All Aboard! And, We’re Off to Crystal Lake

Posted on June 24, 2012 by Elaine-iaK's Travels

What I enjoy most about writing this blog is reliving my travels. Between editing my photos and writing these posts, it just feels like my vacation never ended. So, these last several days, since my return, has been pure nirvana. Take Friday, for example; the perfect day to me. It started with a swim workout with my friend (and coach), Mike, over at the Steve Lundquist Aquatic Center. Since I usually train alone (except for Mike’s September – May, Tuesday & Thursday, adult swim program at the same pool), I have to rely on 100% self- motivation to push myself hard. So, getting in the lane next to Mike is the extra push that I need to make those intervals and “keep on swimming”; just like Dory pleaded to Nemo, in Finding Nemo. Mike is faster than me, but I know just how far to allow myself to fall behind him to keep up and not let him get completely away. If that distance grows, I’m in trouble.

I had recently completed a self-challenge to see how far I could swim non-stop butterfly, just to prove to myself I could swim the most difficult race in swimming: 200 meter butterfly. I was so happy to just to make it to 300 yards that I lost track of my yardage after that; I just kept going and going… But, Bruce was shooting video, so I knew I could count up the yardage while watching it later. I was shocked to I made it to 900 yards! Hrummmph; if I had known I only had 4 more lengths of the pool to go, I would have listened to Dory and kept on swimmin’. But, Bruce had given me that “if looks could kill” look, so I stopped. He was tired of filming me and worried about my shoulders; especially the one that was operated on for thoracic outlet syndrome. I was fine, though, and never got sore at all. So, two weeks later (today), I will be making another attempt, as soon as the pool opens; this time for 1,000+ yards.

Anyway, back in the pool with Mike, he said, “Well, now, the next step would be to see if you can swim a broken 500 butterfly and see if you can increase your speed and make the intervals.” By “broken”, he meant swimming it in increments of 25 yards on a set time interval. But, the intervals get shorter as you go, which means that the rest periods get shorter. And, that means you have to swim each 25 yard increment faster, just to make the interval. So, he set the intervals at 4×25 yards @ :45, 6 @ :40, 6 @ :35, and the last 4 @ :30. Since I had already swum half of my yardage before I attempted this set, I was so whipped by the end that I swam the last four continuous, just so I could make the interval. But, I DID IT! And, did it again on my other slowest stroke; backstroke.

That 3,600 yard workout was one of my best ever; it felt great! So, I kept the feeling going by editing my photos and writing my blog, after I returned home. Nirvana! Writing is like swimming; I get in a zone and time just slips away…

My perfect day continued with a visit from my “twin sister of a different mother”, Melody, and her husband, David, who is our next door neighbor’s son. They are the friends we stayed with in Virginia, during last month’s trip to Washington, D.C. We have grown close with the two of them; always a lot of great conversation and tons of laughs. So, our evening was wonderful; enjoying conversation, drinks, and Bruce’s “Everything But the Kitchen Sink Pizza”. (I was supposed to swim in the Georgia Games the following day, however, the meet was canceled. So, I enjoyed what has become a rare occurrence: Drinking more than one glass of wine.)

The following day, yesterday, was more of the same: Swim, edit photos, write blog, and dine with Melody & David, while they are still in town. And, today? You guessed it: Swim, edit photos, write blog, and dine with Melody & David. I could get used to this!

But, I digressed…

Why were we going to Crystal Lake, anyway? Laura’s step brother, Wayne, and his wife, Jeannie, invited us to stay with them at their home. I had heard so much about them over the years and was very much looking forward to finally meeting them. So, we planned on spending two nights at Crystal Lake, before flying home…

…It seems as if the train has had a delay. And, in reality, it did. It was only a couple of stops before ours that the train came to a stop on the tracks. After a 70-minute delay (if memory serves me correctly), we found out why: A fatality on the tracks by the previous train. When we were finally allowed to proceed, we passed by a tarp on the side of the tracks; a covered body. And, a little bit further, at the intersection, a cluster of police cars and an ambulance. What a heart-wrenching sight that was; especially since we later learned the victim was only 18 years old.

Rather than leave you with something so tragic, though, I will at least try to brighten it up with a brief look at downtown Crystal Lake; a very small but charming city center oozing with small-town pride. And, finally, what we are convinced is the house of The Seven Dwarfs.

I’ll be back with more, after my swim!

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Striking Gold in the Gold Coast

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Elaine-iaK's Travels

The Gold Coast Historic District, where our B&B was located, is one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the country. So, rather than take the most direct route to visit the Saturday organic farmers market, we opted for the more scenic route along Deerborn Ave. Wow; what a gorgeous leafy residential street of mansions, row houses, and pricey apartment buildings.

Green City Market’s ( www.greencitymarket.org ) mission is one that Laura and I could really get behind, “Green City Market’s mission is to improve the availability of a diverse range of high quality foods by providing a marketplace for purchasing sustainably grown food and to educate, promote, and connect farmers and local producers directly to chefs, restaurateurs and the greater Chicago community. We also support small family farms and promote a healthier society through education and appreciation for local, fresh, sustainably-raised products.”

