Saturday, January 20, 2007

My 100th Post




I have tried really hard to come up with 100 things about myself to entertain you with today. I have not had the time. Nor the time to read all my friends, nor to comment. I need to stay up all night sometime to catch up, but that isn't too practical an idea. I think I will post 10 at a time for the next 10 posts, if you don't mind (well, let me know soon, because I'll do it anyway, I guess).

When I was at the gym this morning, I was reminiscing about my journey to exercise and fitness, albeit with many detours along the way. I grew up in a family that was not athletic. I was always a klutz, self-conscious, and the last one chosen for any team at recess or in P.E. That doesn't do much for a girl's self-esteem. I hated organized sports, and feared the ball (softball or volleyball) was going to hit me in the face and break my glasses.

I had a few short moments of minor success in high school P.E. (called phy ed. in Minnesota, phys. ed. in Nebraska) when I grew to my lofty height and could actually hit the basket during the basketball unit. But that was short lived.

It wasn't until I was in my early thirties that I decided I needed to begin an exercise program. I bought a good pair of shoes and began walking the neighborhood while DC watched the kids. I think I've mentioned before that it became a time of solitude for me and I began to really enjoy it. I was walking 4 miles a day for a long time, as I listened to good music on the old fashioned Walkman.

At a later date, I joined an aerobics class at a church and went 3 times a week with a bunch of Christian women who really did more chatting than bouncing - well, they tried to do it at the same time, but I am not sure how effective the exercise was! I had to quit that during a particularly difficult time in life when I needed to be at home right after work. More about that probably in later posts.

Later, Kev and I joined the health club together. It was fun and he was encouraging. He left town and I continued for several years. It was expensive, but it was good motivation. I enjoyed the "quiet room" there, where I didn't have to watch the jocks heave and grunt their way to huge muscles.

Fitness 19 came to town and their opening offer was so appealing - lifetime low rate, never to go up. It's not fancy like the health club, but it has everything I need. No quiet room, but you can't everything. I didn't need the sauna, the pool, the racquet ball room, the basketball court, the classes. So this works just fine, thank you very much.


I was thinking of all this as I worked with the weight machines this morning. When I am doing the stationary bike and the simulated foot-in-place running (can't think of the name of it!), I am able to read. I can't do the treadmill because of an injury to my left foot that just never completely healed. It can't take the pounding.

But I have to tell you, I love to people watch. I love to go to the zoo and watch the people even more than the animals. The airport is a great place to observe the human animal. You know I enjoy student-watching (which I will miss now that I won't have lunch hour on campus with my new schedule), and watching people exercise is very entertaining! I just hope NOBODY'S WATCHING ME!

There's the HUGE guy who used to come into the quiet room and do some exercises on the big ball - back on the ball, head the other direction, lower body covered in very tight Spandex points - are you getting the picture?? I had to keep my eyes on my book when he came in - it was revolting!!

Then there's the guy who sits on one of the machines, does a round of arm stuff, then sits for a good ten minutes before the next round - tying up that machine for many more minutes than he should when there are people who want to use it. He's a big, tattooed, pony-tailed, bearded guy that I don't want to cross! (not that there's anything wrong with any of those things!)

There was a well-proportioned young woman this morning with white shorts and the mini top, sashaying on her machine. I really don't think it was proper form, but I'll bet she was getting plenty of attention!

My favorite, though, is the guy who sits at every weight machine, setting it at the highest weight possible, and making the most incredible grimacing faces as he does the routine. Hilarious! I'd love to take a picture on the sly. I doubt he knows he's even doing it.

Well, as I said, I hope nobody's watching me!


First 10 things about me that you may or may not know:

  1. I am the first born of 5 children - 2 girls and 3 boys.
  2. My dad was in the Navy when I was born.
  3. He hitch-hiked home to be at my birth, but I was late and he had to get to base.
  4. His request for an extension had been granted, but he didn't know it until he got back to Corpus Christi, Texas.
  5. His CO was a kind man and let him come back to Minnesota to see me.
  6. He was 21, Mom was 18.
  7. When he got out of the Navy, he went to Bible College. We lived in the basement of the Boy's Dorm - 3 kids by then.
  8. My sister was born 2 weeks to the day before my first birthday - we loved being the same age for two weeks. Still do, I guess!
  9. My first brother was born on Halloween the next year.
  10. We moved to Arkansas when I was 4. We used to sing in country schools when Mom and Dad went out with Child Evangelism to teach them Bible lessons and help them earn their way to camp. (Those were some good days, when you could do that in schools).


TO BE CONTINUED


Hop on over to Kristen's and read about our invitation to join us for a blogger get-together at some point in the future, if you are interested. We'd love to have you come and visit!

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I also enjoy people watching at airports, etc. Never thought of it at the gym, but then I never go
:)
Loved your ten things. Your Mom was a busy lady having three so close together wasn't she!!
hugs!!!

Anonymous said...

I admire you for sticking to your workouts at the gym but some of the people you've just described, especially the guy on the ball, make me feel a little queasy. Ugh. You have to wonder what on earth any man who shoves his body into spandex can possibly be thinking.

What a clever idea - posting ten things at a time until you reach 100. Funny, the things we have in common. I'm the oldest of six and my brother was born when I was only ten months old!

I'll run over and check out Kristen's latest little scheme. :-)

Hope you're having a nice quiet weekend. I certainly am. No baby. No kids. No appointments. I'm not even out of my pj's yet. It's wonderful!

Lala's world said...

I love people watching too, I do it at the gym too, but thankgoodness no men in spandex yet! yeesh that is gross!
congrats on your 100th post

Carole Burant said...

Yup, some men just shouldn't wear spandex! lol I people watch when I'm at the mall...especially in the food court if I'm sitting there having lunch or just a coffee. Really enjoyed reading the first 10 things about you!! Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs xox

Tammy said...

I enjoyed reading your ten things! :)
And Happy 100 posts!
That was a fun story about your dad in the Navy hitch-hiking to try and make your birth.

I don't go the gym, but do workouts with a video...I like the privacy! ;) I use to be so good about doing it but got out of the habit...but just this week, I started again!

Anyway, if I did go the gym, I think i'd be people-watching like you. I do it all the time in stores- people are just so interesting! :)

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your 100th post, mom. Bet you never thought you'd be doing a 100th blog post. You're welcome. ;-)

There's a couple things on your list that I didn't even know. That's nuts.

Here's to 100 more!

Looney Mom™ said...

I'm a people watcher too! I just hate when people are watching me. LOL!

I'm the first-born of 3. I have 2 brothers. I always wanted a sister. Boo hoo. Oh well. I've met a lot of great sisters here in blogland!

Anonymous said...

Wow! CONGRATULATIONS! It was so hard for me but if you want silly ideas just check my archives! Ha!

A great 10 things list. I need to work out more often but after having my grandbaby for 2 days I just want to sleep!

Hugs!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your 100 posts...may you have many more!!
:-D

Linda said...

Congratulations on your 100th post Dawn (I just sort of let my slide by). Doing it in groups of ten is a brilliant idea.
Good work - you're doing a really great job with the excercising. I loved you comments about your fellow "exercisers". It is such fun to watch people. I sometimes get so caught up in it, I forget what I'm supposed to be doing.
Your Mom really must have had her hands full with three little ones so close together!!
Have a good and restful weekend!

Pamela said...

Congratulations on your 100th! Very sweet! Congratulations also on loosing 9 Lbs! Woohoo!

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