Wednesday, October 27, 2010

As HIGH-TECH TENNIS Turns - October 27

HI and thanks for reading! Well, it's been another wonderful week in our world-hope you're ready for some highlights. Actually, it's more like many highlights and one very unfortunate lowlight...

We took a nice long break from HIGH and TECH and TENNIS (LOL) when we flew to MINNESOTAAAA last Wednesday AM for family fun. You see, I grew up in MN and Danny's entire family grew up (and many still live) in MN. So the main purpose of the trip was to attend the wedding of Danny's niece (Kelly)...and all the other stuff we did was just extra fun. We spent the evening and Thursday AM about an hour north of the twin cities with my dad and step-mother. It had been too long (7 or 10 years since our last trip, depending on your memory!) since we'd seen them...It was a nice visit and we're thankful to them for their hospitality. Then we spent the afternoon with my step-brother. Actually, since our parents are no longer married to one another, really not sure if we're still step-siblings but I am sure about one thing: he is one of my favorite people on the planet and I wish it weren't decades between visits. Rick, you know I love ya like crazy (and then some) - you have always been and will always be incredibly special to me.

We spent the next few days with a variety of Danny's family members. Big shout out to his nephew (Brian), who generously gave up his room and camped out on the couch. To repay the kindness, Danny gave 3 tennis sessions in 3 days (the first within 30 seconds of our arrival - before we even got out of the car - "Aren't you ready to play tennis YET, Uncle Dan?") to his 6 and 8 year old GRAND-nephews. It's pretty wild to think that Danny became an uncle at 11 years old when Brian was born. Then the big day for the big wedding, which was just as nice as nice can be. How fun to see relatives that we almost NEVER get to see...special shout out to favorite cousin J-A-N-E. :) It makes me soo happy to see you looking soo happy!

Now for that lowlight - and no, I'm not talking about the Vikings (that pain is all too familiar, unfortunately). We came back from MN Monday night with lots of happy memories and fun souvenirs; but we also brought back one very unpleasant thing: DANNY'S ARM IN A SLING. :( While helping his sister Sunday afternoon, Danny reached out to pick up something, heard a POP POP POP followed by extreme pain in his elbow, went to the ER in MN to learn the initial diagnosis: bicep tendon tear. What an unhappy ending to an otherwise wonderful trip. To have surgery or not to have surgery - that is a no brainer, thanks to a $5K deductible. Danny's gonna live with 30-40% reduction in supination strength in left arm... waahoo. Would give anything to have health care that cared about our health. GRRR. Enough said.

As always, we end this exciting report with a great big THANK YOU to you, our amazing customers and friends. We certainly couldn't do what we do without your wonderful support and we hope you know that we know it. Did you follow that? LOL. Seriously, thank you for giving us the privilege of helping to develop your junior tennis player - while enabling us to live this dreamy dream - and always remember that our video cameras will be looking for YOU!!! :)

Labels:

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

As HIGH-TECH TENNIS TURNS - October 20

HI and thanks for reading! Are you ready for the weekly report of our exciting life - a day early?!? As normal, it's been another wonderful week in our world and we hope you're ready for some highlights. Just like last week, we're naming names since we owe great thanks to sooo many for sooo much...

GREAT THANKS to the wonderful Windward Academy for giving us the opportunity to be part of all the FANTASTIC stuff that goes on out there. Thursday night's Academy Video Session was just awesome - as always...We're also thrilled to be launching the Windward Academy ONLINE, a protected and VERY exclusive collection of online video clips. Only the luckiest players in Atlanta train at Windward Academy! :) It's the BEST academy in Atlanta for lots of reasons. One big reason is because they know how valuable it is for players to use video TO THEIR ADVANTAGE. What a pleasure it is to be associated with the wonderful Windward Lake Club.

GREAT THANKS to our friend Kevin Klabunde (Babolat) for inviting us to a brainstorming session (over pizza) last Thursday to discuss the many ways that HIGH-TECH TENNIS and BABOLAT can join forces and conquer! :) We're proud that we've been part of the Babolat team for the past 4+ years and we look forward to lots of exciting stuff going forward.

