JEDI, Jellyfish and other Procrastinations



One of those two peeps is me. I think the front one.

I have shit to do, but I'm mojo-less in the writing department these days, so, instead, I'm doing busy work and daydreaming about summer.

Summer, generally, and the open water season, specifically, that is.

I've got big open water plans on my agenda this summer which involve a few 5 mile swims. That's 2 miles more than I've ever done.

I'm pretty sure I can do it, so I'm not too worried (though perhaps slightly intimidated) but I am a bit concerned about the jellyfish.

I've got jellyfish on my brain, you could say (yes, yes, and possibly in it...).

You see, there's been talk of the existence of a global jellyfish explosion the past few years and, given the warm winter temps we've had this year, talk of that explosion, well, exploding.

Here's an adorable little Lion's Mane greeting us last July as we waded in... :(

And, um, if you've read some of my prior lamentations you'd know, I don't need any stinkin' jellyfish exploding. 

Indeed, at times over the past two summers, the jellyfish have already been as thick as tapioca pudding. They've stung me and my friends, and slipped down the back of my wetsuit. *shudders*

I've swum through patches of water so thick with jellies, it felt like stroking through a vat of spaghetti.

Unpleasant, you say?

You don't know the half of it.

And, seriously, the novelty of the whole I-can-survive-some-dumb-ol'-jellyfish thing is quickly wearing off.

But, here's the good news.

I've done some procrastinating, er research, today, and I've come up with some pretty hopeful information.

According to the JEDI, there's no proof of a global jellyfish explosion.

Wait. Wrong. Not those kind of Jedi (although, photoshop some jellies in there and you have a pretty entertaining photo).

JEDI (apparently) stands for The Jellyfish Database Initiative.

Don't look at me, I didn't name them. And, I agree, it's a bit of a cheap gimmick, since I don't see any E in that title, either.

At any rate, false advertising  aside, according to the NY Times quoting an article in last week's Bioscience,

"...scientists... argue that  there simply isn't enough long-term data to conclude that global jellyfish numbers are on the rise.

This finding that previous conclusions were premature is the result of an international effort begun in 2010 by the Global Jellyfish Group to compile all of the available data on jellyfish populations. The new and growing database is known as the Jellyfish Database Initiative, or JEDI."


See, right there. JEDI. But I digress.

The point is, previous jellyfish predictions were premature!

Premature, I tell you. Pre-ma-ture!

Which is nice.

Because, I've got some swimming to do.

- gae

Swimmin' Wimmin of the Polar Pod, Sans Arms (on behalf of the water-blog)

Can you find where water meets air?

Despite a morning of dense fog that had Carole playing"Where's Waldo" with the water (see, photo left), at shortly after noon, three intrepid members of the Polar Pod -- Cathy, Carole and I -- suited up and met for another unbelieveable, stolen December swim.

The air temperature -- a balmy 58 -- was warm enough that I was sweating as I pulled on my sundry layers of swim caps, booties and gloves, and we pondered how the same global warming that's so desperately bad for the real polar bears and universe, was giving us such an unforgettable winter gift.

Despite the unseasonably warm air, wading into the water was another story.

Last night's cold temps seemed to have lowered the water a degree or two, and we felt the cold rush in right through our booties (though not into our impermeable Psycho gloves ;)). But, as always, once we got swimming, it was business as usual -- or as usual as it could be swimming without our right (Carol Moore) and left (Annmarie Kearny-Wood) arms.

A brisk swim to the yellow sign felt totally doable as our faces and bodies acclimated, and we even stopped and chatted and aqua-jogged in place there for a while, admiring the scenery and marvelling at our great good luck to be out yet another day, before swimming somewhat reluctantly back toward the dock and home. 

Another fine Pod hat on display.

Back on shore we agreed that swimming right through December seems more and more possible (and necessary) with each passing day.

- gae

post on behalf of the http://thewater-blog.blogspot.com/

Swimming Through Angstarctica

I love my Psycho gloves so much that, yes, I want to marry them.

I've been saying for a long time -- before I'd even discovered the bliss and exhilaration of the open water -- that I was hoping one day my wetsuit would turn me into a super hero.

Today, I got one step closer.

Thanks to my dear friend (and lovely, adorable, fellow-lunatic), Annmarie, who delivered an early Christmas present, I am now the proud owner of new, improved swim booties, and, more importantly, a pair of 5mm Psycho gloves.

The name says it all. They're the ones in the photo that look like they belong to Iron Man. And they are the Swim God's gift to womankind.

Despite 47- 49 degree temps in the Sound today, we swam 40+ minutes and, even then, I wasn't ready to get out.

It was crazy!

It was delirium!

It was likely this winter's salvation.

Because December is here. The crush of the holidays (I'm a Jew, you know, we just don't get all that excited). The cold, dark days. The oppressive weight of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

For the past few winters, I've barely made it through.

But, now I've got a plan. And my plan now seems attainable. Thanks to an early Christmas present, from a dear friend who seems to need the bliss of the open water just as badly as I do.

Thanksgiving Day. That's me in the center. Losing my religion. (Annmarie, photo left)
Plus, the other hardies of the West Neck Pod.
Btw, if you want to read more about our open water swims, go here to the Water-blog.

Together, with Psycho gloves, we're gonna swim right on through it. We're swimming through Angstarctica. We're swimming till we meet the shores of spring.

So, don't worry about me. Because the water will buoy me, and my fingers won't feel a thing. <3

- gae

p.s. This just in:

Me, with my PSYCHO GLOVES today!

http://thewater-blog.blogspot.com/

Delirium

Gae at West Neck Beach 10 21

Despite high winds and chilly air hovering
only around 55 (not counting the wind chill),
and a marineforcast reporting 3 ft waves and
a small craft advisory, a few lucky Pod members and I
snuck away at 10:30 this morning for
an open water swim. 

The wind gusts in the parking lot were so intense
they snapped our car doors shut as we tried to emerge,
so we opted for stretching on our wetsuits on the alee side, before even attempting to venture to our usual changing spot at the lifeguard station, to get our swim caps and goggles and remaining supplies on.

Carol Moore changing at her car

The waves (and white caps) were kicking. Just trying to get my hair conditioned and under my swim cap, left my fingers numb. We fretted aloud about the water temperatures.

Luckily, the sky was too pretty to turn back, so we waded in tentatively, our girly screams and f-bombs peppering the air as the cold swept into our wetsuits. Then, as always, we put our heads down and started to swim.

It was one of the most exhilarating swims I've had to date. When we'd swum our day's course, it was hard to force ourselves out. My wetsuit drying on my stoop makes me happy to have seized the day. As always, I am never ever sorry I went in.

Here are just a few reasons why:

convinced yet?

 -gae