This market was perfect; outstanding organic produce, wonderful cheese, beautifully baked breads, tempting freshly prepared crepes and dishes, gorgeous flowers- everything; even plenty of cute dogs to pet!

The quality was outstanding, so it was unfortunate our travels prevented us from buying a bag of produce to take home. Instead, I opted for a pretzel roll, just like the ones I bought at bakeries in Germany, during my river cruise. It was perfect match for the Goose Island Matilda Belgian Pale Ale that I sipped at Old Town Social (www.OldTownSocial.com), while cooling off with Laura.

Before we continued on to Old Town Social, though, I couldn’t resist a quick stop at my coffee shop (But, I don’t even drink coffee!):

Saturday in Chicago was another burner, so the crowds were large down at the shore; our final stop before throwing in the towel and heading back to the B&B to cool off.

For our final dinner in Chicago, we landed at the India House ( http://www.indiahousechicago.com/ ), where we enjoyed outstanding Indian cuisine, before heading to the Navy Pier for a spectacular firework (and lightening!) show. We had noticed (very) dark clouds off in the distance, while we were at the beach; the same clouds, I would assume, that erupted during the fireworks display. It was quite a sight! And, wouldn’t you know it? As soon as the fireworks ended, the clouds burst open above us. Thankfully, I had decided to bring my umbrella at the last minute…

So, that is where the Chicago leg of our Illinois journey ends. The following day, we were off to Crystal Lake aboard the Metra train. Standby; the train will be departing soon!

The Art Institute of Chicago: Cool in More Ways Than One

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Elaine-iaK's Travels

We happened to be in Chicago during a heat wave; not the best of circumstances, but it sure beat having rain everyday! The temperature peaked at 96 degrees during one the days and it was 86 degrees the day we took the architectural boat tour and wandered through Millenium Park. So, The Art Institute of Chicago was a welcome relief, by the time we reached the air conditioned lobby, later in the day.

Rather than browse the entire museum which was huge, we chose a few exhibits to enjoy for a couple of hours, before heading back to our B&B to change clothes for dinner.

Marc Chagall’s American Windows was the first stop on our list. Inspired by Chagall’s mosaic The Four Seasons ,an installation outside Chicago’s Chase Tower, American Windows was created in response to the enthusiasm Chicagoans had for Chagall’s work. The windows were designed to commemorate America’s bicentennial and celebrates the country as a place of cultural and religious freedom, detailing the arts of music, painting, literature, theater, and dance.

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After viewing exhibits that included everything from photography to Tiffany glass to Stickley furniture, we found a fascinating exhibit:

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When I brought this photo up on my screen, I asked Bruce what he thought it was. “Is that your bed and breakfast?” Well, no, not unless we were only one inch tall! This is one of 63 exhibited miniature rooms, conceived by Mrs. James Ward Thorne, and constructed between 1932 and 1940 by master craftsmen, according to her specifications. The rooms, displayed behind glass windows, depict European interiors from the late 13^th century to the 1930’s and American furnishings from the 17^th century to the 1930’s. The scale of these amazingly detailed miniatures ranges from one inch to one foot.

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By the time we finished viewing the miniature rooms, we were ready to head back to the B&B for a rest and to freshen up for Laura’s birthday dinner at Frontera Grill, a Mexican restaurant owned by chef Rick Bayless. Best known as Bravo’s Top Chef Master, Bayless has written several cookbooks and has a popular PBS show, “Mexico- One Plate at a Time.” In addition to being awarded numerous personal awards by the James Beard organization, Frontera Grill won James Beard’s prestigious Outstanding Restaurant award, in 2007.

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Laura and I could definitely see why; their food was outstanding! After sharing the Fresh Corn Tamales appetizer, as well as the Smoky-Creamy-Spicy Wild Mushrooms appetizer, I savored my favorite Mexican cuisine of all: Mole. My Mole Trio consisted of mole poblano enchiladas, lamb in black mole (my favorite mole sauce), and roasted vegetables in Queretano green mole. It was the best mole I had tasted since Bruce tackled Rick Bayless’ tamales and mole sauce recipes- completely from scratch; an all-day endeavor.

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For dessert, we shared Frontera’s homemade ice cream and sauces, opting for half-and-half, since we wanted to sample it all: Mexican vanilla bean with Torres brandy ice cream topped with homemade cajeta (goat milk caramel) and Oaxacan chocolate raspberry ice cream with bittersweet hot fudge sauce. Exquisite!

The following day, we rode the bus out to the northwest part of town to enjoy a couple of neighborhoods: Wicker Park and Bucktown. Although it was interesting to see the varied architecture and experience the vibe in both neighborhoods, it was the hottest day of our visit, making our afternoon stroll quite uncomfortable.

