When:  Saturday–During the Afternoon- 3/10/2018
Weather: Low 80’s, mid-afternoon
Observations/Thoughts

• In-line Skater Encouragement:  Very early in my walk, I intersected with an in-line skater.  With his focus being on staying balanced, I made no effort to greet him.  As I neared the end of my walk an hour later, I congratulated him on, “Not killing himself.”  I am not sure it was a compliment, but since he heard this early in his skating career, he accepted the comment with gratitude.  Little did I know then, I would see him again on Sunday.
• Stoic bicyclist: I hate over profiling bikers.  However, when they are all accessorized, they are usually on the less friendly side.  What are these accessories?
  • They have form-fitting clothes.  The shorts/tights come down nearly to the knees.  They are shiny and emblazoned with some logos of high regard to bikers.
  • Of course, they have a helmet.
  • In many cases, they have a little mirror on the front of their helmet so they don’t have to turn around.
  • If their tongue is not hanging out, there is likely some other facial expression to let you know they are in a “zone” and not interested in being bothered by anyone NOT like them.
  • If you hear them behind you and glance behind before they announce themselves (if they were planning on announcing themselves.), they are slightly more inclined to be friendly.  They prefer you only see the back of their bike.  Once you have a face, they are more inclined to honor a higher social system.
• The Stretcher:  The little path I wander down to get another quarter mile on my walk gets a wide variety of clients.  Today’s client was an older woman with her dog.  The dog was well-behaved.  He had to be.  His master was stretching and bending and doing all sort of things.  It was like she owned the little spur off of the main road.  I did not make a fuss.  We exchanged pleasantries between her deep knee bends.
• Scalping:  After walking, I took the advice of a local outdoor expert. He said, “Now is the time to scalp your yard.”  This scalping had nothing to do with the old west.  I lowered my mower blade a couple of settings.  Then, I tried to avoid any newly installed sprinkler heads that might have been sticking up a little too high.  I also found the grass straw to be much lighter than real grass clippings.  I would lightly kick the collection bag.  It still felt like it had plenty of room.  This was only because the “scalpings” were so light.  It did end up providing over 3 bags of straw.  And, it did add quite a number of steps to my day’s walk.

When:  Monday–During the Afternoon- 3/12/2018
Weather: Low 60’s, mid-afternoon, light breeze.  Almost needed a jacket.
Observations/Thoughts

I thought about it.  I walked on the back patio and checked the thermometer.  It said 62 degrees.  If I ended up regretting not having a jacket, I could always walk faster.  Most people I passed did have a long sleeve shirt or a jacket on.  One of the bicyclists I saw had a winter coat on.  I certainly believe it was overkill.  Since he was so unfriendly, maybe he needed the big jacket to counteract the effects of his cold heart.

• Hey:  Early in the walk, I intersected with a couple walking the opposite way on the path.  I said my typical, “Hello”.  The guy gave a facial gesture letting me know he was cool.  It resembled a smile.  His companion was not aware of the expression he offered me.  As we neared the full intersection point, she seemed to feel guilt they had not acknowledged me.  She blurted out a, “Hey!”.  While this was a completely appropriate expression, the inflection sounded like she was talking to a girlfriend.  It started loud and then softened up with a friendly smirk at the end.
• Look more tired:  Shortly after passing the previous couple, I passed a lady and her dog.  She wasn’t chatty, but she did say a, “Hello.”  As we both walked our individual paths, we again intersected on our individual home stretches.  With no prompting at all, “We looked more tired now than when you saw us before.”  I gave her an encouraging response, but I could not disagree.  The dog looked like he was ready for a nap, and she looked like the leash had dug a groove into her wrist.  I can only assume they made it only while collecting a little more tiredness.
• Neighbors:  So rarely do I see people from our neighborhood I actually know out walking.  I have my neighbors I will talk to in their yard, and then I have my walking acquaintances.  When the two worlds intersect, it is sometimes very difficult to find the proper context.  As I was preparing to intersect with a couple coming in the other direction on the path, I did not know how to respond to the more personal than normal greeting.  I think he sensed it.  He countered with a comment that allowed me to zero in on who I was speaking to.  We finished the conversation.  I made the case for knowing who they were by the time we parted.  In my defense, wearing a hat and sunglasses as well as a couple physical modifications (change in hair color etc.) make it hard to keep track of neighbors over at the end of the street.  As the weather continues to warm, I will try not to limit the profiles I will expect as I continue walking down life’s road.

