Saturday, March 15, 2008

Little Notty




Ninna had a severe skin problem so I had to send her to the vet. The vet Dr. Elizabeth has a kennel in Um al quain which is very far from Sharjah. Whenever we go away Ninna stays with her. A filipino man called Jojo who is loud and happy like most people from his country comes to pick up and drop Ninna.
Ninna had to stay with 3e444444zxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ( that was Notty ) the vet for a week as she is on antibiotics, steroids and blue spray. So I was cribbing to Dr Elizabeth about how much I was missing Ninna as I work from home and she is my companion. So Dr Elizabeth offered to send me another French Bulldog puppy.
Notty came day before yesterday. She is unusually small and makes even smaller sounds. She walked very slowly and carefully only around the centre table. The next day I realised that she whimpers when she has to pee and potty which is very intelligent of her. She slept peacefully in her own bed the first night unlike Ninna who cried periodically her first night with us. Notty follows me sometimes but only for a while. She likes chewing wires, chasing the mop, rolling the ball and then getting surprised but most of all like all puppies she likes to sleep cuddled up.
Anshuman and I have fallen in love with her. Our guess is that no one wanted her because she is so small and gangly. The rest of her brothers and sisters have been taken.
Anshuman wants to keep her but I can't manage another dog even though she is so beautiful and I love her so much. She goes back tomorrow. My little Notty.

Saturday, March 08, 2008

The gym

So I joined a gym for the third time in my life. First time was before the wedding when I went for 4 days. Second time was in Bombay after marriage when i went for three days.
This time I was reading this book called Secret recommended to me by someone I respect. I got so excited reading the book that I decided I had to do something positive so i got dressed and went looking for a ladies gym that i had seen many times while going to Megamall to watch a movie and shop as a bonus.
I walked fast and asked at least five people where the ladies gym was in a span of about 7 minutes. I always ask for direction sometimes even when i am almost sure i am moving in the right direction. I don't want to be lost and resultantly walk one step more than required. Clearly I needed to be in some form of exercise routine. Finally I asked a Mallu shopkeeper where the gym was and he looked like I was talking greek. The Arab lady next to me finally showed me the way and I had to ask only two more people till I finally got to the lift of the gym building. The building has just been constructed and the lifts were not working. It said- 7th flr- Ladies gym. The thought of climbing up 7 floors took out all the spirit injected in me by the book.
In fact by now i was cursing the book for getting me all stirred up about losing weight. Then an angel came in the form of a woman and called for her friend at the staircase. I asked just to confirm- where is the gym? 1st floor- she replied.
I was filled with many twinkling lights again. I went up and saw about 30 women vigorously doing aerobics to loud music. I signed up for three months instantly seeing myself as my former thin self at the end of the three months.
I went the next day and pedalled on a bicycle for about 10 minutes and then aerobics for about another ten mins after which I went and sat down on the staircase outside for some time because i just couldn't stand. I now go and loiter around for the first 5 minutes feeling amazed at all the spandex that can be worn under an abaya. Woman come wearing make up to the gym. There are mirrors everywhere and you can see how fat your thighs are or how your butt jiggles when you run on the spot.
So after that I push the pedals and count all the calories i am burning. Then the aerobics begins and I like the stretching at first but then the music starts and kilos and kilos of mass begins jumping vigorously including me. I always stand at the back of the class much like school so that I can goof off in between have some cold water and come back to flail my legs and arms around. After a while it gets tough to touch my elbow to my knee and kick my leg forward without actually falling down. My instructor has already caught me once and scolded me for leaving the class early everyday.
I check the time in my watch every two minutes. Today my watch just stopped without a warning at 8 am. In a way it's good becase that way i might just end up doing exercises for longer than 20 minutes.
I feel wonderful when I come home, freeze the livingroom and then take a cold shower. I love the after exercise feeling. I think that I will continue to go and exercise because the next two hours post work out feel amazingly wonderful and so light.
So I will go again today and hopefully exercise a little longer than the last time. Needless to say that I will eat rice and dal for dinner and all the calories will embrace me lovingly and reside in my stomach which is after all a very comfortable cushioned home for them.

PS Jamjar saw my work and will consider to commission me when they require paintings for business spaces and residences. All good.