Hard decision, lots of help needed

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

Carlene has been missing for 2 weeks now, and says she does not feel well. I don't know if it is the weather or the holiday that is the problem. I can't call her because I do not have her number, but she at least has mine. I waited both days last week, but nobody showed. This week and next, the Y has special scheduling in our time slot due to the Winter Break for the schools. I have turned in an advertisement to be posted at the Y for my class, hoping to get the New Years people to come and hopefully stay.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

It is now official, as of last night. I no longer have a class to teach. I got the call from the Aquatitc's director about 8 last night. I am going to guess that this has been handed down from on high and was not his idea. I do not know what is going to happen to the time slot as of yet,like if the pool will even be open from 2-3 anymore, or if I could continue to lead myself in the exercises, which if that is the case, I will.

There is still the class at the other nearby Y with my original teacher, so all is not lost for me, but it will be difficult if gas goes up to the projected $4 a gallon by May as predicted by this mornings paper (they say it will be over $3 by Christmas day).

I am sad,and a little bummed, but I knew this was coming for a while. I tried. That is all I could do, and I did it. I kept the class limping along as best I could. I do not blame myself. The same thing could have happened if Vince was still the instructor, and there were times that no one showed up for him too, so I am not taking this personally.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

As this year comes to a close, and it is closing on a sour note for a lot of us,I found myself thinking about this year as a whole. I found some surprising things.

When I began this thread, I was seeking support for a hard decision and hoping others were in the same situation. I did (and still do) need that support that I found. I found more encouragement than I did from my own family and still find more support than I do from my family.

I found unconditional support,the encouragement when needed and a kick in the pants when needed. I of course am hoping that this new year brings more hope and promise than the old one did on the job front, and I hope to make and reach new goals in the pool.

But, how far I have come this year alone. When I started I was terrified. Now, I much more confident in what I know I can do. In April, I would never have thought I would ever do a mile at one time by the end of the year. Not only did I do that, I did 2 months ahead of time! I have lost around 20 lbs. in this time, and I have taught a class. Did I ever think I could? No.

I have been told in another thread that I am an inspiration to others. Outside of the under 12 set, I have never thought that possible. I mean, who would want to look to me for a role model? I don't do anything exceptional. I'm loud, talk too much and just live my life the best way I know how. Sure I read, give to charity, sing, bake, and love my friends as much as anyone, but what do I do?

This year I found out what I do. I try.

So, this new year, I hope will bring me to the goal of a 3/4 mile as my normal swim time (instead of a 1/2 mile each time), I hope for a new,long term job with a good family, that my mom finds work, that all of you who are not working find work, find good health, and keep up what good work you have started. For those of you just starting, well, we are here. It's just fine to be scared and we understand.


HAPPY NEW YEAR one and all, may it be a good one.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

I have been walking with a heavy burden I did not realize that I had until today when it was lifted. As I have mentioned, my mom announced on Christmas day that she will losing her job by years end. So, since I feel like a burden to her already since she has been helping me since I am not working, I have been feeling like crud. Not to be selfish sounding, but I have been wondering what may happen to my Y membership if I cannot find a job before she loses hers.

Narain said that if push comes to shove that he will give up his membership and pay mine since I get more out of it than he does. That was not the burden lifter.

I talked to the membership person today. My mom can come in under my scholarship (which means no joiner fee) and it can be worked out that she becomes the primary member, meaning she can get the senior rate and get a scholarship on top of that. That would be a HUGE savings and Narzain can keep his membership as well.

I fell so light, I could float.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

So, yesterday, I had a not so small panic attack when I thought I had lost something very precious to me. I discovered it was missing just as I was changing for swimming. I have an aquamarine necklace that I wear all the time and have for 18 years, ever since my parents gave it to me at a graduation from High School present. My scarf caught on the clasp and opened it. I found it (VERY THANKFULLY next to my car in the slush). I came back into the Y in a state, so rattled that I couldn't feel my knees.

