Posts Tagged swim

A mile

I haven’t done the miler for a while, maybe in a year or so? I wasn’t thinking of doing it either when I hit the water. The pool was somewhat empty. I shared the lane with two girls. In the beginning they were good, stayed out of my way. Then after 20 laps or so, they became increasingly annoying. Waited at the end then go right before I turned. I had to passed them repeatedly. After the 40-lap, I finally asked the lifeguard to tell them, well, get lost. They did. Moved to two lanes away from me.

During my 10 breasts and 10 backs a lady joined me. She’s really a great swimmer. Little out of shape, but looked like a swimmer 🙂 and very handsome. We need more of her in the pool !! She had short hair cut and crispy strokes, very pretty strokes. What’s heck, I decided to chase after her instead of leaving; so I piled on 12 more laps of free. 72 that’s it. A mile.
At the end, she suggested that I shouldn’t raise my arms so high and hitting the water flat handed.
“Waste of energy.”
She’s right.
Urrrrrr .. correcting the old habbit isn’t easy.
Next time.
Ha, that means I might improve my time IF I correct it?

In the locker room I ran into these two annoying girls and wondering what they do for a living: they just stood there comparing bras and undies. Bar girls? Their accents were pretty hicky.

What’s heck, I got my miler today, and nothing could damp my spirit. Not even the snowy weather. I can take on the world. I’m high :).

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Geting high

Driving Pumpkin to school we heard on the radio that Michael Phelps admits ‘bad judgment’ after a British newspaper published a photograph of the swimmer smoking a marijuana pipe. W-h-a-t-‘s the big deal here? Marijuana is different from opium/heroin/cocaine or any other recreational drugs that I couldn’t name. Not saying he should, but just wondering doesn’t swimming get him high? It does to me. The thrilling feeling after 40 some laps is just no competition from any other activity, not even tennis.

As to getting caught, pls give the kid a break from time to time, will you all? Don’t scrutinize him down to minute all the time. But on the other hand, he’s been spending so much of his teenage and adulthood in the water, he probably doesn’t yet know what the life is all about and finding that fit into the real world is far more challenging than the long-hour spend in the aquatic utopia daily. Find that balance, and haul another truckload of gold home in 2012, King Michael 🙂

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Vanderbilt YMCA

 

Passing by this Y (224 E 47th Street, between 2nd and 3rd Ave), I couldn’t help but to go in. King went in with me. I used to swim there, pre-King era. Now he’s taller, much taller than I’m .. .. Time never flies.

The pool is still the same, even I joked if they had move it, because the lobby had changed: a gym had added .. once open area now looks like a box cutter.

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Al Oerter Recreation Center in Flushing

The new Al Oerter rec center in Flushing, next to the pool.

 

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52 Pick-Up ?

Mar 18, 2010Flsuhing Meadow pool on Mar 18, 2010

Today must be the bad hair day. I felt like a dead meat in the pool. I was tired when I entered the water and feeling tired when I counted the 22nd laps and was dragging myself at 38th laps. I normally feel energized by 8th laps or so. But my limbs were too heavy for me today. .. But I managed the 40 straight and did an additional 12.

Think of Phelps swims every day! Some time the moment I hit the water, I felt ephemeral although I never smoke or inhale .. but hey, I could read 🙂 .. and others would be like today .. uninspiring.

The swimming pool in Flushing has improved a little but the young lady isn’t there any more, -:(.  I found people are, over all, bit more courteous. Perhaps the time of the year.

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The match .. King Michael

Tonight’s 60 Minutes has a feel good interview: Anderson Cooper on Michael Phelps. They had a race in the pool: Cooper did free style while Phelps did dolphin kicks in one breathe. I don’t think any one would have a doubt as who won that race. Any way, I found Cooper to be pretty cool and now he’s super cool .. .. for his ability to swim free style in style. Does Phelps remind you of Eli Manning? Michael’s Mom works as a school principal who got emotional when Cooper told her that her son thinks the world of her. And the kid who trained every day for years that included his birthdays and Christmas to reach that 8 Golds in Beijing. Not to mention the 6 Golds he amassed in Athens in 2004.

Sosososo not fair .. Tooo tooo tooo bad that New York lost out to London for 2012’s. Did Bush cost New York its chance? The isle of Manhattan would have rocked for Michael!! !! Well, he’ll be the king of England no matter what.

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Endless love

This was the pool where I did my laps on the cruise.  It was an endless pool with the current coming out at the top end.  It looked enclosed in and less glamour.  Suits me just fine.  I was always by myself there.  Couldn’t image sharing it with another swimmer.  The current was bit slow for my pace.  I had to do with the breast stroke.  It’s next door to the Spa, very Asian themed.

Above the pool, there is a dodge ball court.  At first, Pumpkin thought it’s tennis. 🙂  That’ll be great, wouldn’t it?

