When:  Friday–During the Afternoon- 3/2/2018
Weather: 70s blue sky and sun
Observations/Thoughts

I struggle some days to find things not so mundane to even be included in the walk.  Somedays, I just rope things in from life.  I give them a bullet point, and let you figure out if they could have been walking related.  Sometimes they flavor the thoughts during my walk, so they are tangentially a part of my walk.  But, most days it is trying to find the right addition.  It is the bullet points that tickles my often bored, rarely coherent inner writer.  Your indulgence is appreciated.

• Voting: Before I walked, I voted. I went to the early voting location right after work. I was surprised how full the parking lot was. I had read stories of how the Democrat base was more energized then the Republican base. In my largely conservative area, this would have indicated a mostly empty parking lot. Maybe the conservatives got past the negative ads (Like me), and decided if they didn’t vote today (Friday), they were going to have to go on Election Day and deal with whatever lines greeted them. I did have to wait for two people to go ahead of me. Compared to the normally VERY short lines, it was good to see many more involved in the voting process. Once I was standing in at the voting booth, it would have been good to see fewer uncontested races. (Speaking of “standing”, the booth I chose had a chair in front of it.  Once I moved it out of the way and typed in my code to the machine, I realized the machine was set lower than the other machines.  Should I have had a chair, it would have been just right.  I had to slouch and bend over to get under the mini-canopy covering the machine.  With the many screens I had to go thru, this was a painful process.)  And, I didn’t know anything about all of the Propositions on the ballot. They were about property tax and transgender bathroom issues. Since there was over 10 of them, they had a wide range of questions for the voters. I can only guess the propositions were related to setting an agenda for the legislature next year. (The Texas legislature meets every other year on alternating odd years.)
• Hello Darlin’: On the sidewalk that runs parallel with the train tracks, there is a line of fences.. Houses are on the other side of the fences. One of the residents was in his back yard close to the fence. Whether it had something to do with me or something to do with what he had been drinking, he sung out a, “Hey Darlin”. He kept singing some thing else, too. If it was singing for me, I was not interested in listening.  I let him sing out to the dog chorus often found to greet passing pedestrians.
• More Unfriendly: A couple people had some level of friendliness, and I even joined them most of the time. Most of those I encountered today were great at averting their eyes or focusing on the conversation not with me. The dog walkers were the friendliest ones in the bunch. As I was almost to home, a couple paths came together. A husband and wife were walking in my direction. I chose to take the turn a few yards before encountering them. I had no desire to try and make new friends. I made the turn and didn’t look back.  Having a hat and sunglasses makes the eye aversion much easier.  I hope I find my friendlies again over the weekend!!

When:  Thursday–During the Afternoon- 3/1/2018
Weather: Clearing in the 50’s
Observations/Thoughts

• The beginning of the week a camper showed up. He has his Oklahoma plates and his trailer with his tank of potable water and his US flag waving proudly. When his vehicle arrives, the “Sign In” sign appears. The Winnebago owner is likely just the supervisor. As he was roaming around yesterday, most of the action was taking place behind him. The structure needed to do the “refracking” stands 50 or so feet high. (It has two flags waving at the top–not US flags.). They appeared to be putting the pipes down into the ground. These are the pipes used to deliver the fracking solution. (I have also seen the process reversed. When reversed, a guy is standing up on the scaffolding. He appears to be disconnecting the pipes as they come out of the ground. The pipes are then placed within the collecting point of the structure. When the pipes are being sent downward, the crew member is below making all of the connections to the pipe ends. There are likely 50-100 pieces of pipe running 60% of the scaffolding height. ). The sound of the pipes coming out or going in is a whirling sound. A motor is bringing them up and sending them down. Even at the farthest point of my walk, you could hear it. It almost sounded like a siren at a great distance. The noise only stopped as the connection or disconnection from the previous pipe took place. My walk was over an hour. The noise continued during the entire time. Maybe there are far more pipes involved in the process then I realize.
• I cannot control when people get out and get their exercise.  Or, for that matter, if they get any exercise.  When during the week, the walk usually takes the place of a planned nap.  An unplanned nap is still likely to find me should I set on the couch too long with an unfocused mind.  (Based on this criteria, it is amazing I don’t sleep all the time.)  The napless days seem to allow sleep to grab me well for a few hours during the night.  When it releases me, I find the restless sleep that is normally my nighttime companion.

When:  Wednesday–During the Afternoon- 2/28/2018
Weather: Drizzly and not very warm
Observations/Thoughts

When:  Monday–Late Afternoon- 2/26/2018
Weather: 60’s
Observations/Thoughts

Some days the walk is good but the distractions are minimal.  The highlights are barely worth mentioning.  Since mentioning what I judge mentionable and overblowing on the days when barely anything takes place is the purpose of this recent blog streak, I submit “overblown” tales today.