I was not sure how far I would get since I was so shaken. Not only did I do my normal 1/2 mile, I manged to do a 1/4 mile in only 20 minutes and do 6 extra lengths in 5 minutes! I swam 50 lengths yesterday, and am very proud of myself.

And for those of you who are wondering, yes, I put the necklace in a safe place while I was swimming and it is now back around my neck where it belongs.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

I actually had a one day job this week that may turn into a temporary one to help out a woman who is having surgery next month. So, I did not get to swim Wed. due to having to work ( I LOVE saying that!.

So I decided that I was going to do a 3/4 mile yesterday (Fri.) to kinda make up for it.

I not only reached the 3/4 mile, I manged to reach 70 lengths before I got too tired to go on. I also manged to do a 1/4 mile in 16 minutes, which is 4 minutes off of my average of 20. I have been able to do it in 15, but not consistently. I am trying to get a 1/4 mile done in 15 minutes, so that I can get 1/2 mile done in a half hour so that I can work on making a mile my norm. Then from there, well, we'll see.

All in all, I am very proud of myself!

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

O.K. I have a "no sh*t there I was story today. I went swimming on Thursday this week since Wednesday's weather made it difficult to get out of my driveway (snow plow junk at the foot of it from the side street that is catty-corner to mine). So, no big deal. I did my 1/2 mile and went again yesterday. Here in lies the story. I do 50 lengths. Cool.

I go back to back to the shower room bathroom stall to pee and get ready to go to the shower to rinse off. Upon coming out of the stall, I see that my underwear is missing! I put it on the drying room bench like I have for months and it is gone. I went to my locker to see if I had accidentally put it in there, but I hadn't. I even went back to the pool area to see if it had stuck to my towel or something. Nope. Somebody took my panties.

I checked with lost and found but no one turned them in as of yesterday. I know I have found things like lotion and brushes and that that I have turned in, but not clothing in the drying room. Now, for those of you who don't know, I have to go through the drying room, then the showers to get to the pool. The stated policy is to dry off in this area before going into the carpeted locker room. Well, from now on, I am going to keep my things locked up and take them back into the room to change.

Sheesh! If somebody needed my size 14's that badly, all they had to do was ask!

[Paul]

OMG! ROFL! I am sorry, I couldn't help but laugh due to a flashback this triggered. No sh*t, there I was in the laundromat with a friend who also wears a somewhat-bigger-than-size-2 panty. She had finished her clothes and was folding everything, working on her "Granny panties" when she looked up and saw some old geezer staring at her every move. She was so creeped out that I laughed for an hour. Bad Paul I know, but I couldn't help it. It still creeps her out today, years later. Snicker snicker

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

I was laughing more than I was mad. I really cannot see what anyone would want with them, unless they were sailing a boat and needed a new sail.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

I have some pretty neat news. I have been interviewed by the YMCA for a testimonial regarding my experiences there. I will be in the newsletter and on the website. It will also appear in the new literature for the Strong Kids program.

Cool, huh?

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

I did not swim last week due a mysterious rash that does not hurt or itch.

Well, yesterday was my normal visit to the doctor (meaning I have to go around every 3-4 months for them to monitor my thyroid). Some the whoo has been taken out of my hoo. Remember back in July when I was so excited that the scale moved? Well, I found out yesterday that that was a fluke. The scale I was on, has been replaced by a digital scale that goes up to 500lbs. instead of the slide scales that only go up to 350lbs. I now have a accurate base line on my weight, and yes, I know since we didn't have one to begin with, that this is not necessarily the end all or be all, but I came in at 358 lbs. which is a lot more that what I thought I was back in July. I am very disappointed right now and in tears. I thought I was further along than I was and yes, as it was pointed out just now by the boyfriend, now I have a base line, and I have been improving.

