If this is your first time reading this blog I recommend you start with the first one .
** Disclaimer – I’m probably a lot crazier than most people as I tend to walk/bike all over the place and distances don’t really phase me. As such, many things I find common and easy to do could very likely be tough and inconvenient for others. This is clearly not a “how to” for going car-less but rather “how I” manage to do it .**
I have to say the one thing that I really enjoy about walking to work or to errands is the opportunity it gives me to listen to the latest podcasts I’ve downloaded. The only time I used to listen to the podcasts was commuting in the car or during lunch breaks. Now I get a whole hour every day to enjoy music, comedy or just a good information podcast. It actually makes me look forward to the walk as some podcasts are darned entertaining. Sometimes a song will come on that I start walking in pace to or even start to dance only to realize that I’m out in public and probably not looking as cool as I feel. Or sometimes I burst out in laughter to what I’m listening to and get odd looks from passing walkers. Yup I’m really starting to look crazy out there. But overall I really think having that entertainment to walk with does make the “chore” of the walk to work much easier no matter how crazy I look dancing and giggling down the street. It wasn’t until I lost the option to listen to my podcasts that I realized how much I need them. I had finally discovered garbage day.
For most people garbage/recycling day is simply a day to remember to put out your bags for pickup. If you’re like me you end up setting up a reminder that it is garbage day so you don’t miss it. Well, as it happens garbage pick-up on my street happens at the exact time I walk to work. And it just so happens that a garbage truck moving down the street picking up garbage moves at the same speed as someone walking. Lucky me--now I get to hear the roar of a diesel engine over and over again while my iPod blasts my ears with audio I can’t hear. I wanted to turn around and scream in frustration but really, what would that accomplish? So now I was left with few options: change my route to work making it a bit longer or leave earlier for work in hopes of avoiding the garbage truck. I already struggle with road volume as I walk down a main transportation artery and usually max out the volume on my headphones just to hear the podcast. Now with my quiet street blasting with heavy engines on garbage day, I might have to break out the “bad boy” headphones. You know--the big DJ ones that high schoolers rock over their hats. I’m sure it will just add to my already odd looking dance/walk and random laughing and smiling as I make my way down the road. So if you come across some guy walking down the street, dancing poorly, laughing aloud with big headphones on, shaking his fist at the garbage truck, realize that he’s not crazy. He’s just enjoying a podcast on the way to work.
Cheers!
Deke
Page last updated on Wednesday, March 02, 2011
