text:
Excitment Surrounds The 2008 Melges 32 U.S. National Championship, July 25-27
22 July 2008
The International Melges 32 Class Association will celebrate its third, and largest ever U.S. National Championship on July 25-27 in Newport, R.I. The regatta will be held in conjunction with the New York Yacht Club's Race Week at Newport, presented by Rolex. Twenty entries have been confirmed.
The excitement and energy generated by this one design performance yacht is unique and attracting some of the world's top sailors. Former relief helmsman for Dean Barker during the 2003 America's Cup, Cameron Appleton (New Zealand) will assist Derek Campbell (Seattle, Wash.) on USA-138 Banshee. 2005 J.24 World and North American Champion Anthony Kotoun (Newport, R.I.) will set sail with Melges 32 Class veteran Edward Tillinghast (New York, N.Y.) on USA-151 Dark N'Stormy. Bob Hesse (Elma, N.Y.) has retained the talents of 2006 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Jud Smith (Marblehead, Mass.) on USA-153 Lake Effect. Marty Kullman and Mike Carroll (Tampa, Fla.) have employed the efforts of 2008 Melges 24 Charleston Race Week winning tactician Scott Nixon (Annapolis, Md.) on USA-131 New Wave. John Kilroy (Los Angeles, Calif.) will sail his brand new USA-1313 Samba Pa Ti Melges 32 for the first time. It too has been christened with the skills of Eric Arndt (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and 2003 Melges 24 World Champion Brian Hutchinson (Traverse City, Mich.).
The only returning Melges 32 National Champion is Jeff Ecklund (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) on USA-32 Star. His 2008 crew includes multiple World Champion Harry Melges (Lake Geneva, Wisc.) calling tactics alongside of Scott Norris (Newport, R.I.), Sam Rogers (Lake Minnetonka, Minn.), Ladies Match Racing Champion Lindsay Bartel (Annapolis, Md.) with brother Clay Bartel (Annapolis, Md.), Jamie Randall (Lake Minnetonka, Minn.) and Peeter Must (New York, N.Y.). "We are going to take inventory and focus on having good starts, getting around the corners and going fast. Two of the most important things to remember in this class are — getting good starts and having great boat speed. We are hoping to do both,' says Ecklund regarding his goals for the upcoming championship.
Three international teams, all from the UK are bringing some spectacular talent of their own. 2008 Melges 32 East Coast Champion Joe Woods (Torquay) on GBR-500 Red occupied his spring sailing season by competing in Annapolis and in Europe at the heated 2008 Audi Melges 32 Sailing Series. Last year Woods scored a third place at Nationals, this year he will take another shot at the top spot. Peter Rogers (Beaulieu) on GBR-121 Highlife first entered the fleet this past January at ACURA Key West 2008 and is looking to do well. Stuart Simpson (London) on GBR-84845 Team Barbarians also debuted in Key West. For Nationals, he has assembled a team that includes double Melges 24 World Ranking Champions Jamie Lea and Nigel Young.
espite the very impressive sample resumes above, the class maintains a very strong and vibrant corinthian persona. Jason Carroll (New York, N.Y.) on USA-128 Argo helms an all-amateur crew. Young and enthusiastic, Carroll's team has been steadily climbing in the results. On Dan Van Heeckeren's (Gate Mills, Oh.) USA-139 Vanpire32 it's a family affair with Willem and Christian among the crew.
Teams have already begun to arrive in Newport for Nationals, some looking to warm-up a couple of days in advance. Weigh-in and registration happens on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by three days of racing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Full race reports, interviews and photo galleries will be posted online each day at the official website of the International Melges 32 Class Association.
Visit the Official Event Website of 2008 Melges 32 U.S. National Championship, held in conjunction with the NYYC Race Week at Newport, presented by Rolex. Also, see the official website of the International Melges 32 Class Association.
For media photos and additional information about the 2008 Melges 32 U.S. National Championship please contact Joy Dunigan, International Melges 32 Class Press Officer on e-mail, or via phone at +1 (912) 398 5776.


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|2013-01-28, 05:20
|Link #1823
Senior Member
|2013-01-28, 08:39
|Link #1825
ショ ン (^^)
IT Support
HAHA so shes retreating, that kiss really did her in and the fact that he wasnt acting like a puss did it too. He's basically got her on ropes. Shes the kind of the girl thats like an Ice burg on the outside but once you melt through it, you will find shes quite warm.,
When the enemy is in full retreat press the attack, go get her Terumi !
|2013-01-28, 10:36
|Link #1826
Prediction for ch 66 developments:
Karouko will instruct Terumi to ignore Chuujou.
The next time they walk by each other randomly in school, Chuujou notices Terumi and he won't even look at her.
-> Chuujou becomes flustered and frustrated
-> she'll beg Terumi to do her (ch 67)
|2013-01-28, 16:00
|Link #1828
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Amegakure
it is quite possible that the aunt will tell him to ignore her .. she'll hate that and become frustrated or make him hang out with one of the other two targets so Chuujou sees him getting friendly with another woman .. she'll think this guy is popular since she loves popular guys lol
|2013-02-06, 09:41
|Link #1839
Senior Member
Well I am happy that Chuujou is not the target after all - she was just an awful, awful slutty bitch. I rarely have towards female characters such dislike as I had for Chuujou - author really made me hate her a lot.
But I dont think it is still over with her sadly. Probably she herself will come back not able to forget him and all her fuck boy-toys not pleasing her enough.
Hope I am wrong and we wont ever see that bitch again but I have this nagging feeling that we will.
|harem, seinen, smut
|Thread Tools

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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"Hoorah! Well done, you have made it through the month. How was it for you? Did you learn anything? What did you enjoy? What did you dislike? Sum it all up!"
Wow, I can't believe it's over! That went pretty fast actually! I didn't always find it easy, but I certainly enjoyed it….I feel like the challenge has made me step outside my comfort zone, as well as give me the kick I needed! Here are some of the posts I enjoyed writing most….
The real bonus has been getting to find lots of new bloggers, and reading their very different interpretations each day. I've found some great new blogs I know I'll continue to follow too. Here are some of my favourite posts from other Blog Every Day in May folks….
Annelida Libris' 'Spring is Here' featuring Cheaty Sheep….
Olive and Harry's idylic 'Walk to Work'….
Lace Lapin's 'Morning Ritual'….
Unfamiliar Ceiling's creative take on 'My First Job'….
Country Mouse Claire's Ode to Toast….
Rosalilium's 'Go Green' shopping list….
Olive and Harry's adorable 'Pets' post….
And my very own hound, Cooper's 'A Day in the Life'!
I'm so, so glad that I decided to take part in Elizabeth's challenge….a massive thank you to her for organising it and chivvying us along!
Now the real challenge….to keep it all up!
Ems x


