No I'm NOT going to discuss the top 10 "ab" moves for a flatter belly in just 1 week, although 'tis the season. Core values go much, much deeper than that.
Do you know what the four "core values" are for the YMCA??? I'll give you a minute to think about it.
Give up??? If you go to the Y on the web because you feel the need to cheat before moving on in today's quiz, or you just can't remember all of those important core values that we should, as members, live by, you will note they are NOT high up and easy to find on the site, so I'll give you a few hints instead. Ready???
(1) CAR. If you tailgate someone for several miles with your giant headlights blazing into the other driver's rearview you are a bully. Instead of being kind and _________ you are driving like an obnoxious tit. The mistake is doing this early in the morning only to discover you are tailgating someone who is ALSO going to the Y. I called you on it, Boob Job, and believe me, you don't get your pool name for nothing.
(2) HON. When you want to appease another member and make them feel safe and welcome you radiate love and a sense of _____________. Otherwise you call them an f*(%$in' bitch and walk off. This is what Boob Job called me in return for me thoughtfully defining her driving style for her as we entered the Y on Black Friday morning. This, instead of apologizing and telling me what a rotten day she was having and admitting that despite appearances she can be a real tit. Not that I would have given a shit if she were having a bad morning, but seeing as my heart was racing from being freaked out from being tailgated (remembering, too, that I'm a bit antsy these days as I was just in a car accident last weekend) I would have at least just shunned her for awhile and we'd be even. Maybe you all can help me with that.
(3) SPEC. Everyone has the same right to the road and to work out without feeling threatened. If you treat everyone else like garbage instead of with _________ you are probably conceited, but who am I to judge. Some people really put the tit in attitude, if you know what I mean.
(4) LIT. This is the last core value - it might be a little harder to guess. If you are hot headed and you don't need to be lit to say it like it is I suggest maybe you need a little Valium to help get you through your day. If you make a mistake, no matter if it is at home, on the job, or in the lobby of the Y it is important that you take ______________ (HINT: this is not another word for Valium).
I don't know what it is about some people. I know, I CAN be a bitch, and I sometimes drive too fast, and I have been known to pick on more than a few who had it coming, and for all that I'm sorry - I accept responsibility for my actions and will do my best to make up for it by making everyone laugh if I can. Now, down and do 20 situps, 10 leg lifts, 3 miles on the dreadmill and give a word of thanks for all we have to be grateful for, including the amazing ability to gain three more pounds in four days and work out our aggressions by just working out. Life is good.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Surprise!
Life is full of surprises. Most of them I can do without.
SURPRISE! The Women's Locker Room is closed AGAIN for what must be the 100th time this month. For "Maintenance". What the f*%# is being fixed in there between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00a.m.??? Without my daily weigh-in I've successfully gained 3 pounds. SURPRISE! And this just before the holidays. Time again for the handy Thumbs Down.
SURPRISE! My hands got tangled up in some pool debris last week that can only be described as part hairball and part dead mouse with a dash of boogers. YUK YUK YUK. Lately it seems we have had a Band-Aid issue in the pool. Some of us must be drinking heavily and suffering mild to moderate wounds as a result (also known as UPI's - Unidentified Party Injuries), trying to disguise them with Band-Aids which almost immediately float off once we descend our chlorinated world. Cookie asked for a glove to retrieve one gross uckie last week. She's my November hero.
SURPRISE! It's "Member Appreciation Day" (November 15th) and again I did NOT win the big basket with all the foodie goodies in it. What a surprise.
SURPRISE! I did something bad to my middle toe trying to exit the whirlpool on Sunday morning last week and it was badly bruised and really swollen but not broken, thankfully, but what a setback - one week without being able to run has been a total drag. Even worse, no high heels for a week, but I've worked through this issue okay, thanks for your concern with regard to What Not To Wear.
