This time of year has caused me to go a bit nuts both this year and last year. When I moved to NY I had to give up the fairly extensive home gym I had built. My cottage simply doesn’t have room for the equipment. This leaves me unable to workout though once the clocks change because of the cold and the dark – my weight bench is out in the barn. Last year I partially solved this problem by getting a dance pad and making an ass of myself playing dance video games, which are a decent cardiovascular workout even if they make you look ridiculous. No one was around to see so what did I care. Still, I crave something better. I did a good bit of research over the past few months and settled on a Concept 2 rowing machine which I ordered today. This winter instead of putting on a couple of pounds I’m committed to ending with that sixpack I’ve been working towards the last few years (as in, on my stomach, not as in, of Guinness). Meantime though I’m going crazy with a lack of activity and checking the scale every morning like a borderline anorexic teenager. Fortunately the ordering process was super quick – I ordered over breakfast this morning and they’ve already sent me my fedex shipping number.

With Soolin’s crate out in the barn now I’m also going to move the weight bench inside this weekend, the hell with open space, who needs it.

There’s one consequence of all this for the family – I am officially broke. We’ve talked of ending the insanity that is our normal Christmas. I’m flat out telling you all, I don’t have the $1,000-$1,500k I normally spend on Christmas to blow this year. We’ve talked over the past couple of years about either doing secret Santa or holding ourselves to a realistic budget. I’m casting my vote for either of those and am open to other suggestions, but if all of your xmas lists have a bunch of $300 gifts on them, you can count on a $50 gift certificate 😉