swimming – stlplace

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Okay, it’s Saturday and it’s good time for some chicken soup.

I went to swimming at the JCC indoor pool just now, with my younger daughter because she prefers the indoor pool over the outdoor one, also her tennis lesson got cancelled at the last minute. So I got to hang out with her for a bit: for real it’s just a bit, because she will be 11 in about 3 days, and I usually do my lap swimming. She mostly plays by herself in the recreational pool (the water is slightly warmer there). The temperature at the lap swimming pool is slightly lower, probably at 78 Fahrenheit or 25.6 Celsius, and my younger daughter doesn’t like either lap swimming or cold water. She calls it the cold pool.

When I was doing lap swimming, I noticed at the other end, a little girl who is in green swimming suit, she is probably 5 years old, and she was scared to get into the water. I swam to that end, and hear the young male swimming coach says “you have to go in either today or next time (assume next Saturday). The coach is probably a college student, I guess. The girl didn’t want to go. Eventually the coach gave up. After a while, I noticed the girl’s dad, with mom and her little sister nearby, helped the girl get into the water (the cold pool) the first time 🙂 It’s quite accomplishment. Now I remember the 1st time my older daughter (now 15) got into the cold cool the 1st time, many years ago (probably summer 2017 with the one and only coach Alyssa L).

Now if I can convince the soon to be 11 year old to swim again tomorrow. Btw, I am back to swimming daily after about 7 years break (was doing joggling or walking in last 7 years or so).

(07-13-2025) Was able to play Racquet ball with my younger daughter a bit at the J. A small win. I also swam at the J (both outdoor, and indoor pools). Went to the outdoor pool first, swam 200 yards, it started raining cat and dog, and everyone went inside.

(07-22-2025) Yesterday evening, I was napping and sleeping on my bed in the evening, at about 10 pm or so, I got up, and my older daughter noticed me getting up and asked “dad, can I have your tweezers (link goes to google). I realized she was a bit shy to wake me up. Similarly, probably 2 nights ago, my younger daughter saw I was napping, and because she usually says “good night” to me before her bedtime, she just climbs to my bed, and reach out her hand, and gently said “good night dad” 🙂 Back to my older daughter, it’s hard to get a hug from her nowadays. The other day, before the hug, she said: do you smell (meaning do you have bad body smell 🙂 I fully understand. They are 11 and 15 years old, respectively. We Chinese have a saying: 男女有别 nan nv you bie (link goes to google).

(07-23-2025) S6 suggested I took her to get boba tea at Sharesweet in the afternoon. And I did.

(07-26-2025) Something in my mind: I realized that if I sign up S8 for a math acceleration class and she will probably have better chance to pass the acceleration on 08/08. Now I will probably study a bit algebra 2 and try to poke her around (it’s not an easy job to say the least, because she doesn’t want to share).

(07-27-2025) S6 suggested I took her to the Korean grocery store next to the Tai’ke. And I did.

Keep fit

Reading Time: 2 minutes

I am trying to keep fit and I have been doing this for a while (before pandemic). This includes both the physical fit, weight and most recently, the iPhone addiction. Also as the weather is getting colder, and I am thinking doing a bit more swimming. Last but not least, I am thinking slowly going back to office: my office is about 5 minutes away.

About 5 years ago, I started running (joggling), initially doing a few 5K races. I still remember I ran out of breath quickly after running probably a few hundred yards. I did better and ran longer over the time, until I ran a half marathon with about 2 hours 23 minutes before the pandemic shutdown. Did a few 10k and 5K, and trail runs too. But since pandemic and reopen, I did not do as well as I thought and hoped. Due to various reasons. This year I did two half marathon: the Creve Coeur (near CC lake and the bridge to St. Charles Katy trail and back), and the St. Charles (near research park at Weldon Spring). I finished but the time is not as good as 2020. I also signed one or two races last year and this year, and eventually bailed out at the last minute. Last March (year 2021) was due to the 2nd Covid Vaccine shot, this Oct (2022) I did not do the Inns Brook HM at the last minute as I felt my right leg is not perfect the day before. I do have a few frost bite series paid for but not sure if I will do it this winter eventually.

Back to swimming

At the same time, I decided to go back to swim a bit since Sunday (this past weekend). I used to do it for a few years from 2012 to 2017, at local JCC. My initial reason for running in 2017 was mainly to make sure I don’t gain more weight. From year 2004 I gained quite a bit weight, probably from 135 lbs to 155 lbs. I did quite a bit Tae Kwon Do back in 2002 to 2004 and lost some weight. The tough part is to keep it that way. One good thing about swimming this time: now I have Apple Watch (series 5) and it can track swimming (previously between 2012 to 2017 I didn’t have something like that). The other day I did the steam room, it’s probably the 1st time I went back since pandemic. Once I was interviewing for jobs in Seattle (in early fall / Sept 2014), I decided against it one Saturday morning when I was enjoying the outdoor pool with my family.

Pandemic

Working from home is probably not the best for me as I am not best at disciplined myself in terms of snacking. That’s one reason I decided to go to office, another reason is to be more focused.

iPhone

It seem the screen time for me is just way too much. I am using 2 apps to help me: Off Screen and MiiDii clock. I paid $20 total for both. I like the gentle reminder from Off Screen regarding “don’t use phone when walking”, as well as “pickup challenge” (default limit is 50 times a day). Basically I need to get off WeChat and other frequent used apps.