swimming

I went swimming outside today, in a snowstorm remarkably similar to the one in the photo on the right [which shows the view from my back porch - click to see a larger image]. The pool was heated - not enough to make up for the frozen ears, but heated all the same. After a few minutes my hair and eyelashes were covered with snow. I was told it looked like premature greying.

Lucky for us the air was mostly still today; I've done this before in a strong and constant wind, and that was not nearly as pleasant. The snow was driving in from the west, though, so each time we headed that way for another lap it became difficult to keep our eyes open.

The whole bizarre experience ended with a dip in a hot tub, a few minutes in a sauna, and a hot shower, after which I headed back out into the blizzard to make my way home. If I can only find someplace to do that for free I'll make it a daily winter ritual.