The Vent and Rant Thread

[issybird]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Ah, lap swimming is a Zen. When you get good at it, you can go for an hour or more, back and forth (or in the case of my Endless Pool, straight into the current). Totally zoned out, almost a meditation. At which point the book actually can be a distraction and what you want is quiet music.

The most beautiful and best pool in the US, which just happened to be in my town, closed forever at the end of summer 2013 (that bit qualifies as a rant). So, last summer, I swam in a lake and very idyllic it was, too. I'd swim out to the middle and head in various directions while listening most likely to Simon Vance reading Aubrey/Maturin until I wore myself out. But I'm quite sure I got more exercise in the pool, where the laps over time let me know when I was slacking off. The Zen of the middle of the lake didn't have the same cardio-vascular benefit.

The beloved pool also was quite idyllic, covering over an acre with a grass and trees surround, sloping sides, stone bottom and potable water, but it also had a few lap lanes. *sniff*

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by issybird

The most beautiful and best pool in the US, which just happened to be in my town, closed forever at the end of summer 2013 (that bit qualifies as a rant). So, last summer, I swam in a lake and very idyllic it was, too. I'd swim out to the middle and head in various directions while listening most likely to Simon Vance reading Aubrey/Maturin until I wore myself out. But I'm quite sure I got more exercise in the pool, where the laps over time let me know when I was slacking off. The Zen of the middle of the lake didn't have the same cardio-vascular benefit.

The beloved pool also was quite idyllic, covering over an acre with a grass and trees surround, sloping sides, stone bottom and potable water, but it also had a few lap lanes. *sniff*

A true shame to lose a resource like that. I can only offer Endless Pools as an alternative that does NOT let you slack off. And it definitely lends itself to a swimming zen.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by CRussel

A true shame to lose a resource like that. I can only offer Endless Pools as an alternative that does NOT let you slack off. And it definitely lends itself to a swimming zen.

I am and have been lusting after an endless pool, but I simply can't afford it. Not to mention, around here, I'd be fighting off all the critters to use it. ;-)

Hitch

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Hitch

I am and have been lusting after an endless pool, but I simply can't afford it. Not to mention, around here, I'd be fighting off all the critters to use it. ;-)

Hitch

They're expensive, but not beastly so. When we bought our first one, I was surprised by how reasonable the whole thing worked out to be. That was an external pool in Northern California. When we moved, we sold it on Craigs List. Took the buyer 3 weekends to break it down and move it to his place. Our current one is indoor and cost both more and less. More, since we had to expand the room we were converting to a pool room. Less, because we knew what we were doing and did the build ourselves.

[kindlekitten]

Are you talking about the pools where you swim against the current? I have one of those here. Well, had I guess. After the destruction of the house it ended up with all sorts of bizarre junk. It's down to about 6 inches which I guess it should stay at to keep it from breaking. I'm just now getting financially to the point where I can repair one or two things at a time. One of the guys that came in on a secondary crew decided he would take it upon himself to fix it, it wasn't broken I just had it off. Well he took apart the gas heater, who knows where the parts are? By the time I got back about 6 months later it was down almost by half and the algae was overwhelming. Also I had bigger monsters to battle at the time
stars know, I could damn sure use that now for my back and leg

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

Are you talking about the pools where you swim against the current? I have one of those here. Well, had I guess. After the destruction of the house it ended up with all sorts of bizarre junk. It's down to about 6 inches which I guess it should stay at to keep it from breaking. I'm just now getting financially to the point where I can repair one or two things at a time. One of the guys that came in on a secondary crew decided he would take it upon himself to fix it, it wasn't broken I just had it off. Well he took apart the gas heater, who knows where the parts are? By the time I got back about 6 months later it was down almost by half and the algae was overwhelming. Also I had bigger monsters to battle at the time
stars know, I could damn sure use that now for my back and leg

Yes. Endless Pool is a trademark for the original brand of resistance swimming against a current.

They can be recovered to fully functional. And the folks at Endless Pools Customer Service are easily one of the best in the business. They know their product, then are helpful and knowledgable, and everything about an Endless Pool can be built or repaired by any moderately handy person. With the sole exception of the actual electrical or gas connection.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by Hitch

That isn't to say that you don't; as you do 10K's, you obviously do. But as you also said, you do 10K walks to aid in your fencing fitness. So, even you add in exercise in order to be "fit" for fencing.

Not really. I add in the walking because we don't have enough fencers able to meet and play every day... and I want exercise every day. Fast walking is a great way to increase lung function and stamina, but the interval training of fencing daily would be better. I know that at 68 years old, it takes more work to get the body back up to peak condition, I'm still rebuilding after a 15yr lay-off, and I want to be really healthy when I die.


Stitchawl

[kindlekitten]

With my last round of fencing. What was that, almost 2 years ago? The master was big on the glove on the wall with the random release. The kitties and Aragorn looked at me like I was even nutter than before when I tried to get them to do it

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

With my last round of fencing. What was that, almost 2 years ago? The master was big on the glove on the wall with the random release. The kitties and Aragorn looked at me like I was even nutter than before when I tried to get them to do it

What, swimming? Yes, Storm would run, but Mr. Zep would race me for a pool. Cat LOVES water. Won't allow anyone to leave a sink, any sink, without sprinkling his head/face with water. Insists on climbing in the shower with me--have to haul him out to close the door. It's not that uncommon with Coons, for some reason--heavens know.

