Phew.
Today was the polar opposite. Breakfast out, then a movie, then a couple of hours taking our aggressions out on the weeds that have snuck into our yard, entwining themselves around every cherished (and accidental) shrub, tree and flower.
As I was crouched in the front yard, trying to tell apart the greenery that belonged to clover and that of my purple verbena, Jacob cruised up on his bike. He told me that he was wearing the new Pokemon gadget that he got with his new Nintendo DS game, and that it wasn't registering his activities on wheeled toys like bikes, scooters and skateboards. So he asked me if he could just run.
"Sure," I said, thinking of a peaceful evening ahead once he was tuckered out. "But what does your Pokemon game have to do with running?"
He explained to me that the new toy was like a pedometer, and the more he moved, the quicker he could "level up" and catch new Pokemon. He tried like the dickens to explain that to me, but I cried uncle. And just in case any of my dear readers understand the concept, and might be tempted to teach me, I beg you to think differently. If I dedicate any more of my brain to understanding Pokemon, what will I have to give up? Remembering my password to my computer at work? Knowing what day it is? I give.
As he revved up and tore around the driveway for the next 20 minutes, it dawned on me that my weed-pulling wasn't really cutting it as far as calorie burning went. I hate exercising, like most people. Every now and again I guilt myself enough that I get on the elliptical, strap on the Wii Active remote, or take a walk. But my incentive is entirely self-motivated.
But what if there was an incentive like Jake's? Only instead of catching Pokemon, my activities would be recorded on my pedometer and would sync with discounts at Nordstrom's, or The Man doing an extra chore of mine?
I'd be a size zero in no time.
