Last Friday night was our first ever pickleball tournament at Katie's family reunion. What was going on?
The city of Rockville, IN is rural and isolated, but it put in two pickleball courts in a park. Granted the back fence is five feet from the back line (not a lot of room), but still. One court opened up, so we took it.
Katie ordered t-shirts for her, me, and our daughter (our youngest didn't choose on in time, she decided not to choose his, as punishment). Mine had a "rad pickle" on it, muttering "if you want a soft serve, go get ice cream". 😡
It was chaotic. Someone brought a chalkboard, so Katie put results on one side and the score on the other (where players could see it). No one knew the official rules, so our youngest explained them, more or less. We decided with only one court to have games to 11, but points awarded on each play (rather than only scoring on your serve).
I lost. Katie and I played well, but lost to her cousin John. John has never played before but he's a natural athlete; 2-3 swings and he played well. I intended to play left handed, but played with my right, and smashed a few overhands. I even hit a drop shot that scored a point! 😀We lost 11-9, but we had fun. We also made John jump the net to congratulate us.
John played our youngest in the semi-finals, and lost 15-14 (we added a "first to 15" rule). They lost when John's partner hit one that probably was gonna go wide. Our youngest and a cousin won the overall tournament, playing two other young cousins. 😀 Watching the grin on his face made it enjoyable. He was having fun out there. We had about 15 people watching, laughing, relaxing, cheering. No one took it serious; my goal was not to injure myself or do anything dumb, and I succeeded. Katie lost a point on her serve, explaining I had not had her practice serving that cross court, just the other. I looked down, and asked if that made it my fault, and she nodded yes.
Katie made a trophy, which she awarded to our youngest and the cousin. Our youngest let the cousin take the trophy this year (he has to return it next year, it's a traveling trophy). By then we'll figure out how to put everyone's name on it.
My oldest and his wife arrived...just in time for the trophy presentation. He high fived her that he timed it right! 😀
The only downside is that it took an hour, and a cousin who loves softball wanted us to play softball. So he got angry, and refused to come watch. After the championship game, everyone headed over to the softball field. It wasn't tense, but the cousin let his 10yo daughter pitch, who wanted to fast pitch (it's always been slow pitch before). She's also wild, and it made the game less fun. She also demanded to bat twice each inning (the rule is rather than 3 outs, it's everyone on the side bats once). So next year we're gonna have to figure out how to accommodate both interests. Katie wants to encourage more of her generation to play, so I suggested adding a "geezers" division. She is thinking multi-generational setup...But my youngest and I cannot team. 😢
All in all it was a success. We're hoping the state park puts in pickle ball, and we'll move it there.
Our little town's park and rec dept is going to convert the 3 tennis courts at one park into 6 permanent pickleball courts. They're going to add new lights and wind screens. It's going to be awesome (in late spring, summer and early fall.) In the winter we will have to move into the YMCA gym where there are only 3 courts and lots of waiting to play.
We built four outdoor courts at our local YMCA, but we fun about four hours a day of pickleball indoors most every day but weekends.
I posted a LinkedIn article suggesting churches should install pickleball courts in their parking lot, then open up the building during the day (so people can take bathroom breaks). It's an easy way to get visitors to stop by, while building goodwill with the community.
My husband just got approval to add a PA to his staff, 7 years after the last one left! They spent all that time looking for a second physician but nobody wants to come to small town WI. They’re afraid of the call schedule. My husband gets called in *maybe* once a month and he’s basically on call all the time. The newer docs all want “work/life” balance now. The OR was closed for 2.5 weeks recently. Apparently the heavy rains we’ve had this summer created the perfect conditions on the rooftop garden to create an explosion of millipedes that somehow found their way into the rooms. 🤮 It’s been a disaster on many levels.
At 110 thousand, our rural county has the greatest population of all those surrounding. Anyone who needs to see a doctor has to schedule doc visits months in advance and, to see a specialist, may need to travel one to four hours to find one.
The condensation into large corporate group practices and large corporate hospital chains was a predicted outcome of Obamacare. So was the dearth of rural medicine because the economies of scale for corporate practices wouldn’t add up to anything profitable. But being against Obamacare got you labeled a “racist” jointly and/or severally. Ah, memories…
A few years ago, my PCP, who was a solo practitioner, railed against what he called the Medical Industrial Complex. He was an excellent doctor and if you called him about a concern, he ALWAYS called back, same day at the end of the day. Then, bowing to the pressure, he joined a large group practice. He never returned calls. All of our family dropped him as our PCP.
When we were getting medical care in the military, it was very common to have a nurse or other non-MD doing things that they weren't allowed to do as civilians.
