Party pals

The Empresses had warm weather for their first Wednesday women's doubles session of December. What a pleasure it was to not have to worry about earmuffs, gloves, tissues, and all the other usual accoutrements of winter play. Empress Kathy, tennis fashionista, was able to cavort in a stunning ensemble of sport tank and skirt in blue tones. We realized why a few of us had migrated from chillier regions. And one of us, Empress Lora, realized why she would like to migrate to a warmer region where temperatures would be in the 70s all the time. Of course we all discourage that thought, but no doubt visions of plumeria are still dancing in her head from her and her Consort's recent trip to Hawaii.

Unfortunately, the cool front moving in resulted in windy conditions, so some of our points were rather comical, with the ball carrying or stopping unpredictably, avoiding contact with an Empress racquet.  Nonetheless, with nine players in the rotation, we had lots of interesting games. We did miss Empress Pat and Empress Evelyn, though!

I should have realized that word of my birthday the previous day, and hence of my advancing age, had gotten around when, as my partner, Empress Lora kept offering to pick up the stray balls on our side of the court.  I think it had sunk in how really ancient I was becoming, and she feared for my health and safety--to say nothing of our chance at Victory!--if I were to bend over or stoop.  I had mentioned to Sue that my 57th birthday was upon me, in this context:  she asked if I'd decorated for the holidays yet, so I had to share my personal rule:  in our household, the Christmas Season doesn't officially begin until the Birthday Season is over at midnight on December 6th.

Little did I know that The Empresses of the Emerald Empire Holiday Potluck Luncheon on the 7th would serve to extend the birthday celebration.

How Empress Brenda managed to whack the ball for an hour and a half and then serenely, and sweat free, welcome us into her beautifully appointed home is beyond me.  Plus, she had been traveling abroad for weeks not so long ago! And still, so organized. She and Empress Lora were able to entertain us with tales of their travels.

What a feast we provided for ourselves.  Has any Empress been able to eat anything since then?

Who could resist Empress Kathy's Mexican dip?  You can tell we're trying to.

Empresses Gail, Ruth, Sue, Brenda, and Nancy are ready to dig in.

Empress Ruth's simple yet succulent cucumber canapes were such a hit that the recipe was requested multiple times.  In fact, Empress Judy volunteered to be a point person for distributing copies of the in-demand recipes for all of the dishes the Empresses provided to supplement the Enticing Enchiladas d'Empress baked by the host.

The table was lovely, set with Spode Christmas Tree china and red-and-green patterned napkins (that weren't "all matchy-matchy," as they say in House Beautiful) for a festive yet casual note.  

The sole indication of Empress Brenda's exertions as both athlete and hostess is that here, she seems to be ready to nap on Empress Ruth's shoulder. Afternoon sangria'll do that to ya.  No matter:  we were all revived by tea served in a genuine English teapot commemorating the recent royal wedding.

Empress Gail contributed my birthday cake--complete with trick candles! (Empress Lora probably assumed I was still winded from tennis when they didn't go out.) With all that  fruit, we thought we could indulge somewhat healthfully in dessert--until we learned that it also contains a stick and a half of butter, Southern style.  No wonder it's so good. 

Did Empress Gail make a so-called dump cake since she thought I'd be down in the dumps over another birthday? Far from it, with the fun of this occasion.

What a talented, attractive bunch of Empresses: Lora, Jeanne, Judy, Kathy, Sue, Nancy, Ruth, Brenda, and Gail.
(And, they can party.)

The group portrait and the other pictures are courtesy of Empress Judy, who is nimble enough to take the group picture and be in it, as well!

Thanks to all of the Empresses, and happy holidays!

Empress Gail's birthday surprise

This afternoon, after a splendid morning of doubles and Canadian doubles ("I'll be the Canadian" said one of the players headed for the singles side in the threesome), the Empresses re-grouped at Morgan's (where else in New Bern do people go for group luncheons?) to surprise one of their number who was celebrating, this very day, her own significant number.  A milestone birthday.  Falling somewhere between the 21st and the 75th.  Although this particular celebrant doesn't seem self-conscious about her age--and well she should not, with her fabulous energy and looks--far be it from This Writer to reveal a lady's age. Especially a Southern lady.

Empress Gail's consort, Sir Bruce, delivered her on schedule, as diabolically arranged with Empress Brenda.  The Birthday Empress appeared surprised and delighted to see the Empresses of the Court assembled and ready to party down in her honor. (We wished Empress Evelyn could have joined us, and sent healing thoughts her way for speedy recovery from eye surgery.)

