My Evolving Freestyle

The following videos were taken in separate occasion and show how my freestyle has improved (deteriorated? ) over the last few years. They were all taken at the same pool. In each occasion, the right and left side were taken.


Video taken in 09/26/2004 My comment: I only swam the width(12.5m) of a 25 meter pool coz that's all I could muster back then. I was just starting and my conditioning wasn't good. There is the pronounced lifting of the head to breath. The legs seem to be too low under the water.


Video taken in 04/17/2005 My comment: Both arms do not sufficiently clear the water. The left arm hardly clears the water at all. Not much body rotation? Head is a little more aligned with body and is kept low.


Video taken in 02/26/2006 My comment: Arms are raised more and clear the water. Head is not too high when breathing. The last video show the butt going up and down. I guess this is the effect of going too deep with the right arm trying to maximize a glide.

Yes, I'm still slow. If there's anything that you can comment on, hopefully to improve my stroke, please, feel free to add a comment. Thanx.

Weekend RnR

Due to insistent nudging from Renz and Da to go swimming, we relented. Sandra and Karen didn't have school the following day due to their teachers' exra-curricular activty. Che and Renz won't have school as well (as we later found out coz of the Marines' disarray). Also, I'd hope that this activity would also sort of take our minds off Irene's loss of her bag in the previous day at Jollibee Shell.

There's Renz and Sandra - the insistent ones. Sandra's trying out her new swimsuit from Speedo which we got 70% off ! The swimsuit's got a nice cut. Che has a new suit from Speedo too. Renz has a new pair of trunks too - a generic brand.

Renz and Sandra brought a table game called Uno Stacko. That's Karen holding Renz. Che wasn't up for pictorials (as usual). I don't believe they really know how to play this game coz I mostly see and hear arguments rather than actual playing from them. Their game didn't last though coz the wind kept knocking down the bricks.

Here's some action at the pool with Karen and Che ganging up on Tita Gay who appears to be drowning. Sandra's taunting Renz as usual with the kickboard. Renz is wearing DH's swimcap. Anyway, later that day we went to Makati to return the drawing books. We saw soldiers manning the Nichols tollgate on the way there and back.

A Business Blog

In the next few days, weeks, months (years?) I will likely be blogging a whole lot more often. I've setup another blog where I will be writing my experiences as a landlord. The new blog blog is similar to this in that it is basically a journal. But unlike this blog which contains mostly entries that are personal in nature, my new blog will also have many articles about landlording. These articles will have some tips and hints to make landlording easier and much more stress-free. There will probly less pics over there. I mean how many pics can you take of your apartment units? But I assure the reader that the entries will be very informative and helpful for landlords or for rental property managers in general. Do watch out for it here.

Still Weak from LBM

SOWS: I also tried doing a couple of laps backstroke. I don't have much problem sinking. It's when water splashes all over my face that's becoming the problem now. I'll try again next time but with a new (clearer) pair of goggless. It's chilly today, drizzled in the morning even, but the water temp was so good. I guess it's also time to retire the sky blue trunks. The colors have faded in the most embarrasing places. I tried on one of the new swimming trunks that I bought on sale at Market Market a long time ago and stashed somewhere. Goodness! Either these trunks have been secretly shrinking without my knowledge or I gained some weight!

The weakness brought about by the LBM is slowly disappearing. I took Gatorade yesterday coz I felt like I lost electrolytes. You know, it's that feeling where your thighs and your calves just feel sore and weak after you've had loose bowel movement.

Side Effects of the Gall Bladder Cleansing Diet

SOWS - Took Sandra and Karen early to school today as their club sponsors the mass. I was early at the pool at 6:20 and left at 7:15. I don't know if it's just psychological, but I felt a little weak and fatigued. My thighs and hips are still tired from the swimming. I'm thinking it's the effect of the LBM brought about by the Epsom Salts. Epsom salt is a laxative and if you're not constipated but still take it, then I guess loose bowel movement is still gonna happen. I also heard that you'll lose potassium if you go through this diet repeatedly. So today I took Gatorade at the office. Hopefully I'll feel better.

