Yesterday I went up to Milwaukee with some new kickball friends to see the Cubs play. I met Rachel and Alex at their apartment, and met their friend Natalie (who used to play on our kickball team) and we picked up Jeff (who plays on an opposing team) and headed north. I was squished in the middle in the back, which wasn't so bad on the way up. Even though I was the second tallest in the group, the tallest being Alex and she drove.
The game was fun-- not too exciting-- but there was beer and brats aplenty. This was my second game at Miller Park, and our seats were much better this time around (right behind home plate). I love Miller Park because of the sausage race. I always bet on the German brat, I think I secretly have a thing for leiderhosen. The brat was slow and lost. Oh well.
On the way home, I found myself in my own personal hell. I let myself get stuck in the middle again, and was promptly surrounding by sleeping people. I was in an uncomfortable position with my shoulders scrunched inwards, hunched up on the seat, listening to a mix made entirely of Jimmy Buffet. Now, I never was much of a fan of Jimmy Buffet, but I had never really listened to his music, so never made a big deal about it. Now I know I hate Jimmy Buffet and his stupid, stupid songs.
In other sports-related news, I am very sorry to hear that Justine Henin-Hardenne is out of Wimbledon. She forever changed my views on tennis, for the better. I always thought that watching tennis matches were akin to watching golf or bass fishing. I used to make fun of a family friend of ours for being so obsessed with watching tennis matches. I just didn't get it. Then last spring, when I was living in Doha, Qatar for two months, there was a women's tennis tournament in town. I went with two other young women I worked with. One of whom said she used to be one of the best girls tennis players in Jordan when she was a kid, and she was into it. We got great seats, right behind one of the players, essentially for free. I went as a lark-- I'm always up for new things to try and expand my horizons, etc. I had know idea how great watching tennis was. We watched two matches. One between Jennifer Capriati and a skinny French player, whose name escapes me. Capriati was amazing only because she was so well coifed. She had diamond earrings on, perfect makeup, very frou frou. I was kind of surprised. The second match was between Justine Henin-Hardenne and someone I completely forget. I got really into it. There is a sizable French community in Doha, and I remember lots of little French girls cheering on the French players. There were some Belgians there as well, though, and I remember some fans holding the Belgian flag aloft. It must be really heartening, as an athlete in such a personal sport, to see your country's flag in strange countries. When I saw her play she was ranked #1, though I didn't know it at the time. Suddenly I found myself cheering in French, "Allez Justine! Allez Justine!!" It was great. Now I have a soft spot for tennis. I'm considering lessons. I watch it when I can and enjoy it. I'm sorry to hear that Justine is out of Wimbledon already. I'll have to wait for next year.
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