So, I guess I just need to forget about the numbers and just concentrate on what I am doing in the pool and focus on those numbers. That way, I will be able to measure my progress much better.

As for the rash, it is contact dermatitis most likely from the soap at the Y that they provide in the dispenser in the shower room. So, I just have to not use that when I rinse off and it will go away on it's own.

Today, I swim.

[Paul]

Sweetie, I avoid the scale like the plague. So many things can throw off the readings including the time of day, the time of month for those of us who are estroegenally blessed, and so very much more. Try to pay attention to what you are able to do s compared to what you could do before and how the clothes fit.

ALSO!!!!! It is VERY important to remember that muscle is much more dense than fat, and thus you will loose inches while not loosing pounds or even gaining weight. But you will still be loosing the fat.

See, I know a LOT more than I do lol. BIG hugs, we are PROUD of you!

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

I am proud of myself too. I think what it was for me was having an accurate weight now that they have the digital scale and not the slide balance ones. (I would like to add that the original scale that was replaced was proven to be broken.) I am not letting this be a set back like it would have been for me in the past. I now know a base line and I can now follow muscle mass and what not better than before. I know I have made progress as some of my clothes are fitting better and I can walk farther that I could before I start to hurt, and things of that nature.

I am not defined by my weight, I define who I am. Right now, I would define myself as a person who is trying and succeeding at what I am trying to do. Yesterday, I did my 1/2 mile and I will (weather permitting) would like to do 1/2-3/4 mile tomorrow.

For that, I am very proud of myself.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

Last Wed. I swam a 1/2 mile, but could not get out of my house due to a 6 1/2 foot snow drift on Fri.

Yesterday, I did a 1/2 mile + 6 more lengths for a total of 50. I am trying to get my body used to that so the 3/4 mile becomes natural.

Tip: Do not sneak up on people in a pool while they are on their back. This happened to me yesterday as one of the regulars I swim with came over to give me a compliment. After scaring the bajoopies out of me, she wanted to tell me that I am no longer making "waves" when I swim.

That is cool to know. It means that 1) I have lost weight so my displacement is less and 2) I am getting stronger as a swimmer, therefore more efficient.

Cool!

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

I had a very nice phone call yesterday. It was the kind of phone call that makes you feel good. Due to the shoulder wrench I managed, I did not go swimming last week on Wednesday or Friday, and due the funeral, the Friday before that. So, I have missed 3 days of swimming, and I feel like I can handle this week so I am planning on going Wednesday.

O.K. so here comes the phone part. I was out doing errands with the boyfriend since it was his day off, and we go back to my house to find a message on the answering machine from my life guard at the Y. (Now mind you, she also works at the front desk when her shift as guard is over to balance her hours). She was calling to check on me to make sure I was alright because she hadn't seen me for a few sessions and had missed me. (It was one of those moments where you get an answer to the question we all think "If anything happened to me, would anyone notice before the funny smell?" )

I called right away and spoke to her and assured her that I am indeed fine and why I wasn't there and she said that Barb, the other regular swimmer had even asked where I was.

That phone call made my day.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

Well, this week marked 1 year since I started this journey. I began on March 24, 2010 with 8 1/2 minutes on an elliptical that got away from me. Sunday will mark my first time taking the water class that lead me to the pool and swimming.

It is hard to believe that I have gotten this far. When I started, I figured that I would barely last 1 month, let alone the 3 the program was offered. I never thought that I would want to stay when it was all over. I have learned so much about myself in this last year and I keep learning even more.

This week, I did a respectable 3/4 mile in total, which I feel was truly well done on my part since I am still recovering from the shoulder injury and I do use that quite a lot in the pool.

Next week, I go back to working on 3/4 mile at a time.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

Last week, I only did a 3/4 mile is total again. On Friday, I took Narzain to work due his car having to go to he shop. I only swam a 1/4 mile, because,and I do not know why, I became exhausted at length 23. I just couldn't work past it.

