One thing about taking a break from what you usually do daily is that your mind likes to take mini excursions into places it doesn’t often have time to visit. So while I was lolling around the house in December, it strangely and suddenly occurred to me that Superman was in deep trouble. He might still be leaping buildings in a single bound and peering through the walls of the bank vault with his electromagnetic spectrum vision, but where is he changing from Clark Kent into the super flying hero?
I haven’t seen a phonebooth outside of period movies in a decade.
I know. This sounds like the lead into a Jerry Seinfeld joke, but I couldn’t stop wondering. And then just last week, I discovered the answer. It’s what I call a Zoom Booth. Yes. It’s about the size of a phonebooth, but it’s soundproof and kind of sIeek with its metal and glass design. It appeared in my newly refurbished gym just when I was about to give up finding an answer to my question. What do you think? Is this the perfect 2022 replacement for Superman’s old changing room, or what?
Now, I admit that I haven’t seen the Superman & Lois series, so maybe the changing room issue has already been solved by the writers for that show. You can let me know, but if the writers haven’t come up with something as clever as the Zoom Booth, I feel I should let them know.
Now moving on to something totally unrelated, but important to me…
For those of you who follow me on Facebook, you’ll know that for two years I’ve been setting “virtual” destinations and walking to them. Walking every day for 3 or 4 miles (sometimes more on good days), was a substitute for not having access to my gym due to Covid.
My first challenge in 2020 was from the San Jose area to LA and back. That was a total of 696 miles. When I started, it was more of a joke than anything because I really didn’t expect to even get out of the town limits, but I was surprised how daily walks (almost daily…I wasn’t that strict) added up.
In 2021 I did a couple of challenges one was to Yosemite and the next was to Lake Tahoe, which meant I had to include a lot of steep trails if I was going to be “semi-accurate” in my virtual journey. The total miles were only 330, so I added deadlines to each trek to make the challenge more exciting. I didn’t make my first deadline, but I did just make my second one.
The benefits? I saw things on foot that I never saw from the window of my car. My calves became ready to take on just about any trail, and I gathered a rooting section along the way. One follower kept track of my mileage and my deadlines. That was really sweet.
So now I’m back at my gym. Back at a full schedule of Yoga and cardio. I still want to walk, but I’m going to have to create a different walking schedule. I just can’t do those daily miles. I need a new destination, and I’m excited about my walks in 2022!
I rambled on today, but sometimes it’s nice to set down what’s on my mind which might seem to have little to do with writing, but actually, it does. In December between thoughts about Superman’s predicament, I finished the first draft of a new book. And on all of those walks, I came up with ideas for stories or ways to fix ones I was working on.
Quote of the Week: “In the first place, you can’t see anything from a car.”
― ed abbey, author & essayist
Charlotte (MotherOwl) says
Superman’s changing location has nagged me too. We (in Denmark) do not have zoom booths, but smokers’ booths, in houses and outside – they might do the trick. I always supposed Superman – with a super-memory – remmbered where he put his suit, and stuck it to the roof of the booth; people don’t look up.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Ha! That’s interesting about Superman’s Clark Kent suit. I never thought of that! As to the smoking booths…those must be miserable dens for anyone, even smokers. Thanks so much for the visit! I’ll stop by and see what you’re up to in Denmark.
Charlotte (MotherOwl) says
Thank you for your visit. I tried following you back here via your Blogger profile, but that only brings me to a test site with “There’s nothing here” as the only post. Is that what you intend? It mystified me quite a bit.
PS. Smoking booths have a very poverful airconditioning unit 😀
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – fun thoughts about Superman … I’ve never thought about those clothes left around etc … but the phone booth – that’s be fun – if the glass faded to give some privacy when entered … perhaps not such a bright idea, Hilary! but I’ll be interested to read your thoughts after trying it … cheers Hilary
Michael says
Hi Lee,
It’s great that you are off to such a wonderful start to the new year with your fitness goals. I decided, after putting on about 45 pounds of Covid weight, EEK, that I needed to get back outside and start moving again. My goal is to get back to the health I used to have before Covid (which I had very few health issues at that time). I also cut out refined sugar and all bread, pasta, and sweets. Sigh, poor me. But when I was at my best health seven years ago, I limited my intake of those foods and rarely had them. I felt great, and I need that again. As we get older, we really do need to take care of our health. Turning another decade older in 2021 gets you to think of just how much time we have left. So, we MUST live each day with gusto and with as much happiness as we can get. So, keep up the amazing work of living a healthy life! Kuddos!
