Texas Swimming: August 2014

Friday, August 29, 2014

Quote of the Day

We have not journeyed all this way across

the centuries, across the oceans, across

the mountains, across the prairies,

because we are made of sugar candy.

(via IWM Prints)

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Quote of the Day

Innovation is everything. When you're

on the forefront, you can see what the

next innovation needs to be. When

you're behind, you have to spend

your energy catching up.

(via KPBS)

Robert Norton Noyce

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Still Popular After All These Years

As we head into a new school year, let's revisit some of the Texas Swimming blog's most-read posts of all time - the excuses posts!

The true beauty of coaching high school is that every year brings something new. Athlete and parent creativity in dreaming up incredible excuses knows no bounds...oh and yes, truth can be stranger than fiction!

Links back to original "The Old Coach" no longer work, but the highlights were posted here:

Excuses for Missing Practices

More Excuses

Still More Excuses

Even More Excuses

Quote of the Day

Liberty is not a thing for the great masses of

men. It is the exclusive possession of a small

and disreputable minority, like knowledge,

courage and honor. It takes a special sort of

man to understand and enjoy liberty - and he

is usually an outlaw in democratic societies.

(via The Smart Set)

Henry Louis "H.L." Mencken

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

That Danged Green Tunnel's Callin'

SUNY Fredonia assistant Rob Sweeny completed his thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail last week. More here.

Sweeny said his worst moment, to that point, was the snowstorm they encountered while hiking up Big Bald Montain, a peak of 5,516 feet near Irwin, Tenn. He said he constantly had to filter his water and had seen a few rattlers but more bears along the Trail. He said he constantly has to check for tics, especially in his beard.

He said the best moment then was "watching spring happen" as he traveled north, including the gradual emergence of a green tunnel of foliage through which they hiked.

Thanks for the head's up, Big Weights!

Quote of the Day

When I have an idea, I turn down the flame,

as if it were a little alcohol stove, as low as it

will go. Then it explodes and that is my idea.

(via Escritores Sucios)

Ernest Miller Hemingway

Monday, August 25, 2014

Quote of the Day

Now that I'm a parent, I understand why

my father was in a bad mood a lot.

(via HFBoards)

Adam Richard Sandler

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Quote of the Day

When the gardeners are praying for rain,

the picnickers are praying for sunshine.

So what is the poor Lord to do?

(via People)

William A. Feather

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Trip, Music, Fantasy Foosball, & Pan Pacs

So, it's been a great couple of weeks without the Texas swim blog...y'all had to find some other way to waste yer time, right?

Like last year, we did plenty of touristy things on our way to and from Irvine.

In Arizona, we visited the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site near the Gila River:

It was tough to tell which images were over a thousand years old and which may have been more recent additions. Did the Hohokam actually know who lived in a pineapple under the sea?

Speaking of the sea, we also visited the Salton Sea. Sad to say, ya just can't un-see what ya done seen at the Salton Sea. What a disaster!

After the meet, we headed for Mammoth Lakes and Yosemite for a few days of hikin' and sight-seein'. It was pretty smoky one morning, but later in the day so we got a good view of Half Dome from Glacier Point:

On the way out of California, the drive out to Bristlecone Pine Forest was like being on a roller coaster. Saw some ancient trees out there. Thought about watering this one, but there were too many folks around:

We didn't spend a whole lot of time in Nevada, but did manage to stop in at Caesars Palace and the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop on our way through Las Vegas.

On the way back through Arizona, we visited Meteor Crater and Petrified Forest.

Here's an old favorite:

Fantasy Foosball time already? Yup!

Past winners:

2005 - Hill (dirtybuttcrackheads)

2006 - Hill (dirtybuttcrackheads)

2007 - Montoya (The Slum Lords)

2008 - Button, Jr. (YouAllSuck-JustQuit)

2009 - Button, Jr. (YouAllSuck-JustQuit)

2010 - Tonya S. (sugar hiccups)

2011 - Button, Sr. (Mansfield Maulers)

2012 - Katie (Smack&Cheese)

2013 - Katie (Smack&Cheese)

Our league turns ten (10) this fall. If you'd like to join (and try to ruin Katie's attempt at a three-peat), there are only four (4) slots remaining, so hustle! Sign up through your Yahoo! account:

League Name/Link: Texas Swimming

Password: reformtitleix

Live Draft: Monday, September 1, 6:30 p.m. (Central)

Be there, or be regular quadrilateral!

Follerin' that big meet down under? Real time results link:

2014 Pan Pacific Champs