Uh oh, I think I need to call myself out here: I supsect that I am swim snob.
Here’s how the whole sordid suspicion unraveled:
While sick and wallowing at home this past January, I totally got sucked into The Bachelor. After getting pass the initial “I need brainless entertainment” attraction, I got hooked on the show’s “so bad it’s good” quality. Since then, Barkley and I have been making the show an event — switching houses per week for food, T.V. entertainment, and of course much show-discussion.
Neither of us is an actual fan of the bachelor; he’s kind of dull. In fact, as the episodes have progressed, even his one seemingly unfailing appealing trait, his boyish good looks, has paled as we have seen more of (lack of?) his personality.
But last night* even physical charm couldn’t save him while we both watched in disgust as he “dove” into the ocean off a pirate ship. The dive was totally whimpy — goofy guppy-learn-to-swim “must lock arms over my head before I enter the water” position, arched back, splashy. I laughed out loud, Barkley snorted.
The swimming that followed was worse — that “breathe-one sort of awkward whole-body underwater breaststroke-breathe-and-repeat” approach. And yes, the bachelorettes “swam” that way too. (One sidebar: What’s up with Vienna’s bikini? She’s a Florida coastal native and yet she can’t nail the ultra-hip well-fitting suit thing?!?)
I’m not sure how deep my swim snobbery runs. I’m not sure I want to investigate it beyond today’s observation because it’s not an attractive character trait. One that is totally contrary to my self-proclaimed “swim evangelism.” And it worries me that I can immediately think of another swim-snobbery red flag — my penchant for using the term “tri-geek.” Uh oh…
Until next time,
Rebecca, swim evangelist (or closet swim-snob?)
*Fear Not: Olympics trump all — we only watched The Bachelor during Olympic coverage commercial breaks.