Without Tennis, So Much Free Time . . .

[Cindysphinx]

This lockdown has taught me something: I was spending an *enormous* amount of time on tennis.

Now that there are no league matches, tennis lesson, practices, or social tennis AND no tennis to watch on TV, I have a tremendous amount of free time. I am spending that time reading books, and I have read four in the last couple of weeks. I am learning new words and I think can actually feel my brain growing.

The next time my husband points out that I spend all of my time on tennis-related things, I will hang my head and admit that he is right.

Cindy -- thinking she would be a full-on polyglot had she spent her time learning languages instead of tennis

 

[sureshs]

I don't notice that because I work hard and don't have much leisure time.

 

[travlerajm]

I’ve been playing more tennis than usual due to increased schedule flexibility.

But my work productivity is suffering from the lack of a dedicated distraction-free work space.

 

[HBK4life]

I have noticed that to. And the more time goes by the less I miss it.

 

[NastyWinners]

Yeah...I am missing tennis badly right now

 

[McLovin]

I wonder what Becky is doing right now...

 

[Cindysphinx]

I wonder what Becky is doing right now...

Oh, Becky is definitely still the worst.

She's undoubtedly in the supermarket fondling all the grapefruit, no mask, no gloves.

 

[Rattler]

I agree...I haven’t read this many books in such a short time since Grad School.

I do like what I heard Mary Carrillo day about tennis though. “It’s the most important thing that doesn’t matter.”

 

[travlerajm]

If tennis was taken from me, I don’t know what I’d do. My sympathy goes out to those who are suffering.

 

[sureshs]

Tennis clubs will all be converted to pickleball courts soon or else they would have to close.

 

[travlerajm]

My region locked up all of the courts associated with schools and community centers. But public courts in parks remain open. For this I am grateful.

My access to tennis is keeping me healthy.

I’ve been playing 2.5h long-rally lots-of-running brutal physical singles battles with my regular hitting partner 3x per week, which is about 5x more tennis than typical for me. My game is sharp, and I am high on endorphins 24/7.

But yesterday I strayed. It was a beautiful day as always, and I detoured from my grocery run and played pickup doubs. One of the guys played doubs with a mask. It made me uncomfortable when someone from another court without asking picked up one of my heavily-leaded racquets that was leaning against the fence to shadow swing and feel its unusual heft.

 

[zipplock]

Stripped 2 of my racquets today. New grips, fresh string. Went to my fresh reel of 1.19 Black Force. Weight and balance matched. 340gm, 11 points HL, 328 SW. That killed a few hours. Ready for action!!!

 

[MRfStop]

Oh, Becky is definitely still the worst.

She's undoubtedly in the supermarket fondling all the grapefruit, no mask, no gloves.

Becky fed her husband to a tiger

 

[sureshs]

She's undoubtedly in the supermarket fondling all the grapefruit

No comments

 

[OnTheLine]

Yeah .... way too much free time. Have accomplished too many home projects ... turns out I am pretty good at making screens for windows! Have learned how to make a mitre cut even!
Also re-shingled 1/2 of the garage roof ... other 1/2 hopefully this weekend.
Inside of the garage ... purged and organized
Kitchen pantry purged and organized

But still able to play a few times a week here .... just not my normal 6 days a week.

Never has my husband mentioned I play too much tennis .... because I would then turn around and tell him his 25 mile trail runs take too much time.

 

[sovertennis]

Without my lessons (all clubs and public courts are closed here), my mornings are vacant and my meticulously maintained schedule/routine has been eviscerated. I've had to find new, house-bound things to do. eg today I vacuumed and dusted the house (a job my wife usually claims because I allegedly "don't do it right--go mow or something"). I've always read a lot--now I read more. I cook nice, semi-inventive meals. I try to call at least one friend daily--sometimes those to whom I have not spoken in months. I've increased my cycling to 16-17 hours/week, so if any big cycling events/races are held after the crisis has abated, I'll be ready.

I miss coaching and interacting with my players--coaching was a big social outlet for me. As the Queen said so well, "We will be together again soon."

 

[Dartagnan64]

Sadly I've had to work at my essential service job. My meager tennis time has merely been replaced by cycling.

But I have taken the opportunity as someone with a recession/pandemic proof occupation to do some cooking and delivery to my friends who aren't working these days. Nothing spreads cheer like a bowl of chili or a rack of smoked ribs in tough times.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Nothing spreads cheer like a bowl of chili or a rack of smoked ribs in tough times.

