Needing extra contact tonight
Jan. 11th, 2005 08:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vaneramosIt has been a remarkably productive day.
I have been feeling seriously out of shape. My favourite pair of jeans stopped fitting over the Christmas holidays and my flexibility is deteriorating badly. This afternoon I went to the gym for the first time since September.
On the way I stopped at Staples to buy a day planner, a tool I once used to considerable advantage. Pulling into the parking lot, I realized I had used planning software one year in the mid-nineties, the name of which now eludes me. If anyone can recommend some good freeware or inexpensive-ware, I would be grateful.
Inside the store I looked at a few personal organizers and decided to buy one anyway. Until I can afford a laptop, I need to be able to carry the information with me in book form. I rejected several that had daily schedules marked from 7 am to 6 pm because I'm not a morning person and my most productive period is 3 pm to 9 pm. In fact I like writing fiction even later. I also wanted lots of note space for brainstorming and fleshing out ideas. I settled on a planner from Quo Vadis, the same title I used years ago. This particular format presents a weekly calendar down the lefthand page, with hourly blocks from 8 am to 9 pm, and the righthand page is entirely open for notes.
The vinyl cover felt good in my hands. I remembered what a visual and tactile person I am—how much difficulty I have planning and remembering things in my head. I've been thwarting myself by not investing in one of these. I'm still curious about software, though.
Then to GoodLife Fitness. I enjoy lifting weights and watching other men work out. There was a short, stocky muscle daddy with a buzzed head and a blond moustache I had not seen before. The place was crowded (what did I expect at 5 pm on the second Tuesday after New Year's?) so I had trouble getting the dumbells I wanted. But I wanted to ease back into it, so I shortened all my routines anyway. For the future I'll schedule workouts earlier in the day. It's convenient having my physical peak in the middle of the morning before my mind is functional.
I couldn't get near a scale tonight, but suspect my weight is over 190 lbs. for only the second time in my life. I don't have qualms about how I look, but it is a health concern. For one thing, my cholesterol is marginally high. My brother is mildly diabetic, and Mom's blood sugar is on the verge. Mine seems to be fine, but I don't want to tempt fate. Besides I can feel the strain on my back and hips. Nothing drastic is called for: I would be content to keep my weight around 180, but my metabolism is marvellous: semi-aerobic weightlifting three times a weak is usually sufficient for me to lose weight.
The other thing I accomplished today was to set up an appointment with my GP in Toronto on Monday to see if he will refer me to a Guelph psychiatrist who has been recommended to me.
Next: a phone call to my parents is overdue. If that doesn't take too long, I'll also try Marian.
The rest of the evening will be devoted to working with paper, fabric and thread. The novel is pressing on my conscience, too, but I've wanted to do some art for days and it keeps getting deferred for other priorities. Procrastinated. It's time I gave myself the pleasure.
One difficult thing happens when I start listening to my heart this way: it brings all desires more sharply into focus. My latent libido has started blinking its drowsy eyes at me and raising its heavy head. I also crave touch, and miss my cub.
I have been feeling seriously out of shape. My favourite pair of jeans stopped fitting over the Christmas holidays and my flexibility is deteriorating badly. This afternoon I went to the gym for the first time since September.
On the way I stopped at Staples to buy a day planner, a tool I once used to considerable advantage. Pulling into the parking lot, I realized I had used planning software one year in the mid-nineties, the name of which now eludes me. If anyone can recommend some good freeware or inexpensive-ware, I would be grateful.
Inside the store I looked at a few personal organizers and decided to buy one anyway. Until I can afford a laptop, I need to be able to carry the information with me in book form. I rejected several that had daily schedules marked from 7 am to 6 pm because I'm not a morning person and my most productive period is 3 pm to 9 pm. In fact I like writing fiction even later. I also wanted lots of note space for brainstorming and fleshing out ideas. I settled on a planner from Quo Vadis, the same title I used years ago. This particular format presents a weekly calendar down the lefthand page, with hourly blocks from 8 am to 9 pm, and the righthand page is entirely open for notes.
The vinyl cover felt good in my hands. I remembered what a visual and tactile person I am—how much difficulty I have planning and remembering things in my head. I've been thwarting myself by not investing in one of these. I'm still curious about software, though.
Then to GoodLife Fitness. I enjoy lifting weights and watching other men work out. There was a short, stocky muscle daddy with a buzzed head and a blond moustache I had not seen before. The place was crowded (what did I expect at 5 pm on the second Tuesday after New Year's?) so I had trouble getting the dumbells I wanted. But I wanted to ease back into it, so I shortened all my routines anyway. For the future I'll schedule workouts earlier in the day. It's convenient having my physical peak in the middle of the morning before my mind is functional.
I couldn't get near a scale tonight, but suspect my weight is over 190 lbs. for only the second time in my life. I don't have qualms about how I look, but it is a health concern. For one thing, my cholesterol is marginally high. My brother is mildly diabetic, and Mom's blood sugar is on the verge. Mine seems to be fine, but I don't want to tempt fate. Besides I can feel the strain on my back and hips. Nothing drastic is called for: I would be content to keep my weight around 180, but my metabolism is marvellous: semi-aerobic weightlifting three times a weak is usually sufficient for me to lose weight.
The other thing I accomplished today was to set up an appointment with my GP in Toronto on Monday to see if he will refer me to a Guelph psychiatrist who has been recommended to me.
Next: a phone call to my parents is overdue. If that doesn't take too long, I'll also try Marian.
The rest of the evening will be devoted to working with paper, fabric and thread. The novel is pressing on my conscience, too, but I've wanted to do some art for days and it keeps getting deferred for other priorities. Procrastinated. It's time I gave myself the pleasure.
One difficult thing happens when I start listening to my heart this way: it brings all desires more sharply into focus. My latent libido has started blinking its drowsy eyes at me and raising its heavy head. I also crave touch, and miss my cub.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-01-12 01:51 am (UTC)I tried using calendar/planner software a few times, and just never really got into the groove. In many ways, despite being a programmer and somewhat technically-minded, I'm a Luddite at heart.
no subject
Date: 2005-01-12 04:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-01-12 01:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-01-12 04:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-01-12 03:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-01-12 04:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-01-12 04:08 pm (UTC)Virtual hugs and smooches
Date: 2005-01-12 02:56 am (UTC)Re: Virtual hugs and smooches
Date: 2005-01-12 04:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-01-12 06:34 am (UTC)So many truly filthy jokes, so little time . . .
no subject
Date: 2005-01-12 07:19 am (UTC)I'm still puzzling about what photo to take for you. I'll be visiting Toronto this weekend; is there any aspect of the city that you're curious about?
no subject
Date: 2005-01-13 01:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-01-13 04:51 am (UTC)By government buildings do you mean something modern or old. There is the new City Hall, which you can see in the background of the photo at the bottom of this post, however this doesn't show what an interesting space it is.
http://www.livejournal.com/users/vaneramos/255727.html
If you'r thinking of something older, the possibilities include old City Hall, which is stunning in its own right, or the Provincial Legislature building, Queen's Park, which I don't particularly like. But I don't remember a fountain in front of either of them. All of these buildings are within a few blocks, and not much out of my way.
no subject
Date: 2005-01-13 05:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-01-13 06:13 am (UTC)