Not much to say today. The weather at the Aerie has been changing more swiftly than a hummingbird darting about the flower patch. At 7 AM we had strong winds out of the north northwest and mostly clear skies. Sure, the temperature was only 39 and falling (got down to 37 at 9 AM) but the day held promise...for about half an hour. Then the clouds rolled in--the reason the temperatures continued to fall through 9 AM. Then the clouds started spitting snow and sleet. At least it wasn't hail.
The snow/sleet didn't amount to anything but it sure made things raw and chilly. That's why I built a fire. Only had to reload the fireplace once before the clouds got the message and disappeared. The sun shone all afternoon with nary a cloud to block it and the outside temperature did rise--to 46 degrees. Luckily, the heat from the fireplace and the sun shining through the windows late in the day made the house nice and toasty as well as dry.
******
Terry went swimming again today after Curves. The coach says she's doing really well now that she's got herself a pair of goggles and doesn't worry about getting her face wet. Now she wants some ear plugs because of her childhood fear of earaches. She keeps it up she's going to look like an Olympic swimmer.
Today she was practicing the freestyle and trying to get the breathing down while going the length of the pool. She says she can notice a difference in her stamina as she can pretty much go the entire distance nonstop. She still has to learn how to float. I've tried to convince her that it's not about keeping your toes above the water and that a "dead man's float" wherein you keep your back arched, toes down and head back so just your face is above the water is the way to save energy. We had to do 15 minutes of that every time we got into the pool at Rutgers for gym class. Add a life vest and you can float all day like that.
I'm glad she's getting swimming lessons and seems to be improving as much as she says she is. Whenever we go a motel/campground with a pool, she's always held back and remained in the shallow end. Mow, perhaps, she'll be able to enjoy the water a bit more.
******
The Mets-Dodgers game got rained out last night so they are playing a true double header today. The Mets took the first game 4-0 which gives them five in a row and eight (8) wins in their last ten games.
In the nightcap, the Mets jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first but have given it all back in the fourth as the Dodgers batted around and scored three of their own off Oliver Perez who is now out of the game.
The Mets offense has not been their strong suit in the current streak. They've been picking and scratching fro most of their runs. The guys who are supposed to be the big RBI guys haven't been. They need to ramp things up a bit at the plate. Walks may set the table but it's hits that will drive them in.
UPDATE: Mets 10, Dodgers 5 in the nightcap. David Wright went 3-for-3 with a pair of singles and a triple. He drove in 4 runs. Ike Davis, whose call-up to the big club seems to have spurred the Mets' resurgence, was 1-for-2 in the game with 3 RBI.
Showing posts with label Swimming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Swimming. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Aerie Report, April 15, 2010
Another beee-you-ti-ful day here at the Aerie weather wise. As I mentioned earlier it never got as cold as the forecasters predicted it would over night but it sure did warm up nicely this afternoon when the temp got to 73 degrees under a mostly clear sunny sky. Some clouds did move in late but they don't look too threatening. Hopefully there will be some rain tomorrow late into Saturday. We need it badly.
******
Terry went to the pool again this morning after her Curves workout. She's getting private swim lessons and over half an hour in the pool by herself. Just her, the Mansfield swim coach and a life guard. She says they are focusing on the way she kicks using a boogie board, the butterfly stroke and the sidestroke. Because of the way the pool was roped off, she spent her time in the shallow end swimming from side to side. something like 10 mini-laps. She was tired when she got home but happy as a dolphin in the great blue sea that she's finally improving her swimming ability.
******
Me? I spent 3 1/2 hours up on the hill today with the chainsaw cutting up two of the tree tops left from last year's logging. One was an oak and the thicker portions will make a little more than half a cord of real fine firewood. The other was a cherry and it too will give me close to half a cord. And those are just two of more than half a dozen tree tops awaiting my sweat equity. I might have worked longer but both the chainsaw and I ran out of gas--literally.
I'm not just cutting firewood. I'm cleaning up the forest. By cutting the tree tops I'm opening up the view for deer and turkey seasons, exposing the ground for possible planting of grasses or other food plot fodder for the wildlife, and making it possible to drive the ATV into spots it has never been before. Call it Phase 1 Forest Rehab.