Yesterday, I took a spill. I fell in the street while walking to Narzain's car (all fixed. It was a cheap and quick fix of a brake line clip). It was very windy and rainy yesterday and I was busy looking at a branch that was in my path and did not see a ping-pong ball sized piece of same branch also in my way. Down I went. My right leg is sore and bruised. I am generally fine today. I fell on my leg so no hitting of the head or anything like that, no blood either.

I do not know what this will do to my swimming tomorrow.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

For the second time in my life, I swam a continuous mile yesterday (4/20/11).

At the time, I was not proud of myself because my motivation was stress, but now I am proud. Who cares why I did it? I DID IT! WHEEEEE!

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

On Thursday, I had a major bout of low blood sugar. Now, I DO NOT have blood sugar issues and I did eat a very nice breakfast of a multi-grain bagel with low-fat cream cheese and coffee with skim milk and Splenda, so I do not know where it came from. I was still feeling a bit off on Friday (yesterday) when I went to the pool for the first time since the day before Narzain's surgery on May 5. So, I have missed about a week and a half, so big deal, I've missed that before. Now, I want it noted that I DID eat breakfast. I had a protein bar that athletes eat mind you, and yes I have eaten them before swimming in the past with no problems.

So, I decide that I am only going to do a 1/4 mile since I am tired and still calming down from the whole "in high alert status" that I have been in for a week (more on this theory in a moment). So, I do the 1/4 mile, and this little voice in the back of my mind says "You could do at least 30 you, know, you wuss." So, I do 30 lengths in spite of the fact that my knees feel a little rubbery (which was low blood sugar). So, now I'm thinking that maybe I should quit. Then the little voice in my head says, "Hey! Wuss! You can't handle 14 more? Sheesh! What a wimp!"

So, I do the 14 more that get me to the 1/2 mile.

Big mistake. I ended up at a fast food restaurant a few seconds from the Y to have a fruit parfait to help out the blood sugar. I also had a lemonade hoping that would help. It took 3 cookies to finally help. (Yes, I know O.J.is best, but they only serve that for breakfast at this location).

Now, I have a theory. I think all of this "high state of alert/anxiety" that I have been under lately may have caused this. My diet last week was not horrible, but it was not routine,as in the fact that I was not eating on a normal schedule and now this week I am. I think the excess adrenaline caught up with me.

So had a an argument with myself and lost. Normally, it's over chocolate cake.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

So, yesterday I get in the pool with only one other person. No prob, we share the pool often. Suddenly, there is another swimmer and an older Asian couple who share a lane since she exercises (which she is NOT supposed to do during lap swim) and he sort of swims/exercises at the other end. Normally, this does not bother me too much, mildly annoys me that rules are not being enforced, but not usually a problem.

Here comes the problem. Some older guy, a Jack LaLaine type, gets in the pool between me and the woman on my left in the space BETWEEN (not the lane, the space) and starts swimming! And the lifeguard just sits there. After trying to do a lap, I asked the guard "How is this safe?" So, he spoke to the new guy and he got out, and stared down the pool, just like he was daring somebody to get out so he could swim. I almost did, and then I thought "The *bleep* with that! I was here first and I'm swimming!"

And I did. I did a 1/2 mile in 35 minutes. The first guy got out, the new guy got in,and just as I was leaving, a new swimmer took over my lane. I did complain to the desk and to the new aquatics director. My complaint was that it's only a 4 lane pool, and if you have people not following the posted rules, and the pool get busy, they should be asked to leave before a patron has too complain. (According to the lifeguards I have asked, the branch manager does not want to make the patrons mad, so it is only handled when someone complains or is bothered)so the lifeguards have laughable authority. Yesterday, I was told that this may change.


On the other hand, I got a phone call last night from my library to tell me that I had won a prize in the summer reading program. I won 2 tickets to the August 13 Browns vs. Packers pre-season game! :) Not only that, but I get to be an honorary Summer Reading American Flag holder during the National Anthem. I will get to be on the field! I am huge Browns/Indians fan, so this is really cool!

