Sigh Interrupted

The other day I was having one of those moments where you're walking down the street, turning the corner at a familiar intersection and everything looks particularly pretty.

I was happy, walking towards a quaint independent movie theater with a great little cafe/bar, super fast wifi, and patio seating. There was a farmers market across the street and I could smell the Jasmine despite the traffic. And being my little yogi self, I started to take in a deep breath to take in the moment.

Just then, a man who until then had blended into the background, starting hacking like he either had the plague or was an active chain smoker. Our sleeves almost touched as he past me. I immediately stopped breathing.

Irony.

Factory Gyms

I was a guest today at my grandmother's gym. The workout was great. It was refreshing to be able to run again now that I have some new sneakers that help me instead of injure me...

BUT.... what about the flashing screens in front of the treadmills? It reminded me of the last time I went to a doctor, when a promotional video was playing on loop telling me all the medicines that could make my life better. Posters promoting medicines were on every wall. It felt like I was in "Clockwork Orange," and narrowly escaping brain washing.

The gym? The screens showing TV shows didn't bother me. Neither did the music videos, even if they looked like soft-core porn. I could ignore them, although it was mildly amusing that that's what the chain gym chooses to play for its diverse demographic. Old and young, overweight, fit... everyone gets shown soft core music videos.

It's the commercials that bothered me. Every few videos the gym would interrupt the music programming to promote injection-less skin tightening, topping off your summer tan, whitening your teeth, dropping a dress size in a week with some medical procedure that doesn't involve surgery. Wow, just what everyone wants to see while running on a treadmill. Are your teeth perfect? Want to drop a dress size? Are those wrinkles on your face? Mixed with skinny singers dancing.... Hm... Way to go, positive encouragement! At least they have a motivational quote next to the TV screen, "You can do it! Run another .5km!"Hm...

Maybe this is what it feels like to run through a video version of a fashion magazine...

Anyway... this advertising system must work? Do people really get off the treadmill and sign up for a tummy tuck? Why else would the videos be shown?

No wonder people walk around all day with their i-pods on. How else to shut out all the infomercials? That is... if the songs passing through their ear buds aren't infomercials too.

Running in the Park

The park in my new hood is a bustling place full of families, people reading the newspaper, walkers and runners (without being too crowded). Today, as I was running laps there, a little boy pointed at me and said, "that one, that one's my mum." The kindergarten teacher or day care attendant watching him laughed nervously and said, "Is she?"

It provided some welcome comic relief from my run but... why did he think I was his mum? The shorts, shirt and sunglasses?

A Few More Thoughts on What Makes a Londoner:

1) I am looking the correct way when crossing the street. Does that make me a Londoner? And I don't mean in the touristy areas where large signs are printed on the pavement saying "look right," "look left." Then again, I gave my yank roots away. Pavement means sidewalk in the UK.

2) Not exclusive to London, but it's great to be complimented on one's shoes. Especially when said shoes are six years old. Long live good shoe purchases.

Cute interaction for the day: A mother walking down the street quietly says, "I like those boots."

The little girl riding her bike beside her mother says, "My mum likes your boots."

Thank you mother and child, you're very sweet. It's the small things. Sometimes.

Also, are London cafes required to have public loos? This one doesn't.

Not to self: re-research the origin of the word loo. I know it has to do with Waterloo but I don't remember anything else.

Cheers.

Rain. Or lack thereof. (fingers, knees, ankles, arms, eyes crossed)

I'm living on the wild side. I'm out in London without an umbrella. Watch out!

Dogs

It's been too long since I've had a pet. I'm becoming a crazy lady who wants to take home strangers' dogs at parks while they're not looking. If I'm not careful, I'll become like that crazy online dating lady who cried about cats.

COWS

I found out today that the first time my grandmother rode a bike, she crashed into a cow. Also, apparently three old ladies she knows were walking on a public pathway through an English farm when they were attacked by a cow. One of them had to be hospitalized. Who knew such things could happen?

Funny things I’ve noticed in England

1. Girl passed me on the street wearing a tee shirt that said “I’m the bitch who keeps hanging up on you.” OK.
2. There are full size playgrounds in pubs here. I kid you not. Spotted near Richmond, Surrey. Apparently there s a move to make pubs more family friendly. A good idea?
3. A woman walked past the other day who was not wearing pants. The front of her head was shaved; the rest of her hair was long and blond. She was wearing a mid-length jacket. As she walked past everyone could see her butt cheeks. Some kid tried to yell something at her but his friend smacked him. Why was she wearing this?
4. Despite the constant rain, yesterday it was sunny and warm. Many people, including myself, did not dress appropriately. The woman sitting across from me in the station took her tights off. Watching men whip their heads around or to try to subtly look without looking was funny. Good entertainment while waiting for the train.

I’m sure more has happened but this is all I remember for now…

Expect more updates.