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I meant to tell everyone about the Alcatraz Swim, but then didn't quite get to it and went off to Santa Cruz without posting. It's been kind of a "me-week"... Trying to see to my own sanity lately, and between dunking myself in the Pacific Ocean and then having some kick-back time with my buds over in SC, I think I've probably progressed in some direction, whichever that might be. *laughs*
As for Alcatraz... The water wasn't nearly as cold as I remember it being. Last time I swam it, I felt like my face and hands were going to crack right off my body for the first five minutes. Then I either went numb or got used to it, and the swim was fine after that, until I got out and found that my cap and suit had been chafing my neck in various spots. You don't feel it in the water because of the temperature and the salt. This time around, there was much usage of vaseline, and thus I only got minor chafing on the right side of my neck, which is pretty much gone.
The weather was a LOT nicer this time: lots of sun and a comfy breeze. That's probably why the water felt warmer. I had some adventures involving kelp, but other than that, I am glad to say that the only wildlife I met up with were various birds, and of course I bonked into the occasional fellow swimmer. Lost my dad halfway through (we'd been meaning to stay together), but it was fine, as the route was quite obvious. The current wasn't as strong this time around, I think. I rarely had to correct to the left, which is the way I had to correct last time when the tide tried to take me toward the Golden Gate.
I think I had a respectable time when I made it to the finish line, but really, I was just aiming to get through the swim, so, the goal has been met! I think I stopped a little too often during the swim to get a better time, and I only really got into my stride in the last half. Got a bunch of salt water up my nose at random points, which subsequently went down my throat, some of it into my lungs, so my throat was all raspy for a while afterward. Plus, there's the added bonus of an algae-and-dirt beard when you come out of the water, so I shudder to think of what else got swallowed/ breathed in/ etc. Ick, better to plead ignorance. ^__^
Sore, sore, sore, in my legs, mostly, but that's gone now. I went over to Santa Cruz last night to visit with a buddy from college. Ate at Saturn Cafe (the vegan/veggie diner with extremely liberal tastes), went to the dirty lingerie store and its dirtier Room Where All the Toys Are (*cackles*) because it's fun, and got some coffee early the next morning at The Coffee Cat. They have good flavored lattes. ^_^
I ran across a HP prediction book in the bookstore in SC, which depressed me greatly because this particular author/analyst seems bent on the idea that 1) Ginny and Harry will hook back up and live happily ever after (double blech), and 2) Draco is destined to die in some form. *rolls eyes* Ick. Didn't buy the book. Though there was a cool-looking couple of philosophy books that I thought I'd look into, providing I can get them at a store here in my hometown to which I have a gift certificate.
I also got to see another bud of mine that I hadn't seen in AGES. Oh, it was so random! *laughs heartily* We just both happened to be in the right spot at the right time. I think it was fated. ^__^
Anyway, that's what's been going on in my life this week. I will work on getting the next chapter of The Road up, hopefully tomorrow, as I am heading out of town overnight yet again. But I'll be back on Friday afternoon, and probably in a lot less stressed mood. ♥
As for Alcatraz... The water wasn't nearly as cold as I remember it being. Last time I swam it, I felt like my face and hands were going to crack right off my body for the first five minutes. Then I either went numb or got used to it, and the swim was fine after that, until I got out and found that my cap and suit had been chafing my neck in various spots. You don't feel it in the water because of the temperature and the salt. This time around, there was much usage of vaseline, and thus I only got minor chafing on the right side of my neck, which is pretty much gone.
The weather was a LOT nicer this time: lots of sun and a comfy breeze. That's probably why the water felt warmer. I had some adventures involving kelp, but other than that, I am glad to say that the only wildlife I met up with were various birds, and of course I bonked into the occasional fellow swimmer. Lost my dad halfway through (we'd been meaning to stay together), but it was fine, as the route was quite obvious. The current wasn't as strong this time around, I think. I rarely had to correct to the left, which is the way I had to correct last time when the tide tried to take me toward the Golden Gate.
I think I had a respectable time when I made it to the finish line, but really, I was just aiming to get through the swim, so, the goal has been met! I think I stopped a little too often during the swim to get a better time, and I only really got into my stride in the last half. Got a bunch of salt water up my nose at random points, which subsequently went down my throat, some of it into my lungs, so my throat was all raspy for a while afterward. Plus, there's the added bonus of an algae-and-dirt beard when you come out of the water, so I shudder to think of what else got swallowed/ breathed in/ etc. Ick, better to plead ignorance. ^__^
Sore, sore, sore, in my legs, mostly, but that's gone now. I went over to Santa Cruz last night to visit with a buddy from college. Ate at Saturn Cafe (the vegan/veggie diner with extremely liberal tastes), went to the dirty lingerie store and its dirtier Room Where All the Toys Are (*cackles*) because it's fun, and got some coffee early the next morning at The Coffee Cat. They have good flavored lattes. ^_^
I ran across a HP prediction book in the bookstore in SC, which depressed me greatly because this particular author/analyst seems bent on the idea that 1) Ginny and Harry will hook back up and live happily ever after (double blech), and 2) Draco is destined to die in some form. *rolls eyes* Ick. Didn't buy the book. Though there was a cool-looking couple of philosophy books that I thought I'd look into, providing I can get them at a store here in my hometown to which I have a gift certificate.
I also got to see another bud of mine that I hadn't seen in AGES. Oh, it was so random! *laughs heartily* We just both happened to be in the right spot at the right time. I think it was fated. ^__^
Anyway, that's what's been going on in my life this week. I will work on getting the next chapter of The Road up, hopefully tomorrow, as I am heading out of town overnight yet again. But I'll be back on Friday afternoon, and probably in a lot less stressed mood. ♥
