In an effort to be more healthy this year, I’ve started going back to the YMCA this week (tried last week, but just too much stuff going on). Rather than just swimming, this week, I’ve gone downstairs and walked on the treadmill for at least one mile (about 20 minutes) before hitting the pool. While walking, I have my CD player and have been listening to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on CD, simply because I don’t have a lot of books on CD and it seemed like the one most likely to keep my interest without worrying about losing my place when I stop.

Yesterday, when I got into the pool, I tried to focus my thoughts on the comments I’ve received on how to make Happy Endings, Inc. a stronger book, especially the issue of introducing a character in Chapter One who never shows up again.

I swam up and down the length of the pool, with only the white-noise of other people swimming surrounding me, regulating my breathing, relaxing into the pattern of strokes and kicks. What could I do to explore Anne’s personality without introducing an unnecessary character?

What if I…

Or what if…

Or—Yeah, that might work!

I think at one point, when I stopped after reaching the end of the pool and stood there with my hands pressed to my mouth for a few moments, the lifeguard got a little worried, because he stopped his laps (walking around the perimeter of the pool) and headed toward me. I then spent the next fifteen minutes working it all out in my head as I did my cool down laps and then my “walking through water” laps before heading for the showers.

I haven’t committed it to paper yet, but I’m pretty sure it will work and I look forward to spending a lot of time on it this weekend!

I guess exercise really is good for you!