I’ve got it going on! Unfortunately, it’s going on in the wrong direction.

by Creative Junkie on July 23, 2010

Wednesday after dinner, I donned on my industrial strength bra, a sweat and sauce stained gray t-shirt and my trusty, ugly ass, shiny red and white running shorts and took my fuzzy legs out for my routine two mile run. I managed to run the first mile in a record 9:48 and celebrated on the sidewalk by yanking the wedgie out of my fanny and then cramping to the point of giving birth to my entire ribcage.

I started an awkward run/walk combo back to my house, alternating between readjusting my stubborn undies and hydrating myself by slurping up all the sweat pouring down my face. About a minute later, an obese old man walking on the other side of the street and wearing thick, fuzzy, white socks with brown sandals, whistled at me. I know this because (1) I clearly heard the whistle since, as luck would have it, it occurred mere seconds after I almost strangled myself on my iPod and had jerked the earphones out of my ears and was trying to unwrap them from around my neck; (2) when I glanced up in the direction of the whistle, I saw him looking straight at me; (3) he called out LOOKING GOOD, SWEETHEART to me; and (4) he winked. Or possibly had a short seizure. By that point, did it really matter?

I didn’t know whether to be flattered, outraged, grossed out or concerned that there was a fat old man obviously suffering from a concussion or dementia or cataracts running loose in the neighborhood. Not knowing how to react, I paused for a second, pulled at my wedgie and considered my options:

  1. I could act all indignant and give him a piece of my mind but then I remembered that I don’t have too many of those pieces left and I’ve got to ration what precious little I’ve got because hello? My mother is visiting in two weeks. Besides, it’s hard to act all indignant when you’ve got Fruit of the Looms jammed up your bum.
  2. I could ignore him but then I remembered that this never worked on my kids and would probably result in me being flashed with wrinkled franks and beans from the Titanic era and then my bunched up Fruit of the Looms would be the least of my problems.
  3. I could have thanked him because a compliment is a compliment after all and when you have to dress up as a Playstation 3 to get a similar acknowledgment from your husband, you take what you can get.
  4. I could have distracted him by pointing to his fuzzy white socks and yelling HEY MISTER, DON’T LOOK NOW BUT BUNNIES ARE RAPING YOUR ANKLES except that would have been mean and besides, I didn’t feel much like yelling, seeing as how my sternum was crowning and all.

In the end, I chose to simply smile at him, give him a thumbs up and then continue on my way, all the while licking my face and cursing my Fruit of the Looms and trying not to asphyxiate myself to the lyrics of Short Skirt Long Jacket blaring out my earphones which had, by that point, migrated to my boobs.

Just curious, how would you have handled the situation?

.

.

22 comments

Like it? Share it! Karma rocks:

http://thecreativejunkie.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/stumbleupon_48.png http://thecreativejunkie.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/facebook_48.png http://thecreativejunkie.com/wp-content/plugins/sociofluid/images/twitter_48.png

{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }

1
Barb
Twitter:
July 23, 2010 at 9:27 am

Just like you did. Just curious, had he looked like Bradley Cooper or Ryan Reynolds, would you have reacted any differently?
Barb recently posted..Hydrangea LoveMy Profile

Reply to this comment

2
Creative Junkie July 23, 2010 at 10:07 am

Possibly. I mean, I might have flung my phone number in his general direction but that’s about it.

(Testing out a new plugin here so I have no idea if this reply will even get to your inbox. Technology and I have a hate/hate relationship.)

Reply to this comment

3
Audra July 23, 2010 at 10:45 am

Hm. Depends on what he looked like. If he was old and gross, I would have just smiled, rolling my eyes and shaking my head, like, “Yeah right mister. You have no idea the amount of crazy that runs in my family.” or “Pffft. Crazy old guy. Put that in your ‘bank’!” If he was hot I would have pulled over and struck up a conversation about electrolytes or running music or possibly hair removal techniques. They’re all relevant.

Reply to this comment

4
stacey@Havoc&Mayhem July 23, 2010 at 11:29 am

Probably I would have done the same thing. Assuming I heard him. I have an amazing, useful & occasionally dangerous talent for tuning out the world around me, even without an mp3 player. I just assume everything I hear is not about me & ignore it. Which has gotten me almost run over by cyclists on more than one occasion.

Reply to this comment

5
Martha
Twitter:
July 23, 2010 at 12:20 pm

lol! Well if I heard a whistle at me?? I’d be looking all around…or ignoring. I wouldn’t believe it was for me :) I totally read your running time wrong on fb the other day..thought you were talking MILES ran, not time! That’s a AWESOME time!! I’m very, super impressed! I can’t run 2 feet without passing out!
Martha recently posted..eclecticRed on Hiatus…My Profile

Reply to this comment

6
Helene
Twitter:
July 23, 2010 at 12:38 pm

Well, for me, I take flattery any way I can get it, even if the dude was downright fugly. I’d have to light myself on fire to get my hubby to notice me so if a guy even looks in my direction and likes what he sees, I’ll take it.
Helene recently posted..That should be the least of your concerns- my loveMy Profile

Reply to this comment

7
Cheryl July 23, 2010 at 12:41 pm

I liked the way you handled that. When someone gives me a compliment, I actually run. Far away and fast.
Cheryl recently posted..Help Wanted- Miracle WorkersMy Profile

Reply to this comment

8
RJFerret
Twitter:
July 23, 2010 at 12:58 pm

Umm… I’d look for the candid camera? I’d assume I was being punk’d? I’d lament that the guy whistling at me wasn’t a girl? Sadly I’m not bi, but straight…heck, I don’t even know if gay guys compliment hot guys that way.

