Blog

The SwimMan

Thursday, February 25, 2010 | 11 Comment(s)

So, do any of you know what it's like to swim laps while listening to Jay-Z.  I do.  Today I used my SwimMan waterproofed iPod Nano in the pool.  I've been waiting for this thing for awhile.  I didn't realize that while you may be paying for 4-5 day delivery, that timer starts when they actually mail it to you.  And there is no time limit for that.  I was quite worried when a week after i sent in my PayPal money (I am still not adept enough to know how these processes work, and therefore innately distrust the whole process), I still had no fun water music.  Bummed and worried, I contacted the company in California, and they informed me of the backorder situation on their product.  I was close to asking if their email system was on backorder, but to be honest the man was so friendly, accommodating, and genuine that i didn't have the heart.  In all honesty, I was just excited to get the product and less concerned with expressing my frustration.

So it came.  And it's as advertised.  Well, it's as advertised in that it didn't break or fry my face off when I used it today.  It is going to take a little getting used to having the buds in my ear while swimming--and by that i mean it will take some time until i stop constantly worrying that i am getting water in my ears or that the earbuds are going to fall out and break the whole system.  But, those are mostly my problems, not the SwimMan's.  Musically, it was a revelation.  Gliding through the water to Snow Patrol really suits me. Some things I learned:

1) Rap/Hip-Hop is the shit when in the water.  Stereotypically, this seems ironic.  Physically, this makes perfect sense.  
2)  Me First and the Gimme Gimmes thought up the best "theme" for a band ever.  They play 70's and 80's standards (Walking on Sunshine, Ain't no Sunshine When She's Gone, etc. -- trying to subtly influence the local weather here with my song choices)--except they rock them out punk style.  Every single song is amazing.  In and out of the pool.  Just saying.
3)  Some songs don't translate to the pool.  Barenaked Ladies or They Might Be Giants are good examples.  While I love their music, I love them primarily for their funny/intelligent wordplay and that just isn't the "it" factor for getting my body moving.  

Speaking of "Body Moving," I should add that song to my swim playlist.  Speaking of swimming playlists, i need more exercise songs.  Swimming is the first non-team sport oriented exercise I have ever accomplished any consistency with. That is how a graduate student says that they've quit every other exercise form they've tried (running is the devil's sport--more on that later--FOR SURE).  Because of this, my music falls more into the 'relaxin' category than the 'move your body' genre.  So, if you have groove music--send it my way.  Burn me a CD.  It's what Jesus would do.  

ps.  This was the scene in my building's bathroom today.  

I'm not even sure what to think here.  Pooping with a friend?  Putting your legs up while you poop?  Long distance high board peeing contest?  Balance your book upright to read while pooping?  Phobia of putting your book-bag on the floor (maybe that one is even understandable considering what i have decided is the undergraduates' lack of urinal aim)?  I'm stymied.  So once again, I took a picture in a bathroom of the bathroom.  This is becoming a strange habit.

11 comments:

  1. I don't typically listen to rap/hip-hop, but I too found that it serves as an excellent motivator while exercising.
    The bathroom comments were hilarious, I'm so glad I stopped by your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  2. no no. IM so glad you stopped by my blog today! bathroom hilarity is right in my strike zone, so stay tuned.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Having earbuds in my ears while underwater would freak me out. Like somehow I'm corking the natural flow of water through my ears, which would then cause me to explode. For this reason I don't wear earplugs, or any kind of ear plugging appartus. I think I'll hold out till they make waterproof headphones.

    ReplyDelete
  4. And by headphones I mean the ones that cover your entire ear. You know, the big ass ones...of the noise cancelling variety.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for giving me more things to worry about Amber!!! kidding. I think the big earcandy headphones would probably not be wonderfully aerodynamic for lap swimming. And while having earbuds in your ears my be unnatural, so is listening to music underwater.

    ReplyDelete
  6. That is why the great philosopher said,
    ---Excreto,ergo sum.---

    ReplyDelete
  7. ...perhaps this phantom chair shitter needed the chair to rest his laptop upon because he had a video chat scheduled and didn't consider that when eating take-out chinese the night before. Rather than canceling his chat, he thought, what the hell, I'll kill 2 birds with one shit.

    ReplyDelete
  8. @Carlos--the more latin the better.

    @becks--pure brilliance.

    ReplyDelete
  9. your blog has become a staple in my daily escape-from-the-reality-of-life routine

    ReplyDelete
  10. I knew immediately what the chair was for--beckgray hit it on the head. Laptop.
    Undergrads who commute and have a lot of downtime between classes camp out in all kindsa places. I specifically knew one guy years ago who would sometimes drag an entire desk into the large handicapped stall of a remote men's room. It was quiet and private. He may have been pulling my leg, but I don't think so.

    ReplyDelete
  11. @Mamta i know another way to escape reality.

    @John I stickily you

    ReplyDelete