The Great Florida Trip of 2012- Days Sixteen & Seventeen
It rained today. I cannot believe it. My world was shattered at five thirty this morning. A down pour for the ages, pounding the roof of this quaint little Florida cabana. Just, loud angry rain. I imagined the size of the rain drops to be equal to those of softballs, shooting down from the sky, as if God and all the angels were hurling them indiscriminately and with malice towards the earth. It finally stopped but the ground is still wet. No sun as of yet. Will it return tomorrow? You betcha!
My plan was to go to the tennis club and hit some balls off the ball machine. I had a mini-breakthrough the other day with my forehand and I want to keep the momentum going. I'll have to wait until tomorrow, unfortunately.
I played yesterday with this man, who, at first, I misjudged. He seemed like a friendly fellow over the phone but when I met him, I don't think he even shook my hand. He said hi and walked by. I followed him like a puppy dog as he walked fast and with purpose. It was kind of hard to keep up with him because of the long stride produced by his 6'2" body frame. He's a much older man, 73 to be exact, as I found out later.
We waited to put our tennis bags down as the ladies cleared themselves and their belongings out. Well, I waited, this man seemed in a huff to get his gear out and onto the court. What's this guy's problem? Relax. It must be when you're that old you have to rush and do everything because time is running out, yikes, did I just sound like a dick? I'm going to be there someday.(In a sing songy voice)
Not much of a warm up either. I was worried because I need to groove my strokes and set up a rhythm before I play points. It showed because this guy began strong, making me make mistakes. He hit me a lot of junk and with no pace whatsoever. He didn't talk also, he was intense. I'm thinking, please hour and a half, fly by. It wasn't until we sat down in between games that my opinion changed.
I can't remember how it was brought up, but we, actually he started talking about politics. I said something that triggered him going off on the "nitwits" and later "dickheads" otherwise known as the Republican candidates for President. It turns out, this man, is a retired school teacher with a master's degree. He's a big political science buff and very knowledgeable in all things politics. It was impressive. I learned a lot too. I learned that only 53% of the people in America pay taxes and if we're going to get out of this mess we're in unfortunately everyone has to pitch in, even him, a senior citizen has to contribute. I also learned that a guy, can't remember his name, that earned over 63 million last year only payed 11% in taxes. I said, "Wow, I pay 28%." Which he responded, emphatically, putting his hands up to his head while shaking it, "No no no no no!" I found out that I probably only contribute about 12%. "Not right, huh?" He said. My girlfriend didn't agree but I'm going with this guy. Not right because a guy that made 63 million is paying roughly what I pay. Not only that, big corporations like Verizon, GE, etc... that make billions don't pay diddly squat. I don't know how much of this is true but he's convinced me. My girlfriend is not convinced.
It was great, in between games he'd get riled up and expend a lot of energy. It helped and I took the first set 7-5.
I also learned he's kind of a sad man. After 50 years of marriage, he and his wife divorced. Basically, he said this, "We didn't have the marital problems that usually break up marriages. I treated her great, no infidelity, money wasn't a problem, I never laid a hand on her that wasn't in a loving way, she's just crazy." Then, with arms flailing and a piercing truthful tone, the tone in a voice that displays urgency as if to warn someone of impending doom, kind of like a time traveler that comes back and tries to convince someone not to go into that cave, well, it was like that. "Women are crazy!! They're all, all of 'em! I've never met one that wasn't." My girlfriend didn't agree with assessment either. Kind of sounds like crazy talk to me.
"But hey, I am seeing a woman now and she's great." He continued. "She's in good shape for her age, teaches piano, has huge tits..." I could only imagine those tits. The tits of a 70 something woman. I think this tactic worked for him because all of a sudden I couldn't hit a backhand to save my life. He rattled off four straight games and took a 5-3 lead in the second set.
Instead of finishing off the set, we sat and he told me the importance of getting a colonoscopy. I'm convinced. My girlfriend agrees.