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|Davy Spillane
One of Ireland's most talented uilleann pipes and low whistle players, Davy Spillane was born in Dublin in 1959. A founding member of the group Moving Hearts, Davy has recorded for Sony Classical, Tara Music, and Cooking Vinyl, among others.
In 2000, Davy launched his own label, Burrenstone Records. He has worked a number of film scores and was a soloist in Riverdance. Davy won a Grammy award in 2000 for his collaboration with Paul Winter on the album Celtic Solstice. He is an accomplished instrument builder, having made all the instruments he plays.
(This interview was recorded in Dublin in 1991.)
First of all, thanks for taking some time, as you get ready for tonight's show, to have a chat with me here at Whelan's Pub in Dublin, Davy. Can you just start by telling me where you're from.
Right, well, I'm from Dublin originally -- that's what I usually say to people anyway! I was born off Leeson Street in Dublin, which is in a suburb really, near a big trunk road down the country, kind of like a dual carriage way...
So it was music that took you away from home at that early age?
Well, yes, there's different ways of looking at that. I'm very interested in seeing really what motivated me back then. I have little theories, but I'm never quite sure what role music had to play in my leaving home. I think, at the time, I thought it did, but I don't think so now particularly. Usually, when you look back, you find that they're just symptomatic things you got involved with.
Do you think you found an excuse to do something that you maybe needed to do for other reasons?
That's right yes. It's a very innocent thing, I think, really. My involvement with music started in school when I was playing the tin whistle, you know, like a flagolet penny whistle thing, and I wasn't too pushed about that in the beginning because everyone was playing it. Then gradually I got into it for some reason, I don't really know. Then I had an opportunity for playing a practice set of pipes, which I got into, I think, to avoid after lunch classes like mathematics and the usual which I kind of just dodged.
But you ended up playing an instrument that really is associated with a great tradition and heritage, exploring ways in which to apply that instrument to a much wider variety of music. Did you feel, early on, that you would be somewhat harnessed into only playing traditional music? I mean, I know that in Scotland with the Highland Pipes, there's a tremendous tradition and perhaps sometimes a certain lack of acceptance of new ways of playing. Were you drawn in first of all to the more traditional world of piping?
No, I was never sucked in by the hard-core traditionalists, even when I was a kid, you know. And because my upbringing was around the Irish language, I was pretty protected from pop music in general. Like, don't forget, we're talking about being thirteen. You wouldn't have been, especially then, subjected to radio and records and things. So, at the time when most kids maybe would have been subjected to the general pop culture, whatever that might be, I was kind of getting more and more into the instrument, the pipes.
Well let me take you back to something you mentioned just a minute or so ago when you talked about being influenced by the music of the traveling people here in Ireland. Tell me, more specifically, how their approach to music would differ from the more structured approach you might find in an uilleann Pipe club here in the city?
Well, the difference is passion. That's my opinion. Passion and fire. These are words that come to my mind, and pure ability. There was definitely more of an actual tradition of professional piping, as in a person who plays the pipes for a living in a kind of street way, in the traveling tradition, than there is in the settled tradition or the academic tradition, which was a drawing room tradition of appreciation. The other one was all very well, but had to be more in a kind of circus tradition really , I think.
But in general, you think the more formal, the more notated and structured the music becomes, the more likely it is to lose that wildness and that passion and that free expression.
Well, the free expression in the traveling style playing, within the area of acoustic non-professional music, do you know what I mean? There's a kind of paradox there, but outside of the rock business is what I'm saying. Outside of the music industry, within the folk scene, I would tend to find that yes. Like a very accomplished piper from whatever the other style is called, the non-traveling style, sometimes, it's astonishing, but they can miss something. And then maybe, if you read an opinion of the traveling style from that school, it might say that that was missing something,
So, what do you think about? What motivates you to keep doing what you're doing? What inspires you?
I don't really know. When I'm having my good days, I suppose, like everybody else. I'm more caught up with and I'm more involved with my life and the success in my life where it really matters -- be it in the psychological, emotional, and all those areas. I definitely would think that they're the important issues.
So, you're saying that in a sense that you don't take what you're doing really seriously but you're serious about what you do?
At the moment I probably am, but I'm happy enough with what I've done in the past decade. I've been very busy, you know and I've worked very hard, and I'm able to say that about myself now. I'd be able to say that into a microphone. I would usually never make such a statement about myself, but I have to recognize that I have worked very hard, for ten years especially. I've been involved in the Moving Hearts project and the whole thing, and my own things, and done a good few records, and I'm running it myself.
Well then, let's stop where we are and look back over the last decade. We talked about the pipes being an instrument really steeped in tradition. When did it first occur to you to start applying that instrument to a wider range of music? When did you first say, "Wait a minute. It doesn't have to be all jigs and reels. We could play a Bluegrass tune with this instrument and it would work?"
The spirit of the people I grew up with, like the Seventies kids, it's like there was a great atmosphere, especially with the folk music which was pop music then, especially in Ireland. Like, if you were a folk musician, you were a pop star. I didn't even see that at the time, but definitely that's the way it was.
You mean: right place at the right time?
I think so, yes. I don't know what the fuss is about at all. I think a lot of things are very accidental, or fated really, and I'd say my position in this whole thing is as a catalyst. I would certainly see it like that, rather than seeing myself as responsible for anything, either good or bad. Musically I'd see myself as a catalyst, which means that something's happening, and I'm just a mortal who's caught up in it.
Well yes, I was thinking about the chronology of this. I mean you talked a minute ago about how it was primarily viewed as a solo instrument and had a huge solo repertoire, and then in the Seventies it was drawn into a band setting. We had Planxty and The Bothy Band using it as this incredible driving instrument, but still really within a traditional music format although still really stretching that. It strikes me that the Moving Hearts set up was the first to let it do more. And you've talked a little bit about the impact of that on yourself, but what do you think was the long-range impact of Moving Hearts on music in general?
I don't really know. I don't really know. I haven't a clue.
Well, tell us a little bit about how Moving Hearts got started. I mean, was there a master plan that these characters were plugged into, or was it something that just kind of evolved because of the cast of characters?
It was both, definitely. I think it was Donal Lunny and Christy Moore's idea, definitely. I'm not sure whose it was particularly. Both of those, I'd say, were fairly instrumental in the adult conception of it. The rest of us were involved, I think, if I'm not doing anybody an injustice, in being very involved in it after that, and drawn into their momentum. I think it was Donal's idea and Christy's application, and I think that would be how they would see it. I think that's the truth of it, I'm not exactly sure.
Let me ask you, since then, having seen what it felt like to do what you were doing with the instrument, you've used uilleann pipes more and more, crossing over from that traditional grounding, into country music, into jazz, into rock music. How far can you take it? Is it limitless?
I don't actually know. What I'm mostly involved with, like Atlantic Bridge was… I didn't want to… like I'm an uilleann pipe maker, I make pipes, and I was making pipes in the garage, and I didn't want to know about the music business after Moving Hearts. After my last statement about Moving Hearts, that seems to be a very heavy statement, but I don't mean that in relation to other people. I mean that in relation to myself and how I felt about myself, more than anybody else. And you know, it took me a while to recuperate from that period, but I didn't want anything do with it.
Apart from the music of the uilleann Pipes and the other music we've been talking about, what other type of music excites you? What other music gets you excited about playing and about contributing what you have?
Well, what all the rest of the people are playing in my band. Like, you know, I play the electric guitar and the acoustic guitar. I have two nice guitars at home, and I play them all the time, not in a very disciplined way, but that's all I do. I don't play the pipes or whistle at home whatsoever, except when I'm applying myself to coming up with melodies or something like that. I don't know how healthy that is at the moment, but that's the way it is. It's been like that for a while.
You mentioned Albert Lee and other characters who have a Nashville base, and a base within Country music really. And that was exciting about the album, Atlantic Bridge. To hear the uilleann Pipes, which are identified, almost exclusively, with Irish music, crossed over with players of the caliber of Bela Fleck and such like, and also to hear the extent to which the uilleann Pipes brought out other qualities in these more familiar instruments. Tell us a little bit about the Nashville connection and what you think the uilleann Pipes can bring to the sound of a banjo or the sound of a dobro?
Well, I suppose, again, it's a catalyst thing. Like this is something I say a lot because I think it's true, but I think the pipes are very like the dobro. I always thought that the emotional qualities of a dobro played well, and the pipes played well, are very powerful, very evocative instruments. They really can get you in places where other instruments can't necessarily.
Why do you feel exposed? Do you feel that they're so expressive that it's pulling out something from inside of you and throwing it out in front of the audience?
Well, it's more to do technically with the instrument. It's a very delicate instrument. It's very susceptible to change like, I believe the way to master the uilleann Pipes is not to be the master of them at all, if that makes any sense. Once you think you're the master of them, maybe you're in trouble, or trying to attain mastery of them is kind of like a waste of time. The mastery of them is the fluidity of being able to accept the fact that they don't work well sometimes and to suffer that, be able to suffer it.
How does the audience reaction change how you might play on a given night? Does inspiration and enthusiasm from the audience have an effect, or are you so busy thinking more about what challenges the pipes might be presenting that evening that, in a sense, you're not going to be affected by what's coming back to you?
No, the audience affects me greatly. I'm not a showman, and I can't tell jokes, and I'm not a brilliant out front man in relation to personality, you know, so I have to respect an audience for being there, for a start. It was always a thing I learnt from the Moving Hearts' days and, as well, it's like the classic showbusiness thing. If people are paying to see you doing something, you can't start coming to anything that might be in your head. You've got to kind of give it your best lash, inspite of yourself, sometimes. And I'm very aware of that, and very aware that people are working very hard at their jobs, and they're only the people that have jobs who come and see it, most of the time.
You've been playing for so long, and professionally for so long, and touring and, as you say, working really hard over the past decade. How do you keep your enthusiasm up for it? You've expressed some feelings of having difficulty taking it seriously sometimes, or wanting to retreat sometimes, which is natural in whatever we do. How do you keep up your enthusiasm to take you to the next project, whether it's an album or a tour or something?
It's funny, like I'd like to go home now and come back and do this interview all over again and lie to you, you know. I should have really done that because there's one I can completely level with you, which is a personal interview, and then there's one which is like a professional interview in the music business. I'm kind of in the middle of the two at the moment, and I should really kick in to one or the other for your sake and everybody's sake.
But you might be a sadder person inside because you'd feel as though the pressure was on to constantly have a brave face on it. Aren't you a little healthier by playing, enjoying it when you enjoy it, doing your best, and if sometimes if you hate what you do, aren't you just then like everybody else?
Well, exactly. I see it as a very ordinary thing. Like, cynicism aside, because there's a lot of cynicism around, and I see some people that are brilliant musicians that are so cynical they might as well not, I'm not impressed. They can be brilliant all they want, but cynicism is a terribly damaging thing. There's times when I just feel deep pleasure and satisfaction in what I'm doing. It's not so much a wild, tear my hair out sort of happiness, but it comes from a commitment I made a long time ago, an awful long time ago, and that commitment, I was really excited about it at the beginning, and now, the reward for commitment like that is a much deeper thing.
Thank you, and thanks for taking the time here. I hope you enjoy it tonight.