I may have to take tomorrow off from that particular project, however. Yesterday's work left me with a sore back (left waist area where it's been bad before) as well as a smooshed finger. It hurt throughout the night and woke me at 4 AM. When going back to sleep became impossible, I got up and fed the kittehs. Acetaminophen helps but even that wears off in five or six hours. And after today's workout, it still hurts. Maybe a day or two off is in order so I'll be able to stand upright again.
Besides, Terry wants to hang some more pictures and I promised.... Well, actually, I promised months ago, so it's long overdue.
******
Baseball. Bah! Humbug! The Mets have played 9 games and they are 3-6. Today they won 5-0 after losing last night 6-5 in 10 innings and losing the night before 11-3. This is not the beginning they were hoping for. It's not time to panic--yet--but they should be checking the life rafts.
On the bright side, The bull pen is actually doing pretty well despite the 10th inning loss and David Wright hit his third home run of the season last night. That's on a pace to hit 54--which I readily admit is unlikely. But 30-40 would be nice. He hit just 10 all last year. Doesn't mean squat if the team doesn't start winning, however.
******
Terry went to the pool again this morning after her Curves workout. She's getting private swim lessons and over half an hour in the pool by herself. Just her, the Mansfield swim coach and a life guard. She says they are focusing on the way she kicks using a boogie board, the butterfly stroke and the sidestroke. Because of the way the pool was roped off, she spent her time in the shallow end swimming from side to side. something like 10 mini-laps. She was tired when she got home but happy as a dolphin in the great blue sea that she's finally improving her swimming ability.
******
Me? I spent 3 1/2 hours up on the hill today with the chainsaw cutting up two of the tree tops left from last year's logging. One was an oak and the thicker portions will make a little more than half a cord of real fine firewood. The other was a cherry and it too will give me close to half a cord. And those are just two of more than half a dozen tree tops awaiting my sweat equity. I might have worked longer but both the chainsaw and I ran out of gas--literally.
I'm not just cutting firewood. I'm cleaning up the forest. By cutting the tree tops I'm opening up the view for deer and turkey seasons, exposing the ground for possible planting of grasses or other food plot fodder for the wildlife, and making it possible to drive the ATV into spots it has never been before. Call it Phase 1 Forest Rehab.
I may have to take tomorrow off from that particular project, however. Yesterday's work left me with a sore back (left waist area where it's been bad before) as well as a smooshed finger. It hurt throughout the night and woke me at 4 AM. When going back to sleep became impossible, I got up and fed the kittehs. Acetaminophen helps but even that wears off in five or six hours. And after today's workout, it still hurts. Maybe a day or two off is in order so I'll be able to stand upright again.
Besides, Terry wants to hang some more pictures and I promised.... Well, actually, I promised months ago, so it's long overdue.
******
Baseball. Bah! Humbug! The Mets have played 9 games and they are 3-6. Today they won 5-0 after losing last night 6-5 in 10 innings and losing the night before 11-3. This is not the beginning they were hoping for. It's not time to panic--yet--but they should be checking the life rafts.
On the bright side, The bull pen is actually doing pretty well despite the 10th inning loss and David Wright hit his third home run of the season last night. That's on a pace to hit 54--which I readily admit is unlikely. But 30-40 would be nice. He hit just 10 all last year. Doesn't mean squat if the team doesn't start winning, however.
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Aerie Report, April 8, 2010
Spring arrivals continue to...well...arrive. Chipping Sparrow on the deck today along with lots of Purple Finches and a Rufous-sided Towhee on the ground beneath the deck where I've been spilling the seeds in the evening to keep the raccoon off the deck. I've seen the Chipper for a few days but this was the first Towhee to show up at the Aerie this year.
******
Terry and I spent some time cleaning up the gardens today. I picked out as many of the dead strawberry leaves as I could and pulled weeds while I was at it. She plucked and pruned the perennials along the driveway and tossed stones that had gotten into the beds from snow shoveling/blowing. Everything looks nice and neat now. Most of the plants in the driveway beds look to have survived the winter and are starting to send out new growth. The daffodil bulbs are also sending up shoots...some even have stalks with flower buds on them.
