Power to you for not hiding. I have no idea what your husband means when he says people wear black at the gym to be stared at. I'm slanted because I go out of my way to get my socks in black, etc, but it's really the most default colour out there. If it's between black and purple to generate stares, black is not the attention-getting answer.

One thing I love about my gym (the local Y) is that there are all shapes, sizes, ages, and levels of ability working out side-by-side. The only people you don't see are people who are obviously togged up to meet other people.

The 'meet market' gym seems to be the 24 Hour Fitness up the street. Fewer kids, and I think that the big glass windows that open up the entire gym to full view from the sidewalk scare away most non-narcissists. The fact that the place is next door to BreadCo. (aka Panera) makes the situation a bit funnier to me than perhaps it should.

I hate gyms with the windows that display right onto the street like that. It was one of the important choices in my last gym. I don't mind the idea of looking at people as you work, but I don't like my exercise being looked at.

One of the krav windows was directly visible from the sidewalk, but at least we were focussed on a class then.

My Y has no external windows for their main workout areas. Thank goodness.

Popping in to say "Thanks, Nilly!"

Jon B., Jen K., and Cousin Nicole.

I purposely wore a shirt to match the tablecloth.

The crowd at my gym tends to young and fit and checking each other out from the corner of their eyes. Apparently the crowd in the morning--when Hubby generally goes--tends to the fabulous. He keeps telling me about the conversations he overhears in the locker room: trading waxing tips, admiring each others pecs, and such. In the women's locker room they're either talking about their dates or their kids, not nearly interesting enough.

The black-is-for-staring-at comes from his observation that most of the preeners and posers are wearing tight, black outfits. I was going to tell him that anyone who wanted to ogle me in my black swimsuit had a whole different criteria than the posers, but the purple was too wonderful.

It's very funny to see the people who do two reps on a machine, then pause to stretch and glance around. The leg machines I use are next to the free-weights area, and I love watching the drama. The serious lifters are more decorative, though, because they have terrific arms and shoulders. I've perfected the "No, I'm actually staring just to the side of you, I'm not staring at you--though I have a terrific view of the mirror right behind you" look.

Happy Birthday Jon!

Those wedding pictures are lovely.

Happy birthday, Jon!

I'm looking to make waffles this morning (yes, officially crazy), and I'm still only cooking from CI. They have 1 waffle recipe that doesn't involve yeast or buttermilk. For the former I don't have the time, and for the latter, the primary ingredient.

However, this one recipe involves mixing your own baking powder. I don't have any cream of tartar! Why are the being like this? How much baking powder to I substitute for 1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar?

CI doesn't have a list of substitutions?

I think you can make a sour milk with lemon juice to sub for buttermilk.

ION - adorable!

Baking powder equivalent: 2 parts cream of tartar to 1 part baking soda.