Here’s something to get you fired up (jazzed up?) for the AO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoObJj8yBl8

Now back to the par-tay.

drink, NP?

Oh, Jackie had to run to the bathroom, and I've got to hunt up a picture for this post. back in a few

Annie's calling in to say she's running late. will arrive in time to help people to their feet...

Dude?!

Oh, this party's off to a great start.

*in determined pursuit of booze*

Can't help you there, Pete. I'm a teetotaler. :)

as hokey as it is I always love those intros. The music and the visuals of past champions always get me excited and nostalgic. I love the Slams.

Much as I’d like to say tennis has the best TV theme, this one might be a tad better:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDHJBbm9ZEs

But be sure not to go here if you wish to watch the next NBA game on NBC without guilt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_h7Lm7C9Nk

Okay, now I'm ready! In addition to the buche de noel, I'm also equipped with plenty of Tostitos. :)

And NP, you're not the only one teetotaling, of course. Water? Or a Diet Coke?

c1, so girls are hokey? I must get out there more often.

Jackie, water will do. Me no likey sodas.

Thanks for throwing the party Pete~

I'll be back a little later for some champers and a tortilla. I hope that Naughty T, our greatest wit, shows up to give the gathering some extra zing.

Aw, NP. I don't do soft drinks, either. We're like two peas in a pod! Except for when we're not ...

gauloises, read again. Perhaps you started the boozing too early. ;)

Gauloises - I never get the facts right - what do you expect,I'm a journalist! *wipes white wine off face and shirt front* (and it's fixed!).

Shhh, Pete. She just read it wrong. ;)

And Gauloises, how about you and me drink up all the tequila and Slivovitz that NP and Jackie are going to pass on?

NP: aren't girls stereotypically more mawkish anyway? Or were you being sarcastic?

BTW, this is going to scare you too but I too am a teetotaler who doesn't like sodas.

the NBA theme is pretty classic but there are so many NBA games in a year, so it isn't as unique as the Slams to me.

Much better, Pete.

Still, I think I should run home and change so that particular mistake doesn't happen again. Back in a few, with my best corset on.

Pete, lol!

Dang it, Jackie, but you're right. I should have just done it and said Gauloises smokes something funnier than stinky black-root tobacco. Okay, do any of you ever dip snuff?

and hello, Pete, Jackie, and gauloises.

I'm with you Crazyone. I still remember being so upset as a kid that the '80 Wimbledon was going to be over that I held a cassette recorder up to the TV to record the theme music. It's right up there with the opening bars of Star Wars for me in terms of childhood musical associations.

Happy holidays everyone! Thanks for hosting the party, Pete! Great idea. I'm pretty busy at the moment so I'll just be popping in and out.

For the record, all I want for Christmas is numbers 14 and 15 at RG and Wimbledon. That's not asking for too much, is it? I've been a pretty good boy!

Well, G, I read that line you wrote about the corset, had a reply in mind, and a little voice in my head immediately said, "don't go there, chief!"

Jackie, that may be the creepiest thing a TWer has ever said to me, which is saying a lot. :)

Thanks for the invite, Pete. I lurk at this site, I confess. May I offer everyone a little gift, since there's no 'real' ATP tennis on?

Yesterday was the Sampras-Blake charity exo in Baton Rouge, which I attended as an unpaid blogger; the big boys don't get down here too often, so it was a treat. Got some nice comments out of Pete and James at the presser afterwards:

(full article w/photo at http:http://tinyurl.com/6d4nb6

Lexa: Pete, you're obviously more relaxed playing now than when you were #1. Do you find yourself enjoying it more?

Pete: ...it's less stressful, but I don't play as well, I don't move as well, so I get real frustrated...I want it to be competitive.

Lexa: Do you see yourself getting more involved in tennis beyond playing the Outback tour and the occasional exo?

Pete: No, not really.

Lexa: What about any coaching?

Pete: (clears throat) Um - only if I can do it from home. I'm not into traveling. Maybe doing a few things here and there with the ATP - we're still talking about it.

