I won in doubles for the end of the year local tournament. But there was only a semifinals and final. And the final was against the 6th ranked male player in the state and a woman. She's an OK player. But no spin, not much pace. Generally just gets it back. Easy to jump all over her serve. So, anyway, my serve was very good. She couldn't get it back. But then the 6th ranked player in the state also had a really hard time. Kept hitting it to my net man. We both held serve every time. As did the 6th ranked player. Broke the girl's serve and won 8-5. My first serve was about 65%.

In the semifinals we played a couple of high school tennis coaches and beat them 8-4.

In singles I lost to an older guy. He broke my serve twice and I only broke his serve once. He really played well and somehow I just kept coming close to breaking him and couldn't quite finish him off. And then he played lights out one of my service games and I double faulted three times in a row in another. I think I'm better than him. Oh well. Court surface is some weird carpet that the ball skids on. Wonder how much that mattered.

Tonight I played Chi. I win half of our sets 6-1 or 2 and the other half are closer with me almost always winning. Today I beat him 6-0, 6-0, 6-1. I really feel like I'm improving. The two hand slice forehand with a double semi-western is very good. Chi apparently isn't terribly impressed and purposely hits to it. While I'm also busy running around my backhand to hit it even more. I'm hitting lots of winners with it. Rarely hit errors.

My backhand was extremely good today. Hit with a ball machine beforehand and I just about hit 50 in a row without missing. I can only recall missing during our match 4 times... Three ROS in the net and one ball crosscourt that was just wide. For the first time ever I had my right hand in a continental grip while my left was closer to an eastern forehand grip than a continental. It was just the right amount of topspin. With a double eastern forehand grip I don't hit enough topspin. With a double continental, it's too much. This feels perfect.

And then strangely a double semi-western at the net. Really like how both the forehand and backhand feel that way.

Finally have it figured out I think.

Additionally played this guy who recently beat me when I was almost passing out from the heat. And I beat him 6-1, 7-5. And I was down 5-0, 40-love in the second set and came back. So not counting a hiccup in the middle I really mowed him down. And then played another guy and won 6-3, 6-2. That guy I was down 3-1 and then won 11 of the last 13 games. I really think I'm close to being pretty damn good.

Today I had a migraine in the morning for the first time in a while. I drank about two beers from a keg last night for the first time in a while. Really felt awful this morning. And then I took 600 of advil (which may blunt it for a few hours at best for one time) and zzquil. I think the zzquil knocked it out. First time something ever knocked it out. Although it's only been 9 hours. zzquil wears off around that time and my migraines usually last two days. So I shall see. But if it did knock it out, it's the first thing that ever did so. It makes sense as it's an immune reaction. But I had thought I used it before and it didn't work...

In a decent mood. I have two friends! Two! And my wife is great. And my son is great so far. My job is pretty decent.. Somewhat coming to terms with my parents and S. Thinking about it less.