Relatively Minor
Laughter does not have to come from a major source. It could indeed be … relatively minor.
Winter has given up on us. And we are now enjoying a January thaw! Goodbye sub-zero temperatures, hello sunshine. With the recent unseasonably warm weather, walking around Winterset is no longer a winter sport. Traversing a few puddles of melted precipitation is much more enjoyable than hoisting 12 inches of snow.
February is the month of love and heart health. Valentine’s Day falls on Hump Day this year, so don’t forget to get your special someone a gift. A box of chocolates and a dozen roses could lead to romantic moments. And if things don’t go as planned, give it up for Lent.
Recently, I accepted the American Heart Association’s challenge to bike 100 miles this month to raise money for heart disease. My mode of transportation will be a Schwinn Air Dyne. It has a big fan in the front and handlebars that move back and forth. Although I may not generate enough power to lower our electric bill, my jeans will fit better at the end of the month.
I bought the bike a couple of years ago to stay fit. However, we welcomed a female Aussiedoodle to our family around the same time. In true puppy fashion, she has more energy than her human mother and father. Daisy took out her frustrations on our leather furniture. The sofa, recliner, and loveseat have all suffered.
My exercise bike has received limited use since she continually struggles through the terrible twos. On the first day of February, I blew the dust off the seat of my exercise bike, grabbed the handlebars, and began to pedal. I aimed for 3.5 miles that morning. The pedometer woke to track my time, mileage, and calories. I was happy with the progress toward my goal. Until I heard a familiar sound from the adjoining room I assumed it wasn’t good.
Despite my initial hesitation, I decided to push through and finish my workout on the exercise bike. I pedaled on and completed the mileage for the day. Once I was done, I got off the bike, closed the garage door, and walked towards the living room. My suspicions about a strange sound I had heard earlier were confirmed when I saw what Daisy had done. She had dragged the leather recliner across the room and chewed a large hole in the foot pedal. Daisy sat quietly on the carpet, surrounded by bits of orange foam, with an innocent look.
The following morning Daisy watched me log my miles from the outside deck.
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