Worth it

[susandennis]

It took me exactly 25 minutes to get from my living room to the front desk of the gym. I think I can go another way and maybe shave off 5 mins. But, it's really not an unpleasant drive and a lot less stressful than the one to Ballard.

And then there's the pay off. I swam in this pool at this gym every single morning for more than 4(5?) years. It is familiar to me. Everything about it. Familiar and friendly. I had not even gotten to the pool before I ran into a buddy from the old days. We had a nice chat. I actually went into the pool room 15 minutes early and was greeted by a couple who said "if you want to get started, you can finish out time in lane 3". So I had an hour and 15 minutes of leisurely swim time. It was heaven. The water was clear and the temperature was perfect.

Oh and bonus! Last night I remembered that mid morning swims were kind of a PIA because there are big windows where the sun blasts through and blinds you every time you open your eyes. I got out my polaroid goggles and put them in the bag. They don't work great but they are better than being blinded totally.

Except! in the 14 months since I was last there, those spindly little city tires they planted outside the windows have now grown into proper shade trees!!! Lots of light with no direct sun. Excellent!

My banana suit worked perfectly comfortable and fruity. Just a very excellent swim.

When I got out, I had planned to go get a pizza at Papa Murphy's but they didn't open til 11 and it was 10. Popeye's opened at 10:30 so Popeye's it was. I got there at 10:20 and they opened at 10:35 and then said that there would be a 20 wait for chicken "cause we just opened!" WTF??? But, there was a shady spot to wait so I just fired up some games on my phone and settled in. The wait was 35 minutes - I cudda had my pizza and been halfway home but whatever. I do love their chicken.

The bottom line is that this pool is back in regular rotation - not every day - but I think I can get there a couple of times a week. I might call and see if I can get a time on Monday morning. But I will absolutely call first thing Tuesday for Wednesday.

I got home and there was a wellness debit card in the mail that needed activating. I am all the time filling out surveys and stuff that involve cash rewards but I long ago quit tracking them and this one looked kind of suspicious anyway. I activated it but then could find no way to find out how much was on the card. I finally found a number with a giant telephone tree where I had to practically donate DNA to get to the next limb, more than once. When I got to a person it was a horrible connection but I finally figured out she wanted a repeat of the information I had just given multiple times. Finally I was able to find out that the card had $50 on it "good where ever they take Mastercard".

So I went to Amazon and set it up as payment and bought a Google Play card. (For a variety of reasons, I have a healthy Amazon gift card balance right now so I don't need it there, but I have a monthly bill of $11 from Google for YouTube so I figured I'd put the $50 in there and ride free for a few months. Mission accomplished and card cut up and in the trash.

Then I had chicken for lunch and now we are all caught up. I need to go hang my suit in the shower and then I think I'll take the rest of the day off.

Comments

[fakeplant9]

That's exciting that the swimming pool is opening up near you and you're able to go for leisure swim again. I am not a swimmer myself and I hate being submerged in water, however I do know many people who adore swimming and find it very relaxing and fun. I'm glad that where you are you guys are able to start doing that again. How often do you usually go swimming?

Chicken sounds good. I hope the lunch was well. And the rest of your Saturday is good too. Thank you again for adding me :-)

[susandennis]

Before the pandemic shut everything down here (March 2020), i started every single day with a swim. I have been able to swim only a handful of times since then but this is the first time in my old pool.

[fakeplant9]

Are you going to be able to start swimming again daily at your old pool?

[susandennis]

no. as i said in the entry, maybe a couple of times a week. there is a bridge between my house and the pool which is closed until summer of 2022 (for repairs). so instead of the pool being 11 minutes away, now it is 25. plus you have to have a reservation to swim at least until July.

[fakeplant9]

Ah okay gotcha. I think I misunderstood that part, I guess it makes sense that they have to do things by registration though. Did it used to be a really packed Leisure swim beforehand? Either way, it does sound like you very much enjoy your swimming so it's great to read that it's back into rotation :-)

[mairi-dubh.livejournal.com]

Ah; this stimulates a question.

I've observed that such things as this are relative : friends of mine in Chicago used to think nothing of going to dinner directly after work on a weeknight, when they had to be at work again the following morning---dinner was in Holland, Michigan. Home was about forty miles west of the Loop.
Himself tells me that when he lived in Atlanta people would drive an hour even if all they intended to get was a six-pack and some chewing gum.

So, in Seattle, what constitutes a long drive? For the general populace, I mean, and not just for you, yourself, and in miles and/or in terms of time?

[susandennis]

i have no idea how to answer that. it's up to the individual. i don' t like driving so more than 5 mins is long for me.

[roasted-beets.livejournal.com]

I am a 15 minute drive from *anything* except the dog park. When we moved here we considered it a plus that it would be a PIA to eat out. LOL

[mairi-dubh.livejournal.com]

You're quite right: it is a highly individual or idiomatic response to be made.