If you're in SoCal, I'll take one of each, please!

 

[Cashman]

Am still working full time (albeit WFH), and I only ever played around 4hrs a week - so things haven’t changed much. Have always been a massive reader so that has just been business as usual.

The extra time has mostly gone into beach runs with the dog, or doing odds and ends around the house.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Today I cut my wife's hair. Unprecedented times indeed. You know a woman is desperate when she lets her husband get anywhere near her hair with scissors.

Where I live they stopped all traffic through Stanley Park so cycling through there has been a joy. In the early mornings, you have one of the worlds great parks almost to yourself. So sometimes good things do come out of bad. Hope they consider doing this more in the future.

 

[Ft.S]

I picked up cycling too nowadays, trying to ride every day as weather permits. Picking up a bike has been a challenge to say the least, more complicated than picking up a racket frankly. The last time I rode a bike was in high school, apparently I had forgotten how much fun it is. Also, to my surprise, our county has been doing much work in supporting cyclists with special trail maps, traffic stress maps, etc. I am only few days into cycling and it has been a superbly pleasant distraction during these unusual times.

 

[Dartagnan64]

I picked up cycling too nowadays, trying to ride every day as weather permits. Picking up a bike has been a challenge to say the least, more complicated than picking up a racket frankly. The last time I rode a bike was in high school, apparently I had forgotten how much fun it is. Also, to my surprise, our county has been doing much work in supporting cyclists with special trail maps, traffic stress maps, etc. I am just into few days into cycling and it has been a superbly pleasant distraction during these unusual times.

Yes I sold my Vespa and bought an e-bike to serve as my new transport around the city and was amazed at how much infrastructure there was for cycling. I've not missed the motor scooter one bit as I can often get places faster along the cycle lanes away from traffic.

It's probably one of the safest forms of exercise right now. You are adequately distanced from others, you get fresh air and sunshine (Yay vit D). And the roads are far safer right now.

 

[Ft.S]

Yes I sold my Vespa and bought an e-bike to serve as my new transport around the city and was amazed at how much infrastructure there was for cycling. I've not missed the motor scooter one bit as I can often get places faster along the cycle lanes away from traffic.

It's probably one of the safest forms of exercise right now. You are adequately distanced from others, you get fresh air and sunshine (Yay vit D). And the roads are far safer right now.

I am ashamed to say that after 30 years in the county, I am just discovering some of amazing sites, lakes and trails thanks to cycling. Without a doubt, I have wasted much time in front of a computer haha.

 

[rogerroger917]

Also less time wasted worrying about parking spots.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[sureshs]

I am ashamed to say that after 30 years in the county, I am just discovering some of amazing sites, lakes and trails thanks to cycling. Without a doubt, I have wasted much time in front of a computer haha.

I discovered a secret duck pond minutes from my place and used it for walking a few times, but the city wised up and sealed it off.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Made an amazing beef bourguignon this weekend. I riffed on Julia Child's classic recipe and it turned out great.

If there's one thing I can say about this lockdown, my cooking skills have definitely improved. I'm working on the french and italian classics to go with my BBQ repertoire.

 

[KamehamehaBackhand]

I made lasagna bolognese (bechamel is so much better than the ricotta found in most American lasagnas) and arroz con camarones this weekend.

We have also been playing a lot of the board game Pandemic. The Legacy version is especially fun; we named one of the diseases COVID-19.

Haven't been on a tennis court in almost 2 months

 

[Dartagnan64]

I made lasagna bolognese (bechamel is so much better than the ricotta found in most American lasagnas)

Lol ricotta. Where I grew up they used cottage cheese. Ewww.

I agree that bechamel should be the expectation in a proper lasagna.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Made a great [IMO] bolognese with Tagliatelle, parmesan [not Parmesan, since it wasn't from the Reggiano area], and a deep bodied red.

Somewhat takes the sting out of the lack of tennis.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Made a great [IMO] bolognese with Tagliatelle, parmesan [not Parmesan, since it wasn't from the Reggiano area], and a deep bodied red.

Somewhat takes the sting out of the lack of tennis.

One of my favorite italian pasta dishes. As long as that Parmesan didn't come out of a green Kraft container.

This weekend I'm making Lyonnaise Chicken with Morels with a nice Chardonnay.