Exchange migration begins

Looks like today begins the first day of planning our migration off of Lotus onto exchange.  I dont see this as nearly as big a deal as some here do, heck we only have 850 employees, but I am sure it will end up somewhere in the middle.  Now comes the tricky part of the whole thing, the massaging of egos etc to get and keep everyone playing together nicely.  At times I miss the govt or private enterprise where this stuff didnt matter.  The whole get on board or get out of the way mentality, just not there anymore. 

I swa that Roddick lost in the first round of the French again.  Whjen will this guy get his head out of his butt and develop more of his game.  It is becoming clearer and clearer that the serve forehand game is not going to get him to the next level.  You would think Connors could talk some sense into him but it does not seem to be taking.  I guess Gilbert wasnt all bad since his results have not been nearly as good without him.  Wonder if Andy regrets that decision?

I am not happy with my conditioning nor my play since my return from fla…I need to get back on this more especially with such nice weather, no excuses

anyhow just wanted to drop a quick ramble

Meeting day Yeah!

Ah its meeting day again and I have to present on new closet switches.  It will be interesting since the group will have few that know the difference between PoE and QoS, but hey I can do this.  I see Yahoo has hired a CFO that is big on M&A.  Guess those talks with MS are picking up.  It may be a good thing a Yahoo MS merger as long as the two cultures can get along.  This I see as truely the most substantial hurdle in this.

Not much else really going on newsworthy unless Meebo doing ads is a big deal

On the Tennis front I had my first match yesterday after tennis camp.  Tough to gage improvements since the team we played was real bad.  I felt good though a few minor errors and I could feel “wrong” when it happened so I feel like I am on the right path

Ok enough rambling for today

Back into the Grind

So vacation is over and its back to the grind.  Yesterday was my first day back and I must say things were relatively smooth.  Its funny that I really didn’t do much but get caught up on all the emails and projects that are going on, I felt so out of touch.  This is from just two weeks I can only imagine someone coming back from a month or so must feel.  I had an email exchange with Howard Moore from Saddlebrook, a classy guy.  Can’t wait til September when I will go back, albeit not for two weeks but I am hoping a solid five days.  Not seeing much new news, well other than the hype about the Iphone coming out on June 14th.  Still I think it will be just a fad, but hey I have been wrong before.

I have my first tennis match since my two weeks at camp and I am both excited and nervous.  You see when you return from camp things are still not really grooved.  Even though you know what you need to do, sometime old habits die hard.  So I am excited to see if I or my doubles partner can see improvement or if I still will be a bit out of sorts.  Tonight is not all about winning or losing its more about how well I can incorporate what I learned, and then win lol…I ahve a meeting with the CEO next week, this should be interesting as I have never been one with a curbed tongue, I am sure that I will say something stupid, hopefully not that bad.

Well off to write another presentation, this one on switch fabric HP vs Cisco…yes real exciting stuff.

Saddlebrook Tennis Hopman Academy Review

So I thought after spending ten days at the Tennis camp I would write a summary, or a review of what I liked and did not like about the Saddlebrook Tennis Hopman Academy.

Things they do right

1) The instruction is top notch, I mean absolutely great you will find no better

2)  You will get into better shape they put alot of emphasis on fitness

3)  The resort and the restaurants are very good, pricey but good

4) They are extremely accommodating and grant most requests

5)  Instructors go the extra mile for you and you can get alot of private one on one time if you need to

6) The courts are well maintained

7) Your game will improve

Things they could do better

1) They should send out a letter letting you know it is physically challenging offering suggestions on how to stretch and get in shape to come.  Some of us researched the camp and knew what to expect others who did not were not ready for the physical aspect.

