Red Tape

I have been working on the Homeland Security paperwork for the Coast Guard.  Yep.  To swim the Mack Straits there's paperwork. And it's complicated!  They want a map of our route.  Okay. Um. So we'll be starting out near St. Ignace in the U.P. and ending up somewhere around Mackinac City in the L.P.  I can definitely pick a Point A...but since we'll be following the currents, and surely not in a straight line, I am not quite sure where we'll end up.  After doing a fair amount of research, I'm reading that after we finish this cold, exhausting...yet amazing swim, we may have to clamber up some rocks when we get to the other side. Sounds great. Not.  I don't like clambering.  I'm hoping to end up on a beach.  With sand. I'm looking at the Lighthouse area in Mackinac City.  Perhaps.      

Some great news!  Jeni Huffman, one of my former swimmers at the Ann Arbor Y, and now all around good friend will be taking on this little adventure with us.  Jeni is a very talented swimmer.  The current record for this swim is 2:40.  I think Jeni can set a new one.  I think she can do it in 2:30.  However, that's pretty much up to the water conditions of the day.  She is looking for two kayakers currently.  We are also looking for a very good boats man with a power boat...preferably with sails, who can be there in case we run into some trouble and need to get out in a hurry. Hypothermia is our biggest threat.  Then there's the shipping lane.  BUT.  I'm not going to dwell on that stuff.  After all, who gets to watch the sunrise over the Straits while in the water?!

My son, Nick, who is a very talented professional Interactive Motion Designer in Portland, Oregon, will be designing a logo for us.  He's extremely busy right now, so it will be a while before he can get to it.  But I know he'll come up with something awesome.  Gleaners wants me to have a photograph taken while I'm swimming for their newsletter.  Well.  I was, at one time, a professional photographer, and I have a great pro camera...but no one to snap the shot.  Gleaners has offered to help me find someone.

I had the facet injections in my neck two days ago, and it has actually made the pain worse...although, I'm told that's only temporary.  So tomorrow my day is looking like this:  Haul my sorry ass out of bed, pull on my suit, and a pair of shorts, feed and water my Malamute, Bree.  Take her for a short walk.  Back home. Grab my swim bag, and head over to the pool, where I will be spending about three hours working out. Then back home. Feed Bree.  Take her for a long walk.  Eat dinner.  To bed. (where I'll toss and turn all night due to chronic insomnia)  Next day. Rinse and repeat.  But I ALWAYS take Sundays off.

And you know what?  It's a great life!