I am so excited, I have been jumping up and down all morning.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

This week I went on Tuesday because my car had to go to the mechanic on Friday and I wasn't sure it I would have a car. I did a 1/2 mile in a very crowded pool (it happened after I got in.) So it was mostly breast stroke with no back for relief. My mom let me borrow her car, so yesterday, I managed 1/2 mile and for some reason it was hard. Not a motivation problem, and energy problem. I felt stiff and slightly sore. I don't know if it was the heat, the fact that I had to mostly breast stroke on Tuesday or both. I swim in an indoor pool, but I had been running errands the day before....

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

Well, I managed 50 lengths yesterday, and I do not know if I will be able to go swimming this week on my normal Wednesday or not. This week will be the week I must bake my fair entries and I am trying to figure out my baking schedule so that I take the freshest products possible. (Kinda like how I am at Christmas time and I am baking a LOT more items.) I figure that I will get plenty of exercise walking around the grounds delivering and next week when I go to see the judging results.

I am no freaking out yet, this is my planning stage. I will freak out once the bakery is delivered and I will begin to panic about judging....

[Paul]

Congrats on the 50 lengths, and good luck on the baking contest. Sorry we haven't been more communicative, been busy at the house. We watched the neighbor's dog and got INFESTED with fleas. Yuck, but HUGS to you!

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

Well, I had my regularly scheduled 3,000 mile check in on Tuesday with the doctor. My cholesterol is excellent, my blood pressure fantastic, my thyroid (which I am being treated for)is perfect, and I have lost 7 lbs. since May 31, which was my last appointment.


My knee finally stopped bothering me last week so I went swimming yesterday. I only got in 1/4 mile before I had to quit because my knee said "NO!"
*sigh* I also had a job interview last week,my first in a while that went face to face instead of question and answer over the phone or job web site. I thought it went well, they contacted me and all. On the job sites I have to list my price range is by the hour or week. I heard from the family this morning telling me that they have filled the position and that I was just out of their budget.

I am confused. 1)I told her in the interview that I am negotiable from the rate listed and 2) my listed range fell in the range they posted. So this just leaves me devastated. I was feeling really good about this interview and about myself and now I feel like a rug has been pulled out from under me. I am feeling like I have been told that I am too stupid and fat to be of use.....

I know that is not true and that I am VERY good at what I do, and the economy is not helping. I am just not feeling too good about myself at the moment.

[Paul]

Great big HUGE huggies to you dearheart!

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

After a no so great start to my week, I ended on a higher note than expected. Sunday afternoon, my mother and I got the snarks and every time this happens, I end up feeling (intentional on her part or not) that the wrong person died 10 years ago. (My dad passed away suddenly from a massive heart attack on Dec. 31, 2001.) My mother does what I call the "martyr routine" where either she is very put upon or is suffering from "the I'll have to do this myself" guilt trip. Now mind you, I volunteer regularly to help take my grandma places and whatnot, but I always get turned down, so the massive packing of my bags and sending me on a guilt trip over the weekend did not do much for my outlook on life come Monday morning.

I did get to see the boyfriend at the library before he went to work and he knew how I was feeling. That night, he came over to pick me up so I could be with him the next day, which was his day off. Not only did he bring me a card that told me he had been thinking of me, he brought me a pair of hot pink,plastic skull earrings with crystal eyes. I was thrilled.

On Tuesday, I ordered a new bathing suit. Many of you know that I have needed one and am having trouble finding my size and a color other than black! I have a new catalog called M.i.B.and 99% of everything they carry goes up an 8x(!) and it all sizes are offered in all the colors so I took a chance. Well, I couldn't get the 6/7x, and had to go for the 4/5x, which really I needed a 5/6x which they did not offer. So I am nervous, but they offer free returns.