SURPRISE! I went to Empire Wine today with my husband to stock up for the Thanksgiving holiday, along with half of the city. Just a quick trip. RIGHT. Until I got sideswiped just past the entrance to Home Depot on Washington Avenue on my way home. I didn't see it coming. Adrenaline Rush. Thankfully no one was hurt, which is a good thing. The JERK who was speeding and cut in too fast and almost forced me into the left lane admitted right off that he was at fault. Please note he was not an ASSHOLE about it - he did stick around until the Polizia finally showed up. But I'm vain about my car and since it's a short work week it's not very likely I'll get it fixed right away. And I got home OK the car is at least driveable AND I have lots of wine. Thank you God.
SURPRISE! KToo turned 50 on Friday. Blue Towel and I blew up 10 black balloons and put them in her lane in the pool while she was doing laps, and she left them all there, which was wonderful and very funny and everyone on the pool was smiling. We sang "Happy Birthday" for her in the CHILDRENS LOCKER ROOM (is that ironic?) and she got a $50 gift from all of us at The Hidden Cafe and the best part was she didn't see it coming. Getting old isn't nearly as bad as the guy that showed up during the balloon event wearing a spido that barely covered his pubies.
SURPRISE! I had total garlic breath on Friday morning from eating at The Hidden Cafe on Thursday night when I went to get KToo's gift. I hope she doesn't pop any of them. They are garlic balloons, potentially very deadly.
SURPRISE! The Women's Locker Room is closed AGAIN for what must be the 100th time this month. For "Maintenance". What the f*%# is being fixed in there between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00a.m.??? Without my daily weigh-in I've successfully gained 3 pounds. SURPRISE! And this just before the holidays. Time again for the handy Thumbs Down.
SURPRISE! My hands got tangled up in some pool debris last week that can only be described as part hairball and part dead mouse with a dash of boogers. YUK YUK YUK. Lately it seems we have had a Band-Aid issue in the pool. Some of us must be drinking heavily and suffering mild to moderate wounds as a result (also known as UPI's - Unidentified Party Injuries), trying to disguise them with Band-Aids which almost immediately float off once we descend our chlorinated world. Cookie asked for a glove to retrieve one gross uckie last week. She's my November hero.
SURPRISE! It's "Member Appreciation Day" (November 15th) and again I did NOT win the big basket with all the foodie goodies in it. What a surprise.
SURPRISE! I did something bad to my middle toe trying to exit the whirlpool on Sunday morning last week and it was badly bruised and really swollen but not broken, thankfully, but what a setback - one week without being able to run has been a total drag. Even worse, no high heels for a week, but I've worked through this issue okay, thanks for your concern with regard to What Not To Wear.
SURPRISE! I went to Empire Wine today with my husband to stock up for the Thanksgiving holiday, along with half of the city. Just a quick trip. RIGHT. Until I got sideswiped just past the entrance to Home Depot on Washington Avenue on my way home. I didn't see it coming. Adrenaline Rush. Thankfully no one was hurt, which is a good thing. The JERK who was speeding and cut in too fast and almost forced me into the left lane admitted right off that he was at fault. Please note he was not an ASSHOLE about it - he did stick around until the Polizia finally showed up. But I'm vain about my car and since it's a short work week it's not very likely I'll get it fixed right away. And I got home OK the car is at least driveable AND I have lots of wine. Thank you God.
SURPRISE! KToo turned 50 on Friday. Blue Towel and I blew up 10 black balloons and put them in her lane in the pool while she was doing laps, and she left them all there, which was wonderful and very funny and everyone on the pool was smiling. We sang "Happy Birthday" for her in the CHILDRENS LOCKER ROOM (is that ironic?) and she got a $50 gift from all of us at The Hidden Cafe and the best part was she didn't see it coming. Getting old isn't nearly as bad as the guy that showed up during the balloon event wearing a spido that barely covered his pubies.
SURPRISE! I had total garlic breath on Friday morning from eating at The Hidden Cafe on Thursday night when I went to get KToo's gift. I hope she doesn't pop any of them. They are garlic balloons, potentially very deadly.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Getting Fitted
Throwing a fit is NOT the same as getting fit. Trust me on this. The dude that freaked out in a Gold's Gym earlier this week didn't get this salient point and died as a result.
