So kids, I did it. I finally went back to the gym. The same idiots are still there and they still haven’t found a way to properly clean the bathrooms, however I was happy to see my old Pilates instructor was still there. I haven’t been in ages and was worried she may have moved on (turnover rate is high at LA Fitness). My friend Kate came along with me to give the Pilates a try (she had never been) and after class was over I was able to come to two conclusions: I really miss Pilates. And I have lost a lot of my flexibility this year. I could not believe how difficult some of the moves were for me; I never had those problems prior to my injury. The only good part about that, is it will keep me motivated to keep going back to class so that I can get back into the shape I was in pre-injury. Pilates is going to be a huge part of my off-season in which I am mainly focusing on stregth training.
It felt good to finally be working out again. I was beginning to feel like a lazy slug and even though I hadn’t gained any weight, I could feel the weight shifting and noticed my clothes looking a bit different. Getting solid and consistent workouts in around my 60-80/hours a week schedule is tough- I enjoy sleeping in until 6am and have a hard time wanting to work out at 11pm when I get home from work or on my only nights off. But I know how good I feel when I am done a workout and I try to keep that in mind when I am feeling like doing nothing.
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Lacey did this the other day, inspired by Mark Bittman on the Whole Living website, and I loved it…
I included both Mark and Lacey’ answers…
If I could say one thing to myself 20 years ago…
MB- Things will get better, not worse.
L- Write down every single book you read, a favorite quote, and something you thought about it.
Me- Take advantage of being young.
My favorite place in the world…
MB- The United States.
L- My first thought: home. My second thought: some sort of vacation get-away.
Me- Wildwood, NJ and anywhere when I am with people I love
The lesson I keep learning over and over…
MB- Most things that seem hard at first get easier, in either 10 minutes or 10 years.
L- If you stay up too late, you will be tired the next day.
Me- Listen to your gut. Then follow what it tells you. 99% of the time, you already know the answers.
The movie I watch when I want to laugh…
MB- “A Night at the Opera” [the Marx Brothers].
L- Oooh, tough one. I feel like I laugh so hard at so many but I can only think of a few: Bill Murray in The Man Who Knew Too Little and What About Bob, Leslie Nielson in the Naked Gun movies, Steve Martin in Sgt Bilko, Rush Hour, National Lampoon…
Me- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
The most scared I’ve ever been…
MB- Cannot talk about it.
L- The moment of getting hit by a car.
Me- There have been a few times.
No one knows I…
MB- Will not talk about it.
L- Made an elaborate plan to barricade myself in our log house bathroom and live out the rest of my life there. I figured it had the bathroom and the shower so all I needed to do was install a fold out bed, in-wall fridge, in-wall television, and a slot for food and books to be passed through. Brilliant, right?
Me- If I told you…people would know.
Unhealthiest thing I’ve ever passed off as dinner…
MB- Hmm. Roast beef?
L- Copious amounts of cereal.
Me- Ice cream.
Personal philosophy…
MB- Seriously? The Golden Rule.
L- Be kind.
Me- Always remember who you are and where you came from.
Book that changed my life…
MB- There are many. Julie Sahni’s “Classic Indian Cooking” is one. “Thank You, Jeeves” [P.G. Wodehouse] is another.
L- The Diary of Ann Frank. The Giver. Night. My Side of the Mountain. The Berenstein Bears… hehe.
Me- Wow- over the years, I have been riveted by so many books. I don’t think I could ever narrow it down to one, or even five. I will say that I was most inspired by Audrey Hepburn’s Biography, written by her son.
I unwind by…
MB- Running, cooking, drinking, sleeping.
L- Castle!!! (TV show). Reading. Sleeping. Taking a hot shower.
Me- drinking wine, reading blogs, reading books/magazines…
Proudest moment in my career…
MB- Landing a column [“The Minimalist”] at the New York Times.
L- Beginning my graduate program…. getting good grades on work I put a lot of thought into.
Me- I really don’ t have a career, but my proudest moments academically were all the times I made Dean’s list while also holding a full-time job. And most of all when I was honored with the Humanities Award in my junior year at Rutgers University.
What keeps me up at night…
MB- Writing a column for the New York Times. Well, not really. I’m 60, therefore: death.
L- What I have to do tomorrow. The next day.
Me- To-do lists, family concerns, financial concerns and so on and so on and so on…
I define “downtime” as…
MB- Almost any time a computer screen is not in front of me.
L- When I feel calm.
Me- Being able to lay in bed or on the couch and veg
Coffee or tea?
MB- Both.
L- Both!
Me- Both!!
Guiltiest pleasure…
MB- Corned beef.
L- Staying in a really hot shower way longer than necessary! Massages… Vacations…
Me- A really good martini and traveling
My mom was right about…
MB- Cooking being a worth-while activity.
L- Everything! She is amazing.
Me- The importance of being smart about money.
My mom was wrong about…
MB- The right way to cook hamburgers.
L- Nothing. See above.
Me- Not a whole lot.
The last time I lost my temper was…
MB- Yesterday.
L- On Saturday when Elliot told me we couldn’t get a train to NYC for New Year’s Day (for a friend’s wedding) but he was kidding except I didn’t know that. WHAT?! WE CAN’T GO?! I ALREADY RSVP’D! I THOUGHT YOU WERE BOOKING THE TRAIN?! ARRRRGHHH. hahaha. Something like that. Slight overreaction?
Me- It has been a long time since I have really lost it, but I get easily frustrated on the daily at my day job.
My favorite moment of the day…
MB- It’s either waking up or going to sleep, but it depends on the day.
L- Tea in the morning. Coffee after breakfast.
Me- The feeling of getting in bed at night
I wish I had more time for…
MB- Movies.
L- Vacation!!!!!!!!!
Me- Myself
I always make time for…
MB- Cooking.
L- Sleeping.
Me- Catching up with old friends when the opportunities arise.
I’m currently reading…
MB- “War and Peace” (yes, really).
L- The DSM IV… (kidding, slightly…)
Me- Notes Left Behind
Home means...
MB- Love.
L- Family!
Me- 208 ♥
I know some of you did this on Lacey’s comments page already; for those of you who didn’t, feel free to leave answers here, or post your own. I would love to read others wisdom!
Finishing is Winning 