My left shoulder was in pain one morning when I woke up.  It hurt to a point that I don’t want to use my arm.  .. .. but I went to swim anywhere and did just fine.  After 20 minutes of swim, I made my way to the spa to shower.. did I remember that I have a non functional shoulder.  We’re all weird, at least I’m.  Can’t do double hand backhand but I can swim. 

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Tennis in Beijing

the group .. .a playdate
Tennis and golf are luxury sports in China.

The summer 2003. One weekend Yishi summoned group of her Qinghua friends, we marched to the countryside, eight families in six cars. As we were driving, my children saw more high-rise buildings. ChangPing used to be a remote area to us, the city slickers, now a part of Beijing landscape. There were skeletons of street vendors selling peaches.
“I bet they bought the peach from the city to sell here.” Wang commentedThere were some farmlands, but patchy. I forgot the resort name. The hotel was adequate. The amenities included an indoor tennis court (carpet), small swimming pool – I only remembered those two, since that’s all I cared and used. The tennis court looked clubby, dark and felt seldom used. The court fee was astronomical, US$32 per hour. With that, you get two lazy ball girls who dressed to the tee but didn’t nothing. The manager didn’t like my Ked sneakers, insisted that would damage their court surface, made me rent a pair of sneaker for 5 RMB.
the happy trio water ..
The swimming pool was ok, although small, was about US$8 per day.
That night, we had dinner at the village, obviously. The shack was ok, looked the part, one story with outer and inner courtyard. Looked like a formed living quarter, without a main dinner hall, all small rooms, perhaps the bedrooms. The savvy lady who served us was pretty sleek. No makeup, non-nonsense with a short haircut. Just like any working girl you’d found on the streets of Manhattan. Her black jacket looked like from Ann Taylor (it was July), simple and profession. A ball pen was hanging on her neck. We decided to have the hot pot of games, plus few suggestions she made. I couldn’t pin down her accent. Her exchange with us was short and terse. Was she hiding something, or running away from someone/thing? Bad teeth.

the main gate yummmy but chewy

Kids had a field day. We seemed the only diners there. So kids had run of the place. From the courtyard, to the dinning rooms – they dined in another room since each room was so small ..
The food .. .. the hotpot tasted great, but the games were over cooked, chewy. ..
That night, we played baifen.
Sorry it’s been six years since, but Irene still remembered this incident:
Six of us played with two decks of cards. Two wives with four husbands. Irene was kind of slow and put down an extra card in the base. Now, as a good sportsman, I would or any of my girlfriends who play with me often, would inform me regardless of being my partner or opponents because we all want a good game that being played fairly.
When the hand was depleted to the last round did Irene realize she was one card short.
One of the husbands who I found very cocky laughed with triumphal,
“I saw you put that extra card down.” He said, taking pleasure in my misfortune.
“Really? Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked.
“Why should I tell you?” He retorted.
He did have a point.
During one of his seven wins in France, Lance Armstrong waited for his closest competitor who falls off the bike to get back on before racing again.
Ok, I wasn’t dealing with world class. But was it my fault for always hoping for?
希望仍在人间
.

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The New Kids on the Block

I heard people gossiping about little brawl broken out between Moscow and Georgia. The assassin stepped down from presidency to be PM and now turned to be a bully. The West can’t do a thing. America’s army ties down in the Mid east. Might it be the French or German’s turn to police the world?

I couldn’t remember seeing it or read about it, but during one of Phelps’ eight gold medal podium moments (the 6th I think), the US national anthem was cut short, while Bushes were in attendance. ‘Got the land of the free but apparently the home of the brave was no longer available. Did someone foreclose?’ as one writer asked. So I wasn’t the only anal one who noticed, and I wasn’t the only boring one who even linger for the ceremony.

A technical error, or sour grape over one Yankee’s hauling up so many gold?  OR .. they meant business??

I was upset. US deserves respects. Beside, a good host would never embarrass her guest.  You want to make them feel welcome and comfortable.  That’s hospitality 101.  I happened to like the The Star Spangled Banner and love to hear it in its entirety.

There are many other ways to show off your rising power and influence.

New money never smells good and feels right.

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The Greatest Haul of China

Or Beijing in that matter.  Wooooooowwww Michael Phelps got his 7th.  The finish reminded me of Matt Biondi, was also in a fly race.  He was the heavy favor but he chose to glide and took the silver.  That’s hurt.  I doubt this race between Phelps and Milorad Cavic of Serbia would be talked for years to come. Not many people remembers Biondi. Never for a split second I thought Phelps lost. So, what’s there to talk about? One thing for certain, Cavic is gracious. The Russia boxer who lost the gold and refused to shake hands with his opponent. That, isn’t sportsmen like.  Well, it’s a Russian, what do you expect?

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