Learning to Swim-Day 8

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Although today was a glorious day with 65 degree and plenty of sunshine, I wish the rest of the week would be like this to open windows and let some fresh air in. It's going back to cold in the 40s-50s for the rest of this week and into the weekend. Today Rachel and I worked on my backstroke once again. I started out with the buoyancy belts, that are used for the deep end classes and to swim. She wanted me to work on the back and do a lap with it to perfect my swim. So I did that with the backstroke without a problem. Then I did it the other way too. Then I did it without the belt and swam two back-to-back laps with it. It continued to be my strongest suit. Then Rachel wanted me to hone in on my front stroke and practice the breathing. I keep getting water in my nose and have managed not to hit the wall or the lane barriers a lot as I've centered in the lap. I kept getting better doing it, but she wants me to practice more by trying to do a full lap without stopping. So I did two half-laps and tried other ways to breath with my mouth and not with my nose, even with the kickboard. Lastly, we went back to the elementary backstroke. I did two full laps without a problem to close out the lesson. That seemed to be another strong stroke for me to do. I did find out from Rachel, I have only two more Tuesday swim lessons with her, and not on Thursdays this coming month. And then I've got to decide between next week and the following week, if I want to continue private practice or do group lessons on Saturdays. Two weeks from today is going to be a conflict for me, since that's the day I have my writers group and lunch. So I might do just the meeting and pass on lunch, when I have my friend drop me off at the Nat before she goes to lunch. Or I can pass on the meeting and go to my last lesson with Rachel. It all comes down to the weather, too. I'm sorta leaning toward resuming my private lessons, since I believe the group lessons would be in the lap pool and mainly with kids. She did tell me it's 40 minutes long and 4 lessons in one. I'm going to ask her about that next week and tell her, that since I walk to the gym, I don't do it in winter weather (below 30 degrees and snowing), unless I wear long johns. I would have to ask her, if I do resume private lessons, if and when I would know who would be my replacement after the holiday season and starting next year with the same schedule. Meanwhile, this Friday and next Monday, I'll practice the front stroke for her, if the lanes aren't occupied to get it in for a quick lap. I might have to teach myself how to do the front and side crawl, the butterfly and the breast stroke. between now and then though. I'm going to miss Rachel in two weeks.