August 18, 2020

 

I hit the gym first thing in the morning only to find out that the NBA placed tighter restrictions upon gym usage. Previously we were required to socially distance properly, wipe down the equipment after use, the usual stuff any sensible person had been conditioned to do since the virus was first introduced.  As I entered the fitness center small signs instructed us that only four individuals were allowed inside the facility at any given time.  Only four people at a time.  This was not going to go over well.

The gym is a about twenty feet by thirty feet.  That’s six hundred square feet. That enables each gym rat their own workout space of one hundred fifty square feet.  That is way more than is required for sensible social distancing.  In addition, the treadmills and elliptical machines are lined along one whole side of the building, every other one in operation.  If four of them are being utilized at once, that leaves the entire selection of free weights and machines as off limits to other exercisers.  This appeared to be an arbitrary decision and not a scientific one.

Outside the gym stood an NBA security officer that periodically peered inside to see if the capacity level had been exceeded.  Luckily when I entered, I was person number four so all was okay.  It was when the fifth person, a young woman, entered that I became a little concerned.  I asked her if she saw the notice on the door and she replied she hadn’t.  I pointed it out to her and she didn’t seem too concerned. My concern was if security entered and pointed out that five of us were in the gym at one time would we all be in violation or only the last one to enter?  Were we expected to police ourselves on this radical change?

Shortly thereafter one of the guys exercising left so we were back in compliance.  I continued my work-out every so often catching the NBA representative leering at us through the window, taking notes, making telephone calls.  I had to speak to him about these new restrictions but I was not going to leave the workout area and perhaps lose my spot in the room.  Once I completed my cycles, I stepped outside to inquire, and he was gone.

Damn! I don’t mind following the rules but I had to find out why in this instance they changed so drastically.  My goal for the rest of the day was to locate someone who was able to quench my thirst for knowledge regarding fitness center.  I set the bars pretty low don’t I?

Leaving the workout area I headed over to the area adjacent to the testing center along the shore of the lagoon.  There was another Spacex 9 rocket launch set for 10:31 am.  A couple of my camera cohorts were to meet me so they could witness the launch.  I had been chastised before for not sharing my launch schedule knowledge and I made a point to text all my green buddies regarding this launch and the big one coming up on August 26.  This launch at 10:31 am may be too early for several of the guys.  Go figure.

Around five minutes prior to launch, Joe, Mike, and Kelly showed up to observe.  Right on time the vehicle launched from Kennedy Space Center and we watched it rise above into the outer atmosphere until it vanished.  We were able to see the flame leaving the tail of the rocket which I didn’t think was going to be possible due to the brightness of the sun.  The contrail was thin but easily observable to anyone that may have looked eastward.  At this point, I am three for three watching launches on this trip.  I can’t wait for the launch on the 26th.  That will take place at 1:50 am and it is a heavy rocket that has three boosters.  It should look awesome taking off in the middle of the night.

We have been contacted about helping ESPN out with a possible camera operator shortage in the green zone. Prior to today, all telecasts have been using only one hand held camera located at the midcourt position.  As the playoffs began moving forward, both Turner and ESPN expressed a desire to the NBA about adding a hand held camera at the end of each court to enhance the viewing experience.  The robotic cameras were doing okay but they didn’t provide the subjective look and feel of a hand held camera.  Under normal circumstances the hand held cameras would be located on the floor adjacent to the basket stanchions located on each baseline.  Being that close to the players would not be permitted for the restart but the NBA was going to allow the cameras and operators to be located behind the court barriers that are positioned about fifteen feet off the baseline.  ESPN does not have enough operators in the green zone to fully staff all the positions if they decide to move forward with the additional cameras.  Turner has enough technicians and being we are starting playoffs, initially Turner does not broadcast the same day as ESPN so we could help out if needed.  We are still awaiting a decision if they are going to need us to assist.  Today is the first day that Turner will use the additional cameras and that makes us very happy. It means more days working and fewer days trying to find something to do.

I think it must be lizard mating season here. I mentioned how many lizards I encounter getting from place to place.  Lately, the lizards have been appearing in pairs, and they are not walking side by side, if you get my drift.  At first I mistakenly thought I was seeing a new breed of fat lizards, but no, these guys were simply making more lizards. 

Being as our recreational options are quite limited, Joe, one of our camera operators from New York, decided to have a drone shipped in so he could learn how to fly one and kill some time when there was time to kill. Eventually he was planning on turning it into a profitable enterprise acquiring aerial footage for future clients.  The aircraft arrived today and he was very excited about taking it out the area beyond the parking lot where he spends a lot of time chipping golf balls upon the grass.  It is somewhat a remote area where no one ever walks or rides or does anything for that matter.  He was very cautious, making sure the drone only lifted about three feet off the ground, carefully learning the controls, turning left, turning right, eventually landing softly on the Saint Augustine grass.  He didn’t have that newfound toy five minutes out of the box before NBA security descended upon him.

They said he was illegally flying an aircraft in restricted airspace, that he was breaking the law and needed to stop immediately.  He said that couldn’t be true as his new flying machine was equipped with sophisticated GPS software that disables its ability to fly if it is, in fact, within a no fly zone.  They go round and round, another security vehicle shows up, and eventually there are six personnel questioning him regarding his intentions, his motives, and his toy.  He never got the damn thing higher than three feet off the ground or further than twenty feet from his body. 

After much conversation and his credential being photographed yet again (he worked with his face mask below his nose on two occasions and missed a COVID test one day) they let him go back to his room with his drone in tow, telling him he cannot fly that while on Disney property ever again.  He was sure he was going to get escorted off the property, not because of simply flying the drone, but because he has several violations prior to this one.  He even phoned his wife telling her he will probably be home soon.  So far, he is still with us.


The rest of the afternoon and evening was considerably cooler than other days as a storm front moved in and blessed us with a gentle rain that lasted well over four hours.  This was not one of those squalls that comes in and blasts water from the sky for ten minutes.  This was gently falling accompanied by a slight breeze and temperatures that fell into the seventies.  If I were able to open the windows of my room I would have thrown them open in an instant.  No such luck.

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