There is a real danger in climate-controlled exercise. One way or another, it's probably going to cost money. You're either paying for a gym membership, or for a yoga class. Maybe you're paying for time with a personal trainer. Or you're doing what I did this evening after the sun went down. I was out to turn a winning MegaMillions ticket ($8 -- don't be impressed) into a couple more tickets. The walk from the car to the vending machine at the King Soopers made me feel like walking more, for once, but the air was a bit brisk for me to want to do it on city streets. I started driving vaguely in the direction of my house, but I didn't turn off the main street to go home. I just kept going straight. I found myself winding across town to the biggest store I felt like wandering through: Target. I knew there I could walk as far as I wanted at a sedate pace, that the temperature would be comfortable, and there would be no breeze. I went all over it, picking up a few clearance items (but no more than I could hold in my hands, as I had not gotten a buggy or a hand basket). After 45 minutes, I had leopard print slippers (my previous set were worn out), green sweater-knit leggings, a CU t-shirt to give to the Rotary exchange student who I am taking to a basketball game tomorrow, and a pack of gluten-free hot dog buns. The cost of my impulse to exercise for less than one hour in a warm, well-lit building cost me just over $30. Maybe next time I should choose a store that sells stuff I really dislike. Where exactly would that be?
The one thing I thought I would purchase when I was on my way there was not in stock, or at least not on display. After hearing people on television and Twitter gush excitedly about the new political book of the week (Fire and Fury), I thought maybe I would go ahead and buy it. I rarely do that, and for the last two years I have had little if any focus to read any long-form writing. Anymore I don't even read the romance novels that were my weekly indulgence for most of my adult life. But this time I felt like participating in the sensation sweeping the nation, and keeping my pop-culture bona fides in top form. They didn't have the hardback book on the shelves, nor did they have a label and bar code where it ought to have been, but then it was released four days early today. Maybe my home town Target was not prepared to set it out early. So when I got home, I downloaded it on the Kindle app. I haven't gotten very far in, because I kept splitting my attention between the TV and it, so now that I've lost interest in the stuff on TV, maybe I can fall asleep reading the book. Or who knows, maybe I'll stay up late and read the whole thing. I doubt it, but stranger things have happened.
I'm not sure how I will feel on the other side of this. Not sure I will feel like presenting a book report or review in a few days' time. However I will promise this: If I think it is important that everyone look at it, I'll say so. If I think it is so horrible that no one ever should read it, I'll say that instead. Failing either of those two extremes, I'll leave it up to you whether you're interested enough to look at it, and I might just say nothing.
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