My Art Project

Every year the swim team does a swim-a-thon. It is the only fundraiser that the team does and it is a big event. The swimmers get pledges and then they swim 200 laps (5,000 yards) in 2 hours. I think it's a great event and as a coach, I completely support it. BUT, every year the committee comes up with something that they just expect the coaches to do to help out with the swim-a-thon. This is the part of the swim-a-thon that I am not a big fan of. Last year they decided that the top earner for each week would get to push their coach in to the pool. There are very few things that I hate more than being wet in my clothes. It is such an incredibly uncomfortable feeling. I never go on the water rides at amusement parks (minus one time when Camille talked me into going on one and it only confirmed my dislike for those rides, but that's another story). Anyway, I was luckily able to get out of this pushing in the pool because I was pregnant. (I even told them this year that if they were going to do that again that I would be tempted to get pregnant again just to get out of it.) They have also included us in the prizes and some of the swimmers can win an "opportunity" to go to dinner and a movie with their coach. So last year I went to dinner with a group of 10 year old girls, but again because I was pregnant I got out of going to see "G-Force" with them.

So this year as part of the swim-a-thon they are doing an auction to earn additional money. I found out that they want the coaches to contribute an "original work of art" to be auctioned off. The problem is, I don't draw. I have no artistic talent at all. None. Seriously, just ask Andrew. He asks me to draw him pictures just so he can have a good laugh. I tried to tell the other coaches this and they said "it doesn't have to be good, it's just something fun." Well, I basically decided if I ignored the situation then it would just go away. But this Monday at our coaches meeting Jeff asked us if we all had our art projects done for Friday. Once again I tried to get out of it. They told me that I didn't have to draw something but that I could put a picture in a frame. They suggested a picture that I have taken at a swim meet (I haven't taken any), or a picture of me when I was a swimmer (uh ... no) or even that I just print off a bunch of quotes and put them in a frame (lame). I tried to convince them that baking was a form of art and that I would be happy to bake a really yummy cake or some delicious cookies or something else. But they said that baking did not count. Now honestly, you tell me, would people rather spend money on a plate of cookies or a picture of me when I was 8 years old at a swim meet. Seriously.

Well I decided to just do whatever I wanted, not ask permission, and just show up with what I have. If they don't like it then ... oh well.

So here are my "art projects:"

A pair of Rose Bowl Spirit hair clips.

And a Rose Bowl Spirit Tutu. The tutu is actually made for a small girl, but I thought I would try it on anyway.

But then I decided I should find a better model.
(Just don't tell Andrew)

Well we will see how things turn out today. Hopefully it's a success! Go Rose Bowl!