GREAT THANKS to one of our all-time favorite TDs: Coach Eric Voges (Chattanooga). Coach Voges GETS IT and that's why the McCallie John Strang Chps is famous for being such an awesome tournament. We had a G-R-E-A-T time at the CHOO-CHOO :) and we were THRILLED to more than double our numbers from 2008 (had to miss it in 2009). More and more players, parents, and coaches GET IT and that means we ALL win - isn't that what it's all about anyway?!?

GREAT THANKS go out to another of our all-time favorite TDs: Coach Craig Jones (Macon). We put him on the spot this afternoon - we called to reserve one of his courts for a College Recruit Video session at the end of the month for a customer who's traveling from Ponte Vedra, FL to meet with us. Coach Craig's response? OF COURSE YOU CAN!!! :) Good thing, cuz we're not planning to go to FL again this year - if ever, lol.

The greatest GREAT THANKS goes to YOU for your amazing support. Special shout out to my buddy, without whom none of this would matter. Thanks for BRINGING IT and providing the other half of the HIGH-TECH TENNIS HUSTLE, lol. We're taking a well-deserved break from the HIGH and the TECH and the TENNIS and we're spending a week in MINNESOTA for some family fun. Cheers and hope YOU have a great week!!!

Labels:

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

As HIGH-TECH TENNIS Turns - October 13

HI and thanks for reading! AS USUAL, it's been another wonderful week in our world and we hope you're ready for some highlights with loads of THANK YOUs - we always give credit where it's due - and it's definitely due!

GREAT THANKS to the universe for arranging our schedule so we could attend a very special fundraiser (Sunday night) in loving memory of our good friend SEAN COSTELLO (79-08). May uuu always RIP and there'll be "No Half-Steppin'".

GREAT THANKS this week to cool coach Craig Jones (Petersburg Racquet Club) for his vision and his wonderful coordination of college recruits AND academy video session players...Too bad we ran into some technical difficulties that were especially nasty but we'll be back and better than ever real soon - that's a PROMISE.

GREAT THANKS to more cool coaches: Sam Kennedy (Cascade Road), Jewel Peterson (Peterson School of Tennis), and Torrey Hawkins (Windward Academy) for hooking us up with still MORE college recruits in need this week. Our College Recruit Videos are hugely popular and if you didn't know it before, you know it now, LOL.

The greatest GREAT THANKS goes to YOU for your amazing support. As always, we couldn't do what we do if you didn't do what you do - so let's keep doing it and all will be right with the world. Special shout out to my buddy, without whom none of this would matter. Thanks for BRINGING IT and providing the other half of the HIGH-TECH TENNIS HUSTLE, lol. Hope every one of you has a great week and don't forget to check back next week for another thrilling report from the exciting world of HIGH-TECH TENNIS! :)

Labels:

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

As HIGH-TECH TENNIS Turns - October 6


HI and thanks for reading! AS USUAL, it's been another wonderful week in our world. Hope you're ready for some highlights because they're ready for you...

We owe GREAT THANKS this week to Eric Burke of Hardcore Tennis for hooking us up with a few good players in midtown. The private video session last Wednesday went well but Thursday's got rained out. Hey, one out of two ain't bad, lol, and we'll reschedule very soon.

We also owe GREAT THANKS to Jonathan Fralick and the entire staff at the Cary Tennis Park. They arranged for PERFECT weather and the wonderful customers at the 2010 Cary Bullfrog (BG12-14) positively shattered the previous Bullfrog record (coincidentally set at the 2008 Cary Bullfrog) for the number of matches recorded. WOWOWOWOW - how awesome that people actually GET it. YAAAAAAY for the Southern Section!!! Just imagine how wonderful it is that so many junior players will be able to use technology to their advantage to help them play better tennis. Enough said.

We got home late Monday, slept ALL DAY Tuesday, and then woke up just in time to learn a lesson: Just because someone contacts you and schedules a video session doesn't mean you can assume it's gonna happen. It's better to be safe than sorry - call to confirm what was already scheduled before you drive an hour PLUS each way in Atlanta traffic (only to learn that the session had been cancelled. "Oh, guess we should have called to let you know!"). NICE way to waste time that we don't really have. grrrr. Won't make that mistake again.

The greatest GREAT THANKS goes to YOU for your amazing support. As always, we couldn't do what we do if you didn't do what you do - so let's both keep doing it and all will be right with the world, lol. Check back next week for another exciting report from the exciting world of HIGH-TECH TENNIS! :)

Labels: