Athlete's foot

I wrote some days ago that I was going to start running 4 days per week—MWF,Sunday.  I couldn’t run on Monday b/c it was raining ALL day.  So today, after my private lesson, I ran to the swimming pool that my student pointed out to me.  It was about a 40 minute run over—including dead ends,
indirect routes, etc.  The way back was about 30 minutes—not only because it was more direct, but because I was running faster.  The last few days, I’ve been feeling great as I run, picking the knees up, putting small prints on the ground with my toes, etc.
I went to get some information at the pool.  Unfortunately, things haven’t changed much in that area.  I still need a doctor’s statement that I am in good health; I have to have slippers and a hair cap.  I have to tell them EXACTLY what time and what day I will be visiting the pool. You can only come at certain times of the day.  For me, I think that 7:00 am or  7:45 am for 45 minutes will work well.  It's a 30 minute RUN away, so I'm not sure how I will wrangle it--especially when the streets and sidewalks are covered with ice and snow.
“May I have a look at the pool?”
“NO.  Why would you want to see the pool?  It’s a pool.”
“I want to see if it is a good pool or if it is dirty.”
She didn’t take great offense at this suggestion; she rattled off all the reasons it is good, water circulation and chlorine.  The most important thing, to her, was that it is a children’s pool.  She told me that twice.  I guess that is supposed to mean that since Russians take special interest in the care of their children, I should be satisfied that the place is well run and hygienic.  My last experience with such a pool was in Kazakhstan, 10 years ago when I needed to get a doctor’s statement that I was healthy and didn’t have athlete’s foot.
I got athlete’s foot from the pool.


An interesting and pleasantly surprising thing about today was my waking experience.  For the first time in years, I was woken by an alarm.  Well…not exactly, but close.  At 6:09 am, turned over to adjust my sleeping position and moved my arm in such a way that my left wrist was comfortably positioned immediately next to my right ear.  At 6:10, my watch began to fit of screaming beeps.