A month or so ago, we lost power to the house. There was absolutely no electricity and at 40 degrees Fahrenheit, it was one of the coldest days you’ll find in LA. The fur-babies are used to adapting from the Boulder sub-zero climate but our cold-blooded python would have had a hard time surviving without his heat lamp. As a result, I got to enjoy a challenging but rewarding family experience. Without access to really anything except water and our library of books, I stayed in and let our snake hang out on my head all day. So what did I end up doing?
While I love supporting local businesses, I think that there is a growing divide between those who are handy and those who are not. DIYers are always willing to take risks and break something in the process while the vast majority of the population will call the maintenance man to change a lightbulb. I’m stuck somewhere between the two but on this day, I decided to go all out repairman. While it was nice to get a ton of chores done and leave the house in the best shape it has ever been in, I remembered something important.
Changing lightbulbs can be exhausting! Most people would find my level of strength and muscular endurance in my arms to be above and beyond normal. While injured, my shoulders are well-developed and have an incredible range of motion. Still, there I was standing on a chair, struggling to hold up a light housing while turning some screws to make sure it stayed in place. After replacing all the halogens and cfls in the house with LEDs, I felt like I had just hit the gym for a heavy hour-long upper body session.
Sweeping litter, scrubbing the shower curtain, glazing the tub, washing the dishes, and dusting the blinds was causing me to break a sweat and even take some rest periods. My lower back and the rest of my core were engaged nonstop, my arms and shoulders were exhausted, and my heart rate was elevated. It was the epitome of multitasking and one of the most productive days I ever had. I was hoping that the electricity wouldn’t even come back on because I was having such a good time.
Eventually, the power came back, the python was put back in his cage with his heat lamp, and it was back to sitting at the desk taking care of business. I grew up reading the Chronicles of Narnia and other fantasy stories and this was the closest I came to that world since being an adult. I realized a few things that day. One, I spend too much time on electrical devices. Two, I don’t spend enough time outside, especially camping or in the mountains. Three, keeping a clean house is a workout. So, if you’re having a hard time finding time to exercise every day, you need to grab a broom and a mop and get to work. Clean the house to stay hungry and fit!
