The Jennifer Blogs

How old am I that the first female tennis reference that popped into my mind was Martina Navritilova? (won Wimbledon nine times, first in 1982) Perhaps I should have come up with one of the Williams sisters or Maria Sharapova. Oh well, I said Martina and I'm sticking with it.



We've got tennis courts at the condos, and I'm really surprised more people aren't using them. I used to love to play tennis when I was in college. I played more racquetball than tennis, but racket (racquet) sports are my thing.



I've been trying to work out more, but let's face it, working out isn't fun. That's why the word "work" is in it. Still, I've been getting up early every morning to hit the gym. A lot of health experts say you should find an activity you love and then do that. Then it won't feel like so much work. Thing is, there's not a lot of fitness involved in MySpace, Facebook or iTunes. So I had to find a different kind of activity.



I had to dig way back to think of something I might like. When I was in grade school, I was a great rope jumper. I was the only white girl on the Double Dutch Jump Roping Team. Yeah, that's right. I was the token white chick. And I was gooooood.

Whaaaaat? 

Anyway, I don't see myself out there jumping rope "for fun," and besides, double dutch is impossible alone. 



I was also a great sprinter. I won all kinds of track and field awards. But I don't run anymore. I had knee surgery a couple of years ago and I'm lucky to climb stairs. I hate riding bike. Besides, it's too easy to grab a taxi.



Then one afternoon the kids asked me if I would come watch them play tennis. I stopped by one afternoon when they were playing and they asked me about the rules. I showed them a few things and both of them were in awe that MOM CAN RUN. In fact, they were kind of laughing at me. They said they don't think they'd ever seen me run before (my son forgets how many times I beat his butt sprinting down the road when we lived in Louisiana and he was supposed to be some big bad runner).

So that's my activity. Tennis. I want to take lessons while I'm here, so today I went and bought a real big-girl, grown-up tennis racquet (racket?). I even convinced my husband to buy one for himself. He tried to talk smack at the sporting goods store, but I have to tell you, I'm afraid he may have to call his Mommy after I whoop him so bad out there. I'm so Martina. (except I like guys)