I guess this belt buckle says it all. In my opinion, there is nothing more gross than a dirty old man cruising a park in the morning. Soon after we got Smith, I took him to a park and was approached by this old geezer who A) wanted to know if the dog was friendly and B) wondered how long the park/trail was. On the surface, these questions seem benign, but the creepy smile, leering eyes conveyed a different message. Maybe you have to be a chick to know these things. Once I responded negatively to question A, dirtly old geezer left me alone.
On this fine, overcast, chilly June morning, my boy and I were happily taking our morning walk at another park when I saw a black sedan driving slowly through the park. As we approach, the sedan stops and an elderly man gets out to examine a ball field. Hmm . . . I figured he might be an umpire of a little league game or something. By the time we pass, he's back in the car, giving me a slow wave. Not wanting to appear unfriendly to old folks, I wave back and proceed along my way. By the time I reach the end of the trail, I spy the car approaching us again . . .this time very, very, slow and now the window is rolling down. Ok, this time I figure old man is going to give a compliment to my very handsome dog--something that has become a regular part of our walks (sorry to brag, but the dog is dashing). But no. He leans his head out the window and says: "You cutie speed walker." As if he's used to repeating himself (maybe to his friends back at the home) he says it again with even more gusto. Aha! He appears to be missing some important teeth! God, had I stood there one more second, I am convinced he would have flashed me in the car. And that, my friends, is something I did not want to see!
I wish Mr. Jones would be more tolerant of other dogs because there is a cool group of women (and I'm all about the chicks) that drove by me today with their dogs . . . they must meet at 8 and take this beautiful creek trail (though I would have imagined it to be really, really muddy considering it poured rain all day yesterday with plans to continue through Saturday) every morning. One chick caught my eye, because she had this beautful retriever and seemed equally impressed with my son. I swore I wouldn't become one of these people who wanted to be a part of the dog bunch, but I think I'd prefer their company over lecherous 80 year old men driving dark sedans.
Hmmm. I have cooked up a plan to try to be with people, real people, and not shedding, meowing, barking, creatures either this evening or tomorrow . . .but I hope I don't attract my usual gaggle of freaks (see my post a few days ago about my trip to WV). I was thinking coffee shop, but that seems lame, and I prefer a bar, so I'm going to hit this place that several people have mentioned. It looks clean, and maybe a place where I could take a book if all else fails . . . but hopefully I can have a meaningful conversation that consists of more than: want to go out? are you hungry? etc. If I remember to bring my PDA, I'll document the adventure.
Ok, there's more to say, but I have to get back to the books. I've been reading Aijaz Ahmad's *In Theory* and have found it to be indispensable for my own thinking, writing. I ordered my own copy, so hopefully I can get the books I need to begin the writing process. If anything, Ahmad has reminded me of how much I absolutely love theory . . . something that my old job pretty much beat out of me, but man, am I ever glad to be back to it. I feel like I'm in grad school again . . .it's so invigorating! Now, if only the rain would break, and the temps would warm up, my life would be perfect.
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