In The Bleak Midwinter

Does this week seem really long to any of you guys?  Maybe because I’ve worked pretty late Monday and Tuesday.  Well, the weekend holds some promise, at least until Sunday morning when I have to pack up and head to Milwaukee for the week.


Saturday night, we have two (two!) parties to attend.  The first is at our gym, Anderson’s Nautilus.  We’ve been members there since about 1985.  It’s located right by Greenlake, and our routine is to run from the house most of the way around Greenlake, dip into Anderson’s for a Nautilus workout, then run the rest of the way home.  I haven’t even priced other gym memberships, because if I had to get in my car and drive to one, I just don’t think I’d use it.  Despite going there for all these years and seeing many of the same people working out, I hardly know any other members by name, and haven’t said more than a few words to them.  The combination of my approach to my workouts, and the fact that the club doesn’t have a juice bar or social scene, I think, is responsible for that.  They’ve been having Christmas parties for many years, but we’ve never attended one, but this year it seems to fit into our schedule, and I thought it might be interesting to switch the paradigm a little and engage these folks in their street clothes.


Later in the evening, some of Mrs. Perils’ rock climbing buddies are having a white elephant gift party.  They’ve done this for a couple of years now.  Lots of people come, the food is terrific, and the action is hilarious.  The theme this year is Naughty and Nice.  At my age, 50-50 odds are compelling.


How about the rest of you?  What’s your party schedule?