I'm trying

Some facts:

1. Just because you have silicone breast implants doesn't mean you are more buoyant.
2. If you have fake boobs you probably won't garner a lot of respect from real swimmers. You belong on Baywatch.
3. Don't argue with experienced faster swimmers about lane etiquette. The day you can pass one of us is the day we'll talk.
4. Don't expect us to be friendly when you stop to talk to your sons in the middle of the lane.
5. Don't try to get the 15 year old life guard on your side. She is a competitive swimmer, she knows the rules.
6. A fast swimmer who can do flip turns is fast because she keeps her head down. She cannot see you if you suddenly jump in front of her. You are the rude one according to the rules of swimming.
7. We don't mind slower swimmers swimming in the fast lane as long as they follow the rules.


Now the rules:

1. Fast lane means fast. It also means the swimmers training in this lane are here because they are training. Respect that please.
2. Swimming is not like skiing. The faster swimmer has the right of way. As stated before faster swimmers cannot see you when you suddenly jump in front of them.
3. In Canada, we drive on the right, and we swim on the right.
4. If someone taps you on the toes it means she wants to pass you because you are a slower swimmer. It is not a time to yell at her.
5. Before you jump into a lane, watch to see where you might fit in. Go to a lane where you will feel comfortable. And please do not jump in in front of a swimmer trying to do a flip turn. You may get your breast implants kicked in.
6. The end of the lane is not a place for socializing.
7. In fact, the fast lane is not for socializing.
8. The hot tub is for socializing and showing off your chest.
9. Disobeying the rules is not funny, it is dangerous.
10. Follow the rules and you'll get some respect.

Spent a good part of my morning backing in and out of my driveway and then cruising around the sidestreets here. It's a very hilly area and not that easy to drive. Anyway, my skill at driving manual transmission has improved to the level that I am confident enough now to set off on my road trip tomorrow to see my sister and family. I even drove downtown to get winter tires put on! Only stalled the car once and no one honked at me either. That's because I put a learner's sticker on the back window. It worked! People were very patient with me. Anyway, so far I am loving this new car. It's very peppy and fun. Haven't thought of a name for her yet though. Any suggestions? My last car was called Rosie aka "The Rosemobile".



Got a very interesting card in the mail today...made me laugh. And a lotto ticket! If you look carefully you can see that...I WON!!!! The only thing is , is that it is a Quebec lottery ticket and I have to go to La Belle Province to cash it in. Now that would've been great if I had won $500,000...but...

My attempt at Christmas decorating above. I don't normally do this, in fact I don't think I have ever put up any decorations in my own home. Yeah yeah, bah humbug. It's just that I usually go to my family's for the holidays, so I figure, why bother decorating here? Anyway, I thought it might help me get through what is usually kind of a sad time for us single people. But, I haven't really felt that bad this time. There is a good energy in my life right now. Lots of lessons learned this year...the future looks very good I think...

Training for 1/2 marathon 101: C+, able to run half way up hill back home
Swimming 402: A+ for effort, can now swim 800 metres freestyle non stop and 2 lengths of fly
Love life 301: dropped class due to time constraints
Social life 500: C+ , no comment
Hair 602 (graduate program): A, considering defending thesis with lowlights
Decluttering of apartment 101: B+ , much improved over last term! Thank you Ikea.
Work (graduate program): A, due to less time in Love Life 301 much improved in this area
Blog 201: B+, humor element much improved as well as honesty
Physiotherapy 201: A+ , should consider graduate program with specialty in swimming
Brick throwing 101: auditing course, not for credit


Comments: Have graduated from my hunky physiotherapist...I am happy to not have him digging into my fascia every week, but will miss his muscular forearms and cute five o'clock shadow. My last session with him I got to take off my shirt so he could easily manipulate my scapula with his thumbs. Do you think I hesitated when he asked if it was okay if I took off my shirt? And today I went to the gym and did 3 sets of 10 pushups! And that is only because he said I could. And then I did 10 pullups....oh, I will be sore tomorrow. A few days ago I swam 2000 metres and paid for it for dearly afterwards. Well, the shoulder is sore and stiff after these hard workouts but it is improving. And so is my mood because I can MOVE again. I HATE not moving. I'm still fearful of falling though and ripping or dislocating it again though. No skiing this year. But I will try to swim with my club next week...and possibly will book an appointment with a physiotherapist who specializes in swimming...(a woman physio ...oh well )


...oh, and where is Port Mellon, BC? Who is it that is visiting my blog from Port Mellon, BC? Identify yourself if you dare.

Ha! I knew that would get your interest!

Let me explain.

Yesterday the November issue of Swimming World Magazine came. I was so excited that I finished my planning at work really quickly so I could go home and read it. Well, I found it so inspiring that I decided to go swimming last night, even though I had already gone for a run in the morning. Oh, what a great run that was along the seawall as the sun was rising. You know that people who get up that early for walking or running actually say good morning to strangers! Well, that put me in a pretty good mood. Here in Vancouver, people tend to turn away from you, don't look you in the eye, nor say "Hello" as you pass in the street. I try to as much as possible but it gets pretty discouraging when they turn away from you as you approach. Anyway. Okay, yeah it was a nice run.

