Back to the Gym

A friend of mine has been asking me to join her for a class at a local gym for months now.  And yesterday, I gave in.  The first class is free, and you don't have to be a member of the gym to go, so why not?

I showed up and saw that it was a small class, just like she said.  When I walked in, the instructor immediately came over and introduced herself, and asked about any injuries I may have.  I told her about my mostly healed broken foot, and about an old back injury.  She said she would give me some modifications for some of the moves they would be doing, just to be sure I wouldn't aggrevate either injury.  I'd heard this from instructors before, so I wasn't really expecting her to remember what I told her once the class started.

And then the class actually started.  This is a Core TRX class, which basically means you're working your core (abs, back).....and everything else.  Essentially, all the moves are designed to engage your core regardless of what muscles you're working on.  And everything is completely weight-free.  Sort of.  You use only your own body weight, and if you're like me, that can be a lot of weight! 

Anyways, the class starts with some cardio to warm-up, and apparently, she likes to mix it up every class.  Yesterday, it was beautiful outside, so she decided a jog around the block would be perfect.  But first she set me up on a recumbant bike so I would aggrevate my healing foot.  Ok, but the class just started so of course she remembered.

After everyone gets back, we start the actual work out.  Throughout the class, she would first show what everyone was going to do, and then give me another option in case that hurt something, usually my back.  And I wasn't the only one with an injury or that required modifications.  If something might put stress on our backs, she would show me a modification.  If something might put stress on a shoulder, she gave someone else a modification.  I soon realized that she knew everyone there by name, and exactly what their injuries or limitations were. 

By the time the class was over an hour later, I was dead tired, soreness was already starting to creep in, and I felt great.  It had been a long time since I felt like I got a good workout.  Although my arms, chest, and abs were killing me (moreso today), my back and foot felt surprisingly well.

Maybe it was the small class size.  Maybe it was the local feel to the place (as opposed to chain gyms).  Maybe it was that I was finally just doing something.  For whatever the reason, I really enjoyed this class, and it made me remember that working out can actually be fun.  I will definitely be going back next week!

Good Food

My favorite food is Italian.  I try not to eat it too often, mainly because I could eat my weight in pasta.  And in case you didn't know, eating your weight in something means you just doubled your weight.  And I don't want to have to buy new jeans.

Friday night I was craving Italian, and I gave in.  There's a chain Italian place that I liked when I lived in Houston, and since it's a chain, they have it here too.  I haven't had it in years, and was really looking forward to a nice meal.  I ordered my favorite dish and was soon presented with a plate full of mouth-watering pasta.  Until I tasted it.  It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either.  It was just ....... ok.  I'm not sure if it was a changed palate, different cooks, incorrect memory, or that it was just ok.  For whatever reason, it just wasn't what I remembered.  And it left me still craving Italian.

So what do you do when you wanted Italian and were severely disappointed?  Obviously you order Italian again the following night.  But this time, I ordered from a local Italian place that I've eaten at numerous times since moving here 3 years ago, and I thoroughly enjoyed my food each time.  I ordered the fattiest, most unhealthy, artery-clogging dish on the menu, and ate every bite of it.  Ok, almost every bite of it; I still had leftovers for dinner today. 

I'll chop this one up to learning -- stick to the local places; they taste better!

84 Degrees!!

I live in North Texas, which if you don't know, has been in the midst of a horrible heat wave and drought.  We had 40 straight days of 100+ degree temperatures, and I don't even remember the last time it rained.  Everything is brown, and summer in Texas is supposed to be green, not brown. 

And then yesterday, a small threat of rain.  I was happy, until it lasted all of 5 minutes (maybe less).  It cooled off a little, but only enough to ensure that we would not break the record for consecutive days over 100 degrees.  After weeks and weeks of record breaking heat, we missed that record by one day when the temperature topped off at 99 degrees.  It seemed too cruel to be real.  True, it wasn't as hot as it had been in the previous weeks when temperatures were reaching 107, but it was still pretty darn hot.  Add to that the fact that the official temperature is actually taken in the shade, and it just felt like after all that, we just got cheated out of a record we had already earned.


So where does this 84 degrees come into play?  Well, yesterday was just cruel, but today was amazing.  I have no idea what the high for today was, but I know it didn't come close to 100 degrees.  In fact, I went to run a few errands this afternoon, and the bank marque said 84 degrees.  I know these are not the most accurate things around, but it sure felt nice out.  It was overcast pretty much all day with a slight breeze blowing. 