Update on the Business Permit: No luck. No government official to finally sign the permeit coz the official "left early". Yah, right. To play tong-its? mah-jong? sabong? sideline? Stupid bureaucracy. The fire department even had the gall to collect Php700 for inspecting the units? What are they paid for in their jobs anyway? Tweedle their thumbs? Now they want us to claim next week, Monday.

Another Gall Bladder Diet Potential

I met up with an old friend of mine last Monday and had snacks at a local resto. We had binagoongan, menudo, pinakbet, barbecue, salted eggs, tomatoes and rice. It was 3pm, so yes, call it "snacks". Actually we're both big eaters. I noticed though that she lost some weight. When asked, she said that she's been on a restricted due to some gallstones. Corz I inquired more coz I thought I just had the right regimen for her which is the Gall Bladder Cleansing Diet I posted in a recent entry. Apparently she's been on medication since December. She's had endoscopy and the recommendation was an operation. Heh! Don't doctors love to say that? That the only solution for your pains is to schedule an operation?

Anyway, she sought a second opinion and was suggested that she take medicines first. She's taking these drugs not as a permanent solution though coz the second opinion said operation, and that meant taking out the gall bladder, was still the way to go! So she listened to my tale with so much interest and excitement. She didn't want surgery for sure or any other medical operation. She's a bit worried though coz her HMO card (Health Maintenance Organization) is about to expire and she isn't keen on renewing it, or if ever, downgrade it. She inquired about the epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) which was the only ingredient to the regimen that wasn't "all natural". Epsom salts aren't widely used here and I don't know of a pharmacy that sells it. I'm not sure if it's a pharmaceutical though. It isn't a banned drug and I think it has use as a laxative and for a soaking solution so it's also used externally.

Apartment Business Permit Renewal

Today's the day that DH, bless her heart, will claim the business permit for the apartment. The first 2 months of every year is the time when businesses line up in government offices for the yearly business permit renewal. This year, we were surprised coz there were extra requirements like the Certificate of Occupancy, Certificate of Completion, some other permits like the plumbing, fire, etc. etc. The fire department even inspected the three fire extinguishers in the apartment and declared them expired. Hokay, so I had to refill them again at a total cost of Php1500 (500 per tank, discounted). It was a contact person of the fire department who refills them. Heck, I even bought those fire extinguishers from them, of corz hoping that the issuance of the fire inspection permit will be facilitated - and it was. Every year, I renew my fire insurance for the apartment and the house. The cost of fire insurance is not a lot - a little over Php5K for both properties, but of course it gives you a little peace of mind. Besides it's still part of rental property management and as landlord or apartment manager it's an expense that's worth it. I've started buying fire insurance for the apartment every year since it was completed. I wished that with my buying fire insurance I get some sort of leeway or bonus points from the fire department.

Overall, I think DH paid a little over Php8K for the real estate or property tax and the renewal for business license fees. Corz the only consolation is that we could take that out from the rental income we derive from the apartment units. I remember the first time I had the property assessed at the Assessor's office. Gosh the assessment for real estate tax was horrendous. I was pleading with the assessor to reevaluate to bring the fee down saying we took out personal and bank loans to finance and refinance the property. I even said that this financing was already on top of the mortgage that we already have. At that time, we only had a couple of tenants and there wasn't much rental income coming out from the apartment. Corz he wasn't convinced and I probly looked like I had oodles of cash. But after a lot of discussion and pleading they did reevaluate.

The Gall Bladder Cleansing Diet

No swim today. I'm having the runs (loose stools) today and so didn't go swimming.
Yesterday was the 6th (last) day of the diet I call the Gall Bladder Cleansing Diet for lack of an official name. This has nothing to do with the Atkins Diet or the Cabbage Diet or the now more popular Southbeach Diet. No, it's not a lifestyle kind of a diet. It is basically a short term cleansing diet that supposedly rids the body of gallstones. It's only 6 days and is very to do - which all the more piqued my curiosity.

