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I had my first lesson with the tennis coach today, and oh my, it was terrific. I feel like a million bucks! We agreed we are going to meet 3 times a week for the duration of the good weather season, and then see where to go from there. First we met at a coffee shop near the university tennis courts, and talked about his business and goals, as well as my tennis goals. Then we hit the court, and he gave me a KILLER workout. He kept firing balls at me, and I just kept running and swinging, getting the heart rate way up, totally having fun.

The main thing he taught me today is how to use topspin effectively. We went through the forehand technique, and then he drilled me on it, correcting my form and instructing me all the while. I never really learned topspin that well, and that’s one of the main deficiencies that has held back my game. He called my forehand “a cannonball”, and said it’s so powerful that I can usually get away with playing flat — but with the techniques he’s teaching me, I’ll be able to get even more power out of it with greater physical efficiency. While drilling, I got glimmers of the potential, and I definitely see his point.

He hinted that future skills development will include strengthening my backhand, mastering topspin on both sides, incorporating spin into my serves, improving my footwork, and learning how to determine when the game calls for the big, energy-intense shots and when I can play more conservatively and reserve some energy. That’s a lot!

I have never had a dedicated personal coach, let alone one who is such an accomplished player with so much knowledge and experience. I feel very lucky to have found him, and the beauty of this arrangement is that I know he’s going to get just as much value out of what I do for him as I am getting. And on top of all this, his long-term vision and life purpose that he described to me is highly admirable and totally in line with my own vision of the world and the good we can do within it.

He wants me to get a new racket. He says I am playing with an old, intermediate racket, but he wants me to have an advanced racket to play an advanced game. I actually love my racket, but I am sure the technology has come a long way since I got it. If I remember correctly, mine was a hand-me-down in high school from my brother, and I have played with it ever since. The coach told me a friend of his just got a great racket and bag on Craigslist for $50, so that’s promising.

I am very excited about the potential for this partnership in terms of my tennis game, fitness level, business portfolio, contribution I can make to his work, and many, many lessons, both personal and professional, that I will learn from it. I am so glad I cast out this line into the universe. I could not have landed a better opportunity!

The new Web is a very different thing. It’s a tool for bringing together the small contributions of millions of people and making them matter. Silicon Valley consultants call it Web 2.0, as if it were a new version of some old software. But it’s really a revolution.

I like this. For me, it points out that you don’t have to be famous, in a position of great power, or notorious to make an impact in the world. All you have to do is be who you are and do what you love.

Today’s explorations began with a walk northwest of where I’m staying, along the strip of taquerias my housemate had indicated on the little neighborhood map she gave me. I tried Rocky’s Taco and loved it.

The little family running the place was so friendly and sweet, and the food (hot, freshly made chips, red and green salsas, and tacos) was excellent, especially given the bill: $4.91. After lunch, I headed back south down Clark toward my new apartment, and I stopped into one of the very tantalizing Mexican bakeries on the way. What a feast for the eyes!!!

I got one medium and two small pastries, which were hot, luscious, and amazing, for 82 CENTS!!! The lady in front of me got three giant bags full of bread and pastries for around $8!!! I felt giddy that these places are a ten-minute walk from my new home, and I imagined rolling out of bed, strolling down the street, and shopping for brunch to take back home, or to the lake, with coffee or hot chocolate. Mmmm!

The maintenance guy and his counterpart were painting, cleaning, and revarnishing the floors of my place, and there was work stuff everywhere, so I couldn’t take many pictures, but here are a few of my new apartment!!

Here are a couple more pictures from right around my place.

This evening, I had plans to meet up with Hector, who’d been giving me great advice for the last couple of weeks. He’s from a Chicago suburb and has lived in my very neighborhood for the last eight years, and he has been so nice and helpful all along. He picked me up, and we went out for Thai. Afterwards, he showed me his condo and even insisted I borrow a fleece zip-up from him, since the one warm thing I brought got damp in the storm and smells rather foul. He immediately treated me like a friend from way back and made me feel completely at home. WHAT IS IT about Chicagoans?!?!

I am so insanely happy that I made this decision, and that I made it when I did. I already have the strong feeling that I will stay here for good, that I will find my best life possible here. All these little things about me that normally slightly bug me from time to time, the kinds of things we probably all have, are just disappearing. Slight undercurrents of insecurity and doubt, flagging confidence and purpose — these nagging tendencies are melting away. I am overflowing with energy, initiative, and peace. To me, this is just about the most beautiful and inspiring place on Earth.