There is a chance that "performance enhancers" (not to be confused with the other type, so popular with daytime TV ads) and "cocaine" (not to be confused with Diet Coke with Lime) had something to do with this young man's rage. Or it could simply be that another member PISSED HIM OFF. Please - I love you guys, so I want to recommend that if you see anyone that is probably NOT a zombie, has red eyes rolling around in his or her head, weighs over 200 pounds and has giant muscles, that you be nice. On the other hand, if they are small, think they're fit, piss you off just because they can, and are obviously an ASSHOLE (and/or you are menapausal and potentially dangerous), that you let me know. I'll be happy to take them down a notch using my trusty Miss Kitty Taser.
Also, I want to recommend wearing a swim suit that fits. Right now mine is so tight that I have to pull the back down over the bottom of my butt about 20 times per swim to cover that little piece that wants to hang out from under my suit (however, I know in a few weeks my bathing suit will start to dissolve and actually fit, so please ignore me). JOJ has a suit that only fits if he pulls it under his armpits. LCD (Little Chinese Dude) has a suit that threatens to get pulled off with the surf. Lover Boy looks good in his spido. He looks fit AND his suit fits. Point made.
Also also, what you wear when you work out is VERY likely to get you a "pool name" that you won't be happy with. For example, let's make fun of Mr. Glad, the man with the white hair who ALWAYS wears a white turtleneck on his long walk almost every goddamn day on the dreadmill and does nothing else besides (if you remember, assuming you are over 50, the Man From Glad is an older gentleman with white hair and is always dressed in a white suit). He had a fit this week, according to my sources, because the TV on "his" dreadmill wasn't working (much like many of the others). Of course using a different piece of equipment was not an option. Freakin' out was. A worthy adversary for sure during our morning commute - he no doubt screams and shouts at other cars and likes to cut people off in traffic, but this at least I can understand.
Get Fit in 2012. Or just get fitted into something that fits. Just don't have a fit. It might save your life.
There is a chance that "performance enhancers" (not to be confused with the other type, so popular with daytime TV ads) and "cocaine" (not to be confused with Diet Coke with Lime) had something to do with this young man's rage. Or it could simply be that another member PISSED HIM OFF. Please - I love you guys, so I want to recommend that if you see anyone that is probably NOT a zombie, has red eyes rolling around in his or her head, weighs over 200 pounds and has giant muscles, that you be nice. On the other hand, if they are small, think they're fit, piss you off just because they can, and are obviously an ASSHOLE (and/or you are menapausal and potentially dangerous), that you let me know. I'll be happy to take them down a notch using my trusty Miss Kitty Taser.
Also, I want to recommend wearing a swim suit that fits. Right now mine is so tight that I have to pull the back down over the bottom of my butt about 20 times per swim to cover that little piece that wants to hang out from under my suit (however, I know in a few weeks my bathing suit will start to dissolve and actually fit, so please ignore me). JOJ has a suit that only fits if he pulls it under his armpits. LCD (Little Chinese Dude) has a suit that threatens to get pulled off with the surf. Lover Boy looks good in his spido. He looks fit AND his suit fits. Point made.
Also also, what you wear when you work out is VERY likely to get you a "pool name" that you won't be happy with. For example, let's make fun of Mr. Glad, the man with the white hair who ALWAYS wears a white turtleneck on his long walk almost every goddamn day on the dreadmill and does nothing else besides (if you remember, assuming you are over 50, the Man From Glad is an older gentleman with white hair and is always dressed in a white suit). He had a fit this week, according to my sources, because the TV on "his" dreadmill wasn't working (much like many of the others). Of course using a different piece of equipment was not an option. Freakin' out was. A worthy adversary for sure during our morning commute - he no doubt screams and shouts at other cars and likes to cut people off in traffic, but this at least I can understand.
Get Fit in 2012. Or just get fitted into something that fits. Just don't have a fit. It might save your life.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Power
The power went out in the Fitness Center for no apparent reason whatsoever last Sunday morning at precisely 7:50 a.m. Wonder Woman, being more alert than most early in the day, quickly used the handy "thumbs down" - actually "two thumbs down" - to signal that the Y really sucks. I'm glad it came in useful.