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The evening made up for it, though; it was spent with some swimming buddies over a huge pan of deep dish pizza at Lou Malnatti’s! Michael and Skip (who happen to know each other), both swimmers with U.S. Masters Swimming like I am, are fellow “Forumites” from the U.S.M.S. Discussion Forums. Although Michael and I finally met up at Spring Nationals, in Mesa, Arizona, in 2011, as well as 2012 Spring Nationals, in Greensboro, North Carolina, Skip and I hadn’t yet met in person. And, Laura met them for the first time. It turned out to be a fun evening with the four of us, while I got my deep dish pizza fix. I wish I had remembered to take some photos, but it completely slipped my mind…

The following day, our last full day in Chicago, is coming up next; check back soon as we visit a wonderful organic farmers market and more!

Have You Been to “The Bean”?

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Elaine-iaK's Travels

After disembarking the architectural tour boat, I couldn’t wait to get over to Millennium Park to see Cloud Gate; affectionately known as “The Bean”. The stroll through downtown was lovely, but my heart skipped a beat when I saw a thick stand of trees, just up ahead. We were almost there and I couldn’t wait to get my camera out and start clicking away…

Cloud Gate, a huge bean-shaped stainless steel sculpture, designed by Anish Kapoor, was constructed between 2004 and 2006. It is the centerpiece of Millennium Park; Chicago’s largest rooftop garden that takes up 24 acres of Grant Park. Millennium Park is a 24-acre rooftop garden, you ask? Well, yes, because it sits atop a parking garage and the commuter rail. What an amazing use of public space! And, it has become Chicago’s second-most favored attraction, after Navy Pier.

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I could have easily stayed at The Bean all afternoon and into the evening, thinking of various other ways to photograph that magnificent sculpture. I could only imagine what fun it would have been capturing the city lights, at night! But, I tore myself away, so Laura could show me the park’s fountain. WOW! How cool is this?

Crown Fountain is a video sculpture named in honor of Chicago’s Crown family and designed by Jaume Plensa. The fountain is composed of a black granite reflecting pool placed between two transparent glass brick towers that use light-emitting diodes behind the bricks to display digital videos.

Other highlights of the park include Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the most amazing band shell I have ever seen:

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Lurie Garden was a lovely addition to Millennium Park. The 2.5-acre public garden is a combination of perennials, bulbs, grasses, shrubs and trees. It is the featured natural component of the world’s largest green roof.

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After strolling through the garden, we ended our day at The Art Institute. Stop by shortly for highlights of the exhibits we enjoyed , before wrapping up the evening with dinner at Frontera Grill!

Winding Our Way Through the Windy City By Boat

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Elaine-iaK's Travels

Before I travel, I do a lot of research on my destination; because it is something I really enjoy doing as part of the entire travel experience. But, this time, I chose a different approach, because I was traveling with Laura. She had been to Chicago before and had ideas in mind about what she wanted to see, this time around. I was excited about going along for the ride! And, we were meeting up in Chicago more to celebrate her upcoming 50^th birthday, rather than mine, which had already been celebrated in California. So, aside from finding our accommodations on Trip Advisor, I had only glanced a time or two at Chicago’s tourism website and quickly checked out “Things To Do” in Chicago, on Trip Advisor.

There were only a few things I knew I really wanted to do in Chicago; my must-see, must-do list. Otherwise, I figured I would enjoy anything Laura would want to see and do; after all, she has been my best friend for 42 years! So, what topped my list? First of all, “Cloud Gate”, the huge sculpture in Millennium Park affectionately known as “The Bean”, because of its bean-like shape. I knew it would be a hoot to photograph, so I had my heart set on it. Meanwhile, I had my stomach set on sinking my teeth into a Chicago-style deep dish pizza. In my mind, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. In Chicago, it’s deep dish pizza! And, speaking of food, which Laura and I do frequently, I wanted to treat Laura to dinner at Rick Bayless’ Frontera Grill, for her birthday ( http://www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/grill.html ). Finally, I was sure Laura and I would agree on this one: An architectural boat tour to learn about downtown Chicago’s varied architecture. (And, if we made it to the Art Institute, it would be a bonus!)

Thanks to Laura scoring a Groupon, we got a great deal on that architectural boat tour that we were both really looking forward to doing. So, we set out on foot after enjoying our first night and breakfast at our B&B, heading down Michigan Ave. (“Magnificent Mile”) towards the river.

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Wow! What a gorgeous avenue; the most beautiful I have ever seen in a large U.S. city. Gorgeously planted and maintained mini gardens surrounded each tree, along each side of the street, and there was no litter or graffiti to be found. Chicagoans sure take pride in their city; at least in that part! (We never ventured out to the south side…) But, the Magnificent Mile is also one of the wealthiest miles anywhere. Sak’s, Neiman Marcus, Tiffany’s; the list goes on. It it’s not there, it doesn’t exist. Needless to say, my wallet stayed firmly in waist pack as we soldiered on (with blinders).

