And so, it is January 8, 2012. In a week I will be in Maho Bay working and playing with open water swim techniques with Terry and crew. I am so ready! My husband will be ready to enjoy lounging while I am off cramming in as much as I can. The cats will stay at home–one with a mystery infection, of course–can’t be simple. And I, of course, am trying to cram in the end of a semester of cello lessons–interrupted by the sometimes gig and by the recent death of my Mom. Oh. And I’m taking antibiotics for a cat bite, acquired while trying to pill the cat next door. Oh well, can’t be boring.

I’ve done a version of Terry’s test set but, also as usual, with my own twist. I’m always a bit of a free spirit as far as swim workouts. It has been a challenge to learn how to write sets for the kids at Curl-Burke. And I will benefit again from a little more organized approach, for me, going forward. That measurable part as far as achievement. Feeling good is great. If you want to see improvement which is concrete you have to, oh…race? Keep records of timed sets? Compare how you feel over time? All of that. I would like to work with a team again. I’ve always done well with someone telling me what to do, even as I’ve felt I no doubt already know. Sometimes I am lazy. Other people don’t think so from what they see. Sometimes they just see frenetic. Swimming helps that a lot.

So I’ll see how this last week goes before heading south. I never feel prepared for anything swim-wise. But that’s okay. That’s kind of how I work. But the challenge is always good. I through down the gauntlet–to myself.