The curious thing was that the ellipticals and two of the bikes were still working. I commented to WW that all this time when she thought she was running on the machine it was actually running her. Very creepy, but we did learn something: some of the machines run on the power that we, as Gym Junkies, generate using our own - get this - ENERGY. Either that or WW et al have supernatural powers, which is very possible (my powers of deduction only from watching her swim).
These powers will come in particularly useful tomorrow, as it is All Hallows Eve and, as usual, the effin' kids will be going door to door begging for candy, which we give them hoping they will go away and not Charmin or egg the front yard.
But the Y doesn't always suck. The guy that was working last Sunday morning actually let me keep going on the spin bike until I was done, which was really nice of him (plus he was cute - very powerful combo). Anyway, it was light enough in the front of the room that he figured I was safe as long as I didn't run with scissors or try to lift weights in the dark (not that there's anything to see). After about 20 minutes get this: I was the ONLY ONE THERE. For all the years I've dreamt of having the whole place to myself I did, and you know what? It was CREEPY. Just as I was ready to leave , noting from the time that it was still 7:50 a.m. so time must have stopped and everyone in the world had gone up to heaven except for me, the lights came back on and "members" starting drifting in and everyone acted like nothing had happened. I'm gonna keep an eye on the zombies for a few more days until I figure I can trust everyone again.
Speaking of zombies: I have it on good authority that they can PRO-CREATE, and I'm guessing that means eating extra brains, so if you normally carry an extra around with you in your oversize gym bag you might want to keep it locked up until we know the extent of the problem. This is how I know: Poison Ivy has a granddaughter, not that we care, but I'm glad she told everyone so now we know that even the babies can be dangerous, FYI. Please be careful of small children dressed innocently as Tootsie Rolls on 10/31.
We had snow last night - a powerful storm swept up the east coast and wiped out power for lots of folks but we did fine in this area, at least for all I know. So with power we can vacuum. It must be Sunday.
The curious thing was that the ellipticals and two of the bikes were still working. I commented to WW that all this time when she thought she was running on the machine it was actually running her. Very creepy, but we did learn something: some of the machines run on the power that we, as Gym Junkies, generate using our own - get this - ENERGY. Either that or WW et al have supernatural powers, which is very possible (my powers of deduction only from watching her swim).
These powers will come in particularly useful tomorrow, as it is All Hallows Eve and, as usual, the effin' kids will be going door to door begging for candy, which we give them hoping they will go away and not Charmin or egg the front yard.
But the Y doesn't always suck. The guy that was working last Sunday morning actually let me keep going on the spin bike until I was done, which was really nice of him (plus he was cute - very powerful combo). Anyway, it was light enough in the front of the room that he figured I was safe as long as I didn't run with scissors or try to lift weights in the dark (not that there's anything to see). After about 20 minutes get this: I was the ONLY ONE THERE. For all the years I've dreamt of having the whole place to myself I did, and you know what? It was CREEPY. Just as I was ready to leave , noting from the time that it was still 7:50 a.m. so time must have stopped and everyone in the world had gone up to heaven except for me, the lights came back on and "members" starting drifting in and everyone acted like nothing had happened. I'm gonna keep an eye on the zombies for a few more days until I figure I can trust everyone again.
Speaking of zombies: I have it on good authority that they can PRO-CREATE, and I'm guessing that means eating extra brains, so if you normally carry an extra around with you in your oversize gym bag you might want to keep it locked up until we know the extent of the problem. This is how I know: Poison Ivy has a granddaughter, not that we care, but I'm glad she told everyone so now we know that even the babies can be dangerous, FYI. Please be careful of small children dressed innocently as Tootsie Rolls on 10/31.
We had snow last night - a powerful storm swept up the east coast and wiped out power for lots of folks but we did fine in this area, at least for all I know. So with power we can vacuum. It must be Sunday.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Useful Hand Gestures
Since we all seem to have earplugs in when we're swimmin', or have the music blaring from our I-devices in the Fitness Center and can't figure out how to turn it off, or we've got something to say that we shouldn't say out loud, many of us resort to hand gestures. Here is an assortment, with explanations of their meaning, that I think you will find very useful.