We arrived at the Wrigley Building early for our boat tour, so it was a perfect opportunity to take a stroll along the river and take in the sites of downtown. What a fabulous surprise! There was a point to me explaining my lack of research preparation for this trip, detailed previously; I had no idea Chicago had a river located right in between the skyscrapers of downtown! Having skipped over any of the photos posted on the tourism website or Trip Advisor, I had no idea what to expect. And, honestly, what I thought I might expect was something more like Manhattan, in New York City. I figured downtown to be located on Lake Michigan and our boat tour cruising along the shore, to take in the sites of the skyscrapers. After all, that is what our N.Y. boat tour was like. Reasonable, right? Noooo; it wasn’t like that at all! A river runs right through downtown Chicago with skyscrapers and cafes lining each side of it. And, beautiful bridges (all unique) cross the river at each block. WoooHoooo! It was love at first site. And, at the very moment I laid eyes on this scene, I declared Chicago my favorite large city in the U.S.A ; other than San Diego, that is!)

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The twin towers above are “Marina City” (aka “Corn Cobs”); a mixed-use residential/ commercial building. It was designed in 1959 by Bertrand Goldberg; an architect who seemed to have an aversion to right angles. When it was completed in 1964, they were the tallest reinforced concrete structures in the world.

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Trump International Hotel and Tower, named after The Donald, is a condo-hotel designed by Adrian Smith. At 92 stories (1,389 feet), it is one of the tallest buildings in Chicago.

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The tallest building in Chicago, at 108 stories, is the Willis Tower, formerly known as the “Sears Tower”. At completion, in 1973, it was the tallest building in the world. Today, it is ranked 7th.

This is why I enjoy modern downtown skylines:

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See you next at “The Bean”!

May in Washington, D.C. & June in Chicago

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Elaine-iaK's Travels

It has been a busy spring: 4 crafts shows; swim meets at Georgia Tech, Geezer (Senior) Games, Greensboro (Nationals), and Athens; Griffin Choral Arts’ season finale concert; train trip to Washington, D.C.; and, a trip to Chicago. Mix in some contract work, a handful (or two) of community events, and a 100+ miles of swim training, and, it made for a delicious spring that went by in the blink of an eye. Happy summer, everybody!

Turning 50 in January kicked off what has turned out to be a fantastic year, so far. So, my best friend, Laura, and I kept things rolling by meeting in Chicago to celebrate her upcoming 50^th birthday. In 42 years of friendship, this was the first time we had met up for a girls-only trip out of town.

Since we both enjoy staying at B&B’s, we decided to rely on our favorite travel website, www.TripAdvisor.com, to recommend one for us in Chicago. Research led us to Gold Coast Guest House Bed & Breakfast (http://www.bbchicago.com/index.html ), centrally located in downtown Chicago.

So, Laura flew from California and I flew out from Atlanta, meeting up in the airport, to begin our adventure to a city she had visited before, but was new to me and on my bucket list.

Sally greeted us upon arrival at the B&B, a charming row house located on the edge of the Gold Coast, one of the priciest neighborhoods in the country. It is quite charming and comfortable; just perfect for what we wanted. And, the location could not be beat!

After settling in and being shown around, Laura and I headed out to enjoy drinks on the 96^th floor of the John Hancock building; a short walk away through the lovely streets of downtown. As we strolled down a small section of the Miracle Mile (Michigan Avenue), we passed by sports commentator, Peter Gammons,; probably in town for the Chicago Cubs vs. Boston Red Sox, game taking place that evening.

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Upon arrival, an ear-popping elevator ride took us up to the 96^th floor bar, where we gawked at the view, as soon as we stepped out. But, check this out… When was the last time you used the restroom facilities anywhere with a view like this? It brought hand-washing to a whole new level!

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More scenes of downtown, as we made our way to Big Bowl for a tasty dinner of Asian stir-fry.

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Next up: Winding our way through windy Chicago by boat. Check back soon!

Elaine-iaK, Debaru, and Anne-with-an-e

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Elaine-iaK's Travels

Although I am registred on the USMS (United States Masters Swimming) Discussion Forums as “ElaineK”, some of my forum swimming buddies (“Forumites”) call me “Elaine-iaK”; thanks to Ande, another swimmer on the forums who decided that to be a more appropriate name, due to my enthusiam. There were other Forumites, however, who weren’t exactly enthusiastic about my use of blue Comic Sans MS font for my posts. And, as a result, I was on the receiving end of some harassment; not all of it good-natured.

One day, I received a private message from another Forumite, “Debaru”, who just didn’t like the treatment I was receiving. Debbie sent me a very nice, encouraging message which turned out to be the beginning of a terrific friendship. As it turned out, Debbie, who now lives in Arizona, grew up just four miles from me! She was seven years older, so we never knew each other, but we attended rival high schools (swam on our school’s teams) and hung out at all the same places. For all I know, we passed each other many times, in Long Beach, back in those days; especially at the beach, in the summertime.

So, our banter back and forth via private messages and e-mails consisted of comparing our parallel childhoods, remembering places from our past. It was like we had grown up together- but, separately.

