Dateline 8-2-2016

Holy Moly it's was hot as hell today. 

I woke up nice and early to a call from an unknown number. Of course, I didn't answer it but it did wake me for the day and I was a little pissed because the confusion caused by not having my ringer off completely ruined any chance of working through the awesome dream managed to maintain despite waking up twice to go to the bathroom. 

I got over it quick though because today is payday which means it the day I walk to the mall to cash my check. It's a small outdoor mall and I go early enough that the movie theater crowd has yet to arrive so I don't have to deal as much with the social anxiety that indoor malls induce in me. 

It's also a little more than an hour walk to get there which I don't mind in the winter but I feel like I'm about to die from heat exhaustion home during the round trip. Today I felt like I was in a shitty video game from the 80s during my walk, maybe a blend between Paperboy and Fester's Quest.

Well, Fester's Quest in that I'm a shaved head fat guy roaming around in all black but Paperboy in that everyone seemed to be getting in my way as I walked. It all started with a guy running his dogs. I had my headphones on and he seemed annoyed that I didn't notice him until he ran through a yard to get around me. It wasn't really my fault as the three beasts were taking up the entire sidewalk so he had to make a move no matter where I stood.

He also seemed annoyed at me when he tripped over the sprinkler system as he passed. Again, not my fault because it was a residential road so the street was an option. I actually got annoyed with him when he got to the corner and crossed the street. Since he was behind me and running he could have crossed the street when he first saw me and save us both the agita of this lame interaction.

This was just the start of my walk, which normally living in Southern California is completely uneventful because I normally have the sidewalk to myself. No, I also had a run in with a lady working in her yard who had a waste barrel blocking half the sidewalk and looked at me cross when I was forced to make a quick step into that strip of lawn between the sidewalk and street to get around her and her obstacles.

Then there were the cars. Cars and pedestrians just don't seem to mix in San Diego. I'm always amazed that I've never been hit, the way that no one seems to have an eye out for the walkers in this town. Today it seemed like I was met at every intersection with a car and it was 50/50 as to whether they would wait while I was half a block away, or rush to get in a quick right turn while I was close enough to touch.

I'm sure it was less of a pain that I'm making it out to be but that's the part of my mind that has developed into an agoraphobic outlook on life. Now I'm going to celebrate payday with a drink or two and a burrito from up the street. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Talk to you tomorrow,

- The Wicker Breaker