Your Update

I heard back from Dr. McDougall promptly the next day. He's working on the curriculum but can provide the Skype sessions with the class, and as the curriculum isn't done yet he didn't give me recommendations for which DVDs to get, although I plan on getting all of his at least. I want them for my own reference and knowledge. I've consumed his articles, newsletters, and books, for the most part, and it never hurts to brush up on the info, particularly if I want to teach it. I like learning it anyways.

I haven't heard back from my friend Shenna, although that may because I used the wrong email, although I tried two of hers. She's probably busy. But, at Jen and Phil's bday dinner, I was seated smack next to Louis and close to Jen's friend Joe, who's an accountant. Louis gave me great advice about how to do taxes properly and using the Schedule C for deductions pertaining to the class. :) Thank you, Louis, although you'll never read this. The information was then verified, almost exactly, by the accountant, which was pretty funny. I luckily don't have to worry about setting myself up as any kind of business, at least at first.

I told Dr. McDougall I'd be ready to get the DVDs in about a month, which gives me time to handle my finances. See previous post for info on current and expected expenses. Luckily, I was wrong about the $1000 hospital bill. My insurance covered that, so I was right not to pay it. There is still my car, Disneyland, swimming, a chiropractor, and possibly a laptop. I hope my own old one will work or something can be provided with the room. That's one thing I have to check with Shelton Studios about. I need to make sure the Skype goes through the speakers. I'm not very techie. Also, maybe I'll have to get a little microphone too.

Yesterday I check out the Central YMCA. It's in the Tenderloin, close to the Main Library. There are 2 YMCAs near my work, that one and the Embarcadero one. Today I checked out the Embarcadero one. Let me give you my sums up:

Central YMCA:
Did not like getting there, but I went from Geary down to it. The walk smelled like garbage and dirty people. Phew! Today I went from Civic Center muni stop (near Main Library) and up to it, not as bad, and quicker. Once you're inside you're okay. The pool is small but not too crowded. It's in the basement and feels cozy. The YMCA is spread out vertically and they have a nice roof garden, yoga classes, etc, all included with your membership, which is $51 without towels, $56 with.

Embarcadero YMCA:
Larger, more crowded, nicer area, more spacious, but at the same time, didn't seem to have as much offered. The running track was the tarmac on top of the un-gardened roof. View on the roof not that awesome. View at treadmill machines beautiful, you look out over the Bay. "Two" pools - or one long one, split with a barrier. The lap side has more lanes and longer lanes. However, I'm not the best swimmer out there, so shorter lanes would do my little swim-ego good :) More spacious locker room, although it's a bit of a maze. However, I tend to prefer the cozier, less-people, more real feel of Central, rather than the more classical "gym" feel of Embarcadero. The $65 price tag has something to do with it. Not to mention the Embarcadero YMCA never gave me any 3 day pass, while the chatty, nice guy at Central made my 3 day pass a 4.

So I think it's gonna be the Central Y pour moi. I'm pretty happy about it. I thought it'd take me longer to get home but it's not that bad. I can just walk about 2 blocks to Market, catch a Muni for 2 stops, and then I can take any bus along Market going toward home. With the Embarcadero, I think it would actually take longer, because I'd have to walk up to Market and then up to where the buses are, even though initially I thought Embarcadero would be the quickest way home.

I have until the 30th with my Central pass, and then I can join on the first. I went swimming today and I already feel it helped my neck, although lugging a backpack with too much equipment probably didn't help it. But one needs to be a be-specked, ear-plugged, hair-capped, nearly blind looking dork to swim unobstructedly. (Or try to.)

While swimming my happily shorter laps, I thought that the Y would also be a great place for Dr. McDougall's health class, once everything is up and running smoothly. I don't know if it'd be allowed, but when the time is right I'll look into it.