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|Thread Tools
|2010-10-10, 19:49
|Link #27381
Umbrella that Smites Evil
Chapter 4 of Twin Fates is up.
[Bruce Buffer] And now... it's... tiiiiiiiimmmmmeee for the co-main event of the evening! In the blue corner, with a special-jonin rank, an A-rank Bingo Book rating, and the Armed Device Reynard, Uzumaki Naruto!
In the red corner, the General of Blazing Flame, with the Armed Device Levantine... Signum! [/Bruce Buffer]
slowly but surely \ the moon \ quietly goes to the stars
|2010-10-10, 20:42
|Link #27382
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Then again, that's what he think. If he had any idea what was going on back home...
I hate sad and bittersweet endings. Why? Because I think the real world is sad enough as it is. Must our stories be sad too?
|2010-10-11, 10:07
|Link #27383
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Age: 35
I've been thinking.
Yuuno might have some explaining to do at the end of all this, when its revealed he's been willingly helping them all along. Especially in light of the most recent events.
I don't expect anything to come of it, but he's definitely going beyond only helping under coercion, and I'd be surprised if that didn't come up somewhere.
|2010-10-11, 10:35
|Link #27384
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Then again, he'll definitely need to do something when he'll see Sette.
I hate sad and bittersweet endings. Why? Because I think the real world is sad enough as it is. Must our stories be sad too?
|2010-10-11, 15:33
|Link #27385
Vividly Vivio
Spoiler for For Today:
Vivio looked over at Einhart walking next to her on the way home from school. The green haired girl had been silent most of the day, and was wearing a black hairband instead of her usual pigtail style. It had been bugging her all day, wondering why the girl was even more quiet than usual. Finally, after another block of walking and their split up point coming closer, Vivio finally asked the question. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Einhart looked up and blinked at the sudden question. "I'm sorry?"
"You've been quiet all day..." Vivio stopped walking and made Einhart pause as well. "Do you want to talk about anything?"
"Oh... It's nothing like that, its just... Today is all."
Vivio thought about it. "The holiday?"
"Yeah, it just... makes me a little sad."
Again, the blonde had to think about it. "But... Why? Did something bad happen on today? It's the day this area was claimed for Midchilda."
Einhart started walking again, slower this time so Vivio could join her. "It's the day the Belkan empire lost power as well... The day they were defeated in battle... When even the innocent were killed to make way for the new empire."
Vivio looked down, not realizing that something like that had happened as well. "Oh... I'm sorry, I just..."
"I know, its your holiday, not mine. I don't expect others to think on it like we do... Even if I was born here on Mid like this, my past and soul is still deeply connected to it... Let's forget it, I don't want to bring down your day like this."
Vivio grabbed Einhart's hand when the other girl started walking faster. "Wait!"
"Yes?" Einhart looked back.
"I'm sorry, I just wanted to understand a little better... It was a bad question, I'm sorry for being inconsiderate..."
"Its okay."
"Yeah, but..." Vivio looked around and then pulled her friend along with her to one of the small shops that lined the area. "Here..." She picked up a black ribbon and paid for it while Einhart waited patently for her. When the blonde finally made it back, she reached up and took Einhart's headband off.
"What is this about?" The girl still let her friend scoop her hair into a ponytail, despite the question, so it could be bound by the silk ribbon.
"I may not know everything about your history, or things like that..." Vivio finished fixing the ponytail and smiled at Einhart as best she could. "And I know that just saying I feel bad for you won't mean as much as if it came from someone who truly understood, but... I do want to understand your feelings and let you know I'm here for you if you are ever sad, so... I guess I'm trying to say that I may not truly understand it all, but I'm here with you... My ribbon will stay with you for today, not so much as me mourning something I don't understand, but as a symbol that I am standing by you and what you believe and feel... If that makes sense?" She added the last part shyly, unsure if she even said her feelings right.
"... Thank you." Einhart closed her eyes and stayed silent for a small moment before looking at her friend again. "It means more than you think." In a rare show of affection, Einhart took Vivio's hand and began walking with her again, now feeling as if she wasn't as alone as she thought.
|2010-10-11, 22:49
|Link #27386
Left for TFF
It's done.
Big thanks to Raiser for all his help on this chapter. ^_^
Day in the Life
Chapter 42
Spoiler for Ponderings:
Shamal sat on the couch in her apartment, she knew that Nanoha told her to go to sleep, but, there was just so much on her mind, she just couldn't relax enough to sleep. All things considered, between worrying about Miyuki, having her basically die and come back and the other injured people, she should be out cold.
She should be asleep right now.
"I don't need a mother, Shamal, I have two. I want a partner."
That had hurt, a lot. Not because of any anger, or malice, but because it was true. "...I'm not really a good lover, am I?" She sighed softly, knowing that she wasn't going to get any answers from her empty apartment.
All she could do was sit there, in silence, as she thought about everything.
"You sure you should be moving around?" The captain looked at her with some concern.
"It's been a few days, captain..." She winced, her whole body hurt, but at least she wasn't in danger of dying at that moment. "I just want to move around a little."
"Well, I'm impressed..." The ship's doctor walked up behind her and lightly tapped her shoulder. "If you weren't a cyborg, Ginga, you'd be down and out right now."
Ginga smiled slightly, even as her body trembled. "Heh, I feel like I should be down and out right now. I'm just tired of lying in bed." She wobbled slightly and the doctor had to stop her from falling over. "Guess I should just be in bed."
"Don't worry..." The captain reassured her. "We'll be nearing some travel lanes soon, we'll find a ship to take us back to Mid-childa quickly."
"Now, just get some rest." The doctor led Ginga out. "I know you're tough and I know I can fix you up pretty well, but your body just needs rest."
"Can you at least bring me some new books to read?"
"That can be arranged." The doctor nodded at her.
"Never thought I'd get that smoke smell out of my hair..." Dieci grumbled as she, Cinque, Wendi and Teela ate breakfast. The Unison device was a new addition to the table, though she was rather quiet, at least compared to Wendi.
"I know what you mean." Cinque, without her eye-patch, smiled at her. Very rarely did Cinque dislike her enhanced senses, but having to smell smoke all the time did grate on her nerves a little bit.
"Do you think Teana will be okay?" Teela asked softly, causing the other three to look at her in slight surprise. "I mean... I'm her partner and all I could do was stand there and watch her... watch her get hurt!" She broke down into tears before Dieci grabbed her. "Why? I... I'm no good... I'm just a..."
"A friend." Dieci said softly, getting a gasp from Teela as she looked up at Dieci's smiling face. "You're a friend, Teela. Teana didn't want you to get hurt, and you didn't want her to get hurt."
Teela sniffled softly and hugged Dieci as best she could, thanking the cyborg.
Watching this, Cinque just smiled softly at Dieci. The girl had come a long way since they had been in lock-up. The same girl who sobbed in her arms over nearly killing three people in a helicopter could give someone in distress comfort. Closing her eye, she wondered if maybe she was becoming unneeded in her sisters' lives.
Oh well, if she wasn't needed, then she wasn't needed. At least her sisters would be well onto their own lives if they didn't need her anymore.
But, even though that was what she wanted for them, why did such thoughts leave her feeling nothing but sadness?
"Awww! You're leaving?!" Reiko pouted as Yuuno nodded. "I was hoping to corrupt your daughter some more before you left."
Even though Yuuno chuckled, Nanoha looked nervous as she stood behind him. "Now, now, I'm sure that you'll get plenty of chances to corrupt her..."
Reiko giggled at him before hugging him tightly. "Good luck, cousin, don't forget to invite me to the wedding... Or I really will corrupt little Vivio."
Yuuno chuckled and nodded as he hugged her back. "Sure..." He honestly had missed his family, but he knew that he needed to get back to Mid-Childa sooner or later... Otherwise he'd never hear the end of it from Vita.
Fate looked at Nanoha as she shifted the baby bags on her back and the stroller she was using for all three of the babies. "I'm not sure we should trust someone who threatens to corrupt our children..."
Nanoha giggled at her serious look. "Maybe, but I don't think she means any harm."
"So says the person she got out in that baseball game." Fate chuckled as Nanoha pouted.
"Mou... I was certain that was a homerun too!" Fate, and Reiko both chuckled at her while Yuuno shook his head. He didn't know what he had done in his life to deserve such happiness, but he sure wasn't complaining about it.
Sora squirmed in the stroller, grunting as he kicked his legs around. Looking down, Fate smiled softly as she rubbed his belly, causing him to smile up at her, though he still kicked his legs around. "I guess it's time to go now."
After they said their goodbyes, Reiko sighed as she watched them teleport away. "I'm going to miss them." Oh well, she'd see them again when they got married.
Rein stretched as she woke up and looked over to the bed that Hayate was sleeping in, before gasping as she saw it empty. "Hayate!" She looked all around the room, but couldn't see her. "Agito!" She turned to her bed mate and shook her violently. "Hayate's gone!"
"What?!" The little demon shot up and looked around. "But, she shouldn't be anywhere!"
"If you two don't calm down, you'll wake the whole hospital up." The two looked from the shelf they were on to the bathroom and saw Hayate standing there as she spoke to them softly. Smiling, the short-haired woman walked over to them and patted them on their heads. "Sorry, I didn't mean to take that long."
"Are you okay, Meister?"
Hayate nodded at Agito. "Yeah. My stomach's still a bit touchy, but my fever broke finally."
"I'm glad." Rein smiled at her happily. "As soon as the house is fixed, we'll throw you a big party."
Hayate giggled at her. "Rein, I was just sick, I'm okay now." Really, her device was rather silly at times, but she wouldn't trade Rein in for anything in the world. "Where's everyone else?"
"Um, fine, they're all fine, just over at Shamal's place and…" Agito trailed off at the look Hayate gave her. "They didn't want you to worry, Meister. You were sick and they didn't want it to get worse and…"
"Agito." Hayate sighed and shook her head. "Really, it's okay, I just want to see them."
"You sure?" Rein asked as Hayate nodded at her.
"I can feel them, all of them, and they're hurting right now. I want to at least look at them, please?"
Both Unison Devices looked at each other before sighing.
Zafira looked up from his spot on the floor. "Hayate…" He said softly as she walked into the room. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Zafira, just a little unsettled right now." She knelt down and hugged him gently. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Not being able to be there when you were in trouble." Hayate had tears leaking out of her eyes as she hugged his neck. "You, Vita-chan, Signum, all got hurt because I couldn't be there to help you."
"Hayate…" Zafira sighed softly as she hugged him. "We're all okay. None of us wanted you to get hurt and we'd all gladly get hurt again, if it meant that you were safe."
"I know." Hayate nodded against his fur. "I know. But we're family, and I don't want to see any of you get hurt for my sake."
"I'll be fine." Zafira nodded his head towards the beds. "But Signum and Vita are going to need some time to recover."
"I know…" Hayate sighed as she stood up and looked at her sleeping knights. "Rein told me everything."
"Don't worry." She smiled at him. "You're all alive and safe now, that's all that matters." Internally, her thoughts were much, much darker. 'If I ever find the people who did this to all of you, I will not let them get away with this.' She was going to have a serious… Talk with the person who burned Vita so badly, but as for Signum and Zafira's opponents… She doubted that she would be much help against either of them, but if she ever saw them, she'd do all that she could to help her family out.
She would never fail them, never again.
"What are you doing up?" She nearly jumped out of her skin as Signum looked at her and tried to sit up, before just giving up, since her muscles could barely get any strength in them. "I thought you were sick?"
"I'm better now. I just need to take it easy..." Hayate said as she gently sat on the edge of Signum's bed. "I wish I could have been there."
"I'm glad you weren't." Signum's voice was soft as she looked at her master's upset face. "I'm glad that no one else was there fighting that man."
"You'd rather be hurt like this than see someone you care for die, huh?" Hayate smiled softly. "I know." She gently grabbed Signum's hand and squeezed it. But I just wish that I could have done something too."
"I'm alive, Hayate..." Signum sighed softly. "Feels like he cut up the tendons on my muscles, I can barely lift a finger right now."
Hayate grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently. Her eyes misted up as she rubbed Signum's hand. "I know you are, but if you hadn't been alone, this wouldn't have happened."
"More people would have been hurt." Signum sighed softly. "I'll get better, Hayate. I'll be undergoing treatments in the morning to get my muscles healed."
Hayate nodded and looked at the other bed, where Vita was sleeping. "...I just wish that this never happened to any of you." She blinked as she felt Signum squeeze her hand.
"It's okay, Hayate." Signum, despite the pain she felt at times, smiled softly. "I'm just glad that you aren't hurt." She gasped as Hayate turned and hugged her, before sighing as the sharp pain she felt disappeared quickly.
"Sorry." Hayate pulled back, but not before kissing Signum on her cheek. "You're my family, it pains me to see you all hurt like this."
"Hayate..." Zafira spoke up, causing his mistress to turn to him. "Any of us would give our lives for you, never forget that." The fact that she was crying because they were hurt meant a lot more to them than Hayate could ever really know.
"Hello, Miyuki."
"Mom." Miyuki smiled as she saw Momoko walk into her room. "What's up?"
"Just checking on my daughter, is that a crime?" Smiling, the older woman walked up to her daughter and sat down near her bed. "I heard you gave the doctors a major scare there."
"Yeah..." Miyuki nodded at her and sighed softly. "Felt weird, like everything was off-color. I think there was something about a woman and a fire, but I can't recall."
"Probably not." Momoko smiled at her. "I'm just glad that you're not dead."
"So am I." Miyuki leaned back against her bed. "I'm out of here this afternoon, finally. So tired of being in here."
"I can imagine." Momoko shook her head. "Although, I wonder about your relationship with that woman, Miyuki."
"...You mean Shamal?" Miyuki sighed as Momoko nodded at that. "Why do you ask?"
"Because... I wonder if you're happy with her."
Miyuki closed her eyes. To be honest, she didn't want to talk about it. She felt like she had too many problems and Shamal was too stifling at times. "I wonder myself... We talked about a lot before I went to sleep."
Momoko nodded as her daughter went quiet. "Did you know? That when your father was injured, I was a lot like Shamal is to you now."
"Huh?" Miyuki blinked a few times as she looked at her mother, who had a far-away look on her face. "Mom?"
"Right after Shiro was injured and recovered, the two of us had some arguments about how I was a bit stifling to him and how he always worried me."
"How did you two work it out?"
"Lots of angry sex." Momoko giggled at Miyuki, who blushed and blanched as she heard that. "But, in the end, the two of us had to come to a compromise."
"Which was..?"
"I'd stop worrying about him so much, as long as he promised to not take so many jobs." Momoko chuckled at her look. "Shiro might be retired, but whenever I see his scars, I always feel like I could have done more to stop those injuries."
"So, what should I do?" Miyuki asked, sighing heavily as Momoko shook her head.
"Whatever you do, Miyuki, you need to realize that she'll worry about you all the time." Momoko squeezed her shoulder. "So, you need to make her realize that you're likely not going to take it easy."
Miyuki nodded. Even so, her mind was awhirl.
Looking at the young boy, Subaru smiled at him softly as she sat near a river, the two were washing their faces, trying to wake up fully. "So, what are you going to do now, Touma?"
His hair was damp as he pulled his head out of the river in time to hear that question. "I don't know." He answered softly. The two had spent the night together and had only woken up a short time ago, when the morning was nearly done. "What would you do?"
Subaru shook her head at that question. "I don't know." Really, she couldn't imagine what happened to him happening to her family. But, then again, there was always a chance it could happen. "I'd probably spend my time traveling, trying to ignore the pain that I feel, work with the Bureau so that I would never have to be home again. I don't know." She couldn't imagine not working with the Bureau, even if her family and loved ones were dead. The thought of letting people die because she couldn't handle it wasn't something she wanted to think about.
Then again, something like this had a habit of changing a person, and generally not for the better.
"I do know that I'm going to be heading home soon." Seeing the way his body seemed to slump in defeat, she tapped her chin in thoughts. "Do you have any other relatives?" He shook his head, though Subaru could see that there were some tears he was holding back on her. "You could live at an orphanage for a little while, I'm sure that there's some around here."
"I guess..." Touma said softly as he sighed. Something like that though, it didn't really appeal to him all that much.
"...Would you like to come with me back to Mid-Childa to meet my family?" Seeing his eyes widen as he turned to her in shock was both surprising and slightly comforting. She wasn't sure why she felt that way, was this how Fate felt when she found Erio, Caro and those other kids and saved them? She'd have to ask the blond when she saw her next.
"You mean it?" There was nervousness, wonder and even hope in his voice. Subaru could only smile at him. "I can come with you?"
"If you want to, sure." Subaru smiled at him. "You don't have to, I can find you a temporary home until you're older."
"...Can I come with you, please?"
"Sure." Subaru found herself on her back as Touma hugged her tightly, his body shook and trembled slightly as he cried softly against her.
Closing her eyes, Subaru hugged him back and rubbed his back gently. As he thanked her, she just told him that it was alright, though a part of her mind was wondering and pondering just how her family would take this piece of information.
Oh well, she was certain that they wouldn't care.
The bigger issue was that she was going to have to head back far sooner than she had originally planned. She wouldn't begrudge Touma over it though, it wasn't like he had done this on purpose after all.
As for Touma? He was sad that he had lost everyone, but was very thankful and glad that Subaru had made that offer. He was just glad that he wasn't alone at that moment.
Shamal looked up from her position on the couch, her eyes were blood-shot, her hair matted down and bags were under her eyes as her door opened. "Yes?" Weird, she could barely see straight at that moment.
"Shamal?" She blinked a few times as her vision cleared. "What the hell? Haven't you gotten any sleep at all?"
"Mi... Miyuki?" Shamal started and stood up, but found herself faltering before Miyuki rushed to her side and grabbed her. "What..?"
"Shhh..." Miyuki whispered to her as she led the blond to bed. She mentally sighed, but for some reason, she just couldn't find herself getting upset at her. As she put Shamal into bed, she blinked as the blond grabbed her arm. "Shamal?"
"Please, Miyuki? Stay close..." Shamal sighed softly. "After this... If you don't want to..."
"Shamal." Miyuki put a finger on her lips. "We'll talk about that later, for now, just get some sleep." As Shamal nodded, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes, falling asleep almost instantly.
As for Miyuki? All she did was gently carress Shamal's face as she slept before sighing and sitting on the bed. "Mom, I hope what you said was the truth."
Chapter End
Spoiler for Notes:
Yes, Fate has saved more kids than just Caro and Erio. Never given names and only shown for like one panel in the manga. Signum teased her about not passing the Enforcer exam and she got upset at her and threatened to not let Signum ever see anymore pictures of any kids she saved ever again.
Personally, I think that the manga of Nanoha StrikerS was VERY well done. We got to see Signum's teasing side, Fate actually show that she can get annoyed by her friends, and many other things that are a lot of fun to see.
Shorter chapter than usual.
Day in the Life is coming to an end.
Don't worry, I promise that this "Relationships" series isn't going to end with this story. I've already got plans for what happens after Day in the Life ends. So, look forward to it.
|2010-10-11, 22:58
|Link #27387
Burst Mode
|2010-10-11, 23:14
|Link #27388
A Drifter...
Spoiler for Bonus MD because of long weekend:
Does this woman even know what shes doing? It hadnt been a few minutes after they left the familiar low-risk wing and they were already lost. The fact that the sirens were active also meant that security was well aware of the situation and would be trying to contain them as soon as possible.
At least Material-L kept true to her word and set her electricity based spells to stun the opponents rather than kill. So, do you know your way around here, Sette-chan?
The Combat Cyborg had to be careful not to give into the urge to point out the dozens and dozens of mistakes in Rais Escape Plan. I believe I had previously stated that I have not memorized the prison layout outside of the low-risk wing. I cannot assist in navigating to the airlock.
Airlock? asked the Fate replica in a puzzled tone. We dont need no stinking airlock!
You did not park your vessel there? Sette could only ponder what military authority would have someone such as this Material-L carry out an apparently vital mission that could have ramifications across the universe.
Nope! I just need to get back out to the stars and well be on our way! And to do that, I gotta find one of those outer walls or whatever theyre called. She looked around, not finding any familiar places she passed. Looks like Ill have to do this the Ken-chan way.
what? For some reason, Sette had an odd feeling about this.
Just what could those things be? mumbled the Lord of Darkness under her breath as she continued observing the behaviour of those cloaked objects that orbited the hidden world. They had been dormant at the beginning but now, it seems that they shifted to standing by for a possible order from whoever is controlling them.
What things?
She had been so lost in thought that she didnt hear the door behind her open. How is the peasant doing, Material-S? Has he calmed down?
Yes, he has. In fact, he believes that he has discovered a way to ensure that we stay on our flight path. Apparently, the reason why we kept jumping off course each time was our power levels naturally distorting the space-time fabric, replied the Nanoha replica.
