Ah yes, Tuesday

Yet another rainy Tuesday in Iowa.  Cool and wet.  Great!  My grand dogs are anxious to get training outside on a consistent basis.  Oh, they do well in the fitness center.  I mean they have everything they can possibly think of except the smell of fresh air.  Kinnick is here today.  On his plate are 2 sessions on the treadmill with 4 ounce paw weights.  He will get a half hour in the pool swimming laps then an hour practicing dock diving.  He will get a lunch and an hour nap mid-day.  Depending on how the afternoon session goes, he will probably spend some time in the sauna or whirlpool.

Word of the Week - Obtuse.
If you think "Friction" is a section in the book store, you are probably not as smart as a fifth grader.

Our city fathers are re-working the ordinance which defines a junk car and the penalties.  About time if you ask me.  We have such an animal in our area.  Hasn't moved in years.  I really think the city should get on people who are insensitive to the look of their property and their neighborhood.  Just saying.

I am getting a little irritated with our gym.  Monday's class has 35 to 45 people consistently.  Participation falls off the rest of the week.  Management has the innate ability to see a need and never fix it.  For example - our exercise room has a plethora of fluorescent lights.  There have been about 4 or 5 sets of these lights burned out for months.  Never gets replaced.   One of the fixtures was actually beginning to separate from the ceiling grid.  I haven't checked lately but it stayed that way at least 2 weeks.  Pretty dangerous.  We have had a shortage of exercise bands and balls.  Where they go who knows.  Not exactly something you would want to take home with you.  This shortage continued for months.  Our poor instructor has tried to no end to get supplies and things fixed.  We did get some extra bands and balls finally.  Unfortunately, the purchase consumed her entire budget for the year.  We are now in need of chairs.   We run dangerously short and have had to use some that should be tossed.  I may have to have a "discussion" with management.  I can see it coming.

Ever wonder why two people who are the same height and have similar body builds are so different in their walking style?  Probably not, right?  Well I have.  When you walk 17 laps around a basketball court to equal a mile, all sorts of topics come to mind.  Sue, who you may know as my current wife, and I routinely walk an extra mile or two after class.  I walk at a pace that to me is as fast as my short muscular legs will take me.  Looking at Sue, she walks much faster.  How can that be?  Legs are about the same length, yet she takes about 2 strides to my 1.  I really don't know why this is.

We had a lovely weekend.  Saturday was the birthday party for Kinnick and Max.  Kinnick is 6 and Max is now 5.  We ate lunch at Jenny, the elder's house.  Presents were given to the boys along with doggy's birthday cake and various treats.  They played hard and wore themselves out.  I think they appreciated the effort.  Sunday, of course, was Easter.  Everyone was at our house for a feast.  It was a good time also.  Jenny persuaded me to come over to her house to help install a railing along her steps.  PLEASE SOMEONE GET MY TOOLS AWAY FROM ME!!!  We didn't have any mishaps but it went slower than we would have liked.  Still have more to do but so far it looks good.  Knock on wood.

The Crabby List (things that make me crabby):
1.   Postage stamps that won't stick to the envelope but will stick to each other.
2.   Hearing someone is making a fortune from an idea you suggested in a bar.
3.   Cutesy restroom signs that leave you wondering which door is for you.
4.   New taxes disguised as "revenue enhancers."
5.   Panhandlers in new Reeboks.
6.   The sticky brown stuff at the bottom of the refrigerator.
7.   The first ding on your new car.
8.   Middle seats on an airplane.
9.   Waiters who top off your coffee after you've gotten the cream and sugar just right.
10.  Campaign Promises.

Had to go to the doctors office this am for a routine blood test.  Of course, one must fast for 12 hours before the test.  I don't really understand why you have to starve for 12 hours.  Has this ever been explained to you? I mean it seems as though those 12 hours are actually a minimum of 36 hours.  I swear,  it is hard not to have my French Roast the first thing in the morning.  Just stay out of my way.  I am grumpy, hungry, head achy, having cold sweats and etc.  Why are these people who are drawing blood at 8:00 am so darn chipper?  I thought there was a rule about that.

Word of the Week - Obtuse (You thought I forgot about the word of the week, didn't you?)

Lacking quickness of perception or intellect.

Characterized by a lack of intelligence or sensitivity: an obtuse remark.

Not distinctly felt

Let's all commit to using this word at least once a day for the rest of the week.  I may not be able to use it that often since I am obtuse!

I see by the clock on the wall that it is about time for us to go to the gym.  We have a late start on Tuesdays.  I am chocking down my second cup of French Roast.  It isn't the same when I have been up since 5:00 am and am bone dry.  Hey, have a great day.  Until next time - TA!