There's the thumbs up, which means "right on, toots" or something like that. VERY useful when you're in a good mood. The thumbs down is often associated with negative sentiments, such as "the Y sucks", which it sometimes does, that's Y I'm there every day. Every time I see that the Women's Locker Room is "CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE" I use the handy thumbs down. I'm always curious when they reopen what exactly it was that was "maintained" but apparently it is not yet the rusty lockers, half of which don't open and close right, but I'm hopeful.
OK: This is a very easy gesture made by simply connecting the thumb and forefinger in a circle and holding the other fingers out straight. Or it can mean Asshole if you're from South America (which is America only South) so use this cautiously knowing we must all be culturally respectful. However, only you need to know what it is you're trying to say.
If someone holds their hand out to you with the index and middle finger upright and parted with the rest of the fingers folded up, palm facing outward, what does it mean??? CORRECT: Once upon a time, far far away it meant VICTORY. It was VERY cool. In the 1960s it meant PEACE. It was even cooler.
Turn the clock ahead 50 years. It's 5:30 a.m. sometime in October 2011 and you're at the Y. What does the gesture mean today when Guitar Man greets you at the mats???
YES! It means "WELCOME TO THE Y!" So the next time someone makes this gesture at you say "WELCOME" back at them. Smile big. Hugs optional. It can also mean "THROW YOUR ARMS IN THE AIR!" So the next time someone makes this gesture at you THROW YOUR ARMS IN THE AIR AND CHEER. A good yell is a great release and part of a balanced breakfast. It will also serve the freak them out for at least a month or two so you can get on with your workout and have one less person to annoy you.
There are others that I hope you will also find very useful (you can print this blog for future reference):
Blah blah blah: The fingers are kept straight and together snapped against the thumb repeatedly to imitate a mouth that just wont' shut up. If you get caught making this gesture behind J.O.J.'s back quickly curl up the index finger and make shadow puppets of a puppy on the back wall.
Loser: This hand gesture is made by extending the thumb and forefinger to resemble the letter L, but if you use your left hand instead of your right because you are lifting weights with your right it could be misinterpreted as "One moment please", so your fellow member may wait for you to finish your set instead of going away quietly.
The finger: I don't need to explain this one to you. If you raise both middle fingers at someone it's THE NUMBER ELEVEN. That's more than giving someone a TEN. Good luck with that one. Try not to get caught.
One day soon we'll discuss the meaning of air kisses.
There's the thumbs up, which means "right on, toots" or something like that. VERY useful when you're in a good mood. The thumbs down is often associated with negative sentiments, such as "the Y sucks", which it sometimes does, that's Y I'm there every day. Every time I see that the Women's Locker Room is "CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE" I use the handy thumbs down. I'm always curious when they reopen what exactly it was that was "maintained" but apparently it is not yet the rusty lockers, half of which don't open and close right, but I'm hopeful.
OK: This is a very easy gesture made by simply connecting the thumb and forefinger in a circle and holding the other fingers out straight. Or it can mean Asshole if you're from South America (which is America only South) so use this cautiously knowing we must all be culturally respectful. However, only you need to know what it is you're trying to say.
If someone holds their hand out to you with the index and middle finger upright and parted with the rest of the fingers folded up, palm facing outward, what does it mean??? CORRECT: Once upon a time, far far away it meant VICTORY. It was VERY cool. In the 1960s it meant PEACE. It was even cooler.
Turn the clock ahead 50 years. It's 5:30 a.m. sometime in October 2011 and you're at the Y. What does the gesture mean today when Guitar Man greets you at the mats???
YES! It means "WELCOME TO THE Y!" So the next time someone makes this gesture at you say "WELCOME" back at them. Smile big. Hugs optional. It can also mean "THROW YOUR ARMS IN THE AIR!" So the next time someone makes this gesture at you THROW YOUR ARMS IN THE AIR AND CHEER. A good yell is a great release and part of a balanced breakfast. It will also serve the freak them out for at least a month or two so you can get on with your workout and have one less person to annoy you.
There are others that I hope you will also find very useful (you can print this blog for future reference):
Blah blah blah: The fingers are kept straight and together snapped against the thumb repeatedly to imitate a mouth that just wont' shut up. If you get caught making this gesture behind J.O.J.'s back quickly curl up the index finger and make shadow puppets of a puppy on the back wall.
