U.S. Masters Swimming Unveiled a New Logo in January 2009

Woops, we're a little late but "better late than never" as they say to report that U.S. Masters Swimming unveiled a New Logo in January 2009. See the new logo at left.

“The icon in our new logo embraces our tradition of pool swimming while also coming across as very inviting to recreational and fitness swimmers, open water swimmers and triathletes,” commented Executive Director Rob Butcher. “It was our goal to maintain our heritage while also recognizing the future of adult swimming.”

Save the date of March 29, 2009 (Sunday afternoon), for an Indoor Triathlon at the Huntington YMCA

There will be an Indoor Triathlon at the Huntington YMCA that day. It will be an equilateral race (all 3 legs are the same duration). Should take about an hour total...cost and other details are being finalized. This is a fund raiser for the Y's expansion. It should be a pip of a race and an excellent way to try out the sport for first timers. Best of all, you don't even have to leave the building! It's always summer on the inside!

Anyone interested in doing the race or in volunteering to help run it, (please, please, please), let Bob Miller know ASAP.

Will President Obama Join Us At West Neck Beach This Summer?

Don't you just love starting rumors? Well, here's one for the books...

President Barack Obama plans to join the Huntington Masters Swim Team for an Open Water Swim some time this summer... though I think there was a phrase like "if his schedule permits".

What the heck, two wars, an economy in chaos -- an Open Water Swim in Cold Spring Harbor might just be the thing to help clear his head. You can't play basketball ALL the time -- it puts a real strain on the knees!

Mr. President, the invitation is open and, if you do decide to join us, we'll throw in a 2009 Open Water T-Shirt. See link on the right to get your T-shirt BEFORE it becomes a Presidential Collector's edition!

An Indoor Tri For The Huntington Y?

Plans are afoot, (though not yet formalized), to conduct an Indoor Triathlon at the Huntington YMCA sometime before this cold, cold Winter turns to Spring. Can you tell that I'm writing this when the outdoor temperature is only in the teens -- and that is the HIGH for the day!

Ahh yes, those lazy, hazy days of Summer are just a memory -- so Winter would be a fine time for an Indoor Tri with the proceeds going to the Y expansion drive.

Stay tuned and stay in shape -- you may have a crack at a Tri earlier in 2009 than you ever though possible!

Can you play Water Polo in a 4 foot pool?

Can you play Water Polo in a 4 foot pool? Not really but you sure can try!

Take a look at the video below (click the arrow to start it):

Looks like fun! But so was the Last Swim of 2008 -- and you can join in, just click the arrow in the video below for a perfect start to 2009. Happy New Year!

Meehan's Get Together: Tuesday Evening, December 30, 2008

The Girls (and the Guys) were out in force for a fun "Get-Together" at Meehan's in downtown Huntington, NY. This was either a pre-water polo event or a "practice party" for New Year's Eve celebrations. The Meehan's event was scheduled by Bob to start at 6pm.

Paul had promised all to buy the first round so he was at Meehans at 5pm when he bought himself a beer and the first round was history! And all us "latecomer's" were on our own!

All kidding aside, it was a nice relaxed affair and we thank Bob for setting it up -- again!

My special thanks to Greg for actually keeping his eyes open when I took the picture. Scott and Ken are going to have to work on their modeling skills.

Check these wide-open eyes -- see how easy it is!

2009 Open Water T-Shirt Now Available

This is sort of a joke but not really a joke because you can actually order, (and wear), this Huntington Master's Open Water Swim Team T-Shirt on Zazzle.com. It was always a bit of a pain to have to order 50 or 100 t-shirts, then try to figure out who wanted them (and wanted to pay for them!). Now, we can just design a T-Shirt, or a Mug, or a mouse pad (get the idea?) -- and let a web site like Zazzle handle the printing and fullfillment. They have them in all different sizes and colors -- just stick with a light color as I haven't designed one for dark shirts yet -- before I do, I'd like to know what you think about ordering Huntington Master's Products this way.

Don't forget -- Tuesday December 30th -- 6pm at Meehan's Restaurant for a few quick "shooters" BEFORE Water Polo the following morning around 6am! Thanks Bob ths sounds like a plan!

