Tag Archives: drunk

Workout Plan – The Equinox Edition

photo from http://livingnotsurviving.com/“Trying out Equinox tonight with my roomate. A gym which imports its water from the fountain of youth, uses money bags as medicine balls, and gold bars for free weights.”

Okay peeps, we’re into the beginning of February which means all of those new years resolutions are at their sink or swim point. If you’re like me, you made a generalized resolution like “quit smoking,” “read more,” or “be nicer.” My resolution this year, however, aside from being less bitchy was to “make healthy choices” so yeah it’s generic enough that it can cover a variety of regressive behaviors i.e. drinking like college student, smoking like a chimney, disregarding the need for physical fitness, and eating like a heifer.

In the last few weeks, I’ve significantly scaled back on my drinking, haven’t smoked at all (actually I kind of gave that up last year), started working out again, and began eating like any self-respecting adult should. Everything is going smooth sailing thus far and the gym is becoming noticeably less busy which is way more convenient because I can finally get my ass on a treadmill.

I’ve never been a fan of fancy gyms – they’re overwhelming and filled with people who are too attractive and physically fit to be around those who… aren’t. I go to Planet Fitness – a gym comparable to Average Joe’s from the acclaimed feature film Dodgeball. It’s $10 per month and I love it because it has all the shit I need minus the hoopla of needing to be a sexy Manhattan gym. Yesterday, however, my roommate convinced me to go to her gym Equinox for a one-week trial. This place is the Globo Gym to my Average Joe’s. It also costs more than 10 times my monthly membership and boy does it show. They have towels infused with sweet eucalyptus, padded stretching zones, numerous studios, sexy looking locker rooms, a juice bar, good looking people, massive space…

I had my first Equinox experience this evening and holy mother effing shiz. I was so taken aback because this place was loud and kind of erotic in a weird way – there was just a lot of good looking people sweating all at once, it was kind of like an orgy… or a Britney Spears video. Either way, not sure I would go back after the 7-day trial just because it was incredibly intimidating to be sweating like a beast amongst a sea of beautiful people.

Either way, my cousin ended up going with me tonight and we did a class called Barre Burn. It was awesome, if you’re in to being yelled at by a petite former-ballerina. I actually really enjoyed the class, and please rub it in my face when I complain for the next 5 days over my inability to walk. Okay, maybe I’ll go back…

It’s Been…

Over ten days since I posted anything, and 24 hours since I wrote anything worth posting so I think I’ll just go with a flow of consciousness entry as I’ve promised myself to add items to this blog with increased frequency given that I’m unemployed and welcome all forms of distraction.

I wrote a few weeks ago about a recent trip to Barnes & Noble, or was it Borders… either way, a successful journey to a bookstore which yielded a self help book, a philosophy book, and the Jane Austen collections. Happy to report that I got through the philosophy book, still reading Ms. Austen, and have yet to crack the self-help; seemingly symbolic of my nature as I rarely seek out guidance but selected that specific guide for no other justifiable purpose than something deep inside told me I needed to.

There was also an entry discussing post-collegiate hobbies – mine being the guitar, and rather regrettably, karaoke bars. One lamenting on back to school over-indulgences, and about phoning my crush during a tequila driven fiasco… So maybe I’ll use this entry as an end of summer round up – hopefully as a means of deducing what I learned…

This was the first summer that was supposed to be filled with expectations, goals, and any other form of achievement based colloquialisms. I, however, wanted to get through the summer unscathed (read: sane) so I didn’t set out to define any sort of aspirations or what have you – it’s because of this that I kept myself susceptible to absorbing any sort of lesson thrown my way without being blinded by an auxiliary purpose.

