So, I spent the better part of half an hour laboring away on this very entry for my dedicated readers two days ago. Come to find out, this blogging system automatically logs you out after a while, and all of my hard work and incredible witty insight was lost in the blink of an eye. Please excuse me if this entry seems forced, trite, or in any way boring, because I do not normally consider myself to be any of those things.
I'll get to the spring break update and other news in just a moment, but first I'd like to share a little experience that reflects my feelings on being a senior. Just the other day, I was enjoying the glorious spring weather of Lexington while walking to pick up my car from a friend's country house. Many of the W and L students live out in "country houses," so entitled because there is a rustic sort of charm, I suppose, to having your landlord clean cow poop from your yard. As I passed one of these homes, I noticed a single, gold, Jack Rogers sandal nestled in the grass, looking lost and alone. I felt bad for its mate, probably equally lost somewhere in the squalor of a frat basement floor. Instinctively, I wanted to laugh, imagining some poor girl staggering to God-knows-where, off balance from only having one shoe, and surely being none the wiser. Then I wanted to throw up, thinking about the mess she would have to endure being shoeless in a frat house. But in the end, the shoe made me a bit nostalgic. Being a senior, the sight of the lonely sandal made me realize that I only had a few weeks left to throw caution, and my rainbows, to the wind.
Suddenly, I panicked. What was happening? I was feeling......sentimental. Eric once told me that I would grow out of my sarcasm, but I quickly assured him not to worry, as long as The Hills was still in production, I would always have something or someone (coughHeidiandSpencercough) to make fun of. Now, though, I wasn't so sure. At that moment, I watched as a green SUV drove by. In the front seat were two shirtless boys, whose farmers' tans and frat shags perfectly complimented their Oakleys with croakies. The rolled down windows allowed Britney Spears' "Circus" to blare loudly in all of its metrosexual glory. With a bromance like this, it was little wonder that girls at W and L have trouble getting dates to formal functions. Uncharacteristically, I had no words. But I also had no doubts that I am ready to leave this place.
Obviously, I'm a very sarcastic person, but I really will miss so many things about Lexington; the people, the professors, even the schoolwork- but I'll especially miss the team. Our most recent spring break trip only reminded me of all of the things that I love and hate about playing collegiate tennis. To a certain extent, I think my feelings on some aspects mirror those of everyone else who plays tennis: losing is terrible. A loss is never fun, especially when you have a long car ride home with no ice cream to console you. Our loss to Emory over break, then, was understandably very disappointing, despite the fact that they are a very talented team. I'm a particularly miserable person to be around after a loss - I get moodier than an emo Edward Cullen (you're welcome Caire). But the victories against Wofford and Presbyterian gave us a chance to prove that the Generals could come home from spring break with more than just the swine flu (which I can't say is true of our whole student body...thanks Cancun vacationers). We had a couple of really great individual victories in particular, like Blair Brzeski, who stepped in at five for the Wofford match, and had a poker face that put Pete Sampras and Lady Gaga to shame. Ellen's singles match against Emory also really stands out in my mind, because I have never seen a freshman play more like a senior. Props, Ellen.
Spring break also taught us a lot off the court, such as:
1) The importance of good directions. As a fun side trip, we got to go shopping on King Street in Charleston. While the trip was supposedly for "the girls," I believe that somehow a pair of plaid tennis shorts made their way into Eric's shopping bags (plaid is so hot right now, just ask Michael Freeman). After shopping, Meg and I were allowed to drive our boss Jeep Commander back home. My dad could have told Eric that it would be a bad idea for me to "wing it" back to the house from King Street. He says that I have a "bad sense of direction." I still contend that bad is relative. After all, almost one hundred percent of the time, if you go in the exact opposite direction of what I tell you, you will be going the right way. Anyways, after crossing two bridges, and passing numerous street signs, exits, and a fountain, all of which Meg and I were positive we recognized, we realized we had traveled....oh an hour or so out of our way. I could tell that things were getting bad when I thought I recognized a CVS, and then realized that that was like using McDonald's as a landscape: not such a good idea, because they appear on every street corner and all look EXACTLY THE SAME. The moment the eyes of lady at the pharmacy counter widened in shock when we asked her how far we were from the Isle of Palm, I vowed never to go anywhere without a navigation system again.
