Pictures from the Oak Tree Tournament
Posted on March 10, 2022 by Ching under Pickleball, Travel.
We drove to Edmond, OK a couple of weeks ago for a tournament at the Oak Tree Country Club. I played singles on Friday, doubles with Jen Reifschneider on Saturday, and mixed with Ramon Lozano on Sunday.
I played four best 2 out of 3 matches and finished in third place in 3.5 singles.
My first match was against Lauryn Davis and then my second match was against her younger sister Bradey Davis.
I lost to Lauryn so the match against Bradey was my first in the back draw. I was a little bit confused that we were playing best 2 out of 3 instead of one game to 15 but I just rolled with it.
This next match is against Melissa Hawk. After playing against Melissa, I had to play against Lauryn again. This time it was for medals. I ended up losing to Lauryn a second time and got bronze.
I ended up playing against Lauryn again in women’s doubles the next day and ended up losing to her a third time. It was a super close match, though. We lost the third game 11-9.
With the exception of our first match, all of our women’s doubles matches were really close actually. We lost to the second place team 12-10 in the third game, and we lost to the third place team 13-11 in the third game. We were so close in our three losses. Those games really could have gone either way.
The next day Ramon and I played in mixed doubles and ended up taking silver. I love playing with Ramon. Not only is he a great pickleball player but he is also good listener and supportive partner. You can find videos of all the matches here.
There were 14 teams signed up for the 4.0 division. They ended up splitting us up into two groups of 7 based on the team’s average age. Ramon and I were in the 40+ Average Age bracket along with our friends Heather Griffin and Chris Wilson. Our other friends Jen Reifschneider and Jared Smart, and Kim Knotts and Daniel Nguyen ended up in the Under 40 Average Age Bracket. I thought it was weird at first but it actually worked out for the best because all four of us came home with medals. Heather and Chris took bronze in our bracket and, in the younger bracket, Jen and Jared took silver while Kim and Daniel took bronze.
This tournament was a bit of a mess but it’s always fun when you get to play with good people. I saw some familiar faces and also made some new friends. I can’t wait until the next tournament. Until then, GNG.
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Eddies in Edmond, OK
Posted on March 5, 2022 by Ching under Food and Drink, Travel.
We loved the Lounge so much that we decided to go check out their sister location Eddies on Saturday night.
It was still early on Saturday night but they were super busy. It took 30 minutes for us to be seated but we were willing to wait because we were thinking if they were even half as good as the Lounge it would be totally worth it.
Here are a couple of pictures of drinks.
These bacon-wrapped grilled shrimp skewers were really good.
I didn’t try these bacon-wrapped jalapeño things but Chris said they were good. I guess pretty much anything wrapped in bacon is good.
Brian got some potato skins and I thought they were just okay.
This was Jen’s. I think it is hummus.
Ramon’s fried pickles.
Everyone pretty much got pasta, which I immediately regretted not getting because all their dishes looked so good.
Brian and I decided to split a burger and they were nice enough to cut them in half and put them in separate plates for us.
I’m not sure if they were just so busy that they were just cranking the food out as quickly as they could but the fries at Eddies is not nearly as good as the ones at the Lounge. Eddies food wasn’t bad but I definitely like the Lounge much better.
Still worth checking out if you’re ever in the area. All these Oklahomans can’t be wrong, right? Until next time. GNG.
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The Lounge Kitchen + Cocktails
Posted on March 4, 2022 by Ching under Food and Drink, Travel.
We found a great restaurant in Edmond completely by accident last Friday. Singles didn’t finish until almost 10 pm and many of the restaurants were already closed. Chris Wilson found this place called Eddies which was still open so we drove over there. However, upon getting there, we found out that they decided to close their kitchen early due to power fluctuations all evening.
We (Chris, Ramon, Brian, and I) were all very starving and I think the host felt bad for us because he called their sister location down the street called the lounge and asked if they could keep their kitchen open a bit longer so they could feed four starving people who were on their way.