I like this guy. He's true and honest and has much knowledge about many things. He's very very entertaining, his swearing, his opinions and at one point did the "stroking of the penis" motion to make on of his points. Hilarious. I'm playing tennis with him tomorrow.
Finally, I thought this was a cool pic to share with you. Suburbia at its finest.
My plan was to go to the tennis club and hit some balls off the ball machine. I had a mini-breakthrough the other day with my forehand and I want to keep the momentum going. I'll have to wait until tomorrow, unfortunately.
I played yesterday with this man, who, at first, I misjudged. He seemed like a friendly fellow over the phone but when I met him, I don't think he even shook my hand. He said hi and walked by. I followed him like a puppy dog as he walked fast and with purpose. It was kind of hard to keep up with him because of the long stride produced by his 6'2" body frame. He's a much older man, 73 to be exact, as I found out later.
We waited to put our tennis bags down as the ladies cleared themselves and their belongings out. Well, I waited, this man seemed in a huff to get his gear out and onto the court. What's this guy's problem? Relax. It must be when you're that old you have to rush and do everything because time is running out, yikes, did I just sound like a dick? I'm going to be there someday.(In a sing songy voice)
Not much of a warm up either. I was worried because I need to groove my strokes and set up a rhythm before I play points. It showed because this guy began strong, making me make mistakes. He hit me a lot of junk and with no pace whatsoever. He didn't talk also, he was intense. I'm thinking, please hour and a half, fly by. It wasn't until we sat down in between games that my opinion changed.
I can't remember how it was brought up, but we, actually he started talking about politics. I said something that triggered him going off on the "nitwits" and later "dickheads" otherwise known as the Republican candidates for President. It turns out, this man, is a retired school teacher with a master's degree. He's a big political science buff and very knowledgeable in all things politics. It was impressive. I learned a lot too. I learned that only 53% of the people in America pay taxes and if we're going to get out of this mess we're in unfortunately everyone has to pitch in, even him, a senior citizen has to contribute. I also learned that a guy, can't remember his name, that earned over 63 million last year only payed 11% in taxes. I said, "Wow, I pay 28%." Which he responded, emphatically, putting his hands up to his head while shaking it, "No no no no no!" I found out that I probably only contribute about 12%. "Not right, huh?" He said. My girlfriend didn't agree but I'm going with this guy. Not right because a guy that made 63 million is paying roughly what I pay. Not only that, big corporations like Verizon, GE, etc... that make billions don't pay diddly squat. I don't know how much of this is true but he's convinced me. My girlfriend is not convinced.
It was great, in between games he'd get riled up and expend a lot of energy. It helped and I took the first set 7-5.
I also learned he's kind of a sad man. After 50 years of marriage, he and his wife divorced. Basically, he said this, "We didn't have the marital problems that usually break up marriages. I treated her great, no infidelity, money wasn't a problem, I never laid a hand on her that wasn't in a loving way, she's just crazy." Then, with arms flailing and a piercing truthful tone, the tone in a voice that displays urgency as if to warn someone of impending doom, kind of like a time traveler that comes back and tries to convince someone not to go into that cave, well, it was like that. "Women are crazy!! They're all, all of 'em! I've never met one that wasn't." My girlfriend didn't agree with assessment either. Kind of sounds like crazy talk to me.
"But hey, I am seeing a woman now and she's great." He continued. "She's in good shape for her age, teaches piano, has huge tits..." I could only imagine those tits. The tits of a 70 something woman. I think this tactic worked for him because all of a sudden I couldn't hit a backhand to save my life. He rattled off four straight games and took a 5-3 lead in the second set.
Instead of finishing off the set, we sat and he told me the importance of getting a colonoscopy. I'm convinced. My girlfriend agrees.
I like this guy. He's true and honest and has much knowledge about many things. He's very very entertaining, his swearing, his opinions and at one point did the "stroking of the penis" motion to make on of his points. Hilarious. I'm playing tennis with him tomorrow.
Finally, I thought this was a cool pic to share with you. Suburbia at its finest.
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