I make lists...it's what I do.

A little while ago, I wrote this post about things of which I am certain.

Yesterday as I was getting my five miles in on the treadmill, I started to think about the things I believe:

I believe you can will yourself happy or sad....same goes for being healthy and sick.
I believe, sometimes, life is a lot less complicated than we think it is.
Sometimes, I really believe, I'm adopted.
Despite not being super religious - I truly believe God only gives us obstacles in which he knows we can overcome. He knows a strength in us that no one else does.
I believe in people...and their faith in each other. Despite how many people do bad things to each other - I still genuinely believe people can be good at heart.

As another mental thought I've been having in the last few weeks - since I've started coaching - I'm learning a LOT about myself and the girls. To name a few:

-I thought I was outgoing in high school....these girls I have on my team put me to shame.
-My swimmers are definitely NOT afraid to be themselves - no matter where they are.
-Being myself goes a long way with them.
-Having them understand that they should be proud of themselves is actually happening! I'm so excited about this.
-They want to gossip with me about everything, including boys....and why I am single or what kind of guy I want to marry. ha!
[[Sidenote: Yesterday, one of my girls actually asked me if I was related to the Harriton Head Coach. I told her, um, no...why? do we look alike? And she said,...no, I was just wondering. And she then proceeded to say, Are you dating him? You should date him? Do you like him? We'll work on that for you? - all in one fair swoop. I was like...ummm, no we're not dating...and if you think you can do that...go for it. I just couldn't help but laugh. Apparently she thinks we'd be cute together. Haha]]
-Swimming in high school is a BLAST!
-All my girls are top notch ladies - I'm so lucky to have them!


So there's a few lists this morning - nothing huge...but wanted to share them. I'm sure they'll continue to grow as the weeks/months/years go on...but I'll be sure to update the Swim Team List :-)

I find, sometimes it's easy to be myself.....

Sometimes, I find it's better to be somebody else ~ Dave

So....MAYBE I jumped the gun on the whole guy thing - but...despite the hiccup I seemed to have experienced this past weekend, all is well :-)

But that is not what this post will be about.

It's coming up on that time of year....Christmas, New Years....Kwanzaa. And that means it's about time for a 'Year in Review'! Awesomeness.

Seriously you guys - this is where my OCDedness is perfection. Because I write EVERYTHING down that happens in my schedule I have a legit way of looking back on my year and telling you all how the month/week/day went. Yup. I am THAT OCD. Oh well, you love me.

SIDE NOTE I JUST FOUND OUT CLIFF LEE IS A PHILLIE AGAIN! OMGOMGOMGOMOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG! :-D I'm SO PUMPED! HAHAHAHA - now, I have to work on tickets for opening day and night!

anyway - just a brief update.

We had our first meet yesterday. It was kind of a cluster ef. BUT we made it through, the girls seemed to have a good time regardless of the loss. They swam their hearts out and I am/was so proud of them! There were a bunch of technical difficulties and some minor DQ's but overall, it was alright. It's all a learning process, yes? Our very first relay, however, NEARLY qualified for districts with the very first race - just .5 off....so here's hoping they do it on Friday because THEY ARE SO CLOSE! I was seriously so pumped when I thought they got it. I have two more people who are VERY close to qualifying in district times for individual events. I think I'll have a half dozen girls make it this year and possibly one state qualifier....that is, if they listen to me :-) haha

Our next meet is away at Conestoga on Friday - apparently they're MUCH better than Radnor - so - I guess we'll go Oh-fer for the first three meets - but after the holidays we should pick it back up - so here's hoping - regardless - the other teams in our league are killer so I think the girls did amazing yesterday regardless of the loss. I just hope they realize it.

Anywho - I'm off to read EVERYTHING ABOUT CLIFF LEE AND THE 2011 PHILLIES! SO EXCITED!

There you go making my heart beat again,

Heart beat again,
Heart beat again
There you go making me feel like a kid
Won't you do it and do it one time?
There you go pulling me right back in,
Right back in,
Right back in
And I know-oo I'm never letting this go-ooo

I'm stuck on you
Whutooo whutooo
Stuck like glue
You and me baby we're stuck like glue
Whutooo whutooo
Stuck like glue
You and me baby we're stuck like glue
~Sugarland

It's been a bit of time since I've updated so I supposed now would be a good time since it's pretty much the only free time I have until the weekend (eek!)

So some of you might be wondering what the lyrics to the Sugarland song mean? :-) Hehe....well....it's VERY new....but...there's a guy:-) and let's just say those lyrics are very representative of how I feel and I'm pretty sure of how he feels too. And the biggest difference between this one and all the others is that it just feels right. It's so hard to explain that but, when you know - you know. That's all I'm going to say about that...but just know...I'm VERY happy these days and not just because of him :-) (but he plays a part in it).

SCHEDULES
My schedule for the new few months is going to be crazy - if the first half of this week is an evidence to that - this is how every week will look until the end of March:
Monday
-Gym
-Cabrini 11-2
-Coach 3-5:30
-Class 7:15 (starting in January)

Tuesday
-Morning Practice 5:30-7am
-Gym
-Cabrini 11-2
-Coach 3-5:30
-Baldwin Coaching 5:30-8

Wednesday
-Gym
-Coach 3-5:30

Thursday
-Morning Practice 5:30-7am
-Gym
-Cabrini 11-2
-Coach 3-5:30
-Baldwin Coach 5:30-8

Friday
-Gym
-Coach 3-5
-Baldwin Coach 5:30-8

Saturday (sometimes)
Coach 8:30-11
Private Lessons 11-12

Sundays
Nothing (aka school work)

In addition to this schedule - there are days when I'll have meets. I'm also taking an online class at Montco (that is, if they didn't mess up my payment).

Yes, I'm busy. It's wonderful though. This swim season is going to go FAST! I still can't believe it's December already!

SWIM TEAM
The girls are great. There have been some snafu's, as there will be in anything new...but for the most part, I'm still loving it! No matter how terrible my day is going, whenever I see them, it just makes me so much happier. I seriously heart them. They're all wonderful people. They make me miss high school swimming!

Our first meet is Monday against a big rival team - Radnor. I've been telling the girls we can win this meet and I genuinely think we can, but they have to "show up" for the meet. Of course, that being said, it's on a Monday, so hopefully we'll be able to start our week off right. Wish us luck!

RUNNING
Lately, despite colder weather and wind, I've been running outside - it's kind of refreshing to do it. I honestly don't mind the cold once I start running because I get hot so quickly. If only I have cold weather riding clothes, I'd probably take my bike out every other day. Next year maybe.....

I've lessened my miles for the month already BUT I'm about 70ish miles away from reaching my goal for the year - 1000 miles on foot. If I do the right miles for the next four weeks, I'll reach it! Yeah! I'd say next year I'll go for 2000 but that's a LOT more running...maybe just increase it by 200 miles a year...I think I could do that. I just like setting goals for myself.

Speaking of setting goals...running goals for next year...just one...complete a marathon. The rest is just gravy. I really want to be in that less than 1% of American's who've completed a Marathon. Yep. That's it. I'd like to be in that elite group.