A few things...

First, a shameless plug for the Match Me Up blog.

Go here for the latest dating adventure, in all it's hairy glory. This blog is morphing into something bigger than I expected, better even, and the new heights I hope it to reach seem within my grasp. Time will tell - so read it while it's free. :-)

I am having those restless nights again - something is pressing on my psyche which permeates my REM cycle and doesn't allow me the needed Z's for next-day optimization. I had the weirdest dreams - one was a mix of my dog and a scene from the latest installment of The Real Housewives of New York (talk about a mash gone bad). Maybe I'll post that sometime...it's too fresh and raw to see in print just yet.

I had a meeting today with a fellow writer/creative/comic lover, and plans are in the works for great things. I do enjoy getting to know new people who inspire, encourage, and see the world from similar points of view. Makes the daily grind not so grounding.

Got back to the office, caught up on emails, reached out to a few contacts, and missed a meeting. No biggee, I didn't need to be there and I spent the time in a much better way.

The week ahead is jam packed with meetings, both at work and for outside endeavors. Busy weeks equal faster workdays, which equal sooner weekends. I like.

I get to hang out with my new neighbor on Wednesday night, at a little "get ta know ya" courtesy of my friend Candace. I'm really looking forward to it - I've met him in passing, had quick but very informative conversation, and I know I've only scraped the surface. More than ready to dig in.

I've decided to really delve into this kickboxing "kick" I'm on now. Two classes a week, with a pilates thrown in for good measure every other week, on top of my spinning, swimming and running prep for the late-summer tri should be sufficient for getting in fighting form. Or it just may kill me.

Stay tuned....

A Reason To Greet The Dawn (under cover of darkness)

I love my gym. My new gym.

I recently moved downtown, and had been trekking out to the South City YMCA, which was decent - has a great lap pool, okay cardio, early spinning classes, friendly folks. Pretty quiet in the morning, not a lot of chatting, in & out is a breeze. Which is one wants at 5:00 in the morning, right?

I recently found out that there was more I could want.

And needed.

And desired.

I went to the Downtown YMCA one cold winters morning, and got the grand tour. Rooms and rooms of spanking new equipment, spacious and well-lit rooms, a lap pool, a sauna, two steam rooms, a highly-equipped spinning room (mama like), and........

.....wait for it.......

...a row of Expresso Bikes.

Hold on, I need to grab a towel. I always salivate a little when I think about my new best friend.

The Expresso Bike is amazing. Truly. It's interactive in the best sense of the word. You can choose between different levels and rides, some are more hilly/level than others, so your workout varies. It challenges. It thrills. And what I absolutely love about these bikes is, in a word, the videogame element.

You have the ability to steer the bike in whatever scenario you choose - you could be dodging/passing other riders, attempting to stay on the curve of the trail, or escape certain death down a steep and snowy slope.

It's loads of fun.

AND (it just keeps getting better) there's an element of competition, as you log in and can track your rides, miles, performance, etc., while competing against other riders all across the country for prizes.

It's good fun. And great motivation for getting up at 5:00 a.m. - I think alternating these rides with spinning classes will add some flavor to my triathlon training. Or at the very least, get me ready for some summer centuries.

Ride on.