Lexa: James, do you plan on doing anything different with your game in 2009?

James: ...I play my best when I move forward, but I don't always move forward... I want to play the right kind of point on the big points and come out on top at the big moments.

C1, hi! What's your pleasure?

Hi Syd! Christoper! Lexa! Uh-oh, I have a feeling I'm going to be playing catch up all day on this thread. . .

Good evening, beautiful party people!
*kisses everybody on the cheek*

*sets out dishes of mince pies, thick parmesan biscuits and Christmas-tree shortbread shapes*

It's cold outside, but beautifully warm in here! How is everybody?

Hey, everyone!

Yes, crazyone, join me and NP in our water drinking. We're so exciting. :)

Er, Lexa, need to us tiny URL to post long links or it screws up the side-bars etc. I'll fix

Pete, that's when you stick in the "everyone," as in "Hi, everyone!" 'Tis a lifesaver.

Mmmm, jewell, these treats look DELICIOUS.

c1,

"aren't girls stereotypically more mawkish anyway? Or were you being sarcastic?"

Both.

"BTW, this is going to scare you too but I too am a teetotaler who doesn't like sodas."

Not really. You're still a girl.

"the NBA theme is pretty classic but there are so many NBA games in a year, so it isn't as unique as the Slams to me."

Again, you're still a girl.

Pete, I'm in the water crowd...more booze for you and Gauloises, eh? Thanks for having this holiday post!

Lexa--welcome! Thanks for the Pistol quotes. Wow, this was a best of three exhibition. Seems like Pistol has won all the exos he's played except three of the four he played against Fed (and we all know he almost won the last one).

hey everyone!

I see that Syd is back and dressed in black (again) for the party!!

Gotta love what Jackie has brought to this party...

Christopher: FWIW, there is a new "Arun-Gauloises pact" that comes into effect on 01-01-09.. It states that Murray takes AO and USO in '09 while Federer wins the Channel slam. All other tournaments are left for the rest of the field! :)

Hello, all! Happy holidays etc. to everyone. I'll be dropping in and out as work permits today, but I wanted to say hello and quick someone pass me a drink so I can hide it under my desk while my boss isn't around.

:)

"Seems like Pistol has won all the exos he's played except three of the four he played against Fed (and we all know he almost won the last one)."

Nah. Most reports say Pete was in command throughout the match.

Jackie: and you and I are even more exciting in that we're vegetarian water-drinkers! Heh.

Hi Lexa.
Are you the one from the Billy Joel song?

crazyone: We're the life of the party, obviously. ;)

At some point, I might want to break out the karaoke ...

* Joins the kitchen crew, with a big bottle of Grey Goose in tow *

* Will start with a GE to brace against the cold *

Happy holidays everyone!

Hart!!!!! Long time no talk.

I know it's early, but, like a good West Indian, I'm going straight for the rum drinks. I know that Karen will say that her Jamaican Appleton is the best rum, but take a taste of the Barbados Mt Gay rum (really the best) that I've been saving for this party. Mix it with Coke or ginger ale if you like... or try a cup of my own internationally famous rum punch which Pete has just poured into the huge punch bowl -- in the kitchen, of course!

Now, let me go see who else is here. Merry Christmas, everyone!

NP, great NBA on NBC theme clip there. If you guys want to see a sports clip that will leave you in awe though, check out this one from ESPN in 1999: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0sZ_oPBFr8 - it gets me every time.

Speaking of things that used to be good in the 1990s but aren't now, how about the Buffalo Bills, or as I call them, North America's team? Wow. If you ever want to see the fiesty side of Tom Perrotta, just tell him you're a Bills (Jills) fan -

Anyways, just wanted to say hello to everyone here and happy holidays - thanks for all your comments on the MNP throughout the past two years; it's taken a bit of a backseat to my new duties here at the office but it has given me some indelible memories that I cherish.

Arun, now that's deep Twibe intel. Sometimes I wish I didn't have to write this stoopid blog so I could fully partake in the comments, but life is tough.

Howdy, Hart!