An officemate of mine, Tony, tried this immediately upon learning it coz his family had this medical history of liver cancers. His dad and grandma died of cancer of the liver. Since the liver is very much functionally related to the gall bladder, he reckons it's not gonna hurt. As he said, cancers related to the liver and gall bladder all start with stones somewhere. The results of his diet were amazing. His gallstones passed out on the morning after his 6th day. To see his testimonial, complete with pictures, you may click on here. I've removed the non-pertinent info from the email. It's a bit gross though so let that be a fair warning.

Here's the short article:

REMOVING GALLSTONES NATURALLY
by Dr Lai Chiu-Nan

It has worked for many. If it works for you please pass on the good news. Chiu Nan is not charging for it, so we should make it free for everyone. Your reward is when someone, through your word of mouth, benefits from the regime. Gallstones may not be everyone's concern. But they should be because we all have them. Moreover, gallstones may lead to cancer. "Cancer is never the first illness," Chiu Nan points out. "Usually, there are a lot of other problems leading to cancer.

In my research in China, I came across some materials which say that people with cancer usually have stones. We all have gallstones. It's a matter of big or small, many or few.

One of the symptoms of gallstones is a feeling of bloatedness after a heavy meal. You feel like you can't digest the food. If it gets more serious, you feel pain in the liver area." So if you think you have gallstones, Chiu Nan offers the following method to remove them naturally.

The treatment is also good for those with a weak liver, because the liver and gallbladder are closely linked.

Here are the easy to follow instructions for the regimen:

1. For the first five days, take four glasses of apple juice every day. Or eat four or five apples, whichever you prefer. Apple juice softens the gallstones. During the five days, eat normally.
2. On the sixth day, take no dinner.
3. At 6 PM, take a teaspoon of Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate) with a glass of warm water.
4. At 8 PM, repeat the same. Magnesium sulphate opens the gallbladder ducts.
5. At 10 PM, take half cup olive oil (or sesame oil) with half cup fresh lemon juice. Mix it well and drink it. The oil lubricates the stones to ease their passage.

The next morning, you will find green stones in your stools. “Usually they float," Chiu Nan notes. "You might want to count them. I have had people who passes 40, 50 or up to 100 stones. Very many."

"Even if you don't have any symptoms of gallstones, you still might have some. It's always good to give your gall bladder a clean-up now and then.

Duel in the Garden - A Magical Fight Scene

I finally got around to completely editing the 3rd (and last?) pictorial in the garden. These pictorials are backbreaking work! Setting up the correct lighting in this kind of fantasy photography is a challenge. Working with cranky kids is even harder. The theme for this pictorial is a duel between Princess Butterfly played by Sandra and the Kamikaze Kid played by Renz.

This time Sandra wears a bigger tiara - a more colorful one too. I find this particular shot really nice coz it shows her shiny tiara and both wings behind her back. Again we used the LET (Light Emitting Toy) as the "magic stone". Renz was out in the streets at this time so I had to work with Sandra alone.

When Renz came home it was his turn. Well, this time he was more cooperative with posing. I guess a small audience cheering him on made him feel special and so was happily doing the poses. The difficult part with directing little kids is that they just can't keep still. After practicing with him on how to hold the sword correctly, the sword in his hand still moved in all of the shots. Look at those glowing "evil eyes"!

Finally the duel. I had to position Sandra, Renz and the camera correctly to create the illusion that the Princess Butterfly was flying over the Kamikaze Kid. Sandra's pose and Renz's sword were choreographed to make it appear that they were fighting. I KNEW those Shaolin kung-fu movies had some usefulness! Haiiii-ya !!! For the rest of the pictures of the fight scenes, click here. Hope you like them all. Feel free to comment on the pics!

A Better Backstroke

Simulated Open Water Swim: Water's olive green today but nice and warm. Yup, summer's definitely just around the corner now. I can feel it.

I've managed to put in some backstroke today and suddenly I'm hooked into re-learning it. It's still not as relaxed as I want it to be but I'm definitely getting better at it. At least I don't get in as much water as before coz the face is out of the water. It's the water splashes that do get in. But there were some instances that I felt that I was getting faster.