That would make sense- She paused when she saw how differently her companion moved as she sat down right beside her. Her movements were no longer sluggish. In fact, Yami could probably say that Material-S moved with the grace of a nightingale. There was only possible explanation. I see you took the time to get a proper recharge. How did that go?
I didnt realize you were interested in finding out more details about my intimacy with Yuuno-san, said Seikou with the closest thing to a mischievous smirk on her face, causing Material-D to turn around and conceal her blushing face.
Im only asking to make sure that your mana levels have been properly replenished and to make sure that the moron hasnt been left in poor condition after you finished with him! Im not interested in hearing your perverted stories!
Then, why dont you tell me yours?
Excuse me? She was caught off guard by that question and by the way Material-S had asked her. What do you mean by that?
Back on the planet Tenrei the spell that you used to disintegrate those six bodies, how much mana did it require? asked the Starlight Destroyer.
What does that have to do with anything? snapped Yami.
If my memories on that spell serves me correctly you need 200,000 for the base damage plus taking into account multiple targets to be affected by the spell I would say one would be looking around a total of 800,000 points. Am I correct?
The Hayate replica nodded. That sounds reasonable but you still havent told me where youre going with your reasoning.
Back when Yuuno-san performed the emergency transfer procedure on me, I was able to feel the aura of his Linker Core while we were linked together. I can estimate that his total magical point values are somewhere around one million points at most. And after that skirmish near Mercadia, your levels must have dropped to around 200,000 points since you entered a high state of mana burnout. If Yuuno-san had done the exact same transfer process on you as he did to me a few days ago, then you never could have cast the spell on those bodies in the first place without reverting back to a burnout state. I have to conclude Seikou pointed a finger right in front of the other womans face. that you have bedded him as well.
Why is she playing detective all of a sudden? Yami sighed in irritation before addressing the Nanoha replica. Okay I admit that I did those things with him. Are you bothered that you were not his first?
The red clad woman lowered her arm. A little but theres something else I would like to discuss with you. More importantly, how exactly did you convince him to use that alternative replenishment process in the first place?
so thats what you want to know, murmured Material-D.
Yuuno-san seemed quite adamant not to go through with that method initially. He said that the first time should be shared between those who care for each other deeply. So I am curious on how you managed to make him see otherwise, Lord of Darkness. Seikous words were polite but there was something in her body language that made it clear that she knew Yami had influenced their male companion in some way and she wanted to know the exact nature of that influence.
Whoever this Ken-chan person is, he certainly has no sense of subtlety if Material-Ls method of navigating is any indication, thought Sette to herself as the Fate replica gleefully brought up one of her legs. If I may, I would like to point out that this is extremely counterproductive to our objective of escaping the facility without a trace.
Doing things quietly? Thats ninja stuff. When it comes to Magical Girl Warriors, the audience expects lots of explosions! Powered by Truth! Justice! Freedom! Reasonably Priced Love! And a hard-boiled egg! I cant disappoint the readers now, can I?
And there went wall number four.
Sette could only wonder how many more walls Material-L is going to kick down until she got to where she needed. She passed through the newly made access and noticed how plain the hallway. No signs of technology anywhere. Just a few plain cells with one of them holding a familiar face that had waken up after the loud intrusion from Material-L knocking down a wall.
Thanks to 00-Raiser for hooking me up with the sig!
|2010-10-11, 23:35
|Link #27389
Labda Prakarsa Nirwikara
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Pekanbaru (UTC+07:00)
Age: 32
|2010-10-11, 23:37
|Link #27390
Burst Mode
|2010-10-12, 01:49
|Link #27391
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: forge-world Moscow 1
Age: 32
|2010-10-12, 10:36
|Link #27392
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
It will still be nothing compared to when Seikou will face the person Yuuno had in mind during 'that' anyway.
I hate sad and bittersweet endings. Why? Because I think the real world is sad enough as it is. Must our stories be sad too?
|2010-10-12, 15:07
|Link #27393
Under Death by College
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Where you least expect me
Age: 25
"The eyes are the windows that let us gaze upon the soul"
"When desperate there are two choices: Lock shields for the last stand or draw your sword for the final charge"
"There are no winners or losers, there are only the living and the dead."
|2010-10-12, 15:21
|Link #27394
Left for TFF
Ponderings is up on FF.Net
|2010-10-13, 15:07
|Link #27395
Σ(。д°(o--(ಠ益ಠ )
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Hotsprings Resort
Age: 32
I blame Nanya for this one.
Shockingly, no OCs, but full of canon characters.
Spoiler for Surprise:
Uncharacteristic of her, the sight of Hayate's wonderful home cooking somehow nauseated the
stoic and taciturn knight. She tried her best, however, to stifle the queasy feelings and stuff the
delicious food down her throat. These strange feelings had been welling up within her for a few
days now, and only by sheer force of will had Signum been able to hide her discomfort.
"Signum, is something wrong? You're rather quiet tonight," Hayate looked over worriedly.
Damn her beloved mistress! She was too sharp!
"Isn't she always quiet? I've never known Signum to be the chatty type," Vita cut in, much to
Signum's secret relief.
"Worry not, mistress," the Knight gave Hayate a reassuring smile. "I am just thinking of a case I
am working on. There are some details that are unclear to me, and I've been pondering them."
"Oh, alright," the Kansai girl nodded in acceptance before gesturing with her hand. "But if you
need any help, don't be afraid to ask, okay?"
"Of course, mistress. It is not a weakness to ask for help," Signum returned the smile and went
back to her meal. She still didn't feel much better, but at least she could hide it a bit longer…
And by a bit longer, she meant the next morning, where instead of performing her usual morning
rites, Signum was busy praying to the porcelain god. Dry heaves and dizzying nausea brought
about the concerned attentions of the entire Yagami-ke, much to Signum's growing worry. What
could possibly be wrong with her? A strange disease? Was her body finally falling apart from all
the strain? …Was she dying because of the book…?
With a fresh wave of nausea hitting her, Signum barely registered being hauled off to the medical
facility. A doctor friend of Shamal's took charge (as a policy prevented Shamal from doing so);
blood samples and various scans checked her health and vital signs. To their collective relief, a
diagnosis was made far sooner than expected.
"Alright, First Lieutenant, you and your family may want to be sitting for this," the doctor
explained, looking over a sheet on Signum's chart.
"Why? Is something wrong? Just tell us straight up, please!" the worry was grinding at Hayate's
"It's nothing serious," he said at first before correcting himself. "Or rather, it's nothing dangerous.
The First Lieutenant is healthy and perfectly fine! It's what's going on inside her that's making her
feel so bad in the morning."
"Well, what is it?"
"Hmm, well…" the doctor paused, thinking of the words to say. Eventually, he just shrugged,
"Congratulations, First Lieutenant. You are six weeks pregnant."
"Oh, is that all? That's not as bad as I—WAIT WHAT SHE'S PREGNANT?" Hayate
Yagami's voice hitched up as the full understanding of the situation sank into her brain. Signum.
Pregnant. What.
The doctor coughed politely as he stood up, "You may want to start seeing a prenatal specialist.
Other than that, you're in the clear. I'll just excuse myself…"
He slipped out quietly, leaving the rest of the Yagami family to take in the fallout. The
Wolkenritter's mistress was first to recover from her shock.
"Signum, I understand it is your choice, and it is perfectly acceptable to have a healthy sex life,
but what are you thinking, getting pregnant like that? Are you even ready to have a child?!"
Hayate was neither angry nor disappointed, but she could not hide the incredulousness from her
"I-I… I did not even think I could get pregnant," Signum admitted, unable to look at her mistress
in the eyes. "I had the same biological processes, but to think a program such as me could even
conceive a child…"
It was an exceedingly rare sight, possibly the first time Hayate had ever seen it, but Signum
suddenly seemed so lost and confused, yet seized by a sense of wonderment and… utter joy.
"It's… a miracle," she whispered, hand over her belly. Life was growing here, a life she never
believed possible…
Hayate could feel the astonishment bleed out from her, unable to stay at all upset with her family.
Quietly, she slipped her arms around Signum and hugged her gently.
"Congratulations, Signum. You have a legacy, now, but are you sure you are ready for this?
Raising a kid isn't anything like training boots, you know?"
"I… I believe I am," the Knight of the Sword replied, her hand still over her belly. "I have never
felt so… so certain before. I want this child…!"
Hayate could only hug Signum closer.
"Signum, congratulations!" Shamal soon joined in on the group hug, soon followed by the smaller
Vita and her own words of praise.
"Indeed, congratulations," Zafira gave his quiet support.
They stayed like this for a while, basking in the collective glow of bliss. Slowly, they pulled apart,
still smiling and dizzy with excitement.
Of course, Vita had to ask, "So, who's the dad?"
Suddenly, Signum felt something sink into her stomach, "The father…"
"Oh, duh! How could we forget to ask?!" Hayate slapped a hand to her forehead. "Do we
know him?"
"Is it Vice? Dammit, please don't let it be Vice…" Vita muttered, going over the possible pairs,
"Verossa? I'mma kill him if it's him!"
"Can't be Yuuno," Shamal murmured, "The others would annihilate him with excessive
"Who else could it be? Griffith? Genya?" They went a little cross-eyed at that suggestion.
At last, Signum spoke up, "It… it was during an extended training session. He was learning very
quickly and managed to get in a good strike, but it shredded my top. With the two of us alone,
we did not have to worry too much about propriety. One thing lead to another and…"
Far, far away, upon the fertile lands of TSAB-administrated world #61 (also known as Supools),
a young man settled down after a long day's hard work.
Waving as his coworkers flew by, Erio Mondial was pleasantly surprised to see a message
coming in for him, very recently sent.
It was just a simple message, with Vita delivering it, "Signum is pregnant. You're the father.
Prepare yourself."
The message ended with Graf Eisen loading a cartridge with a frighteningly loud ka-CHAK .
…Well, shit.
At least he had a head start. Time to start running.
|2010-10-13, 15:11
|Link #27396
Left for TFF
Oh sure, blame me for it.
BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Excellent!
|2010-10-13, 15:18
|Link #27397
Under Death by College
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Where you least expect me
Age: 25
That fic made me laugh so much I fell of my bed. It was so funny and yet so sweet at the same time. I feel even better now than i did before (no college tommorow).
"The eyes are the windows that let us gaze upon the soul"
"When desperate there are two choices: Lock shields for the last stand or draw your sword for the final charge"
"There are no winners or losers, there are only the living and the dead."
|2010-10-13, 15:43
|Link #27398
Burst Mode
|2010-10-13, 15:57
|Link #27399
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
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|2010-10-13, 23:58
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: 3 times the passion of normal flamenco
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The health club industry has come of age. In its infancy, many clubs hawked their facilities like an especially unsavory used car salesman trying to make quota. As a result, the industry's image suffered, creating a negative impression that still lingers in some consumers' minds. Luckily, most clubs have grown wiser and employ smart, well thought out tours designed to close the deal without harassing the customer. High-pressure sales tactics, while sometimes an effective sales tool, do little for customer retention and are, in part, responsible for high attrition rates in the industry as a whole.
The ingredients for an effective club tour vary slightly from club to club — you will want to bring your own unique flavor and seasoning to the pot — but the basic stock will never change. Some improvisation will occur to reflect the needs of each customer, but the basic melody, if you will, remains strong throughout.
"From the time [the perspective member] walks in, to the time [he or she] makes a purchasing decision the club tour is the time for the sale to happen," explains Casey Conrad, president of Communications Consultants (Wakefield, R.I.) and Healthy Inspirations, an international chain of weight-loss centers. "The sale doesn't happen when I sit down and ask for the money."
According to Gary Polic, the national sales director for Tennis Corp. of America (TCA) in Chicago, the basic components of their tour/sales process includes several steps, including greeting the customer and doing a needs analysis, to the tour itself and finally closing the sale.
Of all these elements, it is the needs analysis that is most imperative, according to Polic. If a sales person does not effectively analyze the needs of the client, then the chances of a signed contract materializing at the end of the tour are no longer in your favor. "When it comes to the needs analysis, it's important to do three things," he says. "Isolate all objections by asking qualifying (open-ended) questions, overcome all objections by benefit closing and tie down the sale by assumptively closing that objection."
An example of a needs analysis at work is evident in the following scenario: A middle-aged woman comes into the club and meets with her sales representative, who sits down with her and asks about her medical background, personal fitness history, and family life. He finds out that the woman has three children, two of whom are under the age of 8. The woman has belonged to previous health clubs, but left because of the lack of childcare. Right away, the sales rep pinpoints childcare as an important highlight of the forthcoming tour. By telling (and showing) her about the club's own onsite child care facility, he can then assumptively close her objection by proving to her that lack of child care will not be an objection at this facility.
After discovering what it is that the client wants from a fitness facility through the needs analysis, it's important for the sales rep to reflect this information back to the client.
"You know what the prospect needs but a lot of times they don't," explains Jim Smith, president of Peak Performance Systems, a consulting company out of Bellevue, Wash. "As a health club professional, you are quite familiar with fitness and the ins and outs of a club and what may seem obvious to you may not be so obvious to your client."
Smith realized the power of information first-hand when years ago he went to buy his first VCR, a piece of equipment that he knew little about at the time. "The sales person sat down with me and started asking me questions. 'Do you have a camcorder? Do you anticipate buying a camcorder? Do you like to watch sports and maybe you would want to watch instant replay in slow motion?' 'Do you want to watch movies in stereo?'" Smith recounts. Then, after listening to the replies, the sales person concluded his needs analysis with the following, "Based on what you're saying, it sounds like stereo is important but slow motion is not." After Smith agreed to the statement, the sales person narrowed down his options of VCRs to a couple of models that reflected his needs, leading to Smith buying his first VCR.
How does this relate to the club tour? Simply put, after you listen to the clients' needs and reflect those needs back to them, "Then you want to make them a promise that your club can achieve what their goals are and back that up with a little bit of proof," Smith says. Proof can come in the form of members that have similar backgrounds or experiences as the client, and who successfully met their goals at the club. "This is important because it sort of whets their appetite for the tour."
On Tour
The tour itself is modified to fit the prospect's needs and should utilize props and people wherever possible. Perhaps you determined that your client wants to lose some weight during your needs analysis. So once the tour is underway, the sales person may want to introduce the client to the on-site dietician. Perhaps, if there is time, the dietician could perform a body composition test and analyze just how much body fat the client needs to lose. Right away the club's credibility is established and can help the client set goals when they join. The next step would be to introduce him to a personal trainer who can explain to the client how he can lose those pounds. "You definitely need to make the person comfortable," says Katherine Dominguez, the membership sales representative for the New Orleans Athletic Club. "One of the easiest things to do is to get other people involved."
Other "props" include class schedules, the equipment itself, brochures and more. If the client is new to exercise, let them try out a machine or two so they can get a feel for the club.
"The tour is very individualized. If the person already has a routine and knows what they want, I take them in exactly where they need to go," Dominguez explains. "If someone else comes in who's never been in the gym before, I take baby steps with that person."
You'll also want to avoid giving the standard "museum tour," which is where the sales rep just walks the person through the club and points out features, and make it more personal.
"You need to translate everything into benefits for them," says Smith referring to both logical and emotional benefits that come with the membership. "And the real key to successful selling is emotional [benefits]."
Imagine walking a potential member through the club and pointing out a stairclimber, telling the person that aerobic exercise burns calories and therefore would help him or her lose weight. Logical? Yes. Personal and enticing? Not really. An emotional benefit, on the other hand, would be a benefit targeted to that person's needs. If during the needs analysis, you determined that the person had just finished going through a divorce and was looking to get back into dating again and wanted to lose 10 pounds to regain his self-confidence you could do it this way, according to Smith. "This aerobics class will help you burn a lot of calories," he says in his sample script. "As you get back on the dating scene, you're going to look and feel great." A feature that impacts the person's life will have much more selling value than a general list of features standard to any club.
Trial and Error
Following the club tour is the right time to bring up the offer of club trial period and the price presentation. Talking pricing and membership specifics can distract the client during the tour, taking away from the TK of the club.
When you do finally talk memberships, Smith advises offering a trial membership as well as the ability to cancel their membership for any reason before a certain period of time. "Personally I think it's a very smart thing to do and clubs that don't do it, should do it," states Smith. "One of the biggest advantages [of the trial period] is it's an extremely effective way to close people without pressuring them.
"And then you close with a trial closing question: 'How does that sound?' And 19 out of 20 people are going to say 'great!'" he continues, in which case you go ahead and try and close the deal with a new membership. "And a great way to close without pressuring is assumptive selling," Smith says.
If the person still has objections, you then try and meet them, without the hard sell. The most common objection is the "I have to think about it" objection. That's where the trial period comes in handy again. "No problem and that's exactly why we have our 15-day money back guarantee," says Smith, offering a mock script. "Because we know the best way to decide about a club is to try it out."
And if first you don't succeed, as the old adage advises, try, try again. "Set up a professional follow up with a date and time," Polic says. "There's no high pressure so it's a no pressure sale."
So remember, the next time one of your sales associates takes a potential member on a tour, that low pressure may be a key to high sales.
Four Tour Mistakes
Casey Conrad, president of Communications Consultants in Wakefield, R.I., offers the following scenarios for the most common mistakes clubs make when conducting a tour.
- No Needs Analysis. "It is a prerequisite to the tour," insists Conrad.
- The "Disney Tour" or "Museum Tour." "They walk you around like some damn tour escort and it's just, 'Blah, blah blah. We got this. We got that,'" Conrad says. The client's typical response she likens to a "bobbing head doll." They just nod their head up and down but they don't feel any emotional impact to join a club and never get to express their own wants and needs. "The sales person is just talking at them [not to them]," she explains.
- The Repeat Tour. This is when a sales rep gives the same tour the same way to every client, no matter what the client's background and interests. The tour should be customized to each individual. You find out how to customize the tour during the needs analysis.
- The Loners Tour. Ideally, the potential member should get to interact with other employees, personal trainers and members to help break the ice and start the beginning of a relationship between the client and the club. By not interacting with anyone at the club, the client will not feel like he is becoming "part" of anything.
Virtual Tour
How useful are online tours of your club?
You've spent thousands of dollars getting your club Web presence and you've put up a veritable slideshow of every area of your club into Cyberspace. But is all your time and effort doing you more harm than good?
Yes, says Casey Conrad, president of the Wakefield, R.I.-based Communications Consultants. "It's a double-edged sword. The more visuals you provide a customer online the more apt they are to call you up and say, 'I just need your prices because I've seen your club online.'" she says. "I'm old-fashioned. I don't like discussing memberships over the phone. The Web site should be a call to action to come in for a club tour."
Gary Polic, the national sales director for Tennis Corp. of America (TCA) in Chicago, counters that every market is different and you'll want to test it out for yourself. "See what works for you," he says. "If you have all the information on [the Web site] and you're not getting calls, switch it up."
However, make sure you track your numbers, he warns, so that you can quantify what you're doing.
"If you're not tracking it, you'll never know [how you're doing] and you'll waste your money," he says. "Once you hit the home run, stick to it until it doesn't work anymore. That's one of the common mistakes people make. They find something that works and then they switch it.
"So don't stop doing what works!" Polic adds.
The Hard Sell
What's your opinion on high-pressure sales tactics? Tell us all about it. Send your mail to Letters to the Editor, Club Industry, One Plymouth Meeting, Suite 501, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com. Fax: (610) 238-0992.


