To Gym, or Not to Gym?

That's the question - a question that's been asked numerous times over in blogland, but a question I predictably ask myself around this time every year.

The days are getting shorter and colder, and that makes it even more difficult to fit in my run. Sometimes I run when it's dark outside, but it worries me. I don't often carry a cell phone when I run. I don't carry keys or anything I could use as a deadly weapon if the boogieman jumped out of the bushes. It's just not safe. So either I start carrying said objects and buy some reflective gear, or I hit the treadmills. (Let's hope the boogieman doesn't read this blog and realize there's a very vulnerable girl running the streets of St. Paul. Then I'm really doomed.)

There's a rec center two blocks from my house that has a small gym - how small, I haven't yet figured out. There were three treadmills, two ellipticals and two bikes at my old neighborhood rec center, but joiner fees were just $15/month or $40 for three months. That's less than one month would cost me at a "normal" gym! The problem, of course, is getting in there when machines are available. My new rec center is bigger, nicer and newer, so I'm hopeful their gym set-up is a little better. (I'm going there this weekend to check it out.) If it is, I'm signing up. You can't beat $40 and a quick, two-block jaunt. I think I could drag my ass there in even the biggest of snow storms.

The reason I'm looking at the community rec center rather than a "regular" gym is because there aren't any regular gyms located close to my house. I know me: I'm lazy, especially when the weather gets bad and it's dark outside by 4:30 p.m. If the gym isn't within a few miles of my house, I just won't go. There is one within blocks of my office so maybe I'll have to suck it up and join at that YMCA. All these decisions will have to be made by October because that's when Minnesota really turns into Minnesota: cold, dark and windy.

For multiple, monthly reasons, I'm feeling like a chub this week, but I got a little confidence boost at the doctor yesterday. I was sitting in the waiting room and this overly-friendly kid walked in, plopped down right next to me and joined me in reading the newspaper. He was wondering why the apples in the paper weren't red, why the print was so small, how to say "Iris," etc. He was cute, but a little annoying until ... the 5-year-old buddy asked me out. Seriously. As we continued our conversation about black and white print vs. color print, he sat back in his chair, gave me a loving glance and said, "Will you go to lunch with me someday when I'm older?" HOW CUTE IS THAT? I asked him how he'd ever find me in five to ten years (his assessment of what "older" meant), and he said he'd just call me, of course.

I'm glad to know I've still got a way with the boys. Actually, it made me feel good that I was able to put my annoyance aside and make this little guy feel important. Sometimes I worry about my nurturing skills - I'm not a huge kid fan. I've never been gaga about babies, I hated babysitting when I was a teenager because it meant I had to play with the kids. I need these little reassurances once in a while that I'm not a total ogre.

Now, tonight, when a kid starts screaming in the restaurant we plan on going to, I can most certainly promise my ogre-like self will reappear. These nice streaks only last so long so this casanova kid should consider himself lucky that he caught me on a *good* day.