I admit it. I obsess about things. And one thing I've been obsessing about ever since we signed the contract in July and they started digging the hole (apparently our backyard is a quarry ... who knew?) is our new swimming pool.

It's done! They finished it in mid-October...just in time for the weather to change. And, not withstanding the dips into the 40s (or lower), can I just say that I AM SO LOVING IT!

Here's a picture (not a great pic, but a pic none the less):



Ah, it's sooooo glorious.

But I confess to being a little antsy.

Because of plaster curing issues, we couldn't turn the heater on for 28 loooooong days. No problem. It was still warm (this is Central Texas, remember? Real Winter is one weekend in February). I swam 3 days in a row, the water a brisk 75, which was okay once you got moving, but not okay when C wanted to join me and, thus, I couldn't move as much. Bless her little heart, even cold, she didn't want to get out! Chocolate and bribery were involved.

Then we had the cold snap. Got into the low 30s. And the pool dropped to 68. Brrrrr.

I quit swimming. Until ... I remembered I used to SCUBA dive in California, and still had the equipment, including a thin wetsuit. And, b/c I'm bizarre, I tested it out and ... voila! ... three more days of swimming laps (in the meantime, bought a solar blanket for the pool and the temperature ecked up to about 73).

And then came the glorious, glorious Day O' The Heater.

The ambient air was in the 80s and the pool was 80 as well (kicked up to 82, and then 84 once the temp did another nose dive). Oh, happy day! I was (am) in heaven. And the temp is cold now. Which I figure is good b/c it keeps me in the 80ish water that much longer.

And, b/c I get bored swimming laps, I have discovered the MOST indispensible piece of equipment (even more than my prescrip goggles so the world is not a gray blur): A waterproof MP3 player. I've listened to Spamalot, Evita and Chess so far. I'm behind on my musicals, so I'm all ears for suggestions.

And the really, really cool thing? Already my jeans are fitting looser.

Pools, ya gotta love them.

(Oh, and in case you're wondering about the title of this post:
Fishies -- self explanatory
Spiders -- the poor Tarantulas seem attracted to the pool. I find many drowned spiders. I like the little guys. It's sad.
Phantoms -- the gizmo that sucks up the BILLIONS of leaves from our oaks and cedar elms. I'm naming it Fred. It is my good friend)

Ta ta!