It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A

For about an hour anyway.

Last week... I went to the YMCA and got a membership and tour. Membership is part of the domestic partner health benefits I am enrolled in through my partner's employer.

Today, I went for the first time and walked on a treadmill for 40 minutes. It was oddly Zen-like... "I am one with the treadmill". It did not feel like 40 minutes, but there was a timer on the treadmill that said it was 40 minutes. I just lost track of time, though.

All in all... the experience wasn't bad. I'm just not used to the surroundings and being in a locker room felt very uncomfortable. Just not used to being around so many men in various stages of dress from fully clothed in street clothes or workout attire to completely naked walking around without even a towel on. I expect I'll get used to it.

With the membership comes options for using pool, exercise equipment, lockers, and the locker room has a whirlpool and steam room. Which I skipped this time as I went kinda late in the morning so by the time I finished with the treadmill... the lunch crowd was arriving and it was getting crowded.

Will I go back? Yeah. I want to be healthier and exercise is part of being healthier.

(The image above is a clipart I found on the web somewhere... no idea where... but it is NOT something I created.)

And suddenly... a shot rang out, the maid screamed, and a pirate ship appeared on the horizon

Somewhere I've got a Snoopy book of cartoons where he writes a novel called "It was a dark and stormy night"... and it goes something like the subject line above. And it's got nothing to do with anything. I just typed it.

So... my domestic partnership health benefit package includes membership in a fitness center. Tomorrow I'm going to visit one of the eligible fitness centers... this one is a YMCA... and it has exercise equipment and a pool. I'm nervous. I'm taking ownership of BE-ing healthy. And the fact that the most recent recollection of stepping into a fitness center is the 80s when I attended the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

I re-arranged furniture in my cave (also called office and studio). Flow is much better. I can sit at my art table and look out the window. There's balance in one area that had none. And imbalance needing to be fixed in another that was originally balanced. I've got more of my artwork on display and I've done a few creative things. That's the whole point... to be creative... in this case it's creating a workspace that inspires and flows full of great energy and makes me smile.

Tonight's video night for my partner and I. Catch-up on the various VCR'd television shows we both like to watch... like Gilmore Girls, Smallville, Dr. Who, Bones. He just got home and is taking a bit to check his e-mail. So I'm finishing this post up before popping in a microwave Hormel beef roast (they are actually quite good). Maybe canned corn as a vegetable.

All in all... a good day. No shots, screaming maids or pirate ships to speak of.