The tweaking that I did to make me float better in backstroke are as follows:

1. Keep the lungs full at most times. This makes the upper body buoyant.
2. Do a quick exhale when one hand recovers or rises up from the water, then a quick big inhale. It may be better not to breathe at every stroke though.
3. Kick faster to keep the legs afloat.
4. Don't kick too deep but kick strong.
5. When the neck tires, try looking directly up to the sky.
6. Stretch the arm, hand AND fingers overhead but do not cross the centerline.
7. Ensure that you feel the grip of the water and feel pushing it ALL the way back.

Now I tire easily but over time, once I'm used to the motions and develop better technique and conditioning, it'll become easier and more natural. Hopefully, I'll be really good in time for summer!

A Freebee and My 3rd Toastmasters Speech

Simulated Open Water Swim:
My shoulders especially the right were sore from the street badminton last Saturday and yesterday. Even my right torso side hurt. Looks like I always overstretch. It's the "good" soreness though and no injury at all. The pool today was not clear. The hairball I found a the bottom was a dead giveaway that the weekend was packed! There must've been some wild hair-pulling (sabunutan) that occured. After seeing that hairball, I decided to leave the pool. At the showers, I found and took a one-time-used-only bar of soap that the weekenders must've left. These are the kind of freebies I usually get after a weekend.

I delivered my 3rd Toastmasters Speech (Get to the Point) last Saturday at the Bureau of Customs Building, not as a contestant, but as a Test Speaker. Others call it the Model Speaker where the competetion is between Evaluators. I was extremely delighted with my speech. This time, I did not miss a single line. Yes!

Before the program started though, I started worrying coz I overheard a technician saying the lapel mic isn't available. This, after all the assurances beforehand from the Division and Area governors that a lapel mic will be used. The technician simply setup the mic on a stand infront. Does he think that we're singers? I've always practiced gesturing with both hands so that presented an unfamiliar ground to me.

While I was waiting at my seat, I "practiced" holding a mic by using a ballpen pretending it was a mic while thinking out aloud my speech. Corz it was all subtle, else everybody would think I was nuts. It worked very well though. Onstage, I did one-handed gestures shifting the mic from one hand to the other. This time all the points of my speech flowed flawlessly. I had a couple of pauses to recall the points, but they were all unnoticeable.

After my speech and the evaluation proper, I was so pleasantly surprised and flattered when experienced toastmasters (two of them club presidents!) approached to congratulate me. They liked my speech! A couple of them have asked me to guest speak at their clubs. Aw, shucks. I suddenly felt like I was some celebrity. It was fantastic!

Some of the nice comments I received:
From Evaluator 1:

1. Intro was a sure attention getter.
2. Voice is well-modulated and loud enough.
3. It was like watching the National Geographic channel.
4. Showed mastery of the subject matter.

From Evaluator 2:

1. It's like I took a plane ride to Peru.
2. Very good opening. Invoked interest.
3. Very vivid details. Very educational.

From Evaluator 3:

1. Title is catchy and so is the intro.
2. Manner of speaking demonstrated confidence and competence.
3. Eye gestures / the ways you looked at audience were good.
4. It was like a box of chocolates that was savored to the end.

Thanx. Sometimes I amaze myself with my speeches. I guess my simple guidelines are:

1. Be prepared. Practice as much as you can BEFORE the day of the speech.
2. Don't continuously reread your speech up to the last minute. Enjoy the other speeches and the whole program as well. This will take your mind off nervousness.
3. Take to heart all the evaluation/feedback you hear. Although some may be superfluous, some are really gems that you should apply in succeeding speeches.
4. Smile before you start. Smile at the Contest Chair. Smile at the audience. This will really relax you and the audience will WANT to hear what you have to say.
5. Always think that you have something worthwhile to tell the audience - a nice story, an interesting fact, an intriguing opinion - anything you took the time to write.

Although one evaluator commented that my voice was well-modulated, I really thought I could've projected a much deeper voice that would've complimented beautifully to the mystery I was storytelling. But of corz a deep voice ALL the time would be monotonous and uninteresting. Overall, a fun session. It was fun to me coz there wasn't much pressure as I was not a contestant.

