decompression

Another good weekend; it was such a relief to get an afternoon off and all day sunday off.  We did the usual bar-b-q at the boathouse, which most everyone came to, which was nice.  In a lot of ways relations within the U23 group are better than last year.  It is a hard time for a lot of people. For many people, they are realizing they probably won't make the boat for the first time in their rowing career.  They have lost seat races for the first time in their rowing careers.  Last year, there was a lot of bitterness from guys who didnt make the boat.  A couple guys who I had really enjoyed all summer suddenly became total jerks to me, and no matter how sensitive I tried to be, I managed to always say something to piss them off.  This year, I don't sense nearly the same bitterness as before, which is good, though I dont doubt that some guys here are really disappointed.  That said, the boat is not decided, and a lot can happen in a few days of selection.  

At the bar-b-q, I drank probably too much beer, and ate too many burgers, but it was all very good, and very yummy.  Some Dmouth rowers came and hung out.  I swam across the river with some folks, which was fun until we had a cold walk back across the bridge in the rain.  Everyone was pretty mellow, and there was a lot of laughter.  Osborne finally emerged from his cave, and it was fun to actually hang out with him.  I realized that a lot of the guys at camp barely know Osborne because he hasn't socialized at all with the U23 guys.   All of us U23s wandered around Hanover for a while, and then watched Top Gun.  I was supposed to get a ride home but my ride got his car stuck in a ditch, so I ended up sleeping on the couch of someone's house. All in all, a good night, though I was really too tired to be much fun.  

Today I lazed about for most of the day, finished season 4 of The Wire, which was excellent.  I later went to work out with Osborne and Charlie, a quick erg and spin to work the cobwebs out.  Cooked a delicious stirfry.  Im just going to read a bit, and then go to bed, and get ready for another brutal week.  The boat is supposed to be completely selected on wednesday, and I am counting on things mellowing out after that.  It will be nice to go on some long skill-and-drill rows instead of hammering it every day.  Thats about it.  I am happy, and glad that I had some time to decompress.