This is one of them. I’m out there for my run this morning, in the cold darkness of pre-pre-dawn, thinking everything is going well and thankful that I have a doctor’s appointment at 9:30, so I can leave home a bit later than normal. Everything’s going fine. Around mile 3.5 or so, I’m on the main road. Cars see me with my bright headlamp on, yet no one can seem to move more than 2 feet from me (I swear, if I straightened out my right arm, I could touch their cars and freak them out), and someone senses the need to remind me that they’re there, with a beep. That doesn’t bother me so much.
I should explain, I run on the roads a lot in the winter. The sidewalks are uneven, and they are covered in snow and ice. Yes, I could wear the Stabilicers but they tend to hurt your feet a bit if you do end up running on dry patches for a while. It’s like wearing cleats on dry floor. You get the idea. (Anyone from 32 North reading this though, please know, I still love them and wouldn’t wear anything else.)
Ok, I digress. So I’m running on the busy street and up in front of me, I see someone stumbling. I mean a lot. Like movie-type drunkness, where each foot is crossing way in front of the other. I’m thinking, it’s not even 7 a.m., maybe this guy has a problem and I should help him out. I almost did run over to him but when I got up closer, I could hear him yell (over my headphones, which I try to keep somewhat lower sometimes so I can hear the traffic better) “You’re gonna get hit!” and not in a nice tone. “Maybe so, JACKASS, but at least I can run in a straight line.” This is what I am thinking, but you know what, it’s not even 7 a.m. and I don’t feel like getting into an altercation so I just keep going on.
I should probably mention that this is the SECOND time in two weeks that I’ve been yelled at by someone clearly under the influence of something, either in liquid or some other form. It also happened on Christmas Eve when I was out for a run with my brother and some guy ran after us. When my brother called the police to report it, the cop said “XX Grove Street, we’re already on it.” Love our local cops.  SO WEIRD THOUGH!
Then, as I’m just about home, I see some 5 teenagers waiting for their bus. It’s about 7 a.m. now. All I hear out of them is the word “headlamp.” I tend to think it wasn’t complimentary. Whatever, lazy asses.  I swear, the teenagers I see in the morning – most of them are way overweight, and I see them smoking. Way to go, you idiot. Spend some more time on the computer rather than getting outside and getting fresh air. How can anyone be so dumb to start smoking in this day and age? How can you avoid all the tv commercials that tell you how bad it is for your health?  (Although I have to say that there are two good kids who always say good morning to me, no matter what the weather. So, good kids, I’m not talking about you right now.)
So it’s already a sh&i$TY day. I head off to my doctor’s appointment after showering and an uneventful walk with Ruthie (that’s a good thing in case you’re wondering.) It’s only supposed to be a 15 minute check-up. I get there in plenty of time and wait in my car until about 7 or 8 mins. beforehand and put my 4 quarters in the meter. Well, the doctor ran late. It was still a 15 min. checkup, but I realized I needed toothpaste and a toothbrush – I forgot mine at home and have a dentist appointment this afternoon. So I stop (quickly) in CVS and get my goods. As I’m heading toward my car, who do I see but the lovely and oh-so-friendly neighborhood meter maid. (For those of you who might be local and are wondering, it’s the city of Somerville, where they must train them to be douchebags.)Â
I swear, he must have been checking my meter, because I got to my car, literally ONE MINUTE after the damn thing expired. He hadn’t even started writing the ticket and I said, “I’ll throw a quarter in it now, I just got back.” To which he answers “it’s too late.” I said the thing just expired one minute ago, and he said “I wouldn’t know that,” and continued on writing, all the while he’s avoiding any attempt at eye contact. I said “you know, usually I end up giving extra money to the city” (seriously, I do) and I said “I do know when it expired, because I know when I put the quarters in.” He continues writing and even though I’m standing RIGHT THERE, he tries to put it on the front of my car. I was like “just give it to me.”
A $30 ticket. I just paid $15 for my co-pay, so really that doctor’s appointment, which was just a check-up on my asthma, cost me $45. NICE.
I can only imagine what’ll happen when I head off to the dentist this afternoon. Can hardly wait…
Anyway, I’m not normally like this anymore (at least I try to not be anymore). I don’t like being mean to people.  So, I’m going to take a few deep breaths and hope the rest of this day doesn’t totally suck.Â
Oh, and in case you’re wondering, I got in 5.21 miles (thanks Garmin for the accuracy), average miles of 9:24. Considering I’ve not run that early in the morning due to the holidays and my being off from work, I’ll take it.
Thanks for listening to me vent.
January 7, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Yes, that does sound like a bad day. Any time it involves a traffic or parking ticket, it usually is. By the way, be very very careful running alone in the dark in the street with headphones. I know of two people here who died that way. Police arrest more people for DUIs between 5 and 8 a.m. than any other time of the day!
January 7, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Hey Anne,
I am careful. I try to be really, really aware of cars all around me. I make sure if I am coming to where a road branches onto the one where I’m running, I wave my head all around so the light from my headlamp bounces all around. I’ve learned to not “go” across a street until I’m sure that they’ve seen me, and then I give them the big “thank you wave” sign. Thank you, though, for reminding me about all of the drunks out there driving too!
