Monday: Great Swim and Pearl harbor

Of course, I overslept this morning. Slack will be cut, as I was out a bit late at my swim party last night and then stayed up late reading The Elegance of the Hedgehog, which has taken a very interesting turn. The man who finds elegance in the hedgehog has moved into the apartment building and found out that there might be more to the concierge than meets the eye by hearing her quote a bit of Anna Karenina. "All happy families are alike...".

So, I overslept and arrived at the pool later than necessary. Anyway, I did dive in by about 8:50 AM. Jaime was there and also Jonathan, and I felt pleased that we got in a pretty good workout despite the general lateness. Workout as follows:

• 200 swim/ 400 pull
• 10 x 50 (odd fly/ even free) @ 1:00
• 4 x 50 (fly/free) @ 1:00
• 8 x 50 kick @ 1:00
• 4 x 50 breast strike @ 1:00
• 10 x 50 (odd breast/ even free) @ 1:05
• 5 x 100 pull @ 1:45
• 200 kick

This was 3100 meters; pretty good for getting there late. Ivan and I headed home to clean up the kitchen, have many snacks and wrap up Ebay packages for mailing. While cleaning up the kitchen, I noticed that Ivan was stalking about with a strange jangling in the pants leg of his footie pajamas. Of course, he had pilfered two more of the pepper Christmas ornaments from the tree and stuffed them down his pajamas. WHY? For what reason would a person stuff uncomfortable Christmas tree ornaments down his footie pajamas and shriek inconsolably when his mother tried to remove them.

If he were rational, I would say, "Ivan, if you stuff not one but two Christmas ornaments down your footie pajamas, you will be very uncomfortable.", to which he would reply, "Why Mother, you are exactly right. It is a great discomfort to perambulate about the premises with Christmas ornaments in my pjs. It just doesn't make sense. Please remove them, while I wait both patiently and gratefully. Thank you, Mother, Thank you!!!"

We have not yet reached the rational stage, and I am now adding Christmas ornament surveillance to the general suicide watch; also feline terror watch, as Ivan has learned how to kick and loves nothing better than to kick the cat. Hard times for all, be it man or beast.

Headed into work and made it home at a reasonable hour to put Ivan to bed with his favorite story and bedtime prayers.

Now, as opposed to Gilad or a trainer ride this evening, I chose to commemorate Pearl Harbor by watching Frank Capra's footage of World War II. It is rather amazing and a bit graphic, but necessary for garnering American support for the fight against Hitler. I have always heard about the war footage released by the successful director of "Its a Wonderful Life". It is a thorough explanation of American involvement in World War II. I am learning a lot and feel quite proud of Ole Frank Capra, of whom I think there is more than tear-jerking and romantic comedy-ing. He was born in Sicily, by the way, though he was having none of the sinister Mussolini, I assure you.

Aaahhh, patriotism!!!