Note to Disney and Muriel: I can wait you out
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It looks like High School Musical has invaded the Trade Show Guru’s life via his 6-year-old daughter. Now I’ve never actually seen the movie, but my older girls are into it. And that means the baby — who at 3 and a half really isn’t a baby anymore — is into it as well. They all bop around to the songs when the Disney Channel airs a video from the movie.
So I’ve heard the songs. A lot.
And I have to say “Bop to the Top” has become an ear worm, but in a good way. And I have found (clears throat) I want it on my mp3 player. For my workout.
Um, it’s got a good beat, it makes me want to jump about and I’m always on the lookout for an inspired tune while trying to beat that old lady on the elliptical.
Okay I realize I might possibly need an intervention regarding the old lady at the YMCA, but she fascinates me. I should probably name her; I dub thee Muriel.
Just this weekend I had the privilege of working out on the machine next to Muriel. I was
surprised
that she
didn’t start her
workout wearing
her Richard Simmon’s
sweatband around her forehead.
But she had it in reserve and popped it on about 15 minutes into the workout.
I knew Muriel was a competitive little minx. Prior to this weekend, I never got a machine next to her. I just saw her striding crazily from across the room.
But now that I’ve spent almost an hour next to her I know we are kindred spirits. She’s not very subtle. Maybe you earn the right to be obvious once you pass the age of 70.
Anyway, Muriel was checking out my stats. It wasn’t hard to see her head turn as she shot me an annoyed look and ogled my read out.
You might think I had to be obvious as well to notice that. Not so my friend. I have pretty solid peripheral vision and we were working out in the row in front of the mirrors.
All I had to do was look in the mirror to watch her check out my stats. And I did sneak a peek in return. How so, you ask? I’ll tell you how so. I used my trademarked move — I turned my head to wipe my mouth on my right shoulder. As I swabbed I took in her stats. It all happens in about three seconds and I think it’s a smooth move.
But maybe Muriel thinks I’m just as obvious.
Regardless, I finally got a read on her. She’s flying through her workout at 210 strides per minute. I didn’t get a look at her resistance level, but I’m positive it’s lower than 13 — which is where I set mine. I hold steady at about 120 to 130 strides per minute.
There is no way she has a high resistance level and is striding that quickly. But more importantly I saw her time frame. She’s set at 60 minutes. I set mine at 50 which means the full workout is 55 minutes as the machine adds a five minute cool down.
So it was on. She got there about one minute and 45 seconds before I did, so our time was basically the same.
I really thought I had her. She felt me nipping at her heels, of that I’m sure. But Muriel is tougher than me.That is so hard to admit. She would not let up. She won. I went 52 minutes and threw in the towel. She was still going strong when I left. Damn that old lady and her Herculean endurance!
Right, I was talking about the music.
So I finally waited Walt Disney out. When I first heard “Bop to the Top” and “I Want it All” I tried to buy the singles, but Disney was playing hardball. They were only selling the songs bundled on the soundtrack. And I wasn’t about to buy two different soundtracks for two songs. Because each one is on a separate soundtrack.
But today I gave it another go and Disney has finally bowed down. They are selling the songs individually. Well, Amazon.com is selling the songs individually. Shout out to Amazon!
So I will be bopping to the top next time I see Muriel. And I do want it all — I want to be the last man standing on the elliptical, I want a bionic lung capacity and I want the satisfaction of beating a 70-something lady at her own game. I took on Disney, Muriel.
I’m just saying you should watch your back you tenacious septuagenarian. Because in 2009 it is on.
Muriel puts me to shame. I’m so unfit I get a head rush getting up of the sofa.
The year has just started, Solomon. If you train diligently maybe you can go an hour against Muriel on New Year’s Eve 2009.
I have never seen anything HSM, actually I hate anything musical because that’s just not life to me….stopping in the middle of a conversation to belt out a song. not gonna happen on my watch.
so on to muriel. (oh btw, love the smooth move) that’s not a 70 year old lady, i say robot. maybe the Y released her into the throng of members as motivation.
there’s a guy at my job, older gentleman, who gets on the treadmill and outruns me. i realized there’s no way i can keep up with him, so i fold on competing. (and i go fetch his water…well not really, but i would) i just hope when i pass out, he is trained in CPR. thanks for my reminder to pack my gym clothes. must workout today.
I bet if I got close enough to her I would see the bolts in her neck.
My life IS a musical, thank you very much Natural!, but more along the lines of 1776 (ridiculous in a fun way) than HSM (ridiculous in a nauseating way).
I will defer to my Facebook flair which reads: “HSM makes me want to gouge out my eyes with a spoon”.
My husband likes it, though, LOL. Dolly thinks it is THE BEES’ KNEES.
It does seem to me that life would be a tad more fun if talented singers broke out into song at inopportune times. But they have to be talented singers. Did you ever see that Youtube video where some comedy group created a musical at a food court in the mall? I don’t remember the link but it was funny. One chick was singing about getting a napkin.
