quick, bring the crash cart... got a weak pulse.
don't worry, you're okay, Maha.

:D

*drops by to sip some fancy champagne before running back to the meeetingsmeethingsmeethings*

:)

moi hopes Neil,will show,gee i miss him so,maybe if someone will put on that classic song,"Your The One That I Want",Olivia Newton-John,all time hit,also Neil and moi's fav song to each other,he might make a appearance!

Well, and best believe if Ana comes, so too will her gel-alicious boy toy. They'll be going straight to one of the bedrooms ...

Jackie -- I'll be popping in and out. I'm currently commandeering the computer because I'm supposedly grading senior honors thesis memos right now. :)

My man!

*grabs JMDP's hand*

Hands off, girls and boys. Crazy Elf and I are going for a long walk.

Helloooooooo there friends. Haven't made an appearance in a long time, but as it is Christmas season I thought I'd say hi. I'm still here, mostly lurking and occasionally laughing out loud at the unending streams of wit--and also expostulations of KADs upon their favorite player's serve being broken...

Anyway, here's to another great year of tennis and TW. Feels weird right now without any tennis to watch, does it not??? I hope next year they institute something to fill the gap. How about a qualifying tournament for the Australian Open? 128 players, full five-setters. You play all the way through the finals. Everyone in the round of 16 makes it into the main draw, and after that the matches are for cash and ATP points.

Would give us something to watch, anyway. Santa?

*tips cup up*

*knocks on Pete's door in "little black dress" and festive red Kenneth Cole Mary Jane shoes*

Since someone has already brought one of my dates (Safin) Feliciano Lopez is escorting me to this party. We can all dream can't we? (LOL)

Happy holidays everyone!

*throws Jacko multicoloured glow sticks puts Nirvana CD in the player and invites Roger to join the Mosh pit*

*recovers*

Jackie... M-m-m-Mirka decided to attend some other lame party. Roger is on his own.
And looking SMASHING in a proper tux. A TUX. OMG. OMG.

*gets whoozy and falls to the ground again*

*runs back for bottle of tequila*

OK, JMDP and I will be back in a bit. Enjoy!

*moshes* . . . .. . ugh a mosh pit just isn't the same without marat and JJ. . . . . .oh wait.. . . . . .Here they are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOL

*pulls marat and JJ into mosh pit*!!LOL

Queen G: To win JMDP, you'll have to survive the chick-fight against Violetta!!

hey Christopher! did you read upthread about the Arun-Gauloises pact?

hey Sher and rafadoc!

gh, lemme just say I used to be Dick Cheney's shooting partner.

AM, Roger does use a Gillette (I think). Maybe he can let Pete borrow his.

*says "screw the polite entrance and comes in with a book (How to Assemble Star Wars Figurines in a 1000 Easy Steps) and bottle of wine for Pete*

Moi is in tennis heaven,THE RAFTER,has shown,shudders,keeps composure,gee,tears of joy,someone please take care of my rosary beads,i have no longer the need for them!

"I used to be Dick Cheney's shooting partner"

Is that a euphemism for prey?

Yay!!! *in the mosh pit with Jacko JJ Roger and Marat moshing to smells like teen spirit*

Hey Arun! What's your poison? I am going to grab one of those famous TW GE's, unless Gauloises has made her punch.

*recovers again thanks to Jacko and Laura's incessant water-throwing and greenhopper's pulse-checking*

Hiiii Asad Raza!

Laura!!!!! You spoke to Roger!!!!!! What'd he say!!!!

*Sees Roger look in her direction.* OMG. OMG. OMG.

Okay, so Gilles and I are married, right? But then how come I keep trying to get us under the mistletoe?

Even my non-real life relationships are weird as hell.

Oooh, there's Mario.
Let me see if he can help me tackle the anti-Santa, NP.

adios amigos.

A round of Peppermint Patties (hot chocolate and peppermint Schnapps) on me!

And now, for the Airing of Grievances...

Jacko, no catfights between JJ and Ana; I promise I'll whisk Ana away the moment she arrives (or will definitely try to at the very least).

BTW, if, as Jackie says, Ana brings her boytoy and head for the bedrooms, nothing to do anyway.
Jackie, who's this toy anyway?

What's with Borg, Mac, Jimmy, and Mats and tiny shorts? Don't they know which year it is?

