Penelope

Friday, January 27, 2012

Tiny Silver Swim Fins



My sister is the swimmer in the family. I do not like to put my face in the water. I like to swim like a puppy, head up, facing forward, nose out of range of the water.

A work out friend suggested a class called Finning. Back and forth in the pool, fins on your feet, hands on a kickboard, face out of the water. I figured even I could do this, probably wouldn't drown.

So, I go to the class in my bathing suit that fit last summer and the summer before, but not so well now. I get in and she showed me the basic strokes.

Soon I was gliding through the water like Flipper!! When the class started, the first laps, I was third in line...behind a leisurely finner. The second set of laps, I manuevered to the front and offered to be the guinea pig to learn the new stroke.

Out in front, I plowed through the water with all of the grace I could. Made it back to the starting point and turned for another lap, the other students behind me. I felt like I could do this for hours. It was a great workout, both cardio and strength training.

As a matter of fact, I liked it so much, I ordered my own fins and kickboard...and thankfully, still don't have to put my face in the water!

Monday, January 16, 2012

A Tiny Silver Phone

...or Learning to Laugh at Yourself!!

So, I carry two phones, actually wear them clipped at my waistband. Normally the ringers are turned off so they vibrate when they ring. Although my personal phone has hundreds of ring tones, makes it easy to assign ringtones so I know who is calling without even looking...

Anyway, tonight at the gym, I took off my jacket and folded it up nicely on the floor. I tucked my work phone in the pocket and went about my workout. Fast forward an hour, great workout, headed out the door. Reach in my pocket for my work phone to see if I had any messages that needed to be attended to...but wait...no phone in my pocket.
My personal phone was clipped at my waistband, but no work phone.

I went back upstairs, over to the area where I was working out, checked the floor, all around the machine...no phone!!

One of the girls I see there pretty often suggested calling the number. I am thinking that won't work because it only vibrates, and we will never hear it ring. But, I thought it was worth a shot...ring...ring...ring...

No phone ringing in sight...I crossed my arms in frustration...and felt something vibrating. I looked at the phone in my hand, but it wasn't ringing. I swung my other arm away from my body and back...my ARM was vibrating. I looked down and right there, on the inside of my arm was a zipper. Unzipping the zipper I realized that my phone was in the arm pocket...what kind of coat has an arm pocket?! And how did it eat my phone?!

So, we had a bit of a laugh...laughing at yourself is a good thing!!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

A Tiny Silver Flamingo



I've said before that if you are my friend and you are going to write a book, I will read it. I will buy it and read it. I will buy it and read it and ask you to sign it. I will buy it and read it and ask you to sign it and tell my friends to read it.

...And I will be inspired by it to make a little piece of art.

Here's to a very creative New Year!!