The Gym

I hate going to the gym. Why? Because it's a multi-step process that has proven non-sustainability.

Step 1: (night before or morning of - 10min)
Pack in duffle bag: clothes, sneakers, towel, soaps (if choose to shower), padlock for locker.

Step 2: (10 min)
Walk to Gym to reserve cardio equipment 1 hour before actually get to use it.

Step 3: (10 min)
Walk to gym again this time for the exercise experience and change into exercise clothes.

Step 4: (10 min)
Adjust and clean cardio equipment because the previous exercise douche didn't reset or clean anything.

Step 4: (30 min)
Work out.

Step 5: (10 min)
Cooling off period. Being the nice person I am, I reset the equipment and clean it off.

Step 6: (20 min)
Shower and change so I don't kill living creatures with After-Gym Body Stink.

Total time for gym experience: 110 minutes
Total time actually working out: 30 minutes
Total wasted time: 80 minutes

How the *$#!)> can anyone stand doing this? And might I add that using the exercise bike is better than running on a treadmill, which is the most boring exercise man has ever created.

I'll admit, I could cut out 10 minutes if I had reserved a locker and kept a change of clothes/shoes at the gym, but it leaves me with a whole whopping 70 minutes that I still will spend at the gym that is not exercising. Is this what people mean when the say, "I'm going to the gym for an hour" ? Do they actually mean "I'm going to the gym, prepare to exercise, actually only exercise for 20 minutes, then do other crap after exercising."? The crazy thing is, I can't figure out any step of the process that could be eliminated except for the showering bit, in which case I just stink. Or maybe if I showed up to the gym in my work-out-clothes, but that's impossible in winter.

I'm determined to keep to my work-out schedule for the next three weeks, but this may require much fortitude in character.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Running on the street isn't such a good idea. I'll end up getting hit by a car or bus.

Bored

Very very bored.
Very bored.
Stuck at school.

Lists:

In the next two months I hope to accomplish:

Reading The ICU Book by Marino
Making a skirt
Writing a novella
Packing up our crap to move
Unpacking our crap after we've moved
Making 1 month worth of meals

Will add to list if things come up

Novella

I'm not good at having a lot of vacation time so I'm going to write a novel.

It's going to be bad.

I'll occasionally post chapters.

Yup, it's going to be bad.

Watching and Waiting - Influenza

Guidelines:

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.
* Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw
the tissue in the trash after you use it.
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or
sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. Try to
avoid close contact with sick people.
* Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing
or sneezing of infected people.
* If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school
and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Puddings, delicioso

Chocolate Pudding (from scratch)

2-3 cups whole milk or half-and-half
2 tbs cornstarch
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
6 oz unsweetened chocolate

In a non-stick saucepan, mix cornstarch, sugar, chocolate and milk. Heat on medium-low, whisk continually until chocolate melted and well-incorporated. You will notice the pudding becoming thicker as the chocolate melts and pudding mix heats. Pudding is done when thickened, slightly bubbly. Take off heat, add 1 tsp vanilla. Mix well. Chill in individual cups or serve warm.

Vanilla pudding
2-3 cups whole milk or half-and-half
2 tbs cornstarch
1 cup sugar, or less to taste
2.5-2 tsp vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean

In a non-stick In a non-stick saucepan, mix cornstarch, sugar, vanilla bean, and milk. Heat on medium-low, whisk continually. You will notice the pudding becoming thicker as the chocolate melts and pudding mix heats. Remove vanilla bean after 10-15 minutes on simmer. Pudding is done when thickened, slightly bubbly. If using vanilla extract, add after removal from heat. Mix well. Chill in individual cups or serve warm.

Maru, the flu, my foot

I like cats. Cats that know what they like. Cats like Maru.
I have a special place in my heart for slightly tubbier cats.

As per International society for Infectious Disease (ISID): new strain of swine flu now transmitting from human-human without direct swine-human contact. This strain is a combination of swine, avian, and human genomics. This flu is still susceptible to Tamiflu and Relenza, however these drugs must be given within the first two days of infectious symptoms in order to have maximal effect. Remember: the flu virus is a virus, so the more widely Tamiflu and Relenza are used, the more likely resistance will develop.

Wash hands, cover sneezing/coughing. Clean touched surfaces frequently.

On another note, my husband taught me how to wrap my foot today after I ran into a curb and fell. It never came up in Emergency Medicine, strangely. Most people came in with fractures leading to immobilization with a new plexiglass-brace (they don't use plaster anymore).

Voltaire

I love Voltaire. This made me laugh this morning:

A Sermon Preached Before Fleas

My dear fleas, you are the cherished work of god; and this entire universe has been made for you. God created man only to serve as your food, the sun only to light your way, the stars only to please your sight, etc.

I happened to be in the cafeteria getting a cup of tea when I read this and started laughing. I think the cafeteria ladies believe I am crazy. Who else walks around with a volume of Voltaire? And how does one easily explain the humor in that passage?

My favorite story is by far The Way the World Goes. Somehow, knowing that the humanity hasn't changed one bit in the last four-five centuries makes me feel better about my continued existence. If we haven't managed to destroy the world in the last 500 years, I am confident that it will continue to exist through the next 500. I agree, there is fallacy in my logic.

I rather like this as well:

Non mei inimici sed invidi perdiderunt.

(Not my enemies but they who envy me will destroy me.)

It's 5am in America

Well, at least the Central U.S. I'd say something clever about a bear now, or who's on the phones at the White House, but it's not really relevant and I'm not that witty.

I'm here in --- looking for a home and I must say, this experience is making me feel like the adult that I am.

For our price range and location, yes, the homes are older, but man, some people need to start lovin' their stuff. One dude sat in his stained recliner sipping a beer while we looked over his propertaaa (as Cartman would say) and waited for the realtor to talk about why the house was infested with Chinese beetles. Chinese beetles. He reminded me of The Dude (because his recliner was on top of a nice oriental carpet) but without the White Russian obsession, and I didn't have to smell The Dude.

On the other end of the spectrum, some of the homes are gorgeous and well maintained. I also met a really friendly tabby who followed us around the entire house and wanted to be petted. Several times over. I like cats. Cat no. 2 in that house just spent the time sleeping behind a recliner.

Another thing I've noticed: people who own homes are more likely to have recliners. My dad has one. He owns his home. I agree that they are very comfortable despite rather bulky, and frankly, hideously upholstered. Hmmm. Is there a place in my life for both home and recliner ownership? It remains to be seen.

The people here are exceedingly polite. It's the only place I've lived, other than Canada, where they say "thank you" and "good night." It's rather nice. This morning, I spent a few minutes listening to the larks sing outside my window before resigning myself to my insomnia and getting up to write my fans (or one fan, rather).

Well, off to work. Must pass ACLS course. Expensive otherwise.