2010

I'd never been to East Auckland, so last night was something new. My first thought was that any future girlfriend(s)(?) could not live this far away. Being male, the expectation would be for me to drive, and an hour round trip is excessive - sorry but love should have reasonable limits, like gas mileage.

I'd spent much of the day lazing around, reading on the deck. The sun kept bobbing between the clouds, mocking my effort in sun blocking myself. I'd snoozed in the afternoon. The long journey to East Auckland seemed an abrupt break from my day.

As we pulled up to the park, I saw a bunch of familiar faces. We'd arrived at Primal Sausage fest. It was a pretty chilled out vibe.

The sun was beginning to go down and the hills behind us began to cast long shadows. I didn't want to get cold, so I organised a game of basketball. I'd played basketball in high school and still hear my African-American coach yelling in my ear - 'Left hand, left side Sizer!' I desperately wanted to take my shirt off to cool down as sweat glide down my face. I also didn't want to look like a hussy, so I opted just to sweat it out. I enjoyed the fitness and sensation of my heart demanding oxygen.

I got home and read some more of Luke. I was pretty exhausted after the basketball and fell to sleep quickly. I woke early in the morning, feeling fully rested and ready to go. I threw on my track pants and a singlet and jogged up the road to the gym. The steep incline was destroying me. I smiled though, at the thought of conquering the urge to stop.

The gym was sweltering hot, even at 7.45. All the weights seemed so much heavier and I went through four bottles of water trying to keep my temperature down. I met an old guy called Vinu this morning, 77 years old and still pumping iron. I'd heard about him but never met him. He grinned as he explained his routine and longevity, and I had the distinct impression that this was a pitch he'd shared a million times before. He deserved a bit of showing off though, he looked to be only 60, with a massive chest and bulging arms and almost completely smooth skin. In his finale, he held onto a bench, having only the top of his shoulders and head resting, while the rest of his body was completely suspended in mid air. He curled his legs back toward his head - astonishing core strength for such an old man.

Here's a video of me pumping iron at the gym:

(Just jokes)

I'm unsure what I'll get up to today. It's a little overcast, which is disappointing. Ka kite!