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Saturday, April 24, 2010

It's Fun to Stay at the...

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Rhiannon--Fleetwood Mac (Greatest Hits)

The Village People were right. The YMCA's pretty cool :-).

I have to admit, never having been to an actual YMCA before, the only perception I have of the YMCA is what they sing about in the video--and considering that video was shot in 1978, that's pretty darn outdated :-).

When Steve and I moved to Nashville, we saw 2 YMCAs just driving around the general area, and their parking lots are always packed. Finally I decided to look them up online to see just exactly what kind of programs they offered.

First I found out that there are four YMCAs in my area. Four! I mean sure, Steve and I noticed that people seemed more health-conscious in Nashville, but four YMCAs just in the general vicinity?

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Not only was my curiosity piqued even more, but I also started thinking, "Gee maybe I should take a more serious look at getting more exercise." I started browsing at the different centers' class schedules.

Cycling. Pilates (Beginner and Intermediate). Sculpting. Yoga (Hatha/Sivananda and Vini/Ashtanga/Kundalini). Kickboxing. Aqua Aerobics. Tai Chi. Circuit Training. Step Aerobics. BOSU. Sports Conditioning. Zumba. Bellydancing. Ballroom dancing (yes, really!). Water Circuit. Water Cardio. Cardio Boxing. Line Dancing (line dancing, for crying out loud :-)!). Dance Toning. Boot Camp.

And I'm not talking about once a week here. Many of the classes happen two, three times a week, some are everyday, just with different trainers. AND they have all sorts of classes for seniors, and classes for kids. To see the actual class schedules, click on these links: Brentwood Family YMCA | YMCA of Cool Springs | Maryland Farms YMCA | Franklin Family YMCA

I remember being excited about all the different things I could try. I also remember being a little disappointed, thinking, "Aww man, now I have no excuse not to get my exercise :-)."

So I visited the nearest one: the YMCA of Cool Springs and they were very nice and I was given a tour of the facility. I learned that each of the centers seems to have its own little "extra feature." The Cool Springs one has a rock climbing wall. WOO HOO :-D!

And get this--the cardio machines? Treadmills, ellipticals? Each one has a satellite TV screen attached to it. If you bring your own headphones, you can get on one of them and watch satellite TV while you do your cardio. Is that neat or what :-)?

At the end of the tour they gave me a card that allows me to try out any of the classes at any of the YMCAs in the city before I decide if I'd like to become a member.

Long story short, I tried out a Zumba class on Wednesday, signed up for a city-wide (i.e. I can go to any YMCA in the city) membership Thursday morning, then went to another Zumba class at a different YMCA Thursday afternoon. I'm having a blast :-).

I wish I could take my parents to try out the YMCA. I'm sure they'd love the classes too.

Labels: Home, Sports

Posted by Unknown | 6:28 AM | 0 Comments |

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Sunday, April 18, 2010

While Walking Today

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: nothing right now

Today was a gorgeous day to go out walking. These were some pictures I took with my cellphone during that walk :-)...

Labels: Home

Posted by Unknown | 8:39 PM | 1 Comments |

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Monday, April 05, 2010

Lovin' Technology

Current Mood:
CC is listening to: Somewhere--Jim Chappell (Sad Music Moods)

Technology is just awesome. I'm the last person to call myself a full-fledged expert in technology, but it's both exciting and scary at the same time how technology has become so much a part of my everyday life.

Recently I replaced my Google Voice Number (click here to see my blog entry about Google Voice). It's now +1-260-CCSLISH. Granted, it's not a Nashville area code (Nashville's area code is 615). As a matter of fact, 260 is in Uniondale, Indiana...and as of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 277--yes that's right, 277. Below is a picture of what the main street intersection looks like in Uniondale (you can click and drag your mouse from left to right to rotate the view):

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And now I own a phone number located in Uniondale, Indiana. For free. Thanks to Google Voice. A few years ago I'd have to pay through the nose to get a vanity number.

Another thing I was able to do this weekend was finally understand what a Skype-to-Go number was. For months, I've been using Skype to call family in Manila (it's not the cheapest VOIP provider, but voice quality's the clearest), and for a while I've known that there was such a thing as a Skype-to-Go number, but I never really fully understood what it did until this weekend.

What I used to do is that if I needed to call family, I would boot up my machine, log in to Skype, put on my headset, and then use my computer to make the call.

A Skype-to-Go number allows me to make Skype calls using a conventional telephone--no computer required. I'm assigned a local Skype number to call, and then when I call that Skype number from my cell, Skype will act as a bridge and connect me to my parents' home or cell phone in Manila.

This means I'm paying cheaper Skype rates (because I'm making an international call through Skype, not through my cellphone company) but because I'm using my cellphone as the actual calling device, I'm not forced to stay in front of my laptop. I can walk around the apartment as much as I want. "But you'd still end up paying for cellphone minutes," you say. Nope. My phone plan's unlimited T-mobile to T-mobile, nights & weekends. I just need to make sure to call my parents during the weekend :-).

If you told me 10 years ago that I'd be able to do all this stuff I'd laugh and go, "Shyeah right, tell me another one." :-)

Labels: Found on the Internet

Posted by Unknown | 8:20 PM | 0 Comments |

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