Sweet Spring Sunshine

Temp 70 Water Temp 55. 

Today at the lake it was gloriously sunny and warm. The water was fairly glassy, except for occasional small wakes from boats. We were five today, a record! D, K4, K6, I, and me! A combo of swimmers, some in wetsuits some in just swimsuits. 

The park was buzzing with people walking dogs, playing soccer on the grass, hanging around in hammocks, sunbathing on the beach. Lots of windsurfers, which kind of sucked because one of them glided right through the swim area and could have hit one of us. Dick. 

Where Were All of You in December?

It’s a drag sharing the lake with boaters; they don’t seem to pay attention to rules or look out for others. Kayakers and paddle boarders get it it. The jet ski morons do not. Small motorized boats don’t seem to get it either. They come way too close to us. 

I tried not to let it bother me, but I did pay extra attention with more people in the water. I didn’t bring her buoy, so I gave her my yellow swim cap to wear since she stayed for an hour and swam way out of the swim area. It is really hard to see people, so I understand why it’s so important to wear bright contrasty caps and buoys. 

Working on My Stroke…and Having a Stroke

There were so many amazing sunbeam tunnels today, but I got that over with quickly so I could focus on practicing my crawl stroke. I didn’t tuck my gloves under my sleeves, so they filled with water when I tried to swim crawl. I always tuck them in, but didn’t care today. Also, it’s warm enough that I’m not wearing the 5mm gloves anymore. Time to pack away the 5mm hood, too. It could still get cold when the mountain snow melts, but I’m really ready to shed my thermal gear. 

I tore two deep, large holes in my wetsuit while I was putting it on, then started checking it and found 4 or 5 other similar holes — all the way to the lining. Crestfallen. My Orcs suit was expensive, and it’s a really nice suit, BUT it tears way too easily. It’s ridiculously hard to get on; it’s even hard to get off. So I’m pissed that it is so fragile. I sat on the edge of my bed with a tube of Aquaseal, squirting it all over the holes. It’s like crashing and wrecking a car five minutes after driving out of the dealership. 

I need to get over it, but it is frustrating to try so hard to be careful and still destroy the suit. I’m not saving it “for good” anymore. I’m just gonna wear the sh*t out of it. Swimming is helping me so much with my depression and PTSD, and if I have to replace the suit next season so be it. 

After lots of out and backs from the dock I just floated in the water, talking to K6 and K4. I can’t describe how nice it is to have swim buddies. We all do our own thing in the water, but sharing the lake is so fun. 

When I was showering it was funny to notice that I could take my time getting out of my gear and into clothes because it was so warm. No more 40 F days with skin burning wind. 

Got home and put on Big Star while I got dressed. Love me some summer music. Makes me wonder how teens today get the feels if their listening to HipHop and Rap. The rock ballad is such a key part of my young emotional life. I mean, what good is 7th grade if you don’t get to slow dance with Jim Caster to Journey? 

Happy Spring. Love to you.