Meanwhile, up on the hillside, the crocuses, hyacinths and daffodils are all coming up and flowering. Some wild pansies are also flowering in the lawn at the base of the deck steps. The shadbush trees have been in flower down in the valley for a few days and today I noticed one of our trees along the power line right of way has burst into bloom. Another will open in a day or two. Those white blossoms are a treat in the spring.
******
Today was a gorgeous day with lots of sunshine and temperatures in the mid 70s, but that is about to change. There's a cold front coming through and, like many cold fronts in the summer (and it has been like summer lately) there are thunderstorms embedded along the front. There have already been a few distant rumbles and Julie and Shadow are looking for places to hide. This front will bring more seasonable temperatures which should mean we'll be around 50 for a high tomorrow. Hey, it IS spring!
******
Got a confirmation email from the Good Sam Club today. We are on for the Alaskan Caraventure that starts in Dawson Creek, BC on June 22. (They had to cancel the second trip that would have started two weeks later due to lack of participants.) Terry made a follow-up call today when we hadn't heard anything since last Wednesday's phone call. The gal at Good Sam said the dog ate their computer or something to that effect.
Still no word on the trailer yet.
******
Terry got a phone call from the Mansfield University swimming coach this afternoon. She had mentioned to the owner of the Black Swan Cafe that she was interested in getting some swimming lessons but the Univeristy only offered them to kids and not adults. Well, the Black Swan owner has a membership at the pool (just $200 per year) and goes over there every afternoon for a dip. She took Terry's name and phone number and passed it along to the folks at the pool. The coach, who really wants to justify the $$$ spent on the pool, agreed there should probably be something for adults but until there is...hey, why don't you come down and we'll evaluate your ability and provide some free lessons. So Terry has an appointment(!) with a private swimming instructor for Tuesday of next week.
******
Terry and I spent some time cleaning up the gardens today. I picked out as many of the dead strawberry leaves as I could and pulled weeds while I was at it. She plucked and pruned the perennials along the driveway and tossed stones that had gotten into the beds from snow shoveling/blowing. Everything looks nice and neat now. Most of the plants in the driveway beds look to have survived the winter and are starting to send out new growth. The daffodil bulbs are also sending up shoots...some even have stalks with flower buds on them.
Meanwhile, up on the hillside, the crocuses, hyacinths and daffodils are all coming up and flowering. Some wild pansies are also flowering in the lawn at the base of the deck steps. The shadbush trees have been in flower down in the valley for a few days and today I noticed one of our trees along the power line right of way has burst into bloom. Another will open in a day or two. Those white blossoms are a treat in the spring.
******
Today was a gorgeous day with lots of sunshine and temperatures in the mid 70s, but that is about to change. There's a cold front coming through and, like many cold fronts in the summer (and it has been like summer lately) there are thunderstorms embedded along the front. There have already been a few distant rumbles and Julie and Shadow are looking for places to hide. This front will bring more seasonable temperatures which should mean we'll be around 50 for a high tomorrow. Hey, it IS spring!
******
Got a confirmation email from the Good Sam Club today. We are on for the Alaskan Caraventure that starts in Dawson Creek, BC on June 22. (They had to cancel the second trip that would have started two weeks later due to lack of participants.) Terry made a follow-up call today when we hadn't heard anything since last Wednesday's phone call. The gal at Good Sam said the dog ate their computer or something to that effect.
Still no word on the trailer yet.
******
Terry got a phone call from the Mansfield University swimming coach this afternoon. She had mentioned to the owner of the Black Swan Cafe that she was interested in getting some swimming lessons but the Univeristy only offered them to kids and not adults. Well, the Black Swan owner has a membership at the pool (just $200 per year) and goes over there every afternoon for a dip. She took Terry's name and phone number and passed it along to the folks at the pool. The coach, who really wants to justify the $$$ spent on the pool, agreed there should probably be something for adults but until there is...hey, why don't you come down and we'll evaluate your ability and provide some free lessons. So Terry has an appointment(!) with a private swimming instructor for Tuesday of next week.
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