*Engages Mats in a discussion about his last name*

Maha he mentioned a certain girl he had heard being called Maha. I think your in with a chance. Join us in the mosh pit!!

puran, you haven't heard? Ana's all hot 'n' heavy with Hott Sauce.

Laura. . . smeels like teen spirit. . . .is there a better mosh song??????!!!LOL. . . .. after this JJ and i are gonna go for a long walk. . ... . . . and after marat and i will hav a long "walk" . . . . for. . . . . .. . . .other reasons. . ..!!LOL

Arun-- Just saw the pact. Count me in!

Hey, did someone say Hingis is here? Me thinks she'll liven this party up a bit! And I need something stronger than all this tea I'm drinking to stay awake.

Just kidding!!! All in good fun.

Love Nirvana, but not sure it's appropriate for the party! I'm gettin' ready to hip-hop it up.

Happy holidays everyone.

*quickly grabs Marat from the mosh pit and goes for a long walk before Jacko can get hold of him*

Hey tribe, Tom Perrotta crashing the party here. Happy days -- whatever you happen to call them -- to you all. I have one complaint about Pete's virtual party. No liquor! And no cake! (OK, that's two complaints.) I'll have you know that Pete works just a few doors down from me and believe me, he's got a nice stash in there, mostly whisky but lots of it. He's living it up as he types away with Christmas tunes from the Ramones blaring in the background. I hope you all are doing the same. If not, just stop by Pete's office and ask for a sip. That's what I plan to do in a few minutes.

I can see that many of you are geared up for the 2009 season. I spent a few days in Florida last week working on a few stories and I have to say, the sight of so many top pros working out and preparing for the new year boosted by adrenaline, too. Can't wait for Melbourne. Until then, cheers and thanks for sticking with us for another year.

Best,

TP

rafadoc: I had some diet_coke and tostitos to start with.. And restricted myself to juices now.

Pspace: I would argue you're trying to throw off Mats's mind since he's the only other person competing against you to coach Federer!

@Christopher,
Best films of all time? That's the topic? How many are we allowed to nominate? Cocktail conversation or no, I am always up for a debate on that :)

Re: Arun-Gauloises pact,
Can you throw in the Rome-masters Roger's way as well?

puran... Verdasco's the boytoy. LOL.

OMG. Mistletoe. Right above me.
Roger. A foot away from me.
Roger - me = 10-year age gap. Mirka still alive, despite not being present here.
Me unable to speak a word.
Roger looking and me and smiling politely. Me staring with bug-eyes.
Me reaching a hand to touch his lovely hair.
Jacko and Laura and Marat and Gilles' mosh-pit madness pushing Roger closer to me.
Me going redder than red.
Crazy 70's music in the background.
Me and Roger 6 inches away now. Mistletoe right above.

*non-chalantley. . . .movie hip bumps laura out of the way of marat*

Sorry honey. . . . but marat and i have a story together!!!! . . . .he's MINE!!

*sticks out tongue*
*turns on Katy Perry music*

Arun, meh! I would argue that it doesn't need me to throw off his mind!

Maha,

You are a bona fide loonie, dear. I say this, mind you, with pure admiration.

Liron

Hi Tom! Would you like a beverage?

.....

Maha. . . . . .just make a move. . . . Marat and i don't even need mistletoe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOL

*wingles with marat*

Christopher, here are my celluloid picks:

Drama - Ran by Akira Kurosawa

Comedy - Haven't seen enough to make a final judgment

Sci-fi - 2001: A Space Odyssey by you-know-who

Musical - Guess I should say Singin' in the Rain, though I don't like it at all (my fave is West Side Story)

Action/horror/etc. - Picking the GOAT in this category is like deciding which one is the best theme park: Who gives a sh*t as long as you enjoyed it?

Thank you for the loonie compliment, Liron.

3 inches away from Roger.
Unable to complete this scene.
......
Help needed.....

My wish for everyone on this blog is that 2009 brings us even more remarkable tennis than 2008... a hard act to follow.

Best wishes to all! Now pass the grog.....

@Jackie,
have been away too long, evidently. (Sheepishly looks around, pulls Jackie away, and asks discretely) Hott Sauce? Explain, pretty please? [Thinks about belting this character nice and proper. Hmpf.]

Tom, Could you please do a story on training camp! We're (I am) so starved for info.

