Loading up the vans in the CHS parking lot to head off to the Purdue meet for three days of fun and swimming. You might think the swimmers are standing around studying psyche sheets or strategy plans for the weekend swims, but no, that would not be correct. They are all checking off their menu choices for FOOD for the weekend. Important stuff first, after all. (Matt is in the back to the left of center in sunglasses with his arm raised a bit in the photo.)
Back from the Purdue meet...some successes, some not so much. 
Matt swam the butterfly (pictured here with his golf tan) and had no problems with back or shoulder doing it, so that was nice. LOTS and LOTS of college guys in this meet, so Matt was seeded way down on the list, but very high for the 15 year olds entered. He added time in some things, dropped in others...it's early in the season, so this was a good meet to go and see what we have and where we are going with it. I always think our 15 and older swimmers look so old and mature these days...until we swim with the college kids and then I think, "Well, we aren't so old and mature after all...." 
Warm-ups or goofing off...sometimes it is hard to tell. (Matt and Ali by the white wall, Ali with her white hoodie on and Matt beside her, Mike thrown in the mix in front.) Purdue (and I am an IU person, so this takes some muster to even admit this due to the IU/Purdue state rivalry that goes on) has a beautiful, wonderful, excellent swimming pool facility. It is just gorgeous. Huge (not by Nat standards in Indy, of course, but anywhere else), lots of open space, very high ceilings, two walls of windows, a diving well that is just lovely and fun to look at, excellent seating stands, plenty of room, plenty of space behind the stands where people can stand and watch and not be in anyone's way, very clean, very well run...I can't say enough. I wish all our meets were there. I LOVE that pool. And, more importantly, so do the swimmers and coaches. When one spends three days somewhere, it's a good thing to love the facility.
I got a LOT of knitting done at the meet (oh, I just love this knitting thing at meets). 
Murph, on the other hand, worked on his laptop most of the time...I asked him to flash me a smile for a photo, so he held up his hand with his smiley face admittance stamp on it. Murph makes it so much fun at meets as he has a great wit, so it's good to get a seat by Murph. He is just full of all sorts of useful, and often silly, information. Mickey graduates this year, so our days with Murph at meets are coming to a close soon. Shucks.
In the evenings I visited with the swimmers and read my books...not a lot of parents around as it was a travel meet where the kids all went up together...and those parents that did go like to shop...enough said on that. 
(Photos are Scott D., Mickey, and Matt; and then one of Matt and Harrison). 
Last photo here is Matt rooming with Johnny and vegging out with a half a pizza each while watching a little television and winding down from the first day of the meet...Matt swam three events that evening, so he was really happy to see that pizza arrive.
When I returned home, Mark had mulched all the plant beddings in the entire yard, front and back...what a lot of work for him alone. It looks very nice and it especially looks very nice since I didn't have to do a single bit of it. I definitely got the better end of the deal this weekend by going to the swim meet.
Today I hope to get caught up around here, have volunteer work this afternoon, and MNO tonight...it will be great to see everyone. Still cool, but sunny. Big fancy wedding to go to this weekend...this time of year, one always has lots of choices of grad parties, weddings, showers, First Communions, Confirmations...something going on all the time...difficult to choose...which one, which one, which one???????
Have a great day!