Effort

I did a little swimming test this morning. I was not really expecting to get results. But I did and I'm not sure I'm happy about it.

Usually, I get in and just go and don't pay much attention. Some days I am aware that I am not pushing it. Some days I'm not aware at all.

Today, I made an effort to pay attention and not slack off. Not swim full tilt but swim with focus and force. My tracker recorded:

1 hour, 19 minutes, 1900 yds, 966 calories, 76 laps, 1602 points.

Let's look at a some other random days from last week:

1 hour, 7 minutes, 1850 yds, 901 calories, 74 laps, 1496 points.
1 hour, 18 minutes, 1800 yds, 951 calories, 72 laps, 1578 points
1 hour, 18 minutes, 1800 yds, 929 calories, 72 laps, 1541 points
1 hour, 9 minutes, 1800 yds, 886 calories, 72 laps, 1469 points
1 hour, 19 minutes, 1850 yds, 931 calories, 74 laps, 1545 points

The points are the key here. Whatever activity I do is recorded and converted to points. Walking slowly racks up points but not as many, per minute, as walking fast, running, swimming, etc. (The time is kind of misleading. The way my tracker works for swimming is that I 'turn it on' when I get into the pool. If I remember, I turn it off when I get out. If I don't, it just knows when my arm is still - like in the drive home - to stop.)

So clearly more effort yields measurable results. Sigh. No more care free swimming without penalty. Just as well. I've been sharing a lane with the old, slow guy and that helps. It's a constant reminder to step up my game. I can easily pass him if I focus. I just need to remember.

My new phone is scheduled to ship today but so far, the website is not showing 'shipped'. And the charge hasn't hit my credit card yet. :( On the up side, the embargo has been lifted so the reviews are being published today and so far, all the ones I've seen have been pretty glowing.

I did actually get a very nice reply from the bed store. A guy with the same last name as the family who owns the store, told me that reprogramming involves turning the bed over or getting under it (which I'd already figured out but it was nice to get confirmation) and he'd send me the instructions if I wanted. Or he'd come out and do it for a service call - $70 - nearly any M-F 9-3. I'd be happier if it were free, I think $70 is a fair price for the job and I just may hire him to do it. At least now, I know for sure, it will happen.

It was dry by the time I got home from the pool but as dawn broke the skies were red and the wind and rain has started.

Today's big job is pills. I take two blood pressure pills, one vitamin d, one aspirin in the morning. Along with my inhaler. At night I take a cholesterol pill. I put the morning pills into those little pill a day things. I do about 3-4 months at a time. Today's the day.

The rest of the day is still up for grabs. Lots of excellent options.

My tweets

• Mon, 15:59: Ok, so this tweet and letter is sad/sweet, BUT the replies and retweets of this tweet are just the most amazing thi… https://t.co/jq7jIp0kjw
• Tue, 08:17: Great shot of my 'hood taken from the new Yessler overpass. https://t.co/RGLTZdirip
• Tue, 09:23: Clearly I'll need to find another basket to home my knitting. The car has officially declared this one is hers.… https://t.co/GqZpgXHpzw

Bits and pieces

I have a lot of fabric scraps. I started sorting them a while back - cotton/wovens, knits, fleece, swimsuit fabric. The knits are taking over. So I spent some time this afternoon tossing out the smaller pieces and organizing the rest. I should just recycle them all. I probably will when the volume crowds me out of the sewing room.

I wore the latest pair of me-made pants today and discovered a few tweaks needed. So I worked them into the pair I made today. Tomorrow, the good fabric arrives and all testing needs to be completed...

Lots of people who ordered their phones when I did and after have gotten shipping notices. but not me. I did get the charge on my Discover card this morning so at least I know they haven't forgotten me. I suspect I won't get the phone until probably Monday. Not the end of the world.

Also I figured out that the nifty translation thing requires the special earbuds which I am not going to get plus it does not, in fact, include Bosnian. But the translate app does so next time the house cleaner and I get stuck on a word there's at least that.

I just discovered that Google now links books directly. Search for a book, on your phone there's a color bar that offers up Get Book. Click on that and you not only get purchase options, you get library options!! I get the Seattle library. I click on it and it goes right to the book - if avail, I can borrow it in one fucking click! If not, I can put it on hold. On the chromebook the option is over on the right. This is amazing and so cool.

My hair is getting into hair cutting territory and I'm not. I'll probably fret and bitch and moan about it for a couple of weeks and then go get it done.

This was cute the first few times she crawled into the yarn basket but now it's losing its cute. I need to be able to get to and use my yarn out of that basket. I even got the basket with the lid back when I had a cat who stole balls of yarn and placed them all over the house. I woke up one morning to find my bed littered with yarn. So I got a basket with a lid. That cat's been gone now for a few years so I never use the lid any more. I think I'm going to have to maybe change that. There are two cat beds in this room and numerous other cat sleeping options... geesh.