January 7, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Don’t be too hard on yourself…sounds like a pretty miserable day. I hate my asthma checkups. The doctor is always running late so I’ll wait for like an hour to see him for 15 minutes. Blah! Oh, and running in your neighborhood sounds like quite the adventure. No one ever chases me!
January 7, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Katie, thank you very much for commenting on my blog! You know, I never used to do these checkups, and today, she even said how clear my lungs sounded. I guess they’re not a bad idea though.
You know, I’ve been running around here now for 2 and a half years. I have NEVER had a problem before the last few weeks, it’s so weird.
January 7, 2010 at 8:54 pm
I think that sounds like a great run!
January 7, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Yep, except for the drunk guy, it was pretty good! I always like Thursday morning runs because I’ve had the day off so my legs feel pretty loose.
January 8, 2010 at 8:32 am
Sounds like a frustrating day! Usually, though, that means that you’re off the hook for a while and the next few won’t be as bad! Here’s hoping, anyway 🙂
January 10, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Hey, thank you for stopping by! I took a look at our new blog – it looks great!
And this weekend did go better – Friday was pretty crappy as well, but luckily the bad streak ended there. 🙂
January 8, 2010 at 10:11 am
9:20 on ice and snow? That’s pretty impressive….
Isn’t there a reality show on A&E that follows meter maids – oh sorry – Parking Enforcement Officers? I guess everyone needs a job…..
January 10, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Actually the roads were pretty dry, thankfully. that’s why I ried to stay on them, and off the sidewalks. The sidewalks around here are ridiculous right now. Way too uneven.
January 8, 2010 at 3:23 pm
what a day! I mean really it seems like you must have got up out the wrong side of the bed! You must be careful with these folk shouting at you etc, I have had a few altercations on the road, some of them nasty. I always worry a little about women running on their own. Hope you carry your phone or something that might get you assistance if you need.
As for parking wardens, what an attitude!
Hope your next days have been much better.
January 10, 2010 at 6:24 pm
That’s why usually I don’t yell back, no matter how much I want to. It’s not worth it if they come back after me. The day that my brother and I got verbally assaulted, we think the guy was high. He came after my brother saying “you have a problem with me? you want to fight me? come on, let’s fight!” and i finally turned around at one point and said “dude, what’s your f…ing problem?” and for some reason that made him stop. It was really weird, let me tell you.
I don’t run with a phone because I have the iPhone and it’s too heavy, but I do have my Road ID on. I know, that’s not the same thing. 😦
January 8, 2010 at 4:49 pm
You totally deserve to vent. I’m always paranoid about parking meters, but then we have very few of them here in Vegas. But when it comes to doctors, I find they are always behind so I would have no idea how to guesstimate the right amount!
I hate hate HATE that people feel the need to comment on runners, or honk or yell or whatever other rude behavior. I’m kind of creeped out by teens these days. Like you, I see them smoking or just standing there talking smack and they’re always way bigger than me. So when they yell at me or make jokes it’s always a little scary.
If everyone ran, the world would be a kinder place! 🙂 I hope you have better days ahead!
January 10, 2010 at 6:33 pm
They probably don’t have a lot of meters in Vegas because they don’t want you to keep track of time, right? If you were worrying about the meter, you might get up and walk away from the slot machines, or the card tables, am I right?
Luckily, my next run had no honks!
January 9, 2010 at 6:27 am
sometimes rants are entertaining to me, and this was no exception. 🙂 of course i am sorry you are having these irritating/stressful moments though! especially about the parking ticket. STUPID.
kids these days… i feel the same. there are a few “good apples” out there but gosh most of them make me fear for the future. (i feel old saying that. now turn that loud music down! lol)
i don’t run in the snow/ice much but i did last night and it is tough! there were a few “city” street corners (90* turns) where i kind of just slid around the corner like you see in cartoon/movies. you manage a better snow-pace than i! 🙂
January 10, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Actually, the roads were pretty good on Thursday. That’s why I’m so close I could literally “reach out and touch” the cars – if I want to be on the drier section, I’m just dancing on the white line. Be careful running in the ice, Lindsay! Get stabilicers – I know you’re in the south and it sounds ridiculous that you would need them, but this has been a really weird winter!
January 9, 2010 at 8:50 pm
You’re braver than I am. I was delighted to get in a daytime run at my favorite park yesterday. So nice running on closed roads with no traffic. But oh how cold it was running across the dam. Thought of you and the race there last fall.
Think how miserable the life of that meter person must be to get their jollies out of handing out tickets!
January 10, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Hey, you got to run in that park again! I’m so jealous! That place is gorgeous and I definitely hope your shelter has another race there again this year.
January 9, 2010 at 11:24 pm
Vent away. We’re all entitled to a bad day now and then. I hope the dentist appointment and the rest of the day was better.
I do not envy having to run in those conditions. You’re awesome for getting out there in the cold and ice.
I hope you are having a good weekend.
January 10, 2010 at 7:05 pm
So glad to have seen your daily mile post – Lisa, you did awesome! For a week where you didn’t get in much running, the foot pain and everything else, you totally rocked!
And believe me, if you lived here, you’d get out there too – it’s either that or wanting to shoot yourself on the treadmill….
Oh, and the rest of the day sorta got better….