Medicine Balls

Open Question: I hate my best friend and want to end the friendship but don't want to hurt her...?

I should start by saying our friendship is clearly one of convenience, even if neither of us has ever said this. We started off in a group of a few people and saw each other as the best of a bad situation and made a friendship based on our mutual disdain of our social situations. This was around 4 years ago and since then we've been 'best friends'. I can't stand her anymore because I disagree with the majority of her actions. She treats me awfully but I don't think she realizes this. Last year we planned to go on holiday for a weekend together, just the two of us and have a great time. The day before we left she told me her boyfriend (of 2 weeks) was coming with us. I didn't want to seem petty so I said it was fine but all weekend I felt like a third wheel and a tag along even though it was the complete opposite. This sort of thing happens all the time and she constantly puts people she barely knows ahead of me. Moreover, she literally stole my personality and infuriatingly pulls it off better than me. I know this may sound stupid and impossible since I am the only 'me' but it really is true. Let's say I was a big fan of tennis: she would also become a huge tennis fan but go to the extreme of getting a coach, going to Wimbledon, wearing tennis whites all the time but not because she genuinely liked it, just to portray the image and be recognized for it. I'm not saying she wants to be me, I'm saying she wants to get one over on me...or at least that is the way I see it. Despite all her short comings I do care about her feelings and don't want to hurt her by severing contact. I mean even if she treats me badly I do think she treasures my company. If she was anyone else I'd just phase her out by ignoring her calls and emails etc but since I am pretty much the only true female friend she has I feel like doing this would be cruel and I'd be abandoning her. At the same time I don't think I'd have the guts to go up to her face I say I don't want to be friends through fear of her reaction. Basically I don't want to hurt her feelings but I can't go on being friends with someone who makes me feel like ghost. What can I do?

Open Question: Need health advice, please help!!!?

Hi, I'm in middle school, and in the town I live in pretty much 99% of the girls here either play softball, soccer, lacrosse, gymnastics, or some combo of those sports. The people who don't are naturally stick-thin. I'm one of the girls that doesn't play anything. I'm 4 ft. 11 in. (yes I know I'm small) and my weight bounces between 114 lbs. and 119 lbs. Here are some problems I need to work on: I just like eating food. I snack a lot, and there's not really many healthy snacks around. I prefer the taste of a lot of unhealthy foods to healthy ones. I actually love to exercise. I kinda like tennis, swimming, and maybe even softball. But the thing is, #1. I like traditional gym workouts, but I'm too young to join a gym, #2. Joining a sport costs money, #3. I'm scared of team sports. All my friends would be on higher levels than me and I'd HATE the pressure of games. Pressure with me can be unpredictable. I will either work harder than usual or freak out and be horrible. #4. I LOVEEE jogging but I run slowly so I can't join a team. And I'd feel embarassed to run just by myself in a park. No one in my town does any other exercise besides sports so I feel like people would think I was a weirdo. I don't know what to do anymore. I hate it when all my friends keep saying, "Really? I don't know how anyone couldn't love sports!" I also feel horrible about the fact that I hate trying on clothes at the mall and that I don't wear bikinis while everyone else does. I hate that I feel self conscious about my weight when I talk to a guy and that I can't seem to fit into ANY jeans at Abercrombie. Or any skinny jeans for that matter. And I love skinny jeans. (I am kinda curvy though..are my jean issues because of that or my weight??) And just so you know, even though I would never develop an eating disorder, I think I weigh myself too much. I do it at least once everyday. And sometimes I get mad at myself if I gain just a pound. Please help me with my health problems. As much advice as possible please! Also sorry if this is waaayyy 2 long :) Thanks! (Also..if this helps I already only eat whole grain bread and I love water and I hate fast food chains and have cut waaayyy down on my soda drinking, the problem is I like to eat out a LOT at small restaurants. Also my mom is very good with diet and nutrition and is healthy and happy, I just feel awkward asking for advice)

Open Question: tennis: sudden death rules?

at which point to have to call sudden death? do you HAVE to do sudden death, or is it optional?

Open Question: tennis: long and wide shot, definition please?

so is long, meaning past the baseline? is wide meaning past the sides of the court? also, does it mean that the shots are in, out, or both?

Open Question: To win a set, you have to win 6 games. but do you need to win by 2 games?

So do you have to win by 2 games? and if you don't, then do you need a tiebreaker? also, if you have a tie breaker and you tie again, then could it go on forever until you or your opponent wins by 2 games? sorry but i'm new to tennis and I don't know all the rules yet. please answer if you know.

Open Question: I need some shoes for school, ideas?

Preferably tennis shoes, from Nike, New Balance, or Puma. Ones that won't increase my height too much, I'm kind of tall. Any help would be appreciated, thanks loves. :)

Open Question: Does anyone know the title/author of this book? (repost)?

It was about a girl named Skye who was starting sixth grade, and her older brother told her horror stories about the older kids picking on sixth graders. Sixth grade wasn't that bad, but when Skye danced with a guy her best friend was crushing on, her old pack of friends turned their backs on Skye. She made new friends and in the end had a big sleepover with her old friends and new ones. Some points: Skye played tennis with her big brother, Skye envied a girl who wore a blue lace bra (Skye didn't have a bra). Please anwser! Kinda desperate! Any suggestions welcome! Thanks!

Open Question: tennis game point definition?

I know a game point means that if the player wins the point, then it will be game. but does it only apply to the server, or can it apply to the opponent?

Open Question: What has been your biggest disappointment in ATP/WTA tennis this year?

1) Del Potro's injury; 2) Federer's slump since the Australian Open; 3) Djokovic unable to prevent becoming Chokovic in GS tournaments; 4) Henin's inability to beat Clijsters since her return; 5) Schiavone winning the French Open; 6) The first one-sided Wimbledon men's final in 5 years; 7) Other (please explain)

Open Question: Should I try out for junior varsity tennis?

I'm going to be in 9th grade next year and I've taken the school's summer program for tennis. I've been playing for about two months now and I believe I'm doing pretty good for a beginner. I asked my coach if I should try out and he said yes because it'll look good on a college application. Problem is, I have three honors classes, one elective AP class, and a class in which we manage the school's website. Also, I've wanted to focus on music for a long time (playing the guitar for a little more than 3 years, have been playing piano on and off but right now very much on for around 4 years) but couldn't because of hectic schoolwork and TENNIS! He mentioned that if it's really what I wanted to do, I would make time for it. Problem is, it's not what I want to do, it's a hobby. I want to take tennis lessons and get better too, and since practice for JV is everyday, M-F, it's gonna take a lot of time. I'm afraid my academic performance is going to drop and my music is going to fall behind. I know I love music more than tennis but my dad said that it's good to try new things. Tennis isn't what I want to do for a living, music is. But I do really enjoy playing tennis and improving at it, and it's much more fun than P.E. class. So what do you think I should do? Reply soon! (Tennis is first semester and try-outs are SECOND WEEK OF SCHOOL!) I'm not worried I won't make the team - I'm worried I am. I know I'm biting off more than I can chew if I try to juggle everything at once. I'd rather my performance in school and music be superb then next year I can focus on tennis and then by third year, I'll try to juggle all of it. I'm only a freshman. I just wanted second opinions.