warm winter swimming

University of Utah natatorium

Why would you want to go swimming when it’s so cold outside? All the usual reasons:

• stress relief
• cardiovascular health
• blood pressure regulation
• increased efficiency in producing insulin
• better sleep
• increased metabolism
• stronger immune system
• improved digestion
• improved sense of well-being
• improved mood

Of course there’s the perception that you’ll get cold, but I’ve found that a swim actually warms me up. So instead of telling myself it’s too cold to go swimming, I’ll say a good swim would sure help me warm up today.

So one of the best reasons to go swimming on a cold winter’s day is to spend a few minutes in a warm, nearly weightless environment that will be good for you at the moment and make the rest of the day go better, too.

Related resources:
• Utah Masters Swimming
• Total Immersion Swimming

vitameatavegimin vs. v8banana

Vitameatavegamin, the TV sitcom tonic of vitamins, meat, vegetables, minerals and alcohol, made a classic episode of I Love Lucy. If you haven't seen it, you're missing one of the funniest routines ever broadcast.

In contrast, V8banana, is a real health drink that sounds awful, but isn't--depending on your taste, of course. It's easy to make, you just blend:

1 ripe banana
1 can of V8 vegetable juice (5.5 ounce can)
3 or 4 ice cubes

What you get is a drink that's not too sweet but a little more exotic than either a banana smoothie or just a straight drink of V8.

see your new house live at 2:00

You can see your newly renovated house on local TV today at 2:00 p.m. "I don't have a new house and I haven't done any renovations," you say, "and even if I did, a TV station wouldn't be there."

True, it isn't your personal residence, but you did pay for it and it does belong to you.

The broadcast I'm talking about is The People’s House: Rededicating Utah’s State Capitol and if you can't catch it live at 2:00 p.m. on KUED, watch the repeat tonight at 8:00. Here's how KUED is promoting the event on its webpage today.

The show repeats tonight at 8:00 p.m. and is followed by a documentary from producer Mike Dunn, With Anxious Care: The Restoration of the Utah State Capitol.

to douse or keep lighting

 

We took down our indoor decorations on Saturday, but the outdoor lights will be up for a while, too dangerous to try to get them down when there's so much snow and ice on the house.

Usually I'm ready unplug the timer and douse the lights by early January, but this year I'm still enjoying the visual warmth they provide. True, it would save energy and save the life of the bulbs to turn them off, but I haven't pulled the plug on them yet.

But maybe I should take a lesson from Jackie Gleason. I learned last night that he only let the Honeymooners run one season because he didn't want to get old. Dousing the lights now may help insure that we'll enjoy them even more next year. You can't take a vacation if you have nothing to vacate.

putting putin on my list

former USSR insignia on monument in Russia

I spent some of my holiday relaxing with Time magazine's Person of the Year issue on Russian President Vladimir Putin. Here's the online version and an editorial comment about it. I think I'll add a Putin search to my Google alerts and see what this net will net on the net.

happy new year anagrams

Parley's Way on a Winter Morning

Here are a few anagrams for the greeting: Happy New Year!

Anyway He Prep
Reap Yawn Hype
Yea Happy Wren
Happy Ya Renew
Nappy Way Here
Pray Ya Nephew
Near Pa Yep Why
A Nap Per Ye Why

There are several anagram makers on the web. Here's the one I used today: http://wordsmith.org/anagram/ The intro to the site says, "Did you know that parliament is an anagram of partial men? Or, Clint Eastwood an anagram of Old West Action? Someone once said, "All the life's wisdom can be found in anagrams. Anagrams never lie."