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Snow Information, Policies & Procedures
Snowfall and Snow Emergency information is available for download below. The downloads include Public Works snow removal policies & procedures, Snow Emergency guidelines, Snow Emergency routes and maps, and Fire Hydrant clearing instructions.
When shoveling snow from sidewalks and driveways, please refrain from dumping snow into any roadway. Consider helping your elderly neighbors, or those with medical conditions, by shoveling out the hydrant or sidewalk in front of their home. This act of kindness will benefit the entire neighborhood.
Residents and business owners are reminded to clear snow from fire hydrants and sidewalks on or near their property. Cleared fire hydrants allow the Fire Department quick access to the hydrant during emergency situations. Under the Codes of the City of Poughkeepsie there is a responsibility of the owner/lessee of property fronting a hydrant to maintain the area clear around the hydrant. Failure to clear and keep clear a hydrant may result in a $100 fine or more.


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Post Office begins selling Harry Potter stamps Tuesday
The limited-edition commemorative stamps have 20 unique images from the eight movies.
The first U.S. postage stamps to feature images from Harry Potter movies go on advance sale Tuesday at usps.com/stamps.
The U.S. Postal Service will produce 5 million booklets of 20 First-Class Forever Harry Potter stamps, says Susan McGowan, executive director of stamp services for the postal service.
"Anyone who collects anything about Harry Potter will want this in their collection," she says. "We anticipate a big demand for these."
The limited-edition commemorative stamps have 20 unique images from the eight movies about the British boy wizard and his friends, foes and fantastic creatures. Among the images are Voldemort, Dumbledore and the Weasley brothers.
McGowan notes that Harry's adventure into magic begins when he receives a letter inviting him to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"In the books and films, Harry Potter's life changed with a letter, so we couldn't envision a more fitting tribute to commemorate the world created by J.K. Rowling and brought to life in the Warner Bros. films," says Brad Globe, president of Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "We think fans around the world will share our excitement in seeing the films take their place alongside the most significant figures and events in history as part of the U.S. stamp program."
The official first day of issue, when stamps are available in post offices, will be Nov. 19, McGowan says. The postmark city for stamp collectors seeking first day of issue covers is Orlando.
Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe says he hopes the popularity of Harry Potter will fuel interest in stamps and stamp collecting. "I think the stamps will spark a lot of interest among young people."
The postal service will release more information about the stamps over the coming week on the postal service Twitter feed @USPS with the hashtag #HPstamps.
Follow @DonnaLeinwand on Twitter.


