August 20, 2020

 

Another bummer when I hit the gym in the morning.  It was closed for deep cleaning.  Not only was the maximum capacity set at four there was new sign that said the fitness center was closed three times daily for wiping everything down.  Closed hours are 9:00 to 10:00 am, 2:00 to 3:00 pm, and 8:00 to 9:00 pm.  Of course those are the hours that most of us choose to be there trying to squeeze in a bit of exercise before or after work.  It’s almost like whoever is making these changes don’t want us to stay in shape.  Maybe we are subjects in an experiment that we don’t know about.  There are so many wild conspiracies circulating in the world right now why not throw one more out there?

 

I had to miss this afternoon’s recreational event (whiffle ball) due to a Zoom call I needed to participate in with the Town of Oro Valley.  The call dealt with ways the town could assist us business owners by encouraging people to get out of their homes during this pandemic and support local businesses.  However, the first twenty minutes of the conversation dealt with participants asking me questions about life in the bubble.  I felt a little uncomfortable taking away time from the other business owners as I expounded my experiences here in Orlando.  But they were asking the questions and I did not provide any information unless I was asked directly.  We gradually got the conversation back to where it was originally supposed to be and it was a successful meeting.  Everything would be much more successful if we could only rid of this virus…

 

ESPN reached out to me today to see if I would be willing to run a hand held camera for them until they were fully staffed in the green zone and I said I would be happy to provided it didn’t interfere with my games on TNT.  I sent them my Turner schedule and they would check to see the best way to take advantage of my availability.  What this basically says is I will be working at least two games a day until enough technicians are housed at the resort by ESPN.  During the first round of the playoffs there will always be four games a day until teams get eliminated and then that number will drop off.  Doing two games a day means you will put in a minimum of twelve hours of work each shift and that can take a toll on ones stamina.  For instance, if your first game is at one in the afternoon, you need to arrive at work at 8:00 am.  That game should end around 2:30pm or 3:00pm, then your next game will be no earlier than 6:00 or 6:30 pm and that will run another two and a half or three hours.  So as you can tell, the hours can get long and that puts a bit of a strain on your body.  It is very important to make sure you eat properly and rest when you can.

 

I did meet up with an NBA security representative to ask about the new limit of personnel in the fitness center. His answer was somewhat disappointing to me as it was not based on criteria that we have been operating under but more of an assumption of behavior.  He told me the number of people that have been witnessed exercising in the gym appeared to not be honoring the social distance guidelines so they felt necessary to reduce the amount of people allowed to work out at one time.  I mentioned that I thought they went a bit overboard with the small number allowed and asked how that was going to be monitored.  Was it my responsibility to ask people to leave if they came in after the occupancy number was exceeded?  Would we all be subject to discipline if person number five or six didn’t leave when asked?  He said that it was our responsibility to tell the offenders that they are threatening our health and safety and must leave.  I only hope that if I have to be put in that situation that the person I ask to leave is significantly smaller and less athletic than me.

 

It rained again this afternoon but we met out at COVID field to play another game of whiffle ball before dinner.  I wish I would have passed on this one as I reinjured my left quadriceps muscle trying to avoid getting doubled up at first base on a line drive.  As the shortstop grabbed the screaming liner I planted my right foot to attempt to get back to first and the wet grass prevented me from getting good footing.  I slipped forward and my left leg folded beneath me severely stretching my thigh muscle in the process.  I struggled to get back to the bag but I couldn’t even move.  I felt like I needed a Life Alert around my neck because I had fallen and I couldn’t get up.  Everyone there thought it looked quite humorous as I squirmed on the ground trying to straighten my leg scrambling back to first as I was doubled out.  I, on the other hand, was trying valiantly to mask the sharp pain shooting through my tweaked appendage.  I guess I have several more days ahead of me of ice and stretches.  But hey, my team won and I am still undefeated.  I am beat up, but without a loss, except for my pride in regards to that double play.