Sure, it’s not worldwide news and yeah, it’s only six days, but I was surprised at a few things over the last few days. First, I was surprised that it has been two years since I worked out for five days in a row. That’s crazy and it’s really amazing how, once you stop working out regularly, you don’t realize that so much times goes by without a sustained workout program. By the way, I distinctly remember those five days in May 2007 because I walked around Deal, NJ for the first three of those days (which were 3 – 4 mile walks in the evening each time) and I spent the next two days at the now-closed Ocean Fitness Center on Route 35 in Ocean Township, NJ.

Second, I was surprised at how quick the past six days went by. Since I started working full-time in August 2006 I’ve stated over and over again that the 40 hour work week and the 10 hours of commuting each week have been disastrous to my working out. Anyone who tries to get a good workout in when they spend at least 50 hours a week away from home will agree to that statement. Yet, now that I’m a member of a gym that is located a mile and a half (or so) from where I live, there is almost no time spent getting to and from the gym and it’s easier to fit a good hour’s worth of working out into my already strained schedule.

Finally, I was surprised at myself for waking up at unGodly hours during the work week and arriving at the gym between 5:45am and 6:15am each day. That’s crazy. I hate getting up early – hate it! No, I don’t mean that I hate getting up at 6:30am to get ready for work – that’s normal. But getting up between 4:30am and 5:00am is just aggravating. I’ve also been going to bed a little bit earlier around 10:30pm or 11:00pm. That’s a big change from the normal time that I was going to bed, which was around midnight.

I don’t think that I’ll keep this streak going much longer (who knows), but I am pleased to know that when I start teaching at nights again this summer (hopefully), in the fall, and next spring that I’ll be able to keep my workouts going by just going to workout early in the morning!

A sharp decline in business at the 34-lane alley was responsible for the decision to close, according to Dover Lanes’ manager, Joyce Reynolds.

On Tuesday night bowlers were moved by the sight of workers already dismantling Lanes 29 through 34.

Ms. Reynolds has been the manager at Dover Lanes for as long as I can remember. I hope that she lands on her feet. It’s also interesting to note that a sharp decline in business is being marked as the reason to close the alley down. Circle Lanes in Roxbury has much higher prices and a really awkward ball return system that is guaranteed to destroy your bowling ball and yet they’re still in operation. Weird. More from the article:

Atlanta-based developer Trammell Crow Residential announced in 2005 that it wanted to buy the bulk of the properties on Bassett Highway and tear them down to make way for a residential and retail development with hundreds of apartments. Although the company’s plans for the street are still alive, the completion of a deal that would allow the beginning of construction has been slowed by the slump in the housing market. As a result, Trammell Crow has yet to reach the required development agreement with Dover’s Board of Aldermen.

Dover Lanes, along with the other businesses in the proposed development area, are allowed to remain in their current locations until a development agreement is reached. But Reynolds said the mere announcement of Trammell Crow’s plans prompted the managers of many leagues to decline to renew their contracts with Dover Lanes because they feared the alley would be shut down in the middle of their leagues’ seasons.

Two interesting points here. First, to knock down that entire street and put up contemporary developments will absolutely ruin the character of the town in that part of Dover. There is a certain charm about that area which can be restored if those in charge just focus their efforts! But knocking down the entire block and putting up “hundreds” of apartments and retail on the bottom? Talk about gentrification at its worst.

Second, how interesting that the redevelopment plan – which appears to be an economic development as much as a residential project – actually caused this local business to cave. Isn’t that the exact opposite of what economic development plans are supposed to bring to the table? And since I’ve had ample opportunity to sit in many of the brain storming meetings for these economic development plans, I can tell you that no one is thinking about having a bowling alley as part of the new development. Other than restaurants and the occasional bar, it’s extremely rare for an economic/residential stimulus project to have any night life associated with it – even night life as low-key as a bowling alley.

What a shame. Morris County and North Jersey loses another local hangout that brought people together to have good old-fashioned fun.