December 25, 2019 (No Play)
Christmas Day

Time to catch up on my writing! It’s been a rainy and very busy December for me.

On Friday (December 20), I read online that the new 2020 pickleball IFP rulebook is out. I haven’t finished reading all of the changes summary document—they changed a lot of wording for clarity, and I mean a lot—the summary is 42 pages! The only two major things I’ve noticed so far are that now, either member of the receiving team may make a “not ready” signal (not just the proper server), and the second thing is that a team can overrule a line call provided it is to their own disadvantage—in other words, a display of good sportsmanship.

On Saturday night (December 21), there was a small party at a neighbor’s house. While there, one of the neighbor’s sister Diane was there with her husband Jeff who have been learning pickleball. They’d only been out a handful of times, but given that we spent an hour talking about pickleball—rules, strategy, skill levels, where to play—they are obviously seriously interested in it!

My makeshift pickleball court for explanation purposes.
(Lighter for candles, wine cork, bottle caps as players and a pen to indicate the net!)

They mentioned that they’d signed up at a website and were given a PDF copy of a book. I figured maybe it was from the Pickleball Guru or CJ Anderson. Mark Renneson doesn’t have a book that he gives out that I know about. Anyway, they claimed it was a 200-page book. I was curious and asked them to forward it to me.

On Monday afternoon (December 23), they forwarded me a PDF copy of that book. When I received it, I was pretty shocked. It was a copy of Gale Leach’s Art of Pickleball book in its entirety!

Today, Christmas Day, I opened the gift from Connor, a friend of my son’s, whom I hired when he needed a job. It was a book, “History of Pickleball” by Jennifer Lucore and her mom Beverly. I’ve had my eye on this book, so I’m delighted to have it!

‘History of Pickleball’ for Christmas!

Thursday, December 26, 2019 (Court Day #326)

It was in the mid-50s as I made my way to Brommer Park. (Work is closed today.) Thursdays aren’t club play days, but my hope was there’d be some players there and I could get into a game. And the last thing I’d need would be all the players there to be in priorly arranged private games from which I’d be excluded. I arrived about 10:30. There were about eight parked cars—a small number. I pulled around in my car to get a glimpse of the courts. It was hard to see, but one was in use with at least one person waiting.

As I walked up, there were two players already waiting but it wasn’t long before Rick A. got there and I was into a game. Newbie Bill was there. John P. Colleen. Jean. Later, Dean showed up and played a game with John P. and some others. Then the rest of Dean’s foursome appeared, Jan, Mike and a woman named Sally. Later, Dean walked over while a couple of us who were sitting on the wall waiting and told us to watch Sally in that she was very deliberate with her shots, not rushed, and made very few mistakes—a very good player.

It had been so long since I’d played that I was entirely out of my routine. I had forgotten to put on sunscreen—fortunately, I keep some in my backpack—and I also forgot to pack a water bottle! I ended up making a couple of runs to the water fountain.

I checked the time. 1:36. I was getting hungry and the game I was waiting to finish and join wasn’t even halfway done. I opted to head home for lunch.

Games going at 1:30. Colleen and Rick on the near side.
Dean, Jane, Mike, and Sally on the far court.

Saturday, December 28, 2019 (No Play)

I ended up writing Gale Leach, the author of that book that was emailed to me, to make sure she knows that her book is being given away. Maybe it’s all legitimate, but maybe it’s violating her copyright. Regardless, I wanted to make sure that she knows.

Well, Gale is quick! She emailed back within an hour and said her book is being given away by Pickleball Central. She got paid up front for permission for them to do it, so she’s happy with the arrangement.

I’m a little sore from the play a couple of days ago. It had been weeks since I’d played and my body isn’t used to it. Sad!

Number of days on a court: 326
Number of total hours: 917.5

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