Compulsory Zen

Last Swim:  Wednesday 8am, (plus many others that go unblogged because blogging can be a pita, but also if a tree falls...?)

Next Swims:  M-F really, who knows?  Because we've kind of fallen off the edge of the earth, swim-wise, yet here we are.  Thanks climate change.

                            Sat. & Sun.  noon (usually)        

                            (Not sure about the m-f 5:30 pm situation)

                            (Blog comments may have other swims)    

Water temp: 48f

Air Temp:  low 40's, getting breezy

Water Quality:  flat as glass

Clarity: clear near shore, murky further out

Kru:  Lt. MJ, Showgirl

Shore Support:  none, though the WimHoffers were there earlier and the workmen continue to work on the... see below

Photo credit: Mermaid Princess

Table of Contents

Chapter 1.  I will if you will

Chapter 2. Showgirl looses her voice

Chapter 3. Zen swimming

Chapter 4. The real reason for religious orders vow of silence

Chapter 5. The real reason the lake level is lower.

Chapter 6. You might need a $100 changing robe

Chapter 7. Sunday swim recap

Chapter 8. Being thankful

Chapter 1.  I will if you will

Lt. MJ, who missed Sunday's AMAZING (after it was done) noon swim, was growing concerned that she might not squeeze in a November swim.  There are people, many people, who wish to log at least one swim per month.  There are others (me) who avoid unnecessary suffering and often skip the brutal months of sub-50F swims.  But I digress.  Anyway, in an, "I will if you will" moment, we agreed to meet at the beach.

Chapter 2. Showgirl looses her voice

But prior to these swim plans, I contracted a weird cold (no, not covid) and subsequently lost my voice.  Today is day three of no talking. I hope that one day soon I will talk again.

Photo credit: me, obviously

Chapter 3. Zen swimming

So it turns out that an involuntary vow of silence might lead to more calm peaceful experiences.  It would certainly cut back on those, "gee I wish I hadn't said that," and "gee I wish that person would STFU," moments.  It also causes you to get your wetsuit, booties, gloves, buoy, caps, goggles and whatever ELSE is in your pre-swim ritual (that only gets longer and more complicated with each drop in temperature) onto your body way way faster if nobody is chit-chatting.

After the swim, we were quite speedy in getting dressed and up the hill.  And due to the stunning lack of conversation, we went our separate ways.  The entire outing took about an hour and 2o.

Lt. MJ's perception of the swim was all beauty, peace, and zen.  My perception was that I had a lot of trivial sh*t to say and no way to say it.

Chapter 4. The real reason for religious orders vow of silence

Because of this, it occurred to me that religious orders with vows of silence really exist in order to squeeze more work, and thus profitability, out of the nuns/monks.

These are the thoughts you have room for when you're not running your mouth.

Chapter 5. The real reason the lake level is lower.

If you've been to Klode recently, you may have noticed that there is a hive of activity at that mysterious mid-level structure.  Our own Mermaid Princess has gotten to the bottom of that.  Apparently, embedded in the hill is a pump that sucks in water for Whitefish Bay's fire hydrants.

Photo Credit: Lt. MJ-- So. Much. Beach.

Chapter 6. You might need a $100 changing robe

Maybe it's the WimHoffers.  Maybe it's the uptick in open water swimming due to the pandemic.  All to say, there's a preponderance of $150+ changing parkas on the market that are all on sale now. I suspect this is because people who engage in a sport that requires no actual equipment are inherently cheap.

Chapter 7. Sunday swim recap

Noon swim last Sunday, water was 46 and wavy, air was balmy low 50's, swimmers were Marion the Librarian, Lydia the TTL, Showgirl, Dragonfly (freaking skin swim!), Luna Laguna, Laguna Mike, Spawn o' Lagunas.  Itch, we missed you.

Chapter 8. Being thankful

Likely there will be a Thanksgiving swim, details TBD.