One of the least talked about but, in my opinion, best benefits of working out at a gym is all the crazy converstions you get to overhear! At home you’re pretty much stuck to your kids, pets, significant other and, you know, the voices in your head.
But stick someone on a treadmill and suddenly a whole new world of gossip opens up! I’ve found it helps too to put your earphones in but don’t actually turn on any music. That way, the two high-schoolers next to you will feel comfortable talking even louder about their crazy lives and – viola! – your very own showing of Gossip Girls! You have to be careful though not to jog next to someone boring. That could ruin your whole workout;)
Ice Fishing
I’m new to Minnesota. I’m new to the whole midwest, actually. So when my neighbors on the stretching mats struck up a conversation about ice fishing, I had to jump in. It’s like being able to say “you betcha!” with a straight face – I need to know these things to survive here. Here’s how it went down:
Lady: So Al drove his truck into the lake.
Other Lady: Again?!?
L: What should I do with him? I mean, this was his new truck.
Me: Kill him and throw the body in the hole in the ice the truck left?
OL: Oh honey, if we killed our husbands every time they lost something in the lake, we’d run out of men and then who would be left to scream at the Vikings all afternoon?
L: You betcha! Besides, it’s just a truck.
Me: Well, did you get it out?
L: We’ll probably wait till spring. But Al’s real bummed, that was his best ice fishing hole.
Me: You can’t cut another one?
OL: Well you could but you get to where you know where all the best fish are…
L: Plus we lost the cabin too
Me: Cabin?!?
OL: The hut that sits over the hole. That’s a real shame Leda, Al’s hut was nice.
L: Yeah, we had a couple of bunks, a TV…
OL: A satellite dish
Me: You had a satellite dish on an ice fishing hut?!?
L: Well, how else would we catch all the Vikings games? They certainly don’t run cable out there. (both ladies giggle).
Me: How long are you out there?
L: All weekend, usually
Me: Wow, you must catch a lot fish.
OL: Not so’s you’d think.
L: Nope, nope.
Me: Then what’s the point?
L: Well, you know to be outdoors, enjoy nature…
Me: In a heated hut with television?
OL (whispering loudly): It’s the drinking sweetie. Let’s just be honest – it should be called ice drinking.
Me: Ahhh, so that’s how the truck ended up in the lake.
See – things I need to know!
What crazy stuff have you overheard in your gym??
First of all, I want you to know that this whole page is in Spanish (at least for me, here in Mexico), so I will “Haga su comentario” as best as possible. I totally hear you on the overhearing random things while working out. People are breathing hard and therefore talk more loudly, and I just think there’s something about working out next to someone that makes you open up. I met one of my very best friends this way – we started chatting on the elliptical and within 10 minutes, I knew more about her impending divorce than her family did!
I tend to overhear a lot of doctors at my gym who multitask by returning calls during cardio. Besides violating major HIPAA codes, it’s just so WRONG to overhear the guy sweating next to you on the treadmill say “Push 2 of epi and check her vitals in an hour.” (Or somesuch – I’m not a doctor, I just watch a lot of ER).
Also, there’s this dud at my gym who puts on headphones and sings at the top of his lungs while working out. He looks a bit like George Costanza and snaps his fingers, whistling and singing “yeah yeah, baby!!” So, so bizarre.
I shall now proceed to “Verificacion de la palabra.”
Adios!
LOL Leslie! We have a “headphones singer” too! It’s an old guy who sings along with his iPod REALLY loudly. And off-tune. All your Spanish is cracking me up, girl:)
I knew you would have some good gym convo stories – esp. considering how you got your research for your (awesome – everyone read it if you haven’t yet, it’s called Locker Room Diaries) book.