See all my Toastmasters Speeches online here!

3rd Toastmasters Speech Tomorrow

Simulated Open Water Swim: I got my pants wet today from the shower. So I wasn't in a good mood for a long workout. Since I cut it off short, I took cloud pictures. I already took some at MunSci and took some at the pool too. Clouds today just look so different.

I'll be attending a Toastmasters competition tomorrow for areas 71 and 74. My first ever to attend. Unfortunately I didn't manage to be a contestant due to some silly eligibility problem. Too bad, I was already preparing a draft of my competition speech. But then I was asked to deliver a speech nonetheless, not as a contestant, but as a TEST SPEAKER. Apparently, there is also an Evaluation Competition and the contest among the evaluators is who can give the best evaluation. So... I'm the test speaker to be evaluated - the rat in the maze to be studied.

Oh, it's confidential though. Nobody is to know who the test speaker is so that nobody will know in advance what that test speaker's real strengths and weaknesses are. Uhmm. Ok. The great thing about this though is that I don't need to prepare a new speech for it, presumably coz I have a different audience. So I'll be delivering my recent speech, The Devil's Gardens and will get credit for it as my 3rd Toastmasters speech. The draft I was preparing earlier would instead be used for my 4th speech. Hope tomorrow turns out okay.

Clean Pool and Yellow Sunrise

SEasy 75s Freestyle: The water has been clear in the past weeks. I guess the new guy is doing a good job with the pool cleaning. Hmmmm, let's see after 6 months. Although he's results-oriented, he's not exactly customer-driven. When I get there, he's STILL cleaning. I would assume cleaners clean AND finish BEFORE patrons come in. Ah well. At least the pool's clean. Even the pump's been a-hummin' continuously. Hope it doesn't breakdown.

I'm planning on storing away my rashguard for now. (I had a past blog entry on what a rashguard looks like. Just look for it in the December05 archives.) I've been using it continuously for several days and a thread's coming loose inside the left wrist part. I assume the thread from the stitching loosened when the wrist part of the long-sleeved vest rubs with my watch. The weather's clearing up anyway, with March (and summer) fast approaching. I'll give it a final good wash, air-dry it and store it away.

I mentioned before that I'm virtually a sun-worshipper. Nowadays, especially, I feel like I'm more appreciative of sunrises and sunsets. I think it has something to do with my renewed interest in photography. I'm more sensitive and keen to beautiful and unusual lighting. Like this morning, driving to the pool, I thought that the way the morning sun shone on everything that I passed by seemed strangely but beautifully orangey-yellow. It's one of those days that I say to myself what a beautiful morning to start a day! It's also one of those days that I want to stop the car at the shoulder of the expressway, take a real good vantage point, setup the tripod and take numerous shots of the beautiful sunrise landscape! Corz, by the time I'm done, the traffic patrol will be breathing down my neck ready with a ticket.

A Really Fast Swimmer - Look at Him Go !

3W SEasy 75m Freestyle: I think my 3 laps around the pool is becoming a default here so I'll be dropping the "3W" notation in succeeding entries. Today's workout wasn't as tough as I thought considering I've not done much freestyle lately. But I can only surmise that all those recent non-stop laps around the pool has improved my conditioning.

I've yet to be the best swimmer I can be. Nopes, not by a long shot but I'm trying. I found a video among my old files and I no longer recall where I got it from or who the swimmer is but it sure serves a real inspiration to me. The guy is simply amazing. He's swimming freestyle in (what I believe to be) a 25-meter swimming pool. He's got these long graceful and seemingly relaxed strokes but moves really fast. Compare him to the guy on the next lane! You can view the video right here.

SOWS

Today: SOWS

That's Simulated Open Water Swim - and I just made up that term. I called it Simulated Ocean Swim before but "Open Water" is the better term. Open water suggests natural bodies of water like the ocean or sea, lakes and rivers. There's no pool bottom to rest your feet on and no pool walls to kick from. In addition to the usual resting strokes, I put in a couple of backstrokes. They're pretty baaaad. Got water in the nose in both times. But, patience, patience, patience, is what I need to finally get it right. Oh, Happy Valentines' Day.

