Just a Thought I Had

So I am now a card carrying member of a gym. I've got a little key to use in the machines and everything!

We had our introduction on Wednesday and personally I can empathise with L starting to look a bit bored. For the last half an hour even I was losing patience and only paying attention so I wouldn't get in trouble like he did! Is it really necessary to show us how every piece of equipment works? If I want to use one of the pieces that look more like torture devices and I'm not sure, I'll ask. And don't expect me to remember how to use them all the second time around.

The thing I couldn't stop thinking about as we made our way around the gym, our tiny little German tour guide enthusiastically showing us how everything worked, was how patently ridiculous it all is. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for keeping fit and looking well.

But running in place? Bicycling to nowhere? Skiing with no slope? How strange it all is and how strange people look using them. Because we are totally unable to amuse ourselves now, new gym equipment comes with TV's that you can watch and listen to as well. Is it just me that thinks this is nuts?

Can you imagine taking someone from 100 years ago and show them where modern man goes to keep trim? They would bust a gut laughing so hard. What's wrong with going for a walk or a real bike ride?

This whole tangent started as I watched our Nazi gym instructor use the various weight machines. She was really strong and healthy and something I should aspire to but I couldn't help thinking about using a weight system of resistance to build up muscles.

It just seems so... pointless. That's the only word I can think of. People over the centuries have kept their muscles strong by tilling fields, churning butter and washing clothes. Modern technology has taken all those chores away from us and to stop from turning into flabby couch potatoes, we lift dead weights in a dead room with people with dead eyes.

This isn't meant to be a pessimistic post; it's just a wonderment at how far we've come. I plan on working my butt off on the cardio machines and staring at the little TV's in a daze as well. My appointment with my personal trainer is in a week and I'll figure out which of the weight machines is best for me and my trouble areas. I've rediscovered my love of water and am glad to report that my fitness level doesn't seem too bad considering how long it's been since I was last in a pool.

Just remember next time you're feeling the burn and pumping some iron that not that long ago, this would have seemed really funny. And maybe, it still is.

A New Age?

You'd think that having my own baby little laptop would get me writing more. But you'd be wrong. It's been over a week now and this is my first posting. I will try to do this more often.

Summer has sprung in London again. The last week or so has been beautiful, glorious sunshine and just-right temperatures. I went to the park for this time this summer and soaked up the atmosphere of Londoners enjoying the sunshine. There's nothing like it; they always seem so surprised and giddy.

L's moved in almost all of his stuff now and tomorrow will be his official move-in day. I'm so glad that we waited another month to make sure and I'm really glad he's coming. I know it's not the best place for two longterm but for the summer at least, I think it will suit us fine.

There's still a chance we'll be off to Albania in July but it doesn't seem to be hanging over our heads and hearts as much as it did before. We'd love to do it but it's not the end of the world. And if we don't go, we're still going to take a summer break down to Cornwall or something like that.

I'm hoping we'll get our gym memberships sorted out this week and there's a good chance, with help from my new puter, that I'll start participating in the Friday Fiction on a more regular basis now.

I've read over some of my old work and I must say I feel it's pants. It's a real shame because I was so proud of it at the time of writing. I know what I want to say and how I want it to come across, but it seems that I can do better than this.

I'll endeavour to put little snippets here and hopefully, get some feedback from my online buddies. I'd love to hear any feedback so let me know!

Escalators, Mugabe and more...

I've been noticing something lately. Escalators are meant for love. Aerosmith may have been onto something with sex in the elevator but they missed a trick about escalators.

I don't know what it is about them; perhaps it's putting a couple with usually a height difference a different perspective. Perhaps it's the momentary pause in our usually hectic and busy lives. Perhaps that we have no escape from each other in that moment. But whatever the reasons, escalators were meant for love. Every time I get one on, I see a couple happily canoodling.

And don't think for a moment this is the rantings of a bitter jealous girl. Oh no, things are going well with the Albanian - sometimes there's a bit of a delay with the language but we make ourselves understood and we're having a really nice time together. He's very patient with your crazy Doc and maybe she needs someone to be gentle with all her madness. It's a well documented fact that all my issues have gotten worse over the last few years rather than better.