A highlight of the occasion was a booklet designed and compiled by Empress Judy, with contributions from other Empresses. Illustrated with amusing portrayals of the Birthday Empress amid other impressive participants in her favorite sport, the booklet explains "the rules of tennis"--some genuine, some tongue-in-cheek.

On her ?XXXXX?th birthday, Empress Gail (right) receives a hand-crafted booklet from Empress Judy.

All of the Empresses, as exemplars of health and fitness, resisted dessert, but could not resist a farewell with "the Empress wave."

Empresses Sue, Ruth, Lora, Judy, Pat, Gail, Nancy, Brenda, Jeanne.

Happy birthday, Empress Gail!

Raining on the Empress' Parade

Hurricane Irene did a number on the courts of the Emerald Empire.  We're missing a net on Court 4 due to the weather.  And the net on Court 1 is still jerry-rigged.  So to speak.  "Skip rigged" is more like it.

And now, for the first time in weeks and weeks--hurricane days excluded--we're contending with wet weather.  We did play on Wednesday, the 21st.  Remarkably, three Empresses showed up with matching outfits:  pink tops and black shorts.  Empress Gail thought that this combination could be the official colors of the Empresses. What would The Emerald's management say about that?  Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera--not even an iphone--to capture the miraculous fashion moment.

In the course of play, we came up with two timeless rules.

Rule 36:  Move with your partner.  No, this doesn't mean that if your partner decides to live in Boca Raton, you too have to try to sell your place in Greenbrier. It means that as a shot pulls your partner to one side of the court or the other, it makes sense for you to sashay in that direction too, to cover the middle.  Some players recommend that doubles partners move toward the net and toward the baseline together, also.

Rule 41: Don't celebrate too soon.  One of the Empresses--okay, it was the enthusiastic Empress Gail--turned her back to the net to cheer and congratulate her partner on their team's brilliant performance. Unfortunately, the point wasn't over.  As good as the celebratory team's shot had been, Empress Judy (I believe) managed, against all odds, to return it--and scored.  So, another version of this rule is Yogi Berra's:  "It ain't over til it's over."

I'm not sure whether any Empresses went to mixed doubles on Saturday. It was a soggy morning with bands of rain scooting across the area, so I figured it would be a wash out.  It was so dreary, I couldn't even make myself get to the Farmers Market instead.

Let's hope it's sunny and cool with low humidity all this week.  Oh, wait a minute, I forgot:  we live in North Carolina.  We won't have that kind of weather until February.

Irene, Empress of the Air

Skip says, "Tennis will be temporarily cancelled as hurricane Irene passes through the New Bern area."

Hope that each Empress came through the storm with minimum damage.

The Empress Wave

Today, with massive Hurricane Irene tracking toward the Emerald Empire, the Empresses demonstrated their composure and dignity in the face of the potential havoc of the storm. They did this by adopting an official gesture:  The Empress Wave.

The Wave is appropriately employed as a greeting, as a signal of good sportsmanship between opponents after a match, and as a gesture of farewell.  Of course, the traditional handshake, fist bump, hug, high five, and Victory Do-si-do (which, actually, has never been performed on the Courts, but could be, so it's included here) are still acceptable.  The Wave simply joins the Empresses' extensive repertoire of expression.

Not sure how to execute the wave?  Just follow the example of Queen Elizabeth:

The Empress Wave.  (Note Her Majesty's emerald-green attire.)

One might think that the Empresses would be better served (so to speak) by adding to their repertoire more deft lobs, effective overheads, or precise backhands.  Well, yeah. 

But certainly the warmth and grace of The Wave have their place on the Courts, as well.

A new exclamation, and strategy

Five Empresses showed up for Wednesday morning doubles today. It was actually pleasant outside, after weeks of high temperatures. We were glad to see Empress Ruth, whose hand is almost completely recovered; we recommend a regimen of all tennis, no pruning.

Empress Gail forgot to bring her her flak jacket--unfortunately, since she interrupted the trajectory of the ball a couple of times.

Empress Pat introduced This Writer to a new expression of annoyance with one's own sub-par (so to speak) play: "Aw, mush."

When Empress Gail was struck by the ball, all present commiserated, but agreed that taking a couple of hits, whether with oncoming ball or one's own racquet, wildly wielded, is just par for the course in tennis (to again mix metaphors).

Speaking of golf, two Empresses have performed impressively on the links lately. Empress Judy was a "June Ace," and Empress Sue is recipient of the Emerald Cup.

Empress Pat's husband, Bill, filled in one week when the Empresses were one short of a foursome for doubles. Reportedly, he asked, "Why do you keep hitting the ball TO each other?"

"We're not that social," Empress Sue said, huffily, meaning that our "social tennis" is still competitive. So we now and then forget what the score is; wouldn't Venus and Serena if they were over 50 and didn't have a scoreboard?  Hey, we still play to win.