Soon after, it was time to attend 2011 Spring Short Course Nationals, in Mesa, Arizona, very close to Debbie’s home. Debbie wasn’t planning on swimming at Nationals, being new to competition; she was just going to attend and cheer her friends on in their races. I convinced her that if I could swim at 2010 Nationals, at Georgia Tech, as a USMS newbie, she could swim at Nationals in her home town, too. It took some arm twisting, but she agreed. As one of a contingent of just eight swimmers from Georgia, I headed out with Bruce, to Mesa, and met Debaru for the first time. What a blast! And, after it was over, we celebrated:

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We continued to keep in touch, sharing our swimming aspirations, successes (and not-so-successful-attempts), looking forward to meeting up another time in the future. When my sister and mom planned to throw me a 50th birthday party, Deb drove out and joined in on the celebration, as well as some swim training. Poor Bruce; all he heard from us during our time together was swimming-this and swimming-that! As a non-swimmer, I’m sure we drove him nuts. But, he was a good sport, and even waited on deck for us to complete our workouts. Here we are, looking baaaaad:

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And, not so bad, afterall…

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So, after having such a blast together, we invited her to come see us out in Georgia. Hey, while we’re at it, let’s swim in a meet together, here in Georgia! I swam at a meet in her state; why not join me in mine? So, last week, she flew out to see me and Bruce and compete at the Classic City Georgia Masters Long Course Meet, in Athens, this past weekend. Bruce was smart this time, suggesting we make it just us girls, and leave him behind for some peace and quiet. So, we packed the car and headed north to Athens, arriving the afternoon before our meet. And, we talked, and talked, and talked… Swimming, Long Beach, swimming, music, swimming, family, swimming, well…you get the picture!

The following morning, we arrived at UGA (University of Georgia at Athens), for the first long course meet of the season; one that counted for me as part of the Championship Series. I wasn’t feeling too confident, coming off a muscle injury and a week away from the pool, while we were in Washington, D.C. I was just hoping to survive; my only goal being to get through the meet without further injury. And, if I could win high points in my age group like I did at Georgia Tech, in April, I would be 2-for-2, leaving just one more event to swim this year to clinch the trophy. (It takes three of the four events to qualify, but I have enough points to win it if I compete in the open water swim, in July.)

Athens’ pool and facility, in a word, is awesome. But, long course (50 meters, rather than 25 yards for short course), in a word, is looooong! I had not competed long course since 2011 Summer Long Course Nationals, in Auburn, so I wasn’t mentally (or physically) prepared for competing in such a long pool, where the walls seem miles away. But, I did it before, and, surely, I knew I could do it again.

Before suiting up, I ran into my team’s matriarch, Anne Dunivin, who is 95 years old!

She is the sweetest, most positive woman; an absolute joy to be around. I call her “Anne-with-an-‘e’ “, because that is how she introduced herself to me, more than one year ago. She reached across the lane line at the Steve Lundquist Aquatic Center pool and said, “Hi! I’m Anne; and that’s Anne with an ‘e’!” So, when I cheer her on, I yell, “Gooooo Anne with an e!” I also like to affectionately call her “Queen Anne”, since, she is the Queen of the Killer Whales.

Anne is amazing; she even swam the mile (that’s 1650 yards!) at 2012 Short Course Nationals, in Greensboro. And, she has been breaking records every time she races, because she just “aged up”. First, she broke them in the 90-94 age group. And, now, she is breaking records in her new 95-99 age group. She is bound and determined to age up to the 100-104 age group, so she can break the records of a gal who just set new records, as the first woman to compete in that age group. I’m convinced she’ll do it; no worries there. She is as healthy as can be, gets around under her own power, climbs up and down the ladder, and swims multiple events at meets. Last April, I was honored to compete in my first Senior Games (Geezer Games!) with her, where she won all gold medals (I won three golds and two silvers). We were the book ends at the meet; Queen Anne was the oldest and I was the newbie. What an honor posing for this photo with her, along with the other female medal winners.

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Here is some trivia about my friend, Anne Dunivin: From what I hear, she was the first female to graduate from Emory University with a degree in chemisty. She is one smart cookie!

I want to grow up to be just like Anne-with-an-e.

So, as it turned out, Anne broke more records in her 95-99 age group (it helps to outlive your competition…) and I won high points in my youngin’ age group, 50-54. There were no best times for me at this meet, but I was happy to complete my five individual races and relay with no further injury to my leg. But, let me tell you, swimming the 200 meter breaststroke (considered one of the most difficult races in swimming, after the 400 Individual Medley, 200 Butterfly, and Mile; not necessarily in that order), is one tough race to swim long course. With every stroke, I kept hearing Bart Simpson’s voice in my head; the one in Bruce’s silly gag Simpson watches that asks, “Are we there yet? ARE WE THERE YET?? ARE WE THERE YET???!“, when you push the button.

