First of all, a very happy birthday July 16th to my father-in-law, Emil. The photo was taken last Sunday in Elwood and shows the three July birthday boys...all rolling over the "6"s this year...Emil is 86, Mark was 56 on Saturday, and Matt will be 16 on the 31st. A little celebrating was a must and enjoyed by all.
Monday we spent in swim practice, shoulder therapy, packing, etc. so that Tuesday morning after the 6:00 a.m. practice we could make our way south to Bloomington for the Speedo Championships in time for lunch at Lennie's
where they make a great French Onion Soup and many other fine menu items....check it out if you are going to Bloomington...I'll go with you. 
Photos are from the team dinner at an Italian restaurant in Bloomington after the afternoon practice at the IU pool. (Left: Josh, Stevie, and Nick on one side, and Harrison, Charles, Andrew, and Michael on the other; Right: Devon, Sam, and Lauren)
Wednesday was the first day of the meet...Matt swam the 50 Free seeded 74/131 (but in that field, only 2 other 15 year olds ahead of him, so he is doing just fine being amongst the youngest there). Unfortunately, he didn't swim that well and added a second to his time, so he was feeling a little unhappy with himself after that swim. No time to be blue, however, as we were ALL celebrating after this swim because 
Harrison (pictured left), YES, THAT HARRISON, set a new club record in the 50 Freestyle, topped it off by it being also a new Indiana State record for 14 year olds in that swim, sent it over the top by qualifying for Junior Nationals with that time, and hit it way out into space by being...are you ready for this...the number one 14 year old 50 Freestyler in the United States at the moment! Way, to go, Harrison. We are so proud of you! 
Josh, Harrison, and Rhiannon hanging out in our suite between swims. 
Michael stopping by for a chat. The swimmers all floated between rooms visiting and playing various games, etc. between the morning and evening sessions. 
Photo is dinner that evening for quite a few of the swimmers, all in a very festive mood, looking forward to the next day. (Left side: Lauren, Nick, Matt, Harrison; Right side: Sam, Josh, Charles, and Mike)
Thursday Matt swam the 200 Free, seeded 122/161 (but only 9 other 15 year olds ahead of him). He did better on this swim and took off two seconds, so he came out happy and encouraged. 
(Photo is Matt and Harrison hanging out checking emails on computer and iPhone...lots of texting, messaging, emailing about the meet back and forth between swimmers here and ones not here wanting to know how it was all going, etc. 
Banners at the IU pool...my two Big Ten favs side by side, Indiana and Iowa. It's nice to sit in the stands between the two.
Friday was Matt's 100 Backstroke and it did not go well. He woke up with a very sore shoulder and in warm-ups he said he just knew it wasn't going to be his best swim as it was really bothering him. He went in seeded 27/111 (no other 15 year olds ahead of him), and added two seconds, thereby not even qualifying for finals in the evening. We had a long talk over lunch at Lennie's (Lennie's being oh-so-close to the pool makes it so very nice), just he and I as Mark had to head back to work after coming down to see the swim, and by the time we left, he was feeling better about it all...disappointed, still, but more optimistic about what he has accomplished this year on a whole. 
Photo left is Saturday morning, Matt intent on focusing on getting a better time in the 100 Freestyle. 
He was seeded 69 /167 (3 other 15 year olds ahead of him), and he took off just a little time, but he was happy about that with the state his shoulder was in and the fact that at least he finished with 2 of 4 new best times...always nice to take home new best times. (Photo shows him in the bottom lane with red cap coming into the wall for the finish.) 
It was great time, we all love being in Bloomington always, and as we headed out of town, we stopped for lunch at the Limestone Grille, hugely popular with us, and then headed north to home. 
(Photo is Matt beside the limestone wall before we sat down...I know, one usually does not arrive here dressed like this, but it was Saturday lunch, and at the end of the service, and Hilary was waitressing, and she was delighted to see us no matter what the swimmer was wearing, so what can I say?) The menu at this restaurant is amazingly wonderful. There is always a nice mix of the familiar and the not-so-familiar, changing monthly with the addition and subtraction of various seasonal specials. I always get a cup of the snow crab soup, and then we always like to share a dessert as they have lovely desserts. Matt was all for sharing my lemon dessert as he likes lemon as much as I do, but then, he said, "You know...these chocolate selections are really sounding very good to me..." and I figured a kid who swam for four long summer days probably deserved another dessert, so he had a chocolate one all to himself and then polished off at least half, if not more, of mine. It's good to take teenage boys out when dessert is involved...they can always be counted on to eat the other half. 
The last fun shot of the meet, Charles, Nick, Matt, Harrison, and Josh...looking happy and ready to roll for senior state this week.
When we arrived home, we were greeted with the shock of our lives...ALEX HAD CLEANED HIS ROOM. I had indicated that if the room was not spotless, and then some, when I returned, he would not be traveling with Nan on the Aunt Nan-and-Nephews Vacation which was to begin early Saturday. (I figured he wouldn't take that very seriously and I would be forced to use the upcoming Driver's License as hostage to get that room cleaned.) Surprise, surprise, the room is very clean, and then some. Apparently, he thought I might not be kidding around about the trip with Nan and didn't want to take any chances. So, Alex is off with Nan, David, Jonathan, and Chad for the yearly week of fun and frivolity.
Since yesterday was a bit crowded with things-already-on-the-calendar, we decided to celebrate Mark's birthday today, so he got to plan the day. He thought maybe Kelties for brunch and then the IMA for an afternoon of art. Hmmm...this sounded more like a birthday I would plan for me! I wasn't going to mention that, however, until afterward, just in case the plans might get a second thought or two. I was happy not to have it involve any type of ballgame actually...I figured he would pick things along that line...and he almost did pick the Reds game in Cincinnati, but Matt had to be at a meeting by 3:00 at church.
Turns out Kelties had lilies for their flowers this week (always have to call and check that out as for some reason they are big on lilies and I am highly allergic to lilies), so we ended up having brunch at Wolfgang Puck's at the IMA and then seeing the To Live Forever: Egyptian Treasures from the Brooklyn Museum at the IMA. What a great birthday...I don't know when I have enjoyed Mark's birthday more!
Okay...so now you should all be delighted with this little round trip excursion and those who tuned out long ago, that's okay, too. What's up for this week? Gee, more swimming...senior state starts Thursday...and need I say it: Please keep good thoughts for that 100 Back...we would just like to get there on that one sooner rather than later. Have a great week.