Inwhich Marcia Gets Off Her Lazy Ass:

I emailed Matt today from work. This in and of itself is not unusal. But what the email said was: "Gym tonight?"

People, the earth is shattering around you as read this. The skies are opening up and brimstone is raining down. Dick Cheney's shooting people in the face. Snowballs are freezing in hell.

Let's go over this again: I asked to go to the gym.

I usually don't go on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. But last night at the gym, I rediscovered the joy of the stairmaster. All the elliptical machines were in use, and I cast my eyes around for something to do. Because, honestly, my first instinct was to walk back home and say consider the 3 blocks to the gym and 3 blocks back my workout.

Also, I was nervous because I was at the gym alone. This is something I've refused to do for years. Matt offered to buy me a gym membership all this past winter, but since he prefers running, I would have had to go alone. And gyms are intimidating places. I never know where to go or what to do. So when he'd bring up the subject, I'd cry, and he'd leave me alone.

But now Matt and I have been going to the gym together 3 times a week for more than a month. So when he told me that he was going to run, which I can't do (bad knee), I almost didn't exercise yesterday. But he "strongly encouraged" me to go, so I did.

So I got on the stair machine for the first time in 4 years, and it totally kicked my ass, and I loved it. When I use an eliptical for 40 minutes, it makes me tired, but my muscles don't hurt. 15 minutes on the stairmaster (plus 30 on the eliptical) make my muscles hurt, and I like it.

I went back today, again alone, of my own volition. On a day when I wasn't even supposed to work out.

And I might go again tomorrow.

I hope I don't turn into one of those crazy health nut people. Because I really love french fries and it would suck if I gave them up.