Too Critical? Who, Me?

Source:  Google images

Now, if you are familiar with the 4 "Animals Personality Test (click the link to go take the test), I am a strong Beaver with a lot of lion in my personality.  This is a very short, easy, fun test to help couples understand each other better and learn to get along well.  My Beaver traits include:  organized, detailed, precise, do things by the book (the right way), checklists, logical, factual, inquisitive, deep feelings, can be critical, but also very hard on self).  The lion traits that apply to me are:  takes charge, determined, assertive, firm, competitive, enjoys challenges, purposeful, decision maker, leader, goal-driven, "Lets do it now." 

Within a couple months, I've been accused of being too critical.  I prefer to describe it as wanting things to be done right.  Recently, I played pickleball at John Glenn Park in Seven Hills where they recently added two pickleball courts.  Immediately, I thought "Wow, those courts are ugly and the kitchen is the same color as the rest of the court!"  The kitchen or non-volley zone 7 ft. from the net on both sides is always a different color than the rest of the court just so it's easy to tell if the ball lands in the kitchen or if someone is in the kitchen when they volley.  

The other thing that really bugged me was that the net

37.5" at the ends

was too high.  I could tell right away, and although 2 1/2 inches doesn't sound like a big deal, it's enough to prevent what should be a good shot from clearing the net.  Pickleball nets are supposed to be 36 inches high at the ends and 34 inches high in the middle.  Several days later, I went back to measure the height of the nets just to be sure they were too high and sure enough, I was right!    

36.5 inches at the middle

I mentioned this to the guy who got the group together to play at these new courts and he told my husband I was too critical.  I won't be going to play there again until they get them fixed.  

I will try to stay positive in spite of my Beaver personality traits!  

Go on, take the personality tool (test).  Let me know your results in the comments.

Memorial Day Disappointment--Why Don't People Follow Rules???

First of all, I want to thank all those who are currently serving or have served in our armed forces on this very unusual Memorial Day.  No parade to go see this year.

It's a beautiful day, temperature in the 70s this morning and I was looking forward to playing Pickleball again with the group at Independence, Ohio.  I went up today only to be disappointed.  The was a big blue and white sign posted right next to the gate to the Pickleball courts which had some rules for playing:

Maintain 6 feet apart.
Only players allowed. 
Singles only.
Wash your hands at least 20 seconds when you get home and sanitize your equipment.
Courts will be closed indefinitely if these rules are not followed.

When I arrived, there was already a court going with three people so I made four.  I immediately pointed out the rules that we can only play singles, not doubles.  They all just scoffed at me saying they had played doubles last week, that it is okay.  Plus I noticed none of them even had masks.  It is extremely difficult to play 6 feet from your partner the whole time.  Therefore, I wore a mask and was very surprised that no one else did.  The one lady assured me that they live in Independence and know people so it was all right to play doubles, it wouldn't be shut down. 

I played a game trying my very best to maintain the 6' distance from my partner.  Mostly, I succeeded, but a couple times we were less than that.  The other side didn't even seem to be making an effort to keep 6' apart.  This really irritated me.  I played very well though and we won 11-4.  Another court started up with no masks and playing doubles as well. 

Another person came and I offered to play singles with someone but no one wanted to play singles so I left after just the one game.  I did not feel comfortable and couldn't get the others to follow the rules.  I was really looking forward to playing again with the group; however, it is not worth putting myself at risk.  I am so disappointed that people refuse to follow the rules to keep others safe!  I intend to check back to see if any will follow the rules, but if they don't, I'm out of there!

People who think they are above following rules is quickly becoming a pet peeve of mine!  I can't believe people are not taking COVID-19 seriously after all the deaths and all the precautions that the doctors and government officials have put in place.

This virus is not gone yet!  Please continue to be patient and stay safe.  Wear a mask when out in public if you cannot keep 6 feet apart.

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How To Play Pickleball (Or How Not to Play)

Since some of you who read my previous post on "10 Things That Make Me Happy" commented you did not know what Pickleball was, I thought you might enjoy a short video of my husband playing.  I included captions that give basic tips on how to play.  I am hoping that my husband will take some video of my play too because I'd really like to see what that looks like.

Anyhow, I hope you enjoy the video.  Here are the rules:

1)  You only score when your side serves, must serve underhand, behind the base line, over the net and land in the blue area cross court.

2)  The no volley zone (also called the kitchen) is the 7 ft. deep space adjacent to the net on both sides.  Players cannot hit the ball on a fly while standing inside the kitchen, must wait for it to bounce in order to hit the ball while in the no volley zone.

3)  Servers switch sides with their partner after scoring points.

4)  At the very beginning of the game, after the initial server loses the serve, the other team gets to serve.  However, from then on, once the first server on a team fails to score, his partner gets to serve--like a second chance!  Once both partners fail to score, then they lose the serve and the other team gets to serve.

5)  On the serve and return of serve, players must let the ball bounce once on their side of the court before hitting it.

6)  Whichever team gets to 11 points first wins, but they have to win by 2 points.

7)  The receiving team must call a ball out of bounds if it misses the sideline or baseline.  If the ball hits the player or their paddle, it counts as in.

8)  If players cannot tell if the ball was out on their side or if one partner calls it out and other other partner calls it in, it's in.  In other words, if there is doubt, the call goes in favor of the team who hit the ball.

9)  Have fun!

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Share a Photo that Best Represents Your June (Writer's Workshop)

I am so glad my husband and I discovered the game of Pickleball--it is great exercise and a lot of fun!  I enjoyed teaching others to play so that they could teach kids to play at our Focus Sports Camp in June at Parma Heights Baptist Church.  I had the privilege of being the Pickleball director in June when we added the sport for the first time this year.

Practicing dinking (ball bouncing in kitchen close to net)

It is an easy game to learn but one that has lots of aspects to practice and improve.  It is a game of patience, ball control and strategy that all ages can enjoy!  It was fun seeing how fast the kids at sports camp caught on and were playing some close exciting games by the third day!

 
Pickleball is played with paddles slightly bigger than ping pong paddles and with a whiffle ball. It is played on court the same size as is used for badminton, much smaller than a tennis court so involves less running.   It is very similar to tennis in strategy but the serve must be underhand and the service box is positioned in the back of the court as opposed to the service box in tennis at the front of the court.  Pickleball has a couple quirky rules such as the double-bounce rule and not volleying the ball in the kitchen area or the "non-volley zone (the area 7' from the net).  The double-bounce rule is simply that you must let the ball bounce once before hitting it on the serve and the return of serve.  A game is to 11 points but you only score when your side is serving and must win by 2.

The game can be played indoors or outdoors.  Outdoors is harder due to the wind and sun, but it just makes it a bit more challenging.  To view some actual games or to learn to play, just do a search for pickleball on YouTube.  There are tons of short video clips describing how to execute specific shots as well as actual tournament games.

Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America!  Have you played yet?  If not, what are you waiting for?  Join the fun!

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