The Gym.
Although we still don’t have cable, we have entered the 21st century by joining a gym. Ah, the gym. I struggle for the appropriate metaphor…something between the oft cited ‘meat market’ and an adult form of recess. People crowded around funny little machines waiting their turn. Girls trying to get the boys to pay attention to them. You get to see your friends. There are people in charge who tell you to follow the rules. There are middle aged people who forget where there clothes are and saunter around like you’re the weird one for grimacing. Wait…
My favorite are the (inevitably) hispanic women who come, usually in groups of three, with hair done up in an insane manner, midriffs showing, ready to parade. One of these women had on some leg warmers that appeared to be made of plastic and were turquoise and white–like she was working out at Space Mountain.
Have I mentioned the unnecessary locker room nudity?
All in all, I like the gym a lot and I’m almost used to the idea that it’s prescribed gym behavior to look terrible and sweaty in a room full of 100 other people. Which is better than looking naked and 65 in front of ten people.
September 25th, 2006 at 9:44 pm
I love unecessary locker room nudity. I think its because I’m always in a speedo anyways. It helps me to think that everyone else is just so into themselves that they are too busy to care about me at all.
How sad is it that I am intimidated to comment on any of your other entries besides this one?
September 26th, 2006 at 10:28 am
what gym do you go to? i’d like to join a gym when i get home.
September 26th, 2006 at 11:12 am
*Amy’s interest was given a boost by the locker room nudity*
September 26th, 2006 at 12:07 pm
*also by the hispanic bare-midriff*
September 26th, 2006 at 2:09 pm
combine them and Amy’s there in a heartbeat.
September 26th, 2006 at 2:29 pm
Today’s entry made me laugh! In our effort to “eat less and move more,” Mike (my husband) and I have also joined the gym. I’m here to tell you right now that this 34 year old will remain fully clothed at all times (and I guess I’ll leave the leg warmers at home…) Hey, ever notice that when you get off the treadmill, you still feel like you’re on it? That can’t be good for you….
September 26th, 2006 at 4:31 pm
Wow-nudity discussion really helps first time commenters open up. Welcome Trento y Kim–I don’t even know you were reading. Hurray!
Secondly, post-treadmill vertigo is a serious neurological condition which can lead to all sorts of dangerous consequences, not the least of which is the danger of looking/feeling like a total geek because you have to stand in one spot, staring dumbly at the ground trying not to fall over or bang into anything for the first 2 minutes. I’m considering medication.
Lastly, Bally’s–quality equipment, quality nudity. That’s actually their slogan.
PS-Trent, teeny speedos, or the new shorts-speedos. Paul recently switched to the latter after years of begging from his ashamed wife.
September 26th, 2006 at 5:17 pm
MRI Webmaster…your description of post-treadmill vertigo acurately describes this affliction (and you must have seen me at the gym!!!)
September 26th, 2006 at 5:45 pm
shorts-speedos… great invention. I made the switch in 2000.
PTV is why I just jog around my neighborhood at 5:30am. The other benefit is nobody is out to see me naked that early in the morning.
September 26th, 2006 at 7:36 pm
I will have to increase my number of posts dealing with public nudity.
September 26th, 2006 at 7:55 pm
you’ll definitely get more search traffic to your site, Nathan.