(What is RSS?)I watched 31 minutes of the movie “Revenge of the Nerds”. I saw this movie in the theater my freshman year of college. We were all nerds and none of us matched the nerd stereotypes in this movie.
I get myself to work a little harder by turning up the speed during the commercials.
I was significantly surprised that both teenagers roused themselves at 8:00 am so they could join us at the YMCA. They had never used the stairmaster, but eventually got the hang of it and stuck with it for the entire 20 minute program. Then they tried the elliptical machine for about 10 minutes, and then the treadmill for a mile, and then the water fountain and then the public computer which runs so slow that they were able to beat the high scores on their favorite on line games. I finished 15 minutes on the stairmaster and 15 minutes on the treadmill, which was enough.
Stocks, bonds and even real estate have been so marginal that it is impossible to figure out what I can do now for a more comfortable retirement.
But at least there is one sure thing: exercise in my 40s and 50s will result in better health in my 60s and 70s. So I jogged an hour on the stairmaster thought about play dates, road trips, grilling, backyard camping and other cheap summer fun.
Up and then back down. I took this today from the top of the staircase in the Arc de Triumph. This is one of the best reasons to exercise. All those flights in the YMCA basement has enabled me to keep pace with my fifteen year old son. We have been walking everywhere and climbing stairs like this all day.
Today I stayed on the stairmaster for 40 minutes while reading a bit of Walden. I use the YMCA equipment while my son is taking swim lessons. He is not signed up for the summer classes. Perhaps I’ll consider Thoreau’s practice of long walks in the woods.
Another 30 minutes on the YMCA stairmaster. The YMCA has an assortment of the large exercise balls. My back has been tight from too much computer work. After the stairmaster, I slowly and cautiously rolled backwards over the ball and waited for each interlocking part to find its place. Now I feel significantly better. I’ve wondered about these balls, but fear the clutter potential. I’ll test drive at the Y a few more time and consider putting one on my Amazon wish list.
Many business travelers consider their time so valuable that they get to the airport at the very last minute, conversing on their cell phones and typing emails until the call to board the fliers with Elite Status. I don’t need that stress. As Thoreau writes, “I like having margin in my life”. I know I need to get gas, return the rental car, take the shuttle, check my bag, get through security and get to the gate. Any step can take longer than expected, but today there were no snags and I was in Terminal A with over an hour of opportunity.
Terminal A in the Detroit airport is so long that an electric train runs on an elevated track shuttling passengers to their gates. There are also over a dozen people movers running the long corridor and a dramatic underground tunnel with music and lights that seem to coordinate, but I watched them closely and determined that they both move, but not together.
The entrance from security opens to the beautiful fountain and Starbucks at gate A38. My flight would board in about 75 minutes. I needed to get to gate A19. The electronic map recommended the train that would leave in 2 minutes and would drop me off at gate A22.
Ignoring the Starbucks, I walked from A38 to A78 at the far end of the terminal, then back to A1, then back to A78 and then to A19. I got to my gate just as the main cabin was boarding. I usually do Sudoku on the plane, but I fell asleep before liftoff and woke somewhere over Western Massachusetts.
My version of a Booby Prize: I need to fly to Detroit 24 times to get Elite Status.
Yesterday I watched Martha Stewart cook Sardinia Food. I completed 30 minutes. According the machine, I burned about 250 calories. Today I was watched the movie “40 Year Old Virgin”, which I’ve seen before and recommend. I picked it up at the waxing scene and kept climbing until the speed dating episode 40 minutes later. I guess a movie about middle age sex is more inspiring than asparagus with pasta and gorgonzola cheese.
3. 30 minutes on the hotel stairmaster
I opted to play violin yesterday instead of going to the YMCA, so today I skipped Zingerman’s and sweated on the stairmaster.
