Tri-ing Times!!

So, all triathletes have gone through the trials and tribulations of learning all that goes with being a triathlete: Getting in /out of a wet suit without imitating the Tasmanian Devil, getting on/off bike without falling , clipping bike shoes on/off , remembering to remove goggles when transitioning to bike, and so on. So I shouldn't have been surprised that selecting and using nose plugs for swimming would be so complicated. First, there are several types to choose from, ranging in price from about $3-$6. One had a strap that went around your head to secure it. I used to wear one of those for my glasses (dork alert) as a young teen and still bear the scars of taunts and spit balls from every kid who ever sat behind me in Junior high. Obviously the only choice was to buy the most expensive one, because we all know the most expensive one is always the best. So in the pool I go! It only takes about 5 minutes to figure out how to wear it. Surprisingly, it doesn't go in your nose, but on the outside and

pinches your nostrils shut! Who knew?? Off I go. After 1.5 laps it’s gone! I find it floating 2 lanes away. Fortunately, I was the only one in the pool. So I reapply it differently. This works well for 2 whole laps and then…floats off.  After lots of experimentation, I manage to go 3-4 laps prior to losing the plug. I was getting pretty good at swimming with one hand on nose and one in water. Is there a Jewish nose version?? BTW, no sneezing yet, so in spite of all the stress…SUCCESS!!

It starts!!!

Stuff....
Dictionary.com (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/stuff?s=t) says:

stuff

  [stuhf]  Show IPA

noun

1.

the material of which anything is made: a hard, crystalline stuff.

2.

material to be worked upon or to be used in making something: wood, steel, and other stuff for building.

3.

material of some unspecified kind: a cushion filled with some soft stuff.

4.

Chiefly British . woven material or fabric, especially wool.

5.

property, as personal belongings or equipment; things.

6.

something to be swallowed, as food, drink, or medicine.

7.

inward character, qualities, or capabilities: to have good stuff in one.

8.

Informal. action or talk of a particular kind: kid stuff; Cut out the rough stuff.

9.

worthless things or matter: to clean the stuff out of a closet. Synonyms: junk, debris, litter; refuse,waste, rubbish, trash.

10.

worthless or foolish ideas, talk, or writing: a lot of stuff and nonsense. Synonyms: blather, gibberish,rigmarole, nonsense, twaddle, claptrap, balderdash.

11.

Sports.

a.

Baseball. the assortment of pitches that a pitcher uses in a game together with the ability todeliver them in the proper manner at the right speed to the desired spot: He saved his best stuff forthe tougher hitters in the lineup.

b.

spin or speed imparted to a ball, as by a baseball pitcher, a bowler, or a tennis player: a pitchwith plenty of stuff.

12.

Informal. journalistic, literary, artistic, dramatic, musical, or other compositions or performances: Bachcomposed some splendid stuff.

So what will follow will be about the material that we're made of...things we need to work on...sometimes unspecified...woven from our lives..personal...sometimes hard to swallow...will show our capabilities (and limitations)....be kind of informal...some might call it worthless or foolish...(and if Lou writes it) will probably be about sports...(and if I write it) will probably be dramatic...But basically it will be a place for our "STUFF"...Hope it's worth your read!!