You knew this post was coming, didn’t you? Well, if not, then you must be new to the Swim Aid following!

Now that the major International meet of the year is over, we’re going through a bit of withdrawal already. Yes, the US Open is going on now, but the writing’s on the wall. We’re pretty much not going to have any swimming to follow until October-ish when NCAA season kicks into gear. That’s when we’ll be back to stanning for the Michigan Wolverines, I guess. Different year, same ol’, same ol’.

So, we’re already looking ahead to next summer’s Conoco Phillips Summer Nationals in Irvine, CA. Can anyone say “party”?! Well, we can!

The Swim Aids conquered the 2005 and 2006 Summer Nationals that were held in Irvine and had a blast doing so! Well, except for some unnecessary drama and having to drive on Cali roads (I thought I was going to die). We can’t wait to do it all over again and here’s why:

1. It’s an outdoor meet! Most of us reside in states where meets are contested indoors. So the chance to enjoy swimming outside — and the frolicking that goes along with it — is just wonderful. We don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s that we don’t inhale as much chlorine, but we just enjoy outdoor competitions. We’re more spirited and fun, if you can believe that. Actually, most of us lost our voices cheering during the Irvine ‘06 Nationals.

2. In-N-Out Burger. ‘Nuff said.

3. Hot tub parties! The Swim Aids, for some reason, are obsessed with hotel hot tubs and jacuzzi’s. If our hotel has one, you will find us in it every night. That’s not even an exaggeration.

4. Most of the Swim Aids, if not all, will actually be able to make this meet. Our quality time together has been severely limited in the last 1.5 years. We aim to change that as soon as possible!

5. Tailgate possibilities. We’d like to think we were some of the first people to tailgate at a swim meet. Don’t be surprised if we bring that back next summer. Gotta make sure we get clearance/permits/etc. It’d be fun! Our last (and first) tailgate was a success! We had a pretty nice guest list which included Sir Phelps briefly, Katie Hoff, Kaitlin Sandeno, and Davis Tarwater. Debbie Phelps also stopped by and brought us cookies and balloons; which we later fought over. If we end up pulling off an Irvine tailgate, you won’t want to miss it. Trust us!

6. Post meet after parties. There will be some, and if we don’t have one ourselves, we will be cruising for others. Last time out, we partied with the Florida Gators and the Lochtenator. We owed him some Heineken (and still do), so we were able to get him some after the meet. It was a good time until hotel security shut it down! *shakes fist*

So, clearly we’re already psyched about next year! Show of hands: Who’s in?

It’s still pretty hard for us to believe how our snarky little swim blog has blown up since we created it, but it has.

We constantly have to remind ourselves that there are more people than just us visiting and reading our words.

So, today is the 2nd Birthday of the Swim Aids website. That’s right! We’ve been around for 2 years now! We can hardly believe it! The sport of swimming has a great and loyal fanbase as part of its community and we continue to be amazed by the wonderful people we’ve come into contact with. We hope that never ends! Great people; all of you! So if you see a Swim Aid at a meet, don’t be afraid to come say hello. We love meeting new people!

Thanks to everyone for their support and continuing to visit and contribute. We really do appreciate it and we see you. Here’s to another great year of keepin’ it real!

P.S. There was a special picture we took in our Omaha hotel lobby before I left in the wee hours of the night. It’s very relevant to this post. But I don’t have it. Kiwi does. So if you want to see it, she has to add it. I’m not sure I’d hold my breath if I were y’all

**Pictures**

Made of toothpicks and candy stolen from the hotel restaurant. We are creative like that!

All of us in the hotel lobby at 4am.

Looks like my 15 minutes is starting!

This is mostly for the visitors who don’t know what’s up. You’ll all be that much more informed and well-versed on what I do and who I am. That way you don’t register to comment and say things that piss me off. You don’t want to see me mad. Trust.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

I thought I’d add a little wintery effect to our home on the interweb. Mostly because of how the warm weather Swim Aids always claim they want snow. (They don’t. They don’t realize you have to drive in it.) So here is their snow. It’s much better this way. Trust me.

Anyway, sorry we are boring again. Lots of training trips about to kick into gear, so not a lot of news.

A few of us will be congregating in H-Town for NYE, so that should be crazy. Don’t expect us to post much evidence of our shenanigans on here. Could be very incriminating. And we don’t need that, do we?

College football bowl season is upon us. So, that’s what’s been occupying most of my freetime. I’m not going to lie.

In other news, our fave CW duo is doing a clinic together today in Virginia. Oh, to be a fly on the wall…

From EmmyMik’s Flickr photostream

It was recently brought to my attention that there was a male swimmer, at Nationals, who was rocking the most amazing and amusing swim cap ever.

I still don’t really remember this, but I won’t say why. That’s none of y’alls business! What happens in the stands during swim trips, stays in the stands!

Anyway, our very own Erika went and found a picture in the hopes that it would jog my memory. It really didn’t. Apparently, we all thought it was the funniest thing we’d ever seen! I’m told we went so far as to figure out said swimmer’s identity (no, we don’t remember anymore), and plotted to create a website for him just because he wore that awesome swim cap. We’ve created website for swimmers for even more bizarre reasons than that. Trust me.

I wish I was kidding with this story, but I’m not. I told y’all we were crazy. Maybe now you’ll believe me!

Anyway, Erika has dubbed this fine young lad her “boyfriend” and thought everyone would enjoy a laugh at our expense, because really, that what’s we’re here for!

You love us. Don’t even front.

FREEDOM!!!

It was a year ago that the Swim Aids were emancipated from evil. And that’s pretty much all we have to say about that. The Swim Aids know what this post signifies. Here’s to many more drama free years girls!

Score another accurate prediction for the Swim Aids!

Speedo sent this over today, so we thought we’d post and share with the world!

SPEEDO®, the top-selling swimwear brand in the world, today announced a four-year contract with 22-year-old sprint star Ben Wildman-Tobriner. Earlier this year, Wildman-Tobriner burst onto the international scene swimming a 21.88 in the 50m free to win gold and his first-ever world title at the 12th FINA World Championships in Melbourne in March. In August, Wildman-Tobriner improved upon that time winning the U.S. National Title in the 50m free with a time of 21.80, just missing the American Record by four-one-hundredths of a second. The agreement, which runs through 2010, is designed to help Wildman-Tobriner reach his goals in the water while also supporting his charitable efforts.

Wildman-Tobriner decided to postpone medical school and turn pro following an accomplished collegiate swim career at Stanford University, where he graduated with a degree in biomechanical engineering. At the 2007 NCAA Swimming Championships in Minneapolis, just two weeks before Melbourne, Wildman-Tobriner set a new American Record in the 50 yard free with a time of 18.87. He is aiming to make his first-ever Olympic team in 2008 and will enter next summer’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials as a favorite in the hotly contested 50m free.

Wildman-Tobriner is represented by David Arluck, President and CEO of Arluck Promotions Inc.; the company also represents veteran sprint star and fellow Team SPEEDO® member Gary Hall Jr.
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