The Lounge was not very big but their food was amazing. And, they were pretty much the only place open that late at night.
Ramon Lozano and Chris Wilson
I love that their craft cocktails had unique, clever names.
The guys said the onion rings were amazing.
The fries were absolutely perfect.
The charcuterie board had something for everyone.
When asked what was good to get at the Lounge, the host at Eddies JC who sent us there, recommended the gouda burger. Both Ramon and Chris got it and they said it was fantastic.
We were so impressed with the food and their willingness to stick around and feed four hungry people. I highly recommend this place and we will definitely return next time we are in the area.
Until next time, GNG.
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Food and Drinks
Posted on March 3, 2022 by Ching under Food and Drink.
Brian and I had a hankering for P.F. Chang’s a couple of weeks ago and so we went. That place has gotten so expensive. I remember when menu items were only have the price they are today.
We went because I found a free appetizer coupon in my wallet — which I really have no idea how long I’ve had it — but, as it turns out, we couldn’t even use because they don’t honor the appetizer coupons anymore. We still stayed and ate and gave them our money.
As the prices have increased, the portion sizes have equally proportionately decreased. And I know, with supply chain issues and inflation, prices are continuing to go up but, in P.F. Chang’s case, the increases have been constant and steady.
This is the dinner portion of the Mongolian beef with eggplant. They really don’t give you as much food as they used to.
I tried the Year of the Tiger drink, which was the special drink on their menu. While it was delicious, having been used to happy hour prices everywhere I go, I thought $14 for a single drink was a bit much. I think even regular priced drinks at most places only run $10-12.
I guess I am super spoiled because I can get reasonably-priced delicious drinks at Chicken N Pickle on a regular basis. For National Margarita Day, on Tuesday (February 22), you could get a flight for four unique, refreshing margaritas for just $16.
Look how pretty these drinks are!
The four margarita flavors are tropical, fresh-squeezed paloma, mixed berry, and spicy kiwi. Once you find one that you like best from the flight, a full-sized margarita is only $8. The cheap, yummy drinks are just one of the reasons I love hanging out Chicken N Pickle so much.
That’s all for our food and drink update this week. Until next time, GNG.
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Nahola Farewell Party
Posted on March 2, 2022 by Ching under Community, Pickleball.
Stopped by Nahola after work on Monday for free open play. I initially wasn’t going to be able to come because Kayla said it was 3p to 6p but then she said I should swing by anyway because they’ll probably be there until 9p.
When I arrived I found Noi, Chris (Heck), Kayla, and Kimberly playing on one court and some others who I didn’t know very well on another court. I think I got maybe three games in before we stopped playing at 6p. The most memorable one was the last game with Chris against Bob and JB. I hit three ATPs in one game. I think that’s the most ATP winners I’ve ever hit in a single game. I found it fitting that on my last game on the very last day of play at Nahola I hit three ATPs because Nahola is where I actually first learned to hit these on purpose.
Play stopped at 6p because people started arriving for the farewell party. I think that’s what Kayla meant by saying they’d be there until 9p that night. I didn’t have to be at Chicken N Pickle until 8p so I hung out for a bit and took some pictures.
I didn’t even know I was on the slideshow on the TV until I was looking at this pic on my phone after I got home.
It was a lovely farewell party with some of the OG Nahola members.
I made a short video of some of the pictures and videos we took on Monday night and some of the old pics I already had in my phone from before.
I will really miss this place. Nahola brought so many amazing people into my life who I would have never met otherwise. I’ve really enjoyed my year and a half as member. My only regret is that I didn’t find Nahola eight years ago when they first opened. At least I now have pickleball and all of these wonderful friends I’ve made. And, though we no longer have the physical space of Nahola, we will be forever connected by the bond of friendship and our collective love for the sport.
Until next time, GNG.
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