Note to Disney and Muriel: I can wait you out
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.