El Cheapo Camera Case

No swim today: And I'm glad I didn't go. I drove my aunt from Balintwak all the way to Pampanga and gosh, I was chatting with her basically the whole trip. I felt tired today and as the day wore on, I felt even more tired. My shoulders tell me they need a massage. I'm getting old.

One of my major considerations for buying the Sony new digital camera was size. It should be small enough to be contained in a cellphone pouch but big enough that it's able to use double A ("AA") rechargeable batteries. At first, I thought most digital cameras that used AA batteries were too "tall" to fit in a cellphone pouch. My digicam was not tall but was longer. When I got it though, I realized that it was also "thick" - almost twice as thick as your average cellphone.

Thus the search for the camera carrying case began. I wanted one that wasn't bulky and didn't need a strap around my neck. Most of the camera cases I've seen are nice, comfy, well padded and a little too big and a little expensive for my taste. They also spell "tourist" as one who wears 'em undeniably has a camera inside. Nah, I wanted a case that looked like a cellphone case and with a horizontal profile. That is, I could loop my belt into the case's belt strap and it'll be position horizontally.

Finally I found one such pouch that was snug enough to contain the digicam. Good thing about it is it's made of garterized elastic fabric. And since my Sony digicam is thick, it's snug. That's the pouch and the digicam. Since it's snug, I need two hands to put the camera in and get it out. That's one price to pay for selecting such a small case. I fold the wrist strap on top so it's all neat inside the cellphone case. The case only cost Php150. Cheap?

Here's the cellphone case with the digicam. Really neat, don't you think? If you're wondering how I got a pic of my digicam, well no, I don't have camera-cellphone. I was able to get a pic from my old Casio Exilim digicam when I got to charge its lithium-ion battery. I now have an external charger for the Casio lithium-ion batteries. Mega-thanx to an dear old friend, ex-classmate, ex-dormmate and kababayan Ronnie who got this charger for me. Thanx Ron!

VCO and a Simulated Ocean Swim

Yesterday: No swim. In the morning it felt like a typhoon with the strong winds. I think I know the reason now why the pool's been cold. The strong wind was blowing cold air and was cooling the pool water. That plus the fact that it wasn't totally sunny all day.

I've been taking VCO (Virgin Coconut Oil) lately for its supposed health benefits. There's tons of info on it on the net. Anybody has personal experience with this stuff? A coworker of mine claims that she lost weight with it.

The brand I'm taking is Theraherb and comes in 2 flavors I think - Banana and Jackfruit. It's got the nice flavorful aroma alright but taking it in and KEEPING it down there is another matter! No wonder she lost weight with it. After taking this stuff, you'd feel so full in an instant. And I got this theory that since its oil, it doesn't mix well with the insides of our tummys which is watery. So the result? It is "repeled" by your insides and you get the feeling of nausea. That's my theory at least.

I also wonder about measurements. Most recommend 3-4 tablespoons a day. But what EXACTLY is a tablespoon measurement? If you look at measuring cups of liquid medz, 1 tbsp is 15 milliliters. This amount is much much more than what a kitchen tablespoon will contain. It's either that or we have some really teeny weeny tablespoons at home.

Today: 45mins nonstop. Water level at the pool today was high. And the water was chilly. Just for kicks, I decided to continually swim until 8am. No freestyle. No turns with kicks off the wall. No stopping to rest. Feet never touched pool bottom. Since it was cold, I'd knew I'd feel colder once I stop. It was all a mix of treading (headsup breaststroke), sidestroke and elementary backstroke. It was so relaxing and monotonous that I felt like I could sleep. There was only a couple of times that my forehead got wet and got water up my nose. And that was coz I lost paying attention.

After the session was over, my shoulders were tired but I was still relaxed and no gasping. Coming out of the pool was hard though and I scraped my left knee pulling myself up. Nothing major, but I probly left some skin there. The pool ladders are taken off weekdays so you gotta pull yourself out of the pool. Anyway, it felt good and invigorating that maybe I could have this "simulated ocean swim" as a regular workout - maybe Fridays?