Perhaps I ought to have asked how far people in the Seattle area will, on average, drive to get to, or "for," X, Y, or Z.

But "I don't like driving so etc." is a perfectly fine answer.

Thank you! :^ )

[arrowlike.livejournal.com]

Yay :) that’s such great news re. the swimming

[luscious-purple.livejournal.com]

Some years ago, I was doing water aerobics and enjoyed the classes a lot. But ... it's been a few years, and I don't think these particular classes have restarted. The city pool is lap swimming only indoors and limited attendance outdoors.

[lenine2.livejournal.com]

I'm happy that your banana suit stood up to the anticipation! I envy your exercise routine.

I see commercials for Papa Murphy's a lot, and have wondered how good it is. There is one in the city where my office is. I will start going in two days per week starting in July. I'm tempted to try it and freeze it for Emergency Pizza Situations. What's your take on it?

[susandennis]

i'm a huge fan. we no longer have one near here so i have, of course, wanted one desperately. never tried it frozen the cooked, however.

[fauxklore]

How do you find out about those surveys? And fo you worry about their potential nefarious intentions?

[susandennis]

I have no idea which one this one even was. I do one that checks my fitbit (

[susandennis]

Oh I don't even know how I find them. They seem to find me. I do know that I rarely say no. Especially to health stuff. If I can help, I will.

There is one that I signed up for that is a regular paying gig. You take random surveys — some short, some long and you get paid for each. I found that if I took about 4 or 5 a day (maybe 30 minutes worth of time), that I could make about $100 every six weeks or so. I did get tired of it and so haven't done any in a while but nice to know it's there.

What kind of nefarious intentions are you imagining? I always do my work on a chromebook so I feel free to click on whatever I want without killing my computer (yeah, not bullet proof but better than a Mac or PC). Or are you thinking nefarious-er?

[fauxklore]

It looks like Prolific pays via PayPal. And, while I will use PayPal to pay some things by credit card, I don’t trust them with access to my bank account.

I was thinking less damage to computer than sloppy systems letting hackers have access to accounts.

[bibliogirl.livejournal.com]

Prolific does pay via PayPal (I do their surveys too), but you can always just keep the balance in your PayPal account and then use it to pay for things. The only thing that might make that tricky is that they pay in pounds (being based in the UK) and I don't think you can use a balance in one currency to pay for something in another currency.

[susandennis]

Great point and yes, yes, you can. The pounds get automagically translated to US dollars when they hit a US account so are good for use like normal.

[bibliogirl.livejournal.com]

Oh, glad to hear that. It doesn't work the same way for UK accounts — if someone sends dollars to my account they stay in dollars, ditto Euro (I think I actually had balances in dollars, euro and pounds at one point). I do like Prolific, they have interesting surveys and plenty of them!

[adafrog.livejournal.com]

Yay for a good swim.

I love getting those little bits of money.

[roasted-beets.livejournal.com]

What temperature do they keep your pool? Ours is set for the rules of the high school swim team — 83­°. It feels great to me.

Did you have to reserve a spot pre-pandemic? Up till now, we have reserved (online, in person or by phone) for 30 to 60 minutes. For the next 3 weeks, the Y isn't going to take reservations — first come, first served.

I just cannot imagine suiting up, going to the pool and waiting around for someone to leave? In the end, I know it will work out or they will go back to reservations. Should be interesting. I like to swim 7-8 or 7:30-8:30 and it's *very* popular then. I've dropped by at 1 sometimes and it's empty. I'm young — I'll adjust. lol

[susandennis]

This pool is about 83-ish. It used to be a battle. The old ladies (younger than me — ha) in the aqua fit class always wanted it hotter. Us lane swimmers always wanted it colder. Today felt 83ish which is good.

Pre-pandemic, no reservations. That was one of the reasons I always went early in the morning when they first opened. But, I'm over that. At this pool (as opposed to the one at the other LA Fitness in Ballard), most swimmers are 20 minute swimmers. And the crowds hold off til late afternoon.

Come June 30th or sooner, it is likely we will go back to pre-pandemic life and there won't be any more reservations.

[rhodielady-47.livejournal.com]

BTW--where did you buy your swim suit pattern? Do you sew your swim suits with a serger?
I can't find a swim suit I like these days--the ones in my size range are uglier than homemade sin!
:^)

[susandennis]

I honestly don't remember where I got the original pattern. It was a traditional pattern company — whatever was the most simple. Then I simpled it down even further and tweaked it to what I have now which is really just for me. I do use the serger for the seams but I sure don't need to. A simple, skinny zig zag would work perfectly.

[rhodielady-47.livejournal.com]

Thanks Susan!
:^)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

This photo makes me so happy! I hadn't realized how much I missed this photo when you were swimming regularly!

[susandennis]

:)

[picosgemeos.livejournal.com]

I am so envious!! I love swimming and would be in heaven if I had a place like that near me. Please enjoy it for me too! 😊

[susandennis]

Absolutely will do!