READING: Continuing with Paris from 1872, not one certain book, just a variety of history books and sources.
Photos: I did not get a lot of swimming photos this weekend, so you get an in-the-water shot, a waiting-for-the-meet-to-begin shot, a line-up-cheering-the-team-on-shot, a line-up-to-swim shot, and a scoreboard shot.
Photo: Matt in the middle of the back row watching the Texas and Michigan swimmers warm up and thinking, "Man, those guys are BIG and FAST!"
SWIMMING NEWS: The IU/Texas/Michigan three-way meet in Ann Arbor this past weekend was a little disappointing for the Hoos...at least from the guys/coaches standpoint, I thought it was wonderful watching them swim.
Photo: IU swimmers watching from the sidelines, Matt second from the left.
Since Texas was the National champ in Men's Swimming last year, and Michigan the Big Ten champ in Men's Swimming last year, we got to see some very fast swimming and our guys got to see firsthand what they need for inspiration for the coming year. Matt did a nice job on his swims and enjoyed swimming in the U of M pool, which is both a nice place to watch and a nice place to swim.
Photo: Matt lining up for the 100 Freestyle. He did really well, close to his personal best time in that event, but I think the realization has set in that being a freshman means setting new goals that are faster than he had imagined he would need to be this early in his college career, probably a good thing to get that in mind right now from the beginning...those Michigan and Texas guys are FAST! He will get there, and it will be fun to watch it progress! Go, Matt!
The IU divers took first place at the meet, so they were happy about that, as were the rest of us.
COOKING BYTES: Those persimmons are still sitting on my counter in a state of firmness after two weeks that has me perplexed. I am uncertain whether to keep waiting...they appear to be neither getting softer or rotting after all this time...or whether to just cut into them, use them as they sit, and see what happens. Persimmons are confusing little things.
FAV NEW FIND: The swim meet this past weekend was just the men's team...the women's team competed the week before...so in the stands for the Hoos were just the guy parents and that made it very easy for us to chat with everyone and figure out who is who and who belongs to whom on the team. After swimming with CSC for 12 years, and pretty much knowing all the parents and swimmers within a certain age range of our swimmer, it is a new experience to get to know college swimmers and their parents. We had a very nice time chatting and learning about it all. Parents of the older swimmers are very helpful with all their tips and advice, a very nice deal.
FAV THIS PAST WEEK: The Trick-or-Treating brought Cindy's grandkids down our street in their festive costumes: Stella (puppy), Grace (Ariel), and Jack (Spiderman).
It doesn't seem that long ago that Cindy and I were dressing up the moms of these little ones and then in turn, Matt, Alex, Andrew, and Molly.
Photo: Molly the Princess, Alex and Matt as Knights, Andrew as Batman (ages 4-5) at the time. Where did those years go so quickly?? Matt was a Hawaiian guy for a Halloween party the swimmers at IU threw this year...photo at right with one of the girl swimmers, Ashley, not a date, just happened to be best photo of him.
WEEK IN REVIEW: This is the first year in I don't know when that we did not carve jack-o-lanterns...a bit disappointing, so will need to correct that next year. The week went fast with working and then leaving early Friday morning for Ann Arbor for the IU swim meet. Three days in Ann Arbor was a nice time...swim meet Friday night and Saturday afternoon, touring the U of M campus (really lovely with the colored leaves and gorgeous weather and beauty of the campus buildings, etc.), enjoying some great food here and here. Sunday morning we got up early and headed to the Henry Ford Museum, but only had a few hours so Mark's choice was to do the Greenfield Village part as it was a lovely day for walking and being outside and touring from exhibit house/shop/buildings. He was most excited about the building where the Wright Brothers built their first plane, but all of it was wonderful. When Mark says he will return to a place again, you know it was worth it. Since we will be in Ann Arbor again for swimming, this is probably a definite repeat in the next few years, as is the main museum which we hope to do when the weather dictates a more enclosed atmosphere in January.
LOOKING FORWARD TO: Checking out the Frogs exhibit here. This is what's happening at the ISO this coming week:
- Anton Webern (1883-1945) audio preview
Im Sommerwind (In the Summer Wind) - Richard Strauss (1864-1949) audio preview
Ein Heldenleben (A Hero's Life)
PRAYING FOR: People searching for jobs, it's a particularly hard time of year to go into the season without a job, please join me.