Thank you Google. Here’s the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkYZ6rbPU2M
It’s like “Showdown at Big Sky” with all of this excitement–that’s why I avoid the gym. What is the deal with the old people anyway? You know, she’s going there like allll day because she’s got nothing else to do but work out, unlike all of us really, really busy folk. Ok, so she’s good–you could pull a Tanya Harding and whack her in the knee in the locker room or something. Maybe with her cane.
As for the music–girl, if it gets you to work out, go for it. There isn’t enough boppy music to drag me to our senior-filled local gym. The place is LOADED with old guys in the same clothes (I don’t think they wash them daily) and their Easy Spririt gym shoes that aren’t even dirty. I had one dude get next to me on the treadmill and fart the whole session. There was another who would pull on his jowls while he was riding the bike, like he was giving his face a workout. I don’t go there much anymore–it grossed me out.
Oh how I love the idea of pulling a Tonya Harding (or is that a Nancy Kerrigan?) It is dicey managing the blue hairs at the Y. You have to go around lunch time or after, because they are early birds. Unfortunately I have experienced a serial noxious emitter on the elliptical. And it. SUCKED DONKEY! Now that’s a cardio workout.
my 18 year old friend dragged me to see HSM3 and as much as I hate to admit it because it is officially cheesier than gorgonzola! I really liked it! lol
Not so keen on the songs but my favourite would have to be Bop to The Top from HSM1
I’m thinking I should check out the actual movie. I bet I might like it…
Most of my colleagues are in their late 30s/ early 40s with kids and they all know the HSM songs and sing them! In the office! I’m all “WHA?!” :D
Alright, I actually feel better about this Cate. Thanks!
He he he. My niece is into High School Musical. She got a doll of one of the characters for Christmas. She said it was her best gift ever :)
You are so gonna beat that lady this year!
I am gonna whup her behind. You might think I’m kidding. But you’d be wrong.
The real question is what does Muriel listen to ? She comes from a generation in which nearly every movie was a musical. (my generation had only Tommy, Hair and Cop Rock). I cannot bear to think of CG in second place – Challenge her to a 5K. (And order a pair of rocket powered Chuck Taylor’s – just in case).
You know, Frank, I got sidetracked writing about Muriel today, but yesterday while I was trying to beat her I seriously wondered the same thing. I wondered if Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett were serenading her. Maybe she has some polkas from everyone’s favorite band leader, Mr-ah. Lawrence-ah Welk-ah. I would love to trade players for just 3 minutes to hear what she’s listening to.
I wonder if I could take her in a 5K; she might sprint out of the gate but then get winded at the 4K mark. And then I could pass her and go for the gold.
Oh! And you just reminded me, for the first time ever I saw a guy on an elliptical wearing black low tops. I’ve never seen anyone wear Chuck’s while working out. Even *I* don’t wear them when I’m working out.
Three. Minutes.
You had three. minutes. left.
And you let an old lady beat you?!
Argh, Shetbag?!
(Yeah, like I could go even 15 minutes on such a torture machine….)
Well here’s the thing, betch. She was set for 60 minutes and my machine would have re-set at 55 minutes. Okay, let’s allow for the 1 minute 45 seconds I was behind. Mine still would have re-set a couple of minutes before hers did. So there.
Kurt’s aunt gave Gracie a HSM Barbie when we met her this summer, and it came with a microphone that plays snippets of HSM songs over and over and over again. Needless to say, I have no idea where the microphone is… and I’m glad of it!
I love your competitive spirit! I am that way a little bit… but not when it comes to working out. I’ll stick to my Wii Fit, thankyewverymuch. Which reminds me, I really should get back into that…
I don’t know if I could handle that microphone. I have to be in control of the repeat on the songs. Hey is that Wii Fit really a good workout? I’m not buying it because it’s too rich for my blood, but can you really get a sweat going?
CardioGirl,
First off, having a pre-teen, I am certainly knowledgeable of HSM — Ashley Tisdale’s character Sharpay Evans makes the movies worth watching — all the other characters are lame. The song “Fabulous” from HSM II sung by Ashley is the highlight of the movie.
I work out regularly myself, CardioGirl, and really like interval classes — have you tried one?
Mik
She does have a pretty good voice, I must admit. I’ve never taken an interval class. Okay, I’ve never taken an exercise class ever. I’m usually a loner when it comes to exercising. But maybe this is the year to try something new.
120 strides per minute! Whoa! I do just 70! Wait, maybe it’s 70 RPM, and strides come twice per “revolution.” Hmmm.
Since we’re on the topic of grown ups liking the kiddie music, I will confess that I really like a lot of Miley Cyrus music.
Alas, I do not have an MP3 player, but I favorite her songs on one of my Pandora radio stations.
Good luck against Muriel!
I don’t know about that math, SPG. But if it keeps you striding, go for it! I like Miley Cyrus also. I have Pumpin’ Up the Party and Best of Both Worlds on my playlist. She can belt out a pretty good tune, also.
Wow! HSM is a big deal around this house. My husband took our daughter the #3 the day after it opened. We have the singalong game thing for our playstation. We have the 1st and 2nd movie. I love them. Our daughter (5yo) got 6 or 7 HSM3 Barbie Dolls for Christmas. My favorite songs are, shoot, can’t remember the name but it is about swinging the baseball bat and dancing (duh)…My son’s favorite song is from #3, the Boys are Back. Anyway, HSM and Mama Mia are running a tight race at our house in regards to sound tracks.