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Despite strong winds, overcast skies, light drizzle and temperatures hovering in the mid-50s, the 56th Annual Mackinac Bridge Walk drew thousands of people to walk the five mile span on Labor Day.
Despite strong winds, overcast skies, light drizzle and temperatures hovering in the mid-50s, the 56th Annual Mackinac Bridge Walk drew thousands of people to walk the five mile span on Labor Day. The winds did not stop the event, but Dawn Edwards, Executive Director of the Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce said, "They are keeping an eye on it. They walk them on the far side because there is less of a crosswind." The walk began at 7 a.m. with Gov. Rick Snyder leading walkers across the Mackinac Bridge. Participants were allowed to start crossing until 11 a.m. Buses hired by the Mackinac Bridge Authority provided walkers a ride from Mackinaw City to St. Ignace for a fee of $5. Security was heightened this year due to recent terrorist attacks such as the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15. All purses, bags and backpacks were searched by the Michigan State Police to ensure the safety of participants. "Everything is running smooth," said Mackinaw City Police Chief Patrick Wyman, "A lot of planning goes into an event like this." Wyman also said that along with the bag checks on the St. Ignace side of the bridge, extra precautions were in place in Mackinaw City as well. The Bridge Walk brings walkers of all kinds, from first timers to those who have walked several times. Dave VanderHyde, a first time participant, checked the walk off his bucket list. VanderHyde said he enjoyed the walk. Veteran walker Ray Kiekintveld from Holland, Michigan, walked the bridge for his 55th time this year. He was there for the first Bridge walk, but did not participate because "Only dignitaries walked that first year." Labor Day brings young and old alike to cross the Straits of Mackinac. Florence Notestein, 96, from LaGrange, Indiana, walked this year, making her one of the oldest to make the walk. According to Edwards, the youngest to cross the Mackinac Bridge on Labor Day was 2 weeks old, and the oldest was 97 years old. Edwards said many different countries were represented also, noting participants from "China, Australia and Denmark this year." The Wiemer family has been making the walk throughout the generations, from the elder members who have walked for 28 years, to the younger generation who have crossed not only on their own, but in the womb as well. The next time the Mackinaw Bridge will be open to pedestrians is October 12, for the 5th Annual Fall Colors Bridge Run. Runners will be able to cross from 6-7 a.m. For more information about the run, contact the Mackinaw Area Visitor's Bureau at 1-800-666-0160 or visit www.mackinawcity.com.


