Swimming and an early Fall (kind of)

I figured that since I've already talked enough about running, next up is my new addiction: swimming! I was never much of a swimmer when I was younger. Of course, I loved going to the pool or the beach to play around, but being on a swim team never even appealed to me! The only time that I even liked swimming laps was when I moved from South Carolina to Colorado. My new high school had a pool inside and they required everyone to pass a swimming class! I thought this was just the coolest thing ever! I later found out that since I was on the varsity track and cross country teams, I could have been except from any general phys ed classes... but chances are that I would have chosen to take swimming class anyways! For some strange reason I thought that going swimming during 2nd block, taking a shower with my bathing suit on, and then going through the rest of the day smelling like chlorine was very cool. I still can't figure that one out!

Anyways, last summer Eric and I decided that we'd start swimming laps at our neighborhood pool. It started out as an attempt to train for a triathlon, which never actually went any further because neither of us have a bike (or can afford to buy nice ones)! Eric is Mr. Super Swimmer... was on a swim team from diapers to college, and even coached his old team the first summer we were married! Me, on the other hand... I have string bean arms and at first it took SO much effort just to do a lap or two! I remember telling Eric that I had no idea swimming was so tough! I found a much deeper respect for all of the swimmers that I've ever known... especially those little kids on the swim team! Wow! They're so tough! So, now I'm almost through my second summer swimming and I'm so much better now than I was when I started! I'm sad to think that Labor Day is coming up! I love mixing in a few days in the pool with my regular running routine! It's so relaxing and a real challenge to me, which I love. Plus it's the perfect way to excercise when it's over 100 degrees outside and running is just not appealing! We've had a lot of those hot days lately and I've been grateful for the pool nearby.

Speaking of hot days, this summer has been a record breaker here in Maryland! I'm the type of person who really loves summer and doesn't mind the heat... but I also appreciate a nice summer thunderstorm too! We haven't had any of those lately and the grass and trees in my neighborhood are really paying the price! I'm under strict instructions from Eric to keep the grass green while he's gone (we only have a little postage-stamp-sized yard, but no matter how small, it's looks pretty darn good!), so I've been out there watering it every day! The past few days when I've taken the dogs on a walk, I've noticed that the sidewalks are covered in dried leaves! It's like it's October and all of the leaves are falling off the trees... which clearly shouldn't happen yet! I guess it's because of the heat and no rain. Makes me sad in a way, because it's like it's Fall but there's no Clemson football yet!! Something's just not right! The dogs don't really like it either because it makes a lot of noise when they walk. They scare easily! Here's a pic I took of them on our walk today. I think they had found something interesting to sniff in the leaves. Isn't Elvis' backpack so cute?!