final rest stop

This happened a couple of months ago and has become one of those stories I tell new people when I meet them. The guy involved in this story actual has no idea about most of the thoughts that ran though my head, so I imagine if he reads this he will laugh his butt off.

I went a photo outing with a friend of mine. We stopped at the Ozark Cafe in Jasper, Arkansas. It’s just one of those places if you are within a 20 mile radius of it you should stop. Apparently the food didn’t agree with my friend on this day. He failed to tell me this as he pulled into the only rest stop along Highway 7 headed back home.

He was driving my car and left it running with the headlights and everything still on. The door was unlocked and for a moment I wondered if I could reach over and lock it.

This rest stop is a little pull off the highway and makes a loop along the side of the highway. It’s nice because you don’t have to turn your car around to leave. I missed seeing the people get in the car behind me. I did notice them turn around and pull up just behind my car and stop. The door was still unlocked. A mild panic crept in. They crept forward a bit and stopped even with my car. At this point I reached over and slammed the lock. Then they pulled forward a bit more and stopped once again.

It was very dark and I had no idea who was in this car. I started getting scared. My friend had been gone nearly ten minutes at this point. Since he had left the car running, I assumed he was making a quick stop. I convinced myself they murdered him. I also decided they were debating if they should get rid of me too. I am a witness after all! I’m totally thinking to myself, “OMG! OMG! They murdered him. I’m next!”

This is the moment when you realize just how selfish of a person you really are. I think to myself, “Well what if they did murder him!? I mean he’s already dead. Do I just sit here and wait to be next? I mean I’m not dead yet. That’s so much more urgent. (My friend) is already dead! I just gotta leave! I still have time to save myself!” As I think this a rational thought sinks in - If my friend isn’t dead he’s going to be pretty pissed when I abandoned him at a rest area. I mean, even if I came back later what am I going to say, “Well I thought you were dead so I left?”

The car eventually drives off. I settle myself down, but now nearly twenty minutes has passed. So once again I’m thinking, “OMG! They really did murder him. He’s in the bathroom bleeding to death!” I weigh my options. I could bust into the men’s room and find out he’s fine and never hear the end of it. I could sit in the car and let him bleed to death. How long should I wait until I’m not just freaking out? I’m pretty certain the odds are slim he’s bleeding to death, and I already embarrass myself a ton.

Finally I just can’t take it anymore and slowly exit the car and walk towards the restrooms. I act like I’m getting a drink of water just in case he comes out. I’m still trying to avoid admitting I’m wigging out. Just as I approach the water fountains I hear the sink running in the men’s room. I figured someone is really inconsiderate and washing their hands over my friend’s dead, bleeding body or he’s finally finished. I booked it back to the car and pretended I hadn’t gotten out. Then he explained the food had some pretty negative effects.

Anytime I tell this story now it’s usually to a new shooting buddy. I’m not really sure if I’m trying to explain to them that I’m crazy or that next time something similar happens I’ll totally leave someone at a rest stop! Either way with all my excited talk and hand motions the story usually gets a pretty good laugh.

By the way, the next day I realized I had a headlight out. It is highly possible it was a nice family just trying to decide if they should tell the scared girl her car had a headlight out. I have no way of knowing what they were really doing though.

Since pictures are fun, here's a random shot from that day's trip:

here to party

This isn't really a creeper story, but I have to admit sometimes I really do love strangers. I was in Kroger getting some deli meat. I was on my lunch break and still rather stressed about work. The guy behind the counter goes, "Oh you want to be formal, but you like to have fun!" I was a little shocked and probably made a face to indicate that. He pointed at my tuxedo hoodie (think tuxedo t-shirt the hoodie version) and said he liked it. What he said is a rough quote from Talladega Nights.

I guess he was pretty good friends with the lady working with him. They started a whole conversation about odd t-shirts, which lead to a conversation about looking like a rock star. This ended up leading to a conversation about the awesomeness of Michael Jackson. Apparently the deli guy learned all MJ's dance moves in the '80s. The whole conversation was cracking me up.

if you're nosey and you know it....

Here's a post for Allison who recently started posting shots around her new place. I thought I'd play along. Well, I'll at least post my living room. It's generally clean, because I never use it! I spend all my time in the kitchen, bedroom, or office.

The blue chair at the right is a yard sale find from my mom. It's pretty cool but not very comfortable. The rest of the furniture is a light green color that I got from Sam's Club. The rest of my decorations are from either yard sales, Target (clearance), Big Lots, or Garden Ridge. I heart cheap!

My house is on the oldish side. We think the living room was an add on. It sits three steps below the rest of house and had odd details like a large window into the kitchen that's too high to see through (from the living room side). Notice the dogs in the picture? Hehe.

You can almost see into the kitchen from this angle. It isn't nearly as clean since I actually use that room. On the TV is an episode of Twin Peaks. I don't have cable or a converter box, so the only things I watch are old DVDs if I'm home.


Anyway, I hope you enjoyed a view of my world sorta.

finger lickin' good

Well, happy creepy New Year everyone.

At work there was a box of cookies on the desk next to mine today. This caused a small frenzy, which I mostly tried to tune out because I'm on a diet. Suddenly I felt something wet and cold on my neck.

I turned and asked the guy standing there, "What was that?"
"I licked my fingers and stuck them on your neck."
"Wait....really? Are you serious!?"
"Yes."

I put disinfectant on my neck after. This guy has read my blog from time to time, so if you are reading this welcome to the creeper list.

nature's bling

I'm posting this here before I post it on Flickr. Shuush, don't tell. I'm contemplating posting my self portraits here, but I really don't want to maintain three photo sites! I decided to post this one mostly so that retarded diet one isn't my last post. There's a reason, eh?

BTW, still no new creeper stories. 2010 might be my year!!

diet pitfalls

I haven't had any creeper stories lately. One of my shooting buddies joked that maybe he's rubbed off on me, because nothing weird ever happens to him.

I'm debating polishing off some oldie but goodies so I have some stories to tell. I guess I'll plug my flickr for the time being. I'm doing a project that's fairly common on there. You do one self-portrait a week for a year. The idea is that you practice your skills. I thought it'd be a great way to keep myself in check and not gain anymore weight. A photo a week is going to show if I'm gaining or losing. I think I'll be a bit more responsible if I have to look at myself on that level all the time!