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I’m proud of myself: I went to the Rec yesterday for the first time in a couple of weeks (or at least a week, I don’t remember) and got myself a rather good workout. I spent the first hour or so teaching Lisa the basics of racquetball. We’d tried to play racquetball once before, and though I don’t remember any specifics, I do remember thinking we probably wouldn’t play again. *grin* She was better this time, due mostly to a change in enthusiasm. It’s no fun to wear yourself out chasing a little blue ball unless your opponent is also willing to move and swing. She ran as much as me, tried for tough (even physically impossible and therefore hilarious) shots, and really seemed to want to learn. Made it fun, even if I didn’t get quite as much of a workout as I would have if I were playing someone who could kick my ass without trying too hard. I hit her with the ball once (softly, but still made me laugh) and hit myself once pretty hard (off the back wall from too close). It was fun in general.

After racquetball, we went upstairs and I introduced her to the joy that is the rowing machine. I love rowing machines for whatever reason. The repetitive, regular motion is really soothing, and hey—I get a workout at the same time. I was a little nervous, as I hadn’t had a chance to get on the rowing machine for probably five months. I was proud of myself in the end, though, as I made it 3100 virtual meters (almost two virtual miles) in 15 real minutes at one of the harder settings, which is better than I thought I’d do. I figured I’d be sore as hell today, but other than a slight tightness in my shoulders, I’m fine. I’m definitely going to be making the rowing machine a regular part of my summer, unless someone were willing to donate something rowable to my cause. And a lot of water, because Ames isn’t exactly known for its large bodies of water. I don’t even have a wading pool. But anyway, the rowing machines at the Rec rock. If I were to take my MP3 player with me, I might even be able to go ~alone~, which I’ve never been able to convince myself to do before. Of course, rowing would only take from 15-30 minutes. What else am I supposed to do while I’m there? Half an hour seems too little a span of time, and I’m worried I’m still too self-conscious to jog alone. I really gotta work on that.

I’ve been thinking a lot about joining the Peace Corps the last couple of days. I’m thinking it’s probably just the hippie English grad student equivalent of the running away and joining the circus fantasy. Of course, I had a hippie-ish English grad student friend drop out of school and join a traveling carnival, so I suppose both are viable options for someone with as auspicious training as we. Now she’s teaching English in rural Japan, if I remember correctly. Regardless, I keep thinking the Peace Corps might be fun for a couple of years. It’s probably just a faze.