On the eve of my family’s arrival, I am giddy with excitement as I type this. Don’t take it personally, but I am going to write this Thursday Rundown quickly so I can get back to preparing for them.

Missing the Derby – This past Saturday was a little sad without a Kentucky Derby to watch. Well, let’s be honest, it was sadder because I didn’t have a Kentucky Derby party to go to. For a few years we had a blast going to my former supervisor’s house to enjoy the Run for the Roses. Dressing up was mandatory. Here are a few photos from non-pandemic years.

A look at some of the past Kentucky Derby parties.

The Last Dance – I have watched the first six episodes of “The Last Dance” and I will do my best to watch the last four. Growing up as a kid, I hated the Chicago Bulls. Hated them. Not a Michael Jordan fan either. But now that I am older, I can forgive the fact that they beat my two favorite teams (Sonics and Jazz) over the span of three consecutive years in the Finals. Not bitter anymore, I have enjoyed watching the colorful personalities and incredible achievements of these Chicago basketball teams. Some of the footage is priceless and the interviews candid.

I am really enjoying “The Last Dance.”

More Local Delicacies – A couple weeks ago, I told my parents I was going to treat them to my favorite donut place in the world, Retro Donuts. I made good on my promise this past Saturday as I visited the shop and brought an assortment of breakfast delights home. Well, I guess I kind of owed it to my mom and dad because the night before they ordered from my favorite Spokane pizza place, McClains. The spicy thai pie is out of this world and it once again did not disappoint.

Was spoiled over the weekend with Retro Donuts and McClains.

A Viral Celebration – With most universities and high schools forced to cancel in-person commencement exercises, many institutions have worked hard to offer online alternatives. On Saturday, Washington State University will host a virtual celebration to honor our graduates. Our digital event will be significant because it will be one of the first in higher education; WSU is on semesters and commencement is held early. Thus, lots of people and other institutions will be watching as we set the standard. I have the pleasure of helping out with the celebration’s social media efforts and am looking forward to a great show!

WSU will host a virtual celebration on Saturday.

Watching Your Weight During a Pandemic – For those not worried about contracting COVID-19 but rather gaining “the COVID-19,” there is some good news. According to a scale maker that is privy to the weights of customers who use its internet-connected product, people are typically gaining just .21 pounds per month during quarantine. That sounds re-assuring but I am still scared out of my wits to step on the scale after nearly eight weeks of not going to the gym.

People are for the most part maintaining weight during the pandemic.

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Big day tomorrow. I ask that you pray for my wife, daughter, son, in-laws, and their pilots as they make the cross-country trip. Enjoy the rest of your evening. Don’t Blink.

It became automatic. Someone would ask me when my family would be arriving in Washington and before they could get the entire question off their tongue, I would respond with the exact number of days until their arrival.

“29 days.”

“22 days, basically three weeks.”

“Only 11 days!”

“My favorite number…seven days.”

“FIVE FRICKIN DAYS!”

You get the picture? I had a page-a-day countdown calendar in my head that would dutifully rip to the next number at midnight. But the page-a-day mental calendar has now been replaced by a digital clock counting down the time in hours and minutes. Right now it reads about 41(h):15(m).

It has been a long wait, one characterized by delays and cancellations, but my wife, daughter, and baby boy are set to arrive Friday at noon. By the time they touchdown on Spokane soil, it will have been exactly eight weeks since I last saw them.

It has been nearly three weeks since I have seen my wife and babies.

As I flew out to Washington, I remember feeling like it would be eternity until I saw my family again. At that point, we had April 16 circled on our calendars for when they would arrive. But COVID concerns halted the original plan and pushed out what seemed like a distant date even further. Thus, a new countdown started with an arrival date of Thursday, May 7.

Just as the new target date switched from days to hours, we received more bad news beyond our control: Delta had cancelled my family’s flight. Thanks to Sidney’s fast thinking, she re-booked a new flight just 20 hours later on American Airlines. She made the arrangements before even telling me, saving my stress levels from going through the roof.

