Saturday, August 26, 2006

Powerful forces

You know how it's so much easier to do something if someone does it with you? Or goads you? Or guilts you? Or merely asks you? Yeah, me, too.

My Mormon friend, Norma, got me to start walking with her a few weeks ago. We gad about 45-90 minutes four or five times a week. She, however, went away weekend and will be gone over a week. Essentially, that meant I had to motivate myself to get out there.

Instead, I borrowed other motivations. For one, J loves this walking stuff. In practice, it is actually scootering or biking stuff for him. He pesters me all day to confirm that we'll go. For another, I'm going to have to report to Norma about the walking when she returns. She's very rules-oriented and structured, whereas I'm the flighty artist, and she'll want to know exactly how I kept up the routine. I'll admit I didn't maintain one of her prescribed other mandates activities; she instituted a rule that after walking we need to do 15 minutes of cleaning once home. Um. Kinda.

Norma is a dear, dear person. I can't wait until she gets back in a few days; I've missed her. We'll also turn guinea pig duties back to them, although that has been amazingly delightful (J loves holding her and she doesn't mind), particularly considering that the four year old, decrepit-in-guinea-pig terms rodent usually hits the trail with them on trips, yet Norma trusted us and da pig is still alive!

No guinea pigs were harmed in the making of this week.

6 comments:

Maya said...

I am glad you have Norma. It sounds like she is good for you

Donna said...

Walking is one of the best ways to exercise, and I find when I do it it helps to clear my head too. I should do it more often...

Klynn said...

I really need to get out and exercise, myself, but here in the deep south, it's deadly hot during the daylight hours. Maybe this fall, when it cools off a bit. At least I've been taking the stairs up to the 3rd floor at work, instead of the elevator...hey, that's a big "step" for me. :D

TJ had a guinea pig a few years ago, and loved it to peices. Unfortunately, it was a couple of years old when we got it, and when it started having difficulties, even the emergency vet ($100/visit) couldn't do anything to help. It was at that point that we established the "no rodents" rule in my house. Not because I don't like them, because I do...I love the furry little buggers...it's just that they're so short lived, and we get so attached, it breaks our hearts (yeah, mine too) when they kick off. Maybe we'll get a puppy in a couple of years when the Boog is old enough to understand not to pull tails and ears, and to respect the poor thing.

DD said...

That "walking" sounds a little too much like excercise.

No sir, not for me. Thank you. I wonder, though, can you walk a guinea pig? Maybe throw them in one of the big plastic balls and go for a stroll. Good if your area is flat. Not so much in the hills.

Cricket said...

I remember when J was little, walking but under two, and we went to my sister's. Sis had put their little white mouse in the ball on the floor. Little J had no concept of such. What do little boys do with balls? One kick from a toddler and the mouse was almost dead. She had brain trauma, but the next day she recovered and was fine.

About our walking - that's a misnomer. I should say we go strolling. More appropriate label.

Kellie said...

I'm so envious you have Norma. Maybe if I weren't so anti-social with the hood I would find I do have a Norma...but it's doubtful. Anyway - how wonderful she can keep you motivated.

We speak not of motivation in this household.

Congrats on keeping the pig alive. We've had our pig for 2 years and honestly I can't imagine life without a pig now... they have so much personality.

If I don't have another baby I just know I'm going to be one of those crazy cat ladies when I'm old... only with pigs, not cats.

Kellie, the crazy pig lady.