Then work. Sporting a new camouflage ski jacket Mr. C. was his usual charming self, batting his eyelashes and giving his best Elvis impersonation. He still insists you'll go bald if it rains and you have straight hair. Anyway. Where was I? Oh, I'm in love. Okay. So I went swimming and the pool was not busy at all. Had a lane all to myself. Which was especially nice because the other two lap swimmers were incredibly hairy men. Sorry you hirsute guys, but if you're going to bare all at the pool, in these modern times, I don't think it is much to ask to shave or WAX! Creeps me out that some of those hairs are floating around in the water...ewww, don't think about it don't think about it, banish thought. Well, women are expected to shave aren't we? It's not that painful.

So, I started swimming, freestyle. 50 metres. 100. 200. 250...oh it started to hurt a bit in the shoulder. But I kept going. 400 metres of free! After that it was pretty sore, so I did some kicking, and then switched strokes...anyhoo..managed a miraculous 2000 m. in total! 1200 of which was stroke, the other 800 kick. Felt awesome but tired. Went home and ate 2 bowls of cereal I was so hungry! As well, my vitamins. I don't usually take vitamins, have a hard time remembering to take them, and besides they are hard to swallow! Gag. But since my injury I've been taking them, hoping they would help the healing process. Not really convinced they've helped yet. It's been three months now since this happened. How time flies.

OH yeah. Love.

Woke up at 5:00 am. Felt great, so stayed up. Had to get ready to go to an early physiotherapy appointment anyway. Have a new physiotherapist. The other one was great at the beginning because she couldn't do much with my shoulder anyway. But the past couple of times, she has only been giving me new exercises and stretches, which personally I think are two easy for me. I knew I needed a physio who knew more about sports and sports related injuries. I was scared to make a change, didn't want to hurt her feelings. Anyway, (anyway is a great word isn't it?) last week, she told me she couldn't do anything more with me and suggested I see this other physio. Yay. I told her I had heard about one that only worked on shoulders and specifically swimmers, maybe I should go to her? She said, well, I think you should try this guy first. He treats athletes more, and has worked on a lot of swimmers here. So, I'm thinking, oh why didn't I see him in the first place? Besides, it's getting expensive as my medical coverage for these visits has run out. It's important to me though, will find a way to pay for it. Maybe Lola and I can panhandle in front of the liquor store on the weekends. She's cute, people will give her money I'm sure. OH, where was I?


So anyway. He comes into the waiting room to meet me. Athletic, young...so CUTE! He shook my hand...melt...follow me...he's wearing jeans...

Okay, aside from that, he is an excellent physiotherapist. He's worked with some of the top sports med people here, he does a lot of hands on manipulation (no machines) and also does acupuncture. Anyway, today he found that my shoulder joint,specifically the joint capsule is actually quite mobile, but it's the surrounding muscles that are impinging my movement and causing pain. So, he used his thumbs and pressed right into some of the muscle insertions, like in the deltoids (shoulder muscles) and the pectorals (chest) and scapular muscles. OWWWWWW. The worst was the insertion for the triceps and the deltoids. I had no idea it was so sore. Like on a scale of 1-10 for bad pain, it was maybe a 9...I mean I couldn't stand it for very long at all. Tears were welling up in my eyes. But afterwards my mobility was so much better, unbelievably better. As he was doing these manipulations he was saying things like, "Oh, you really hate me now don't you?" "You want to punch me don't you?"

And we talked a lot about sports and injuries, he used to rock climb a lot but felt it was damaging his hands too much. And he talked about having dyslexia and having a teacher tell him he would never graduate from school. And now here he is with a Masters degree. Stupid teachers sometimes. So, I have to see him two times next week, another session of manipulation and then some acupuncture with electrical stimulation...supposed to release the scarred muscles tissue. I've had this before, it's not pleasant.

But I'm soooo happy. Found someone who is going to fix me! I love my new physiotherapist. It's pretty nice to have a handsome young man digging into your sore muscles with his thumbs. Yes, life is good. He shook my hand when I left, said, "It was nice to meet you." SIGH

Think I'll go swimming with my club tomorrow....feel a need to see my Russian coach!

Hope I can sleep better tonight. My soul is a little restless, but I am kind of excited about it. Feel like I'm getting healthier in all aspects again. It's been a long 2 1/2 months.

Progress report for Sanshan :

Running/training for 1/2 marathon: C+, student makes slow and steady gains
Swimming: A+ for effort, on modified program
Love life: I (Incomplete)
Social life: B+, perhaps improvements could be made by having the previous
Hair: C-, will certainly improve this weekend with help of master stylist Yoko
Decluttering of apartment: C+ , nothing wrong with being average
Work: B+, okay, but always needs improvement
Blog: B, needs help in the humor area, perhaps more ducks and cats

Actually work was really good today. My bosses are away and I was sort of in charge today. The phone didn't ring once! I checked it several times to make sure it was working. Weird. Must be living right.

There were some challenging students today but I was super patient with them and we worked through most of our problems. Some of them are incredibly anxious and when they get to a certain point, usually when they are learning something new, they say, "Too hard, can't do it." And it's my job to say, "Yes. You can and you will. You have no choice. Let's get through this together." It's so frustrating at times. One of my students is constantly saying, "I hate it here. I hate this...I hate that....I'm not coming tomorrow." But by the end of the lesson, he's all happy and smiling, "See you tomorrow Ms.B!"

Another student, so cute, he brings his stuffed tiger with him, not unlike Calvin and Hobbes. The tiger sometimes reads for him or gives him words to spell. But half way through the lesson the tiger started whining. "Too hard, can't do it." I almost laughed, it was so dramatic, but you know, he was totally serious. Anyway, somehow we managed to finish.

Okay Scarlett, tomorrow's another day, must get beauty rest.