When desperate for a shower, morals go down the tube.
When you haven't showered in 3 days, and in that same time span have done a yoga class, a dance exercise class, and rollerbladed in the rain...
...when the previous night there were too many wool blankets on your bed, the temperature went up overnight, and you woke up sweaty and damp...
...and when, to top it all off, you have your period and are sleeping in a van (sorry, but it's pertinent information)...
...you discover that you do things you might never normally do.
Like blatant, bold-faced lying.
Which is what I did when I infiltrated a high-end fitness club. The day before I had found myself sitting in a coffee shop, desperate, dirty, and sweaty. Suddenly inspired, I decided to use my research powers and the almighty Google to look for free gym trials in the environs of Eugene, Oregon.
Low and behold, a "one week free trial" came up, only a 15 minute drive away. I signed up faster than you could say "where's the shower". As soon as the confirmation email came through, I zipped off to the club address, presented myself at the front desk, waving my confirmation letter wildly, and filled in all their forms and waivers.
That was the point where they discovered I was not a resident of Eugene, Oregon.
And that was the point where I told them I was moving to Eugene in a month and wanted to check out the amenities.
I also may have told them I was staying with friends downtown for a week (if you count the people on whose street I was camping as "neighbours", then that might almost be true...).
They were apologetic, saying that they really couldn't do a free week pass for someone who didn't live in Eugene, but...
...since I'd come so far...
...they would bend the rules, give me the tour and let me try it out for just one day - but after that I'd have to pay.
Oh darn.
Well, ok, I guess I can live with that...quick, where's my soap and shampoo?!
I took the tour, showing appropriate interest and asking discerning, interested questions.
Then I ran to the van, grabbed my towel, bathing suit, and toiletries, and headed to the pool. Spent half an hour in the tiny pool, doing lanes behind elderly women moving at a snail's pace, then sat in the sauna (that's right, sauna!) for a bit, spent a few minutes in the hot tub (oh yes), and then, oh my goodness, SHOWERED in a nice large tiled shower stall with very hot water.
And washed my hair.
And shaved.
And brushed my teeth.
Then I left.
On my way out I told them I'd be stopping by for the 7:30pm yoga class. :
When you haven't showered in 3 days, and in that same time span have done a yoga class, a dance exercise class, and rollerbladed in the rain...
...when the previous night there were too many wool blankets on your bed, the temperature went up overnight, and you woke up sweaty and damp...
...and when, to top it all off, you have your period and are sleeping in a van (sorry, but it's pertinent information)...
...you discover that you do things you might never normally do.
Like blatant, bold-faced lying.
Which is what I did when I infiltrated a high-end fitness club. The day before I had found myself sitting in a coffee shop, desperate, dirty, and sweaty. Suddenly inspired, I decided to use my research powers and the almighty Google to look for free gym trials in the environs of Eugene, Oregon.
Low and behold, a "one week free trial" came up, only a 15 minute drive away. I signed up faster than you could say "where's the shower". As soon as the confirmation email came through, I zipped off to the club address, presented myself at the front desk, waving my confirmation letter wildly, and filled in all their forms and waivers.
That was the point where they discovered I was not a resident of Eugene, Oregon.
And that was the point where I told them I was moving to Eugene in a month and wanted to check out the amenities.
I also may have told them I was staying with friends downtown for a week (if you count the people on whose street I was camping as "neighbours", then that might almost be true...).
They were apologetic, saying that they really couldn't do a free week pass for someone who didn't live in Eugene, but...
...since I'd come so far...
...they would bend the rules, give me the tour and let me try it out for just one day - but after that I'd have to pay.
Oh darn.
Well, ok, I guess I can live with that...quick, where's my soap and shampoo?!
I took the tour, showing appropriate interest and asking discerning, interested questions.
Then I ran to the van, grabbed my towel, bathing suit, and toiletries, and headed to the pool. Spent half an hour in the tiny pool, doing lanes behind elderly women moving at a snail's pace, then sat in the sauna (that's right, sauna!) for a bit, spent a few minutes in the hot tub (oh yes), and then, oh my goodness, SHOWERED in a nice large tiled shower stall with very hot water.
And washed my hair.
And shaved.
And brushed my teeth.
Then I left.
On my way out I told them I'd be stopping by for the 7:30pm yoga class. :