Swim workout May 9

LotStreetWiz very nicely woke me up at 6:00 with coffee and a snack. I drove us to my pool and he waited 7 minutes for a streetcar to take him thence to his pool. They’re supposed to run every 2 to 3 minutes.

Approximate workout in 25-yard (22.5m) pool:

• warm-up: 3 x (50 yards breast stroke + 50 yards front crawl) = 300 yards
• 50 yd. crawl + 100 yd. breast stroke + 50 yd. crawl = 200 yards
• 50 yd. breast stroke + 100 yd. crawl + 50 yd. breast strokel = 200 yards
• 50 yd. crawl + 100 yd. breast stroke + 50 yd. crawl = 200 yards
• cool-down: 2 x 25 yd. side stroke: 50 yd.

Total, 950 yd. (855 m)

Worked on cardiovascular stamina, arm extension in crawl, circular catch in breast stroke.

Here’s a twist

I brought you a flower…

more funny pictures

Israel at 60

Sixty years ago, Palestine was divided and Israel was created.  The next day, the Arab countries invaded, but they were fought off. Since then, it has been a rough ride. Israel has endured sixty years of war (Syreia is still officially at war with it) and forty years of conflict.

• The Arabs invaded again in 1967 on Yom Kippur, hoping to catch the Jews at their prayers. Israel repelled the invasion and took over the Golan Heights, which overlook it. Israel controls and oppresses its Palestinian workers.
• Peace and security are still distant dreams.
• Almost all the kibbutzem have been privatized
• Nadia Hilou is the only female Arab in the Knesset.
• Social divisions remain.

Old man is assaulted in dispute over tree

A middle-aged man resorted to property damage and assault because he didn’t like his neighbour’s tree.

An apparent argument between neighbours over a tree ended with an elderly Toronto man in critical condition and another man in custody on Thursday.

Police say the two neighbours in Etobicoke, in the west end of Toronto, had been feuding for months. But the fighting boiled over Thursday in the dispute over the branches of a tree on the elderly man’s property that were hanging into the younger man’s yard.

Witnesses say the younger man, 48, ripped the branches down and threw them onto the property of the 74-year-old man. Then there was a confrontation between the two.

According to reports from the scene, the elderly man was assaulted, thrown into a door and gagged with leaves.

“My father came outside and the wife was yelling and the husband jumped over, took some of the leaves and started trying to shove it down my father’s throat and then threw him through the front door,” said the older man’s daughter.

She said the dispute about the tree had been going on for a long time.

The elderly man was taken to hospital with no vital signs, but was revived on the way to the hospital. He is still in critical condition.

The 48-year-old was taken away in handcuffs. Charges are pending.

Cleaning the kitchen

I really should take before and after photos. I’m always much impressed by the “after” look. Today is the day to wash floors, de-clutter, re-arrange, and get rid of things I don’t use.

Twin powers

The kittens are resting between bouts of mischief.

Swim workout May 7

LotStreetWiz very nicely woke me up at 6:00 with coffee and a snack, then dropped me off at the pool.

Approximate workout in 25-yard (22.5m) pool:

• warm-up: 3 x (50 yards breast stroke + 50 yards front crawl) = 300 yards
• 3 x (100 yd. breast stroke + 100 yards front crawl with pull-buoy) = 600 yards
• three-position sculling with pull-buoy: 50 yd.
• cool-down: 2 x 50 yd. side stroke: 100 yd.

Total, 1050 yd. (945 m)

Worked on cardiovascular stamina, smoother stroke in crawl.

The leaves of the chestnut trees are now bigger than my hand. I saw a grey pigeon with two white tufts of feathers over its eyes.

After that I had breakfast, dropped in at Autodesk (formerly Alias|Wavefont), and took the streetcar home to get my computer working. I added a one-mile walk at the end of the streetcar ride.

Then in the evening it’s an hour of Pilates.

STC Admin Council meeting

We had a productive meeting tonight, planning the shape of the general meetings and events for the next two years. We voted to carry out the program that we’ve been hashing out for the last couple of months.

What to do with the old computer?

more cat pictures

What to do with the old computer? I have a new one, so I can give the old one to my son, and he’ll be doubly gifted.

It’s Spring!

Spring is here! It’s not as cool as it looks, but I’m going out in light-coloured, light-weight, spring clothing. The very air is mild and sensuous.

more cat pictures