My old workplace had a gym in the basement. I’d go down at least once a day, often twice a day, to walk on the treadmill or do calisthenics or lift some weights. It wasn’t heavy workouts, but it was good for me, and it was regular exercise. My new workplace has no such convenience.

But I discovered that the building, being new, is not fully finished, yet. The third floor (out of 6) is completely open. The center of the level is walled — inside the walls are the stairwell, the elevators, and the restrooms — but everything else is empty. The walls are unpainted, the floor is uncarpeted, and there’s nothing blocking the views through all the windows.

It’s a great indoor “track” for walking. So I’ve visited that floor three or four times since I discovered it early last week. I walk for around ten minutes to get the blood flowing, and then go back to my office.

Yesterday, in mid walk, I had to use the restroom. I went in the room on that floor and did my quick business. (The restrooms are fully complete.) When I came out of the restroom, I saw a man in a suit standing on the floor looking out the window. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw other folks in suits walking slowly. It was rather obvious that they were looking the place over to consider it for their offices.

After the two seconds it took me to take all this in, I decided to just walk away as quickly — without looking rushed — as I could. I walked in the opposite direction, turned the corner where the elevators are located, and went around the wall to the stairwell.

I had my telephone headset in my ears, playing music, so if anyone said anything, I couldn’t hear it. I went into the stairwell and hustled up the stairs back to my office.

Afterward, the absurdity of it struck me. Here’s a 41 year old professional man coming out of a restroom on a vacant building floor, and he hustles away like a teenager caught trespassing on Old Man Johnson’s land.

I’d love to know what the suits thought when they saw some guy walking away from the restroom and disappear around the corner. And I really hope no one moves onto that floor soon — I don’t want to loose my walking track.

Bullgrit

Viewed: DVD

Most of the movies I watch are decidedly “guy movies.” Even “geeky guy movies.” And then, occasionally, Cowgrit gets me to watch something more “mature.” The Bucket List is one such mature movie.

Two old guys, dying of cancer (months to live), make a list of things they want to do before kicking the bucket. But there’s much more to the story than just following them on various escapades.

Both Nicholson and Freeman are known to be great actors, and in this movie they live up to their reputations. Even all the secondary characters have great actors.

The story and dialog are well written. Many scenes are beautiful, even though I think there’s a lot of computer generated stuff in the backgrounds.

Like most “mature” movies, the story is not always happy — but at least it never gets really depressingly sad. The ending is sweet. It is a good movie, but I still prefer my guy movies. Every movie would be better if something blew up.

One thing that I kept noticing, though, throughout the film, was some minor errors. At one point during a conversation, Morgan Freeman’s eyeglasses were off, then on, then off, then on, depending on the camera angle. Another time when Morgan Freeman was in the bath tub, the bubbles around him kept changing between cuts. It didn’t really affect my enjoyment of the movie, but it’s a sign of poor attention to detail by someone — director, editor, ?

Bullgrit

I took Calfgrit7 to the state capital building yesterday with his Cub Scout den. Something I’m always proud with Calfgrit7 about is that on these kinds of tours (at the capital building, at the carnivore preserve, etc.) he is polite, pays attention, and asks legitimate and thoughtful questions.

Some boys just don’t pay attention, and show no desire to learn anything. Calfgrit7 likes learning. Sometimes he says he doesn’t, and sometimes he says he doesn’t want to go on the trip/tour, but when he’s actually at the event or on the tour, he listens, learns, and asks questions.

I’ve told Calfgrit7 (yesterday and before) how proud and happy I am that he behaves, listens, and asks good questions. I dearly hope his love of learning continues throughout his life.

At the end of our tour of the capital building, all the boys had questions. They raised their hands and the tour guide called on them each in turn. One boy wanted so bad to ask a question, but he couldn’t think of one. He raised his hand, and when he was called on:

“Why. . . uh . . . why . . . um . . . why . . . oh . . . why . . .” on and on.

The tour guide interrupted him, “How about I let you get your thoughts together for a moment while someone else asks a question.” She called on another Cub Scout.

“Oh oh oh, I know now! I know what I want to ask!” the boy shouted before the other boy could ask anything. So the tour guide went back to the first boy.

“Why . . . um . . . why . . . uh . . . why . . . oh . . . why . . .”

We dads and moms standing with the group started looking back and forth at each other, trying not to laugh. The boy’s mother was outside the building with her younger child (who wasn’t old enough to have patience for such a tour). Finally, after probably 50 “why’s” (no exaggeration, here), the den leader dad stepped in and said, politely and nicely, “That’s enough questions for now.”

The kid never did get a question out, but the tour guide was able to move on — I’m sure much to her relief.

Bullgrit