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First off, I'm calling this an animation test, but it really has no stop-motion animation whatsoever. The main character doesn't even move. But there's a reason: This is an effects test. In particular, to test out making smoke as well as animating a lego flag.
The lego flag is a 3d model, and the smoke is an animated particle system. Both were done using only free programs, which means that if you lazy chaps actually set your minds to it, you could do this too!
Anywho, here are the links:
Youtube (For instant gratification)
WMV download link(For not quite so instant, but higher quality gratification)


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Selecting your vehicle's make, model, and year allows us to display only parts and items specific to your car's model and year.
Part# CE00724
Be the First to Review
OPGI Price: $399.99
Part Type: (A) Aftermarket product, usually an enhancement product
Years: 1954-1956
Sold As: EACH
2018 Eldorado Catalog Page: 163
All drop-shipped orders must be prepaid. Rates vary depending upon weight.
Protect your classic with a top-quality flannel cover from OPGI. Each custom-tailored cover utilizes heavy polycotton blend material featuring a drill weave pattern and a napped underside finish for a soft touch. Since the flannel material does not repel moisture, it is only recommended for indoor use.


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Monday, March 28, 2011
Atta Puku Naki Dnegina Alludu
It is now certain that no prescription for health seems complete without a mention of sprouts which were originally a part of Chinese cuisine. Why are sprouts good for health?
The most important part is the multiplication of nutrients by the germination process itself. Sprouts in fact can be called little food factories, for in them are manufactured vitamins and enzymes which were not there to begin with. These food factories are come equipped with digestive powers as they develop enzymes which break down proteins into simpler forms of amino acids, fats into fatty acids and carbohydrates into sugars and starches, which can be digested by the body even without cooking.
at 10:30 AM
Labels: A, Atta Puku Naki Dnegina Alludu, Family, telugu kathalu
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Easter Egg Hunts 2018
Stanley's Olde Maple Lane Farm
Saturday, 31 March 2018 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (EDT)
Event Details
The Easter Egg Hunt is extremely popular, and sells out every year! Due to this fact once tickets have been purchased all dates & times are final. Tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable. Please be sure of the date & time chosen prior to finalizing your purchase. If you are no longer able to attend - tickets are transferable to a third party, however original proof of purchase is required. Children under 18 months do not require a ticket and will not receive a gift from the bunnies.Children and adults alike delight in meeting the Easter Bunny's Helpers and helping them find their lost eggs!
Pile aboard the wagon for a ride out to the Sugarbush. Hunt through the bush in search of the Easter bunny's lost eggs, and add them to your basket. Soon we'll dump them all into the Bunny's Giant Basket and head back to visit the baby animals in the barn. Family fun for all – and each child leaves with something special!
All children must be accompanied by an adult. All those who wish to take part in the Easter Egg Hunt/Tractor drawn ride must hold a valid Ticket.
Note: Please ensure you allocate enough travel time to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your reserved time as the tractor drawn wagons leave promptly at your designated time! There are no refunds or exchanges for missed wagons or late arrivals.
A minimum of 35 sold tickets is required for each event time. If we do not meet the necessary requirements by 72 hours prior to your schedule time, we will be in touch to refund you money & reschedule your visit.
Due to safety concerns, no walkers, wheelchairs, wagons, sleighs or strollers are permitted on the ride.
We also recommend appropriate footwear & outerwear for the entire family, spring conditions in the bush are unpredictable.
When & Where
Stanley's Olde Maple Lane Farm
2452 York's Corners Road
Saturday, 31 March 2018 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (EDT)
Add to my calendar


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Ravens running back Bernard Pierce is described as shaken but not injured after he was robbed at gunpoint and carjacked on Sunday in Philadelphia.
CBS 3 in Philadelphia reports that Pierce was robbed and had his BMW stolen. The car has since been recovered, and police have processed it to check for evidence.
According to the report, Pierce and a friend were in his car when two men came up in another car. One jumped out with a gun, robbed Pierce and his friend and forced them out of the BMW.
The Ravens told CBS 3 in a statement, "We have been in contact with Bernard and we are aware of the situation."
Pierce grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs and played his college football in Philadelphia at Temple.
No arrests have been made and no suspects have been identified.


