exercise machines

okay so I'm currently shopping for exercise machines. My life doesn't leave me room (or cash) to join a gym and I can't seem to keep myself motivated or interested in fashioning my own fitness program at home, so I figure if I can buy a machine and position it in such a way that I can do other stuff while I'm moving my body (like watching tv or reading), it might help.

I don't want to spend a shitload of cash on this thing because I know it might *not* keep me interested. Also I don't want a humungous thing because I don't have a lot of space for it. Man, I hate paragraphs that focus entirely on the negative aspects of a concept or decision, like the paragraph I am writing now, but the fact of the matter is I don't really know what it is I *do* want, since I've never done this before. So it's easier to figure out what I don't want. What I don't want is to be fat and unhealthy.

I was going to shop for a machine in the US next weekend but I realized I might have to pay tax and duty on it so I think I'll shop here instead. I think I can buy something cheap, and hope that cheap in this case translates simply as "inexpensive."

Watch this space for updates to Infobabe's Fitness Quest.

if a change is as good as a rest, then why am I so tired???

today I officially started my new job. I have temporarily been promoted to circulation supervisor here at the library, which is a jump of 3 pay grades (a whopping $2K per year) and a bunch of responsibility, as well as a change of geography.

I now spend all of my time in the circulation area as opposed to technical services which, for those of you who are wholly unfamiliar with libraries, means I am now "out front" as opposed to "in the back." Interestingly, I have spent nearly all my 7 years in libraries in tech services, meaning I work on preparing materials for public consumption, and rarely see them moving around. Also, I have always been less accountable to my coworkers, at least in terms of my physical presence, than I am now.

When my daughter was younger, I was nervous about being in a public service job in which my presence might be inflexibly required. I never wanted to be in a position where I might have to leave suddenly to attend to a family matter, and have nobody available to cover for me. This paragraph has inspired me to post about Epilepsy Summer, which I will do in due course, but for now I will just say that 3 years ago this feeling, about being solely responsible for the maintenance of a work environment, was completely justified. At this point, I'm feeling less nervous, mostly because I have a solid "village" in place to assist me with the care of my daughter. So, I agreed to take on the challenge of a whole new work experience, for a year anyway.

I don't doubt my ability to be a supervisor, since I am naturally, um, assertive (heh) - although my manner can be a bit brusque as that assertiveness constantly battles my also-inherent self-consciousness. Also, I am a good multi-tasker and tend to find order in chaos if it is to be found, and I can see already that this job is going to require all my formidable juggling skillz. I was feeling very tired and had a pounding headache by the end of the day, mostly from the effort of trying to seem smoothly competent and assume an air of confidence and authority while remaining affable and accessible to both patrons and coworkers. It was a struggle. But I can see glimmers of enjoyment in among the bumbling. Perhaps I will soon be able to rest, a little.

international women's day

when i was a little girl growing up - and even today - i sort of pitied boys born on this day, kind of how I pitied kids born on February 29. Maybe there are tons of boys born on March 8 who have no idea that it is International Women's Day. I grew up with a feminist mom and a bunch of activist women who never failed to remind me how lucky I was, not only to have been born a girl, but also to have been born on a day set aside specially to honour and celebrate our options and accomplishments.

I think my most memorable birthday party ever was in 1977 or 1978. There is a parade every year in Vancouver on this day (or there was -- I think there's just a rally these days). That particular year, a feminist collective had gotten together and commissioned a big load of fortune cookies from a local fortune cookie factory, with custom-made fortunes in them. I have no idea what they said or anything, but I imagine it was a feminist theme. That year I had my birthday party in the back of a pickup truck that was moving through the parade. I remember it was the best feeling ever, sitting on the roof of the truck with my best friend Eve, waving to the crowd. I think there was a banner on the truck that said "Happy Birthday K" or something like that.

Nowadays my birthday is a little more low-key, but I remain grateful for my femininity. Not just because of this auspicious day, but also because, well, it's great being a girl :)