Loser: This hand gesture is made by extending the thumb and forefinger to resemble the letter L, but if you use your left hand instead of your right because you are lifting weights with your right it could be misinterpreted as "One moment please", so your fellow member may wait for you to finish your set instead of going away quietly.
The finger: I don't need to explain this one to you. If you raise both middle fingers at someone it's THE NUMBER ELEVEN. That's more than giving someone a TEN. Good luck with that one. Try not to get caught.
One day soon we'll discuss the meaning of air kisses.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Stating the Obvious
There's a little sign in the dry sauna that is full of good advice, like "Staying too long in a heated area is capable of causing overheating". Duh.
In stating the obvious there are lots of things that come to mind that are almost as useless as our little sign. Allow me to share a few:
No one under 18 is allowed in the adult locker rooms. This includes 4 year old boys in the WOMENS when I am naked. Really, I don't want to scare the little guy.
Cell phone use in the lobby only. This also includes hand held mobile devices. We are not all that interested in your critically important grocery list.
Lost and found items only $1.00 each. If it was yours to begin with tough shit.
Members and Guests Only. If you forgot your card step aside and go to the end of the line. I'm in a big hurry to work out.
NO Underwater Training. If I dive into the pool am I breaking the rules if I go under the surface? What IS underwater training, anyway???
"Wipe down machines after use". This means with a paper towel and disinfectant, not your sweaty towel.
Please shower after using one of our (heated - sauna/steam room) facilities before using the pools. SHOWER. PLEASE. You are sweaty and disgusting. SHOWER PLEASE. NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! (one lady still isn't talking to me when I called her on it a few months ago - I don't get the name S.L.B. for nothing you know....)
I have a few suggestions for signs at the Y, but these should be obvious:
NO DRIVING DIAGONALLY AT HIGH SPEED THROUGH THE PARKING LOT
NO HEAVY PERFUME IN THE FITNESS CENTER
NO AFTERSHAVE USE BEFORE SWIMMING
NO FAT BOYS IN SPEEDOS
CLEAN UP YOUR HAIR IN THE SHOWERS
CLEAN UP YOUR MAKEUP NEAR THE SINKS, and
NO FARTING ON THE TREADMILLS
The world is way too full of rules, and as you might have guessed I can do a pretty good job of breaking them. The trick is not to get caught. That and staying alive, I guess. Anyway, there's a reason I don't stay in the sauna too long: after 2 miles in the pool, and 15 minutes in the hot tub, I need to pee, and I don't need a sign that says NOT TO PEE in the pool (even though there is a rule for that, FYI).
In stating the obvious there are lots of things that come to mind that are almost as useless as our little sign. Allow me to share a few:
No one under 18 is allowed in the adult locker rooms. This includes 4 year old boys in the WOMENS when I am naked. Really, I don't want to scare the little guy.
Cell phone use in the lobby only. This also includes hand held mobile devices. We are not all that interested in your critically important grocery list.
Lost and found items only $1.00 each. If it was yours to begin with tough shit.
Members and Guests Only. If you forgot your card step aside and go to the end of the line. I'm in a big hurry to work out.
NO Underwater Training. If I dive into the pool am I breaking the rules if I go under the surface? What IS underwater training, anyway???
"Wipe down machines after use". This means with a paper towel and disinfectant, not your sweaty towel.
Please shower after using one of our (heated - sauna/steam room) facilities before using the pools. SHOWER. PLEASE. You are sweaty and disgusting. SHOWER PLEASE. NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! (one lady still isn't talking to me when I called her on it a few months ago - I don't get the name S.L.B. for nothing you know....)
I have a few suggestions for signs at the Y, but these should be obvious:
NO DRIVING DIAGONALLY AT HIGH SPEED THROUGH THE PARKING LOT
NO HEAVY PERFUME IN THE FITNESS CENTER
NO AFTERSHAVE USE BEFORE SWIMMING
NO FAT BOYS IN SPEEDOS
CLEAN UP YOUR HAIR IN THE SHOWERS
CLEAN UP YOUR MAKEUP NEAR THE SINKS, and
NO FARTING ON THE TREADMILLS
The world is way too full of rules, and as you might have guessed I can do a pretty good job of breaking them. The trick is not to get caught. That and staying alive, I guess. Anyway, there's a reason I don't stay in the sauna too long: after 2 miles in the pool, and 15 minutes in the hot tub, I need to pee, and I don't need a sign that says NOT TO PEE in the pool (even though there is a rule for that, FYI).