Hey crazyone! I've been shamelessly lurking about--I'm around, but haven't had the time to post much recently. Work and everything. But I'm still reading everything. How's it going?

Ruthie! What new do you have about that little shaver, Soli?

hey hey everyone!
I brought 2 bottles of Martinelli's apple cider for our tee-totalling friends.

Wait, Sampras and Blake exo ? how did I miss that?

Thanks for fixing the URL, Pete. After moving to New Orleans from Great Falls, Montana, I thought I'd left snow forever, but a few days ago it snowed the whole day here and it was appalling. But Sunday at the Sampras exo it was back in the 70s where it belongs.

""Federer wins the Channel slam""

Santa comes early!

Tears.

Ptenisnet and Pspace show up at the same time. . . Hmmmmmm

YUM, greenhopper. Flove Martinelli's.

LOL, Pspace!

Howdy Pete! Cowboy Luke still cowboyin' it up with the horses?

Hi Everyone! Happy Christmas!
I come with a large chocolate cake, gingerbread biscuits, giant chocolate chip cookies and brandy snaps if anyone wants anything.

Also I bring Piñatas!!!!!!In traditional shapes AND shapes of all your favourite tennis players! Yay!! Grab a stick and have a go!
Thanks for throwing the party Pete!

Pete, lol. Not you too! Fwiw, NP was here earlier. How long have y'all been imbibing?

It wasn't well-publicized, the exo. Pete did one with Todd Martin after Hurricane Katrina and he came back with James after Gustav and Ike a few mos ago.
No ptenisnet - there's a Lexa from Billy Joel? Not me.

Glad you liked it, Ed. And thx for the link. There's an awful lot of history in that just one clip. Happy holidays to ya, too.

Lexa, you talk with your friends in Great Falls much these past few days? Julie wrote me from the Milk River Ranch yesterday to tell me it was -20 and still falling!

BTW - I'm proud to say I can finally navigate through Great Falls without consulting a map; or at least I can find my way to Big Bear sporting goods, Albertson's,and that awesome Lewis and Clark museum.

moi has arrived! aka Alice In Wonderland 21st century style!mmmmm,gee still looking for that elusive rabbit,have brought new running shoes,just in case it makes an appearance here,gosh is it moi,its pretty dark here,mmm,moi simply refuses to take off her Chanel shades,is there no other no?

I think that's Alexa, ptenisnet. ;)

Sure there is.

The Downeaster 'lexa. That's a fair description.

hello Pete! Don't think about stopping this *stoopid bog* for the sake of you commenting on it - for we'll have nowhere else to comment on. ;-)

hey Pspace, ptenis and all others!

Hart: Good to *see* you again!!

Where are Russ, nT, Sam, Tari, jb, Violetta, Rachael, Nancy, Jewell and many others???

Welcome, aussiemarg! Keep the shades on - as I like to say, the sun never sets on a bad@$$. ;)

Hi Pete.

I am the one with the silent P.

hellooooo Madame President!

Oh, silly me must've been busy with things un-important. Thanks for the interview transcripts, Lexa.
And welcome on board! glad you delurked. :)

Pete - G Falls is easy to navigate. Bozeman less so. Missoula is not. Hvn checked in to their temps lately. I used to bicycle around in ski mask, down jacket, shearling at -20. The bankers really loved me in a ski mask.

Arun, I imagine they'll be part of the "fashionably late" crew. ;)

you too Arun. *waves*

Hey Laura!

Well, Hart, Luke's gone around the bend for Star Wars, but on the way to the farm with Asad (and back) we pretended we were towing a horse trailer - Luke was Jim Bob (for that hilarious folks song, The Old Chisholm Trail), I was Red, and Asad was Buster Jim. So, yeah, I think it's pretty well embedded and he loves all animals so I'm optimistic.

Good morning, drunkards (and welcome, Lexa),

I'm in dire need of a stiff drink, as I'm effing exhausted from last night's plumbing nightmare (a piece of advice: ALWAYS keep spare toilet parts around the house).

Anyhow, I'll have a bourbon with a splash of whatever (soda will do).