2) The importance of manners and decorum when stalking celebrity tennis players
In an amazing turn of events, we were able to attend the Family Circle Cup tournament that happened to be going on while we were in Charleston. We watched as Elliott's friend, Shenay Perry, took out a top seed in an amazing match. We also learned about the proper ways to conduct oneself when at a pro tournament. For example, it is not only appropriate, but encouraged, to take the SWAG being handed out, because that makes you look VIP. At least half the time at the event should be spent in the tents, trying on new tennis clothes. A respectful, but pushy, distance should be kept when watching big tennis celebrities practice, so that you can admire their technique, and be first in line to get their autograph. And finally, it is always a good idea to partake in a fast return contest, no matter what shoes you are wearing, so that you can win the Babolat hat prize (I still think you were dumb not to take that, Elliott.)
3) The importance of sugar in moderation. Because we were usually strictly denied sugar pre-match, this one isn't so much a lesson we had to learn, with the exception of the cookie incident. As I'm guessing that my reader's patience is growing thin, I will skim over this event, but I suppose that if you are on the team, you'll know what I am talking about and you can laugh to yourself. Poor Patillo- she almost quite literally suffered from a sugar rush to the head.
Finally, on to the important stuff. I know you've been dying to read about the
GENERALS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Meg Spalitta is only the second team member to capture this prestigious and somewhat ambiguous award. Meg is the co-captain that actually gets stuff done, (like she would probably write in this blog more than once a month) both on and off the court. She has a 14-2 singles record and is 13-3 in dubs. She once even talked Cameron Diaz out of buying this truly heinous angora sweater at Fred Segal. She loves Pina Colodas and getting caught in the rain, so if you think she's the love that you've searched for......TOO BAD, she has a boyfriend. Ladies and gentlemen, Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeg Spallliiitttttaaaaaaaaa:
Full name:
Margaret Ann Spalitta
Major(s):
Business Administration
Team appointed animal look-alike: Golden retriever
Hobbies/Activites
other than tennis: Can this not be a question...I got nothing.
Post
Graduation Plans: Working as an analyst at Harris Williams & Co. in
Richmond, VA
Best tennis
memory: That would have to be my match against Julia Cohen in the 12s at the
Orange Bowl - who I saw in the US Open Juniors Draw very recently... amazing.
Anyway, the girl acted like a complete nut case freak. She would whip out these
absurd dance moves/ body gyrations when I was about to serve or even in the
middle of the point... completely psyched me out, and I actually thought she was
mentally handicapped. So I lost badly... but got the sportsmanship award at a
national tournament! I'll take it.
Favorite shot:
Drop shot/lob combo
Favorite drink: Tang (???)
Favorite
tennis player: Andre Agassi
Any pre-match
superstitions? Not really... but I get a little worried if I lose the toss and
have to return first. I also don't serve with the same ball twice if I miss a
first serve.
What would you
do if you won a million dollars?
First I would install a top of the line sound
system in the Duchossois and one for the outdoor courts...
then, individual leather recliners for water breaks (like they had at
Family Circle Cup). Finally, I'd put a pool back there... by the Frisbee golf
course. There wouldn't be much left after that.
(That's very generous Meg, considering you won't be using the Duchossoiss after this year. Got an alumni match planned or something?)
If you were a
type of fruit, what kind would you be and why?
I don't know, so I just took
quiz to see what kind of fruit I am... here's what I got: "Strawberry - You
are the berry of choice. Everyone wants you. But you are not open to everyone.
You are a sexy fruit..." - seriously that's really what it said
Recent polls
have shown that a fifth of Americans can't locate the US on a world map. Why do
you think this is?
I doubt this is a legitimate poll since I can't find
anything on it... except for Miss South Carolina's very eloquent response...
ha! But, I would guess that these people are either (1) under the age of 5 or
(2) not actually Americans.
(A much better answer than Miss South Carolina's painful one, which can be seen here.)
Bye everyone! I bet you can't wait for the next entry, all about ODACs, nationals, and a double PLAYER AND
COACH OF THE WEEK feature!
