So my diet plateaued and I realized the problem was insufficient exercise. I walk the dogs but they really need a faster pace and a bicycle is NOT the right answer. Then taking a page from the "dog whisperer," roller-blades. The last time I ice skated was in the 1970s when I lived in Washington DC. In the winter, they set up an outdoor ice ring in a shaded area of the mall. A couple of bucks and you could enjoy skating out doors. But being from Oklahoma, I also had to learn how to skate. Then I met my wife and life got busy. So in 2012, I finally got a set of roller blades that fit along with knee, elbow, and wrist pads. I went out side and suddenly realize that in 40 years, I'd forgotten how to skate. <gerrrrr> I checked out a couple of roller skate rings only to discover they all took down the rail around the outside. This was critical when I was learning how to skate. But I noticed this small concrete platform with railing in a nearby shopping center, walking distance from home. So I took the dogs for a walk with the roller-blades only to find ... a shopping cart ... the walker for roller blades. I changed into my safety gear and roller blades and it worked. I'm not that fast of a learner but I started regaining my long lost skating skills. It will take a couple of weeks or so until I'm back 'in the groove' but now I can use any empty parking lot that has shopping carts around. Early in the morning, 1-2 AM is prefect as there is no traffic and the dogs can amuse themselves while I build my skills ... until I can give them a run for their money. <grins> Bob Wilson
As a life-long hockey player, let me remind you that roller blades stop differently than hockey skates. As your reflexes come back, you may find yourself wanting to hockey stop: don't do it. Some of my worst roller blade falls came when someone cut in front of me and my hockey reflexes took over. Tom
Clever use of a cart! I have been blading since 92 and really enjoy it over just about every other forms of exercise. Enjoy!
