pedestrian case histories, part three: the arm holders

Welcome to the third installment of Pedestrian Case Histories! On my runs and around our neighborhood, I frequently see the same people walking or running. They're all interesting in some way, and over time I develop theories about who they are and what their lives are like. Sometimes, like in today's case, I even learn something from these strangers. Today's case history will highlight The Arm Holders.

I have a special affection for The Arm Holders. I think they must be very happy people. They are a couple, and they take walks together almost every day. They live just down the street from us. They dress in workout clothes for their walks. He always wears gym shorts and a t-shirt, and she always wears a t-shirt with spandex shorts. This is where it gets interesting: The entire time they're walking, each of them has an arm around the other. Have you ever walked that way for a long period of time? It's not easy. It's kind of awkward to move that way, unless maybe you're both the same height. Anyway, because they walk with their arms around each other, their pace is extremely slow. It's really more of a stroll than a walk. Which means they're actually not getting a workout at all. It's kind of funny that they dress like they're exercising and then just take a stroll with their arms around each other. So they have remained quite pudgy in the five years we've been watching them go by. I think the pudge makes them even more endearing, and the lack of true exercise doesn't matter at all. That's because the really important thing about The Arm Holders is that they're happy. They always look so, so happy to be together. Every day they spend this time together, arms around each other, walking and talking. No relationship is perfect, so they must have their squabbles and grumpy moments just like any other couple. But every day they put those things aside and enjoy each other's company.

The Arm Holders have become marriage idols of mine. Are there people you have looked up to as models for maintaining a strong marriage? A couple I often think of first is one of my college professors and his wife. I got to know them well and spent many hours in their home, watching them interact and marveling at the amazing relationship they had. It was so clear that they truly enjoyed, appreciated, and respected one another. All the time. That's hard! Even when they disagreed, they could find humor in it and actually appreciate each other's opinions as being unique and part of the person they loved. There is something amazing about their chemistry and deep appreciation for each other that I can't describe. It was very special that they attended my wedding years later.

I kind of went off on a tangent there, but the point I wanted to make was that The Arm Holders have become people I admire. When I see them coming down the hill I exclaim "The Arm Holders!! The Arm Holders are going by!" I've even been known to run for a camera to take their picture. I'm a weirdo neighbor stalker, and you're lucky not to live next door to me. Then Chris tells me to quiet down and step away from the window so they don't know I'm staring at them. I always embarrass him somehow. Party pooper. The Arm Holders make my day, they really do. And in their small way, just by walking by, they remind me that I could be so much better at appreciating and showing love for my Blub, every day.

today's recap and a special edition case history!

Today Celia went to daycare for a few hours while I did my workout and some laundry. It is still so hot and humid. I can't wait for running in September and October. I just saw that the average temperature for the marathon is in the 50s. That sounds amazing! Speaking of hot running weather, let's get right to:

Pedestrian Case Histories, Special Edition: The Hooded Shuffler Unveiled!
I have wondered what The Hooded Shuffler would do when the weather really got hot. Now I have an answer! I've seen her running both yesterday and today. She has taken off her jacket and her hat, and wears a scandalously tight sleeveless top! She has short blond hair and is pretty tan, which must mean that she doesn't always keep herself completely covered. The Hooded Shuffler is short and a little stocky. She still listens to music while she runs. But- She is still wearing the baggy black wind pants, even in ninety plus degree weather! I don't know how she can possibly survive a run dressed like that. It actually is probably unsafe. Please Hooded Shuffler, if you're reading this, GET SOME SHORTS!

            (Yes, Celia still has bottles sometimes. It's the only way I can get her to drink milk for now.)


On to the rest of our day. One of Celia's little friends had a birthday today, so she got sent home from daycare with a special cookie. She was very happy to eat some of the cookie after lunch, and she kept saying "happy" the whole time just like she did for Daddy's birthday yesterday.

This afternoon we took a trip to the library. Since I just read a Kindle book, I decided to go the library for the next one. The book I just finished was so good. If you're in the mood for an exciting mystery/historical romance (set in a Transylvanian castle!), you should read The Dead Travel Fast by Deanna Raybourn. It was such a page turner that I finished it in just a few days. Today I had a long list of books to look for, but the library only had one. I got The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen. I've loved her other books.

After the library we headed to the farm to pick up our vegetables. Then we sat outside while Celia had a snack. No sign of the "special crop" this week (not that I'm interested other than in how bizarre that situation was- but I swear I did get a little whiff when we walked into the farm store). We did get some embarrassingly measly lettuce, cabbage, squash, green beans and garlic. Also some kale that I immediately made into kale chips when we got home. We will not be continuing with the same CSA next year. Growing conditions are good this year (last year was terrible), and the yield is still very poor. We will try to find another organic farm with better shares for next year. If only we had a house so I could grow my own garden!

pedestrian case histories, part two: the red lobster

If you look under the label "pedestrian case histories", you can read the first two installments. 

This week's case history will highlight one of the most intriguing pedestrians I have encountered. We've been observing him for years, yet he truly remains a man of mystery. He is The Red Lobster.

So, first let's envision The Red Lobster in our minds. Then, with his image burned into our brains, we can delve into an in-depth analysis of his behaviors and the inner workings of the Red Lobster psyche.

The Red Lobster is tall. He appears to be in his late fifties or early sixties. He has grey hair and is balding. He is not overweight, but has a belly and some chub on his arms. The Red Lobster wears the same type of outfit every day: light grey shorts made of sweatpant material and a cotton tank top. Yes, that's right. A tank top. Sometimes blue, sometimes white. And white gym socks that come up just a bit too high on his legs. Now for the lobster part. The Red Lobster, like his sea living cousins, turns bright red when cooked. His skin is perpetually sunburned. He also listens to music using some sort of device with an antenna. It sure is reminiscent of a lobster's antennae.

