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Odd duck.
Today it struck me that I am a very strange bird, indeed. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I'm just strange.
I haven't written much because there's not been a lot to say. Just more of my usual oddness, really. I've been working on the Best Damn Dragon Keychain I Can Possibly Make and it's driving me batty. I can't stop futzing with it. I put three different eyes in there 'cause I couldn't make up my mind which color looked best, and I ripped out the chin gussett twice because it wasn't "quite right". I need to just finish the damn thing & be done with it...it's destroying my equilibrium.
I went to my 6 week evaluation at the gym and it was a sobering experience. I still have such a long way to go. :-( I feel all strong & special until they do that damn body fat analysis and my poor ego just crumbles. Damn you, Nature! Why'd you have to go & make me so short?? I'm not overweight. I'm undertall. My ancestors, generation after generation of squat Mediterranean people, point at me through the aeons and laugh. All I can do is stand here in my shorty-mcShort petite size 12 jeans and sulk. I'll never ever be a two no matter how hard I work at it. Woe.
For those of you who are curious, here is how I explained "Getting thrown under the bus" to Takao.
" Your English skills are very good! I'm impressed. I thought I'd find a pen pal who might want to brush up on their English skills, but you don't need any help there, really. So! I have decided to help you in another way. Here in America there are "sayings"...pop culture phrases that catch on and everyone uses. Here is one of my favorites. I'll pass it along to you and you can use it and impress your friends. It's called "being thrown under the bus". You use it like this...
I went to my 6 week evaluation at the gym and it was a sobering experience. I still have such a long way to go. :-( I feel all strong & special until they do that damn body fat analysis and my poor ego just crumbles. Damn you, Nature! Why'd you have to go & make me so short?? I'm not overweight. I'm undertall. My ancestors, generation after generation of squat Mediterranean people, point at me through the aeons and laugh. All I can do is stand here in my shorty-mcShort petite size 12 jeans and sulk. I'll never ever be a two no matter how hard I work at it. Woe.
For those of you who are curious, here is how I explained "Getting thrown under the bus" to Takao.
" Your English skills are very good! I'm impressed. I thought I'd find a pen pal who might want to brush up on their English skills, but you don't need any help there, really. So! I have decided to help you in another way. Here in America there are "sayings"...pop culture phrases that catch on and everyone uses. Here is one of my favorites. I'll pass it along to you and you can use it and impress your friends. It's called "being thrown under the bus". You use it like this...
Let's say you are out at a bar with a guy friend of yours. You are relaxing and along comes a pretty girl, and she starts flirting with you. You flirt back. Just when you're thinking about asking her for her phone number, your friend asks you in a LOUD voice if you remembered to call your girlfriend. Your friend just threw you under the bus."
Takao says:
"I wish I knew this sooner. I think I get thrown under busses all the time at work! It is a great thing to know! You are a good friend."
We also discussed at length how very funny it is that there are two popular Japanese expressions that are used all the time. One is "do your best!!" (ganbatte!) and the other is "Don't strain yourself" or something like that. It's funny 'cause they kind of go together. Really, you need to find a balance between the two, somewhere, I think. Ideally.
Takao says:
"I wish I knew this sooner. I think I get thrown under busses all the time at work! It is a great thing to know! You are a good friend."
We also discussed at length how very funny it is that there are two popular Japanese expressions that are used all the time. One is "do your best!!" (ganbatte!) and the other is "Don't strain yourself" or something like that. It's funny 'cause they kind of go together. Really, you need to find a balance between the two, somewhere, I think. Ideally.
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That's great that you're in such great cardiovascular shape! I never was, even when I was a lot more active than my hip and other factors in my life will allow now--probably in part because of my asthma. I was more fit back then in terms of muscles, but even with walking/riding/rollerblading/dancing regularly, I often find myself gasping for breath after a brisk walk across campus. Now I sometimes feel like a beached whale--can't breathe, hip inflamed, and about 40 pounds heavier than I should be.
But I am getting better--last week I sent up north with a friend and we went on a number of hikes, one of which was a little over 3 miles--and while I had to take ibuprofin before and afterwards in order to do it, and I am still paying for it now, I did it. 2 years ago, I couldn't walk more than 15 minutes at a time without my hip flaring up. 6 years ago, I could hardly walk at all without incredible hip pain. So I'm slowly getting better--frustratingly slowly, but better. And it's almost summer, which means I can start swimming--good for a bad hip--and I can play tennis again, and am walking more, usually with friends as there's no where to walk really around here. And I'm also thinking of taking up belly dancing, if I can find the time--it's a lot of fun and it's supposed to be really good for people with hip problems like mine, as long as you don't over do it.
Anyway, I'm glad that you're taking it easy--taking things in moderation.
And one of these days, I will have to figure out how to come out to visit you so that we can go biking together!