Pilfered from my guest blog

Why? Because well, I don't see the need to write two accounts of the same incident, but I thought it was funny/sad enough to share here and a good indication of my mindset at this time ...

I almost died today. I was at the gym, minding my own business running on the treadmill. The new cardio machines are equipped with little TVs, so now I get in shape while watching Family Guy (sweet!). The good thing about this feature is that you get so engrossed in TV that you forget about what you’re doing and your surroundings. The bad thing about this feature is that you get so engrossed in TV that you forget about what you’re doing and your surroundings.

Anyway, I was running along, with my earphones in, watching the episode where Peter wishes for no bones when this cute guy from my building pops up from behind me and says, "Hi!" with a disarming grin. Naturally, I almost fall over because a) I was truly startled, b) I’m clumsy in general, and c) hello, disarming grin!

Anywho, I then try to catch myself by stepping right on the spot between the belt that’s moving and the plastic that’s holding the belt, which is not moving. This, of course, causes me to stumble again and flail like a monkey. Cute Guy promptly goes, "Whoa!" steps back a little, and says, "Don’t die …" Thanks Cute Guy, I’ll try not to. Next time, why don’t you sneak up behind me while I’m holding weights above my head, startle me, and then admonish me while I try not to concuss myself? By the time I had fully recovered, Cute Guy had gone on his way, perhaps hoping to avoid liability had I died due to his actions.

The lesson here? Going to the gym is bad for my health.

Here is a crude drawing of the aforementioned incident ...