Frequently in the evening (22 times out of 35 days here) I go for "power walks" with the self-imposed goal of always walking further than I did the previous time. My iPhone has been a great diversion allowing me to get a free "App" (Application) called iTreadmill, which estimates distance, time, pace, calories, and keeps a historical record. Who knows if it's right, but it's in the general vicinity. Lately, I've been adding pushups & situps starting with 10 of each (remember, start small) & adding 5 every time. Oh, I forgot to tell you. With my schedule, I can only exercise at night. Things got a lot darker when Oklahoma went to daylight savings time, let me tell you! On a few walks, I've gone out in a pouring rain, encountered an angry mother racoon and her youngster, and almost stepped on a skunk! Whew. Don't know who was more scared... Yes I do. It was me! Well, tonight wasn't as much fun as those other times, but it was interesting. Altogether, I walked briskly for 2.57 miles. At the half-way point (mile 1.25) by a canon in front of Fort Sill HQ, I did 50 pushups and 50 situps, then I started "cruising" back home.Yeh, I was moving briskly and in the groove. Then, things got weird. For part of my walk, I divert through the "Colonel's neighborhood", with big, historic homes around the old Fort Sill quadrangle. I'm sure that's not where soldiers should be doing their PT, so I try to admire the architecture and get through there undetected. But tonight, I saw a car with it's interior dome light on. I'm certain the battery would be dead by the morning if it stayed that way. I tried to ignore it and quickly get out of the AO (Area of Operations), but my conscience wouldn't let me. So, I cautiously approached the residence, rang the doorbell, and waited. Out came a distinguished gentleman with a gray flat-top haircut. "I'm sorry for bothering you, sir, but a dome light is on in one of your cars out front," I said. "Well, thank you," spoke the distinguished Colonel. Before he could ask me what I was doing in HIS neighborhood, I disappeared into the dark as quickly as I could. Less than 200 feet later, you guesssed it. Another car with it's dome light on. Enough! I zipped past it. Tough. Too many forgetful Colonels on this street!
Just after that, a car pulled up next to me. "Excuse me, sir," asked a woman driver. "Do you know the way to Sheridan Street? I've been driving around the neighborhood for quite a while, and I'm lost." Well, iPhone to the rescue! I pulled up the map of Fort Sill and showed it to her. "Feel free to study it for a while," I offered. "This is how you expand the picture if you need to," I explained next. So she studied it, expanded it, thanked me, drove off, and promptly turned down the wrong street! Still lost. That good deed went bad quickly! Luckily, a few minutes later her car emerged from the neighborhood up ahead and back on the right street. Okay, I'll call that a successful save.
Then, a good friend, (Major) Pat O'Toole texted me, "So do u guys get any free time for Monday night football?" he inquired. I was still walking alongside a poorly lit, winding road, and 3/4 of a mile from my barracks. Another diversion. Okay, let's chat. Pat's always entertaining. Type, type, type, text, text, text. Do you know, if you stare at a lit iPhone and try to text and walk at the same time, you loose all your night vision? Pilots learn and study such topics. Oops, the Safety Officer wandered off the dimly lit path and almost walked into a street sign! No, not once but two times!! Wouldn't that make an interesting accident report? Okay, I learned my lesson. I stopped under a lamp post and finished texting Pat.
These "power walks" are getting to be great, little adventures... except for the skunk. Wouldn't call that one "great." Anyone else having great, little adventures? Hope so.
Love, Chris/Poppy.
No comments:
Post a Comment