But back to the matter at hand, I am also guilty of the escalator snuggle and I actually approach them with a kind of excitement, knowing that I'll have a little snuggle in public without being too coupley.

...

Also I want to talk about Zimbabwe and the horrific situation there. This political upheaval hits me more emotionally than anything that's happening in Iraq or Afghanistan; perhaps it's because of T and knowing that her family are in the middle of all of this. And so are so many other good people who deserve to have the right to vote out some crazy greedy fucker that's ass raped their country into the ground!

Okay, you can tell I'm a bit fired up about this. T's told me that her country used to be one of the better off countries in Africa; with plenty of agriculture and natural resources. Then Mugabe came along and sucked all the good stuff out of that country so now some people are so poor they run away to South Africa of all places to have anything.

Now I see that they've managed to play with the numbers in the votes so there's a split draw. And now another election must take place. And what is Mr Mugabe and his political cohorts going to be doing with this extra time? Trying to intimidate his own people into voting for him through violence and revenge. Does this sound right?

And where is the UN or any other world governing body during all of this? Why are they not stepping in and pushing this evil man out? Everyone knows what's going on down there, why are we turning a blind eye to it? It sickens me and I wish there was something I could do about it.

...

So Mr Boris has won the London elections, that's great news...

If you make over 60k a year that is. As a Liberal (or Labour in this country), I always vote for my party regardless of their fuck ups or wishy-washy nature. And I didn't think ol' Ken was really doing a bad job for us. I loved some of his green policies and thought he was a good leader for our fair city.

I can't see this Boris wanker doing any better if anything. All I can see him really doing is hanging up with this rich friends, drinking scotch and talking about how they should get rid of all low-income housing in the city to 'push the vermin out'. I guess time will tell.

...

Lastly, I was just reading this on the tube and would love go to check it out tomorrow. So Banksy and I have had our differences of opinion (I did accuse the old chap of rampant commercialism but I still think I had a fair point), I still think he's a great artist and commentator on our modern lives. If you're in London over the Bank holiday and might appreciate an alternative kind of culture, head on down.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hTrpT34_6UF-KjyTaIt2GoPNsv1wD90DL4001

Headache...

I was supposed to be going to see Fedde Le Grand tonight. I was really excited about it. I was hoping for a big crowd including the old JK mates, T-Bot and her new friends, Y and a few of his nearest and dearest. Perhaps a couple randoms, like the cool chicka from my offices and my colleague.

But alas, it was doomed. Everyone bailed out and all have perfectly good reasons for not being there. So I really can't blame them, that's the way it goes right? If you have other priorities, good DJ's take to the sidelines. Sorry Fedde.

So then I was prepared to go with just me, L and his mate. I figured I'd get high and not care. Then L got sick with my cold. I seriously considered going on my own.

I know, I'm a bad person.

But I think karma found me in the end. Around 11:30am, headache central hit me. It's come and gone in phases but it's not going well at the moment.

I guess it wasn't meant to happen and after some reflection, I realise that he'll come again. And hopefully more people will be up for it next time around.

L's just gone to drop off the tickets to his mates. I feel kine of shitty about not going but my head is still thumping and there's no reason to go if it's not going to be worth it. This is NOT a sign of getting older, just being sensible.

At least, that's what I keep telling myself.

Status Report: Weary but Relaxed

Saturday afternoon and spending time with L before he leaves for work. Sometimes I feel kind of bad that he works on the weekends, when we could have lazy Sunday mornings in bed but then I realise that maybe I would crave my own time if things were different. I am fickle.

Last night, we went to Heaven to check out Carl Cox and while it was drama-filled, it was still a pretty good night out with the old crew: JT & JT in the house! I'm pretty sure I won't be going back to Heaven, it was packed to the rafters and sweaty as hell. The heat coming off the crowd was incredible and there wasn't even enough room to dance. And couple that with paying for the privilege of going for a ciggie and not being able to refill our bottles in the bathroom, I just felt used, sweaty and dirty after wards.

But I must say that Carl Cox was worth it. A bit heavier than T and I expected but still some pumping tunes. I think SW4 is definitely in order.

