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?

Kiwi and I were just chatting and it dawned on us that we haven’t seen each other since Trials! That is an eternity! Same goes for Carrie! And don’t even get me started on Erika, whom I haven’t seen since we rang in 2008 together! Some of the my other swim friends I last saw in Omaha as well and I miss them all! Twitter and Facebook are great, but I miss my homies!

Back when we first started getting into the sport (post-Athens bitches; we’ve been around a minute, huh?) we were all over the place. We were attending national meets nearly every other month and it was awesome! We were the fan fixtures in the stands learning more about the sport and meeting awesome swim parents at the same time. They simply could not believe we traveled to all of these meets without having a background in swimming ourselves!

Flash back to Summer Nationals in 2006. We spent our final night in Irvine, partying with the Florida Gator swimmers; the Lochtenator included. When some of them found out that we weren’t swimmers ourselves, they thought it was the coolest thing ever! It’s too bad hotel security shut that party down. It was jumpin’! Continue Reading »

No really! You’d be surprised what info gets through on some psych sheets!

I was checking out the competition for this weekend’s Long Beach Grand Prix, which is rockin’ a new main sponsor in Vintage Design Incorporated (instead of Toyota).

Everything seemed normal, including the Lochtenator taking on fiftyeleven events. You know how he do!

Anyway, I noticed an entry by the name of “Miracle Man J Ritter” from Tuscon Ford Aquatics. Miracle Man J is better known as Columbus area native (represent!) Adam Ritter.

I’d love to know the story behind that! But he gets some major keepin’ it real points for entering a meet in this manner. Bad ass, Adam. Bad. Ass.

Check out the proof below the cut… Continue Reading »

And now for the latest news in the “Did You Know” files:

I was watching BET — as “The Handbook” requires me to do as an African-American — Young Jeezy’s verse in Akon’s song, “I’m So Paid”, includes a Phelpsy reference. You know Mike loved that. I’m not going to lie, though. I did roll my eyes. Add in the fact Akon’s voice is equivalent to nails on a chalkboard to me and we have a wonderfully memorable moment…for me to poop on!

On a serious tip, though. It’s great to have a swimmer receive a shout-out in any mainstream song. It’s a big deal. Immortalized in pop culture. Having said that, I would have preferred a Lochtenator shout-out instead. Maybe next time.

Watch the video below. The reference about 2 minutes in.

Because it took me so long to make up my mind if I wanted to go to this meet (I know – what was I thinking?!), I was unable to get deck passes, but it’s okay, because we had some good seats in the stands!

After spending some serious dough at Mall of America and getting through the hell known as Minnesota road construction (seriously, who puts detours IN DETUORS?!?!), we arrived to the meet, just 10 minutes late.  But we still got to see our favorites swim!  We even got in a brief chat with The Lochtenator!  We just reminded him to say the word and we’ll get some Heineken to his house ASAP!

We were supposed to get a snowstorm today, but it never came!  Hopefully it won’t mess up our plans for tomorrow!

Oh, and word to the wise: no grown man in his sane mind would risk jail time to be with a 13-year old.  So doing the “bend and snap” bit is probably not encouraged.  Don’t embarrass yourself anymore.  Kay?  Thanks!

The Lochtenator has been separated from one of his prized possessions. No, not any of his Olympic medals. He’s lost his grill.

Yes, my friends. I’m afraid that it’s true. RyRy hit the town Monday night and somewhere along the way, lost his infamous grill. I can’t say I’m too surprised because aint no party like a Lochte party, cuz a Lochte party don’t stop!

He’ll just replace it. I mean, if he can afford to purchase a Lamborghini or Aston-Martin, I think a replacement grill won’t break the bank. Can’t wait to see if the “top row’s diamond and the bottom row’s gold”.

Now, he lost them after competition closed for pool swimming, so that still doesn’t explain why he didn’t flash them on the medals stand. We’ll have to investimagate once he gets back stateside and things calm down for him. We aren’t even going to try and bother him in the midst of all this Olympic activity and afterglow.

Thanks to Izzy for the head’s up!

Thought we forgot about this, didn’t ya?

Well the Lochtenator has been part of 2 World Record performances whilst over in Beijing. Individually, he rocked it in the 200 back tonight and earlier in the week, as the 2nd leg of the WR-setting men’s 800 Free Relay.

For his efforts, he’s earned himself 5 more cases and a 6-pack of Heineken from us today. That brings his grand total to 9 cases and two 6-packs, which we’ll convert into one 12er. Do we have a total for what we owe him? Nope. Let’s just leave it at “a lot”. I almost wish I hadn’t made that bet with him back in 2005. Who knew he was gonna blow up like this? I’m thinking he did and that was part of his plan alllll along. I’m onto you, Lochtenator! Congrats and call us when you want to redeem any of those cases.

And seriously….WHERE IS THE GRILL?!?! I’m going to be quite upset if I find out someone took (hid?) it from him or told him couldn’t wear it! It’s too classic and deliciously Lochte!

Previous days’ earnings:

I was watching gymnastics, but with the way the judges are hosing the Americans with the scoring, I’ve decided I can’t watch that bullshit anymore.

Shout out to Rebecca Soni for doing the damn thing in the 200 Breast! Holla!