The Man Mall

A few weeks ago, I attended a gun show.  There’s a gun show every other month in Boise but this is the first one I’ve been to.  Although I’ve grown up around guns and even killed my own buck when I was a teenager, I don’t know much about firearms.  Miles, however, is an avid collector and very knowledgeable when it comes to all kinds of guns.  He has been into it since he was a little boy.  He asked me to go with him to the gun show.  When I started to protest, he said, “I always go to the mall with you.”  Objection overruled.

 

On the way to the fairgrounds, Miles was “chatty Cathy.”  I could tell he was excited and told me all about the items he will be looking for.  I got a kick out of watching him; like watching your kid open presents on Christmas morning.  Pulling into the parking lot, he wasn’t the only one excited about the gun show.  The parking lot was packed out and people were flooding the entrance. 

 

As we entered the giant building, Miles turned to me, put his arms in the air and said with a smile, “Behold!  The MAN MALL!!!”

 

Have you ever been to a gun show?  It’s quite remarkable.  Every thing that has to do with firearms is there.  Anything you can imagine (and things you can’t imagine) is there.  Not only can you find pistols and rifles, but accessories, books, clothing, ammo, classes, knives, hats, etc.… can be found at every turn.  Booth after booth of the nicest men (I didn’t see any women working the booths) ready to help you learn, show you a gun, or just talk about Vietnam. 

 

I was on sensory overload.  I asked plenty of questions and took it all in.  I would say about 80% of the people there fell into this category:

• Obese
• White
• Men ages 55-75
• Beards/mustaches
• Veterans
• Wearing camo clothing
• Very nice, friendly and helpful

 

I think a few of my black friends would say it looked like a Klan rally in that giant building (of course, they’d probably say that about the state of Idaho in general) and I can see where they’d think that.

 

Miles took over 2 hours to peruse every square inch of that entire gun show.  Up and down the isles he went playing with each item, showing me and asking the booth attendant questions before moving on to the next display.  When he was thoroughly satiated, we left. 

 

My gun show duty as the beautiful, supportive girlfriend just bought me a couple more trips to the mall.  And THAT is how it’s done, ladies.

 

Besides, it doesn’t hurt to learn how to use a gun, you know, just incase… 

 

 

Typical gun show food

 

 

Typical gun show booth worker

 

Miles with his .308 that he bought in 1976.  He still has it today.

 

Me shooting the AR-15

new evening spin classes added downtown

When:  Mondays and Fridays

 

Time:  5:45AM

 

Where:  A2O Fitness, 511 Americana Blvd.  http://www.facebook.com/pages/A2O-Fitness/116465051721612?fref=ts 

(showers available)

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When:  Mondays and Wednesdays

 

Time:  6PM

 

Where:  A2O Fitness, 511 Americana Blvd.  http://www.facebook.com/pages/A2O-Fitness/116465051721612?fref=ts 

(showers available)

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When:  Saturdays

 

Times:  7:15AM and 8:15AM

 

Where:  Breakaway Cycling Studio, Meridian  http://breakawaycyclingstudio.com/contact.html

Pockets of gold or a heart of gold?

I participate in 2 monthly buncos groups.  If you’ve never played Bunco, it’s fun.  Popular among women, this is a dice game that requires no skill whatsoever, makes friends of strangers and is more fun with wine.  My groups could be called “drunko!” (present company excluded).  Adult women of all ages get together to eat, drink and visit.  Playing the game and possibly winning money is only a small reason why we all love bunco.  I absolutely adore the women there and meeting new ones each month.  I suggest all women belong to or attend some sort of women’s only group on a regular basis.

 

Most buncos begin with a short introduction from each lady about themselves like, “Hey, I’m Cristy!  I live with my wonderful boyfriend Miles in Harris Ranch.  I’m a personal trainer and Miles and I love to cycle together all over the Pacific Northwest.”  During a recent bunco introduction, a young woman announced, “Hey, I’m Sally, I’m a Registered Nurse, single and looking for a tall, dark and handsome rich man.”  Everyone laughed, shouted affirmations and cheered.

 

Her comment bothered me.  Not because I don’t have a sense of humor but because she was dead serious.  And it bothered me that the entire room erupted in applause for her shallow lists of requirements for a future life partner.  Are you kidding me?  Are you telling me that your top criteria are looks and money?  Are you telling me you would you’d rather have a 6’2” workaholic over a 5’9” man with a solid job and time to spend with you?  Would you really look past a kind, gentle man just because he’s 15 lbs overweight?

 

I understand you must be physically attracted to him and there must be passion/chemistry.  But there are plenty of men out there who don’t meet all 4 prerequisites but who will make passionate lovers, wonderful husbands and loving fathers.  These men are capable of lifelong love in a faithful relationship with you.