I’m certain I’ll come back and add to this before the month’s over, but as for right now here’s the list of things I learned to do:

  • Communicate better with others – it’s one thing to get your ideas out through written word (which seems to be my knight when it comes down to the Verbal vs. Written battle), but it’s of the utmost importance to be able to verbally communicate your thoughts – which I apparently had no issue with until I started interning and letting my nerves get to me.
  • Err, err and err – if part of being human is to err, then why not go for it with gusto – just be sure to ‘fess up to your mistakes and learn from them. Being young is about testing the waters.
  • Take on new interests - I was apparently destined to become a musician – okay that’s a blatant lie – but I enjoy playing the guitar! Wouldn’t have known that had I not decided to pick one up. Try new things until you find something you love doing. You’ll turn out happier as a result. If your hobby makes you frustrated, pick another one.
  • Remain optimistic and be realistic – this more or less pertains to my lack of full-time employment but I won’t bore you with those extra details…

Okay, so one lesson per month – not too shabby. What are some of the things you learned this summer? – Feel free to post comments.

Regression

A particularly unfortunate event occurred in the wee hours this past Sunday. Before you wrestle with all the “most likely to occur in the late night hours” scenarios, let me simply cut to the chase. I, Tristen, engaged in absurd drunk dialing this past weekend; a total regression from where I currently am in my life’s journey.

I woke up completely embarrassed, slightly ashamed, and still drunk. My relationship with my cell phone has been particularly uneasy over the years and drunk dialing is something I threw out the window a few years ago, so to be revisiting it in my post-graduate life is a little unsettling personally.

The little tequila induced episode brought about somewhat of an epiphany for me as the day (read: hangover) progressed. The shame disappeared and the embarrassment continued to lurk around as I found myself incapable of contacting my victim to explain – “it was the tequila!” – or any other laundry list of excuses that my colorful mind could conjure up. Even as I write this now, I can’t help but cringe at the thought of my actions.

While I’m not the only person in the world who thinks receiving late night phone calls from your friends are hilarious, there are, in case you were unaware, an assembly of people whose opinions tend to lean far into the opposite direction.

While floating in all too familiar post-drunk dialing self-repudiation I willingly obliged when my girlfriend requested a companion for a brief shopping excursion to New Haven – partly because I was still a little tipsy when she asked, partly because I owed her big time, but mostly because she’s my bud.

My pal packed me a goody bag for the car ride that consisted of water, a nondescript ibuprofen, the latest edition of Glamour, and a pair of extra-large, extra-dark sunglasses – the perfect remedies for the state that I was in.

I read through the issue while fighting against the treacherous warriors who were seemingly engaged in a full-fledged battle royale in my stomach. I spent that car ride playing my best defense against the stomach creatures and luckily there were no issues in my friend’s new BMW.

There was a particular article that took my attention away from the war in my tummy – that of lessons which the author wished she had known about dating when she was 21. The advice was certainly pertinent given my current circumstances – single, 22, and fresh off harassing the object of my affection. I always tend to take counsel with a grain of salt, especially when it’s coming from a complete stranger who is getting paid-per-word but the author offered some sound advice given my situation – I have since misplaced that particular article so I’ll just continue on with the story.

My cousin had an ingenious idea that we should all go see, “Eat, Pray, Love” that night. Again, I submitted to another plan as I needn’t argue with the Missa.

Liz Gilbert’s life was all too familiar to my experiences. I took a similar journey not too long ago, albeit a shorter one and one which skipped over the “P” in the essential EPL acronym. Needless to say I felt a connection to her even though our stories are not complete replicas – a kindred spirit with an asterisk attached.

The movie left me with this unsettling emotion of complete and utter despondence given the state of my career and romantic life. I asked myself a number of questions about what I want out of my life, especially right now. This led to the epiphany I spoke about earlier which came to full bloom after my brief self-doubt.

What the movie eventually made me re-realize (if that even counts as a legitimate word) is that life is about taking chances – not sitting around waiting for change or accepting the status quo. Liz made a ballsy choice, a risk even, by picking up and leaving for a year to rediscover herself – personifying the question”Why take a leap when you can jump?”

In the greater scheme of things, my tequila fueled phone escapade will only go down as a blip on my life’s radar. I’m 22 years old and my training wheels on the bicycle that is life are only starting to loosen (read: I’m young and make silly mistakes). So I guess the overall message that I want to convey is that no, I don’t feel entirely remorseful for my actions, embarrassed? – totally. While I definitely said unintelligible, ridiculous things, at least I made the jump.