I’m getting up around 5:30-6am these days because of daylight and heat. This means our year-old cat’s morning zoomies are now also early. Including, today, the loud beeping from a phone knocked off the hook, and the massive smash of a chair that fell over when she perched atop it. (This morning was not typical! She was terrified after the chair fell, which hopefully means she’ll figure out that she’s outgrown some places where perching was once successful.)
Our downstairs neighbors already threatened to sue us a few years ago over a dripping air conditioner (we didn’t know it was dripping, and had it fixed within a few days after they told us). I’m a little worried about what reaction we may provoke from downstairs. As you say - people are tense.
Can I just point out that people are tense because they know - somewhere deep in their subconscious - that they have been railroaded and coerced into irrational behaviours. Behaviour-control techniques are very effective, but they inevitably result in a sullen and neurotic population of curtain-twitchers. People feel that they’ve been disenfranchised and emasculated, but they can’t put their finger on how it happened or why they’re even going along with it.
Simply acknowledging that you are being coerced can help, IMO. I found (weirdly) that reviewing some of the literature on psychological warfare techniques was quite comforting; I suppose it’s a bit like knowing the likely damage radius of a 105mm shell. Fear is a powerful lever of control, so try to get a hold of your fear by doing some research rather than relying on the TV news or “I heard of someone who …” anecdotes. Learn about probability and statistics; apart from anything else, it’ll fill those empty hours. Knowledge is power. You’ll likely to come out the other side less badly damaged if you can keep a grasp on reality while the air decompresses around you and flushes everyone else out the airlock.
For what it’s worth, I’ve probably been passing people like this (definitely in aisles, maybe on escalators but I forget) on the principle that, the less time I spend near people, the more we’re “distanced” from each other. No idea how it really works, but my sense is that sixty seconds two meters away is “worse” than 5 seconds quickly walking by. I am trying very hard to avoid standing near people for any length of time. I’m not trying hard to avoid passing them in aisles.
Anyway, I get where you’re coming from - it’s easy to be frustrated right now - but people who seem careless may actually be careful, just from a different point of view.
I’m not sure if anyone has taken up cycling, but lots of us are certainly doing it.
Wasn’t it hard to buy a bike in North America last year? I don’t know how things are here. Hopefully better, seeing as how we’re Giant’s home turf, but global supply chains often surprise me.
I’ve gotten back into it. I stopped for the most part for months and months then just started again. I’m also hiking, and recently started running part of my 3.3km uphill course. I haven’t been running because of bad knees and I’m very happy to see my knees have somehow repaired themselves somewhat.
I can’t imagine not having my workouts. It’s really the only thing keeping me sane.
Bit of context … didn’t you stop because you’d achieved some kind of massive ride that was a goal you’d been working towards for a while? You’re making it sound like you’ve been lazy, but I think it was more that you were deservedly resting on your laurels! (Or am I misremembering?)
Plus, damn it, we can’t swim anymore - same reason my cycling moved up a level in Spring 2020. And I was finally sorting out that dumb dolphin kick off the wall!
That’s partly right. I cycled Wuling and while I did deserve a break after that feat, the ride also kicked my butt to such an extent that I was a bit scared away from cycling!
Yes. I was really getting somewhere with that. Oh well. Maybe my renewed interest in running will eventually lead to triathlon races again. I really miss those races and especially the training leading up to them.
Long long ago, a doctor told me if I lost some weight I may be able to jog with my bad knee again. Well, I did lose a fair bit of weight - but nope, still no jogging, annoyingly.
I was about to complain to you guys how bad this bike ride hurt my knees haha. They claim it’s good for them though. Maybe it will be better next ride.