New gadget

The GM up at the Club (College of San Mateo) introduced me to this amazing inventor that makes some very creative and affordable gym aids. 

Don is currently building me a Baker Rig. 

Check it out:
http://www.rebuildfitness.com/index.php?pg=upper

"Is it getting easier?"

For those of you that only know how I'm doing via this blog -.
Don't worry.
Despite the lack of posts, I have not been sitting in my house with the blinds shut and the lights out.
Ok, maybe the lights are out, but that's because I've been out too.

The new treatment plant that I am working on is keeping me pretty busy... and tired (I had a 2 hr drive home last night).  The good news is that we are getting close to the testing phase of the project which is always fun.

I  have been getting in the ocean on the weekend, but only 1-2 days at the pool/gym.

The most common question I've been getting recently is "Is it getting easier?".
I know that everyone (including me) wants to believe that I have adapted to a 3-fingered life and everything is great, but that is not my reality.

Everything is a challenge from putting my PB&J in a bag in the morning to pulling the covers up when I get into bed, but I am getting used to it and I am grateful to be able to live on my own.

Stay tuned...
I should have some fun stuff to post at the end of the weekend.

UPDATE:  Too much traffic this weekend so had to postpone my adventure with Chris.  Luckily, I still managed to squeeze in 2 ocean swims.

The morning before Mavericks

So tomorrow is the Maverick Invitational which meant the crew HAD to get in the water today.
(It sounds crazier than it was and nothing like this http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_22410094/san-francisco-eve-mavericks-contest-riptides-put-surfers )

This was the first time I've tried to swim in the ocean on a non-pancake day, but the jetty blocked the scariest stuff during the entry/exit and the sets were far enough apart that it was rather tame. The only snag came when I walked out of one of my fins (Thanks Kique for saving my fin and swim).

Waist deep and still smiling.  What a beautiful morning.

And this was Kique BEFORE he saved my fin!

I wish my little lumix had captured this better, but you can see the action towards Kelly and our turn around buoy. 

Definitely want to thank Joel, Randy, Gabor, Lezlee, Dan, KeKei and the shore patrol (Nicole, Nancy) for making this happen.  I can't think of anyone else I'd want to spend 30-40 min in 52 degree water with.

Saturday in Santa Cruz

Lezlee, Gabor, Joel, Betty, Gus, me, Nicole (My parents were there too)

I spent Saturday morning swimming around the Santa Cruz Pier with friends and together we raised more than $3K for the Half Moon Bay "No Strings Attached Breakfast" Program
(The event raised $40K with 50(?) swimmers).

The water was not warm, but the air temp probably made the spectators colder than I felt in the water.

Plenty of great ducks (I'll link/post picks of them as I find them).
Yes, I got to pull one! (Joels duck was not satisfied with its Thanksgiving swim in HMB)

Chris didn't get to swim this year, but he still drove over and paddled his outrigger canoe next to Nicole and me.

Trying to stay warm before the start.  Where's Nicole?  Check out Gabors cool Super Duck.

I'm still swimming with (very long) fins - I may have to from now on - but so happy to be out in the salt water with the gang.

Thanks Mom and Dad for making the trip and for hauling our towels/clothes from the start to the finish.

Note:  Joel kicked the 1 mile despite having heart surgery less than two weeks ago.  What a stud!  (Now you know one of the reasons I don't whine very often.)

Going solo

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving.

I haven't posted in awhile.
Guess I am starting to feel like my life is becoming as unremarkable as it was pre-Maui.

I can happily report that I survived my first week of living solo. 
Sure I considered using a hammer to open a pasta sauce jar and I am glad that there are no cameras to see how I get through the day, but I now have proof it's possible. 

I even upped the degree of difficulty by riding my cruiser to the store and buying 3 bags of groceries today...after a morning swim in the Pacific with the gang.

Prosthetic arms in the NY Times

A friend sent me the link to this in todays paper
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/27/us/prosthetic-arms-a-complex-test-for-amputees.html?smid=pl-share

Swimming for a cause

I've never needed much of a reason to go for a swim, but the Will Swim For Food offered up plenty of them:

• A cold water swim with friends,
• Around the Santa Cruz Pier,
• With bagpipers to lead us out,

 

•  and swimmers towing hand-painted ducks

 And the proceeds go to a food bank of my choice.


I am sooo ready.  Where do I sign up?

So if you would buy me a beer in a bar, please consider donating $10 so that we can help provide a hot meal to some hungry Coastsiders. 

Thanks,

John