• The bike patrol:  I was greeted and warned of the passing on the left of the path patrol.  He did call me “sir”.  I am pretty sure he was older than me.
• Dual intersections:  I passed one person today twice.  The greeting was amicable during the first passage.  During the second passage, the iPhone and the podcast volume was much more important than providing any amount of recognition.
• Beehives?:  I got a glance at three structures about 3 feet tall tucked behind a few evergreen trees.  Having some beekeeping in my past, I believe this was an accurate sighting.  I will continue observing and attempting to validate this unexpected apiary.

When:  Tuesday–During the Afternoon- 2/27/2018
Weather: Drizzly and not very warm
Observations/Thoughts

When:  Sunday–Late Morning – 2/25/2018
Weather: Sun, the glorious sun, 60’s
Observations/Thoughts

• Russians in a Microwave:  With the gloriously beautiful day, I was not looking for any trouble today.  I was not looking for any trouble.  As I looked ahead of me, I saw the Russians walking on the “wrong side” of the sidewalk.  (Based on the US definition.)  I look mostly down.  I didn’t want to make contact.  As the distance closed, I wondered if I should switch to the “other” side of the sidewalk.  Just as I seriously entertained this idea, the husband, wife (Not sure they are married.  If it is part of their cover, they are only responsible for looking married.  The dog would allow them to appear doting without really caring for each other beyond the purpose of their mission in the US.) and the dog broke slightly to my left.  As we passed each other, I mean we must have passed each other.  I think I said, “Hello”.  I don’t remember either them or their dog doing anything resembling acknowledgment.  They walked past me and quickly migrated back to walk on their left side.  (As Americans, we generally walk on the right side of the sidewalk.)  Just a little further up the path, I saw a microwave cast along the side of the path–it was partially covered in water.  I am sure was not there the day before.  Coincidence? I think not.  I am sure it was used in some way by my Russian “friends” to pass or receive a message from their coordinator.  I was fearful any effort I made to confirm would leave fingerprints.  I am a family man more than I am a cabal chaser.
• Kids Love me: Before I finished the first quarter of my walk today, I had passed a mom with an occupied baby carriage, dad, and a dog.  On the way back, I passed the same family.  The configuration this time had everyone moving under their own power. The early walking son was just being helped past one of the remaining puddles when our paths intersected.  I mentioned to the mother, “He should take a good nap.”  She agreed the odds were improved.  He waved at me when I passed.  I waved back at him.  I get turning to keep walk away.  He kept looking at me.  I didn’t want to leave him thinking I didn’t enjoy his attention.  (My kids are all older.  It is good to have a child look at me with even a little bit of  “awe” in their eyes.)  His mom encouraged him one last time to say goodbye.  He blew me a kiss.  I replied with some modified version of the same.  The mom was slightly embarrassed.  I was glad to have my kid credentials reestablished.
• Today’s Survey:  With the exception of the aforementioned child, the crowds were not too friendly.  It was a spectacular day.  I don’t blame others for not being open to friendly gestures when out on the path.  Despite that fact, the bikers did not come out as welcoming today.
  • One jogger passed me today.  I walk fast but not that fast.  Without any prompting, she said, “Good Morning.”  I am not sure of the “rules” of the sidewalk.  My interpretation has always been the responsibility of initiating a conversation is with the passer.  Of course, I replied back with an immediate reciprocation of the greeting.
  • Parents with Babies:  See story above.  Also 100% on this one.
  • Fellow walkers:  I intersected (I walk south; they walk north or any combination where the other person is walking the other direction.) with 5 or fewer walkers.  I believe 2 of the 5 were open to a head nod or a hello.  Okay, not perfect odds.
  • Bikers:  The bikers were horrible today.  The bikers included a couple groups of 8 or more.  There were also a few individuals.  I believe I intersected with 20+ bikers today.  Of the whole lot, I got one “hello” and one, “On your left.”  I realize they were engaged in conversations with the other bikers.  What does it cost to nod your head?  Since today was a “sunglasses” day, maybe they did not realize I was staring them down from the other side of the lenses.  My head was pointed in their general direction. There were clues.  If they choose not to be open to others, it is on them.  If we both were wearing sunglasses, we both have deniability.  So, from their point of view, I am the anti-social one.  Maybe that is the shoe I should be wearing.

