that has to be it.
As I'm sure you all know, my lovely htd moved away a few weeks ago. While this is sad for many reasons--not the least of which is my current propensity to read something funny, turn to the adjacent couch to tell her about it, and realize all over again that she's not there [sad trumpet sound]--it has also thrown a wrench into my gym-going activities.
You see, ever since she started working at the local university a couple years ago, we've had very cheap memberships to the Student Recreation Center (I don't know why they can't just call it a gym...). Her membership was a perk of being an employee. My membership was by association - since I lived with said employee, I got the discounted rate. Well, now that she's gone [sad trumpet], I can no longer use the university gym. Htd was my in. All this to say - I've been looking for a new gym. And by "looking," I mean "totally stressing out about finding."
You see, I am a very non-confrontational person. I don't do the debate thing. I don't like arguing my side. I hate haggling. I want simple and fair. End of story. I'm not proud of this - I wish I were better at the whole "my way or the highway" type of conversation. But I'm not. My philosophy is more along the lines of "if you're going to get all pissy about it, I'll just take the back roads, thanks." That's why buying a car was so horrible. And joining a gym is just like buying a car. They quote you a ridiculously high price PLUS initiation fees and you have to talk them down. Ohhhh I hate it. I HATE it.
I have a To Do list about a mile long and this one item (#24: Find a gym.) has been mocking me for weeks. I found a place close to my house with all the amenities I was looking for. Several of my friends are members of this chain and so kindly shared with me their negotiating horror stories. And, based on my research, I knew the salesmen were going to quote me a rate that was at least $15 more than I was willing to pay per month and tack on a ridiculous initiation fee. So I've been putting it off. Letting the dread simmer and expand. Until finally, I reached the tipping point.
Tonight, I went into the gym, turned on the charm, and got the rate I wanted.
Which is to say, I held up the flyer that miraculously showed up in my mailbox yesterday offering memberships for the exact monthly rate I was looking for and said "I want this, please."
Before you think I'm a total wuss, I did talk them into expanding my membership to all of their facilities in the state for no extra cost. Aaaaaaaand I'm spent.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I bought myself a plant to talk to, so I wouldn't feel QUITE as crazy when I find myself in the same lonely couch situation as you. And by plant, I mean unkillable cacti. And before you remind me of the Ikea Cactus incident of 2006, I bought these cacti at the Fort Collins Nursery. So they're legit.
So glad you found a gym! You'll have to report back on the LA Fitness experience. Individual tvs or no? Inappropriate bike molesters or no? Woofing man on Stairmaster or no? Locker room full of women who grew up in naked houses or no?
1) You are so dang funny.
B) Where'd htd go?
III) Ikea Cactus Incident of 2006?
htd - Well, if you see tentacles, just run. And don't say you weren't warned. I will let you know how the gymming goes. I have a complimentary meeting with a personal trainer on Monday to assess my fitness level and goals. I'm assuming it's complimentary in that they won't charge me for it. I doubt he's going to spend the hour waxing poetic about my arm jigglies.
Will - 1) Aw. :)
B) She moved to Fort Collins, Colorado (or FoCo, as we like to call it) to go to grad school.
III) Part 1 - http://wanderingillustrator.blogspot.com/2006/07/weird-arizona-mystery-1.html
Part 2 - http://wanderingillustrator.blogspot.com/2006/10/my-cactus-be-illin.html
Post a Comment