...because I have promises to keep

I didn’t snooze the alarm today. I started driving full eight minutes ahead of yesterday’s start time. See this is what measuring and optimizing can do. Today, I will check off at least one more task than yesterday, and sleep for 15 mins more.

I got stuck behind a water tanker in a narrow lane.

Maybe I should have snoozed the alarm.

No! I don’t give up so easily. I have managed to post for 11 days straight. I am changing as a person. Let me start (restart for the 105^th time) the weight-loss project too.

I managed to reach office at the target time.

My laptop went into an update mode even before starting. I decided to go up to the gym before the deluge pours out of the mailbox and submerges me.

I do know where the gym is; I just had to ask someone how to operate the door. And then I saw the 'pros' discussing the right way to swing the weights and do squats, and wanted to disappear. I stayed on, asked someone where the weighing machine was, and figured out on my own how that worked. Isn’t that a beginning? Anyway, I wasn’t dressed for a workout. Didn’t have shoes, or a towel or a change of clothing, so I couldn’t do anything much today.

At least I had measured my weight and knew the target one. The new, changed me will get there one day, soon.

The workday was extra-long today because of an extended workshop. That meant I had to drive back through peak traffic. And there was a call I had to log in for after reaching home. There; Mr. Murphy had done his usual thing with my beautifully laid plans.

I have to go through the same madness tomorrow again. That’s just a few hours away. Couldn’t I miss just one post and make up for it tomorrow, or over the weekend?

I am tired, hungry, sleepy. I haven’t had a decent conversation with my daughter all day. I need to call my parents too. I don’t know what it is that is still making me write. Maybe because I know how bad I’d feel to give up after sticking through for nearly half the month. Or maybe it’s for the sense of satisfaction I feel after knowing that yes, I managed to uphold the promise one more day.

(Will get to the weight loss and the book writing one too-one day-soon-hopefully)

Another Gym, Another Woman

I could not go to the Gym yesterday as I had some urgent work to finish. And well today is Saturday, and tomorrow is Sunday…


And then I remembered the story of an unknown woman so like me, which had come in an email forwarded many times over:


Dear Diary,


For my birthday this year, I purchased a week of personal training at the local health club. Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try. I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.Friends seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.


________________________________


MONDAY:


Started my day at 6:00 am. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god-- with blond hair, dancing eyes, and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!


Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines.. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring!


Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around.


This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!!


________________________________


TUESDAY:


I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door.. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It's a whole new life for me.


_______________________________


WEDNESDAY:


The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.


Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying.


My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other shit too.


_______________________________


THURSDAY:


A****** was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late-- it took me that long to tie my shoes.


He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny b**** to find me.


Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine-- which I sank.


_________________________________


FRIDAY:


I hate that bastard Christo more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic, little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it.


Christo wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the damn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.


The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?


________________________________


SATURDAY:


Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel.


________________________________


SUNDAY:


I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun-- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!