Grand Haven=Heaven

A few weeks ago, I decided I was going a bit crazy. Job hunting, waiting, more job hunting, etc gets old and frustrating and I had apparently reached my threshold. I've also decided needing to "get out" is a fun curse that my travel jobs have bestowed upon me. I think it's normal to visit different places as often as possible. Or I like to make it normal. Anyway, my mind was made up, and my mind quickly thought about how incredibly cold Lake Michigan was when we last visited and how beautiful many people have said it is in the summer. I shared my idea* with Nate and because he's nice, or felt similar, he agreed-so we headed for the lake!

*by the time it's an idea, my mind is very much set on something

See? Look how happy it made him.

We arrived in the afternoon and wandered through an Indie music fest, found someone's camera, handed said camera over to the police, then made our way to the water. This cool sunset was our reward.

We'd left our suits at the hotel because it had been a bit cooler, but by the time we arrived, we regretted our swimsuit-less apparel. We settled for feet bathing and people watching.

Nothing special about this picture, but I think it's a good representation of what look I give Nate if he's said something I deem embarrassing/inappropriate. For the record, I don't think he actually had said anything in those categories, it was just a lucky shot, I guess.

The next day we returned prepared. The weather was beautiful, the water was lovely to swim in (even for me!) and somewhere along the way, I started to feel okay again.

We had to make it a quick trip, but I'm so glad we did! By the time we got home, I was full of tranquility, satisfaction...and sand.

Speaking of beautiful, if anyone is looking for a creep-y hotel...be sure to check out Dad's Inn the next time you are passing through Northwest Michigan; it's sure to delight.

Bye, bye REC

Way back in the day when we were in the YMCA's good graces, I never would've imagined I would need to be associated with UT's (University of Toledo) REC center in order to work out. The first YMCA was dumpy, not really air conditioned, and full of wannabe meat heads/sports lovers. It would make me crazy to hear (even over my too loud headphones): "DO YOU THINK T.O. IS GOING TO BEAT BLAH BLAH?!?"

I know people care about sports, I just will never care enough to be that loud about it. Anyway, last fall...we got a YMCA upgrade; they built a new facility and it is lovely. Bigger workout rooms, air conditioning, private tvs on all the machines; their upgrades made it so I could ignore Zumba guy, coffee guy, Johnny Tremain guy, and skanky girl (that actually said, and I quote "will this exercise work my boobs??" Sorry, but it happened) more effectively. I was in heaven!

Then we were denied our "scholarship" renewal. Yes, yes, we are poor, so they were helping us out. And then they weren't. I felt more rejected than is probably normal, but working out is one thing that has, at times, kept me sane while we've been in Ohio. Nate remembered that UT has a REC facility that he could work out for free as a student, and I was required to pay a bit; but averaging both of us paying, it came out to be about the same price as the YMCA before. So we suited up, paid for me, and entered into the undergraduate zone. I couldn't shake the thought that I was one of very few real paying customers, so my expectation was higher (and/or dashed more quickly) than theirs. As opposed to the YMCA guys, these weight room guys were legitimate steroid users, they legitimately used nasty boy language, so I legitimately avoided that area. I stuck to the cardio machines where I learned I can workout and still benefit, even if my closest workout companion smells like dinner sweat, even if I have to watch "the Shore" or "The Real World", even if I see an older gentlemen doing questionable hip exercises, and even if a guy comes up to me and tells me "you can do it! (running)" when indeed I already was doing it. (Is this what flirting has come to?)

When I told Nate last night that it was our last night to go to the REC, he cheered. I'm sad I'll have to be more creative about working out for the rest of our Toledo stay, but I'm happy to be free of our time there. Will I miss being stopped in the parking lot and asked to judge who out of two friends is taller (they were adults, if anyone is wondering)? No, indeed I won't.