The new swim crew

At my new pool, it appears there are four of us who are the real regulars.

There is tiny old Asian guy. He sticks to the wall on the far side and is slower than I am (which is saying something) but other wise swims like me, without stopping. He goes about 50 minutes.

Then there is middle aged white guy who swims a variety of strokes with breaks - normal lap work. He goes 30 minutes.

And young, fit, yellow capped guy who is quite friendly and an excellent, serious swimmer. He normally gets there a bit after I do and is always still going when I get out.

Others come and go. Today I shared a lane with a guy I will call Splashy. He was all over our lane and made me pay attention but he was only at it for about 20 minutes so no biggie.

It's a nice crew and kind of fun to have swim companions - especially familiar ones whose routine I now know. The extra mileage two and from is so far still worth the better environment.

Last night's Home Owners Association meeting was more efficient than usual. I'm not looking forward to the regime change next year. As much as I appreciate this board and I do, I think they made a big booboo with our insurance and I think that booboo is going to raise the dues substantially - like maybe as much as 18%. Even with that, I do think they have done a stellar job of managing crises and keeping the peace. Could be much worse. (And I could be wrong about the decision. I don't think they should have used our insurance when and how they did but maybe I'm wrong.)

So I'll plan for the increase (raising my dues to $8500 a year) and hope they find a way around it. I'm grateful that I can afford it.

Yesterday I finished a top and started another. The one I finished is so soft and cuddly. I'm wearing it now. It's a print of lions and monkeys and elephants and other animals which I realized way after the fact are all upside down. I gotta start paying attention when I cut stuff out.

The one I started is a cool new pattern. I got it finished enough to put it onto the dress form and tweak. It's going to be good, I think. I made it out of Goodwill sheets. If I love it like I think I will, I'll make it out of good stuff.

I do have some errands to run today. But, I think I'll sew a little first while the traffic dies down.

My tweets

• Tue, 11:59: My special #mariners shirt is back from the dry cleaners and ready for the first game next march. #baseball… https://t.co/ltiFSMQn3W

If it's not one warning light, it's another...

My tire light came on this morning on the way home from the pool. I hit the reset button which sometimes makes the light go away and, if it does, I can pretty much guess whatever the problem is, it can wait for a fix. I'll go this weekend when I'm near the good tire place. They'll pump air in and all will be fine.

The light went out. Sweet.

Then I went out to run errands. I was a half block from home when the check engine light went on. FUCK. I considered the situation and figured I might as well go on to the Mercedes place so I did. My Automotic thing (diagnosis widget+phone app) told me it's an air valve that's stuck open.

One of the things I hate about the Mercedes place is that when you are an old woman in a Smart car, you are clearly NOT their preferred customer. I pulled in and was ignored for a while until a very board platinum 30 something in painted on jeans sashayed over.

Blondie: Have you been helped? What do you need?
Me: The check engine light has come on and the instructions say to come here immediately.
Blondie: Show me which light.
(I showed her my phone that had a picture of the light and the error message.)
Blondie: Show me in the car. I have to see the dashboard. (her tone indicated she had swallowed the words 'you stupid old woman')

I turned on the car and pointed to the light.

Blondie: The oil light?
Me: No, the check engine light.
Blondie: The temperature light?
Me: No, (still pointing) the check engine light.
Blondie: Who usually services your car?
Me: John
Blondie: Well, why don't you go in and tell him.

Me: Why don't you eat shit and die. (Yeah, I did not say that out loud.)

John asked me if the car was handling differently. Nope. He said he might be able to diagnose it later this afternoon but not fix it. He couldn't get to it until Thursday or Friday - did I want to bring it back? He allowed as how as long as it felt the same when driving, it would be fine to drive and he was not at all hesitant. So I picked Thursday morning. 7 am. I like him, but I sure do hate his dealership.

My test shirt that I finished this morning came out really nicely. This new pattern is a really nice one. So I immediately cut out another one but this time out of some really nice fabric. I got it about half done. I'll finish it tomorrow.

Tomorrow is also Google announce day. I'm looking for a new phone and a new chromebook. Maybe. Probably. Hopefully. Tomorrow 9 am. I'm ready.

My errands took me by the great poke place I found last week. So I went in. They remembered me! And I got a bowl to go. Their bowls are huge. $16 but huge. Two meals huge. So dinner is waiting for me in the fridge. nice.