Swimmingly

[talyen]

Last night I didn't practice flip-turns while I was swimming, since I was also going to drum class. See, I don't remember to breathe out of my nose while I'm upside down under water, so the water gets in ... and ruins my singing voice for a day or so. Especially when I do flip-turns over and over for 15 - 20 minutes. The next day, I still sound like I'm talking under water.

Tonight I want to try to swim entire laps. I admit that I am still scared of the deep end, although much less so than I have been. I can fake breast stroke for the entire length of the pool, but doing the crawl is really hard. I hate not being able to breathe for so long. So tonight, that will be my task. Tomorrow is the last swim class of the session, and I'm considering taking another series. I think the extra pressure to swim will help me keep going to the pool, even once I can run again.

I still don't feel like I'm in shape. It's not that I don't work out, because I do: I lift weights 3 times a week, I'm up to walking almost every other day for (this week) 25 minutes each time (that's 2 miles if I stretch the time), and I swim 4 times a week. I just feel really out of shape, since I gained weight from not running. And since my leg kills me if I try to walk every day. I miss summer. I keep thinking that everything would be better if it were summer.

This weekend, Catherine and I started planning a summer garden. We looked at heirloom seeds, and talked about where we might plant them. I have a little space, she has a little space, and we could try to get a little space from the city, near where I run. I desperately need to think about growing things, about sun and warmth and produce. February is a harsh month. Even "simple" fun varieties of tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos, swiss chard, and the basic herbs would make grocery bills smaller and food more fun. Not to mention being able to have something growing! We are not sure where to start the seedlings, but we're working on that. Cats make the equation more interesting.

Comments

[legocoach.livejournal.com]

I strongly encourage the gardening thoughts -- it's good for people to think about growing things. One thing you might try to start seedlings is building container greenhouses. You can be fancy about this, and get some planters with clear plastic lids at garden stores, or you can do what my grandfather did and cut 2-liter pop bottles in half and put those over the seedlings. Done with rubber bands, etc., it should be relatively cat-proof.
Good luck!

[talyen.livejournal.com]

The rubber bands are a great idea! The cats are such stinkers, especially Gracie and Kurzan.

[legocoach.livejournal.com]

Glad it's workin' for ya.