Judith's thought-provoking soul-searching journal

If I had set off to swim first thing this morning I would probably be done by now, relieved. And yet.

In the middle of the night I kept waking and thinking about how I would go about getting a lane. I would dress and shower at home, wear shoes without socks, have my water bottle filled. I would walk through the direct doors to the pool instead of going through the locker room, and place my bag and water bottle at the head of the lane - the furthest lane if I were lucky. I would slip out of my clothes and enter that lane, right there, throwing my clothes into my bag. I thought about how I would get into the pool without having to take the stairs.  The last time I tried, I jumped in and hurt my knee, so this time I would try to lower myself. But I don't know how well that would work. I also don't know if I would be pushing someone else out of the way. "MINE!" "MINE!"

In the end I decided competition is not for me. And waiting a long time isn't either. Chances are that I would arrive at the same time as several other swimmers and would not be at the front of the pack, so would be there debating - wait or join one of the others? In the end I decided I would wait at home instead.

So I hit the water at about 9:30 this morning. I got my favorite lane and no more than two other swimmers were in there the entire time. I felt a  lot more relaxed than I do when I fight for space in the early morning. Although I prefer to swim early I'm thinking this is better.

Later, I dumped a set of hard-bound coffee-table books - a set that focused on buildings, mostly old, around the world - at Vons, where they operate a charity book sale. That is, they allow a charity to keep a table there with books for sale and they take in the money  at the registers. I bought a couple of books there last week and asked about donations. So maybe the next time I go in there I will see these books I brought in. In addition to the large books I left an odd assortment of others. Generally the books sell for one dollar each. Sounds good to me.

Just for good measure, I left three bookcrossing books on a table outside the store. That brings my total of released books up to 99. Wooo!! And I took myself to Schlotskzy's for lunch, where I read as I ate (of course).

See, if I could read while I swim I'd be a happy clam.