When:  Friday–During the Afternoon- 3/9/2018
Weather: 70’s, mid-afternoon
Observations/Thoughts

I endured another walk without many distractions.  The people of my town need to step up their game.  More likely, I just need to lower my expectations.  I would be foolish to expect the unusual with great regularity.  As eyes and ears are constantly seeking the unique or one-offs, I just may have to accept the retirement of my existing path. It is so familiar and comfortable.  I don’t need to work hard or balance precariously more than once on a narrow isthmus of land.  With so much familiar, the original rises above the crowd.  A new path would inundate my senses with too much data.  I supposed I can just continue with my preferred path.  Maybe the streaker will show up tomorrow…

• The Unfriendly Epidemic:  With the exception of the guy who was staining his fence and calming his dogs, I don’t recall anyone speaking to me.  I don’t view myself as overly attractive.  I don’t expect to walk past a constant stream of adoring fans.  I get the fact I am not special in the eyes of most.  But, I have two legs.  And, whether you have a bike or running legs or an engaging companion of the human or canine variety, it is just a nice thing to do.  One truck did give me the hand gesture that somewhat resembles a gun made with your hand.  It usually is accepted as a wave.  I had decided to briefly camp in a driveway before crossing the isthmus to the next driveway.  This allowed him to proceed without crossing the center line.  A clear indication I am an old and seasoned walker.
• Gecko Kite:  As I felt disappointment near the end of my walk for all of the mundane I found, I was able to see a kite.  A dad was trying to engage his kids in the adventure.  The son was trying to keep track of his sister and the kite.  The daughter was doing cartwheels.  She seemed to be disappointed all of the available areas for cartwheels sloped towards the rain overflow ditch.  The gecko kept dancing in the sky. His legs were all attached to the main kite body so they waved invitingly. It made me remember kites in my youth. It is amazing those ugly four-sided kites were able to navigate the winds so well.  I have largely missed the chance to again fly kites with my kids.  I will put that on my list of things to do as a grandpa.

When:  Wednesday–During the Afternoon- 3/7/2018, also henceforth known as The Day the Cable Died
Weather: Sunny and high-50’s, mid-afternoon
Observations/Thoughts

When:  Thursday–During the Afternoon- 3/8/2018
Weather: 70’s, mid-afternoon
Observations/Thoughts

• Wanted Man: As the crew left the most recent construction site early today, I was able to slither past the barriers. I saw no evidence they had even been working.  I reflect on my deliberate ignorance of the orange mesh fence a few weeks ago.  Is it my age that makes me believe I am above these petty barriers meant to ensure my safety? Is it how a middle-aged person lives on the edge?  Is this how I live the rest of my life without tiptoeing on the other side of the “moral” line?  I guess I have gone a little deeper than I expected.  Light and fluffy for the rest of the post.
• Walking redshirts:  Early in today’s walk, I encountered another guy in a bright red shirt I (I chose red as my color du jour today).  Honestly, I think I wore it better than him.  He may have had better posture and a more relaxed stride.  I brought the confident stride and “sleek” physique to the encounter.  As we passed, we exchanged the obligatory hellos conveniently disguised as nondescript grunts.  Us males are so cute! 😉
• Duck, Duck, Splat:  A male and the female duck had found the ditch along the road a great place to float.  It is doubtful they were calling the ditch home.  Maybe it was a duck hostel us humans were not aware of.  As I neared, they likely felt I was there to collect payment for their ongoing stay.  They immediately fled to the road.  Fearing I might lose any of the duck coinage I hoped to receive, I stepped out into the road to protect them from the ongoing traffic.  They eventually waddled the other direction.  The ducks then ducked under the fence.  My hopes of acquiring a souvenir coin with Daffy on it were temporarily postponed.

When:  Tuesday–During the Afternoon- 3/6/2018
Weather: Sunny and mid-60’s, mid-afternoon
Observations/Thoughts

When:  Monday–During the Afternoon- 3/5/2018
Weather: Sunny and low 70’s, mid-afternoon
Observations/Thoughts

Some walks are satisfying, but not very visually stimulating.  Many times, they are low on the mental springboards as well.  As a bit of filler and to flesh out an idea, I am going to largely skip my usual observations. (A grandma was trying to keep track of her grandkids on bikes, and the bikes flew by when operated by adults.  Lastly, it seemed the only people who were social were the ones who were not in pairs and went slower than me.  If they were faster than me, they only acknowledged me if they sensed the evil eye coming out.)

What if I could pay to have the walk a little more interesting?  Would these ideas be winners?