Sometimes the strategy is "just get it back over the net"--which is sometimes problematic even when the net on the Emerald Empire's one shady court is about four inches lower than it's supposed to be. Sometimes the strategy is "whack the ball as hard as you can," i.e., an Empress Sue forehand or an Empress Evelyn volley. One does try to "hit it where they ain't" (in the words of Wee Willie Keeler, a Hall of Fame baseball hitter) but sometimes one only manages to just make contact with the ball--and/or to hit the opponent, as Empress Gail will confirm. She ended up being a target this morning, but she also had success in placing the ball beyond the opponents' reach with a couple of lobs and alley shots: hittin' 'em where they ain't, fer sher.

Wimbledon at The Emerald

Though we'd been forced to cancel our weekly women's doubles that morning due to smokey conditions from the wildfires in Pender County, The Empresses gathered at the Emerald Empire yesterday for lunch and to watch the broadcast of a couple of Wimbledon matches (we didn't always stand with our backs to the TV, as pictured).  For dessert, we enjoyed strawberries and cream, with scones, just as they do at Wimbledon itself.  Thanks to Empress Judy for arranging this pleasant get-together.

 Happy 4th of July.  Let's hope for more fireworks, less smoke.

Guess who

Okay, guess which Empress said this:

"Guess we'll be watch the men's quarterfinals.  

If the tennis isn't good, their bodies probably will be!"  
 

Fit for an Empress?

What do y'all think of this warm-up jacket?   Should we see if the pro shop could stock them?

Perhaps with a golf ball version, too, for our two-sport members?

Bethanie Mattek Sands at Wimbledon

Top Ten Reasons to Play Tennis at The Emerald

10.  Empress Pat is a nurse (in case you fall down while warming up).
9.    Even if your game doesn't improve, your morale will.
8.    The net on Court 1 is so low, you can hardly miss.
7.    Reliable pet care advice.
6.    Your match will never, ever, ever, ever get rained out.
5.    Convenient to Harris Teeter AND Pinecone Perennials.
4.    You can play year-round, if you have gloves and a tank top.
3.    Tennis balls seem to multiply there (ask Empress Gail).
2.    Parties.
And the #1 reason to play tennis at The Emerald is:

____________________________________

Fill in the blank......

Beautiful day for doubles; Wimbledon at The Emerald

There was a fine turn-out of seven players for weekly women's doubles at the Emerald Empire this morning.  What beautiful weather!  Certainly a Carolina Day--one of the reasons many Empresses came here from elsewhere. Yesterday evening, friends in New England were huddled by their blazing hearth, while we were sitting on our deck enjoying the sunset and breezy twilight.

(Speaking of "Carolina Day," Livingston Taylor is performing in Morehead City on June 18.  He put on a fun show in New Bern last year.)

Despite her worries over a recovering dog at home (North Carolina does seem to have a lot of Things That Bite), Empress Lora was particularly "on" with her net game today.  Dismayingly, two Empresses who shall be unnamed ended losing games on the singles side of a Canadian doubles match with double faults.  A double whammy.  Double faults are so disappointing; even those of an opponent are somehow anti-climactic.  For serving tips, see Sizzling Serves on this California tennis club web site.

While other Empresses are preparing to sail away on their Royal Yachts, the rest are left to their usual stylin' modes of transportation.

Empress Sue

Empress Pat

Empress Gail also bicycled to the courts, bringing a sample blossom from her garden, a beautiful pale yellow hollyhock.

Empress Brenda, garden club president, also being present, courtside chat turned to gardening, and also, somehow, refrigerators. Empress Judy took a poll about brands and models.

Mine is a GE Profile, which we're happy with, except that a Palermo's Pizza box (Primo Thin Margherita being my favorite no-time-to-cook fallback) is a tight squeeze. Empress Sue couldn't remember what kind of refrigerator she has.  Does this mean she dines out so often that she never sees the inside of a kitchen? 

Empress Judy took the lead in setting up a "Luncheon at Wimbledon" on June 29.  Following our weekly Wednesday morning rounds, the Empresses will adjourn to tidy up (what, you think Empresses don't sweat?) and then meet to watch The 125th Championships on the Clubhouse TV, with lunch.  RSVP via e-mail to Judy if you plan to attend.

We hope that the menu might somehow include strawberries and cream, which is "almost as synonymous with Wimbledon as the grass itself."

Did you know that the berries are "served in punnets of not less than 10 berries + cream"?  And that 8,615 punnets are consumed per day at Wimbledon?

Yup. And if you're wondering what a punnet is....

BUT:  what kind of refrigerators do they use at Wimbledon?