Picture of the Day

First Sporting Event Attended this Year

I'm official a Uni student

One of Anni's flatmates was on the team (not pictured)

Warwick lost :-(

Pros and Cons

"You set your heart too much on things, Anne," said Marilla, with a sigh. "I'm afraid there'll be a great many disappointments in store for you through life."
"Oh, Marilla, looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them, exclaimed Anne. "You mayn't get the things themselves; but nothing can prevent you from having the fun of looking forward to them. Mrs. Lynde says 'Blessed are they who expect nothing for they shall not be disappointed.' But I think it would be worse to expect nothing than to be disappointed."
From Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery 

After three weeks of training and trials, the decision for who would make the Rowing team finally arrive and...(drum roll, please)...I didn't make it. I know, sad face.
However, I'm one who believes that every events has its good and bad aspects. To help me see the best in my sad situation I made a classic Pros/Cons list of not making the team:

60 Seconds in Every Minute

"'Oh! do not attack me with your watch. A watch is always too fast or too slow. I cannot be dictated to by a watch,' said Fanny." 

From Mansfield Park By Jane Austen

Have you ever noticed that while every minute has sixty seconds, not every minute passes at the same rate? Day one of rowing trials felt like the clock couldn't decide on a consistent speed at which to travel.
After Research Methods I hung out with some of my Writing for Children cohorts at a coffee shop in an attempted to study. Each time I glanced at the clock I couldn't believe how rapidly the hands progressed. Giving myself plenty of time to get changed and settled, I left my friends to "study" for their Feminist Theory class later that evening (a class I am so glad I didn't sign up for), I tromped to the Sports Centre. After methodically preparing myself, I glanced up at the clock, shocked that only ten minutes had passed - I still had ten minutes until erg testing. I took my second dose of Rescue Remedy of the day (I found it in a regular pharmacy, Mom, aren't you jealous!), in an attempt to relieve some of my stress.

Picture of the Day

I can't get enough of the beautiful fall...excuse me...autumn colors!

Picture of the Day

The Pool

“We lead our lives like water flowing down a hill, going more or less in one direction until we splash into something that forces us to find a new course.”
From Memoirs of a Geisha By Arthur Golden

When I was still a small child I found myself drawn to water. My mom had to watch me carefully because I would beeline to the water as soon as we got onto the pool deck. At that age I must have loved the excitement of it, the danger. To bribe me to swim my mother would tell me I could jump in after doing the skill she desired. At the age of nine I saw my first three-meter diving board and my mother promptly signed me up for diving lessons, fearing what I would do if not trained properly.
My love affair with water turned into a high school, then college, then post college job; Even when I quit full time I couldn't pull myself away completely. The longest I've gone without swimming on a regular basis was when I was studying in Scotland for three months during college - I nearly died.
So, what's a water rat like myself going to do with an entire year not working at a pool? Join the school gym and go swimming, of course (if you didn't guess that please smack your hand to your forehead and say "duh!" now...go on, I'll wait for you...).

Rowing?

“I ran three miles, staggered into the lobby, and took the elevator back to my apartment. No point to overdoing this exercise junk." (Stephanie Plum)
From Two for the Dough By Janet Evanovich

So as part of my England Engagement Plan I decided to join the rowing team. Not wanting to commit to a new sport with absolutely no experience I took a rowing class in Minnesota over the summer. I enjoyed it and I think I got rather good at it by the end of my 6 classes.

With this in my back pocket I confidently signed up for receiving information from the rowing team at the campus Sports Fair. 

Soon I discovered that my little plan to "meet people and get some exercise" wasn't exactly what I had gotten myself into.

First off rowing is apparently much more popular in the UK than it is in the States (feel free to laugh at me, I should have guessed). So, instead of sliding onto the team and looking really smart for picking up the technique quickly, I actually have to catch on quickly and compete for the 24 spots on the novice team.