Wednesday, I did 32 lengths which is less than my usual 1/2 mile, but my knee was being cranky.

Thursday marked my grandma's 94th (yes, you read that right) birthday and we all went out to dinner. (She still lives on her own and drives (limited mind, but still can drive).

Friday, I did 32 again,but I quit because I was getting really tired and the last time I pushed myself when I was tired, I ended up with the very low blood sugar incident. When I got home, my suit had arrived. I tried it on and.......


WINNER!WINNER!CHICKEN DINNER! It fits! It is a size smaller than I normally wear and it fits! I am so happy! WHEEEEEEEE!

[Paul]

I am SOOOOOOO happy for you! YAY! {does the happy dance}

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

I got to try out the new suit last Friday and it is wonderful. It fits so well and I look so good in it!

[Narzain, The Minister of Awesome]

Yes, yes she does.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

I have been lax in posting here since I have been taking on-line classes and trying to deal with some things that have cropped up. I am still swimming my mile and doing well.

2 weeks ago, I was swimming like normal, and another person was swimming as well, when a guy got in the pool and started walking in the pool. Now, this is a long held grievance of mine and I have voiced this to the Aquatics directors repeatedly, that the posted rules state that open lap swim is for swimming only and that exercises are to be done at the posted times. The policy seems to be more reactive than proactive. The life guards (according to them when I've asked) can only step in if the other swimmers complain. Otherwise the rule breakers are left alone. There are only 4 lanes in the pool and this can get crowded when this happens because and I quote, "we are trying to accommodate all swimmers."

Never mind that there are more openings per day for the exercisers than the swimmers.

So, there I am and here comes the walker, walking the WIDTH of the pool and INTO my lane while I AM SWIMMING IN IT! Right at him and he gives ME the stink eye because I'm in HIS way! Now mind you, he was also walking across the other swimmer as well and gave her the same look. There sits the lifeguard staring into space and not doing his job, which to me he should have stepped in without anyone having to say anything as this was blatant safety issue.

I did lodge a complaint, this time to someone higher up the chain of command, and the following week I found that they put in 1 lane rope (that's the kind you see the Olympics to separate the swimmers) so now the pool is divided into 2 halves to keep anyone from walking across like that again. For now at least. This will change. I expect by the first of the year, that this will go away and we will be back to square 1.

My Y is the only one near me that offers the open swim daily. The other 2 have classes or open exercise times during the day, so going to a different location is not an option. I do not see how this helps anyone if their safety is in question. I can't swim during an organized class, so why should they be able to exercise during my swim time?

GRRRRRR!

Sorry, had to vent.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

So, I am keeping up with my swimming last week and I will swim this week. Next week and the week after are a little sketchy due to the holiday and the special schedule that the Y will have to accommodate the winter school break. I will be baking after all, scaled back from normal, due to my wonderful cousin who sent me a modest check for Christmas with the instructions to "buy baking supplies or what ever else I want." Needless to say, I was in tears over this kind act. my cousins were either adults when I was born, or are younger than me by at least 2 years or more (depends on which side of the family, on my dad's, I'm the youngest grandchild, on my moms', the oldest) so this cousin (on my mom's side) and I have always been close since our personalities are similar. She has been out of work almost as long as I have and yet she did this wonderful thing. I am beyond grateful and yes a thank you note will be on it's way as soon as I buy it today. (I am one of the few people who still send/give the darn things it seems.)

So yesterday, I wanted to crawl under a rock and stay there. As you know, I am doing the flowers for my best friends wedding in June and her bridal gifts. I ran into one of her sisters yesterday, jokingly said that "Your sister (my friend) is driving me crazy.", to the sister with no sense of humor as I was to find out. Now my friend is hurt (not by me) and thinks her sisters will now back out of the wedding. I feel like dreck and only want to finish my part and not even go to the wedding now since I fell that I may have caused this by accident.

