Posted by Ryan
April 18, 2008
So one of my friends was over here today (yesterday, technically) and we both thought “a shake sounds really good right now. so does food.” So we got in my truck and made the very long drive to the restaurant about half a block down the street. After eating, we drove back. Half a block.
Yes, we should have walked. I do spend most of my time in front of a computer, but I still think I could have managed walking half a block. Granted, we didn’t know where we were going to eat when we got in the car, but still… I would like to think I’m not that lazy.
Posted by Ryan
June 6, 2007
Me: i’m gonna go play ultimate frisbee!
Her: nice!
Her: i love that game!
Her: i didn’t think you played anything athletic…
Me: dude, lindy hop is athletic
Her: no, it’s not.
Me: is too!
Her: dancing is not a sport.
Me: so what… I get tired when I dance therefore it’s athletic. I am an athlete.
Her: whatever
Me: okay maybe not an athlete, but it’s still athletic.
Her: uh huh
We’ve had this argument several times, and she still refuses to see my side of the story. I think she’s blinded by my obviously superior arguments.
For those who don’t know what lindy hop is, from wikipedia:
Lindy Hop is an African American dance that evolved in New York City in the late 1920s and early 1930s. It was an organic fusion of many dances that preceded it or were popular during its development, but was predominantly based on jazz, tap, breakaway and charleston. Lindy hop co-evolved with jazz music and is a member of the swing dance family. It is frequently described as a jazz or street dance.
I’m an avid “lindy hopper,” and like to go to events and competitions all over the USA (perhaps someday I’ll go out of the USA for dancing). Most recently, I went to Seattle, Washington for a camp called Camp Jitterbug. The photo is from that weekend. Anyway…
As I mentioned, I’ve argued several times with this friend that lindy hop is plenty athletic. I still think it is, but after going and playing Ultimate Frisbee last week, I’ve decided that lindy hop isn’t all that athletic after all. I thought I was gonna die running around on that green stuff called grass. Okay, I still think dancing is athletic, but it’s different. Very different. After nearly dying on the field I’ve determined that I’m in what experts everywhere would call “so out of shape you should be dead.” No, actually it’d probably be more along the lines of “moderately out of shape.”
Dancing has been, for the last few years, practically all of the physically demanding activity that I’ve done. I’ve hardly done anything else. I’ve played basketball a few times, gone on a few hikes, but mostly I’ve sat in front of a computer and gone dancing. Had it not been for dancing I doubt I’d have been able to make it across the field even once. Of course, had I not been dancing all the time maybe I’d have gone out and done other things.
Dancing is great, and regardless of what anyone else says lindy hop is (or at least can be if you dance fast enough) quite athletic. Maybe it’s more like aerobics. heh. I don’t know. Whatever it is, it’s really fun. But I also need to get out more and run around under the big blue sky. It’s really bright out there, but I hear you get used to it…
Posted by Ryan
September 28, 2004
I posted that I was on vacation, but I haven’t said anything about it since!
It wasn’t long, but it was fun. We arrived in St. George, Utah late Thursday night, unpacked and went swimming, ate dinner, watched School of Rock. Funny movie. Slept.
Now this is the good part… for as long as I can remember running more than 500 feet without stopping and resting has been what I like to call “cruel and all too usual punishment for people in gym classes.” So when my girlfriend’s brother suggested we wake up early and, of all things, go running I was literally floored when I heard myself say “sure.” The alarm went off early. I laid there for a while. When D (short for “girlfriend’s brother”) didn’t immediately get out of bed it gave me hope. But alas, my hope was vain. He eventually got up and we went running along with another brother and sister-in-law.
I had warned everyone before hand that I probably would pass out and die before we even got out of the Condo, but they didn’t seem to believe it. Somehow, neither did my body. I made it out of the Condo, down the steps, and for what was probably 1-2 miles. I still pinch myself every few minutes to make sure I really am still alive. I guess [tag]swing dancing[/tag] has me in better shape than I thought!
The rest of friday consisted of swimming, eating, playing pool and ping pong, shopping, and watching Singing in the Rain at the Tuacahn Ampitheatre. For as long as I can remember I have had a strong dislike for musicals, but for some reason unexplainable to olympic athletes I enjoyed it thoroughly! It was really well done. I was impressed. Even though olympic athletes can’t explain it (only because there aren’t any that know me) I think I have come up with a reason for me liking it. Remember how I went running that morning? And I didn’t die? Remember that? Good, I’m glad you remember it because I sure like thinking about it!
On saturday we went swimming again. Most of the family then packed up and hit the road by 11:30 AM. We went to Las Vegas for a few hours with a brother and sister-in-law. I hate Las Vegas. I don’t gamble, I don’t drink, I hate shopping, and I don’t party like it’s 1999. So basically there’s nothing fun for me to do there. The fountain show at the Bellagio was pretty sweet and some food place had really good, cheap, big hot dogs. We left Vegas about 4PM ish I think and got back home about midnight.
t’was a fun vacation. Good times. Olympic athletes the world over should be proud of me.
