So far so good

[susandennis]

My plan was to go swim at the Ballard LA Fitness this morning. I know they actually open before their 8 am start time and their pool is always crowded with unwelcoming swimmers so I got my ass out and on the street so that I'd get there at 7:30 which I did. Not open yet. I amused myself with a little sudoku on my phone while others gathered. Several expressed surprise that it wasn't open early like usual.

Finally one tiny little Japanese woman explained that the janitor comes early and opens up but they have changed the rules and won't let him do that any more. Her English was not great (WAY better than my Japanese, however) but she sure had her facts! She said the one up on Aurora never opens before 8:05 even though the staff gets there at 7:30. She was pretty funny with all her LA Fitness lore. I gave her the skippy on the West Seattle club. Tit for Tat.

She was all in pink and another lady complemented her on her coordination.

The front desk person opened up the door at 8:10. I had just taken off my clothes in the locker room when the tiny Japanese lady swung by on the way to the sauna. I had on my neon green suit and had just taken off my neon green crocs and she said "Me pink - you green and car too!" It cracked me up.

I was the first in the pool so got my favored center lane. Good thing I got there early. By 8:05 the pool was full and pretty much stayed that way with folks leaving and others coming in for the hour and 15 minutes I was in there.

I swam extra because I got cheated yesterday and who knows about tomorrow. Also very fun to hit my fitness goal before 10 am. Yes, I should move the goal higher but I'm all about positive reinforcement, not actual fitness.

It is a fiddly drive from here to there and back and there was a lot of traffic especially for a Sunday. I don't think I'll be going back there this week. I did find out, though, that my membership (free with my medicare insurance) is good without paying extra at all LA Fitnesses. This was excellent news.

Oh and my flu shot arm hurt only for the first 5 minutes of swimming and then I didn't think about it again. And... still no flu.

I had to retire another swim suit yesterday. For several of them, I did not line the back, just the front and while that made for a very nice, light weight (and so very fast drying) suit, they just don't hold up or last as long. The ass gets so stretched out that I could fit a bed pillow in there.

I ordered some new spandex last night and I have a plan for how to line the whole suit with good quality lining and maybe get a little more life out of each one. Even with lining, each suit costs me under $20 and takes about 3 hours to make so if it only lasts 6-8 months, I'm ok with that. It's part of my every day wardrobe and I refuse to wear boring suits. The hard part now is finding good looking/fun fabric.

I think I'll head to the sewing room and make a doll or two before the baseball game starts.

Comments

[christopher575.livejournal.com]

It's funny, at Forest Park in Everett, there are lots of regulars that are always there when I am on Monday and Wednesday. Some of them were also there on Tuesday and Thursday, and there are others I don't see any more and wonder about. But everyone else gathers by the door waiting for them to open it, which never happens earlier than 5:55. I just wait in the car until I see them go in.

It's tempting to try to get you to make my suits! I've had mixed results ordering from China, even from the same company. It's weird that Baleaf makes my favorite one yet, but also some in the same size that I can barely pull up over my thighs that are totally inappropriate. But I know you're in high demand. :)

[susandennis]

The main reason to hang at the door until they open it is to ensure that I get pool real estate. I also like the middle lane so if I'm first 1. I am sure to get a spot and 2. I'm likely to get my favorite spot.

At West Seattle, there have been times when swimmers have come in at 10 after and had to wait 20 minutes for someone to get out before they could have their turn. Arugh!

[christopher575.livejournal.com]

That's awful! One thing I love about treading water in the deep end is that I only have to deal with a couple of weirdos who swim back and forth who should be in a lane, and exactly one woman who does a big circle around the entire thing while wearing a flotation vest. I prefer a corner but if she's there, I'll get in the middle. :)

[susandennis]

And yeah, my sewing time is pretty much spoken for but there are people who sew for a living and they could make you exactly what you wanted. And then make as many as you wanted!

[christopher575.livejournal.com]

I do know a guy, but his suits are $60. Oof. I should probably get one because they look really, really nice.

[susandennis]

I think $60 is very reasonable and if he is including any of the supplies with that, it's actually a steal. Plus, once he gets exactly what you want to your measurements, I'll be you can save some on subsequent suits.

[christopher575.livejournal.com]

Good points! It's just a bummer because I found one that's 95% perfect for $15 but was only able to get three of them before they were gone.