doing fine for a little while, then frame a shot and spray a ball over the fence. It's all quite humiliating.

Anyway, our friend scheduled lessons with a tennis pro at her club and the DUDE had me running all over the court. I think he thought I was younger than I looked. Let me tell you, I was sucking wind after twenty minutes. He did mention that he could tell I used to play a lot, and that made me feel better about my game.

So, if I've been away from blogging, it's partically because I'm trying to salvage my tennis game. Maybe I'll see you guys on the courts?

Paperwork!

Just when I thought I was safe, paperwork has crept back into my life. I'm in the midst of choosing movers, doing the paperwork so that I can get reimbursed for my move, filling out forms for grant money, doing things for our upcoming wedding, and planning stuff for my Kundiman Spark exercise. And you thought Summers were for relaxation?

Books I'm TRYING to read . . .

I'm emphasizing "trying" because I've got ZERO attention span at the moment. On my bedside table are Rushdie's Satanic Verses and Catch 22. I tried reading Catch 22 on a train to New York a few weeks ago. Instead, I watched the man next to me consume four beers, two mini bottles of whiskey, three hot dogs, and two bags of potato chips. Sorry Yossarian, but this dude was way more interesting. He then tried to sleep, but these old ladies from some strange religious tour group from England were yak-yak-yakking about how glorious the countryside was, and how glorious their hats were. He kept shouting from underneath a coat he had over his head, "Excuse me!" The ladies would then lower their voices a few pitches, but then raise them as they got excited. This went on for four hours. As I said, it all made for better theatre than Catch 22.

I stopped reading Satanic Verses because of portability. There are a few things that crossed my mind as I started to read the novel: 1) It's a big book. 2) I'm going to travel a lot 3) I'm going to visit some folks in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia 4) I'm a bald Asian man and I don't want to wander airports carrying Satanic Verses when I know in my passport I have a stamp from Morocco. (By the way, on my recent international flights, my trip to Morocco surfaced every time I passed through customs).

So as you can see, these are my reasons for not finishing things. I guess I should read poetry books instead of novels, yes? Although I can say that I finished The Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks while I was in Paris, so I have one novel down. The goal that I set every year is to read at least four novels for the summer. I'm well short of that goal at the moment. I'll keep trying.

Sacre Coeur

Sacre Coeur
Originally uploaded by odelapaz.

It started as an overcast day but then turned sunny, bright, and hot when we left the site of the Sacre Coeur. After we scaled what seemed like thousands of steps to get to the top of the hill, we were accosted by several street artists who kept trying to hustle us for a portraiture.

Mass was in session in the Sacre Coeur and you're not supposed to take photos of the inside, anyway. Apparently it was kids day because there was a throng of children surrounding the altar to the front on their knees with several nuns.

Grave of Marguerite Duras

Grave of Marguerite Duras
Originally uploaded by odelapaz.

Yet another grave from Cemetiere Montparnasse. As you walk through the front gate of the cemetary and hang a left past the information bureau, you'll see Marguerite's grave. There were two potted flowers on top of the stone, but otherwise it was an unadorned grave compared to some of the others we saw. I think it's time to re-read The Lover. She's always been one of my favorite authors.

More Snapshots from Paris

The Thinker
Originally uploaded by odelapaz.

I believe Suzanne asked if we went to the Rodin museum. Indeed we did. As you can see, the weather was gorgeous. In fact, most of the time we were in Paris it was in the high 70's to low 80's.

We had just hit the Rodin museum before closing time, so the park was nearly empty.

Patrick's Sleeves

Patrick's Sleeves
Originally uploaded by odelapaz.

Aimee had a beautiful wedding ceremony.

I'd give you details, but I think Aimee should post first. Anyway, here's a teaser image. Our dear friend Patrick wore a shirt I covet. Check out the cuffs! Totally cool!

The Underside of the Eiffel Tower

The Underside of the Eiffel Tower
Originally uploaded by odelapaz.

If you've never been to Paris and you've always wondered what it looks like beneath the Eiffel Tower . . . here you go.

Blurry Placard for Susan Sontag's Grave

Blurry Placard for Susan Sontag's Grave
Originally uploaded by odelapaz.

Meredith and I explored the Cimetiere du Montparnasse. I wanted to find the graves of Guy de Maupassant, Charles Baudelaire, and Man Ray. Instead we found the graves of Marguerite Duras, Bressai, Tristan Tzara, Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and yes . . . Susan Sontag. Her grave, since it's new, was covered in flowers.

A Fountain Ornament

A Fountain Ornament
Originally uploaded by odelapaz.

One of the famous fountain ornaments from Centre Pompidou. The fountain was drained when we were there, so I was a little disappointed. Earlier, we had coffee and sandwiches at a corner cafe facing Pompidou. Some Throat Singers of Tuva were performing right at the entrance to the museum.

Musee d'Orsay

Musee d'Orsay
Originally uploaded by odelapaz.

Meredith and I were lost in this beautiful museum. I still can't get over the fact that they allowed people to take photos of art-work (not flash photos). I couldn't bring myself to take photos of any of the paintings and sculptures. Anyway, at the very front, you may be able to make out images of shadow puppets near the clock.

Back from Paris

At the foot of Notre Dame
Originally uploaded by odelapaz.

You've all seen monuments, etc. Here's an interesting shot of two young ladies sitting at the foot of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. They were laughing at all the "Silly Americans" posing for group photos.