2) They have no Tennis attire with the Saddlebrook logo

3) They do not push match play for after hours, they could be more forward about setting this up.  I mean if you asked they set something up but never went around asking who would be interested in night play

4)  If you travel alone after tennis ends nothing organized is going on so you have to fend for yourself

All in all this is a great place to go and if you have any questions leave some comments and I will answer them

Saddlebrook Tennis Hopman Academy day 10 am and pm

This was a great way to finish my stay here at the Saddlebrook, Hopman, Tennis academy.  The drills were real intense and the instructor Tony kept the pace at a real high level.  So much so that one of the three on our court took some extra rest from time to time as myself and the other guy on our court continued on.  I feel my game has come full circle from early on in my stay when I felt it had broken down.  I was able to ask Tony and Alex, another instructor, to take some video of mys o I have a reference for when I am home.  I cannot say enough about the instructors at Saddlebrook.  They are knowledgeable, competent and have an exuberance about them that is contagious.  I still feel a little fatigue in my legs but for soreness, nope non of that.  I am glad I tried to get in reasonable shape before I went down there.  I will take some time tonight and give a good recap and go over all the pros cons and tips I can offer about the Tennis camp.  Til then I am back to work, yes I have to do it eventually…I will ramble more later

Saddlebrook Tennis Hopman Academy Day 9 pm

It was an easy afternoon and I am a little surprised.  The camps reputation is to be one of the most strenuous camps out there.  And although my first few days it definitely lived up to this reputation.  My last few it did not.  The sessions although cvaluable and I am sure good for my game were anything but strenuous.  I have a couple of hours with a ball machine tonight something I would never have thought to do in my first five days here.  Maybe its the instructor or even my fellow campers who are keeping the level of intensity down, I am not sure.  I do not question the competency level of any of the instructors I have had, some though work you much harder than others.  I have been to alot of tennis camps and even an easy day here is tougher than a tough day elsewhere and the level of knowledge they transfer to the campers is at a very high level.  So nothing here is a dig on the academy, maybe more-so my impression of their reputation.  I have seen the juniors workout and I wish that level of intensity was throughout the adult section too.  I know that I am probably in the minority here, as alot of the adults are not in the shape necessary for this type of training, but some of us are.  I did ask Howard Moore the Director if he could have the intensity raised for tomorrow, my last day of tennis here.  He was very accommodating in the request and only tomorrow will really show how much they will actually have us do.  Personally, I do not really need to walk til Monday so anything besides absolute exhaustion would be disappointing.  I do not envy the job the pros have here.  So many different people, staying different amounts of time, all having different notions and desires around how they want to be taught.  tyhe job balancing all of this must be extremely difficult.

As for my game I feel the new forehand is really taking shape and my backhand has become pretty solid, although not a weapon.  My serve is a little shaky right now as they changed my tempo but when i begin to groove them…the difference is quite measurable so I am sure that with time the changes will be good.  Volleys I feel moderately comfortable with, although still struggling ot always be pushing out in front and towards the ball,  I realize when its not happening and can feel right.  Which by the way i feel is the most important thing to take away, the "feeling" of right.  I will not have the opportunity to have 5 hours of coaching when I return home so being able to self diagnose is very important.  I really hope all this translates into better tennis for me but it is hard to tell until I leave.  I feel good but we all know the proof is in the pudding.  Lets see how great I feel after matches on the 15th and 17th when I get back.

Ok well off to shower and eat then to hit a ton more balls..I will ramble more tomorrow

Saddlebrook Tennis Hopman Academy day 9 am

Here we are coming near to the end of my stay.  Its been real good and I am trying to really focus on getting as much out of this as I can.  The last few nights I hit some with some other campers and that felt good.  My court this am had another woman on it.  She is ok but it limits the three guys on the court to just consistency drills as she is not as fit nor can she play with the pace we can.   Dont get me wrong she is a very capable player, but one any of the guys on the court should beat fairly easily.  I am hoping to get the pace and the challenging drills to the level that John had us playing at early in my stay.  I have not seen him around in the last couple of days.  The forehand is coming along nice but I feel that I have neglected the backhand side and I want to get to hitting some and really pushing my backhand too.  The weather is great again and for all those who stay away in May, mistake.  There are no crowds, you can play pretty much whenever you like and the pros are much more likely to hit one on one since there arent hundreds out here.  I will ramble more later now its lunchtime

