The final slam

I love tennis....always have.  So, as the year's final slam comes to an end, I reflect on the triumphs, tragedies, ups and downs.  But, mostly from the joy I received.

Serena reigns and I hope she finally gets that 24th slam at this US Open.

Venus is still regal although it hurts to see newbies beat her.

Taylor Townsend has found her racket and is defying all by making a deep run.  She's been humiliated by the Tennis Titans because of her weight and, she's had to endure that and still try to win.

Coco Gauff is the future of tennis. I was concerned that she was getting too much swag but the gracious way she lost to Osaka showed graciousness and class.

Madison Keys was showing promise but still flails away during crucial moments.

Sloane stole her coach back and hasn't gotten her mojo back at the same time.

As we begin the final weeks of slams, I'm happy to reflect on the matches and narratives surrounding the tour.

I got to Cincinnati for a major tournament and, despite the mosquito onslaught, I had a great time.

So, the winner is yet to be determined.  But, for me, the winner was good tennis.

I took the lesser evil to reach the higher goal

My subscription with Direct TV/AT&T expired after two years and my reward was to have my bill increase by $74 a month...to stay on.

Cable bills are high as they are and I went ballistic.

So, I called Infinity/Comcast and they quoted me a nice price.  I set up the appointment for them to come out and set me up.

Then, I called AT&T to cancel.

My. My.  They offered me such a deal and adjusted the monthly fee -- significantly.

When I added in the $ to have Comcast come out and set up the service.  And when I considered having to get accustomed to a new set of channels.  And when I thought about the uncertainty of this new service, I caved.

I decided to stay with the devil I knew -- or the lesser of two evils.

The good thing is that it will only be for a year and that will give me time to master all of the nuances, and get used to a new set of systems (hulu....ruka and etc.) so I can cut the cord.

And, that is the ultimate goal.

Sometimes it just works out

I was going to book my trip to Thailand today but, within 24 hours, the price had gone up.  I appealed to the planners to go back to the original price.

They wouldn't budge.

Then, a trip to South Africa came across my thread.  I've always wanted to go there and to see the prison where Mandela "lived" for so long.

It was a better deal and less expensive and less time away.

BINGO!  I am happy with my purchase and look forward to going to the motherland.

Direct TV and CBS

Direct TV subscribers (like me) are no longer receiving CBS because of some dispute between the two mega corporations.

It appears to have reached a stalemate as, effective last Saturday, it's down.

I am not happy because I missed my favorite show:  CBS Sunday Morning...and 60 Minutes.

What to do. What to do.

After tinkering with it, I discovered that I can view both show -- 24 hours later.  And I can livestream the local news and CBS This Morning.

I'm hoping this will be resolved as I enjoy the CBS perspective and include CBS in my news watching.

I've heard that CBS wants to force viewers to pay a subscriber fee and that the stalemate is rooted in greed.  This appears to be an overreach as CBS local's ratings are in the toilet and the newest face of CBS News- Norah O'Donnell -- has not been received well, as evidenced by the plummeting ratings.  Even CBS This Morning has the lowest ratings when compared to the other network's ratings.

So, this doesn't help CBS.  If advertisers are not able to get viewer eyeballs this could end the impasse.

I hope so.

Just like Forrest Gump

When I first traveled to the Grand Canyon, I was totally blown away by its grandeur, majesty and the fact that it was God's creation.

I stood on the South Rim in total awe.

From that point on, I started going there every year.  I went by bus, plane and helicopter.  I stayed at the iconic El Tovar and at other hotels in the rim's area. 

I gazed as the sun set and the Canyon went totally black.  Then, I grabbed clothes and ran out to see the sun rise over the Canyon.

It is a sight that is etched in my memory.

I met two women on the Rim --one a professor at Harvard and another at graphic designer for the State of Rhode Island. We became such good friends that I visited them in Boston and we went to Martha's Vineyard for the weekend.

I went to the West Rim and donned footies to walk the glass enclosed walkway.

And, just recently, I went to the North Rim...with its rugged terrain.  

But I made it.

Suddenly, I decided that after 14 years, I'm not going back.  I feel like Forrest Gump who jogged all over the world and, one day, decided to stop.

That's where I am.

I have a wonderful bank of memories that I will always cherish.  But, as I age and my time on earth gets more narrow, it's time to see other wonders and bask on the memories of the Grand Canyon.

Everything will work out

I tend to be hyper but, in my senior years, I've started to chill out a bit.

Why?  Because everything works out.

Recently, I was going crazy because a client was late going to a radio interview.  Just as I was about to call, the producer called and said they are running late.

So, despite my crazy semi-meltdown mode, I have to have faith and realize that

EVERYTHING WILL WORK OUT!

My Annual Birthday Present -- to ME!

Birthdays are times for celebrations!

And every year I go to visit my sister, Sylvia,  in Arizona for a week of love!

She treats me to gifts, balloons, flowers, dinners, excursions!

What more is there?

And because of all the LOVE, I keep coming back every year.

So, my birthday present to ME is treating me to so much love from sis!