gigo

i've just returned from an evening at foodshare, where i'm a volunteer. i normally put in some quiet,pensive and labour-intensive time in the compost yard, but tonight the garden crew were harvesting and cleaning up the vegetable garden and holding a potluck, so i brought some rhubarb sqauares and lent a hand. i got to eat some pretty good food and meet some pretty interesting people.

afterwards, i had to hurry on over to my pickup point for my good food box, which i get from foodshare for my volunteer efforts. i love this in theory. it's a symbiotic relationship between the organization, the volunteer and the local produce growers. in practice, though, this usually ends up being more beneficial to my compost bin (and, ultimately, my garden) than it is for me, as i end up not eating much of my bounty. why? i don't have any particular answer.

there's a lot of good stuff in the box, and i should be eating it instead of buying lunch at work. my self-imposed challenge, then, is to feed myself at every meal from my good food box. we've got cantaloupe, carrots, tomatoes, bananas, cukes, zukes, cherries, onions, apples, lettuce, broccoli and celery. let's see what i end up having to compost out of all of this (my money's on the celery).

a good argument is hard to find

no, seriously, it is. i've had some experience in recent weeks in disagreeing with various people, sometimes over misunderstandings or misinterpretations or just plain differences of opinion, and i've come to a new understanding of what makes a good argument.

we've all had experience with people for whom an argument isn't really an argument, it's just a plain all-out fight. it seems, in retrospect, that fights are often not about the comment or action or idea that kicks off the whole thing, they're more about venting or finally saying mean things that we dare not say in our saner moments.

a couple of weeks ago i had a disagreement with a coworker over some nebulous office policy, and it was just that, a disagreement. a difference of opinion. we each have our own idea and understanding of the issue, and we've come to our own conclusions about what is 'right'. we aired our views, and others came to offer their opinions, and we all did a bit of talking and listening and understanding the other point(s) of view.

also a couple of weeks ago, i had a disagreement with a coworker that left me in tears after a barrage of unexpected angry words were directed my way. i realized at that point that a good argument isn't one that features zingers that will make the recipient wince, displays of anger that will wipe that smirk off someone's face or harsh words that will forever haunt; i guess those are 'fights' (or, sometimes, just vaguely sickening, tummultuous glimpses into the deepest, blackest, most tormented recesses of a soul)

i'm pretty dazzled by this new concept of a good argument, but it seems to methat a good argument doesn't even need to result in someone giving in or a compromise being reached. a good, successful argument could very well just be one which leaves the parties involved feeling that they've reached some sort of better understanding and offers the knowledge that future opportunities exist for calm, rational discussion, should other issues arise.

i'm still fairly certain that the person i shared this enlightening conversation with is not my cup of tea in many ways, but i have a newfound respect for his style of communicating, and this leaves me feeling quite hopeful, and makes his coworker-ship that much more enjoyable.

activity update

this is further to my post about the get-in-shape challenge i'm participating in, and is more for my own reference than anything else. feel free to skip this.

we went on a 10 mile bike ride this weekend, which felt great! the toronto outdoor art show was on so down we headed to have a look, stopping for lunch and checking out the 'hood on the way.
it turned into a full afternoon of fresh air and seeing some pretty amazing art. laura vegys' vibrant, beautiful, delightfully twisted water colours were especially memorable. we went on another shorter ride, which offered a nice ride through a part of the city we don't normally see, and we've been biking a lot to our suprisingly beautiful neighborhood library, which is another fun little spin-round through the 'hood.

many thanks to byron for his continued support of my efforts to get out and be active, and for being my inspiration when i'm not making any efforts at all! whether it's spending an evening at the compost yard or an afternoon with the bees, a night out with a girlfriend, getting out on the lake, suggesting a bike ride or tolerating my constant futzing around in the garden, byron encourages me to take whatever time it takes to do the healthy things that i love, and i count my lucky stars for this influence in my life!

pudgy is as pudgy does

i've recently issued a challenge to my good friend scott during his latest round with our common foe, the getting-in-shape bogeyman. We've known each other for fifteen years or so, and during that time we've both found it difficult to achieve healthy lifestyles.

scott is a smart guy who knows lots of words, and he has devoted many (I mean, really, a LOT) of them to describing and dissecting his pudge on his blog. i've had a history of trying a number of different and potentially fun and exciting activities which usually don't continue very long, due to poor time management, accessibility issues or outright lack of interest. (ie. aquafit, bellydancing, biking, kayaking, pilates, yoga, boxfit and the bars and plates class, which i'm a little afraid of.)

i'll be seeing scott and amanda soon, in just over five weeks. i've told him that i want each of us to have something to brag about when we see each other. he's offered 5 lbs and 10 commutes to work by then, and i've said that intend to be 'active' 3 times or more per week until then ('active' being biking to work, kayaking, a couple hours composting etc., or even...a dreaded trip to the gym)

so anyhow, here's what i've been up to over the past little while:

• went kayaking with ingrid to the toronto islands on fridayfor 3 1/2 hours. good for upper body and core muscles, and we also saw baby night herons, baby ducks, a beaver, orioles and some cardinals.
• went to aquafit on monday. had a lady in the class who kept rolling her eyes and saying things like 'boooring!'. had a good workout anyway, good physiotherapy for my elbow.
• composted on sunday for 3 1/2 hours and today for 1 1/2 hours. good for arms and back, plus it makes me super happy and i get to look at bugs.

this isn't as obvious a workout as, say, going to the gym and lifting weights 3 times a week, but it gets me out and feels good.

we'll see what the coming weeks bring!