The Red Lobster walks, and walks, and walks. He walks slowly, in no hurry at all. He walks all day long. Part of his route is around our neighborhood, but we've also seen him miles down the road. Clearly he has not heard of sunscreen, because the hours of walking must be why he is perpetually sunburned. Chris and I were discussing The Red Lobster today, and wondering if he walks for his health but has neglected to consider skin cancer as a health concern.

I really want to know where The Red Lobster lives, and why he walks all day. I picture him living in a smallish ranch-style house that was built in the sixties and hasn't been updated much since. I think he eats a lot of tv dinners. I just realized that I've never gotten a peek at his left hand to see if he's married. I wonder if he has a wife at home, and why he spends all day away from home doing all that walking. Does he have nothing else to do? Did he take his doctor's recommendation to get more exercise to an unheard of extreme? Perhaps he is single or widowed. Why doesn't he have a job? Or does he work nights? He seems lonely to me. I don't know why. Poor Red Lobster. Now I'm feeling sad for him based on information completely made up in my head.

I have so many questions about The Red Lobster. Maybe someday I'll ask him how far he walks and why he walks so much. I see him often enough that he probably wouldn't mind talking to me. In fact he's probably home from his walk right now, typing away at his computer about me, that skinny girl who runs everywhere with bottles and other supplies belted around her waist.

pedestrian case histories, part one: the loping rover

You may remember this post I wrote a while back about a couple of fellow runners, Barbie and The Hooded Shuffler, who I see out on the road. Well, I got a wonderful suggestion to make a weekly series out of my descriptions of the people I see on my runs. I haven't had time to get started until now and I'm not yet sure whether I'll have time for a regular weekly post or if they'll be more sporadic. Between now and my marathon in October I'll be providing in-depth analysis of the gaits, outdoor habits, and inner workings of the minds (well, maybe just theories on that) of some of my favorite fellow pedestrians.

This week I'd like to highlight The Loping Rover.

I've gotten to know The Loping Rover quite intimately over the last four years or so. I see her every morning, loping her way along one of the back roads I take to work. First let's talk about her habits and routine, and then I'll get to the loping part.

Every morning around quarter of seven, she's there. She follows an out-and-back route. I always thought that her entire route was this one road, but one morning I was driving by earlier than usual and saw her coming from another side road. How exciting! She is always walking, not a runner, except for the one time I caught her riding a bike! Wow! My entire morning was actually a little thrown off by that. I've also deducted the direction she starts from and returns to on her roving adventures. Well, they're not adventures really, because she follows the same route every single morning.

Now let's get to appearance and gait analysis. The Loping Rover wears the same clothing every day. In winter, she adds gloves and a scarf. Otherwise, it's a pair of dark wash jeans constructed in the early nineties and a navy blue crew neck sweatshirt. She wears hiking boots. The Loping Rover is skinny and lanky looking, has short salt and pepper hair, and wears unfashionable glasses. Her gait is something like I've never seen before, and it took a while to figure out exactly what makes it so strange. She walks unevenly, almost as if one leg is longer than the other. She lopes! Her arms move together, forward and back, forward and back, rather than in an alternating pattern. The odd arm movement must be what throws the rest of her gait off.

I so wish I could show you a picture or video, but of course I would never do that. My case history subjects will remain anonymous. I hope you've enjoyed the tale of The Loping Rover. Stay tuned for another case history coming soon!

the hooded shuffler, and other various and sundry pedestrians

On my runs I come across the same people frequently. There's the man who walks all day long every day. The girl with three kids and two dogs all under 4 who never says hi. Then there are my two newest interests.

Let's start with Barbie girl. Barbie wears shiny new running shoes, spandex shorts, and a snazzy new shirt that has never seen a drop of actual sweat. She jogs at a very slow pace, wearing designer sunglasses (not sport ones) with not one hair out of place. The other morning she and I passed each other as I was mid-long run, sweating real sweat and possibly having used my sleeve as a tissue. And I wondered if she was as disgusted by me as I was by her. Ha! I just think it's weird that someone who seems mostly interested in looking good while working out would choose to run, rather than spending time in an air conditioned gym.

On this particular day, just around the bend from Barbie I was lucky enough to encounter the most interesting character in our story: The Hooded Shuffler. Oh, how I wish I had a picture. The Hooded Shuffler wears the same attire every. single. day. Baggy wind pants, baggy wind jacket, cotton t shirt (UG, cotton? for running?), and hat. Even in 75 degree weather she wears all of these things.

The Hooded Shuffler also listens to an MP3 player. I know lots of runners do this, and I would do it myself except for the fact that it's EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, PEOPLE!! It's fine if you maintain visual awareness of what's around and behind you, or if you have the volume low. The Hooded Shuffler does neither of those things. I come from behind and pass her on a regular basis, and I scare the crap out of her every time. One time I'm pretty sure she pooped her wind pants. She still hasn't learned that perhaps she should be more aware of her surroundings. You know, because being a woman who runs alone at turtle speed, on the same predictable route, every day at the same time, already makes her vulnerable? Oy.

In conclusion, I want to overtake the Hooded Shuffler one day and pull her into the bushes to strip off her clothes, dress her in appropriate running attire (she's GOT to be so uncomfortable!), yank out the MP3 player and send her on her way again. Oh my gosh I hope she isn't reading! I think my rant is over now.

On a related note, does anyone have recommendations for a fuel belt and for gels vs jelly beans for long runs? Thanks!