Basketball Court and the Ring

Yesterday: 3W T 75free: I cut short my workout today coz the workers had the basketball court up again. Naturally, they decide to play even with my car parked dangerously nearby. The side mirror's been hit once by the ball (no damage though) a long time ago. So with just a short session, I got out of the pool, showered and took off.

Today: 3W SEasy 75free: This time I parked farther away from the basketball court. Today was one of the quickest workouts ever. Maybe I didn't rest too long in between laps. But it definitely helps that I don't think about the workout too much and think of other stuff other than swimming.

Over the radio at RX 93.1, the topic was "What are your rules on love?". An answer one texter texted in was "You should always wear your wedding ring." And the dj's were both very much agreeable. I realized though that I've not worn my ring for such a loooong time. And the reason is it was too much hassle wearing and then taking it off in between swims and showers. It would just be risky to lose the ring either in the showers which do not have a floor strainer (open drain) or lose it in the pool! I've lost a swim noseclip in the pool and it was NEVER found.

I created a screensaver of the wedding fantasy shots in my laptop. The pics in that screensaver are here.

Street Badminton and Another Pictorial

3W T 75free: The water was cold today - and the pool staff said it didn't even rain in the weekend. Hmmm, I don't understand it. I confirmed the pool water was cold coz the shower water felt warmer by comparsion.

We played street badminton Sat and Sun right infront of the house. It felt good to be jumping and huffing again. I felt the strain on my right forearm and rear deltoid. Must be those "trying-hard" smashes I hit!

Due to the nice turnout of photos I did after the wedding, I setup another pictorial in another part of the garden. Sandra wore a tiara instead of the flower head dress. DH managed to borrow a tiara from a coworker. And we used other props like a flat candle and small toy that emitted lights. I knew those toys had some sort of usefulness! Renz became restless after only one shot! The guy needs to sleep and be fully rested before any pictorial. And me... well I became easily tired after setting up the lighting. The 2 hours of ironing the kids' uniforms prior to that did me in. Karen and Renz's taunting Sandra didn't help either. Sandra was more distracted and agitated this time and I didn't get the natural, candid and relaxed poses I got from the first pictorial. In spite of it all, Sandra was still patient in the duration of the pictorial which lasted an hour (7-8pm). Anyway, click here to see the rest of the pics.

Easy 75's

Yesterday - 3W SEasy 75frees: These 75's are getting easy. I plan on targetting straight 100's. When I get comfortable with straight 100's THEN I'll resume training for flip turns.

Today - 3W SEasy 75frees: Low water pressure at the showers today and I was unable to shower. When I jumped into the pool, it felt cold! I believe the water at the showers is really much colder than the pool water and that is why I always felt comfy jumping into the pool whenever I took a shower first - because the pool water felt warmer by comparison.

Easy LSD

Yesterday - 3W, SEasy, 75frees: I noticed that I could actually just frog kick when treading. The arms cannot be just dropped though. They need to be out forward a little (like arms on the table) to act as outtriggers. Sculling can be minimal, but frog kicking need to be fast and snappy. It's a hard on the knees in the long run (or long swim).

Today - 3W, SEasy, 75frees: The water was nice today despite a cool morning. I discovered the secret to long slow distances (LSD) and the answer is SLOW. Here are my observations:

1. Don't mind the time. No need to rush. Swim relaxed and just zone out.
2. Let the leading arm float forward after the recovery. No need to overly tense it by stretching too much. Relax the hand as well. Just loosen the fingers and let the hand float.
3. Do not raise the body too much on the open turns. Since you're relaxed swimming slow anyway, there's really no need for that huge gasp of air. Raising the body too high is just added effort for the arm. Simply use the arm to reverse direction while minimally raising the head to breath.
4. Do not kick off too hard from the wall. This puts extra effort on the legs. A gentle push will do. Again this is for LSD where time is of no importance.
5. Don't focus much on kicking. Kick to simply float the legs and balance the body.
6. Don't exaggerate the breathing with too strong inhales and exhales. This tenses up your breathing pattern. Just relax.
7. Maintain a low head profile when breathing.