The furthering of my infatuation with baseball.

I didn't want to come right out and say it (see: My previous post), but my parents decided to wait until I turned 45 to truly spoil me, and I couldn't be happier. They're sending me to Tucson, AZ, to partake in the Colorado Rockies Fantasy Camp. I leave Tuesday. This Tuesday. Less than 72 hours from now.

I'm honored. I'm anxious. I'm curious. I'm scared. I'm nervous. I'm cloud-walking. I'm just going haywire. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for which I am grateful.

So, to that end, I have done my best to balance being a father, being a husband, running a business, and doing all of the things that those things entail with getting myself in better shape for this Gig. I don't want to let my parents down. I don't want to let myself down. I don't want to let my fellow Campers down. I don't want to look back on this and feel like I didn't give the best that I had to give. Because This Type of Thing doesn't come around EVER.

For example, I've been jumping rope to increase my agility. I was doing pull-ups, push-ups, and sit-ups for strength. I've been playing catch with myself against the wall of a vacant nearby middle-school. In fact, I came up with a great game I play with myself there. I found a tree located about 30 feet between where I place myself and the school. So you have me, tree, and big wall-of-building. I throw a rubber ball at the tree, and stand back in anticipation of where it's gonna go. Since I never know (assuming I don't miss the damn thing altogether – although that doesn't suck, due to said proximity of me to the building behind the tree) which way the ball is going to carom, it's like fielding a ball hit off of a bat. OK. It's probably nothing like fielding a ball hit off of a bat. But in my little brain it is. In my anticipatory little brain it's just like fielding a ball hit off of a bat. Yeah. I'm in for a big surprise, I'm sure of that.

This tree and I had a very nice relationship. Sure, she fought me at first. But I talked her into making sure that most of the balls I threw at her caromed to my right to mimic what I imagine to be a right-handed-heavy batting order in this Gig. I suppose if I end up playing third base or left field I'll be sorry, but I was playing my bets.

Anyway, keep your eyes posted to this page for I plan on filling it with a nightly update of what's gone down. Stay tuned.