Health Club Etiquette

I can relate to many of the people who regularly go healthclubs to workout, as I occasionally get into a groove where I go a lot. It makes me feel good, gives me energy and help keeps (some of) the fat at bay. I usually enjoy being around like-minded people.

I guess that is why it especially pisses me off when people at the gym show little or no consideration for anyone else but themselves. It has happened at every gym I have ever gone to, so it is not a problem confined to a single company, location or part of the country. I currently belong to Epicenter Fitness and go to the location in Bellevue Place in downtown Bellevue. The facilities are great, the employees friendly and I have made a few friends while exercising there.

Nonetheless, I do have a few rants about some of their clients (I guess they could be guests of the Hyatt hotel next door - as they also are allowed use of the facilities.

This morning there were three things that happened that just should not happen in a gym - or anywhere else where people have common courtesy.

1. I was in the middle of a long session of cardio, wearing headphones and watching the news. Two young ladies got on the machines next to me and proceeded to gab incessantly. The matter was made worse by the fact that they both also had headphones on, which made them have to speak (yell?) louder to each other. It's not that I don't care about people, but I really don't need (or want) to hear about a complete stranger's shopping trip to the mall, or how she thinks that her boyfriend is cheating on her. It's just none of my business - and I really just wanted to work out and watch the news in peace.

2. The well-meaning gentleman who wanted to adhere to club rules and wipe down his machine after done using it. That is great - but he should not be spraying the cleaning chemicals into the air - or into the faces of other members. If I want to be exposed to the noxious odors, I'll spray myself in the face. Next time - please spray the cleaner directly onto the paper towel (not onto the machine) and do it away from other people so they are not forced to smell and inhale these chemicals.

3. The middle-aged woman who apparently was hot (and bothered?) before she even stepped onto the cardio machine. Without asking me or anyone else around her, she turned the fan next to me and the machine I was on full blast before getting on a machine next to me. This may not seem like a big deal to most people, but for me, who has two herniated discs in my neck it is a major problem. You see, when I am warm (and halfway through my cardio workout), I cannot have wind (or a fan) blowing on me, or it severely tightens up my neck muscles and causes me a lot of pain for the rest of the day. It would have been a considerate thing for her to ask me if I minded and I would have explained so she could use a different machine starting out. Instead I was forced to change the machine I was using.

Anyone else out there have any similar experiences or other health club etiquette they would like to share?

Downtown Bellevue Safeway Possibly the Worst Grocery Store Ever

I don't do a lot of grocery shopping, but tonight I had to pick up a few things and stopped in at the closest grocery store to my house - Safeway in downtown Bellevue. Although they have a number of nice people that work there, it is possibly the worst grocery store in the entire world.

They never have enough checkers, ensuring that almost every visit, their customers will have to spend an unnecessary portion of their lives waiting in line. Tonight was no exception - what really pissed me off is that they charged me for all my groceries, but failed to bag them all. I got home without the juice that was needed for Jackie Kennedy.

For now on - it's QFC for me ... (when I cannot avoid the grocery store).

Riding Elevators in Downtown Bellevue

I'm not sure if this is a rant or a rave, but probably just an observation.

Lately I've been riding in an elevator at least twice a day - mostly going to and from Epicenter Fitness in Bellevue Place. This morning on my elevator ride to the cardio machine, I realized that almost 35 years ago, I (usually along with my younger brothers and/or a friend or two) would walk or ride our bikes to ride in one of the only elevators that existed at that time.

I'm not exactly sure, but I believe it was the building on 112th Ave NE where the Puget Sound Blood Center is located.

I guess that the more things change, the more they remain the same .... (this doesn't make sense at all).

Anyone else have any elevator observations? I once did a free fall in an elevator in the Chevron Building in Houston, but that is another story for another day.

Dead Cardinal Pitchers' Dad Blaming EVERYONE Else But His Drunk Son

It was a terrible thing when St. Louis Cardinal pitcher Josh Hancock died in a car accident at the end of April. I felt especially bad for the organization, his teammates and family when it was announced that he was drunk at the time and that there was pot found in the car. Afterall, they were still reeling and dealing with their loss and the media would not let up to get a story.

An AP story today says that Hancock's father has filed a lawsuit against the restaurant where Hancock had been drinking, the tow truck that he crashed into and the owner of the stalled car the tow truck was trying to help. He is blaming everyone except for the person who was responsible - his son. Nobody forced him to drink, nobody forced him to drive (in fact I believe the people at the restaurant tried to get him to take a cab) and nobody but Josh crashed his car. I'm sure that his father is still in a lot of pain with the loss of his son, but he should accept the fact that it was his son that made the bad decisions that led to his death - and that it was very lucky he didn't any innocent people.

NBA stands for no basketball allowed - The Fix is IN

A couple quick rants (quick because the NBA is not worth any more of my time).

The most boring and dirty team in the world (Tim 'Crybaby' Duncan's San Antonio Spurs if you didn't know) has virtually been handed a trip to the finals after the refs ripped off the Phoenix Suns in the last series. Really too bad, especially considering total cheapshots by Robert 'big shot bob' Horry and Bruce 'stinky' Bowen.

Tonight LeBron James and the Cavs got ripped off at the end of a hard fought team. King James took the ball to the hole and was totally hacked by Rip 'hack' Hamilton. The refs just looked away (they were probably scared of the fans in Detroit).

I cannot say if the league has directed the refs to make such crappy calls in favor of the always favorites, but they have affected too many games in an unacceptable way. I will not watch any more NBA games for (at least) the rest of this season. It's not worth my time.

Woman has twins at 60, hopes to inspire others - at the expense of the twins????

This story from the AP and the Seattle Times website talks about a The psychologist who purposely got pregnant and gave birth to twins at age 60. She claims to have done it to 'inspire other women".

I was 40 when my daughter Jacqueline was born - and I feel bad for her to have such an old father. (it's a good thing her mother is much younger).

I feel terrible for this lady's twins - they are going to have a lady as old as a great grandmother for their mom. How much energy can she have for them at that age? Perhaps SHE should be seeing a psychologist - or better yet, a psychiatrist (so she can get prescribed some drugs for her mental condition).

Lincoln Square Cinema Shows its Cracks

Although I don't normally go to a lot of movies, I have been to 4 or 5 at Lincoln Square Cinemas in the past few months. Being the cheap guy that I am, I don't like paying $9.75 to see a flick. I tell myself its a nice new theatre to rationalize the consumer rape - but last night I had a bad experience.

I was there to see Fracture with Anthony Hopkins (what a terribly dreadfully boring movie). The worse part was that there was an inconsistency with the screen (it looked like a rip or tear) towards the upper left handside of the screen. It was very large and very distracting throughout the entire movie. I almost went to complain on a number of occasions - but kept on thinking "they HAVE to know there is a problem with this screen".

Anybody else have a similar experience?









Skidoodleski, Eastside Business

Happy Mothers Day to ALL Mothers

Although it is apparent that all my good intentions for this Mothers Day were for naught, it is my wish that ALL mothers are recognized for their amazing contributions.



Here are a few of the mothers with an impact on my life: Baba and Granny, Elena acting like a queen.

Happy Mother's Day to All Mothers - especially Jackie Kennedy's mom and my mom.