The World According to Chuck

Happy birthday to Judy Norton Taylor, my favorite Walton girl (she was Mary Ellen), who turns 50 today. I actually dated a young woman for a while who, among other things, reminded me of Mary Ellen Walton.

And happy 50th anniversary to Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, married on this day in 1958. An interviewer once asked Mr. Newman why, given his movie star status and obvious appeal, he’d never had an affair, and he said, “Why go out for hamburger when you can have steak at home?” Obviously a romantic, and I imagine Ms. Woodward reading that quote and rolling her eyes, but by any standards, and particularly Hollywood’s, it’s been a remarkable partnership.

Housekeeping: I was going to do a poll about that, about Newman films or screen partnerships or famous married people, but I think I’ll table the Tuesday polls for the time being. Only 20 or so of you participate (and many of you read this site via a reader, and polls require clicking through), and I have a suspicion there are some bandwidth issues. So maybe only occasionally from now on, we’ll see.

More Housekeeping: Some of you took a little issue with my premise yesterday that ditching the dog would improve your exercise regimen, assuming you’re into regimens. People and dogs; go figure. But I hear you. You were saying, hey, I get a good workout with my dog! All I was saying was no, you don’t.

Heh. Sorry. Just a joke.

Sure, it depends on the youth, size and vitality of the dog, among other things. In GENERAL, people. And really, what was on my mind was perception, anyway.

I gave a friend, a college instructor, who wants to lose weight. She bought a pedometer, and since she figured she was on her feet all day, walking all over campus, she must put in miles and miles daily and wanted to check it out. At the end of the first day, she took off the pedometer and found that she had logged about 45 yards. So, perception.

Exercise is GOOD. Dogs are GOOD. Walking the dog is GOOD.

If you want to lose weight, though, you have to change. If you never walk the dog and now you start, that’s change. Change is GOOD.

I’m just saying that to me — TO ME — walking a dog as part of a weight loss program is like babysitting as part of a socializing program. Yeah, sort of, maybe, well, no. Too many distractions, too many variables, too many limitations. A good way to start, though, maybe. And if you’re fit anyway, then obviously something is working right.

Eventually, though, you’re going to need to walk faster and further — if your experience is like mine, you’re going to want to.

And what do I know, anyway? Me, with a few months under my belt? Nada. Don’t listen to me, do what you want.

But lose the dog.