Water aerobics at the Rose Bowl

The Rose Bowl Aquatic Center, Pasadena, Ca, offers water aerobic workouts - early mornings for seniors, evenings for anyone, including seniors. The evening group (almost entirely female) is more I-fit-in than I expected - age range mostly middle and up, sizes from very 'fluffy' to solid and toned (more of the former than the latter) - many proclaim their long-time attendance, year round, even on the coldest days.  Yes, the pool is outdoors and temperatures drop, even in sunny southern California.

The two regular instructors, Alanna and Tracy provide a full hour's workout.
Alanna, Mondays and Wednesdays, a chunky ball of fire and sass - a grandmother, Harley cycle spokesperson, owner of various exotic vehicles including a Corvette, and a luxe camper.
Rock music, lots of fast movement.

Tracy, a retro-look, curly hair in ultra-long pony tail, so thin her shorts threaten to slide down her hips,
entire session from the pool's edge - using  pantomime ala Marcel Marceau to indicate tummy in, head up, back straight, legs straight, toe pointed - a spellbinding routine.  I hear that she is a physical therapist and a dancer.

I have been introduced to websites featuring water wear for cold climes - not quite wetsuits, but designed for year-round outdoor swimmers, and websites featuring every possible shape, color, size and type of swim suit, coverup, sandal, and beach towel.  All sorts of new fibers - micro, poly, bamboo, hemp -

I am determined to continue, on into the cold - providing I can find a suitable,  affordable garment to ease me into goose-bumpy water.

Family swimming begins the minute our group of fifty to sixty aerobicists climb out.  The families often consist of a father who sits and watches, a mother who plunges in with a reluctant infant, siblings shoving and splashing - so many that there is only space to jump up and down - not stretch out and paddle.

A new sign appeared this week  - "Absolutely no boy over age three allowed in Women's Locker Room."  Wish I had seen what prompted this.

After the first day or two of damp floor, damp air, damp hair, damp infants, damp bodies, wet benches,
wet towels, wet howlers, I changed my routine.  Wear swimsuit to Center, towel off poolside, use alternate bathroom to change into dry panties, put suit into plastic bag, don coverup, drive home sitting on additional towel if necessary.  I notice a number of aerobicists with the same plan.

Darby tries to trick me

Wednesday is Farmer's Market day in Sierra Madre.
Although we have only a few faithful vendors, I am addicted.

This afternoon I brought home a crisp round loaf of bread wrapped in cellophane. I also brought a delicious crepe -filled with fresh herbs, tomatoes, ham, chicken, cheese, spices, on  spinach-dough - the aroma heaven-scent (sic).

First, Darby eyed the crepe, under my nose, and his.

Next, he dashed by heading for the stairs -with the loaf of bread in his mouth, snitched from the counter. I no sooner grabbed it than he dashed for the table, and began to gorge on the crepe.  Made a great dinner for both of us - I won.

Television cartoon featuring onset of labor pains - a new trend?

Martha Speaks is a book about a talking dog.  I discovered it at a local library during one of the Barks and Books sessions my labradoodle MaeRose and I conduct on behalf of the Pasadena Humane Society's Companion Animal Program.  Because I have written a book about a cook in an alphabet factory who makes all the letters for alphabet soup, Martha Speaks spoke to me. (groan)

That is, until last week when I viewed a cartoon episode featuring a flashback to the day one of Martha's human family was born.  Martha sat in the back of the car, driven by the father.  In the car were an obviously pregnant woman who spoke with an hispanic accent, and one young child.  The weather was cold.  The mother was stuffed into a puffy down-filled jacket - with her oversized tummy showing.

I am a little fuzzy about all the details of this episode, but the scenes which I found remarkable showed the pregnant woman announcing the onset of labor pains, and the subsequent race to the hospital, with several mishaps, changes of types of transportation, and an arrival at the hospital just in time for the birth.  Martha was responsible for finding each new mode of transport, while the anxious father- and mother-to-be discussed the ensuing labor pains, their frequency, and their urgency.

I am curious about how often this event is portrayed in cartoons for the young.  I don't think I am uptight, just wondering.

In fact, it is not the pregnancy so much as the birthing prelude which seemed a new topic for Saturday morning cartooning.  Or am I way behind?