--Liron

"" Jackie: and you and I are even more exciting in that we're vegetarian water-drinkers! ""

Is the goal to make fun of all the drunk people rather than partake?

Meh!

Arun, as far as I know I am here. :) I'm wearing a black ballgown and lots of jewellery - how could you possibly miss me? *giggles*

Happy Christmas to everyone who arrived after I did!

Pspace, no making fun. Just lots of face drawing when the drunkards pass out. ;)

Greenhopper, She-who-does-not-use-space-bar-after-comma, Easy Ed McG! Happy holidays, have a beer, or join NP and Jackie in a nice refreshing glass of water!

arun Madame President waves hello,mmmm,still waiting for that BAG no?

Miss Jackie O always a pleasure girl,moi very excited,already planning my attendence at Sydney Medibank,hoping to see hubby,will be with the movers and shakers there,still moi will manage to view some tennis,I think!

Hi Pete! and Welcome Lexa!
So what drinks are available at this party then?

Thanks, Pete. I'll have a glass of wine. Anything red will do.

"She-who-does-not-use-space-bar-after-comma"
oooh, a guessing game?
How about aussiemarg ? (hello, there!)

"She-who-does-not-use-space-bar-after-comma"

Prophesy?

Hey, Pete! Soli was in the "trying" stage when I saw him two weeks ago -- trying to walk and trying to talk. :)And it was great fun to watch him. The Atlanta grandparents will have the pleasure of spending his first Christmas with him since my son, like his parents, almost never voluntarily travels to spend time in a place that's colder than where he is; so coming up to Philly was out of the question. Can't blame him.

Ms. Rubin! Got a bottle of Maker's Mark, right here for you. You mean you don't keep a spare 150-pound white ceramic toilet in the attic?

Jewell, I'm loving those shortbread cookies and to whomever brought those cookies shaped like tennis players: I just ate Ivo Karlovic and I think I'm going to hurl. . .

Jewell: Sorry! Looks like I'm feeling the effects of the diet coke already.. ;-)

> "She-who-does-not-use-space-bar-after-comma"
Hilarious, Pete!

hello Liron!

Ooooh, aussiemarg, I'm so excited for you! Take lots of pics, ya hear?

Laura, whatever your heart desires. Can I get it for you?

I'M HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LET'S get this partayyyy STARTEDDDDD.
WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO.

Where's my fellow TW-mad-post-1991-partier???!!!
Jacko??? JACKO!?!!!!!!

*strolls in*

Whassup!

Pspace cant really see you,mmm,these shades,hope you are dressed as Sleeping Beauty's Bed,after a few champagnes,vintage of course! dancing and the like,i will need somewhere to flop no?

Laura, I'm recommending the Gringo Especiale, three parts tequila, one part fresh-squeezed lime juice, shaken with crushed ice. Start with the 16-ounce size and then go on up to the Venti or Grande or whatever the hail medium and large are called these days.

Jackie just an orange juice for me thanks :)

MAHA!!!!!!!!

I knew it, Jackie. Will try to follow moderation.

*hushes* I got some spray paints for ya! *winks*

HI LAURA!!!!!!!! *grabs ginger biscuits and other junk from Laura and gobbles greedily, all the while wishing Roger were next to her*

LOL, Pete! Another time when a spare toilet would come in handy.

Veruca! Where you been, gurl?

AM, that was precisely why I chose this outfit :).

Maha, you need a few drinks to loosen you up and make you abandon your terse, understated comment!

AM may I say you are looking very stylish today (as always of course):)

pspace: no, I was actually trying to mock myself with that one. You know I have better ways to mock you ;)

*pours a tall glass of OJ for Laura, with an orange slice as a garnish*

SCORE, greenhopper!

Thanks for reminding of that option, Laura! On second thoughts, even I think simple fruit juices will work for me.

AM: What bag? Did we ever have any conversation about some kindaa bag!?? ;-)

Pete I'm not a fan off alcohol really! Technically not allowed it so will be good and stick with an orange juice!

*makes tea*

For myself, I think, although anyone else is welcome to one. ;)