Family time...

After jumping off the beer wagon with a "thump" last night, my head was hurting today.

The one advantage of doing my long ride and run on Wednesday and Thursday was that I didn't have do one of them hungover today. Not that I could of, my right Achilles is still very sore.

I really like the idea of doing my long training sessions during the week. It sure frees up the weekend to spend more time with family.

This afternoon, Alice, Reid and I went to the movie "Kick-Ass". I thought it was a great movie. A good 8.5 out of 10. I really enjoyed it, it's definitely not what I expected. I loved the writing, directing, acting and cinematography. You can now call me "Bryan Ebert".

After the movie, Reid and I went to the YMCA pool. He wanted to practice before his swim club tryout on Tuesday and I had a speed swim session. I was a little nervous for him, it's been a while since I last saw him swim and wasn't sure how good he'd be. As I was getting ready, I told him to start swimming and I'd watch.

He was slow, about a 2:25 per 100 meter pace, but he had the general stroke idea. It was smooth. It didn't look like he needed to go back for swim lessons. Generally, he looks like one of the kids I've seen at the pool hundreds of times; they are overweight and like swimming and playing in the water.

I was also very proud of Reid. I introduced him to my pool buddy Kevin and without prompting, he confidently stuck out his hand and shook Kevin's hand.

The pool lanes were full. At least 3 people to a lane. I was in the fast lane with Rob Kent who is training to swim around Manhatten Island, it's a 28.5 mile swim. The guy is a machine, he just goes and goes and goes, none stop, at about a 1:30 pace. Every once in a while, he'll stop for water and gel and swims on his back as he eats and drinks.

Swimming with him was good for me. I used him to push me faster during my intervals. I've only been in the pool twice this month and I haven't lost a thing. I actually think I may be faster. Most of what I was doing was 50's at an average pace of 45 seconds, 25's at an average pace of 21 seconds, and 100's at an average pace of 1:33.

Reid was pushing me to get home, he had a community club dance and his friend Ryan was waiting for him. Earlier in the day, Ryan called to ask Reid if he wanted to go, I overheard the conversation and the funniest part was when Ryan said, "Reid, it's a little different, they allow you to have Pop and Shit". That was his closing line and Reid, nonchalantly said, "yah okay, I'll go".

When we got back, Reid went to the dance, Alyssa and Nazaire where making themselves a gourmet meal and Alice and I decided to go to Yuk Yuks Comedy Club for some laughs and pub grub. I'm glad Alice wanted to go out, the house smelt like we were in an Indian restaurant. I'm surprised the cook book didn't request they had to wear turbans during the food preparation.

Their gourmet Chicken and sweet potatoes had all types of spices on it. Even when we got back from the Comedy Club, the house stunk. It's a good thing the house wasn't up for sale, we would have had to fumigate it or sell it to an Indian family.

We lucked out at the Comedy Club, two of the three comedians were entertaining. One 24 year old kid bombed. It's so uncomfortable watching someone who is not funny. He sets up his jokes and it's like watching a train crash. At least the headliner, Aaron Berg, a 2007 COCA comedian of the year winner was funny. It's been a long time since I've been to a comedy club and had a really good laugh and he was filthy dirty, I loved it.

When I got home I noticed my dad had called. As I was sitting downstairs at the bar I called him back. I could tell he had a few drinks himself, he had that "life is wonderful" timing in his voice. He told me it was a beautiful day in Winnipeg, my mom got a golf membership at Rossmere Country Club, he had a couple of cocktails and he just want to call me to tell me, "I love you". How nice.

I responded by saying, "dad, thanks, and I really, really, really, LIKE you a lot". He got a good laugh. When I hung up I said, "I love you too dad".

The rest of the night was Alice and I sitting around the bar. Yesterday, I figured I have a good book in me, nothing long. Tonight, I figured out the title and I mentally outlined the format and tense. I figured if I can't do it in my mind and remember it, then it's not a book that is really in me, and it would be torture to try and write.

Once I figured everything out, which took about 15 minutes, I came up with the title, "Turning Back Time", with the sub caption, "A Salesman's Story". As you can tell, it's a book about sales and selling that is geared towards people my age.

My plan is to make it an entertaining read, all while providing "perils of wisdom". Even if your not in sales, my hope is to write it in such a way that it still is a good read. If it takes more than a week to get the basic draft on paper then it's not from my heart and I'll scrap it. I think I'll set aside some time after Ironman St. George to write it.

Speed Swim - 1:07:19 / 3000 meters

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