Ode to Irish Thighs (and other things)

So John and I both went to the gym we joined last night. Gyms work a little differently here. While there is a Curves (one of those companies threatening global domination), most gyms are part of hotels. We joined the gym at the Rochestown Park Hotel (http://www.rochestownpark.com/) and we really like it. The first time we went, I just swam in the pool--it's pretty wild looking with really high, elaborate ceilings. It feels very Italian. I don't think there are pics online and since camerphones are BANNED there (more later), you will just have to use your imagination.
But yesterday after work, I picked up John and we went to the gym. There's a ton of cardio equipment--mostly treadmills and these weird things that are like ellipticals but not really. Only three elliptical machines in the place (mostly unused) but tons of these strange circle-step glidey thingies. I'll need to pay more attention to the name next time. The music in the gym is total pop insanity, so it's good to bring the IPod. Since this was my first time in our new gym filled with locals (not just Americans like our gym at our hotel was a few weeks ago) I decided to do some observing.
1. There must be a national competition among the men to see how short they can wear their short before being picked up by the garda for indecent exposure. John is threatening to get some shorties now to "fit in".
2. I know people in gyms everywhere--myself included--often have really bad form on the machines or with the weights, but. . .I thought some people were going to break something with how they slumped over the handle bars or struggled to lift more weight than they should. There is an attendant on duty--wonder how often she has to call the ambulance for some weird injury.
3. Irish women in general have not discovered the sports bra. 9 out of 10 women were wearing their everyday brassieres to RUN in. Ouch.
Just OUCH.
4. I have never seen whiter legs than on the men here. (Women for some reason all wear pants or capris to the gym and are mostly fully covered. Imagine the stares I generated in my shorts--not too short--and tank top.) WOW! I mean, electric alabaster, never-seen-the-sun, oh my gosh do you have some spare sunglasses white.

As stated above, cell phones/camerphones are STRICLY prohibited in the gym. I know why. . .people like my would start up a website of the whitest thighs in Ireland, snapping covert shots at the water fountain, the treadmill, the scale. You really have to see it to believe it!

I felt like a bronze goddess compared to the average Irish thigh. Of course, I'm sure their risk for skin cancer is negative compared to mine. I just can't think of ever being that pale--hopefully it does not foretell my future. I don't care how cold it is this summer--I am still going to get some sun when the sun comes out. I'm hoping that happens sometime in April or May.

So my mom was telling me that the sunset was really nice the other day and that got me to thinking. . .we don't have too many sunsets here as the sun would actually have to RISE or at least make an appearance for it to set.

Not that I'm complaining--and John LOVES the weather (???!!!)--I just love and miss the sun. I'm sure it will return sometime in the next couple of months. At least the dreary, drizzly days are warmer. . .

So my final notes include the following:

* If you read the Chronicle you see that Americans are the fattest people in the world. I SWEAR that I just saw a report that people from MALTA were the world's fattest. And by a LOT! But since Houston is among the fattest cities in the States, what does that make us??? Can you pass the chips and salsa? How about some bacon? Just hook up my trans-fat IV, why don't you?
But, really, Americans have such a bad image in the eyes of the rest of the world. Did we really need this? That's why we always say we're from Texas. Everyone here gets this dreamy look on their face when we say "Texas" and tell us how beauitiful (read: "WARM and SUNNY") it must be. Our neighbor told us yesterday that the Irish must have invented rain.

I was talking about America's weight issues, how did I get back to the weather?

* I have to weigh in on the recent pit bull problems in Houston and Louisiana. If you know me or have read my blog for five minutes, you know I LOVE dogs. But I know something has to be done with super-aggresives animals. I only hesitate to say "breeds" because, like the people who are refusing to do the "breed ban" in Texas are saying: unless an animal is full-blooded, the owner can "prove" that it's not a particular breed or not enough of a particular breed.
And the saddest part of all is that animals are not necessarily aggressive or killers (sure, some might be), but it's people who through their neglect, ignorance, or evil-ness who make most of these dogs killers.
I mean, two pit bulls attacked a PONY earlier this week. What makes a dog do that? Hunger? Abuse?
I just can't get into this too much; it makes me too emotional.

Just FYI: most people have open gardens (not complete fencing to keep dogs in our out) here and their dogs kind of roam around most of the day. For the most part, the dogs have a home, but they just sort of adopt you as their owner for a little while.
Like the first week we were here, I walked down to the grocery store and this little lab mix "adopted" me for the 20 minute walk. She would trot ahead, stop and look back--seemingly annoyed that I was walking so slowly--and then when I caught up, we would continue walking. This continued almost INTO the store, but she found another friend before we had to deal with that.

That is just a completely random dog story, but it leads to another.

Midway down the hill where we live there is this huge awesome house with a black dog. Let's call him "Black Dog." Black Dog protects his part of the neighborhood, but is not terribly motivated. One day as I was walking, I saw him laying down across the street from his house. Without even lifting his head, he gave me the shifty eye and barked a few times.
The next day, John was driving, and it was rainy. When we approached his house (close to a big speed bump) we slowed down. Black Dog walked up to the car and gave John the shifty eye through the window, just checking him out.
My most recent encounter with Black Dog was interesting. He was on the porch and barked at me--not getting up, mind you--as I walked by. His owner came out and yelled at him to stop and from then on whenever he barked he also wimpered. Did she turn on a shock collar? I don't know--when I walked back up the hill he was silent.

Well, that's about all. I don't know where our "adventures" will take us this weekend as the weather is kind of unpredictable. Some have said it will be clear and cold. Maybe we'll go into the city and do a little there.

More to come. . .