*throws a Piñata at Jacko knocks Jacko out and wanders away with Marat*
Sorry Jacko!!!! but I had to do that
You have JJ!!!!!

holly hell,where is the aussie beer??

Alright, Pspace, I meant Dick Cheney's BETTER shooting partner.

@Maha, thanks for explaining.

(Tries to push his way out in despair, ends up shoving Maha the last 3 inches towards Roger)

Compromise Laura!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*asks JJ for special JJ Cloning Glitter!!!!*
*makes marat clone so Jacko and Laura are BOTH happy!!!LOL*

JJ is fine as she is. . . .she's making a move on
F'Lo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOL

AM, do you mean Fosters? I thought the Woodies brought a keg in.

*whispers to puran* Hott Sauce is Verdasco. Feel free to belt him, preferably in the faux-hawk. :)

Check 'em out:
http://tinyurl.com/68tvhs

*hands AM an aussie beer* Hi Madame President! Happy Holidays:)

OK Jacko I will compromise *grabs original Marat wanders away leaving the clone with Jacko*

Jacko.... I can't!!!! I ain't never "made a move" in my life!!!!!

Still 3 inches away from Roger.... both nervous.... Roger staring up at the mistletoe.... Me staring at him..... Me staring at my feet.... me staring at him..... my hand reaching out.... is hand reaching out... my hand back to my side in a flash... his hair glistening in the light...
OMG this needs to proceed. SOMEBODY HELP.
.....

*contemplates strategy to distract Laura long enough to steal Marat away*

Speaking of Hott Sauce, wasn't there some story about him, Agassi and Reyes all being chummy. Is Reyes training him now, so he can measure up to Ana?

pushed by Puran the last 3 inches towards Roger.... their eyes meet.... they stare.... their faces nose-to-nose.....

*eyes widen... mumbles "R-r-r-r-r-r-r-Roger....".......

And then... and then....

@Maha,
My shove didn't work out? I thought I had pushed you hard enough!

Jackie, the guy is 10 lbs heavier than me. (Thinks if there is any way to enlist Hitman for the purpose)

Maha, get a room :).

rafadoc. Your strategy will not work. Noone is taking him away. Jewell wandered off somewhere with Rafa earlier go and find Rafa

Sorry Laura i made the clone. . . . . so i GET the ORIGINAL . .. . .besides he's destined to be with me. . . . . Jewell wrote it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOL

Maha. . . again u don't need to make a move. . ... if he's edgin towards u and the mistletoe he's obviously diggin you to. . . . just move . . .and go with the moment. . . .. .Marat and i don't wait for the moment. . . . . . we hav a moment weneva we want!!!!LOL
*dance provacatively with marat* . . . .. . *to Dirrty by christina aguilera!!!LOL*

Pspace thank god for the Woodies and their keg,gee my aussie faith has been restored!

Rafadoc Fosters,gee great to know that famous aussie beer is here,wishing you and your family a great,peaceful Christmas and New year!

puran, I'll give Bret a call. ;)

Hi, GVGirl! Hope that you're all weLl now. If your virtual guest is the young GV, you may bring him. Saw him on those replays of the old Pepsi Challenge matches on TC a couple weeks ago. What a handsome guy! I hadn't even remmebered how goodlooking he was.

BTW Here's your Bellini!

> And then... and then....

Clock tongs! Time for Maha's piano lessons..

Pete,

If you are still pondering whether to buy an iPOD, check out Apple's refurbished iPODs http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/ipod?cid=OAS-US-KWG-iPodDiscount/Refurb-US

you can oftentimes get a nice model at a much lower price.

Hopes pSpace heard wrong, and all that measuring up falls flat.

[Drinks his scotch and nods at Maha from the corner of the room. You're welcome :)]

*HUGS ROGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

anti-climax??????? Ya think???? No it isn't!!!!!

*lost in long embrace in Roger's arms under mistletoe while Jacko and Laura and Rafadoc do far weirder things with Marat(s)*

Thanks AM!

Laura-in the spirit of the Holiday...Marat is all yours:) (for now at least)

Jacko I have to go soon. Cant I have Marat for the next half an hour you can have him after that :)

I am late and can only stay for a few minutes. I haven't been around much recently, but I just want to take a moment to say that I can't imagine watching tennis anymore without having my laptop tuned to TW.

