Hello From Corinth

My new ID picture

Well, I made it! I have a lot to talk about, and I don't really know where to start. Well, I will start with the simple, surface things here.

1. It is costing me $40 to work out at the gym here. Never mind that normal rates are $20 a month. They charge me more for being a 5 week student slave.

2. The pool stays at 87 degrees. No, not 77, 87 degrees. Yes. I had a talk with the aquatics director this morning about it. Along with the 87 degree temp, the water is so murky you can't see the walls or bottom. So, I missed several flip turns. Oh, and no master's swim. Anywhere. I felt so depressed swimming by myself in the 87 degree brown water. I only got in 2000 meters. It was all I could stand. And in my head I kept singing the Foo Fighters "Long Road to Ruin". Well, let me tell you, it is a short road. I need to get them to tweak the lyrics.
- Happy side note: the director told me I have a great stroke and I shouldn't change it. He said he would swim with me some mornings to help break up my boredom. He would also turn on the fans for me to "cool it down some."

3. I am getting a lot of sleep because I have nothing else to do at night. I feel really uncomfortable being in someone else's home, so I just got upstairs to my dungeon.

4. I don't know where to run or ride, and nor does anyone else. So, here it is 5:00 on Tues. Normally I would be heading to track. Instead, I guess I will head to a treadmill.

5. BUT, I do like my clinical a lot. My instructors are genuinely nice and I am really liking the hospital.

6. But, basically I miss my family and life in Memphis. And, I just have to face up to the fact that I may lose some fitness over the next five weeks. So goes life.

Okay, deeper issues:
On the first day, I went to have my ID picture taken. When I saw the girl/old lady looking back at me, I didn't even recognize her. I look old...not so pretty...bad hair...big nose...wrinkly eyes. I was wondering, where is that girl that used to be tan, cute, young, took great ID pics? She has been replaced by her evil, older, not so good looking twin.

When I look at that ID picture, though, I think...that is not me. It really isn't. The Damie I know from pictures these days is the Damie in race pictures. My hair is in a pony tail, but I think it looks good. It just seems to fit me. My face looks younger because I am happy when I am racing. I don't notice the wrinkles at all (maybe because the sunglasses cover them up, but that too looks very athletic!). I am running around in a bathing suit with no embarrassment, and I even see some muscles in some pictures if the angle is just right!

I think sports really bring out the best in us. I don't feel so old or ugly when I am in a game or at a race. I am not judged on how cute I am out there, I am rewarded for hard work and a positive attitude. I wish I could put a race picture on my ID to show everyone the real me. :)

I am sorry I can't keep in better touch. The internet is in the family's bedroom, so I can't really use it easily. I love you all and will try to keep dropping some lines here and there.
xxxooooo