True Story

Hey Honey, you won't believe what I saw at the gym today.

Would you stand in the doorway for me?

...I saw this guy all decked out in blue shiny baggy shorts and black tights underneath. He was wearing a baseball cap sideways, too. Anyway, I was sitting there minding my own business and he caught my eye because he was standing there, under the pull-up bar for the longest time. At first the tights were a bit mystifying because he didn't look like he needed any support hose or anything.

I don't like this shot, can you turn around?

Yeah....So, anyway. I'm sitting there watching this guy, and I'm noticing that the rest of the gym is sort of watching him, too. Like, it was if we all "just knew" that he was gathering steam to do something interesting, and we waited, all of us there, you know, trying not to notice that other people were noticing this guy...

Why are you holding that sock?

Oh I just finished it. Thought I'd throw it in...So, he's wearing all this blue shiny stuff and matching baseball cap and tights...then, all of a sudden he looks up at the pull-up bar and gives it a "meaningful look." Then, he kicks off his fancy white leather and glittery blue vinyl sport-shoe things. --And I'm thinking to myself, "why the heck is he taking off his shoes?"--

So, he hops up, grabs the bar and hangs there a minute, sort of stretching out. Then, he tucks in his abs, does this gymnastic move that I can only describe as "inspired," and does this horizontal body thing. Then he hangs there in mid-air...In mid-air! And, ever so slowly, he pulls himself into a jack-knife position, brings his legs through his arms and then down behind him--all the while holding onto the chin-up bar and not even wobbling the tiniest bit--and strikes a pose! Slowly, ever so slowly, he brings his legs back down through his arms again, back into that horizontal position, hangs there for another second, then plops down to the floor, slips his shoes back on, and walks out of the gym.

Were there people standing around holding up signs with numbers on them?

Heh. You're such the comedian. But it got me thinking. I mean, at first, I was wondering why he kicked off his shoes because, honestly, during the whole maneuver, I would vote for the hat falling off before the shoes. But then I realized that all of us there watching him must be thinking that he's someone special, you know? Maybe he's this gymnast guy visiting our town for a few days, or maybe he's just a really strong and bendable guy wearing a fancy outfit.

...And then I thought, if I'm feelin' extra special on certain days, do people automatically think I'm special, too?...Is it something that comes from within? Is it all about your mood and your esteem on that particular day? Or maybe your ensemble?

I don't know, hon. I'm still stuck on why he took off his shoes.

Oh yeah, his shoes: I figure it was because he needed to point his toes.

(BTW: The Allhemp6 Cool Hemp Ponchette from kpixie.com in avocado. I LOVE it. It took me maybe three days of knitting--it goes really fast--and don't you dare listen to what some people say. The hemp does soften and, well, it's hemp! I love the way it drapes and this Ponchette is sensational because it is just a rectangle that gets folded in on itself, kind of like a fancy pretzel, creating a triangle in the front and then a shawl in the back. If you knit it, err on the side of small and if you are about a 36" bust or smaller, especially, work it in the smallest size and consider reducing the repeated motif by one motif.)

Comments

[Kessa]

Your story had me in stitches! Interesting things do happen at your gym. I usually steer clear of gyms because I prefer jogging somewhere Oh, and I like the stitch texture.. Feminine with a touch of ruggedness. The ponchette looks pretty on you.

[Lara900]

nice sock, nice ponchette and great story!

[Kate]

I'm trying the ponchette. I hope shiny gymnast guy comes back to the gym. You need a replacement for loop d loop guy. Otherwise the gym will just be (ugh) working out!

[Lolly]

The ponchette is very nice! love that avocado color ;)

[lisag]

Was gonna go to Central Park for a run this AM, but now going to go to Crunch and see if I can find someone interesting to watch. Sometimes on Fridays the brooding,intense, hot guy from Law & Order is there, other than that we have a few women who may be slightly anorexic peddling away manaically on the bike in full makeup! LOVE the ponchette!

[Miz Booshay]

That is the first ponchette I have ever seen...that I would actually consider making! It is really lovely!