A Swimmer’s Christmas Wish

Let’s go for the big stuff right away – Peace, Health and Prosperity for All and if those three don’t bring happiness then shame on all of us. OK, now that we’ve taken care of just about all the big problems, how about some specific Christmas Wishes for Swimmers…

An endless pool.

A perfect stroke.

Goggles that never fog-up.

Swim suits that never stretch out.

Chlorine that doesn’t make your skin itch and your eyes water.

Ahhh… its Christmas Eve and those “specific” Christmas Wishes for Swimmers don’t seem all that important! Relax. Enjoy. We’ll be back in the pool before you know it and since 2009 is almost here, can Open Water Swimming be far away?

Open Water Swimming: that’s a whole NEW set of wishes – NO Jelly Fish, NO sharks, (yes, I still hear the music from Jaws with every Open Water Swim!), and the list goes on. But instead of all the “Negative’s” lets concentrate on the “Positive’s”. The biggest Positive -- all the really good friends I’ve made while swimming at the Huntington Y. Which brings us back to this Swimmer’s Christmas Wish: Peace, Health and Prosperity for All – as for the Swim Stuff – a few extra laps couldn’t hurt. See you in the pool.

Mike

Additional Pictures From The Black Forest Brew Haus Christmas Party on Sunday, December 14, 2008

Not only did Bob Miller set up the party, he also acted as "Back-Up" photographer and was kind enough to submit these photos...

Don't forget to "click" on Armand's chin in the December 14th Blog entry below. Now if an entry like this doesn't keep you reading and scrolling, I don't know what will... see you in the pool!

Scenes From The Holiday Brunch: Sunday, December 14, 2008

Thanks (AGAIN!) to Bob Miller and his "party-on" spirit for another outstanding Christmas Brunch and get together where we're NOT wearing bathing suits. We were trying to figure how far this tradition stretches back -- probably a good twenty years! And hopefully we'll have a few more in us. Life is not just about Swimming, Biking and Running... oh no, there's got to be time for a party or two.

Oh, and don't forget to "click" on Armand's chin below, (honest, he won't mind), just as long as you listen to his brief Holiday message on giving and the exciting new expansion plans for the Huntington YMCA -- his message has a lot to do with young children of which we have a very cute picture below just to encourage you even more to "click" on Armand's chin!

South East Asia Pictures (Cambodia, Thailand & Vietnam) From Tom

Wat's that in back of me? Angkor Wat?

"Hi Huntington"

Yes, that's a hole in a tree that Judy is peeking through...

Some trees will grow anywhere!

I asked Tom for some water-theme pictures and he was happy to take them...

Tom could not finish his beer, (yes, I know that is HARD to believe). but he had a friend who was happy to take it off his hands...

This makes walking your dog look a bit easier, doesn't it?

OK, can you guess what Asian Delicacy Judy was willing to try?


Hint -- it can be found in one of the fried goodies displayed below...

I just can't even bring myself to tell you so you'll have to ask either Judy or Tom (who stuck with beer!).

No, I don't know what this is either but it is NOT from your local butchershop!

Do you have this snake-wrap in a smaller "carry-home" size?

Thank goodness that it's 2008 NOT 1968!

Tunnel Rat Tom strikes a pose as we thank him for all these facinating pictures.

Now you want to see it in silver!

Judy's not begging, she's giving out food to the monks (a tradition).

Check your Christmas Stocking for one of these "one-of-a-kind" stocking stuffers!

We bid both Tom and Judy a fond farewell and our thanks for leting us take the trip along with them from the comfort of our computer screen.

The Haack Is BACK!

What would you do with 4 or 5 EXTRA and un-expected days to spend in Saigonin Late November / early December?

Well, based on the emails that I received from Tom, -- NOT a real lot except trying to figure out how he and Judy were going to get out of Saigon. And, where they were going to go when they left, as their next "port of call" was scheduled to be Bangkok Thailand. Remember, Bangkok's airports were TOTALLY closed by the Yellow-shirted protestors.

Tom would like all to note that he is wearing a BLUE shirt and that the YELLOW shirt he wore when he passed through Bangkok's airport, (just a few days BEFORE the shutdown), had nothing whatsoever to do with inciting the protest. Hmmmm?