March 29, 2012  Disclaimers: Useful Stress-Reduction Tool, or
Pathetic Crutch?  So the other night I announced a sincere
intention to go the gym the next morning, and do a kick-ass
workout. (And yes, I'm indeed that annoying sort of person who
constantly narrates even the most boring details of my day to
anyone within earshot.  "I know I put my sunglasses in my
backpack, where the hell did they go?"  "Oh my god that was the
most awesome smoothie ever!" "Eww, these sneakers are starting
to smell really funky, and they're making my socks smell all
gross too!"  Be glad you are not my patient spouse, known here
as "the Lobster.")  Anyway, on waking the next morning, I
realized I had a humongous list of other things that needed to
get done and the gym was the only thing on the list I could
postpone.  I decided I'd better skip it. On changing my plans,
naturally I made another announcement.  But I didn't just leave
it at: "Oops, no time today for the gym after all, guess I won't
go."  No, instead I felt compelled t