When:  Saturday–Mid afternoon – 2/24/2018
Weather: Sun, the glorious sun, 60’s
Observations/Thoughts

As I dropped my daughter off this morning for robotics, we chatted about the clouds clearing by early afternoon.  With all the gray of late, it seemed a little far-fetched.  Beyond the obvious fact, the day had more light then the night, very little evidence existed to prove the sun still remembered us.  The morning was spent in my den doing computer “things”.  I heard thunder and the rain that accompanied it spattering against the window.  I didn’t glance at the clock often.  My stomach said it was lunchtime.  A glance out the window told me the sun was ready to give me a week’s worth of “kisses”.  A quick lunch left me ready to walk out the front door with arms extended–ready for the sun’s embrace!  She turned out not to be very romantic.  I was just glad to spend some time with her!! (To me, the sun is a she.  Pronouns are more fluid than they used to be.  I have no problem thinking of her as him, either.)

• Texas Tea:  This Texas Tea has nothing to do with anything that comes from the ground.  (I believe I have mentioned the fracking well I pass.  The “well” was set up again.  Occasionally, they “re-frack” or otherwise tickle the earth to keep the natural gas flowing.)  This type of tea happens anywhere there are animals and excessive rain.  As the animals defecate, they have no concern where it falls.  As the rain comes and then come some more, the ground gets overwhelmed with rain.  The water starts dissolving and fermenting the patties.  The aroma is not the same as living down the road from a pig farm.  It is pungent just while around it.  After the area is left behind, the odor is soon forgotten.  With close to 6 inches in our area in the past week, there was a WHOLE LOT of fermenting going on.
• Double Vision Sunglasses: Within the first 7 minutes of today’s walk, I had intersected in some way with over a dozen life forms.  (Dogs included)  This was infinitely more than the number of life forms encountered on yesterdays sojourn.  If I even allow for my recently under-used sunglasses to cause me to have double vision, the company was much thicker than yesterday.  Where there are people, conversations might take place.  The people glut soon thinned out.  As it did, my desire to have a conversation was horribly wanting for candidates.  The whole rest of the walk I only encountered half the people I saw in the first few minutes.  (If the double vision sunglasses were worn the whole walk, the same calculation would still apply.)
• What is the bright thing in the sky?:  The only dialogue was the light chitchat.  The orb in the sky was the obvious subject for a quick throwaway line.  I used different flavors of this theme as I got my “stretch-on” and passed a couple of fair weather walkers.

When:  Friday–Mid afternoon – 2/22/2018
Weather: A brief gap in this week’s perpetual rain cycle.  40’s
Observations/Thoughts

If I was like most people, I would have looked out the window and decided not to walk.  The clouds were dark, and the sidewalks were still damp.  With a desire to walk still burning strong, I consulted with a weather website or two.  The next two hours were declared “rain free”.  With meteorology being at best an inexact science, I trusted but left with an umbrella.  The forecast was accurate OR the umbrella warded well.  I was rain-free throughout the whole walk.  It probably does not need to be mentioned, but I literally passed NO other walkers or bike riders or joggers.  The week’s weather conditioned them to not question the clues.  Or, they all have a recreation center membership.

• Saturation: About a quarter of the way in, a vehicle failed to float across the grass.  The ground was saturated and not capable of bearing the weight.  He sunk in once really well, and not as deeply on his other attempts.  The ground attempted to swallow his vehicle but only was able to swallow the first few inches.  If the truck would have stayed still long enough, the ground would have more chance to digest the driver and his ride.  In his defense, Texas doesn’t normally get a week of rain.  In defense of common sense, anybody should know how really, really wet ground will react to a truck driving on it.  Not that it needs to be stated, but common sense is not that common.
• Lost Balls:  On today’s people-less walk, two stray balls were scattered about.  One was a football.  It looks to have gotten caught in the impromptu river (normally just a little creek).   Not sure where it originated from.  As the river devolved, the ball accepted its resting place.  The other ball likely has a similar story.  It was a child’s ball.  The brand was one I believe caters to the 3 and under crowd.  This ball was along the sidewalk.  The story as to how this one arrived at its resting place could be more sinister.   The more sinister option involves a crime scene.  I refuse to even entertain the grisly details of such a possibility. I will choose to guess it was only a playful child throwing the ball from the stroller as his/her mother pushed from behind.  And, let’s say she was jogging–that will help explain her inattentiveness.
• Downhill:  When it is sunny out, no time is spent asking questions about where excessive rainwater goes.  When you are walking in a live “rain zone”, it becomes quite clear how “uphill” and how “downhill” are related to each other.  As I enjoyed the brief interlude between rain showers, I had the opportunity to see where rain would go when saturation had been reached.  It wasn’t the always the obvious.  The trees, houses, and the ditches along the side of the road are good at creating alternate realities of where “up” lives.  The disguises are unmasked when the rainwater has to flow somewhere.  Unless you pass the house of a wizard, the water will always flow down…ALWAYS.