I was irritated when I could no longer see the midwife when I was pregnant as a 37 year old. Not allowed for those of advanced maternal age. I think they call it a geriatric pregnancy these days (those over age 35.)
I'm listening to Eliana Johnson and Matt Continetti (subbing for Chris Stirewalt) on "Ink Stained Wretches". They're discussing the media's lockstep reporting on the Harris campaign ... all the joy! They're saying they don't think it will last, and that "Harris reality" will kick in at some point.
I think there is good chance they're wrong, and that most media will remain deeply in the tank, and that being someone other than Trump or Biden may be sufficient, regardless of everything else.
Very interesting topic. I wonder if patients would be more likely to follow the guidance of a computer than a person, since there is conditioning to believe and trust "objective" information from a machine.
I’m sure that varies by personality traits to some extent. Some patients, for instance, are just interested in the bottom line from the doctor, seeing him/her as the white lab-coat expert. Others want to get to the bottom of their ailment and treatment by doing their own reading and online research, often coming with their own diagnoses. Another group may be more prone to suggestion, inspired by aggressive advertising to self-diagnose ailments based on aggressive pharma marketing.
There are times when the computer would be preferable to the insufferable ass who's treating me, and badly. But other times, I would like someone a bit intuitive and trying to cut to the chase. (Wouldn't it be nice if docs could only order tests for things that they expect the problem to be rather than having to cover their bases with batteries of tests for liability concerns?)
My gastroenterologist thinks he's Mel Brooks. He said he appreciated my having my colonoscopies without anesthesia, because that meant I could laugh at his jokes.
"rather than having to cover their bases with batteries of tests for liability concerns"
Yes, it would. I was just talking about this with an acquaintance on Sunday at church. (It wasn't either of us having excess tests: it was her young adult daughter, who isn't even sick or anything.)
Hi All
Last Friday night was our first ever pickleball tournament at Katie's family reunion. What was going on?
The city of Rockville, IN is rural and isolated, but it put in two pickleball courts in a park. Granted the back fence is five feet from the back line (not a lot of room), but still. One court opened up, so we took it.
Katie ordered t-shirts for her, me, and our daughter (our youngest didn't choose on in time, she decided not to choose his, as punishment). Mine had a "rad pickle" on it, muttering "if you want a soft serve, go get ice cream". 😡
It was chaotic. Someone brought a chalkboard, so Katie put results on one side and the score on the other (where players could see it). No one knew the official rules, so our youngest explained them, more or less. We decided with only one court to have games to 11, but points awarded on each play (rather than only scoring on your serve).
I lost. Katie and I played well, but lost to her cousin John. John has never played before but he's a natural athlete; 2-3 swings and he played well. I intended to play left handed, but played with my right, and smashed a few overhands. I even hit a drop shot that scored a point! 😀We lost 11-9, but we had fun. We also made John jump the net to congratulate us.
John played our youngest in the semi-finals, and lost 15-14 (we added a "first to 15" rule). They lost when John's partner hit one that probably was gonna go wide. Our youngest and a cousin won the overall tournament, playing two other young cousins. 😀 Watching the grin on his face made it enjoyable. He was having fun out there. We had about 15 people watching, laughing, relaxing, cheering. No one took it serious; my goal was not to injure myself or do anything dumb, and I succeeded. Katie lost a point on her serve, explaining I had not had her practice serving that cross court, just the other. I looked down, and asked if that made it my fault, and she nodded yes.
Katie made a trophy, which she awarded to our youngest and the cousin. Our youngest let the cousin take the trophy this year (he has to return it next year, it's a traveling trophy). By then we'll figure out how to put everyone's name on it.
My oldest and his wife arrived...just in time for the trophy presentation. He high fived her that he timed it right! 😀
The only downside is that it took an hour, and a cousin who loves softball wanted us to play softball. So he got angry, and refused to come watch. After the championship game, everyone headed over to the softball field. It wasn't tense, but the cousin let his 10yo daughter pitch, who wanted to fast pitch (it's always been slow pitch before). She's also wild, and it made the game less fun. She also demanded to bat twice each inning (the rule is rather than 3 outs, it's everyone on the side bats once). So next year we're gonna have to figure out how to accommodate both interests. Katie wants to encourage more of her generation to play, so I suggested adding a "geezers" division. She is thinking multi-generational setup...But my youngest and I cannot team. 😢
All in all it was a success. We're hoping the state park puts in pickle ball, and we'll move it there.
Our little town's park and rec dept is going to convert the 3 tennis courts at one park into 6 permanent pickleball courts. They're going to add new lights and wind screens. It's going to be awesome (in late spring, summer and early fall.) In the winter we will have to move into the YMCA gym where there are only 3 courts and lots of waiting to play.
