My glutes certainly felt those Walking Lunges when I woke up Saturday morning. It made traversing the snowy, slushy, icy dog park a bit more difficult but as long as I moved slowly, I was okay. Later in the day, my washing machine decided it wasn't going to honor the spin and drain portion of the wash cycle. Ugh. I had two options: drag wet laundry to a laundromat; or scout around for friends who might lend me their washer/dryer. I still had to hand-wring out the excess water and plop them into a trash bag inside the laundry basket. I wore latex gloves to protect my skin from the freezing water. It was all still really heavy. But I could carry it to the car and out into a friend's laundry room. Phew! I got around to doing that on Sunday. I also lucked out when I called on Saturday to see if the repair guy could come to fix my machine.
Out of two phone numbers, one was out of service and the other one had a message stating he was indisposed for a few months and to please call this other fellow who he recommended. The new fellow picked up right away when I called. He said my town was kind of far from where he was based, but... he had a service call the next town over from me so I got an appointment for Monday. Wow, that's lucky!
Of course, I had to wait all day but when he finally arrived (I was not his first service call), he was able to replace a broken part, and then deliver the solemn news that the machine would probably last maybe a year or two longer if treated carefully. Something is leaking oil internally. Hmmm. Another part might need replacing, but these machines aren't made to last anymore. It's a Maytag. Remember that TV commercial about the Maytag repairman who had nothing to do because the machines were so reliable?
Speed Queen is what this fellow recommends. I remember Speed Queen commercial machines in my apartment building's laundry room. They were massive industrial machines and virtually indestructible. I'm not interested in a million different settings and all the bells and whistles, like programmable tunes to send to your phone to let you know your wash is done. I'd rather have a long-lasting, reliable workhorse.
Later, I find out that the original repair guy passed away last May and this guy was handling all his clients. That old guy (he had snow white hair and a ruddy complexion like Santa) wasn't really very old either: only 66 but had been ill for a bit. I'm turning 65 next month.
I made it to the gym a little past noon and it's also $5 Tuesday at the local cinema. But neither the parking lot nor the gym was very crowded; only 5 of a dozen treadmills in use. One person on the cross-trainer and no one on the ellipticals. I got on #1 and did my program. Today's a Cardio and Pull-up Day so that's what I did. It's been cold and dry enough that my skin is cracking at my fingertips, knuckles, lips, a nostril, heels, toes... And hives the area of my palm have erupted again on my thighs.
I can't really do much other than repeated moisturizing. Today, I took my wedding band off while I slathered petrolatum on my hands and fingers, and then I consciously decided to leave it home. Because I find the ring impedes my grip on the Stretch Cage when I do pull-ups. And pull-ups were a tad better today. But it could be a coincidence.
I wore the slippery Hoka sneakers to run my errand to the post office before coming to the gym, hoping to scuff up the soles just enough to make them less slippery. That seemed to have worked for most of my activities: I didn't slide off the Stretch Cage or the cross-trainer, but once in the Aerobics Room with the slick glossy wooden floors, well... I got a minute and 10 seconds before my feet slid out from under me and I decided I was done for the day.
4 February 2025 12:08-2:09
Tuesday — All Cardio
Not So Balmy Cardio
Precor elliptical #1
Program 2
Time: 30 + 5 (5448)
Distance: 2.80
Cal: 308
Avg Hr: 157, 194 max
New FB: 42-134
HGPU 18
Matrix StairMaster (R)
Manual timer 8+2 cool down
Minimum 5 minutes
Speed 5 (48-50) / 2 (36-38) / 1 (29-31)
Steps 439
Floors 27
Cal 66
Hr 122
HGPU 17
Life Fitness X-Trainer #5
(1:18-1:31)
Program Manual L1
Time: 10 (+3 min cool down) = 13
Distance: 1.18
Cal: 100
Avg Hr: 122-126
HGPU 15.5
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
Push-Ups 25
Arm rotations 20
Air Squats 25
Neck stretch / Eye yoga
Wall Squat 70 sec — still too slippery
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