Barring no more surprises, my wife and kids will be here at noon on Friday. My in-laws are graciously accompanying them on the long flight. I am thankful for all the people who have consistently reached out to me with inquiries on the arrival date, words of encouragement, and stories of their own about being separated from their families. I am even more thankful to Sidney, who has done such an incredible job taking care of Sloan and Beau in my absence. Playing this waiting game has been tough, but as my dad told me yesterday, it will only make seeing them all the sweeter. Don’t Blink.

This weekend I heard the true story about a man who decided to quarantine at Disney World. Faced with endless spots to practice social distancing at the gigantic park, he didn’t make a bad choice. He opted for a tropical oasis called Discovery Island.

Although he didn’t make a bad choice in terms of park attraction, he did make a bad choice in terms of breaking the law––Disney World apparently discourages trespassers, especially during a global pandemic. The 42-year-old man named Richard McGuire was arrested after managing to live on the island for about 72 hours.

Unlike Richard McGuire, Disney World would not be my first choice to quarantine at.

The bizarre story got me thinking: If I had no obligations and couldn’t care less about breaking and entering, where would I quarantine? Well, I have a list of 10 possibilities.

Las Vegas Strip Casino – Any place on the Strip––whether it be Caesar’s Palace, the Venetian, the MGM, etc.––is like a mini city with all the amenities you could ever need. Besides all that, the biggest draw for me would be staying in the high roller suites!

The possibilities during quarantine would be extensive inside a Vegas casino.

Major League Baseball Stadium – By day I would relax in a lawn chair out in center field and by night I would lounge in the cozy home team clubhouse watching the big screen televisions.

I would do just fine spending the quarantine inside a MLB stadium.

Barnes & Noble – When I stop at this store, I always spend way more time inside than I originally planned. I am sure that a life of quarantine inside a Barnes & Noble would be pleasant. I would spend a week in one genre and then move to a new one the following week. The café would keep me fed, hydrated, and happy.

The Mall – What’s not to like about ample room to jog indoors and numerous entertainment options to keep myself stimulated? In the evening I would retreat to one of the department stores so I could get my zzzzzz’s on an ultra-comfy couch or big bed.

I think I would sleep well at the mall.

Sporting Goods Store – I think I could live on Power Bars for a few months. You see, my diet would be secondary if I had access to all the exercise equipment my heart desired. I would also be able to work on my golf swing and sleep in tents at night.

Movie Theater – Contingent on someone joining me who could actually work the projector, I would love to ride out the pandemic at a movie house. I would walk out of the place at the end of COVID an esteemed film critic and a complete slob––can you imagine all the popcorn I would eat?!

I wouldn’t object to sheltering from this pandemic inside a movie theater.

Fancy Hotel – This might be the best option on the entire list. If I could infiltrate an abandoned luxury hotel, I would have all my needs met. Business center, nice gym, good food, and comfy sleeping quarters.

Dave & Buster’s – If I was looking for a place to stay during quarantine that would challenge me to better myself each day, Dave & Buster’s would be my best bet. With all the time I would spend there, I can’t think of any excuse that would prevent me from breaking all the high scores and records on the various games. Whenever I would need a break, I could find comfort at the bar watching the endless big screens.

I would be kept very busy inside a Dave & Buster’s.

Local YMCA – I could easily hang out at a fitness club by myself for a duration of time. My days would be structured by shooting hoops on the basketball court, swimming in the pool, getting my pump on in the gym, and maybe playing some solo racquetball. With shower facilities readily available, this arrangement would be perfect.

Cheesecake Factory – These restaurants aren’t known simply for their incredible food and ridiculously in-depth menus but for the nice buildings they operate out of (a reason why many of them are all currently shut down). Not only would I eat like a king for every meal, but I would be able to choose a different dining area to enjoy each one of them in.

Camping out inside a vacant Cheesecake Factory would be an interesting way to ride out the Coronavirus.

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No matter how enticing some of these options might be, there is still a location that I would always choose in a heartbeat over the above 10 places: home.

Although at times it might feel like the walls are closing in, we must never find ourselves taking for granted the opportunity we have to shelter from this pandemic with those we love the most. Trust me, it is better than Disney World. Don’t Blink.