We built four outdoor courts at our local YMCA, but we fun about four hours a day of pickleball indoors most every day but weekends.
I posted a LinkedIn article suggesting churches should install pickleball courts in their parking lot, then open up the building during the day (so people can take bathroom breaks). It's an easy way to get visitors to stop by, while building goodwill with the community.
My husband just got approval to add a PA to his staff, 7 years after the last one left! They spent all that time looking for a second physician but nobody wants to come to small town WI. They’re afraid of the call schedule. My husband gets called in *maybe* once a month and he’s basically on call all the time. The newer docs all want “work/life” balance now. The OR was closed for 2.5 weeks recently. Apparently the heavy rains we’ve had this summer created the perfect conditions on the rooftop garden to create an explosion of millipedes that somehow found their way into the rooms. 🤮 It’s been a disaster on many levels.
At 110 thousand, our rural county has the greatest population of all those surrounding. Anyone who needs to see a doctor has to schedule doc visits months in advance and, to see a specialist, may need to travel one to four hours to find one.
The condensation into large corporate group practices and large corporate hospital chains was a predicted outcome of Obamacare. So was the dearth of rural medicine because the economies of scale for corporate practices wouldn’t add up to anything profitable. But being against Obamacare got you labeled a “racist” jointly and/or severally. Ah, memories…
Good morning. It was cool enough to open a window last night!
We've been fortunate to have doctors that listen and don't just rely on prescriptions. And the PAs are the best.
Good morning. Looks to get to the upper 80s today. I see our esteemed host is welcoming our new AI overlords.
The mothership is coving the budget silly season in Congress. (Of course, every season is silly season where Congress is concerned).
A few years ago, my PCP, who was a solo practitioner, railed against what he called the Medical Industrial Complex. He was an excellent doctor and if you called him about a concern, he ALWAYS called back, same day at the end of the day. Then, bowing to the pressure, he joined a large group practice. He never returned calls. All of our family dropped him as our PCP.
We've been with the same group practice for more than 20 years. Currently, our GP is a Physician Assistant. She's fine.
Since moving to VT, I have had a PCP who is a gerontologist. Her last name....seriously...is Forget.
My husband went to med school with Jeff Wilharm.
Priceless!
Lol!
I know, right? I was hoping that it was pronounced like people jokingly refer to Target as Tarjay. Nope.
Yes, PAs are often quite good.
Our youngest is a premed major, but has been wanting to become a PA.
When we were getting medical care in the military, it was very common to have a nurse or other non-MD doing things that they weren't allowed to do as civilians.
I was irritated when I could no longer see the midwife when I was pregnant as a 37 year old. Not allowed for those of advanced maternal age. I think they call it a geriatric pregnancy these days (those over age 35.)
I'm listening to Eliana Johnson and Matt Continetti (subbing for Chris Stirewalt) on "Ink Stained Wretches". They're discussing the media's lockstep reporting on the Harris campaign ... all the joy! They're saying they don't think it will last, and that "Harris reality" will kick in at some point.
I think there is good chance they're wrong, and that most media will remain deeply in the tank, and that being someone other than Trump or Biden may be sufficient, regardless of everything else.
Do you find it joyous? Or more joyful?
I find it all pretty meh, actually.
Very interesting topic. I wonder if patients would be more likely to follow the guidance of a computer than a person, since there is conditioning to believe and trust "objective" information from a machine.
I’m sure that varies by personality traits to some extent. Some patients, for instance, are just interested in the bottom line from the doctor, seeing him/her as the white lab-coat expert. Others want to get to the bottom of their ailment and treatment by doing their own reading and online research, often coming with their own diagnoses. Another group may be more prone to suggestion, inspired by aggressive advertising to self-diagnose ailments based on aggressive pharma marketing.
It's complex.
There are times when the computer would be preferable to the insufferable ass who's treating me, and badly. But other times, I would like someone a bit intuitive and trying to cut to the chase. (Wouldn't it be nice if docs could only order tests for things that they expect the problem to be rather than having to cover their bases with batteries of tests for liability concerns?)
With all my various ailments, I have been fortunate to have doctors who are both perceptive, intuitive and often quite funny. Makes a big difference.
You are truly blessed.
My gastroenterologist thinks he's Mel Brooks. He said he appreciated my having my colonoscopies without anesthesia, because that meant I could laugh at his jokes.
Girl, you're missing the best part of that procedure. I'm never completely snowed, just in happy land.
Ouch.
"rather than having to cover their bases with batteries of tests for liability concerns"
Yes, it would. I was just talking about this with an acquaintance on Sunday at church. (It wasn't either of us having excess tests: it was her young adult daughter, who isn't even sick or anything.)