January 7, 2010 - Pragmatic Compendium

I read, therefore I quote.

I’ve always admired Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams. She had moxy. She was spunky. And smart. So it was no surprise when I snapped up her biography when I saw it in a bargain stack for just a few dollars. I wasn’t sure if the period language would befuddle and frustrate me, but surprisingly, it wasn’t too bad. I actually laughed when I read the quoted passage below.

Let me set it up. Abigail and John have been “courting” for a few years and, at the time of the quoted letter, they were separated because John was quarantined after being inoculated for small pox. The book quotes one of John’s “love letters.”

“She can bear with it the more easily because he assures her ‘my affection for a certain Lady (you know who, my Dear) quickens my affection for every Body else that does not deserve my hatred.'”

“Every Body else that does not deserve my hatred.”

How sweet.

And he goes on:

“My soul and body have both been thrown into disorder by your absence,and a month or two more would make me the most insufferable cynic in the world. I see nothing but Faults, Follies, Frailties and Defects in anybody lately. People have lost all their good properties.”

Again with the sweetness. Here’s my paraphrase:

“Babe, since we’ve been apart I’ve become an irritable jerk and EVERY person I encounter has somehow been transformed into an idiot. Can’t wait to see you again!!

But he continues:

“But you, who have always softened and warmed my heart shall restore my Benevolence as well as my Health and Tranquility of mind. You shall polish and refine my Sentiments of Life and Manners, banish all the unsocial and ill-natured Particles in my composition and restore me to the happy Temper that can nourish a quick Discernment with a perfect Candour.”

okay. Now THAT’s a love letter.

“. . . therefore I quote” Thursday: If you have a quote to share from something you’ve read recently, feel free to comment and/or include a link to your own “quote” post.

I’m back to consistent strength training after 6 weeks of fitting in a little here and a little there while I was on a short lived, intense work schedule. I’d been doing push ups, crunches, supermans and planks, BUT. I neglected the legs and triceps. Monday, I did 15 lunges each leg and almost didn’t come back up. Then, when I took a step immediately after, both my quads completely cramped up!! Ouch. That has NEVER happened before. I know, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! I did. A LOT. I could barely move on Tuesday. Walking up the bleachers at FavoriteSon’s basketball game was torture. I made this little wimpering sound after every step.

Pitiful, I know.

Today I worked arms, especially triceps. Tomorrow? I won’t be able to lift a pencil without wimpering.

I also got Wii Fit Plus for Christmas and, after going through initial “testing” I was informed I had the body of a 64 year old!!!! I SOOOOO did that test again. The second time? I have the body of a 40 year old. I also weighed a different amount the second time. And the balance requirement/recommendation is TOTALLY wrong. According to that white thing I stand on, my balance was off, I’m supposed to lean forward more. Seriously. No. Some of us GIRLS should definitely be leaning a little farther back for proper weight distribution, if you know what I mean.

After the testing, I hadn’t gotten near the game again due to the Wii hogs who live in this house with me. My “me” was actually SLEEPING. All the “me” characters for the family are jumping up and down, excited. And my little me?

Snoring.

Finally, tonight, with FirstHusband out of the house, FavoriteSon involved in homework and PinkGirl in the shower, I tried it out. After being chastised for missing 6 days of workouts by a cartoon character with Alvin the chipmunk’s voice, I spent a good half hour trying different activities/exercises.

My opinion after just a half hour or so? Wii Fit Plus is fun and challenging. Balance, Yoga, Strength Training and Aerobics. Since I spent an hour doing strength training with my personal trainer less than two hours before, I was a little shaky. I knew this, but just in case I was confused or deluding myself, my little cartoon character trainer flat out told me. How helpful.

If I do well and “unlock” stuff, will there be a black marker available so I can draw a mustache on her face?

One thing I DIDN’T do well? When I was supposed to sit perfectly still, cross legged on the white thing and stare at a candle to . . . I don’t know . . . be calm? Is it biofeedback? Just to relax? anyway. I was doing GREAT. Not moving AT all. Just breathing.

Then the cat stuck her nose under my hand and pushed me to get my attention. I lost.