Fitness Freak

Building on my recent fitness flurry, I started Friday evening off with another run around the Albert Park circuit. Technically it’s 4.6km, but when discussing with others, for simplicity sake, I just round it up to an even 10km.

Rounding the final bend I was greeted by the outstretched arms of a little angel in the form of a tutu clad Bodhi complete with strap on cardboard wings, and The Lovely Samantha with a picnic hamper. And, while the magical lakeside sunset did its best to keep up, it just couldn’t hold a flame to Sam’s heavenly creations. Shoot me next time I complain…about anything.

On Saturday we ventured across town to the other end of Punt Rd for a cracking steak with hand cut chips at The Terminus in Clifton Hill. With the Mercury tripping the light fantastic around the high thirties, nothing more strenuous was attempted.

Bodhi and I joined half of Melbourne for a swim at the aquatic center on Sunday. The mercury ventured even higher so the afternoon was spent indoors in front of DVDs. Jack and the Beanstalk was a little too scary but Horton Hears a Who hit the sweet spot – twice. I tell ya, that Dr Seuss was a pioneer of the moral compass: “A person’s a person no matter how small”.

See ya,

Minas.

Bachelor Weekend

Shalome and I kicked off Friday night, sans families, with a pub crawl starting sensibly enough with beer and wine at The College Lawn (my local). A brace of flavoured vodka shots at the next place, The Lucky Coq, tipped the sensibility scales against us and the cornicopia of cocktails that followed at bars such as Tusk Back Bar and Wonderland shoed away all remaining descency.

It was all part of a cunning plan to punish Shalome for attempting to scale back the evening by organising an early morning run on Saturday. Who does that? I haven't heard from her since so I trust she learnt a valuable lesson.

Onto Saturday. It might surprise you to know that i've been in the market for a muscle car for some time. My frugale nature is the only chastity belt standing in the way of my cherry being popped. This weekend's hot rod show was the perfect avenue to continue window shopping and The Lovely Samantha would have been proud - I shopped till i dropped.

I could never imagine loving another, but I have to be honest in admitting that a little 1967 Mustang Fastback has got me all hot and sweaty under the collar. Once restored, these things are an absolute leg opener.

After a solid day of full throttled temptation and red hot love flowing through my pistons, the animal in me wanted nothing more than to rip into a bloody steak and howl at the full moon rising.
The hot steamy night was too much to stay indoors so I packed the camera in my bag and headed into town. It was on the St Kilda Rd bridge that I glanced to my right and spotted another creature of the night with the same idea.

Boring Domestic shuffle took up the best part of Sunday morning. That afternoon, attempting to jog around Albert park again, I tried a novel suggestion from The Lovely Samantha to prevent further injury. Stretching before and after running gets my tick of approval.

see ya,
Minas.

Eyes in the back of your head

I took Bodhi for a long walk into the city on Saturday. I’d left my bike in at work on Friday and thought I’d take him with me to pick it up and give The Lovely Samantha a break. To ride the bike back though I had to bring in his bike seat and helmet which must have looked very interesting strapped to my backpack a la MasterBlaster (without the leather).

Not much doing Saturday night. Sam and I threw caution to the wind with microwave popcorn and chocolate in front of a DVD. When Bodhi questioned me on the Toblerone wrapper the next morning, I immediately regretted my answer. I’m picturing him today telling everyone at day care that Mum and Dad had an adults only “special party” after he went to bed on Sat night.

Sunday morning, while Sam took Shalome for a workout session, I looked after Scarlett and Bodhi. Needing to do some shopping, I ambitiously decided to take them with me. Through nothing more than sheer luck, they were both returned to their parents in one piece.

After a glutinous lunch with friends, guilt got the better of me. In the arvo I decided to go for a jog around Albert Park and I’m not sure what’s more incredible – that I made it all the way without stopping, or the pain I’m feeling in my legs today.

See ya,

Minas.

Happy New Year

Hiya;

It was lovely to wake up this morning to an inbox full of new year updates. All that zest, zeal and promise that the new year systematically ushers in. I felt a few pangs of guilt (yet again) for not keeping the weekend update at the forefront of my mind each Monday morning. I can only really put that down to work, which I’m still enjoying (sad I know).

Having a personal trainer on tap has been a blessing. As I may have eluded I’m starting to grow…around the waist. There’s a tyre forming - not quite a car but definitely an inner tube (racer, not mountain bike). The Lovely Samantha, bless her Pagan soul, has been conducting regular sacrificial sessions to the fitness Gods, my love handles providing the offering.

In the quiet times I’ve been introducing Bodhi to a few of my favourite albums on the ipod. Amusingly, he too suffers from the curse of phonetic lyric substitution (think AC/DC’s classic It’s a long way to the shop if you want a chicko roll). His current favourite is Bob Marley’s Gruffalo Soldier.

Being the most over rated night of the year, I was keen to keep NYE low key. With Shalome still suffering the after effects of a bad hangover, her chilled BBQ invite was just the tonic. Bodhi, not yet four, stayed up till after midnight which meant for a very pleasant sleep in for us in the morning.

This past week I’ve had the wonderful pleasure of catching up with a clutch the Knights. Shalome on NYE, Damo for din dins during the week, and the high fashion family for a weekend drink at our local. Glad to hear everyone’s doing well and as I sit at my window desk (on Tuesday morning) looking out at the wonderful Melbourne bay, all I see on the horizon is good tidings.

Be well dear friends,

Minas.