Gym observations

1. While pedaling away at the elliptical today, I spotted a frazzle-haired woman mount her machine a row ahead of me. I took a double take when I saw her attempt to balance a chunky electronic on the machine’s magazine holder. It was indeed what I thought it was: a cassette Walkman.

2. To those on the stairmaster machines beside the floor-to-ceiling mirrors: I can see you shamelessly checking yourself out in the mirror, and so can the rest of us. After all, there are floor-to-ceiling mirrors all over the cardio area.

3. There’s a lanky, middle-aged woman who makes swimming motions with her arms while walking on the treadmill. Does that do anything?

Airport encounters: NYC

Sitting in La Guardia Airport terminal, waiting for my flight:

My sneeze interrupted the 8 a.m. silence, only to be followed with more (this time offensive) silence. Not one ‘bless you’!

Later:

Accidentally drop driver’s license between the two rows of connected seats. Literally have to climb and dangle my body through the gap to retrieve driver’s license because nearby occupants tried to ignore (during the silence) the unmistakable sound of a driver’s license-type card fall onto the ground, and were too rude to kick my driver’s license back over to me.

Standing on NYC's High Line in December 2013 for my NYE trip

Solo sushi picnic

On Friday I left work early for some “me” time. I ordered some sushi from one of my favorite sushi restaurants, and leapt over to the grassy area across the parking lot overlooking the man-made pond and two splashing fountains, unrolled my yoga mat, and plopped myself down. After contemplating whether or not I could finish my second roll, I decided to pack my things up and head back to the car. I turned around to find an SUV parked facing me. Young female driver in the driver’s seat, shades on. Probably Instagramming a selfie. Had she been parked there the entire time?

Drawing by Tony Ma

Happy Valentine's Day

You have to watch this! Brooklyn couple Danny and Annie tell the true story of their 27-year romance, from their first date to Danny's last days with terminal cancer. It's heartbreakingly romantic.



(Via A Cup of Jo)

Q&A: Understanding your children

"Joshua Littman, a 12-year-old boy with Asperger’s syndrome, interviews his mother, Sarah. Joshua’s unique questions and Sarah’s loving, unguarded answers reveal a beautiful relationship that reminds us of the best—and the most challenging—parts of being a parent."


Q&A from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

Avoiding gym newbies

Early January means the annual invasion of the gym newbies. I've written about how frustrating it is at times to muster the will to get up, change into workout attire and step foot onto the gym floor with leggings that hug every curve ... Only to find all machines occupied by said newbies whose well-intentioned resolve will taper off as the weeks go on.

So, this year I decided not to step foot into my usual gym until the third week in January. My coworker, who recently pumped up his exercise routine to stave off health concerns that come with age, warned me that it'll be hard to jump back into a workout routine after a few week's stagnation, but I'm sure I'll be fine. Just keep those croissants away from me!

Hey, there's always the Corporate Gym in the meantime, right? I hope I don't run into any IT guys this time around :(. Maybe I'll even venture into a weekend yoga class or two.

Jane St. during my New Year's trip to NYC. I'm holding a bag of cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery. Oops! :)