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- Mood:
sore
At the gym, I frequently see a man I thought I recognized as DC Councilmember Phil Mendelson (D, At-Large). While I'm often mistaken about celebrity sightings, I have an eagle eye for local politicians, minor media types, and other obscure public figures. I was 100% certain this guy was Mendelsohn- after the first time I saw him there, I image-Googled him and thought it was an exact match. After correctly identifying NPR/PBS film critic Bob Mondello there recently, I was overconfident of my people-spotting abilities.
The other day, "Phil Mendelson" was walking down the hall to the locker rooms and I was coming out. I stopped him, and said "Hello Councilman." He appeared confused for a minute, then looked at me like I was crazy? "Aren't you DC Councilman Phil Mendelson?" I said. He replied no, but said he knows him and has some professional connection with him (I forgot what the connection was). I apologized and slunk off, red with embarrassment. I'm such an idiot!
- Mood:
embarrassed
At the gym, I had a pretty good workout, and ran on the treadmill as if there was a pack of zombies at my heels. I really pushed it today, and perhaps overdid it a bit. My lower back and knees are pretty sore now, and I'm so hungry I ate half a bag of Sun Chips with dinner. I hope the weather is good on Thanksgiving, so I can do the run I've signed up for. I can handle the cold, but no precipitation, please.
- Mood: cold
- Mood:
impressed
The worst thing about this new bout of back pain is that I'm very disappointed because I thought I had it beat. I've lost weight, and have been diligently going to the gym, working on strengthening my back and shoulder muscles. The lesson here is that no matter how hard you try, you can't overcome genetics, age, gravity, or all three! I suppose this latest round of back pain could have been much worse had I not taken those actions, so it was worth it, and I'll keep on exercising.
- Mood: sore
- Mood:busy
1. Limit yourself to 30 minutes on the cardio equipment during peak times.
2. Wipe off the equipment when you are done using it, using a clean towel or paper towels, not your sweaty body towel. I usually use a small towel saturated in germicide from the spray bottles for wiping down the equipment.
3. Wash hands and use hand gel liberally.
4. No talking on cell phones in the gym or locker rooms.
5. Try to use the Express Lane machines in order, though sometimes skipping around is necessary.
6. Do not leave the TV monitor on Fox News Channel. I almost had to clean my eyes out with acid yesterday!
If everyone follows the rules, and cooperates, we'll all have an easier time of it. A little bit of good will and a smile go a long way at the gym.
- Mood:productive
To celebrate, I had a Kit Kat bar tonight - I didn't want to go crazy because I have to lose 2 more pounds to reach my goal weight. I don't want to go any lower than that, or I'll be venturing into Karen Carpenter territory. After that, I hope to keep working out at the gym, and become a pumped-up freak, perhaps with a physique along the lines of my namesake, the real Mr. T. Just kidding! I really just want to lower my blood pressure and possibly extend my lifespan a little bit. Now I have to go clothes shopping, ugh. I should have had my brother take me shopping in New York when I was up there last weekend.
- Mood: cheerful
At the gym, each of the cardio machines is equipped with it's own video screen, which receives about 30 channels of programming. There are the usual local broadcast channels, sports channels, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and several music channels. You plug in your headphones, and can channel surf as you wish while working out. The stressful part about it, for me, is that everyone situated behind you can see what you're watching, and in my mind, they're judging me by it. I know, I'm being paranoid and neurotic - blame it on my parents.
I usually watch CNN and MSNBC, and my number one rule at the gym is to never, ever watch Fox News channel. Not only are they a right-leaning mouthpiece for the loathsome Bush administration, their cheesy graphics and lurid headlines shout out "misinformation." Once, as I was channel surfing by, I saw they were doing a story of diverticulitis, which my brother has, so I watched it for a few minutes. As I was exercising, I looked around frantically, as if to say "I don't normally watch this!"
I have a whole set of rules for watching the music channels as well. If I had my druthers, I'd watch some cheesy 1980s videos, but if one comes on that's too embarrassing, I feel compelled to change the channel. And I really, really dislike rap music, but feel the need to pause for a second on the Rap channel so I don't look like some kind of old fart who doesn't "get" hip hop. Also, if any music video comes on that features sexy, bikini-wearing women gyrating around on the screen, I immediately change the channel so nobody thinks I'm a letch or horndog!
As if to prove my own thesis, sometimes I glance around to see what others are watching on their video screens. I've noticed that some, mostly women, gym-goers watch those celebrity and entertainment-oriented shows, like Entertainment Tonight, TMZ, and stuff on VH1. Yuck. I actually have seen a couple of people watching CSPAN, confirming their political nerd status, but I've never seen anyone watching Fox News. My wife reports that she once saw a woman wearing a Bush-Cheney '04 tee shirt who was watching Fox, and that everyone was staring at her like she was insane. Hee hee.
- Mood:neurotic
Anybody see him or get a cellphone pic? I went to the gym last night, and was planning to go again tonight. I've got to ask them what equipment he used, and then use the same one. Wow, for me it would be like kissing the Pope's foot would be to my dad! I wonder if anyone nabbed his sweaty gym towel. It would probably bring in big bucks on eBay.
Update 9:00 PM: I asked around at the gym this evening, and the staff told me Obama did indeed visit this morning. It must have been prior to his flight up to New Hampshire to meet with Senator Clinton today. They said he "did cardio" on one of the treadmills, but were not sure which one. I assume that means he ran, but "did cardio" could mean he just walked. No word on any sweat-soaked towels...
- Mood: excited
The bad news is I just realized that when I reach my goal weight, I'll have to go out and buy a whole bunch of new clothes, especially pants. Anyone who knows me realizes I'd rather stand on a box all day, attached to wires, wearing a hood, than go shopping for clothes. My wardrobe is bad enough as it is, but at least everything fits OK. Perhaps I can find some pants at Target? Do they sell stuff like that? Can anyone recommend a good tailor for alterations? I hate dealing with anything remotely connected to clothes - I wish we humans all just wore drab uniforms or burlap sacks every day.
- Mood: embarrassed
Normally, I'm a strong supporter of photographer's rights, in our post-9/11 security paranoia. On the other hand, I don't want any photos of myself posted on upshortsflabbywhiteguyspumpingriron.com.
- Mood:
confused
One of the things that keeps me going is the free cable TV news at the gym. While exercising, I usually watch CNN or MSNBC, which keeps me entertained. Once, I used one of the machines in the corner by the huge glass windows, and just watched the neighborhood go by, but I generally prefer the ones with the video screens. Now, if only they'd replace the C-SPAN and CNBC with something more interesting, like the Discovery Channel.
Another neat feature of the gym is the view from the rear hallway. If you walk down past the locker rooms, turn left at the end, and enjoy the panoramic view from the windows there. You can see the steeples at 16th and Columbia, the rooftops of Mount Pleasant, and the National Cathedral in the distance. I'd try to take a photo, but they'd probably frown on me bringing a camera into the gym. Now, if only they'd build a roofdeck on DCUSA - that would be amazing.
- Mood:achey
- Mood: excited
