Etiquette for New Gym Members

The alternate title for this post is:
"Hey, All you Clueless New Years Resolutionists: Learn some Gym Etiquette!"
Let me start by saying, I understand and accept that the gym is going to be extremely busy in January. I try to be patient with all the new people. After all, at some point in the past most of us started working out because of a resolution we made to ourselves. I joined the gym several years ago to use the pool. My foot had a chronic injury and I needed to find a new type of exercise that I could do. I am very aware that I was clueless about pool etiquette at that time. But, I asked questions. OF every one! I asked lifeguards, and other swimmers, and general staff. You get the point.

I wish my gym would have a letter or post basic etiquette up for beginners to read.This is where I would start:

In the Locker room:
1. There is one bench for 20 lockers. Therefore, it would stand to reason, that said bench is not there for your use exclusively. Please share.
2. If you drag hair on the shower walls, clean it up when you leave the shower.
3. Put some clothes on! There is really no need to blow dry your hair completely naked.
4. If you track mud into the locker room, grab a paper towel and clean it up.
5. The sign that says, "Children are not allowed in the Woman's changing room." Is referring to all children. Your "adorable" 7 year old son does not belong in the woman's locker room.

The Pool:
1. Children do not belong in the lap lanes. I don't care how adorable you think they are.
2. Look at yourself in the mirror before you leave the locker room. If your bathing suit is see through- we don't want to see you!
3. Please don't dive into my lap lane from the deep end. There's no guarantee that I saw you enter my lane.
4. That sign that says "Please shower before entering the pool" Means YOU!

The Fitness Center:
1. Cell phones don't belong in the gym.
2. If you are standing on a treadmill, Use the treadmill.
3. This one is for your own safety: If you are so out of breath that you have to jump onto the side bars of the treadmill, while it keeps going, you're going too fast.
4. It's not cool to drop the free weights, so hard that it gives me a heart attack on the treadmill.

That's it for now. If you are a gym member, I'm sure you have your own list.

Things That Make Me Happy: # 41 through 60

Perhaps I'm not the happiest person around, because this is surprisingly hard. For any one who's new here, I decided in June that I would list 100 things that make me happy. And I decided to break the list into groups of 20. It's not easy!

Any way, here's my next list:

41. Jumping in a mud puddle
42. Remembering that my little brother used to call them, "Muddles"
43. Lunch with my Mom
44. Daily emails from my Aunt Liz.
45. A boss that makes me laugh
46. new socks
47. A pedicure. That reminds me....
48. Watching one of the survivors I work with, Graduate from college.
49. Seeing a Newfoundland.
50. Lying on the beach for an afternoon
51. Raking up a huge pile of leaves
52. Jumping in the huge pile of leaves.
53. My bike.
54. A new bathing suit.
55. Seeing fireworks with Mackenzie and Jack.
56. A phone call from Shayna, when I can hear the happiness in her voice.
57. Eating dinner on my front porch.
58. Real mail- that isn't a bill.
59. Post cards
60. Fresh strawberries from our strawberry patch.

Go on...Start your own list.

Thinking Positive: A List

This is sort of a morphed version of a recent blog from http://windchasers.blogspot.com/, where she started to develop a "Bucket list". I like that idea, and I'm sure I'll do a version of it in the future.

But for now, I'm feeling like it's a good time to reflect on some of the best things in life. So, my goal is to list 100 things that make me happy.

Here's the start (I doubt I'll get 100 all in one sitting)

Things That Make Me Happy:

1. Watching a thunderstorm roll across the sky
2. Hearing the uncontrolled giggles of my children.
3. Watching Jack learn to swim.
4. Listening to Mackenzie read to Jack.
5. A heartfelt conversation with Shayna.
6. Camping in the Adirondacks...even if it rains.
7. Spending an afternoon at the Clark Art Institute.
8. Hiking to the Top of Mount Sleeping Beauty.
9. Painted toenails.
10. Holding hands with Kevin.
11. Cheering Mackenzie on as she caught her first fish.
12. Shahi Paneer.
13. Sharing Shahi Paneer with shayna.
14. Sharing a bottle of Wolf Blass Chardonnay with friends.
15. Taking a walk with Kevin.
16. Birthday cake!
17. My moms Strawberry upside down cake.
18. Kevin playing the saxophone
19. A long bike ride by myself.
20. A long bike ride by myself on a Saturday morning, while every one else is asleep.

Okay-That's 20! Maybe I'll do 20 at a time.

Does any one else have a list?