Before heading out, I had a convo with a friend that I really respect and heard that she's getting counseling. It was more of an in-depth conversation than either of us expected but it left me thinking. About how we cope with things and why we behave the way we do. I am always incredibly admirable of anyone that is willing to stand up and say 'Yes, I need help' and sometimes I wish I could say it myself. But then, what would I say? I don't even feel that I could say anything to a counselor that I haven't said to myself over and over again. I realise my own issues, I just don't know to keep them from affecting my life.

I hope that the counseling really helps my friend and from the sounds of it, it already is. She's an amazing person who deserves to be treated as well as she treats everyone else and I really hope she finds a little corner of happiness for herself.

After all, isn't that we're all hoping to find?

Bring on the Sunshine

So here we are again... The weather has been pretty wild recently here in Londontown; first storm as fuck last week, snow over the weekend and now it's been beautiful the last couple of days. It's funny how the day light savings time can kick up spring a notch. All of a sudden, it's still light when you leave and people are out enjoying it while it lasts.

Work's been crap. Again. The promised finance director hasn't come in and I've been told he won't be coming until we've sorted out the office space. Which could be any time between now and 2009. Not only that but our 'big' event at the end of the month? We've got 20 people booked into one of them and that's the biggest. Woohoo. Not only are the number's failing but we still haven't confirmed a venue.

I got into events because I like deadlines. Am I missing something here?

Other than that, I've been a pretty busy bee lately. L and I have been spending quite a bit of time together and I'm really looking forward to the trip to Albania in August. Free trip with sun and beach? Yes please! Then when we come back, there's talk of moving into together. Take it one step at a time but it's all looking good.

Except I've learned not to try to integrate him with my friends. But I figure that's okay; this way, I'll still get to see all my mates and have a fella. Best of both worlds really as long as he doesn't start making me feel guilty about it. But at least he's actually got friends here so I can't see that being a problem.

A couple of big nights coming up: Going to see Carl Cox this Friday, whom I've heard of but couldn't tell you a single track by him. T says he's the bomb and that's enough for me. Also going with a 'new one', a Slovenian girl I met through the building.

Then roll on the 25th for Mr Fedde Le Grand!!! I am so excited. The last time I saw him at the End was one of my best nights EVER and I don't pound on the speakers for just anybody. And also claim loudly for hours' after that I would gladly have his babies. I'm not really a baby person but if Fedde asked, I'd have to seriously consider it. There's a HUGE crew going to that, lots of cross-over so it should be pretty great.

And whenever Y's involved, you know it's going to be a fun one!

So... I'm writing this on a notepad as L's got ZERO word functions on his computer. I haven't found any porn but no Microsoft programmes? WTF. But the point was I'm not really sure how much I've written. I'm going to say that was enough.

Right, well I should finish up and leave a fiver. Cuz I'm not sure when I'll be back again but I'll try.

Meanwhile, check this out. A bit long but worth it. Funniest thing I've seen on the interweb in awhile. Including me:

http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs13/f/2007/077/2/e/Animator_vs__Animation_by_alanbecker.swf

And no, I don't remember how to make proper links - don't bitch, just copy and paste it you bitches!

Just a Quickie

Hehe, it's been more than awhile. I have been very busy so don't look at me like that.

Work has been great lately. Last week I got the news that when we get our new financial director in a week's time, I'll be working closely with him to do all of the accounting stuff. And no more meta tags, which was possibly the most boring job created.

The Finance Masterclass went alright I suppose. I want to put it down to teething problems, all the little things that went wrong. Somethings were outside of anyone's control (massive tides and weather included) but I suppose when you're only paying about £50 per person, you can't expect glamour and fairy dust.

The other news is that I've met someone again. Met him about a month ago with Y in the Loop, which is bizarre as I never go there. Bad memories and all that. But I guess it has it's pluses.

L reminds me a lot of the Frenchman, whom I had spending a lot of time thinking about recently. Wondering if I had the mistake of my life, letting him walk away. But I eventually decided that while I sometimes miss him a lot, it's not fair to tell him and potentially screw up his life now. He's doing so well and nothing could make me happier.

Anyways, the new guy is pretty great. Very generous and silly and despite the language barrier, he can be quite funny. We've been spending a lot of time together and I'm really trying not to put up barriers with this one. I'm just having fun and trying to take things as they come.

As a side note, how glad am I that I didn't end up going camping this weekend! Hot L or not, it would've been way too cold!