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It's a winter ritual at the Sundance Film Festival: As organizers present this year's crop of independent films, they'll get to see how last year's fared at the coinciding Academy Awards nominations.
At least four dramas that premiered at Sundance a year ago - including "Winter's Bone," "Blue Valentine" and "The Kids Are All Right" - have strong prospects at Tuesday's Oscar nominations, which come right in the middle of the 11-day festival. And seven of the 15 films on the short-list for the documentary Oscar nominations also debuted at Sundance in 2010.
Robert Redford's festival was started to give young filmmakers a showcase and help them connect with distributors to land their films in the real world. As the festival has grown, so has the quality and caliber of talent, and almost every year now, a few films emerge from Sundance to compete with the best of what the studios have to offer at the Oscars.
The urban drama "Precious" won the top Sundance prize in 2009 and earned six Oscar nominations last year, including best picture. It won the supporting-actress Academy Award for Mo'Nique.
The Ozark crime tale "Winter's Bone" earned Sundance's top honor a year ago and now is in the running for a best-picture Oscar nomination, along with a best-actress slot for Jennifer Lawrence.
"As you start to go down lists of films that came out in the last year, you look for that kind of raw creativity," said festival director John Cooper. "That's why something like a `Winter's Bone' rises up and surpasses other less interesting Hollywood movies that came out."
The lesbian-family tale "The Kids Are All Right" also is a strong contender for a best-picture Oscar nomination. Annette Bening won a Golden Globe for the film and is a potential best-actress front-runner on Oscar night.
The marital drama "Blue Valentine" has lead-acting prospects at the Oscars for Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling. Another 2010 Sundance premiere, the Australian crime thriller "Animal Kingdom," could earn co-star Jacki Weaver a supporting-actress nomination.
Other past Oscar contenders that came out of Sundance include "Little Miss Sunshine," "In the Bedroom," "You Can Count on Me," "Hustle & Flow" and "Junebug."
Among last year's Sundance documentaries with Oscar prospects is the public school study "Waiting for `Superman'" from director Davis Guggenheim. His 2006 global-warming chronicle "An Inconvenient Truth" won the documentary and best-song Oscar a year after it premiered at Sundance.
Others in the awards picture after playing Sundance last year include the war-on-terror documentaries "Restrepo" and "The Tillman Story," the graffiti-artist chronicle "Exit Through the Gift Shop" and the environmental study "Gasland."
With the festival's strong commitment to documentaries, Sundance almost always serves as an incubator for films that will be on the awards map down the road.
"I think it is the beginning of a film's life in North America. At the beginning of the year, you often get a glimpse of some of the main contenders next year," said James Marsh, whose portrait of a World Trade Center daredevil, "Man on Wire," won the 2008 documentary Oscar a year after premiering at Sundance. "I think you will see some great documentary films this time, and I'm sure some of them will be very, very present in the next awards season."
Marsh returns to Sundance this time with "Project Nim," chronicling the life of a chimpanzee that was taught sign language and raised like a human child.
Also back at Sundance is Morgan Spurlock, who came to the festival in 2004 with "Super Size Me," his fast-food expose in which he ate nothing but McDonald's meals for a month. A year later, "Super Size Me" had an Oscar nomination for best documentary.
Spurlock's Sundance premiere this time is "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold," a documentary about product placement in films. After the yearlong buildup to awards season that began at Sundance for "Super Size Me," Spurlock admitted he's given some thought to next year's Oscars for his new film.
"I don't stand in the shower and hold up shampoo bottles giving Oscar speeches just for fun," Spurlock said. "Once you go, you think, God, I hope I get to go again sometime."


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3:30 pm
WordGirl "Seize The Cheese/Ms. Question's Riddle Rampage!" SEIZE THE CHEESE - It's a beautiful Fall day and Mr. and Mrs. Botsford drag Becky and TJ away from their video game to enjoy a family hike. Dr. Two-Brains is also outside apple picking with his henchmen -- of course his plans involve seizing cheese, as well. Will Becky be able to sneak away from her family and become WordGirl to save the city's cheese? Vocabulary Words: Seize, Savor. D
4:00 pm
Wild Kratts "Fireflies" It's time for the annual Wild Kratt Firefly picnic. Martin and Chris head off into the forest to find some fireflies to join in the fun, but fashion designer, Donita Donata, has been capturing all the fireflies to use in the making of a sparkly, one-of-a-kind dress. The Wild Kratts team has to save the firefly population! Science Concepts: Bioluminescence, Cold light. D
4:30 pm
Cyberchase "Snow Day to Be Exact" Hacker steals the powerful sunisphere from Solaria, causing the cyberworld's sunny vacation paradise to be covered in snow! In a fun-filled chase across the snowy terrain, the kids discover the power and speed of estimation in order to recover the glowing orb from Buzz and Delete before the temperature reaches zero and the site freezes over forever. The Big Idea: Sometimes using a close answer is good enough for the problem you are solving. ~G
5:00 pm
Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman "The Debut of Smell-O-Vision" Two FETCHers track skunks and find out how to use chemistry to neutralize skunk spray while two others learn to "brave the waves" and become junior lifeguards. D
5:30 pm
Nightly Business Report All eyes on Wall Street are looking 200 miles south to Washington. New York Correspondent Suzanne Pratt takes a look at the impact any moves by the Federal Reserve on Thursday could have on the markets. Any action the Federal Reserve takes this week comes against the backdrop of a slowing global economy. D
5:56 pm
NewsHour Promo NULL
6:00 pm
PBS NewsHour NULL
7:00 pm
Antiques Roadshow "Mobile, AL - Part 3" Appraisers spy a Confederate army belt buckle, an archive of letters and documents from Franklin Delano Roosevelt bought at an estate sale for $5, and a circa 1850 Virginia painted chest, estimated to be worth $60,000. Part 3 of 3G
8:00 pm
Great Performances at the Met "Wagner's Ring Cycle - Wagner's Dream" A documentary by Susan Froemke. The stakes could not be higher as visionary director Robert Lepage, some of the world's greatest operatic artists, and the Metropolitan Opera tackle Wagner's Ring Cycle. An intimate look at the enormous theatrical and musical challenges of staging opera's most monumental work, the film chronicles the quest to fulfill Wagner's dream of the perfect Ring. D
10:00 pm
Hayloft Gang: The Story of the National Barn Dance With narration by Garrison Keillor, this film brings to life a nearly forgotten iconic American radio show - The National Barn Dance, which celebrated the folk traditions that were fading in an increasingly urbanized America. From its first broadcast in 1924 to its last in 1960, the show served as a touchstone for its audience and was the country's most popular country music radio show during the 1930s and 1940s, essentially defining country and western entertainment in those years.G
11:00 pm
Charlie Rose NULL


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70 members68 Comments 6 Likes
Keith Nesbitt has not received any gifts yet
Friday mornings work for me ... the earlier the better. You can email me directly at firstname.lastname@example.com anytime you are available to play.
I'm pretty flexible on MWF and weekends.
Hello Keith,
I've just relocated to Marin and looking for a tennis partner. Please let me know if you are interested to hit with me.
Hey Keith, I live in Petaluma but I am willing to drive down to you. Fancy a set one of these days?
Hi, I'm Mark, the founder of Tennisopolis, the world's largest and most active tennis network. Please share Tennisopolis with your friends by supporting our Facebook page. Click here for a Guide to Meet Tennis Partners.
Have a look at our introduction page which will help you navigate the massive network which now has over 37,000 members and 500 local tennis groups.
Friend me,
Mark, The Mayor of Tennisopolis
© 2019 Created by Mark / The Mayor. Powered by


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Alexander Skarsgard Covers 'GQ' June 2011
Alexander Skarsgard heats up the June 2011 cover of GQ, on newsstands May 24.
Here's what the 34-year-old True Blood star shared in the "Here Comes The Viking" cover feature:
On his dad, Stellan, who's also an actor: "I don't think I came to acting to compete with my father. But, you know, he wasn't around as much as normal dads, and seeing his passion … Maybe it was a way to get his attention. I mean, if anything, we're trying to take care of him. He's over the hill."
On life in L.A. and the entertainment industry: "Hollywood can be like kids playing marbles on the schoolyard. Everybody wants the shiny marble until one kid says he doesn't. Then nobody will touch it. So it's important that I make good decisions now."
Straw Dogs director Rod Lurie on co-stars and real-life couple Alexander and Kate Bosworth: "In the beginning [of filming the rape scene], Kate would be crying after every take and Alex would try to comfort her. By the end, everybody got really raw."
For more of Alexander's interview, check out GQ.com!
FYI: Alex is wearing an IWC Pilot's Watch Mark XVI and Dockers' SF Tapered Khaki.