Out and about in LA

Jon and Elmor took Howard and I around LA. First, we had breakfast somewhere on Melrose. Then we went to the Getty. The Getty architecture is very impressive. The layout can be a bit confusing, but they sure have some great art collection from Monet to Van Gogh.

For some reason, I was quite glad I did not have to play tennis today, because it is even more hot than yesterday. It is very nice to just hang out among friends.


Howard, me, Elmor, and Jon (L-R) on top of Getty overlooking the LA Citiscape

After the Getty, we went to Malibu. We had some drinks and did some people watching, then we went back to Jon's West Hollywood condo and relaxed.

In the evening, we went to a local pub called the Abbey. What a classy bar this is....very lively and people seem to be really enjoying themselves!!! It was packed with people and a line that stretched a block long. Their drinks were quite good too. I had my typical screwdriver cocktail.

Tomorrow is back to SF. Goodbye LA, I'm not going to enter your insane tennis tournament for a long while.

Almost had a heat stroke in LA....

I played a total of eight sets today...most I have ever done in my life in one day.

I went to the Burbank Tennis Center with Jon bright and early. I was scheduled to play at 9:30am, but the tournament director had me play as soon as I got there. Thus, I started at 8am. I finished my first match at around 10am with a fairly easy win (finally I got an easy first round). I had 30 minutes rest. I was then called onto the court for my next match against one of the tougher players in the tournament who had a 'bye' (skipped through first round).

This second match lasted almost 3 hours under 86 degrees F sun. We played three sets. On the third set, I can already feel my calves on the verge of cramping...thus I lost the third set quite easily. I lost steam.

Then I took about 45 minutes break, then Jon and I are called to play our doubles match. By this time it was like 2:30pm or so. Lo and behold, it was another three setter. Worst of all, Jon twisted his ankle about 3 minutes into the match. He is so commendable that he wrapped his ankle and kept playing. In the third set, I lunged for a ball and the cramp on my left calf fully manifested itself. The rest was history. The match lasted another 2.5 hours...again under some really hot weather.

When I got back to Jon's place, the rest of my body started to cramp up. I was totally dehydrated. If I did continue to play, my heart would have cramped and that will be a heat stroke. I guess lucky me.

The lesson learned:
1) Drinking lots of water is not the same as drinking Potassium filled Gatorade.
2) Think twice to compete in a tournament with heat such as this, against players who are used to it.

Afterwards, I had dinner at Thai Town Restaurant (4809 Melrose Ave, LA) with Danny, Pete, Howard, Nils, Mike, Jon, and Elmor (side note: Nils and Mike were our doubles opponent). The entertainment for the evening: the restaurant owner singing in Thai and some kind of English on stage.

Disneyland...am I too old for this?

I am too old for spinning ride and I am too old to wait in line for more than 20 minutes. So, I got hold of the Disney Vacation Planner that helps me avoid lines (sorry... I forgot the name of the program). It was a great help!!!! I missed only two rides because it happens that this week is Spring Break.

This program allows one to choose the rides they want in the day and it automatically plans the whole day. Granted I had to do extra walking from one place to another to obtain the Fast Pass. But it was totally worth it....I think I did not wait more than 15 minutes in any of the rides, despite the Spring Break crowd.

Disneyland has certainly changed and I have never been to California Adventure. Last time I came to Anaheim, they have just finished California. Nonetheless, I cannot believe the admission price there days!!


A bright sunny day at California Adventure

After Disneyland, Howard and I drove to my tennis partner, Jon's place. As soon as we got there, we went out to dinner at some local restaurant in West Hollywood. Soon after, we went to bed in preparation for tomorrow's tennis tournament in Burbank.

Damn!!!! Damn!!!! Damn!!!!

My Desktop Mac G5 died. 'Nuff Said!!!! X-(