Irv’s Journal

Happy Friday everyone!  The start of the weekend is always a refreshing feeling…

Except weekends don’t seem as relaxing or refreshing as they used to.  I’m almost 100% sure the majority of people must feel the same as I do.  I was just thinking of the way it was back in college.  The typical weekend:

• Friday – go out, dinner and some sort of activity.
• Saturday – Wake up, laze around, eat, do some homework, go out and hang out with friends
• Sundays – homework days, but usually at my own pace and schedule.

Now that I am a semi-responsible adult, there are always errands to run, my weekends are sometimes planned weeks in advance, and sometimes so much stuff gets packed in that I actually feel more tired by the time Monday rolls around.  I thought the workweek was supposed to tire you out while the weekend was the relaxing and revitalizing time?

As you know, I work out semi-regularly at the local Bally Total Fitness. For the most part, it is uneventful, and we get in and out without any issues. However, sometimes things just are NOT right.

1. Crowded parking lot. Okay, at the Montebello location, its understandable. The parking lot is shared by the whole strip mall, which includes a Carl’s Jr., amongst many other shops and restaurants. This peeve refers to the people who fight and wait and crowd the lanes for the closest possible parking spot, and then go walking or running inside. Give it a rest, people! Walk an extra 20-30 ft, it’s good for you. You can even call it your “warmup.”
2. Sweaty Equipment. Seriously. There is a towel requirement for a reason. Its rude to leave the equipment all dripping with your sweat. Why should I have to use MY towel to wipe off YOUR sweat? Even worse are the machines where the SEAT is wet. WHY/HOW?
3. BO. WTF? Yes, on occasion someone has a lack of deodorant or something like that, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m referring to the aura of nastiness that sometimes floats around even after the area has been vacated. As Darren describes it, “it feels like you hit a wall of BO.” I have no idea how this is even possible, but then again, I don’t really want to know.
4. BO Part 2.  Ok, the BO thing is so annoying that it deserved two points.  Another issue is when a piece of equipment looks like it’s been wiped, but still smells.  That’s some strong, penetrating BO, people.
5. Weight Hoggers.  Seriously, does one person need to have 3 different sets of weights?  Have a little courtesy and share, sheesh.  Does it hurt that much to finish one exercise before moving onto the next?

Okay, that’s all for now.  In case you were wondering, no, this didn’t all happen at once.  Actually, it’s just a list of things that I’ve noticed over the past few years at my local gym.

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