I walked across the Golden Gate Bridge today, seventeen days short of my 74th birthday. Then continued walking to a bus stop to get into Sausalito; took the ferry back to SF; had enough evergy to meet Robin and go out for dinner. Not too bad, for an old lady.
I worked on my leg exercises forty minutes this morning and then went to the fitness center to use the bike and the leg press. I’ve been suffering all day. My pt said if I’m not tired and sore, I’m not building muscle. I must have built lots of muscle yesterday and today.
I had other things to do, but I feel like I’ve been dragging myself around all day. I’m committed to building those muscles so I’ll keep working on it. Maybe I’ll go to bed early tonight.
Mary called me and we went out for a walk. It’s a beautiful, sunny day here in Pittsburgh but we’re expecting snow tonight and tomorrow. So much for spring.
I have to add one more torture to my catalog. I’ve written about this before. My tai chi class at the club, which is not really tai chi, but an hour of stretching and moderate exercise, requires full concentration on whether my right or left side is in motion. I’m facing the teacher; she has us all in a big circle with a candle (think spiritual) in the center. I’ve gotten better at it, but there are some movements I can’t follow; I always end up on the wrong foot.
My Japanese art class has been studying depictions of the many Buddhist hells. (Number varies, depending on who you are reading and what you are talking about.) My own version of hell is exemplified by my fitness center. Of course, I should be there right now, instead of sitting here writing this. I’ve always thought about the weight machines as torture devices, watching some of the men groaning and sweating as they increase weight. Since I haven’t been getting there as often as I should, they torture me with just a minimum of weight. But they are not the only form of torture.
There is a large workout room across from the entrance to the women’s locker room. When class is in session the music is so loud I find it painful to walk past. I couldn’t take one of those classes; the loud sound would be more torturous than the exercise. That’s clearly Hell #1.
The locker room is not hellish, although it does have its moments. I wish I could take pictures in there. The woman who usually takes care of the room (cleans the toilets) is short, fat and always decorated with at least ten pounds of assorted rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces. Her hair is different every time I see her; sometimes short and multicolored; other times covered with an elaborate wig. The variety of nude and semi-nude bodies is amazing. Being fat myself, I am especially fascinated with the really fat women. I am also fascinated with the occasional woman who will walk around nude completely unselfconscious. I couldn’t do that even when I was young and thin.
Which reminds me, there was an exhibit at the Pitt Union this week called the Century Project, a chronological series of portraits of nude women with statements from or about them. I spent a lot of time looking at the pictures, reading the statements and I still don’t know what I think about it. The idea, of course, is to make us understand what real women look like, as opposed to the airbrushed, or photoshopped, venuses we get in the media. It works, but I have a feeling it should have been better; I just don’t know what I would do different.
Back to hell in the health club: TV. They used to have 8 or 10 sets around the room. You listened with your own earphones, so there was no sound involved. I read when I’m on the bike, but I will watch when I’m on the treadmill. The sets had closed captioning, so I never bothered with the headphones. Now they’ve upgraded to individual sets on each machine, but no closed captioning. TV is torture, with or without audio. I spend most of my time on the bike.
The final torture is also something new: they’ve added a small cafe with salads, sandwiches and smoothies, advertised all over the place. Now you can expend all that energy while the think about food the whole time. I can’t think of anything worse.
It’s 19 degrees here, at noon. About 11 o’clock I collected some reading material, put on my hat, coat, and scarf and went to the health club. I didn’t want to walk so I figured I would get my exercise indoors. Today being cold and a holiday, everyone else had the same idea. There were no parking spaces less than a block away. After circling the lot twice, I found one about a block away and decided to bite the bullet and walk in the cold. As I turned off the engine I realized I had left my readings at home. I gave up, drove back, put my car back in the garage and sat down to read. After all, those are readings for tomorrow’s class; what’s more important!
I started going to the class again last Thursday. The class is huge, and I only know about a third of the attendees. But I haven’t found anyone else to laugh with. Louisa asked about you and seemed surprised when I said I spoke to you. Just want you to know you are not forgotten.
