The extra 12-15 pound pack on my back did not help. No Aerodynamics. I could not get above 16 mph.
So that left me with a cool one hour commute. It was nice. I saw only 2 other bikers on the commuter trail and 4 runners. Now that's what I call "No traffic jams."
Since I was only pumping along at a moderate pace, my mind began to contemplate words and phrases. I don't know why. Some things that just don't make sense and thus...bug me.
Birth Control Pill. The 'pill' doesn't control birth, it controls menstruation and hormones. Right?
Boneless ribs. No such thing.
Seriously funny. Which is it? Serious or funny.
At the end of the day. It's the end of the day, duh.
Racist and Racism. These words have been overused and thrown around so much they no longer have meaning.
Somali gangs are shooting each other 3 miles form my house. How long do I have before they're in my neighborhood? Can I shoot back?
Embrace diversity. Please explain. Is this a command? A suggestion? Can I decide what I'll embrace?
A car turned into my designated bike lane, near the University, and stopped. I locked up, skidded, and stopped 3 inches from the back bumper. Lots of witnesses heard me curse loudly. Apparently the driver thought the bike lane was also a turning/stopping lane.
I'd like to nicely ask with sugar on top...please take your ear buds out and "embrace" your environment. Maybe even talk to the person near you. I feel like I get the cold shoulder more often. I'm saddened by the growing number of people at the fitness center (YMCA) who have blocked out their surroundings (me) with ear buds. No problem with rocking out on the dread mill or other stationary cardio equipment. Sometimes that's just a necessary survival tool, but I miss interacting and making eye contact with people in the weight room/fitness center. Even a simple acknowledgment to them with a nod, a hello, or a smile has waned away. Too many of them, some are long time friends, are now drones. Always looking down. Focused only on themselves, their shoes, the floor. Gazing down as if having had a lobotomy.
"Excuse me, are you using this?" Long pause. "Are you done here?"...
"Can I work in with you?"...
"You have something gooey stuck on your back."
(tapping on their shoulder) "Excuse me, are you done with this?"
PLUCK (sound of ear bud being removed) "What?"
"Are you done with this?"
"Oh...uh...yeah. Go ahead."
"Thanks. Would you mind..." PLUG (sound of ear bud being re-inserted)
"Would you mind spotting me on this bench press?"
PLUCK. "What?"
"Could you spot me on this bench press?"
"Uh...sure."
"Thanks. I think I can do..." PLUG.
"Never mind. I hope I don't drop this on my neck."
PLUCK. "What?"
"Thanks."
PLUG
She was probably a very nice and talkative woman anywhere else but I'll never know.
Maybe I'm overly social but pointless chit chat and chatter I used to have with people before ear buds was good for me.
Maybe I should learn sign language.
7 comments:
Ipod/music player of any kind - I've sworn it off unless in the confines of my own home on the dreadmill. There is so much to miss otherwise!
Hopefully the driver that cut you off is now more aware of their surroundings. Heck, maybe they'll mention it to their friends and now 3 or 4 people will now know the bike lane isn't a turning lane.
All about awareness.....
you were dead on...in this regard...I hate the buds in the gym... I just don't subscribe to it....
I have to work real hard to hear people when I don't have my hearing aids in... and then I want to communicate with someone and they have worse hearing than I do....it makes no sense.
We are a world with every person on his own island....
Hey, we have the same distance bike commute.. but you have a bike path! I'm jealous.
I wish that I could bike to work.
Hey, working in a gym day in and day out, some of these people you DO NOT want to talk to. Trust me. The talking would be more listening to strange and goofy problems and personal weirdness. I have to talk over my clients that I do small group training with and talk loudly to get their attention away from what is happening in the Garden Club, on their last vacation, in their neighborhood, at their kid's school. ARGH! Focus on the workout PLEASE!!!
Super cool that you can ride to work!!
The ear buds thing gets me...especially on the street where people are just walking around. I find it somewhat odd for some reason. The constant need to be distracted is slightly disheartening.
Very interesting post. I agree on wanting the weight room to be social. Since I usually lift with 2-4 other people, sometimes I look around because I feel guilty that others in the gym might need a spot while we're just standing around chatting in between sets.
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