Yes, it was super humid outside and I know these cooler temperatures will soon be gone (the high for tomorrow is expected to reach 102 degrees), but for one day I got to take my puppy for a walk without worrying about either of us having heat stroke.  And if you listened really closely, you could hear the grass singing and the trees breathing a sigh of relief.  Let's hope tomorrow's forecast is off by 20 degrees. 

Winter is Here! Now Please Leave.

Winter hit North Texas on Tuesday, and it refuses to leave.  Like most people, I've been stuck at home ever since.  Texas is not like other places when it snows -- we don't have snowplows, we don't have salt for the roads, and we have no idea how to drive in it.  So what do we do?  We close down the cities and stay home. 

This is a really bad time for this freak snow storm to hit.  We're hosting the Super Bowl this weekend, and while the weather should clear up for game day, all the events leading up to the game have either been canceled or attended by very few people.  I wanted to head out this week and take pictures, maybe meet some fans, but it's just been too cold.  Today, the temperatures have hit the low 20s.  Compared to the rest of the week, that feels downright balmy. 

So while there are parts of the city which are absolutely beautiful when covered in snow, I will not be posting any pictures because I'm too much of a wimp to go outside.  On the up side, I have a warm house and plenty of food in the kitchen, so I'm in great shape until we thaw out.  Until then, I will stay at home, watch some movies, study for the bar, and play with my puppy. 

If you're stuck in this winter storm as well, stay safe and stay warm.

Chain v. Local

Like many people, I think chains have turned our cities into carbon copies of each other.  When I'm traveling and I've forgotten to pack some essential, it's nice to know that right down the street there's going to be a Target or Walmart and that I'll be able to walk straight to the aisle I need without asking anybody where I can find this or that.  But what I don't like is that when I ask someone where's good place to eat, they point me to the nearest Chili's or Olive Garden.  I like both of these places, but what I'm looking for is something local, something I can't find in my own home town.  Many people can't tell me a good local restaurant, and that's just sad.

I like supporting local businesses if possible.  In Fort Worth, there are a lot of local eateries that I've been slowly discovering.  Since I usually go on someone else's recommendation, they're usually all really good too.  Some have long lines, but are definitely worth the wait.  The people who own and run these places have worked hard to get to where they are, and I wish there were more of them around.

But there's something about a chain too.  I'm writing this as I'm enjoying a cup of Starbucks.  Yes, Starbucks -- about as far from local as you can get.  About 6 - 8 months ago, a little local coffee shop opened about a block from where I live, and their coffee is really good.  But I still drive a couple of miles in the other direction to get Starbucks.  Why?  Because although this little shop has really good coffee, I never know when I'm going to be able to get any.  Their hours are constantly changing, they're not open at all on the weekends, and their service is horrible.

The last time I went, there was nobody in line in front of me, but the two ladies working refused to take my order!  They were not standing around, but they were not helping other customers either; they just thought it was more important to wipe down the counters and restock the cabinets than to help a customer.  They knew I was there, because each of them looked over at me a couple of times, but neither stopped what she was doing to take my order.  I waited, and waited, and waited, and waited, and then I left.  As I got to my car, one of the ladies came running out of the shop, apologized for not taking my order, and begged me to come back in.  She said they were almost done and were about to help me.  For a shop that has almost no business, you'd think they'd try to be a little better as far as the customer service goes.  Well, I didn't go back in, and I haven't been back since.  It wasn't the first time they tried my patience, but it was the last.

Say what you will about places like Starbucks, they always have great customer service.  Or at least that has been my experience.  When I walk in the door, I'm greeted with a smile and a hello (not necessary, but still nice).  If they're busy doing something else, they stop what they're doing and help you (unless they're helping another customer, which is completely understandable).  On the rare occasion that they accidentally get someone else's order in front of mine, they apologize and hand me a coupon for a free coffee next time, and this is without me even pointing it out.  They were local once upon a time too, and over time they've managed to become what they are now.  I know a lot of people hate them, but they must be doing something right.  Unfortunately, I don't see this little local coffee shop surviving much longer.  With their constantly changing hours and their lack of customer service, I just don't see enough people being patient enough with them to keep coming back.  And that's a shame.