First major upset of the Australian Open 2011 - a Ukranian wild card beat #4 Robin Soderling (earlier he kicked Tsonga).  Never a big Soderling fan anyway - but this kid, Alexandr Dolgopolov, can play!  He comes from great lineage, his dad coached Medvedev, and like Agassi he picked up a racquet at age 2.  Has a weird service motion, but good variety of shots; he has no fear, and an impressive ability to out-think his opponent.  He lost the first set 6-1, as Soderling unleashed a barrage of huge groundies - but then settled down and figured out Soderling's game.  From then forward, he fed the big Swede unpalatable angles, slices, and produced an unrelenting defensive game.

Next up, Murray - so Alexandr's moment in the sun (for now) is about to set.  Murray whipped him good at Davis Cup last year.  Still think Rafa will win, but at least 3 others have a real shot this year:  Federer, Murray, and Djokovic.  In fact I predict the Fed doesn't make it to the final, it'll be one of the other guys.

work is ruining my tennis!

Call us die-hards. My regular Saturday tennis buddies all showed up at my house today to play doubles. It was overcast, misty and foggy, which made the court a little slick in spots, but we started. Half an hour later, a light rain made the court too wet to play. Broke my heart, because with my new full-time job, I only have weekends to play in daylight, and prefer to play 5-6 days a week! But we decided to play at night a couple nights this week, so we'll see how my astigmatism affects me - I gotta do something, work is ruining my tennis game! I've also been invited to be on a USTA night league team, so guess I'll do that too. Off to the gym now...

Montreal in January

I just got back yesterday from Montreal, where it was about minus ten degrees and snowing.  Little rain here in Hollywood, but no problema - it's 75!  Actually don't mind cold weather as long as I have my Marmot mountaineering jacket!  You really don't feel a thing if you zip that thing over a lightweight fleece shirt and draw up the hood.  I walked for hours, drooling over the amazing architecture, museums and art galleries in Vieux Montreal.  I actually stayed at a 1900-era bank building (now a cool boutique hotel called L'Hotel), in what was a century ago Canada's "Wall Street".  Also shot a video for the TV Show "Kid Spaces" which went ok.   Here are a few photos!

New Year, new job!

I started 2011 with a big change - if not a big bang - by joining the staff of VTA Florida as Creative Director, a full time job!
I've operated my own company, Time is NOW Productions, for eight years - but when this opportunity presented itself, I couldn't turn it down.  I've known Art Nardin (manager of this facility) and everyone else here for years, and they do the kind of work I'm very familiar with.  I feel I can bring in some new energy - and new clients - jump-starting the year for all of us.  Watch this blog for much more about new projects and stuff - it's going to be a great ride!

Remember Haiti this holiday

If you have any donations in mind this holiday season, please give a thought and a prayer, and as much money as you can spare, to the people trying to help Haiti through its multiple crises.  In addition to the explosion of cholera in the wake of the earthquake, there is political unrest and continuing grinding poverty.  We really don't know the extent of the population's misery, as many thousands of rural residents suffer far from cities, hours from medical attention.  These people must carry their sick and suffering over mountains for days to reach even the most rudimentary clinics, which are now overflowing and in desperate need of medical supplies and doctors.  Please help if you can.

I suggest visiting the website www.doctorswithoutborders.org to help.

Here is a list of other organizations who are contributing to the relief effort:
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (Jewish Federations of North America)
American Jewish World Service
American Red Cross
AmeriCares
Brother's Brother Foundation
CARE USA
Catholic Medical Mission Board
Catholic Relief Services
The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund
The William J. Clinton Foundation
Concern Worldwide US 
Cross International
Direct Relief International
Friends of the World Food Program
The International Rescue Committee
Internews Network
Islamic Relief USA
Lutheran World Relief
Medical Teams International
Mercy Corps
Oxfam America
Partners in Health
Plan USA
Project HOPE
Relief International
The Salvation Army
Save the Children USA
The UN Foundation
The U.S. Fund for Unicef
World Vision
Network for Good

OK I admit it - it's COLD

Record-breaking chill is in the air here in sunny Fort Lauderdale, and on the one day I really need it, my car heater is broken.  I'm headed to Pompano Beach to edit this morning, a distance of about 27 miles - and it's in the mid-thirties.  I'm going to put on fleece pants and a sweatshirt I bought in Yachats, Oregon last year.  One of the coolest towns you'll ever visit - a cute little coastal town with awesome black-rock beaches, teeming tide-pools and towering cliffs.  If you're lucky you'll see some sea lions.  I visited a local attraction where hundreds of them hang out in dramatic sea caves.  You take a scary elevator down about 5 floors and watch them brave the crashing waves, climbing up onto cave rocks to hang out.  I also took a looong hike into the cool coastal forest, up and down steep hills.  I didn't see another soul along this six mile trail.  At the end was a GIGANTIC redwood, more than 200 years old and about ten feet across.  I sat there looking at it, and listening to the wind in the trees, for at least half an hour.  That night I ate the most delicious fresh salmon I've ever eaten, at the town's one decent restaurant.  It was so busy I ate at the bar, striking up a conversation with the locals.  The bartender was making up fresh blackberry daquiris (they were in season locally - so juicy and delicious - right off the vine) and he must've felt a little sorry for me because he'd give me the remainders of the frozen drinks after he filled the glasses of paying customers.  It's hard to say how many I drank, since they were served a half-glass or so at a time.  But I had quite a buzz on, when I left!  My hotel was right on the beach, with a big porch overlooking the ocean.  Oh yeah, we shot a nice show there too, with Jaye and Susan of Petstar.  They have a gorgeous organic garden at their house overlooking a river, and the cutest, most amazingly well trained dogs I've ever seen.  They feed them organic home-made food, and have written a cookbook for doggies.  Their business is making dress-up collars called "shag-a-loo" and other fun toys and pet accessories.  Check them out at www.articoproducts.com.  Well, time to put on the Snuggie and hit the road.  More soon!

Chill bump city

Hello to all of my snowed-in friends up in Minnesota, Ohio, New York City, Boston etc. - I'm getting ready to go out and play tennis in shorts and a tee shirt.  It doesn't suck to be me, today!  Of course my good friends out in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and up in New Hampshire - you guys are probably out skiing powder right now so you're free to send a sarcastic blog right back at me.  I'm going to Montreal next month, so I'll get my share of ass-freezing.  Last time I was there it was May, and I spent a wonderful afternoon in the historic district, sipping a glass of rose at a sidewalk cafe, watching the street performers; and walking down the old streets, marveling at the architecture.  It feels just like being in a great European city.  This time - I'll probably be looking for some strong French coffee...and running from car to building bundled up in a down parka.