By the time I finished that race, I was pooped, but I still had the 100 meter breaststroke to swim, as well as the 50 backstroke (immediately following) and the 50 breaststroke. Then, I had to swim the 100 meter breaststroke again in the relay; the same (almost) relay that made FINA World Top Ten Rankings, in 2011, for the 200+ age group (combined ages). This time, though, the only other relay teammate to compete with me was our butterflyer; an awesome swimmer. But, we were missing the other two gals who were much faster than their replacements. I still swam my heart out, beating my earlier time by one tenth, but we ended up coming in more than two minutes later than the previous team. Oh well; no record this year, but it was fun!

There is nothing like the feeling of touching the wall after your last swim race of a meet. Just ask any swimmer; they’ll tell you how euphoric it feels. And, for me, the more difficult the race and more events I swim, the better it feels; especially long course. Can you tell how happy I was?

Debaru (55-59 age group) walked away with two blue ribbons and two reds! And, I took home five blue ribbons for first place finishes (thanks to little competition in my age group). We felt pretty good about that…

Since my videographer, Bruce, didn’t come to the meet, I only have one race video; the relay. If you are curious to watch it, go to: www.YouTube.com/Ekrugman1 . If you fast forward to the 3:00 mark, you can catch me (attempting) to swim breaststroke. There are other videos from past meets, too.

The following day, Bruce packed up the ‘yaks, along with me and Deb, to go paddling at Lake Dundee, a few miles up the road. It was a fun being out on the water again.

So, Debaru headed back to Arizona, today, and we have a bundle of great memories from our time together. She got a great taste of the south (At Southern Pit Bar-b-que, Saturday night, I asked the waitress for a knife, rather than negotiate the BBQ pulled pork sandwich with my hands, fearing I would ruin my beloved “Forumite” t-shirt. The waitress responded in a very thick southern drawl, “I can bring you a bib!” Uhhh, no, that’s ok; I’ll take a knife, thank you very much…). And, I think she really enjoyed it out here in Sun City (AKA “The Old Folks Home”, as Aquageek from the USMS Discussion Forums calls it).

Next up for Elaine-iaK and Debaru: 2013 Summer Nationals, in Mission Viejo, California. WoooHOOO! We’re comin’ home!!

Sailing the Waterways of the Potomac

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Elaine-iaK's Travels

Here’s a bit of trivia for you, compliments of David, sailor extraordinaire: The Potomac is part of Maryland; every part of it, all the way up to the waters’ edge that meets Virginia.

On Sunday, David and Melody took us sailing on their Pearson 28, their pride and joy named, “Paradiso” (Paradise). It truly is paradise; especially for David, who has a high-stress, high-level job with the federal government. Once he is on the water, you can see the stress melt right off his face; pure joy.

Bruce and I felt honored that David would not only take us sailing; he taught us how to sail his boat. Well, sort of… David is an excellent teacher, don’t get me wrong. But, a Pearson 28 isn’t like a Laser or some other little boat that can be handled solo with ease. It takes a team to get it right; especially if half of us are newbies!

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If you are used to handling a tiller, like I was in the limited experience I had sailing as a kid, handling a wheel is a different story. Instead of pushing the tiller away from you to get the boat to turn toward you, the wheel turns just as it does in a car; turn to the right and the boat will turn to the right. But, the wheel on a sailboat isn’t as responsive as a wheel on a car. There is a bit of a delay, so it is easy to overcorrect; something both Bruce and I did numerous times before we got the hang of it.

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What a blast! It was a lovely day on the Potomac. And, as we settled in and enjoyed the sun and breeze, we were informed we were in/at/on Maryland! Quantico Yacht Club was on the Marine base, in Virginia, however, it becomes Maryland, as soon as you are on or in the water. So, why not add it to my list of states traveled? It is, after all, a state I have been to, but never stepped foot on! That’s gotta be worth somethin’. Put an * next to it, just like Barry Bonds should have next to his homerun record.

Melody prepared a delicious picnic for our little sailing adventure and we enjoyed it while nestled in a quiet cove. The entire experience kept bringing me back to my childhood, when Dad would take us sailing on our Cal 20. Mom would pack us up some Hebrew National Salami sandwiches and toss in some fruit, chips, and Shasta sodas. Remember Shasta? They were inexpensive and pretty darn good! Dad’s favorite part of lunch was actually dessert: Frozen Milky Way bars.

After lunch, dad would take a snooze and my big brother and sister would sail the boat. I was the youngest (Paul called me, “Motor Mouth” or “Mighty Mouth” back in those days. Now, he just calls me “Old Fart”, every time he phones me on my birthday. But, I keep reminding him that he will ALWAYS be 31/2 years older than me…). As the youngest in the family, I was often pushed aside and told (or yelled at) to, “Get out of the way!” Therefore, I never learned to sail as good as my brother and sister did. But, it was fun, anyway.

I don’t remember my biggest sis, Gail, on many (or any?) of those sailing excursions. She was the smart one, missing out on all that bickering…

Those sure were great memories; bickering and all. And, being in/at/on Maryland’s Potomac, brought those memories flooding back.