Isn’t that funny how quick the kids get into music — 5 and 6 year olds seem to love HSM, too. I’m glad I like the music because I hear it incessantly.
i just got off the elliptical machine and i thought of you after having read this post this morning. i was checking my stats. OMG. my resistance level is uh between 5-7, heart rate got up to 161 (but normally stays around 130 i think) and my strides were in the 120-130′s?
i had no one to swipe my right shoulder and peek at though.
Not bad Natural! Funny, it never once occurred to me to check my heart rate during a work out. Hey that move works on the left, as well :)
uh that’s a typo
I got you covered.
hey cardiogirl,
Thanks for the shout out! Your post cracks me up. You have a gift for prose! Better luck next time against your arch-nemesis Muriel. ~ Steve, aka the HSM-lovin’ trade show guru ;)
No sweat Steve! I like a good topic I can sink my teeth into. And if I’m gonna ride your coattails, I’m going to give credit where credit is due. Thanks for the idea today!
Oh my HSM finally reaches the Cardio Empire!! We have the first on video, and Maxwell has turned “Gotta Get My Head in the Game” into a major ear worm around these parts, PLUS “Bop To the Top,” Shimmy, shimmy, gimme gimme. Actually, all the music EXCEPT the sap-o-riffic duets Gabriella and Troy sing pretty much gets recited regularly.
RE: Muriel — definitely a cyborg planted by the Soviets years ago to compete with and render our agent/athletes obsolete. With the fall of the USSR, she’s been forgotten and has managed to give the new regime’s pitiful attempts to retrieve her the slip. So she has nothing better to do but humiliate YMCA patrons and wait for her atomic batteries to run down. Good luck with that whole wait out thing, uranium and all.
It is fun to see the trends move across the nation. I see we’re on the tail end here in the mitten state. Oh well.
Yeah, she’s some kinda cyborg, that’s for sure. I do wonder if she feels *any* competition from people her own age. I don’t think she does.
I have never watched High School Musical, and the whole obsession around it by small children kind of freaks me out a little. Maybe it was just my extreme dislike of high school.
Regardless, my dad can still beat me on the slopes in his 60s…but sometimes I get him. He also routinely gets sanctioned by ski patrol, though I find it amusing that he has been skiing far longer than the patrolers have been alive. I’m just glad at 62 he is still super active and not sitting at home bored and unhealthy!
I thought you were going to say “Maybe it’s just my extreme dislike of children!” (laughs) Wow, Heidi that’s impressive — a 62-year-old skiing dynamo. I do not know how to ski and just thinking about skiing makes me feel like my ankles are going to snap. Ouch.
CG — I manage to work up a sweat using my Wii Fit. The Advanced Step and the Extended Run allow me to really get working, along with the Expert Rhythm Boxing. However, with someone as fit and in shape as you are, I am not sure you would get the same workout. Me, I’m a couch potato, so it’s easier for me to work up a sweat.
Oh man, boxing! I bet jumping around shadow boxing is a good workout. Now I wish I knew someone (nearby) who had the Wii Fit Boxing game so I could give it a try.
BAM! Cardiogirl wins with a TKO! Booyah, Muriel!
Lol! HSM3 is pretty cheesy. I took my boys when it came out. My husband actually has “Best of Both Worlds” from Hannah Montana on his ipod. He is not afraid to admit it either!
You’ve picked wisely when choosing a husband, Michelle. I like that he’s is in touch with his inner juvenile. I think he would be a husband of a friend I have who wouldn’t think I was an extremely flight dork and who I could tolerate.
Good thing we live 3,000 miles apart from each other so he wouldn’t say to you every time we went out, “She’s sorta weird honey.”
Haha. Brilliant. I used to go up the stairmaster in a weighted vest…with the settings to 11. God, I hated the stairmaster.
The stairmaster definitely sucks, Matthew. I did do my time on it, though, before the advent of the elliptical.
Hmm. Maybe I can find a heavy cat to wrap around my shoulders while I work out. It would be a win-win I think because I could use its tail to wipe the sweat of my brow and the cat would get a chance to see more of the world.
Too funny! I had a similar competition with a woman at my “gym”. It was like a Curves set-up, with all of the machines and mats in a circle. There was this one (much, much) older woman who did everything I did at double speed and HOLDING WEIGHTS!
Omg, ROFL, I just read your last response about the cat and almost spit my drink all over my screen.
Kari, I’ve never been to Curves, but I’ve heard about it. As soon as I read the machines were in a circle I knew I would be doomed. And then I was imagining that old lady doing your stuff in double time and then my mouth truly dropped open. She’s holding WEIGHTS?! I would never last if Muriel was holding weights. Really I would be so pissed off that I couldn’t compete with her.
I’m glad you enjoyed my response — thanks! I love hanging out in the VIP Lounge, sometimes I enjoy responding to the comments more than writing the post.
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