570News Blog: Glenn Pelletier

I am attending my 11-year old daughter’s graduation ceremony today. Lucy is leaving the wonderful staff and teachers and atmosphere at Sheppard Public School behind, as she moves to grade 7 in September.

It seems like yesterday that I took a then three-year-old Lucy to her first day of junior kindergarten, but in fact it was eight years ago. She has grown into a wonderful, well-liked, well-adjusted and sensitive young girl who is on the cusp of womanhood. It is with a mix of pride and sadness that I watch her mature and move forward.

I am very grateful for the wonderful teachers that Lucy had along the way. And to my baby girl, let me say how very proud I am of you.

After bragging the other day about how easily I took to rollerblading upon my first crack at it last weekend, I am eating humble pie today.

A key aspect to rollerblading…..I have learned…….is stopping. It is a key aspect I have yet to master. Out last night for a skate through RIM Park when I encountered a very steep hill on the trail with a sharp left turn at the bottom.

I was not going to make the turn and had gained too much momentum to slow myself down sufficiently……so I made a desperate leap into the grass and bushes and weeds that aligned the asphalt runway. My skating partner said I looked like a paper airplane coming in for a quick landing. Face plant. Nosedive. Seriously sprained left wrist.

Went rollerblading for the first time on the weekend at the invitation of a friend who is quite proficient at it. Not sure what to expect……….but I played hockey for years and figured the basis skating principle was the same. I was right.

Took to it like my daughters’ dog takes to doing its business on my carpet.

And I loved it! Wind in my hair, sun on my face…….and feeling all sorts of muscles getting a decent workout. I read somewhere that rollerblading is one of the best all-round aerobic activities…..even better than cycling.

If you’re looking for an activity that is fun and good for you………..give it a try.

……..and not only that, but I went alone. And I wasn’t even a big fan of the television series. But…..I had some time to kill……coupled with a voucher for a free movie……..so I went to the cinema to see what was playing.

“Ironman”? Not my thing. I’ve never read a comic book in my life.

The latest Indiana Jones movie? Not in the mood to suspend my imagination that much.

Some horror-thriller? Not tonight.

So……what the heck……let’s go watch Sarah Jessica-Parker and the ladies.

Got into the theatre early………right in the middle….first person there………15 minutes later, dozens and dozens of young women (oddly, mostly blondes) coming piling in…..two with male dates. Well at least I wasn’t the only guy in the place.

Anyway, I know the critics have been hard on this film, but I actually enjoyed it. Don’t tell anybody. Least of all, any of the guys I used to play beer league hockey with.

I have been fairly active for most of my life……cycling, hiking, walking, jogging, rec. hockey….but I had never joined a gym…….nor had any interest in doing so….until last week.

A friend of mine is a long-time member at a fitness club in another city and invited me to her facility recently to work out with her. I loved it. The elliptical, spin bike and weight circuit……I am sweating now just thinking about it.

Anyway, I’m hitting the gym everyday and we’ll see what happens. I’ll let you you know in a month if I am still gung-ho!