It was a misty, drippy morning; warm and muggy, slightly raining. The world felt quiet and sleepy as I slipped into the water for Adult Swim. The scene was set for a relaxing swim, a meditative lapping back and forth, getting into a zone. Ha! They fooled me. For today’s workout, we had to spell… Read More Butterfly (Day 214)
I was supposed to go to yoga at the club this morning and Karen offered to feed me if I came by her house after. For a variety of reasons I didn’t make it to yoga and so I decided to swim over to Karen’s instead. I set off on what is now my usual… Read More Lunch Date (Day 213)
It was a three-swim day: the first was to wake up after a late night of fun and not enough sleep. The second was an escape; a fleeing from irritating chores and conversations, from my own bad mood. That was my longest swim of the day; around the bay and back again, a lovely retreat… Read More Clearing my Head (Day 212)
A highlight of each summer at the lake is the Lawrence Irany Great Relay Race. Now in its 36th year, the race starts off with a 6.5-kilometer bike ride along the windy, gravelly ups and downs of the lake roads. The biker then hands the baton (sweatband) over to a runner for a 4.5-kilometer trek… Read More The Great Relay Race (Day 211)
It was a little cold and blustery today, as if Autumn was whispering from the other room; not here yet, but promising she’d be arriving soon. Isabelle and I went over to Karen’s to lounge in her lovely screened-in porch and soon Diane joined us, then Kevin, Eliza and Lulu. We drank tea and talked,… Read More Gratitude (Day 210)
I had just completed my 300 warm-up in Adult Swim when the thought struck me: I forgot to turn off the oven. It wasn’t a question, but a terrible certainty. I made granola this morning and, because I was rushing, I stuck it in the oven at 350 with the intention of turning the oven… Read More The Oven (Day 209)
It was a gorgeous morning; the lake was calm and glistening in the sun; warm and still. I went to the long-distance swim activity for the first time in a few weeks and was so glad that I did. Marco, Paige, Natalie and I swam out to the island and back with Hazel and Tannis… Read More Beautiful Morning (Day 208)
Eliza arrived at the lake today! She’s been home in Berkeley working all summer and the world feels like a better place now that all four of us are back together under one roof, at least for a little while. Eliza joined me for the first part of my swim and I got to vicariously… Read More Eliza Reunion! (Day 207)
Regardless of where I’m swimming (okay, maybe not the pool), I always spend at least a little time worrying about something. Am I getting too much sun? Is this water polluted and did I just drink a gallon of it? What creatures are lurking under me? Will there be waves? Are these currents getting stronger?… Read More Things I Worry About While Swimming (Day 206)
It’s possible that this Sunday felt even lazier than the last. I was lolling around, reading, doing a bit of laundry, not even mustering up the energy to wonder where I was going to swim when Hazel and Sam announced they were going for a swim. “I’ll come with you!” I said. They kindly agreed… Read More The Neighborhood (Day 205)