Remember Fresca? I thought that soda was long gone! My mom used to drink it, along with Tab. I forgot how tasty that stuff really was, until Melody offered me one on the boat. Of course, she doctored hers up a bit and added dark rum to the bubbles. She called it a “Frisky” and it was gooood. After we returned to Virginia (Quantico Yacht Club, that is…), I had a Frisky, too. But, wait! I was technically still in Maryland, because we kicked back on the boat to enjoy some happy hour cocktails, before heading on home.

Before we head out, let me show you something Melody painted- from scratch- in the kiddie room at the yacht club. She, like David, is quite the talented artist. And, she has an imagination that is such a joy. Check it out! This is sure to bring a smile and warm your heart.

Remember Turtle Wax? Check out what those turtles are up to, at the top left side of the painting. And, how about Elvis? He’s down in the lower right. In between, there are all sorts of fun things goin’ on; plenty to keep the kiddies (and their parents) smiling! Personally, I like the dolphins the best. Did you notice that it’s a male dolphin chasing after the female? If I were Flipperette, I would have been chasing after Flipper; no doubt.

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The following day, it was rainy and dreary which was just fine with us. After having five perfect days of beautiful weather, who could complain? Besides, we were content with spending the day, relaxing at Melody and Dave’s, not doing much of anything at all. I had my netbook with me, so Bruce and I took turns catching up on e-mails and surfing the ‘net.

I was ecstatic after reading one of those e-mails in my inbox; a notification from my U.S. Masters Swimming team that a relay I swam on at Athens, in 2011, made 2011 FINA World Top Ten Rankings! Whaaaat? For real? I had to look it up on FINA (world governing organization for swimming, including Olympics), just to make sure. There it was; we were ranked 9th IN THE WORLD, in our age group!

I knew the day we swam that we had broken a state record. That alone sent me into a happy dance; high-fives all around. But, then, we learned through another e-mail that we had made the U.S. Masters Swimming Top Ten, placing 4th in the country. You should have seen me kick up my heels then… But, this was awesome! It was great news; especially coming off Nationals, where I didn’t swim my best times, due to a muscle strain that occured one week before the biggest meet of the year. I still swam well (considering) and had a blast, but I was frustrated.

Nothing like getting great news when you are already happily humming along on a terrific vacation!

The following day, we said our goodbyes and began our rail journey back to Atlanta, traveling aboard the Crescent, once again. Before we boarded our train, we wandered around Union Station, admiring the beautiful architecture and new renovations.

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Our train ride back was pretty much the same experience as our ride up to D.C., except for our dining companions who were quite the enthusiastic and enjoyable couple. They just loved being on the train; a new experience for them. So, it was fun to chat over dinner, comparing travel experiences.

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And, that is where our journey ends; back in Atlanta where it all began. It was the perfect vacation; visiting great people who we are proud to call our friends, touring our nation’s capitol, enjoying great food, and doing photography; all while enjoying it with my favorite person of all: Bruce.

Thank you for joining us on our journey. I hope you enjoyed reading my travel tales as much as I enjoyed writing them!

If it’s Saturday, it must be Lithuania… and Poland… and Spain…and…

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Elaine-iaK's Travels

For those of you just joining me on our Washington, D.C. travels, please scroll down six posts to, “Riding the Railway to Washington, D.C.”. The newest post is at the top, so you will have to work your way from there up the page.

Our next Washington, D.C. experience was a rather unique and interesting way to spend the day: Touring the European Union Embassies, during their open house, as part of Passport D.C.; a month long celebration of international cultural awareness that takes place each May. Check it out here: http://www.culturaltourismdc.org/things-do-see/passport-dc .

We took the Metro in from Burke, ending our ride at Dupont Circle and Massachusetts Ave., home of Embassy Row. Some of the European Union embasies are located in other locations, as well, so free shuttles transported us between them.

Thankfully, we received a valuable tip from an insider, before we made our way to the embassies: Arrive early and see as much as you can before the huge crowds arrive! We were thankful we headed that advice, because it was already quite busy when the tours started, at 10:00 AM.

Our journey started on the “Green Shuttle”, taking us to visit three of the embassies on the “Green Route”, on 16th St: Lithuania, Poland, and Spain. The description in the brochure/ map, in part, said, “If you cannot make it to Boston for the 14th Lithuanian Folk Festival, come to the Lithuanian Embassy! You will have a unique chance to be introduced to the history of Lithuanian folk dance and experience our national cuisine.”

Upon arrival, we were greeted by smiling volunteers serving delectable treats from behind the buffet: A variety of breads, crackers, meats, cookies, and pastries. And, to drink, we were served Lithuanian beer. It was a lovely complimentary spread; one I am glad we enjoyed first, as we later heard they completely ran out of food well before the event ended at 4:00 PM.

As we enjoyed our delicious treats (and beer!), we were treated to Lithuanian music, performed by costumed musicians.

