Really, enough said. This is November, people. The weather is just insanely great. But of course, my reluctance to leaving this area isn't just because of the weather. It is because this is my home - where my family and best friends are - and also where my pool is. Kathleen and I were recently in Tahoe doing a step aerobics class circa 1989 (don't ask) on a 68 degree day of perfection, and talking about how tempting it is to think about picking up and moving to Pittsburgh or Savannah or anywhere really where we could afford to slow down and own an acre of land. Then we got into talking about simply moving to the East Bay, where I grew up, and where a house just like mine here in Menlo Park sells for way under a million bucks and is considered "expensive".
"I mean," I said, "we don't need to leave the state, just the Peninsula."
"Hell," Kathleen said, "we just need to move a few towns over, really."
Then we looked at each other for a moment, and recognized the truth. Kathleen said it first: "I can't move farther than 5 miles from the pool."
"Me either," I said. "And just to be clear, we're talking about THE pool, not any pool. I realize there are masters programs around, but that won't do."
"Agreed," she said.
The other women we were with looked uncomfortable. "Really?" one said.
"Really," we said. "It's that important to us - best part of our day."
Sorry Mom et all. I love being near you but the truth is I'm never leaving you at least in large part because of my pool.
Today's workout
Warmup: 400 free, 2 x 100's free with stroke last 25, 2 x 50's fast
Main set: 5 x 100's on a tight interval
REPEAT 5 times (25 x 100's)
Last set: 100 kick, 75 drill, 50 kick, 25 drill
repeat 1.5 times
I was nervous about visiting Heidi. I remembered her as an always upbeat, caring person who lit up the locker room at 5:45am and made me glad I had gotten out of bed. I knew she took great trips, and lived actively. I knew how happy she was about her son's marriage. Beyond that, I figured I didn't know her very well. I never saw her outside of Burgess, and I consider her a teammate and acquaintance, more than a dear friend. That said, thanks to the environment Tim has created, we teammates at Burgess definitely feel like a part of something bigger - a family, a support system, something. But as Sunday drew near, I considered the fact that I felt a chest cold arriving, and that I would have to depart from my children (who I see too little during the week) for hours to go visit her in San Leandro. I wondered what I would say to her and around her. I wondered if she'd even care to see me. And I almost didn't go. I will forever be glad that I went. And I encourage every one...

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Did you stay in Brazil 1995 or 1996?