the wetsuit.

I got stuck in my wet suit today. Really, I thought I was going to have to drive home in it from the beach. Here's the background to the story.

Being new still in a new city, I have realized that I do a great job of hanging out at home because I am alone ALL the time...and therefore I am not getting out. I have a job that is easily one that I put in over 60 hours a week into. I do work things all the time...at home, in the office, on retreats. You get the idea. Because of this problem, I am starting to force myself to take care of myself (another thing I suck at), and do something fun for myself everyday. Really, this is a hard thing for me to do...especially when this means that I am doing something fun for myself all by myself for 90% of the time because it is hard meeting new people. (i hate not living in community, can you tell?).

So, today, I told myself that before we leave for the Sr. High retreat this afternoon, I had to do something outside. So, I decided to grab my surf board and go paddle. (again, in my mind, it is much easier to do this with a friend than by myself...) About a month ago I was in Santa Cruz and the guys I was with convinced me that I should get a wetsuit. We were at the hotline outlet and they had a great wetsuit that fit perfect for me. It was on sale from over $350 down to just $100 because it was a few seasons old. I went for it and bought it. While we were in Santa Cruz, we surfed (again, Lisa paddles, not surfs) out on Steamers Lane. I had to have the guys help me get out of the suit because the suit isn't a zipper suit. You get in and out of the suit through the neck hole. Well, the second time I wore it, I also had someone there to help me get my initial elbow out of the wetsuit.

Today, I was by myself. I had 2 choices. Not wear the wetsuit and freeze my butt off in the water, or to wear the wetsuit and hope to high heavens that I could get it off. I went with the second choice. The water was good. I am super glad I have a wetsuit...I think that it will give me warmth for most of the winter season. I had a great conversation with God, and then headed back in to shore.

Now was the problem. I seriously couldn't get out of my suit. I could get my shoulder out...but I couldn't get it down enough to get my elbow out. I was thinking about where I could drive and have one of my friends help me get out of the suit...all I came up with was our secretaries at church. Gosh. So, for ten more minutes I squirmed, tried rolling, and FINALLY I got my elbow out. I am sure the guys watering the lawn at the 5 star Biltmore Hotel across the street had a great laugh at my entertainment for the morning.

The things you do in life for trying to take care of yourself.