I need a muzzle.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

So, I was not the cause of any problems, yay. I decided that I wanted a dress for the wedding and found one in a catalog that was on clearance. One size smaller than I normally wear, but I decided to chance it. Not only did it fit, it was too big and I am having it taken in as we speak. :)

I had a doctors appointment on Monday. All of my numbers are good. My weight did not change, but I am extremely fine with that. I figure I am a plateau right now and that is fine. I may go in the inches department for a while and gain more muscle. With the knee still healing, I am not as fast or doing as much as I would like, but I am still doing something. I will faster and I will get to my 3/4 mile goal when I get there. I am fine with that. I figure as long as I am not gaining weight, it's good.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

So, I am still swimming and almost 3 years later from the beginning of all this, I am still working on getting to the 3/4 mile mark. I am averaging 44 lengths (1/2 mile) to 50 at a time, depending on the pool temperature. There is an on going problem with the heater and the thermostat and the pool has been as cold as 78 degrees (which is COLD for an indoor pool) and as hot as 95 degrees which is like swimming in soup.

I saw the doctor last September and again this last Monday. I am fine, and I only gained one pound since last September, so I take that as a victory after the holidays.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

I started the process of my scholarship in March, way ahead of time and was told I was approved. Then yesterday happened.

If stress were on a 1-10 scale, I would be at 20 right now. I went to the Y yesterday to be told that my membership does not exist. For some reason the computer says that my scholarship was denied, but my paperwork is in the approved folder. The desk clerk knows me and let me go swimming anyway because 1) she could SEE the paper work in the right folder 2) she knows me and 3) I was the third person with this problem. For me the stress is what if the paperwork is in the wrong place and I really did lose my scholarship.

I won't know anything until at least Monday because (conveniently as usual) the membership person wasn't going to be there until after 3:30 and the main offices close early on Friday.



AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

I am going to the Y today to see if the mess is fixed or can be fixed.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

It's fixed. My paperwork wandered into the wrong slot. I'm good for another year.


Calming down now.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

For the last 3 weeks, I have been managing 50 lengths at a time, which means that I have been swimming 1 1/8 miles in the pool per week instead of my typical 1 mile per week.

Wednesday, the pool was 82, which is cold for an indoor pool, especially one that is normally 86 or so. It was a bit nippy for me, but I did my 1/2 mile anyway. I was too cold to do 50 lengths instead of 44, but I will make up of that today provided the pool is warmer and not too crowded.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

I am still doing my 1 1/8 mile per week. As of last week, I have to get used to changes in the pool following a drowning tragedy at an another location on the East side of town. According to our locations aquatics director, now she is being able to do what she has wanted safety wise and is being allowed to actually do her job effectively. Up until now, she has been told that the budget doesn't allow for _____. Unfortunately, it takes a tragedy to allow a job to be done.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

I switched locations in late September and am now in a 25 yard pool and am now up to a 3/4 mile at a time. I almost made a mile in December but due to a cloudy pool, it was shut down when I had 8 lengths to go. As of yesterday, 1/24/14, I was interviewed on local radio and swam a mile! So, I did a total 1 3/4 miles this week!

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

So yesterday, I forgot my towel, I had to turn around half way to the Y and go home to get it. So, I am now late, and I am meeting a friend at 2(ish) so I am not happy with myself.


I did my 3/4 mile and made it to the place before 2.


I got into the pool about 20 minutes later than normal. I was out of the pool at my normal time.

I did a 3/4 mile in just over a half hour.

That is the fastest I have gone yet.

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

I did 1 1/2 miles at one go yesterday, April 16, 2014. I was making up for not being able to swim tomorrow since I have plans. I don't think that I will be doing this again any time soon. Too tired.

[Narzain, The Minister of Awesome]

I'm very proud of you!

[Kim, Wild-eyed Bibliomaniac]

Thank you.