When:  Thursday–Barely in the late afternoon – 2/22/2018
Weather: Rainy, rainy and then it rained again.  We get LOTS of sunny days in Texas, but this year we are getting a good dose of winter.  LOTS of rain and barely any breaks to walk.  When it is only drizzling, walking turns out to be a good idea.
Observations/Thoughts

• Heel, toe: On the rain spectrum, today was more drizzle then rain.  This may seem like a bad thing.  Given all of the rain that has fallen this week, it was a completely good thing.  The saturated ground could swallow no more.  It drooled what it couldn’t swallow across the sidewalks.  As I attempted to cross the sidewalk, especially in the low areas, it was too deep for me to do my normal walk through that area.  (Yesterday, my shoes and socks did not make it through the earthly slobber unscathed. )  When possible, I made an attempt at a middle-age hop across the irrigated area.  When not possible, I walked on my heels or toes.  It was an odd looking gait, but it was only adopted briefly.  The rain doesn’t always play nicely, but it does play fair.
• Rain Has To Go Somewhere:  When all the rain comes, you realize it has to find a path.  It may not be obvious, but when the ground has posted a, “Do Not Disturb” sign, the rain will find a way.  I sometimes walk past the bridge that was covered with debris and say, “I remember when the water was just under the bridge.  It didn’t take a superb tracker to discover where all of the rain came from.  The flattened grass made it quite clear.”  I say or think about how bad it has been.  Seeing it fresh makes the memories of the LAST deluge fresh again.  The sand is rippled across the sidewalk–just like it was on a beach.  (Not as much sand, of course.)  The pile of sand/branches/leaves and whatever other debris was available left a significant pile on the west side of the bridge.  The fence containing the cattle (to the south of the bridge, running along both sides of the creek) was plastered with dead grass forcible conformed to the bottom foot of a sizeable stretch of the fence row.  It was not pure destruction.  It was water doing what it does when the ground cries “Uncle”.
• If You Get Caught…:  On the final part of the walk–the part going toward the closed park, two people were in the pasture/wood shared with the cattle.  I am pretty sure they were not supposed to be there–I have met the owner.  They were NOT the owner.  When caught in a place you shouldn’t be, you need to create enough doubt in anybody who discovers.  What is the easiest way to create doubt?  Greet the person who looks at you strangely (me) with a, “Hi, how are you doing?  I  grunted back.  The warmly dressed twosome wandered deeper into the brush.  So, they were not nearly as visible as I passed their original location.  As long as they hadn’t built a bonfire with one of the pastures longhorns on a rotisserie, I didn’t have enough information to challenge their present occupancy.

When:  Wednesday–Barely in the late afternoon – 2/21/2018
Weather: Rainy, but I found a window of opportunity
Observations/Thoughts

Today, I was not going to walk again.  And, compared to many of my walks, today was barely a skip thru the park.  I did walk despite a couple of factors.  The first is rather obvious.  The second is God’s sense of humor.  As I left work, I said bye to everyone until I went out the door.  I dodged raindrops as I navigated my way to the car.  I was quickly heading down the road toward home…then I remembered I didn’t clock out.  I went back and clumsily placed my finger on the time clock.  (Cold fingers are not as effective as warmer ones.)  I began the process to head home again.  This time I made it farther before the problems began.  I saw the “Work Convoy” trucks in both lanes ahead of me.  I realized they were going slow, but I was oblivious to what their presence likely meant.  When they stopped ALL traffic, I was the 5th car behind the truck in my lane.  (My math isn’t perfect here, but the couple minutes I lost going back to clock out are the likely reason I got caught in the delay.  How long of a delay?  It was 20 minutes or so.  I ended up getting home a half hour later than I normally did.  I was able to eat my apple and practice relaxing.  The cars who tried to sneak by on the curb lane did not have a very relaxing time.  The frustrated motorists they tried to jump in front of realigned their cars to prevent the car from gaining an advantage.  My wife would be content to let people like this back in.  “Niceness” is not in my obvious DNA.  Eventually, my niceness can come out.  Trying to convince me you think you are more important than me on the road is typically not the way to accomplish it.

After getting dinner figured out (I was boiling the beans on their way to becoming refried beans.), I did sneak out for the walk.  The umbrella was working from nearly the beginning.  When it wasn’t helping me stay dry, it was providing protection from the yard of 5 rabid dogs.  (There was a fence.  They still really wanted a part of me!)  The paths were all flooded.  Because I don’t walk in heels, my shoes and socks both got wet.  It was quite obvious on the bridges and along the paths–the water had been higher than it was now.  I put a check in the “Did you take a walk today?” column.  I wasn’t asked to rank the quality.

The next couple of days are also calling for rain.  Grateful for a good, new roof.  All these days of rain bundled together get a little tedious.  As long as I don’t melt, I will try in squeeze in something to allow my shoes to talk to the sidewalk.