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We could have stayed in Lithuania all day, but it was time to move on to Poland, where we enjoyed perogis and bratwurst, along with some Polish beer. The food, again, was delicious, and I was really starting to enjoy these European beers…

Onward to Spain! The Spanish embassy was beautiful, but in need of restoration. Due to the current economic difficulties in Spain, there was no available funds to do all the needed repairs. So, volunteers from the embassy went out into the community and recruited a few Spanish restaurants to attend the open house and prepare and serve their donated cuisine. And, the embassy, sold tickets to purchase samples of seafood paella, tapas, and Spanish wine, to be enjoyed while being entertained by Spanish flamenco and contemporary dance.

We weren’t exactly starved, after eating our way through Lithuania and Poland, but how could we pass up paella and empanadas? I went back to purchase some tickets and we ordered one of each to share and it was fabulous!

We were quite content as we boarded the shuttle back to the first makeshift depot, but I was determined to see more of the embassies; especially Belgium, where I was sure they would be treating their guests to Belgium chocolate! So, we boarded the “Blue Shuttle” and made our way past all of the other embassies on the “Blue Route” to the last one on the route; Belgium. By now, the lines were getting quite long just to get into the embassy. Fortunately, though, the line moved fast, as they distributed free tickets for Belgian waffle samples and led us upstairs to view exhibits, watch a film, and taste more samples. After finding the chocolate samples (ohhh yeah!), we watched a film produced by Callebaut, a company who supplies Belgian chocolate to many of our country’s pastry chefs. We learned how cacao is grown, harvested, and processed, from beginning to end.

The tour continued with beer samples and ended in the courtyard where chefs were preparing Belgian waffes. Wouldn’t you know it; they ran out of chocolate, just as we made our way to the front of the line. So, here is Bruce with our chocolate-less samples; still delicious, anyway.

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At this point, we should have probably called it a day. Bruce was a trouper, trudging from one embassy to the next. We kept waiting in lines to get into each embassy, only to learn they had run out of food and drink. If there is ever a next time, I would just plan on visiting a few different embassies in the morning, check them off my list, then visit a few different ones the next time around. Two couples I met on the Metro back to Virginia do just that. This year, they focused on France and Germany and even walked away with complimentary t-shirts and cloth tote bags. Nice!

In all, we visited nine embassies. In addition to the ones I previously mentioned, we toured Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, The Netherlands, and Slovenia. Here is the embassy of The Netherlands; a must-see country in April, during tulip season:

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Of the nine countries we visited, I have actually traveled to Spain, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, and The Netherlands. I also visited Slovakia, located right across the bridge from Slovenia. That’s a part of the world I would love to return and see more of, for sure.

Nine countries in six hours. That surely beats, “If It’s Tuesday, It Must Be Belgium.”! By the way, if you haven’t seen that hilarious comedy from the 1960’s, you MUST. Just be armed with a box of Kleenex; you will need it from laughing so hard you cry.

So, at this point, it was time to drag our weary tails back to Metro to catch our train- along with the thousands of other people who had the same idea in mind. Our train resembled a can of sardines!

Dupont Circle Metro stop is something to see; an escalator that takes you down 7-9 stories (David couldn’t remember which) to catch the train. When I reached the bottom, I shot this photo back up:

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Our final blog episode will be written about our day in (on?) Maryland; a state I add to my “States Traveled” with an *, because we never did set foot on land. Stay tuned…

Stop! Detour!! There’s the Botanic Gardens, and, it’s FREE!

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Elaine-iaK's Travels

I will admit that we are frugal; not cheap, just frugal. When there are 19 fabulous Smithsonian museums available to explore at no charge, why pay to see another museum, if all we have are a few days in D.C.? I never even considered adding non-Smithsonian venues to our list, because there was no way we would have the time to get to them.

That was then, this was now. On our way to the American History Museum, we came upon the Botanic Gardens; always an interest to both me and Bruce. If there is something colorful to photograph, I put on the breaks! And, for those who know me and how fast I like to walk (Mom? Bruce??), having me finally STOP is a welcome reprieve.

I was sure there would be an entry fee, though, and we really did intend on revisiting the American History Museum, so we could see the first two floors. But, I popped in, anyway, just to check. FREE! It is a public garden and there was no charge to enter! “O.K!”, we said; we’ll just pop in for a few minutes and take a quick look around…

Dozens of photos later, we finally left, because there was nothing more to see. We had covered every exhibit- in detail. My best photos are on my Fototime site, but I will share some of my favorites with you here:

Yeah, I know; this isn’t exactly a masterpiece, but it’s a cacao pod ! This is where chocolate comes from! Seeds are harvested from the pod and left in piles for about one week to ferment. Afterwards, the seeds are spread out in the sun to dry. The farmer sells the dried beans to processing companies that roast and crush the beans into paste called chocolate liquor. This is used to make that heavenly can’t-live-without chocolate.

Cocoa pods make me smile; I can’t pass one by without photographing it.

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