Oakleaf Tennis Tournament

Oakleaf had their very first Tennis tournament this past week end and Jenny participated in it making it her very first tennis tournament.  The tournament was a two day event that started Friday night and ram all day Saturday.  The participants in the tournament each played three matches during both days.  Jenny played with a new partner for this tournament and they did well but did not win.  They were competing against higher ranked players but held there own until the end.  Nice job Jenny and Sandy!

Freedom Fest

Last night we attended an event we use to do with the girls several years ago.  It is fireworks at the Orange Patk mall except it is bigger now.  What started as just fireworks in the begining is now a full festival starting with Homemade Gifts and Crafts in the mall during the day to an outdoor stage featuring local bands before the headliner comes on.  This year Craig Morgan performed.  There were food trucks, bounce houses, pony rides, a train ride a car show and local merchants booths.  At 9:15 the fireworks started and they were really good this year.  It was a fun night and even the weather cooperated.  The rain never happened even though the radar showed it was going to rain and the temps fell into the 70’s.

Adventures With Rory

Rory played hoodie from school again yesterday and we spent the day having adventures or as Rory calls them “abbentures”.  She was up early and we played Go Fish then I taught her a new card game Old Maid. She loved it and we ended up playing it for over an hour.  After breakfast Rory and I headed to the park.  She rode her bike all the way to the park nd back.  It was a hot morning so we did not play at the park for long but what we did do is swing.  She kept wanting to go higher and higher.  The harder I pushed the higher she went and the louder her laugh got.  We met friends for lunch at Texas Roadhouse.  Rory loves opening up the peanuts but doesn’t like to eat them so she gives them to me.  After lunch she took a long nap then we headed over to Oakleaf Tennis Club to watch Jenny play in her first tournament.  She had one match last night and three today.  After the match we had a late dinner with friends at Chili’s.  It was a full day but a good one!

An End Of The Toy Store

At one time there were several different toy stores.  One by one they started to disappear but the constant seemed to be Toys ‘R’ Us until yesterday.  Toys ‘R’ Us closed their doors for their final time yesterday.  It was a sad day for children and adults.  It was especially sad for me since I had a 20 year career with Toys’R’ Us.  It was not Walmart or Amazon that took down Toys’R’Us it was stupid management that got over wrought with debt.  When Toys’R’Us went private in 2005 most of the stores owned the store and the land which made Toys’R’Us very attractive to the Reality company that bought Toys’R’Us.  They used those assets and put the money elsewhere and got into so much debt that the stores could no longer support it.  In March they filed for bankruptcy and the decline began.  The executives got their money before bailing and left their 30,000 plus employees  stranded and without severance or benefits.  The end of Toys’R’Us is truly sad for everyone and come this Christmas it will really be missed.  I am proud to be a Toys’R’Us kid and am thankful for the memories I will cherish and my Toys’R’Us family.  RIP Toys’R’Us 1948-2018; you will be missed!

Speaking Philadelphian

While we were in Philadelphia I came across a book that teaches you how to speak Philadelphian aka talking Philly!  The book was actually very funny and I had so much fun trying to say the words that I thought it might be fun to share.  So here is lesson one on how to speak Philly!  See pictures to the right for added help.   “Did you eat yet?” = “Jeet?”    City Hall is pronounced Siddy Haw.  Crayons are pronounce Crowns and wishing someone a Happy Birthday is Happy Birt-day.  Radiator is
Rad-e-actor and a Library is a Liberry. Practice those words and soon you will sound like a Philadelphian too.  Look for lesson two tomorrow!

A Park Visit Is Key To A Good Tennis Lesson.

We got to Rory’s tennis lesson a bit early so we decided to go to the park that is near the tennis courts and play a little bit.  We may have to do the every day she has a lesson because she did really well at her lesson and listened and followed directions better than she had before.  After her lesson we went back and played again at the park before heading to school.  It was a hot morning but that did not bother Rory.  She just had fun and so did I!

Creating A Tennis Lesson

Jenny has a bartering system for tennis lessons.  The pro she takes lessons from has a small pro shop and he ordered merchandise from Jenny from time to time and it doesn’t cost either of them money because they barter.  Jenny gets exposure in his shop and gets tennis lessons for herself or Rory.  It is a good deal all around.  Yesterday, I helped get Jenny or Rory more lessons by making some club water bottles for a camp the pro is running.  It didn’t take too long and it let me work with Cricut.  A win for all!