Christmas Eve 2010: Last Minute Shopping OR Last Minute Swimming... Which Would Be More Popular?

Well, I'm gonna have to say that it looks fairly obvious that virtually ALL Huntington area swimmers were extremely efficient in their Christmas Shopping this year! 


December 24, 2010 turned out to be one of the biggest swim turn-out days we've had in a LONG, long time! The group pictured below is but a fraction of the swimmers who graced Norton Pool with their presence this morning, (I suppose because they had taken care of all their "presents" well before Christmas Eve Morn). 


The Christmas Eve Swim started at 5:30AM and was still going strong, (although with longer "chat" breaks), when I shot these pictures around 8:20AM! A few potential swimmers, who will remain nameless, on peering in the windows at the pool and seeing the crowd, turned around and headed for home -- perhaps for some last-minute shopping! 


So, non-swimming spouses and significant others who are reading this and seeing the smiles on the faces of the swimmers below can rest easy that all the last-minute shopping has already been done -- for who among us would put swimming ahead of Christmas shopping? Merry Christmas to All

A Saturday Morning Swim Winds Down

This iPhone photo was taken Saturday, December 18, 2010 looking thru the water-splattered window of the hallway door just outside the lifeguard office. Not too many swimmers left... and those that are still in the pool seem to be doing more talking than swimming!

Morning Workout? Should You Eat Breakfast BEFORE or AFTER Exercise?

The Benefits of Exercising Before Breakfast
Click the link above to go to the New York Times 12/15/2010 news story.

Cold Weather Cure 2: Open Water Swim "Art" From West Neck Beach

Can't you just feel the warm Summer sun on your shoulders? 

Cold Weather Cure -- Open Water Summer Swim Pictures (Brooklyn Bridge)

If I was an artist, above is how I'd like to paint the "Pre-Race Instructions". 

Above: Swimming under the Brooklyn Bridge and past the Coast Guard Cutter.

Below: The first wave lines up, ready to start the race.

Editors Note: Photoshop is a lot faster than actually doing the painting!

Christmas Brunch 2010 Edition: Best Ever?

Some people say that the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is the "kick-off" to the Christmas Holiday Season. Some say that its the lighting of the tree in Rockefeller Center. (Some stores seem to think that the Christmas Season starts right after Labor Day!) But for the last 25 years or so, if you were a Huntington area Swimmer, (or married to one!), the REAL "kick-off" to the Christmas Holiday Season was, is and hopefully always will be the Annual Swimmer's Christmas Brunch.


Was 2010 the Best One Ever? Based on turn-out and calories consumed, maybe it was. 

Plates were piled high and many went back for seconds... some for thirds!

Carole is the artist... and she, along with everyone else, enjoyed how the light shone through on her original stained-glass "To The Sailboat And Beyond" work of art.

Before the food and during the drinks, there was a lot of ernest conversations going on. Some of us get together nearly every day but for many others, the brunch is a great time to get caught up in what has been happening with friends not seen on a daily basis. Facebook is good but it's no substitute for "face-to-face"!

And sometimes, the "Fast" Lane and the "Slow" Lane never get to talk to one another... but at a brunch, swim speed is never an issue -- talk is king! And, if we didn't have these occasional "out-of-the-water" get-togethers, when would we ever get to use the ever popular "I didn't recognize you with your clothes on" line!

Y Parking Lot Is Open For Business... Including the Jackson Avenue Entrance!

Mark this day well -- Friday, December 3, 2010 -- the day that the new upper parking lot was opened and we were able to park in peace. So, Bring on your rain. Bring on your snow. We won't be walking through mud, mush and gravel -- we've got ASPHALT!

Happy days are here again. And, oh yeah, I can stop taking pictures of construction and concentrate on parties and swimming! See you in the pool... and Sunday at Black & Blue Restaurant for our annual Swimmer's Brunch (a yearly tradition since the 1980's!).

Asphalt is DOWN -- Jackson Ave. Entrance Gate Is Still UP!

It's true. As of 8AM Thursday, December 2, 2010 the asphalt in the Huntington Y parking lot(s) and driveways was totally down and looking good. I guess we're lucky that it didn't all wash away in yesterday's rain! Though cars still couldn't get in via Jackson Ave, pedestrian traffic was "clean & green" walking into the Y from Jackson Ave on our nice, new sidewalks! Sunshine is supposed to rule the weather for the next few days so we should be parking in style real soon. We can't wait!