The annual Christmas party will be next Friday. I’m not planning to attend. You were the most interesting person at the last one. Also, I think Robin is doing something special next Friday night. Enjoy Indianapolis and think of us working away every Tuesday and Thursday.
I’m not going to complain about the weather in Pittsburgh. It’s better than all that snow they’re talking about in much of the country. But it wasn’t walking weather. I decided I have to spend more time at the "club." I went at 9:30 this morning and didn’t get home until almost noon–a good start. I used the bicycle, the treadmill and all those fancy machines. Are you bored yet? I am. But I will persist. Tai Chi tomorrow and possibly another exercise program they call Silver & Fit. I love these euphemisms.
I’ve uploaded more photos to the Flickr site. Still not happy with it, but I’ll persist with all the photos from Japan. Then I’ll rethink my use of it. I just don’t have enough control over how the photos appear.
I’m still musing over the fact that I got more visits to my Japan blog from my post on toilets than I got from the Post-Gazette article. Should I consider it blog power, or toilet power?
I made up for my lack of exercise yesterday. This
morning as I prepared to walk with Phyllis I foolishly decided to leave
my camera at home. I almost always have it with me; it’s no bother to
carry it. But Monday when we walked there didn’t seem to be anything
interesting. I thought today would be the same. As soon as I went
around the corner I knew I had made a mistake. Then, all during the
walk we found wonderful images. I guess the light was better this
morning. It was very warm and much brighter. The sun actually appeared
this afternoon.
I decided to go back again; it wouldn’t look the same
next week when I got back from New York. First I had to do another
errand, then lunch. I had already walked about four miles; another
three wouldn’t hurt.
I began by walking around the corner to photograph this vine growing on a post.
I think it was better in the morning; probably had
more leaves. Then I got into the car and drove to Frick Park, not my
usual practice, but I didn’t want to be totally wiped out.
This is the beginning of my walk.
Most of the trees are bare, but a few really stand out.
Some things show up much better when there aren’t so many leaves.
Then again, some things are better hidden.
This massive house is barely noticeable in summer; now it looms
monstrously. One could wish for better zoning laws or enforcement.
This
morning I noticed a branch with some wonderful, delicate fungi. I continued walking almost to the end of the trail to find it.
I found this log with a beautiful growth on it. I wish I knew more about these things.
Here is one last tree to show you. I suspect it is the
last beautiful tree of this autumn. I wish I could make a portrait of
every tree.
As I get older I find myself noticing the world around me in ways I had not done before. My backyard remains constantly fascinating as I note how the light changes as the sun changes position. This caught my eye the other morning, with the sun lighting the tree from an entirely different angle.
On Saturday, LInda and I went to the Mattress Factory. Their current exhibits left us somewhat mystified, but we enjoyed the Tom Museum and spent a fair amount of time in the exhibit by Yayoi Kusama. Although I don’t particularly enjoy looking at myself in a mirror, I find these images continually fascinating.
It’s easier looking at myself upside down.
I love the way the space opens out to infinity. That’s the best part about mirrors.
I’ve been diligent about walking in Frick Park, every morning since Friday. I think it’s the best exercise I can get, and the park is beautiful, truly one of the jewels of Pittsburgh. 
This morning was very foggy, and I was able to get more of those rays of sun shots. 
We noticed a lot of these white flowers. I don’t knowwhat they are. 
Perhaps some day I will be able to Google an object instead of a word or description. That would be really amazing!
Two of my neighbors, Mary and Sonsee, go walking early most mornings. I try to join them but sometimes they go too early for me. I’m trying to get in a lot of walking so I’ll be prepared for my trips to New York and Japan. Today I went with Phyllis, who often joins us. It was a beautiful morning, very cool and sunny. Walking the trails in Frick Park, a roundtrip of about three miles, we had a surprise this morning: a large tree had fallen across one trail. This is Phyllis climbing over the tree. 
We’ve had some nasty weather over the last few nights; that’s when it must have happened. It looks like the rain softened the ground and the tree was pulled up by its roots.
This tree looks like it’s about to fall over. 
We walked under it quickly, and I took the picture from the other side.
100 Books Before I Die 
