Me and a Pilates Ball = the Anti-Exercise Video

Today was an absolutely wonderful running day and I went on an absolutely wonderful six mile run.  It felt great to be outside again, not holed up in the hamster cage of the gym on a treadmill. I also bought a pilates ball so that I can use it for crunches and other exercises -  haven’t watched the instructional video yet – at home as I phase out of gym mode when the weather warms up.  I think I should set up a video camera to record myself trying to use that daggon ball and then present it to Hollywood as the next big blockbuster comedy.  It’s a shame that no one is around to belly laugh over images of me rolling backwards off of it and thudding heavily into awkward positions.  I’m simply not coordinated to do these trendy tricky exercises with things that roll.

Today as I was running, I passed a farm where someone had a small fire going in the yard. People burn everything around here. On my way back, however, the small yard fire was raging and pouring out some of the blackest smoke i’d ever seen. And shortly after i’d finally come far enough past the scene to stop running sideways as I craned my neck around wondering if the fire wasn’t blazing a little too high, several fire engines rushed past me. I think I was right.

Mission Accomplished

So i’ve been running first thing at the gym lately. It’s a good thing I have a membership these days because winter is making up for all the mild temperatures it’s been bringing across the area so far. It’s frigid!! I’m sure I don’ t have to tell you that – i think it’s a Nationwide thing.

Anyway, being at the gym is not the point of my tangent. I’ve also been personally convicted to try harder to be “in the community” more often and ready to make my presence at places count.  It doesn’t come naturally to initiate conversation, much less relationships, so I’ve been pondering how this is going to happen.  Day after day of pondering doesn’t get a person very far i’ve discovered.

The other day at the gym, my pondering ceased and I actually…(drumroll)..made a friend…..well, at least an acquaintance. I don’t even know her name, but we carried on an enjoyable two-minute conversation and that was enough for me. She asked me how much I run, I gave her a short synopsis, we discussed her marines status, and I slowly walked away as she started gasping for air on the treadmill. Mission accomplished. I made a friend at the gym.