 

It’s okay to have your list of things you’re attracted to and traits you like in a man.  But looking for love with looks and money being at the top of your list might cause you to look past some wonderful men.  Dark hair eventually turns grey, skin wrinkles and sometimes money runs out.  Ladies, take the blinders off and be open for a deeper, more meaningful relationship with anormal man.  Just because he didn’t just walk off the cover of GQ magazine doesn’t mean he can’t offer you a lifetime of happiness.  Don’t be a gold-digger.  If you’re looking for gold, look for a heart of gold not pockets of gold. 

 

And maybe, just maybe, you’ll luck out like I did and find a man who has it all. 

Us in Maui watching the sunset.  Nov 2012.

 

New spin class times in Meridian

My downtown spin classes stay the same:

When:   Mondays and Fridays at 5:45AM

Where:  A20 Fitness

             511 Americana Blvd

             344-5377

 

• More info:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/A2O-Fitness/116465051721612

  

My Meridian spin classes times have changed:

 

When:   Saturday mornings at 7:15AM and 8:15AM

Where:  Breakaway Cycling Studio

             10 Mile and McMillian

             (must reserve your bike ahead of time) 

 

• More info:  http://www.breakawaycyclingstudio.com

I stopped poisoning myself.

the price of living paycheck to paycheck

I am in a wonderful relationship with a funny, smart, handsome man with whom I coexist very well.  We share the same hobbies and interests, love the same music, laugh constantly and are passionate about each other.  But our career paths couldn’t be farther from each other.  This blog was sparked by a funny conversation between us the other day.  Miles couldn’t understand why Costco was crowded during the first of the month.  I tried to explain to him that the 1^st and 15^th are the days people get paid, so that’s when they get their shopping done.  Still confused, he asked, “Why don’t people just keep some money in their accounts to last til the next payday?”  I replied, “You’ve obviously never lived paycheck-to-paycheck.” 

 

Miles spent 26 years at Boise Cascade, a fortune 500 company, specializing in making paper.  He was recruited out of college as a young chemical engineer and worked his way up the ranks to eventually retire with the title of Senior Vice President.   I studied Exercise Science at the University of Memphis and desperately wanted to be a trainer.  Instead of taking a safe and secure route of getting perhaps my R.N., BSN, I chose the unstable, unpredictable career of a subcontract employee working off people’s disposable incomes.  I became a Personal Trainer.

 

Miles and I have had countless conversations about his career and I’ve learned of the extreme stress he was under for years and years.  There was unbelievable pressure on him from many directions, pressure I can’t even imagine.  After all, I’ve never had 3400 employees working under me!  Towards the end of his career, he actually thought he was having a heart attack at one point.  It wore him down to the point where he finally got out and retired early.

 

At the opposite end of the spectrum: there’s me.  I’ve been in the health and fitness industry for almost 19 years.  I have loved every moment of being trainer, class instructor, nutrition counselor and professional athlete.  Every single day I wake up, I am excited to go to work.  I’m excited about my clients, happy to write their programs, love taking their calls and anxious to help them with food.  I push them harder, wipe their tears, stop their bleeding and get in their face.   I’m the first to hunt them down at a restaurant, show up on their doorstep to talk them out of an ice cream binge and the first to give a hug when they succeed.  “I can’t imagine doing anything else for a career,” I told Miles over dinner one night.  “This is my passion.  This is what I’m made for.”  Miles’ answer was something I will never forget.  He replied, “I don’t remember ever being passionate about my job.”

 

The decades that we both have been in our careers took us down very different financial roads.  Miles has retirement through his company and invested his money wisely over the years.  I’ve lived month-to-month, paycheck-to-paycheck.  Not because I’ve overextended myself or have been foolish with my money!  But because the life of a trainer—or any profession that requires clients—can end at any moment.  A trainer must always save for a “slow month” or “slow season” just incase their roster is running a little lean.  And almost 20 years in with most companies would have me eligible for retirement or at least be fully vested. But almost 20 years as a trainer will get you nothing but respect.

 

For Miles and I to compare money stories is quite comical.  You should see the look on his face when I tell him the story about how I had to roll pennies from my ashtray for gas money.  Or how we were so poor growing up that one year mom sewed us rag dolls for our one and only Christmas present.  No, Miles wasn’t born with a silver spoon.  He has never been given anything and had to work his way through college like most people.  But since then, Miles has just always been financially secure from his job.  He has never been homeless, never had his water shut off from lack of payment and never had collectors calling.  On the flip side, I have no idea what it’s like to hop on a private company jet and fly to a New York City just for a Broadway musical.  And I’ve never been able to pay cash for a new car.  We envy each other—he envies me for the way I passionately love my career.  And I envy him for his security and never having financial worries. 

 

The bottom line is there really is a price for everything in life.  There is a price for our decisions and the path we take.  We have to be okay with that price and know what we’re getting into.  It’s easy for us to wish we would’ve done it differently or wish we had our neighbor’s green grass.  But always remember what it took to get his grass that green and in the end, it is just as hard to mow.

 

Us in Moab, UT.  Living the dream life.