3 October 2011
10 Things I Saw on My Walk
Number four in my 10 Things to Do for Your Health Right Now post is “Go for a walk.” So in that spirit, because I didn’t feel like doing anything else but couldn’t deny the gorgeous day yesterday (and despite my boyfriend’s protests that walking doesn’t “count” as a workout — pshhhhh), I went for a walk.
I brought my camera, and the photos that follow are just things that struck my fancy while I was walking around my boyfriend’s neighborhood. He lives in suburban Detroit, and his neighborhood is pretty residential. If I had been walking around my neighborhood (also in the Detroit suburbs, but a different area), the photos would pretty much be of churches and liquor stores.
1. My car. The first thing I saw on my walk was my car, a ‘11 Hyundai Elantra, parked outside my boyfriend’s house. It looks so pretty in the sunshine, right? I really like it. I don’t really talk about unrelated personal stuff on this blog, so you probably didn’t know that back in April, I totaled my car. I was only about a year away from having it paid off, so I was pretty bummed, to say the least. No one in my family has ever owned a new car, and I never thought it would be worth it. But when I read the rave reviews of the new Elantras, I felt like they were worth a look. Of course, I fell in love. If anything could make up for the trauma of a scary car wreck and totaled car, it’s a fun new car (that I’m MUCH more careful with)!
2. Foreclosed house. It’s no secret that Michigan was one of the states hit hardest by the recession, so foreclosed houses are sprinkled around almost every neighborhood here. This house, which is next door to my boyfriend’s house, was occupied one day, and then totally empty the next. We knew the people that lived there, and I always feel really sad when I see that notice on the door.
3. Dan Savage’s face. I’m all about podcasts instead of music while working out. For this walk, the lovely Dan Savage was my entertainment. You can’t see it in this pic, but my iPod has a huuuge crack down the middle of it and sand all over from trips to the beach. Anyway, forty-five minutes really flies by when you’re listening to people ask about BDSM and how to stop being so socially awkward.
4. Team spirit. I’m from Ann Arbor, but I didn’t go to U-M. I went to a tiny little school called Carleton in Northfield, Minn. (Any Carls out there? Holler!) I still support the Michigan football team, if only because I would probably be socially ostracized if I didn’t. 
5. Angry gnome. I saw this creepy little guy in someone’s yard. I don’t have much to say about it except that I would be truly creeped out if that were in my yard (or my neighbor’s).
6. Pods. I saw these plants hanging over a fence and was instantly fascinated. They look like overgrown pea pods, right? I picked one (sorry, mother nature) to investigate further. They’re really velvety to the touch and almost impossible to snap in half. I remain fascinated by whatever plant this is. Anyone know? Here’s a closeup:
7. Wedding party. No pic of this because that would have been super weird, but I saw a bunch of people loading stuff into a limo (David’s Bridal bags and all). I assume they were off to a wedding. Whoever they are, they got lucky with a gorgeous day for some nuptials.
8. Awesome bumper. This car’s bumper had a lot going for it, especially the Detroit/Michigan love. But obviously the best thing on it was the “Since you’re riding my ass… you might as well KISS IT!” Hate when people tailgate. 
9. Black squirrel. Why is there an abundance of black squirrels here? Is this a Michigan thing? A Midwest thing? Are there lots of black squirrels where you live? I do NOT understand this phenomenon.
10. Boo! Halloween is so not my thing. If you’re looking for Halloween spirit, you’re going to have to head to Rachel’s blog. In fact, to Rachel’s great disappointment, my costume last year consisted essentially of a name tag:
I wish I still had that name tag! It would make this year’s costume so much easier. Still, I do appreciate some subtle Octoberish decor to get my in the fall mood. I saw a lot of it on my walk, but these ghosts were just super adorable. Guess I’m turning soft.
Alright, sharing time! I want to see pics from your recent walk. Or a weird thing you saw on a walk. Or just anything inspired by this post.
