you know, heat, you make it hard to do anything

I've tried going back to the gym. After 3 weeks of not-leaving-the-house-injury, and a few more weeks of still-wearing-an-ankle-brace-injury, and then 2 weeks of vacation, I just needed to get back into the habit. Of course, my habit is different now that I can't just stop by the gym on my way home from work. But I sit around the house all day doing nothing, so I really did try to use that time for something body-constructive.

Monday I set out on an expedition. I'd planned to leave fairly early in the morning (like 10ish) so that it wouldn't be too hot yet. Of course that didn't happen. I left home at like 3. I dressed in my gym clothes and piled a few things into my bag. I just needed to stop by the post office real quick and mail a package, then go to the drugstore directly below my gym, then enjoy a nice refreshing workout after my long absence. Why can't things go as I plan?

After wandering around for longer than I wanted to in the heat, I discovered that the "post office" I was looking for was really just a mail truck. And they did not accept mail dropoffs, so I could not give them my small package. Did I mention it was about 90 degrees with some ungodly humidity? So I wander back to where my gym is, go to the drugstore like I needed to, and head upstairs. I kinda wish I had brought a change of clothes, because I'm already a little sweaty from my fruitless PO adventure. But the locker room is air conditioned, so I stay in there for a bit to cool down.

I head out to the machines. I know that if I do any weights today it will only be a little bit since I'm so out of practice. I head to the cardios. I pick one that has a fan blowing on it and start a-trekking. Soon I realize several things: the fan doesn't do diddly squat. I forgot my towel at home. My decision to not bring my water bottle was a mistake. It's too hot to do anything.

After a sad 10 minutes, I have to stop because I feel like I'm about to die. I go back into the locker room to wash my face and cool down. Now I am really wishing I had brought a change of clothes. I have no choice but to head home and collapse.

This experience was a little daunting, so yesterday I did not even try to think about going to the gym. But today, I had yet another package to mail, besides the first one that still has a deadline. And C started his camping trip today so there was no logical reason for me to stay home. No logical reason except the sweltering heat outside, that is. I did leave the house a bit earlier, but still in the afternoon because I had crap to do in the morning.

I head out to the old reliable PO that is not a truck. It's further away from the gym, but I do need to mail my packages. That taken care of, I head back to the gym. Understand, the PO is a train ride and then a several-block walk away from anything. So I'm already a little overheated. Plus I'm carrying my gym bag, which has those things I forgot the other day; a change of clothes, a towel, and a water bottle. Plus all the regular crap that I carry everywhere.

As I'm waiting for the train, I'm debating going to the gym. I see my reflection and decide I need to go, otherwise I can't complain about being out of shape. (Can you believe C called me frumpy the other day? I whacked him in the face, but still.) Then as I'm still waiting for the train, I feel my sweat dripping down the back of my legs. I'm already dripping sweat, and I haven't even done anything yet except go outside. So I had a brief return to the world of sanity and reality and went home to watch tv and pretend to make jewelry. To be fair, I did do some situps on my bedroom floor, but I no longer have any delusions about leaving the house in the heat to go sweat and die.