I hope to make it to Wimbledon this summer, and I will definitely be the USO. I hope that I will be able to meet many of you IN PERSON in the coming year(s).

Happy holidays to those of you who celebrate.

Can't wait until 2009.

p.s. I am heading to Paris soon (for the first time) and am overwhelmed by the restaurant/bar options. Any suggestions for mid-range restaurants and laid-back bars for a young couple (no children)? We'll be there for a few days.

*wanders into kitchen*

HAHAHA, Arun!!!

Happy Holidays Rani!!

Ok Laura. . . but first ,.. . . .. . . SLOW DANCE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Grab Ur Partners!!!!!!!
*quickly grabs Original Marat and Dances to Truely Madly Deeply by Savage Garden* . .. . .*looks around and Ana-hott Sauce dance . . . and JJ-F'Lo*

After the slow dance laura you can have him til u leave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOL

Arun.... too late in the night for piano lessons..... OMG. OMG OMG OMG. NOOOO.

*snaps out of it. Runs crying to the other corner of the room.*

Yay Thanks rafadoc, Jacko.
Congratulations Maha you have your Roger!

*sees Tipsy standing alone and brooding so makes plan to cheer him up*

Welcome Rani.

(Wanders off giving baleful looks at anyone remotely resembling that Hott Sauce.)

That was... *sniff*... OMG if Mirka were here.... and she exists. And it... it's just never going to work out!!!! *cry cry*

*starts singing "ON MY OWN" from Les Miserables* It's a song I can identify with...

*asks Tipsy to explain his tatoos in attempt to "break the ice"*

gee I was wondering if we could have a barbie here,aussie beer,aussie men,all thats left is the good old aussie barbie? gee how did i know the Poo would turn up,with his new babe intact,gee,wonder if Pat wants to dance,mmmmmm,last time he did,things didnt go to well,two left feet?oh well he cant be perfect in all area's,i suppose,moi likes him the way he is,thank god the wife stayed home to mind the rug rats!

*sees rafadoc struggling and decides to put on J-Kwon's "Tipsy"*

Me: Man, it's a hairy world out there.
Tipsy: Dont worry. Beauty will shave the world (Yep Belle moonlights as a hair technician).

AM: You look fabulous, by the way. You and Pat look good together.

awh maha. . .. . . .. . . .*feels bad*
i dunno wat to say?? . . . . . .although it is a pretty song!!!

Rafadoc . . .u sound like a chatup expert!!!!!!LOL

Oh. .. Stanislas has Joined the Party. . .. . .
*quickly brings Stan to join Jacko and Marat in provacative slow dancing*!!!!!!LOL

. .. . now where has Jackie hidden gilles. . . .??!!!LOL

*blesses Jackie and makes mental note to get her something really nice for Christmas*

Okay, I'm making a fun playlist. For the hip-hop portion, starting with:

"Universal Mind Control" ~Common
"It's Me Snitches" ~Swizz Beats
"The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" ~Missy Elliot

Suggestions?

Don't worry, Jacko, I've got some Britney cued up ... ;)

Ooooh I didn't know Tipsy was here! If he has a spare moment later I'd like to have a good talk to him. Although with Rafadoc with him I don't think he will have a spare moment for anyone else!

*sits sulking in a corner with hair all over face....*
*Roger comes over and sits beside her*
*goes red in the face as Roger smiles*
*he holds out his hand*
*reaches out hand to take Roger's hand, ever so slowly...*
*looks into his eyes as they sit facing each other, though not as close as when standing before*

Cheers up after a bottle of Fosters.

BTW, who's the DJ? Can I request a merengue? Anabel Garrigues just walked in, in stilettos.

Gotta run for a while...Tipsy has another tatoo he wants to show me... ;-)

OK Jacko this is taking to long *Tunes slow dance music off grabs Marat and disappears out of the room*

YAY . .. . . womanizer. . . . .toxic. . . . . . . .Circus . .. . . . .oops i did it again!!!LOL

Laura . . .do u want marat now??. . . . .Stan will keep me amused whilst i wait. . .will have some fun "dancin" to britney!!!!LOL

And Jackie add hit me baby one more time. . . . .. .. . thats mine and JJ's song!!!!LOL.. . . .. . .. . we have a great routine!!!!!LOL

*reels back into house, slightly dazed*

Lovely topiary in those gardens. :)