Exercise Postscript

At the end of a busy day of errands and domestic responsibilities, I crashed on the couch to watch an hour of a show I like and had recorded. I am a big fan of Foyle's War. Leon, as usual, claimed his spot on my chest immediately. At the end, I gently urged Leon off my chest, threw off the blanket and stood up and immediately felt a surging awful pain from my crotch down the inside of my right let. It was awful and I could not walk at all without significant pain.

I stretched, bent, had a warm bath and walked around the apartment as best I could. When I sat down, the pain came back with a vengeance. I went back into the bath and stretched some more. It can't be coincidence that I started exercising that day.

After about twenty minutes it ended, thank God.

Exercise Classes

Today I decided to try going to the Older Adult exercise classes at a local recreation centre. It's been, perhaps, a decade since I went to one.

When I arrived, there were four women in the room in their seventies. Once was very welcoming and, of course, that put me off. I assumed my usual position: behind a pillar and with my back to the room, looking out the window. The perky ticket taker identified me as a newbie; she asked me some health questions for the instructor. I told her I might not stay because I wasn't committed so I was telling the truth. I was going to leave if it were all women and there were too many perky people. I din't tell her why.

Victoria was the leader and she was instantly likeable. I liked her right away. There was one woman in trendy spandex who gave me the willies—people who seem too much into anything give me the heebie jeebies. In the end, we were about 25 people and there were a few men.

It was an hour and a half and there are Older Adult classes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I did things earnestly; I think I was the youngest and fittest in the room. At the break, Ms Trendy Pants introduced herself and commented on my technique. I smiled and looked at the slightly overweight bedraggled blonde who looked like someone I would want to meet.

Victoria corrected me perhaps three times. Once, she complimented me. I bought a six-month pass and marked the times in my calendar hoping I will keep going.

Last night there was a very unusual and powerful thunder and lighting storm with rivers of rain pouring out of the sky. Today broke dark and damp but it was warm and not raining. Walking the twenty minutes to the community centre was lovely. The air was so clean. But walking home in semi-sun feeling the pride of having done a class and with the whole day ahead of me was, as the ads say, priceless.

Then I went for more fish to the aquarium and to Costco and home. A good day and tomorrow... sunshine again.

Aquamaniac

 The nursery/hospital tank.

 The original tank. You can barely catch a glimpse of the gorgeous blue guppies but its there.

I thought fish would be just fish. But no, it is not that simple.

When I started my aquarium I had to get some "Starter" fish—hearty fish that could survive the swings of variance in the water as the environment "matures." Every day for the first several weeks, I had to add a little bacteria every day and the bacteria, together with the waste produced by the fish and the plant decay creates the perfect water for the fish.

Well when one of my starter fish died, I was crushed and that surprised me. After all, they were just fish. But they were helping me get started, these starter fish, and they were my allies so the loss of one was surprisingly affecting.(But then, I am sentimental and sensitive.) Imagine then, my joy in seeing the coloration of the three babies coming in and at least one is clearly the offspring of the one who died.

And my poor Betta, ravaged by my lobsters. The lobsters had to go. I did not get an aquarium to watch torture and murder. I do not want to see lobsters eating sushi. When I took them back, the store gave me some stunning guppies as replacements. But with the lobsters gone, I was shocked to see a trio of blue fish losing their fins. That was the excuse I needed.

Yesterday I got another tank—half the size of my first one. And it took me HOURS to catch the three blue finless fish to transfer them to the hospital/nursery tank. I am seriously hooked on aquaria.

A Great Dinner

For John, my high school friend, and Bunny, his wife and my cooking mentor, I made dinner tonight following a lovely walk around the seawall. A great, great day.

A corn, onion, and pepper salad. All organic and all from the Farmers' Market.

My obsession. This is number five. I have making these down pat now.

The table.

Leon in the living room.

 The risotto ingredients all measured and ready.

The halibut on risotto and asparagus spears. And that's a pea/spinach puree on top, not wasabi.

 Steve (left, my ex) and three friends (including his current, Tim, right) at the Diné en Blanc in LA where they live.

 I am getting good at tartes aux pommes. I didn't glaze this one because I  burned the glaze but it tasted  very good. I've gotta adapt this recipe and see if I can make a tares aux pêches.

Suddenly its over, summer.... And melancholy sets in. My Spring and Summer were spectacular, largely because of the weather, and then in late July guests and asthma/bronchitis set in and my walking was highjacked by responsibilities. Now I am through it all. The guests are gone, the coughing is almost over and my summer teaching term is over. Now I am in a post apocalyptic stupor.

So what's ahead:

• Six weeks of R&R before the Fall term starts.
• Either a rejection or acceptance of my play for Pacific Theatre's 2014/15 season. Re-writing if it is accepted.
• Implementation of the Getting to Know You fundraising campaign at PAL Vancouver (I am the campaign leader).
• Mexico withe dear friends for ten days in December
• France and Italy with BFFs Beth and Bruce in Spring 2014

Now I understand why the wise elders of literature and philosophy often advocate living in the present. Now that I am old, the connotations of "past" and "future" have changed so much that living in the present is just so much easier. And with the seasonal impact and melancholy of the end of summer so affecting me, today's walk around the seawall will be thoughtful. I am very conscious of time passing.

Spud (or Bruno) Attack Liberace

Before. I haven't the heart to publish an "after" shot yet.

HIGH DRAMA:  I was doing some maintenance on my aquarium today when I noticed my beautiful Beta,  Liberace, desperately but unsuccessfully trying to shake either Bruno or Spud, one of my mini lobsters, off his flowing mane. I had to intervene. I am Jacque Clousseau, Beta whisperer. Poor Liberace's lovely lacy mane is in ruins and he will not go near the lower parts of the tank.

A Walk to Dwight's

Late in the afternoon it was lovely. Although there were clouds, there was plenty of blue sky and it was actually nicer when there was no sun as it was cooler. It is a beautiful time of day to walk, especially on a Sunday, as many people were on their balconies having cocktails or BBQ-ing with friends. We had a great home-made pizza dinner—Dwight, Laura, daughter Natalia, mother-in-law Marguerite, son Noah and brother-in-law, Tom.

 A home on 10th Ave. More below.

 I wish this photo were better. This is a stunning home.

Playing cricket.

Watching cricket.

(Above and below) Houses on 10th Avenue.

The daughter, Natalia!

The son, Noah, is off to Japan.

 The father (Dwight) is my psychological twin.

Marguerite, the matron, is a fabulous friend.