Interesting thoughts of SUPERMAN… ZOOM booths, hmm, they may become obsolete after Covid gets more manageable, which I hope and pray it will be soon. But for now, at least, Superman does have an option!
Yvonne (@Fiction_Books) says
I was only reading an article the other day, which said that the telephone company are obliged to keep a certain number of our traditional red English phone boxes, in situation, in the more remote parts of the country.
Those which have been decommissioned, have been sold off for just a few £ sterling, with many of them having been purchased by small towns or villages and repurposed as community libraries.
I generally keep a small bag of books I have read, in the car and drop them off at a community library if we happen to drive past one on our travels.
I love the idea of a ‘zoom room’, it’s just a pity that we can’t make people use them out in the street, for making their mobile calls, as there is nothing more annoying than trying to spend a peaceful time out, only to have loads of people wandering around talking to themselves, as they make that all ‘important’ call! I really don’t want to hear their conversations and voices are always raised by several decibels, as if the person they are talking to is deaf! 🙂
Good Luck with your walking challenges for 2022 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
I loved those red phone booths. They were always so much more interesting than ours. I’m glad a few will still remain operational, and I agree with you about people on their cell phones being annoying. Why they need to shout while talking on them is beyond me.
Thanks for the good wishes! I’m looking forward to more walks.
Sandra Cox says
That would make an excellent modern day phone booth. You’ve got your writing/thinkers cap on:)
Good on you for walking and for doing yoga. Thumbs up.s
C. Lee McKenzie says
Well, you how writers are. We always need something to put down on paper!
Natalie Aguirre says
That could work as a phone booth. So weird to think there aren’t any anymore.
That’s great how you were able to swap out walking for the gym until you could go back to the gym.
C. Lee McKenzie says
They disappeared fairly quickly around here, and once when I was stranded once at an airport without my cell, I finally found one phone booth in a remote corner of the terminal. One! In the entire airport.
Liz A. says
They kind of write around Superman changing costume. Supposedly he does it quickly, so he kind of does it as he flies from where he is to where he’s going. One of the other shows in that universe has the hero with a ring that morphs the costume on the hero. It works, kind of.
Sounds like those were some interesting walks. I think there are apps that do something similar, including counting up miles for journeys from books, such as the path followed in Lord of the Rings.
C. Lee McKenzie says
So the writers have found a way around the vanished phone booth. I still think the idea of dashing into that small space as mild-mannered and emerging as a supernatural hero is much more exciting than magical rings.
I’d love to find an app that plots journeys in books. Thanks for mentioning that.
Elephants Child says
Love that you replaced one routine with another. Yay for walking.
I have long worried about Superman’s changing routine. How does he ensure that his clothes are where he (carelessly in my eyes) left them. And do his buttons stay attached when he changes at super speed? Mine wouldn’t.
Those zoom booths would be a delight for many instagrammers and twitterers.
AND a new novel? Joy and bliss.
C. Lee McKenzie says
You’ve given Superman’s changeing routine much more careful consideration than I have. I guess I assumed he wore spandex under his business suit, but you’re right…where does he leave that suit? Now I have to really explore this topic with your questions in mind.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
That would work for a phone booth. I’m sure those will appear everywhere soon.
I do both walking and the gym (we were fortunate our gyms were only closed a month before they found legal grounding to stay open) and you do see things walking you never would otherwise. Cool you did real hikes to simulate the actual ones.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I saw someone using the one I took the photo of yesterday. I may have to pop in and try that booth out myself.
You’re lucky your gym was able to stay open.
Jeff says
Keep walking! It’s the best way to see the world and hopefully, one day, you might walk in those places you’ve head such as Tahoe or Yosemite!
C. Lee McKenzie says
It’s theraputic and really a great way spend a morning.