From the wonderful world of “I’m not old, I’m just sick” fantasies, here is an update on my non idle sporting life.

Ruci and Sankirtan donated some firewood to us. Vidya went up and loaded a face cord worth into the van and left it parked by the wood pile. When it comes to stacking wood, I am a little fussy, so she left that for me.

The first attempt didn’t suffice. I had to spend some time organizing the existing pile. If you don’t have solid and tight lower levels, you can’t build on it. Just like without cow protection at the base, no brahminical society will ever be stable. So it is important to get first things first.

Thus, by the time I started unloading the wood, I was all ready feeling the exertion. I only got about half of it out, and because I was focusing on building the pile correctly, didn’t notice until almost too late I was on the verge of blacking out. I decided it would be better to do so in the house then in the yard, so took off. I wasn’t sure I would make it but did. Once I got inside by a fan, I was okay.

The next day, I didn’t get out to the woodpile until about 11 am. By then, it was already heating up, the best part of the day for warm weather physical work having already passed. Once again I tried, and got most of it stacked, but because I had to crawl into the van to pull the wood to the edge, it took more effort. Once again I started moving into the blackout zone, but recognized it earlier in the cycle this time. I calculated I could finish and maybe/maybe not lose it, but opted to stop early, so there are still a few larger pieces of wood in the van.

Previously, I had pedaled my bicycle the mile (1.6 km) out to Balabhadra’s barn. There is a rise in the road just as I headed out the lane, but it was West Virginia level most of the rest of the way.

I chatted with him for a bit so had a rest and then returned home. I didn’t push it at all in any phase of the trip, so wasn’t too wasted by the time I got back. I told myself that that was doable, and I should start doing it regularly as it is a small enough bite that I can chew it.

The next day I had another attack of the gout, which means using the foot is nonviable. Ergo no bike trip. Turns out the long term medicine I am taking for it actually can precipitate an attack in the early stages as it rids the system of excess uric acid. It comes out faster than the body can shed it, I guess.

After the gout subsided, the wood arrived, so the whole commitment to biking had faded. However, in order to maintain the illusion I will once again play soccer (dancing in arotik being an element in conditioning for such) I am negotiating with myself to make a bike trip to Balabhadra’s a regular part of my day, though a reliable source tells me there is more wood arriving soon.