READING: I would really like to know the answer to this as I have about ten things going at once and bits and pieces of other things I keep delving into. This is not good...by next week I promise to whittle it all down to my standard four books going at once and pick my favorite one to post. I think I need more focus in my life at the moment.
(Photo: Matt at Panther Quarterback's locker while touring facility in Charlotte, NC.)
SWIMMING NEWS: IU swimmers headed out to Charlotte, NC for the Ultra Swim Grand Prix last week Thursday through Sunday, Matt's flight came in on Monday morning, he was tired but happy as he had a wonderful time in Charlotte at the meet. The IU swimmers were all hosted by various families volunteering for such in Charlotte and Matt was super-excited about his host family, who he just loved. The father in the family is a marketing executive for the Charlotte Panthers football team and he arranged for Matt to see the facility and the locker rooms, etc. during session breaks. The family was just wonderful to Matt, very supportive...they went to his swim sessions and cheered and filmed him, which was so very nice since we were not able to be there. He had great meals, rides to and from the pool and airport, wonderful accommodations at their beautiful home, and just a whole lot of extra fun besides enjoying the swim meet. Here are some photos from all of that.
(Photo: Matt and his host family at the Charlotte Grand Prix meet, "Best Host Family Ever.")
(Photo: Student and Teacher: Matt and IU Swim Coach L.)
(Photo: Indiana! Where did my little guy go...look at those shoulders...a lot of changes from swimming this year.)
COOKING BYTES: My goal is to get back on the path to proper posting (this is for my benefit primarily as it keeps me interested in trying new things each week and gives Mark more of a variety...left to my own devices, soup and salad always look like viable options for every meal). Back to committed food planning and blogging this week...I hope.
FAV NEW FIND: I now know how to use a flash drive. Keep your laughter to yourself...I was only tentatively moving into the 20th Century when they somehow switched it to the 21st.
FAV THIS PAST WEEK: Getting Matt and his roommates (Ian and Steve) settled into their rental house at college was definitely my favorite thing this past week. It was fun to be a part of all of that and see them so happy with their choice. Swimmers and dorms are not a good combination. Swimmers sleep 10 p.m.-5 a.m., most dorm residents do not follow such hours of quiet and sleep, so the goal for the new place for the next three years for the boys, from their viewpoint, was to rent a house rather than an apartment so there would be no people above, below, or beside them who might quite possibly like to play loud music and be active for a good many of those hours between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. The house they found is close to campus and pool and is quite comfortable. It comes with three bedrooms and three off-street parking spots for the three roommates. It has two bathrooms, a lovely kitchen with a counter that accommodates bar stools (especially good as they see no need for a kitchen table to "clutter things up"), a most generous sized living room, and a nice little porch out front for bikes and lawn chairs. Since so many have asked about this, and requested photos...here are some from move-in day (since Ian and Steve are not quite as compulsive as Matt about their rooms and closets, I didn't shoot photos of their rooms at this time). So here's a bit of where Matt will call home these next three years.
(Photo: Steve, Matt, and Ian in front of the new digs in Hooville...home for the next three years.)
(Photo: Front door enters into entry and living room off to right side. Ian, Matt, Steve on move-in day, i.e. you have a couch each, a tv, a bedroom/bed each, and you are moved in. Girls might be slightly different in this regard.)
(Photo: Kitchen on move-in day, all cabinets loaded, miscellaneous junk sitting around but basically doing great on neatness and organization through the whole moving process.)
(Photo: Matt's bedroom...yes, it will probably always look this neat. And please don't sit or put anything on the bed, he's not fond of that, just so you know. I have no idea where he got all these compulsive tendencies.)
(Photo: Matt's bathroom...and yes, it will probably always look this neat and orderly. Again, I have no idea where he got that tendency.)
(Photo: Matt's Closet...and yes, it will probably always look this neat and organized. And again, I have absolutely no idea where he got these compulsively neat tendencies.)
WEEK IN REVIEW: Spent a good deal of time in Hooville getting the boys settled, Mark's firm also moved offices after 40 years of being in the same place, so that was a lot for Mark to get his office packed up for the movers. His new office has a lovely view of trees and greenery, something other than just downtown buildings and rooftops, so he is looking forward to that...the all-cement view from his former office not being his favorite by a long shot. Too bad it didn't look out over a golf course!
LOOKING FORWARD TO: There is an art "sculpture" exhibit in Bloomington (ends in October) which honors the human brain called Brain Extravaganza. Sounds a little strange, but is rather fun as there are 22 brains located all over town and on the IU campus which detail/showcase different aspects of the brain. Each has a little pedestal of written information describing that particular brain's focus. I've seen half a dozen so far, but hope to get to them all before October. Here's a photo of Matt with Brain #21 a couple of blocks from his house.
You can read (and see photos) about Brain Extravaganza and the brains here. Nothing at the ISO this week...come on...this is Indianapolis and it's Race Weekend coming up, nothing else is going to attract more than a handful of fans. It's May, It's Indy, It's The Race.