Monday, October 10, 2011
Hot and Cold
Some like it hot, some like it cold. Me? I want it perfect.
At my age, or thereabouts, a long drive alone with the temperature controls is a wonderful thing. On Wednesday I went to Ithaca in a Toyota Yaris that only had 6 miles on it when I got in. Cool. As I head out into the October afternoon I'm cold, so I crank the heat. Then the sun comes around and I turn on the AC. Then I have a hot flash and I crank the cold air for as long as it takes to get cold again. Then I open the windows to warm up. Repeat for three hours.
Earlier this week the pool water felt like it was about 89 degrees. All the "old" (read: OLDER) ladies in the locker room were going on about how lovely the water was. All the "young" (read: 55 and under crowd) were bitching that it was too warm for a real workout. The next day the water is about 76 degrees - perfect for a long swim! The water felt refreshing, sparkling bright with fluorescent sunshine as I zipped along the surf. AHHHH. Until the next day when it was overheated again. Sigh. But by Sunday afternoon the pool water was again so cold I almost couldn't get warm after my swim but I was happy - I had a great workout and the pool was EMPTY because it's a holiday weekend and most people have a life. For a gym junkie it was just about perfect.
The weather has been wacky but for a Columbus Day weekend we couldn't have asked for better. It was cold when I headed out on my bike this morning. It was hot by the time I got home. A run in the park on Saturday was nice and chilly but the sun was warm on my shoulders. Today it's hot in the house and even hotter sitting outside but the wine is nice and cold and the cold shower and wet hair and wearing shorts are a good thing.
It's been nice and cool overnight so when I wake up in a sweat and throw off the blankets, two cats and my husband's arm it only takes a few minutes to get cold again. Cover up. Fall asleep. Hot flash. Wake up in a sweat and chuck the cats again. Repeat for eight hours. Get up. Workout. Get hot. Or cold. Whatever. Just don't wanna ever be lukewarm.
At my age, or thereabouts, a long drive alone with the temperature controls is a wonderful thing. On Wednesday I went to Ithaca in a Toyota Yaris that only had 6 miles on it when I got in. Cool. As I head out into the October afternoon I'm cold, so I crank the heat. Then the sun comes around and I turn on the AC. Then I have a hot flash and I crank the cold air for as long as it takes to get cold again. Then I open the windows to warm up. Repeat for three hours.
Earlier this week the pool water felt like it was about 89 degrees. All the "old" (read: OLDER) ladies in the locker room were going on about how lovely the water was. All the "young" (read: 55 and under crowd) were bitching that it was too warm for a real workout. The next day the water is about 76 degrees - perfect for a long swim! The water felt refreshing, sparkling bright with fluorescent sunshine as I zipped along the surf. AHHHH. Until the next day when it was overheated again. Sigh. But by Sunday afternoon the pool water was again so cold I almost couldn't get warm after my swim but I was happy - I had a great workout and the pool was EMPTY because it's a holiday weekend and most people have a life. For a gym junkie it was just about perfect.
The weather has been wacky but for a Columbus Day weekend we couldn't have asked for better. It was cold when I headed out on my bike this morning. It was hot by the time I got home. A run in the park on Saturday was nice and chilly but the sun was warm on my shoulders. Today it's hot in the house and even hotter sitting outside but the wine is nice and cold and the cold shower and wet hair and wearing shorts are a good thing.
It's been nice and cool overnight so when I wake up in a sweat and throw off the blankets, two cats and my husband's arm it only takes a few minutes to get cold again. Cover up. Fall asleep. Hot flash. Wake up in a sweat and chuck the cats again. Repeat for eight hours. Get up. Workout. Get hot. Or cold. Whatever. Just don't wanna ever be lukewarm.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
