Monday, July 14, 2003

Justification is Music to My Ears10:14 PM CST (Link)
We did it. Finally.

For six months we have been walking outside, braving the cold, rain, heat, humidity, and the little yappy chihuahua that lives down the street that likes to attack from the rear. With temperatures in the mid-90s every day now, we decided we were foolish to continue the torture. We joined a fitness club.

We didn't join a gym back in January because we were afraid that, like so many others at the Yearly Resolution time, we would go for a couple of weeks and then never go back. So we decided to test ourselves first by walking for six months and, if we were successful, put out the bucks for a gym membership.

Our dedication started to wane late in June, when the heat and humidity became unbearable, even at 6 a.m. So we signed the dotted line and paid our dues over the Fourth of July break.

I know we've only been at it for a week, but you know what? It doesn't suck. In fact, I think I like it. All of it -- the machines, the treadmill, everything. The place we picked is a women-only gym about a half mile from home. There are PLENTY of women in my shape (or lack of shape, rather), so I feel very comfortable there. The machines are sized for women, too, so I can actually use them without straining.

No new membership to the gym is complete without a shopping trip to prepare. We had to buy lots of new stuff -- shorts, socks, shoes, towels, combination locks -- the whole nine yards.

Naturally, I also had to get a new MP3 player to help relieve the monotony of the treadmill. After feature- and price-comparison shopping for, oh, about 2 seconds, I bought one of the new iPods from Apple. I also signed up for a trial subscription on Audible.com to download recorded books. I've never been a big fan of listening to books on tape, but I can't read while walking or riding because of motion sickness tendencies and I might as well learn something while I walk. My first selection? The Vagina Monologues.

The damage:
- Gym stuff, including clothes and other accessories: $60 per each
- Membership to fitness club: Approximately $16 a month per each
- Membership on audible.com: First month free, $15 per month after that
- 15 GB iPod: $399
- Best-ever justification for buying an iPod: Priceless

Sunday, July 6, 2003

Vacation in Austin01:32 AM CST (Link)
In order to maximize time off and get some projects done, we decided to take some extra days off around the Fourth of July. We've done nothing we planned to do and it's been fantastic.

Instead of traveling to new and exciting places, we decided to stay home and remodel our home office. While we were excited about the whole thing before the vacation started, our enthusiasm waned as vacation days approached. Instead, aside from a couple of mandatory appointments, we've just gone to an ad hoc, what do you want to do today mode.

What have we done? Rested. Relaxed. Minimal housework. A little yardwork. Test drove a 2003 Mazda Miata and a 2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder, just for the heck of it. We've eaten out every single day at old favorites and places we've always wanted to try but haven't. We got up early and saw the new blockbuster movies before the Fourth of July crowds hit.

What do we want to do? See more movies, eat out some more, test drive a 2003 VW Beetle Convertible, rest and relax some more. Or not. Who knows what we'll think of?

We were delighted to find that one of our favorite restaurants just opened in our neighborhood. We discovered it quite by accident, since we never go down that way.

We were on a toy run, looking for some Stikfas at GameStop on Brodie and 290. The manager directed us to a brand new GameStop on Brodie and Slaughter. So off we went.

Not only were we successful in finding the Stikfas I wanted, we noticed the new Brick Oven. We finally had a chance to eat there this weekend. I'm happy to say their food was just as good as the North Austin location AND the staff was friendly and attentive.

The 10 best things about vacationing in your home town:

10. No annoying body searches at the airport.
9. Not having to wait forever for a bus, only to find out that it's a national holiday in the country you're visiting and the buses don't run that route on holidays.
7. You can eventually find your way home even if you get lost, because all roads in Austin eventually cross Lamar. (Getting lost is actually a good thing because you find those wonderful windy roads that lead to ruralish areas in the midst of urban neighborhoods.)
6. You don't have to wonder if the hair on the pillow (or anywhere else) is yours.
5. Your pets don't spaz out when the petsitter comes over.
4. Nobody expects you to bring souvenirs.
3. You never have that horrifying discovery that you packed everything but your underwear.
2. No embarrassing calls to the front desk to cancel the porn movie you inadvertently ordered on the hotel's Pay Per View.
1. You know who was the last person to use your bathroom.

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