Hitch

[Hitch]

Went out running errands yesterday. Car started fine. Ran fine. All good.

Get out of one place, ready to head to another, car acts weird upon starting. Frown lines barely cross my head, when it catches, and all's right with the world. (Yes, this car has fuel injection, so, yes, that's weird).

Next place? Nada. Zip. Zein, zilch. Car tries to turn over, tries to "catch," (only those of us old enough to remember when cars didn't have fuel injection will understand that phrase), but, NO GO.

Now, out here, as you may recall, there ain't no bus lines. No taxis. No nuttin'. I'm 30 miles from the house. I had to call the long-suffering Mr. Hitch to come hither and fetch. AND we had to find a car repair shop (another species on the Endangered list, it seems), and get it towed.

I have serious, serious grumps today. I mean,

Spoiler:

FFS!

, the car is ONLY 16 years old.

Spoiler:

1998, with a whopping 38K miles on it. I don't put miles on cars; I'm a trip consolidator of the first water, especially since we moved out here. I inherited the cursed thing from Mr. Hitch's deceased mum.

I mean, jeeze, right? Worse, it gave NO warning, not really. One slightly imperfect start, on my route, and then, KABLAMMO? That's just...rude.

Nonetheless: DEAD CAR. I have about as much desire to spend hard-earned for a NEW car, or even, mostly-new car, as I have to perform cataract surgery upon myself with a rusty sharpened spoon and a bottle of Jack Daniels.

Hitch

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Went out running errands yesterday. Car started fine. Ran fine. All good.
...

I feel your pain. Just before Christmas I'd taken my final client of the day to her first appointment, and sat in the van waiting for her. I had the radio and GPS turned on. When she came out and wanted to go to her next appointment (just down the block) I went to start the vehicle.

It cranked over, barely, and ... no go.

Luckily the garage we use for fleet maintenance was one block away (just next to the building the client was going to for her next appointment). We walked over, she going her to appointment, me going to the garage. One of the mechanics drove me back with a battery booster and gave me a boost, and suggested that when I was done for the day, bring the vehicle in and have the battery checked.

I waited for the client, drove her home, went and filled up with gas and then back to the garage. Battery check showed the battery was just about dead (this was a 2005 mini-van, still on the original battery). Got the OK from the boss to get the battery changed, and was back at the office ten minutes later.

[cromag]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Went out running errands yesterday. Car started fine. Ran fine. All good.

Get out of one place, ready to head to another, car acts weird upon starting. Frown lines barely cross my head, when it catches, and all's right with the world. (Yes, this car has fuel injection, so, yes, that's weird).

Next place? Nada. Zip. Zein, zilch. Car tries to turn over, tries to "catch," (only those of us old enough to remember when cars didn't have fuel injection will understand that phrase), but, NO GO.

Now, out here, as you may recall, there ain't no bus lines. No taxis. No nuttin'. I'm 30 miles from the house. I had to call the long-suffering Mr. Hitch to come hither and fetch. AND we had to find a car repair shop (another species on the Endangered list, it seems), and get it towed.

I have serious, serious grumps today. I mean,

Spoiler:

FFS!

, the car is ONLY 16 years old.

Spoiler:

1998, with a whopping 38K miles on it. I don't put miles on cars; I'm a trip consolidator of the first water, especially since we moved out here. I inherited the cursed thing from Mr. Hitch's deceased mum.

I mean, jeeze, right? Worse, it gave NO warning, not really. One slightly imperfect start, on my route, and then, KABLAMMO? That's just...rude.

Nonetheless: DEAD CAR. I have about as much desire to spend hard-earned for a NEW car, or even, mostly-new car, as I have to perform cataract surgery upon myself with a rusty sharpened spoon and a bottle of Jack Daniels.

Hitch

That's all thanks to the on-board computer. I've been bitten by it, too. As something goes wrong the computer can often compensate for it ... until it can't anymore.

With any luck (fingers crossed) it'll be something cheap!

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by PeterT

I feel your pain. Just before Christmas I'd taken my final client of the day to her first appointment, and sat in the van waiting for her. I had the radio and GPS turned on. When she came out and wanted to go to her next appointment (just down the block) I went to start the vehicle.

It cranked over, barely, and ... no go.

Luckily the garage we use for fleet maintenance was one block away (just next to the building the client was going to for her next appointment). We walked over, she going her to appointment, me going to the garage. One of the mechanics drove me back with a battery booster and gave me a boost, and suggested that when I was done for the day, bring the vehicle in and have the battery checked.

I waited for the client, drove her home, went and filled up with gas and then back to the garage. Battery check showed the battery was just about dead (this was a 2005 mini-van, still on the original battery). Got the OK from the boss to get the battery changed, and was back at the office ten minutes later.

They called. $1,000.00. One Thousand Bucks.

ARRGGHHHHHH!@!!!



Hitch

[PeterT]

Originally Posted by Hitch

They called. $1,000.00. One Thousand Bucks.

ARRGGHHHHHH!@!!!



Hitch

Nooooo... But how much would a new car be? (Or even a used car??)

[cromag]

Oof! ...