[Debbie]

You've GOT to bring a camera to your gym. No one even remotely that interesting at my gym.

[Katie]

Very beautiful pieces! And I'm jealous of your exciting gym too, ours is boring. Or maybe I need to look harder and go at a different time (other than 2pm when it's all the old people and other bored stay at home moms).

[Ruinwen]

You look amazing! Love the ponchette! Kudos to the MWWV he takes such great pics of you!

Ruinwen
:)

[Cheri]

Another winning project.

I've not seen any weirdos in my gym for a long time. There was a guy a couple of weeks ago that would sprint, sideways on the long sections of the track (almost knocked down a couple of walkers).

[gleek]

hahaha, gym crazies! i don't get any of those since my gym is inside my workplace.. but i get plenty of crazies on the subway into work :)

that ponchette is super cute and daring. i'm sure that hemp is very light and drapy. perfect for the warm california climate.

[heather]

You always stand out as special, whether you're trying or not. In a good way, of course. ;)
I've been considering some of that Allhemp stuff, so maybe I'll give it a go.
You look smashing in your poncho.....er,ponchette. You'll never get me in one though!

[Nonnahs]

I really like that ponchette! (Especially love the color) Thanks for sharing your impression of the Allhemp. I've been wondering about it. I think I'll have to give it a try!

[scribblesnbits]

I love how you tell stories! I love that poncho, too, and would wear one if I could rock that look.

[Michelle from New Brunswick]

I LOVE that poncho ... it suits you perfectly. I love how it is so light and airy looking ... and the colour is so pretty. The sock too cute, love the colors on this too!

As always great story! No gym I have ever gone to has had such interesting characters :) next membership I get, I will have to make sure they have some people of interest to watch.

[erin]

I'm really, really trying to not love that ponchette as much as I do. I'm trying to prevent fingers from typing that deadly kpixie url. I'm trying to weather urges to order ponchette pattern and cast on.

Oh, and I'm also trying to resist the urge to go to the gym. (Phew! At least that last one was easy!)

[Cheri]

I need to get out more if this is the kind of stuff I am missing while sitting at home watching 24.

[Gina]

Linen and hemp get a bad rap on the knitting front, but I'm determined to give one of them a try. Maybe both. That hemp top you knitted up some time ago was so cute. And it would make me feel as if I were organic and contributing to the sustainability of the environment.

[Pip]

Love the story Wendy. And that hemp has inspired me to actually consider knitting with it.

[jillian]

You could write a book about your gym stories! I don't remember a gym ever being that interesting - makes that time on the elliptical a little less dull I imagine :)

And only you could wear a little poncho and have it look so cute!

[Jen the Knittingspaz]

Hey, i think I know what you're talking about with the gym guy! Is it the front lever (see this website for illustration: http://www.powerathletesmag.com/pages/frontlever.htm) DF wants to be able to do that, but instead all he can do is the jacknife part of it and then he hangs inverted and shifts his legs from one side to the other to work his oblique abs.

weird climbers.

The Ponchette is really cute, btw.

*waving hi from the lurkers area*

[Carol]

Oh, that is fantastic! I love it. Color, drape, shape, the whole shebang. And you are faaast!

[Lizbon]

I love it. And I'm not talking about Ponchette, though she is also awesome.

It's like a little scene from the sitcom we wish they'd write. Or a play. But not Arthur Miller. He's not so funny as you. (I know that's bad grammar, but I'm an overworked writer, and I'm on strike tonight)

(not really - I have to edit something as soon as I stop reading Knit & Tonic - can you tell I'm filibustering now?)

[Kathleen]

Love the ponchette--tres chic--don't listen to fashion police on the poncho front :) And love your true life stories.

A techno-question. I am knitting the ponchette in pumpkin color--but how did you get the fiber to soften up? The hand feel is fine as I knit,(no bleeding stumpst yet) but I seem to be creating a loofah sponge, not a drapey fabric LOL

Cheers.
Kathleen

[Wendy]

I machine wash it in warm water with other clothes...