Dear So and So

[Crankin]

Catrin,

This will happen more than you expect. Some women get very angry when they see someone else doing something for themselves. They are really angry at themselves, because they know what you are doing is right. I have a couple of friends who "tolerate" me and what they consider to be my eccentricities (exercising and eating right), but if I hear one more time that "I can't do what you do," I will scream.
You are now a member of a minority group. Seriously, I feel this way more and more. If it wasn't for my cycling friends, it would be awful.

[PamNY]

Catrin,

This will happen more than you expect. Some women get very angry when they see someone else doing something for themselves. They are really angry at themselves, because they know what you are doing is right. I have a couple of friends who "tolerate" me and what they consider to be my eccentricities (exercising and eating right), but if I hear one more time that "I can't do what you do," I will scream.
You are now a member of a minority group. Seriously, I feel this way more and more. If it wasn't for my cycling friends, it would be awful.

Crankin, do you really find this to be true? I find myself more and more isolated from certain people -- and yet all I'm doing is having fun on my bike! I'm not a super athlete; 40 miles is a big trip for me. The other things I do -- eating right, not drinking or smoking -- are just because I want to feel better and stronger. I'm truly not moralistic about any of this, and I don't like people who try to be the health police. But that doesn't seem to matter.

[HillSlugger]

Crankin, do you really find this to be true? I find myself more and more isolated from certain people -- and yet all I'm doing is having fun on my bike! I'm not a super athlete; 40 miles is a big trip for me. The other things I do -- eating right, not drinking or smoking -- are just because I want to feel better and stronger. I'm truly not moralistic about any of this, and I don't like people who try to be the health police. But that doesn't seem to matter.

Not with biking/fitness but several years ago I made a huge positive change in my life and my "friends" cut me out of the circle. I figure that means they really weren't my friends.

[Crankin]

Pam,
I wouldn't call myself a super athlete, either, in that I don't compete in any of the sports I do and as far as cycling goes, I am too slow to be with a fast group and too fast to be with a slow group...
I do really mean this. I just happen to be very disciplined and I have been since I started exercising in 1978. I don't *ever* talk about my "discipline," but when one of my non-exercising friends asks me what I'm doing/or did on the weekend or on one of my days off, I invariably will tell them, "Oh, I went snow shoeing, or I rode X number of miles." My life really does revolve around cycling and the winter sports I do. They don't want to hear about it. Sure, we go out to eat a lot, have a theatre subscription, watch an occasional movie. I read a lot, too. But, when it comes down to it, outdoor activity is my life. When I was a gym rat,it was "acceptable." That's what woman do; it didn't interfere with getting up early on a Sunday and going to hear a speaker at my synagogue, or doing volunteer work. That all went by the wayside when we both got into riding.
We spend a lot of time with another couple who ride, x country ski, and snow shoe with us. We go on vacation together and do the theatre thing together, too. I am doing what I want to do, also. I hate being socially isolated and I've always had an active social life. It's been a rare Saturday night that my DH and I have stayed home and we've been married 30 years. If people think that I am the "health police" by virtue of my lifestyle, well, I guess they will think it. I've talked about this with others in my cycling group, who are all older than 40 and have lived this lifestyle for many years. I couldn't begin to approximate some of the stuff they do, but I understand it and only give them kudos. But frankly, I have found that people, especially women, view this as being selfish, when it really is self care.

[PamNY]

Crankin and MDHillSlug, thanks for your thoughts. This is all something new for me. On the bright side, I am lucky to have some true, good friends. The woman who has been my biggest biking support is not active at all, but she "gets" that hello! -- we are not all alike. She has patiently listened to me discuss every fear and frustration, and celebrated with me over every mile and muscle fiber.

[bmccasland]

Dear Secretary in the Ex Office,
After finding a minor error in 26 letters, which I fixed at your direction, then, you decide that it should be a colon after the Dear So and So instead of a comma, and having me redo all 26 letters fAGAIN, then finding another minor error (spacing between paragraphs is that important?) and having me do the letters again , why don't you have me send YOU the electronic files so you can fix them? I have other projects to work on. One trip to the Ex Office you were draped over you desk lounging, another trip you were chatting up a visitor, last little bitty thing you wanted changing, you had someone bring the file folder to me. Do you not realize that these letters have to be signed TODAY, and the documents that go with them have to go out TODAY, by LAW?? Your nit-pickiness is beyond rediculous.

In answer to your question, No I don't have a secretary. Those of us in the trenches have to do our own work. If commas to colons, and spacing between paragraphs, or dashes by the page number is that important, why don't you fix the letters? I've seen that you're terribly over worked.

[Pax]

Dear Body,

If I promise to try and ease up a bit, will you promise to stop breaking? I'm really getting tired of physical therapy.

Thanks

[TriMom217]

Dear Winter,

I miss you already. The snow is melting fast and I did not get enough days in on my skis. Especially since I learned to snowboard this year. I think I now need winter to be twice as long so I can ski AND ride.

Thank you for your attention to this matter

[nc tam]

TriMom217, I'm with you on the winter seeming too short. Despite the fact that we have had one of the snowiest winters in memory I still hope for one last big (2 ft min) snow. I have to be careful to keep this to myself as most folks around here are very much over it!

[nc tam]

Dear transcription,

Discrete is not the same as discreet. They weren't the same when I got here 4 years ago and they aren't now. Please, please quit substituting one for the other with abandon. As I only use "discrete" I don't see why this should be an eternally ongoing problem.

[TriMom217]

TriMom217, I'm with you on the winter seeming too short. Despite the fact that we have had one of the snowiest winters in memory I still hope for one last big (2 ft min) snow. I have to be careful to keep this to myself as most folks around here are very much over it!

we've had a pretty snow-LESS winter around here. Luckily my local mountain does a lot of snow making early in the season, so there is still a good base. I'm heading over there after I walk the dogs.

I don't get people who live this far north and complain about winter. I moved here just FOR the winters.