• Someone pulls out a squirt gun:  This could be fun and it would certainly keep me on my toes.  In the present climate, I think I will move this one to the bottom of the list.
• Have a list of things to look for during the walk. Some might be normal, and some would be placed there for me:  What would I be willing to pay for this type of service?  Who would be willing to set it up?  I am pretty sure the cost would be prohibitive.  I would pay no more than a few dollars.  If a person had to go over my walking course to plant things, they would need to make a profit.  I can’t see the price or cost being agreeable to either party.
• Have a list of things to do to or in front of people on my walk:  (Cluck like a chicken. I wouldn’t have a microphone in my ear or have bodily harm hanging over me.  I would have to commit to the honor system.)
• Talking and listening:  Some people enjoy doing this.  If I didn’t have to listen to any of it, I don’t mind. When there are no headphones and I have to listen to them talk and their music (I know I only hear it briefly, but it is an intrusion into my world–no matter how brief.)

When:  Sunday–During the Afternoon- 3/4/2018
Weather: Intermittent Rain, but warm-high 60’s
Observations/Thoughts

• Squirrel: The rain wanted to try and sneak in from the front. I tilted the umbrella slightly to give extra protection. This works well if the rain does choose to accept any nudges from any stray wind gusts. The point of all of this is the umbrella is angled and not upright. On the sides and under the umbrella, I catch glimpses of rapid movement. I could dismiss the flashes as mirages or hallucinations. I could blame them on the refracted light. However, when I follow the flash and dash to its destination, it is comforting to see a squirrel peaking from the tree. My vision is good, and those who criticize dogs for being easily distracted by squirrels are unsympathetic. Maybe a dog is just seeing movement around the hair that is in his eyes. The flash of motion is what he sees as the squirrel emerges from his shaggy mane. If I were a dog, I would be chasing the little mammals as well.
• Sidewalk Coveting: When I started my walk, there were two men walking with a dog. The men were not interesting, but the dog caught my eye. He looked like a husky. had a big tail and coloring like none previously seen on MY sidewalk. The mist soon became another of my sidewalk companions. The umbrella popped out pretty quickly for me. The three of them kept the same pace even when the sprinkles began. As we neared the bridge across the little creek, I noticed a car park there. There is not usually a car parked there, but there is not a car park there. As the threesome neared the car, it was clear it was theirs. The sidewalks are pretty good in our neighborhood. It would not make sense for them to drive to that spot when they could have left their front door and began the walk. So, my conclusion was a case of coveting. It wasn’t our neighborhoods grass that was greener; it was our sidewalks that were wider, and I guess better…

When:  Saturday–During the Afternoon- 3/3/2018
Weather: It turned into another beautiful day. I caught the day just after 8:00 when it was still in the 50’s
Observations/Thoughts

My daughter had a meeting with her robotics team at 8:00 on Saturday morning. Since I had an appointment at 11:00 in that same general direction, I decided to make the most of the situation. I am not fond or retracing my steps (really, I mean retrace my drive. I would have had to drove home, and back the same way again.). If I can come up with a way to accomplish my list and use “retracing” time more productively, then no coercion is necessary. Today was one of those days.

• Change of Venue: My walks are typically around my neighborhood. I walk out my front door and then find my way home again. Today, I chose to walk the path I walked during the summer when the girls had to cross-train at school. It gave a little variety. And, due to all of the recent rain and stretches without a sidewalk, it offered more mud possibilities as well.
• QT: Down in our part of Texas, the QT (Quik Trip) is a good place to stop for a soft drink or a coffee. Or, if you drank your coffee and a tea on the way to drop off your daughter without making any pit stops, then it will take care of your needs there, too. Without this little luxury today, I would have been in bad shape.
• Old Christmas decorations:  Where I walked today is an area with lower-end housing.  I was able to see a palm tree wrapped like a candy cane.  And, a deer made of lights was still straddling the fence of its owner.
• Soil not sand:  On my side of town, the rain washed out mostly sand.  Where I walked today, the sand doesn’t flow when the crowd is saturated.  The soil made rippling patterns on the sidewalk just like the sand in my neighborhood.  The sand looks more inviting and less dirty.
• Political signs:  This walk had lots more signs.  They seem to accumulate at the minimum distance to the voting facility.  (I am writing this a couple days after.  The signs have gotten even thicker as election day has gotten closer. Today, Tuesday, was even thicker.)  Sunday night I saw the truck and trailer with the assignment of cleaning up the signs. His usual assignment is cleaning up the signs from home builders.  I didn’t follow him to confirm whether he was limiting his collection to non-political signs.  Tomorrow or likely next weekend, he will fill his trailer a few times over.

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!!