Self Portrait Wednesday

The filter on this photo is called Diffused Glow. I love the name. I love the effect. I don't really look like this though, all sparkly and glowy and giddy. I just feel like it when I'm with him.

September's theme at Self Portrait Challenge is With Someone. There are not many someones I like more than Husband.

I'm not just saying that because he's taking me to Hawaii either. That's right! We're going to Ha-waii, and I've never been-there. Ever, ev-er. I'm so ex-cited. My husband is taking me to Hawaii because he has made it to the nationals in 4.5 men's doubles tennis. He made it to the nationals! If he and his partner win, they will be national champs. Of the whole nation! And the nationals are in Hawaii, yo! Isn't that sick?

Husband is a really good tennis player. Obviously. Even though he got a late start -- he didn't play competitively until he was in high school -- he earned a ranking on the East Coast tour in college. He was a smidgen away from going pro, but time ran out. The chance to get on the professional tennis circuit is like hoping on a train traveling the speed of light. The opportunity to keep up with quick, powerful phenomenal players has a very small window if one has the chance to even find a window. But generally the interest in and the ability to play the sport lasts a lifetime. For the last few years, Husband has been back playing regularly and very competitively in the men's double club circuit. The etiquette of the sport on a club level is hilarious to me. It's so passive aggressive and tainted with a struggle for mental power. I love it. I love how they say, "Nice shot," a few tone clicks away from sarcasm. I love how they applaud on their rackets all blueblood like and say, "Well done," when they really mean, "Way to get lucky, Jerk Off." I love how they try to hook each other with bad calls only to get the mental upper hand. And I love how Husband slaps all the uppity aggressive dudes, young and old, around on the tennis court. Quien es mas macho on the tennis court? Mi esposo es mas macho! I also love how club teams manipulatively list their best players at a lower level than how they play. 4.5 is a level of play. It goes as high as 6.0, or Open Player, and the 6.0 players are aspiring or old pro’s or top college kids keeping in competitive shape. From 6.0 down is kind of a sandbagger's joke. Like, who can we pass off as a 4.5 to really murder the other team? But now, all the teams do the same and I know, in Hawaii, we're going to see some great club tennis.

At the nationals!

Way to go, Papi.