Even the Gym was Cold

I skipped the gym yesterday, preferring to get my exercise hauling firewood across the yard and finally, into the house. I had burned the last piece Monday night, and it was well worth the wait, having sat beside the wood stove for the better part of a year. It was a big piece with a few knots, but just slender enough to fit through the wood stove door. And because it had been aging inside the house for months, it lit up immediately as soon as I put it on the pile of embers. Because it was a big piece, it also burned for several hours. And then there was no more wood to burn. I like building fires inside the stove, and a personal point of pride for myself is to only use one match. That probably hearkens back to when my kid was in Boy Scouts... You can't use up all your dang matches to light one fire. And once it's lit, it had better stay lit until you decide to put it out.

I've turned the thermostat up a notch, to 63F, but it's still chilly inside. The dogs prefer it cooler. I broke out my alpaca hooded tunic to wear between layers. I have plenty of wood in the house now, but it's an assortment of different qualities. Some wood is years old but has been haphazardly exposed to the elements, so maybe not the driest wood. Other wood was split just a few months ago, albeit from logs that were cut over two years ago. Does that make them aged or not? We're expecting snow tonight, and a bigger dip in temps due to the infamous Alberta Clipper and moisture from the Great Lakes Erie and Ontario. While our tiny county is renowned for its lakes and waterways, we have been in a drought of late.

I also had a periodontist appointment yesterday, and of course, my health insurance's dental component probably doesn't cover that aspect of dental health. Figures. Because it's United Healthcare, which is in the news now due to the assassination of its CEO, Brian Thompson. I wonder if it's someone whose coverage got denied. Or if it was personal, as in the case of the Cash App founder, Bob Lee. So, now I have a procedure scheduled for mid-February that will include sedation and oral surgery. Ugh. But, this might cure my gum and teeth issues. And of course, this is going to cost mucho dineros.

I woke up tired this morning, saw the bags under my eyes and wished I could sleep in. I still took the dogs to the park though. No one else there but the dogs got to run about, sniff a lot of smells in the half acre of trees, rocks, bushes, leaf litter, and dirt. With all the odors of previous visitors. One of the dogs got zoomies, got bored, tossed and chased chips of ice smacked out of the metal water bowl. I bring water to pour into the heated bowl and then plug that in. When I leave, I pour the remaining water into the metal bowl for the next canine visitors. The heated bowl gets unplugged and placed back inside the shed.

I get to the gym a bit past noon. It's not too crowded. Wind Breaker was on elliptical #1, and I see that the cup holder is still on machine #3, so that's the one I use. I barely squeak past 2.8 (whew!) and I'm glad I'm not doing pull-ups today. Since I have an eye implant procedure Friday morning, I'll have to skip the gym that day. And with questionable weather in the forecast, I might or might not make it to the gym tomorrow. I'm hoping I won't have to shovel! And that the roads will be good enough to get my pups to the park. 

The free weight area is busy with kids and regulars. I locate one of the two Nautilus benches and drag it out from a squat/bench cage. Some lazy mo-fo left a pair of 75s on the rack space designated for the 20s. The 75s go on the rack below. That's truly annoying. Later, when I go to rerack the 20s, I find that someone has put the 75s where they belong, and I feel better about my fellow gym members. There are a few HS kids and some other regulars. Even the Odd Couple is there although he looks older now for some reason. Weird, right? 

I'm testing out a pair of Hoka solimars I bought online from Zappos. It fits well enough although the heel is ever so slightly loose. I'm not sure if I like it better or the same compared to the Rincon 5. The NBWW877 are stiffer, and sized 2E (for fat feet) which means I can wear those with thick wool socks for clopping around town doing errands. And even then, the heels are a skosh loose. I have disproportionately tiny heels for my small feet. Comfortable footwear is so important to me that I have a collection of shoes I should probably sort through and get rid of half of them... feet change as you age and shoes that were once comfortable, sometimes aren't anymore.

The Aerobics Room is freezing cold and there are two women already there when I enter. I skip Walking Lunges. My knees have been sporadically creaky lately and I'm not sure if this is a weather thing. Push-ups feel weak and that's disappointing. Last week I felt strong doing them, but last week I did completely different exercises. Wall Sits have my toes and knees complaining, but I grit my teeth for the full two minutes. Done! Hoping for manageable weather tomorrow... 

4 Dec 2024 12:07-2:01

Wednesday — Mix

Alberta Clipper Cold

Precor elliptical #3

Program 2

Time: 30 + 5 (5478)

Distance: 2.81

Cal: 310

Avg Hr: 157, 191?!

New FB: 54-139

Incl DB Press s/s Lateral Raises s/s Rev Incline Flys

10 lbs x 25/15/25

15 lbs x 25/15/25

20/15/20 x 25/15/25 x 3 sets

20 Hip Bridges

Piriformis/Hip/Pencil Stretch

DeadBugs 20 x 5

Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2 (tingle)

Push-Ups 25

Arm rotations 20

Air Squats 25

Neck stretch / Eye yoga

Wall Sits 120 sec