Saddlebrook Tennis Hopman academy day 8 am

Today I had Mark as an instructor again and he did pick the pace up a bit.  He is still concentrating on not overhitting and playing strong yet consistent tennis.  Things seem to be coming together more and more as the days progress, I can really see the changes and what a large difference they make. Now I need to make sure I keep up playing and playing often.  This is really one of the secrets of tennis camps is that if you dont reinforce the training it will all be wasted.  I have gone to camps in the winter when play time is more scarce in NYC and found that I had a tough time keeping the lessons learned progressing.  The weather is great again and its just about a perfect tennis day with temps in the mid 80’s, ok temps in the mid 80’s at 11am, lets see if I feel the same way at 3 pm.  The one thing I have been critical of is the camp does not send out a “How to get yourself ready” pamphlet to those registered before they come.  It would be so helpful to alot of folks who dont research the camp online to know how strenuous it really is.  Also what to bring, I am doing some laundry now, not that I ran out of clothes but the stuff I have worn really stinks and just for the oder it was time to get it done.  The have washers and dryers in every block so it could not have been easier, even for me who hasnt used a washer in some time.  Well getting lunch now and then off for some afternoon tennis..which of course I will ramble about later

Saddlebrook Tennis Hopman Academy day 7 pm

Today was an easy day overall.  The basic stance today was to be consistent so we were not pushed hard at all.  There is not alot of people here so getting the same level on every court seems to be getting tougher and tougher.  I did get the chance today though to help groove the stroke and hit alot of balls but there was far less instruction then I have been getting in days past.  I had to get two racquets restrung too, broken strings are very common here so I suggest coming down with no less than two racquets if you come down.  Also I brought two pairs of sneakers and have had no foot problems.  Most of those who are complaining of aching feet have brought just one pair.  As you can probably tell from this blog I see the two parts of each day as individual sessions not just one and I prepare that way.  Fresh clothes, shoes, overgrip are things I do during the midday break.  I am not much of a pool person but it is a big hit with the other campers.  I must say it is very big with heated and non heated sections.  i walked over to the Etcheberry Fitness area again today and saw some of the juniors who are in the academy full time training.  Wow this is no joke training and they were all being pushed real hard.  I guess to be at that level you need to have a drive to succeed and a great work ethic.  The junior program seems to be very well run here and you see the juniors around all the time.  I am vey impressed with it and would consider it, if such a time ever happens.  So three more days of lessons and I am still feeling real good.  Hopefully I will ge in some evening hits too so I can really concentrate on the things I have been working on.  I was reluctant to do this when I had alot of days left but now its time to put the pedal to the metal and push myself hard to gain whatever advantages I can from being here.  Today was the best day here weather wise I have seen.  70’s during the am and got to 86 as a high…this made the entire day extremely comfortable.  Well I am off to dinner so I will ramble more tomorrow

Saddlebrook Tennis Hopman Academy day 7 am

Today is Wednesday and John is off again, so I was on court with Mark.  Mark is very quiet, not as loud as alot of the other instructors and not as excitable either.  He is just as good correcting mistakes as the others just a different tempo.  I was much better than two of the guys on my court and slightly better than the third.  This made me attempt not to crush every shot and it threw off my timing.  During the drills if one of the weaker players were at net I tried for a consistent shot without pace.  I was not very good at these attempts.  For me bryond the technical physical part of the game I need work on the mental.  I need to be in every point and every shot of every point.  I ten d to get lazy and let my mind drift, not good for tennis.  A bit warmer today and I feel good so I am again looking forward to the afternoon.  I am in the back stretch of my stay and I am beginning to feel it coming to an end, I need to get the excitement up about how much better I have become rather than be melancholy over leaving…I will ramble more later