A California Encounter.
This really happened. I bullshit you not.
Earlier this week, I was in the “Bay Area†of California. Coming from the East Coast, my body clocks woke me up at 4:30 a.m. Knowing that I had to begin the adjustment process, I forced myself to remain horizontal for another hour or so.
By about six o’clock in the morning (Pacific Time), I decided that I couldn’t take it any more, so I got my sorry ass out of bed to do my morning walk. The temperature was in the mid to high thirties, which is downright balmy as far as I am concerned.
As such, I put on a pair of shorts, a tee shirt and a nylon windbreaker and headed for the main drag in town to strut my shit. It was quite nice, albeit a tad unusual. I am not used to traffic lights that permit the walker/runner/regular pedestrian to push a button, which will eventually alert drivers to stop (as if they would in Jersey). I am also not accustomed to seeing the triple lines carved into the sidewalk, which presumably tell a blind person that he or she is approaching in intersection. (In Jersey, blind people are fair game).
The walk provided me with a cornucopia of interesting sights, including a large restaurant (which I presume is a chain) called “Sweet Tomatoes†— a buffet restaurant that only serves salads. At the time, I wondered to myself how long it would take for such a restaurant to go out of business in North Newark. But I digress.
So, I was walking along and working on a serious sweat, when the following happened. I swear that this is exactly how it went ……….
As I was walking, a bus going in the same direction stopped and discharged a woman who appeared to be roughly my age, perhaps bit older. Judging by the hour, I assume that she was on her way to work. She was dressed in a long wool coat, and she was wearing a hat, scarf and gloves. I would wear that much clothing for an Arctic expedition, but I figured, Hey, it’s California and then I didn’t think anything more of it as I approached her on the sidewalk.
However, this Nanook-of-the-North woman stood her ground and waited for me to walk past her, at which time she glared at me and angrily said, “What’s the matter with you? How can you wear shorts when the temperature is in the thirties?†This woman was clearly pissed.
My initial thought was, My, that is not a terribly progressive way to behave.
I stopped and said, “I’m from Jersey,†thinking that would explain things.
She immediately responded, “I don’t give a damn; I’m from New York…†blah, blah, blah.
Upon hearing that, I responded, “New York? Yo! Fuggetaboutit!!â€
She glared once more and continued muttering as she walked away.
It figures – An obnoxious New York asshole, who moved to California and who can no longer take the cold weather.
I can only assume that that when the genetic cards were dealt, I wound up with the “Attract-the-Douche-Bag†gene.
At least she is not a fucking yankee, she moved west instead of the south.
Comment by Catfish — December 8, 2005 @ 10:49 pm
Oh well, the woman will no doubt be visited by 3 Spirits.
I have the gene that attracts “oblivious stand-your-ground” buttheads; sometimes 2-3 of them walking abreast, forming a moving barricade. They absolutely refuse to share half the sidewalk (or store aisle, etc.) with anyone coming in the opposite direction (me).
Comment by dogette — December 9, 2005 @ 12:24 am
You’re not alone, Jim. I used to say (in my single days) that I had the “Attract An Asshole” gene.
I mean it. I could walk into any bar in this country and the most unwashed, just-got-out-of-prison-this-morning, wife-beatin’, puppy-kickin’, hates-apple-pie-and-mama JERKOFF would slide up and wanna buy me a beer.
Except for this ONE TIME. I married HIM. Aheh.
Comment by Margi — December 9, 2005 @ 2:31 am
They’re every where. Every where I tell you.
Oh, and yes, Sweet Tomatoes is a chain. It’s Soup and Salad bar. I know some people who will only do a work day lunch there. Me? I’m not a big fan of “buffets”. But they say it’s good.
Comment by Tammi — December 9, 2005 @ 6:39 am
Dad – I freely admit that that babe was a total jerk. However, this is coming from the guy who used to take mom and me for a leisurely stroll on the beach, in New Jersey, IN FEBRUARY. (My teeth chatter now just *thinking* about it.) If it wasn’t for your warm heart, I would swear that you were cold blooded. Brrr!
Comment by TJ — December 9, 2005 @ 10:12 am
I’m with TJ on that one!
RWR
Comment by RightWingRocker — December 9, 2005 @ 3:06 pm
An amazing thing happens when people from colder climes move west. The longer they’re here, the more their blood thins and the less they can tolerate the cold.
When we first moved to California from Ohio (way back shortly after the Ice Age), we were those folks in shorts and a sweatshirt. Now? 38 degrees is cause for me to pull out the old parka. Gloves are reserved for actual snow.
Comment by Da Goddess — December 9, 2005 @ 7:36 pm
ROFLMAO! Holy crap that was funny. Wow. I felt like maybe you were in West Palm Beach until I remembered you said it was in the 30s. I think I may have met that woman at our grocery store last week…
Comment by Bou — December 9, 2005 @ 11:34 pm
And I thought all the obnoxious New Yorkers had already moved to FL!
Comment by antisocialite — December 11, 2005 @ 11:15 am