The Vent and Rant Thread

[DiapDealer]

Not really a rant. People are only trying to be polite by offering me a ride, I'm sure, but...

What is it about a middle-aged guy--smile on his face--sporting a nifty straw fedora (if I do say so myself), carrying a laptop bag and a large water bottle, on a beautiful spring morning that would make someone suspect he's not walking on purpose?

It happens quite often (by people I know, just to be clear!). And I've been walking to and from work (weather permitting) for quite a few years! The worst is trying to get them to refrain from speaking until I can get the noise-cancelling earbuds whoahed!

Petty, I know, but there it is.

[ownedbycats]

Ear infection.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Not really a rant. People are only trying to be polite by offering me a ride, I'm sure, but...

What is it about a middle-aged guy--smile on his face--sporting a nifty straw fedora (if I do say so myself), carrying a laptop bag and a large water bottle, on a beautiful spring morning that would make someone suspect he's not walking on purpose?

It happens quite often (by people I know, just to be clear!). And I've been walking to and from work (weather permitting) for quite a few years! The worst is trying to get them to refrain from speaking until I can get the noise-cancelling earbuds whoahed!

Petty, I know, but there it is.

I can kinda understand the irritation, truly, but OTOH, aren't you grateful that you live somewhere with such good-hearted people?

In my long-ago past, twice, here in good old Scottsdale AZ, I had a car break down on me or give up or whatever--twice. In the SUMMER, when it was like 115-117F outside. I ended up having to walk to a phone (yes, yes, this was pre-cellphone days!). I would have been pathetically grateful if someone had offered me a ride!

Hitch

[ApK]

Hitch, WERE there any people around to offer a ride, or just empty stretches of desert highway with only the occasional roadrunner and rocket-booted coyote passing by?

[neil_swann80]

Just dust, tumbleweeds and shimmering asphalt.

[issybird]

...the skeletons of those who'd suffered breakdowns.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by ApK

Hitch, WERE there any people around to offer a ride, or just empty stretches of desert highway with only the occasional roadrunner and rocket-booted coyote passing by?

Oh, yes, I was, in fact, walking down the main drag--Scottsdale Road, between Indian School and Camelback. I kid thee not. And the icing on the cake?

Whom, to my wondering eyes should drive by, and NOT SEE ME?

Yes.

My husband.

Hitch

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Oh, yes, I was, in fact, walking down the main drag--Scottsdale Road, between Indian School and Camelback. I kid thee not. And the icing on the cake?

Whom, to my wondering eyes should drive by, and NOT SEE ME?

Yes.

My husband.

Hitch

And he still lives? Words fail me ...

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Whom, to my wondering eyes should drive by, and NOT SEE ME?

Yes.

My husband.

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

And he still lives? Words fail me ...

What Mr. Chicken said. Seriously.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by CRussel

What Mr. Chicken said. Seriously.

Oh, yes, lads.

I was a raving LOON when I got home; hot, sweaty, stinking, sweated through a bespoke (!!!) (and, yes, custom-made--they're not the same) silk blouse...yeah, I was not a happy camper. I couldn't believe he'd done it. I know he's focused when he drives, but not to SEE ME, especially when I used my last remaining shreds of get-up-and-go and jumped up and down, trying to make him see me?

God, I was....livid.

And yes, he lives. I mean, a crap-ton of discomfort is not worthy of a lifetime prison sentence. :-)

Hitch

[neil_swann80]

Originally Posted by Hitch

I couldn't believe he'd done it. I know he's focused when he drives, but not to SEE ME, especially when I used my last remaining shreds of get-up-and-go and jumped up and down, trying to make him see me?

Perhaps he's so well trained to not look at attractive young ladies as he drives/walks around that you were simply a blur in his periphery!

[Martinoptic]

Originally Posted by neil_swann80

Perhaps he's so well trained to not look at attractive young ladies as he drives/walks around that you were simply a blur in his periphery!

But maddening anyway Hitch! I hope he made it up to you.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Oh, yes, I was, in fact, walking down the main drag--Scottsdale Road, between Indian School and Camelback. I kid thee not. And the icing on the cake?

Whom, to my wondering eyes should drive by, and NOT SEE ME?

Yes.

My husband.

Hitch

Why didn't you pull out your phone and call him? That's what I would have done if it was my wife.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by neil_swann80

Perhaps he's so well trained to not look at attractive young ladies as he drives/walks around that you were simply a blur in his periphery!

Oh, suuuuuuuure.

Originally Posted by Martinoptic

But maddening anyway Hitch! I hope he made it up to you.

It was indeed and he did.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Why didn't you pull out your phone and call him? That's what I would have done if it was my wife.

Wolfie, dear boy, as I said in my original post, this was long before cellphone days. In fact, I think I made a point of saying and explaining WHY I was "walking" to a phone in my original post, no?

I had the original 'brick' because my business bought one for me, and that was...hell, quite a few years later.

Hitch

[neil_swann80]

After a 14 year relationship I'd see it as a win if she drove by me without attempting to run me over.