In short, I’d be even more flummoxed than you were!

Reply to this comment

9
Heather T.
Twitter:
July 23, 2010 at 2:30 pm

“fuzzy bunnies raping your ankles” Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahaha!!!!!!!! *collapses laughing*
Heather T. recently posted..Ok- back to normal My Profile

Reply to this comment

10
Ann July 23, 2010 at 2:35 pm

Hey, it’s a compliment. I’ll take whatever I can get!
Ann recently posted..Miscellaneous weekend stuffMy Profile

Reply to this comment

11
Claire Gutschow July 23, 2010 at 3:07 pm

I’d have lifted my shirt and said “get a load of this grandpa”. I know it sounds extreme, but here’s my thinking…
1. You’re wearing an industrial strength bra – full coverage and practically armor plated
2. Either the old dude would have a heart attack (problem solved) or it would make his day (good karma points for you)
3. He’d think twice about exposing his frank and beans ever again
4. It would take his mind off the bunnies raping his ankles
5. It would take your mind off the wedgie situation
A win/win solution if you ask me.

Reply to this comment

12
Staci July 23, 2010 at 5:26 pm

That happened to me last week on the day it was 93 degrees. I was sure that my penciled brows were running down my face and my hair was stuck to the back of my neck. I’m not real pleasant when it’s hot. This guy walking behind me told me that I was the beautiful girl he had ever seen. I squinted at him
figuring he was drunk, blind or doesn’t get out much. Just kept on walking….
Staci recently posted..Oh Pioneer WomanMy Profile

Reply to this comment

13
Amanda July 23, 2010 at 7:17 pm

I like to take them all as compliments I mean really whether they are ugly or not someone still thinks you look good.
Amanda recently posted..I Still Love My CamryMy Profile

Reply to this comment

14
Bobbie (OneScrappyMom)
Twitter:
July 24, 2010 at 1:37 am

I totally would have ran through that list and others in my head. I mean since you are sure you heard it {iPod-less} are you sure you seen it though? My concern is the sweat in your eyes… None the less I would have thanked him with a “Stop staring at me you stalker pervert” look!
Bobbie (OneScrappyMom) recently posted..Cards Of Fun!My Profile

Reply to this comment

15
Kimberly July 24, 2010 at 7:24 am

You crack me up.

I think I would have smiled and kept on my merry way. Not many women appreciate getting whistled and winked at, so you wouldn’t want to encourage him too much by thanking him…yadda yadda. A simple smile was good enough. I don’t think he meant any harm by it.

Kudos for jogging/running/walking in this weather. Blah! I couldn’t do it. Besides, I need to rest a couple of times just going to get my mail. Ha Ha.

Reply to this comment

16
Amanda
Twitter:
July 24, 2010 at 9:53 am

I would’ve worn the Hanes no wedgie underwear that I own to avoid the whole underwear up the butt crack issue.
Amanda recently posted..20 off Entire Purchase at UltaMy Profile

Reply to this comment

17
Creative Junkie July 24, 2010 at 9:55 am

Wait a second … Hanes makes undies that guarantee no wedgies? How did I not know this? Because I believe my ass has a cotton magnet inside of it.

Reply to this comment

18
Amanda
Twitter:
July 24, 2010 at 10:18 am

http://www.hanes.com/Hanes/Categories/Women-Hanes/Women_ShopByCategory-Hanes/Women_Panties-Hanes/Women_Panties_NoRideUp-Hanes.aspx

I think I got mine at Target. Probably Target since it’s next to Wegmans, and those are the 2 stores I’m in more than once a week.
Amanda recently posted..National Guard Life articleMy Profile

Reply to this comment

19
Lizz July 24, 2010 at 3:47 pm

Oh my holy hell! I think this same guy might live down the street from me too!
I think you need to invest in some of that wedgie-proof underwear… it’ll change your freaking life! LOL
Lizz recently posted..Quite a ConversationalistMy Profile

Reply to this comment

20
Sara July 28, 2010 at 10:19 pm

I will take a compliment when I can get ‘em… sadly I don’t really care where they come from. I get a little shy though…

Reply to this comment

21
Denise Burks August 5, 2010 at 6:44 pm

I can’t remember the last time I got a whistle or cat call or any such lurid response. For that matter, I can’t remember the last time I exercised. It took me a half hour and a half bag of chips to come up with a response.

I would follow my girlfriend Lynn’s advice. “If you’re not sure what to say to anyone about anything, just smile sweetily.”

In this case I imagine I’d add a “thank you!”

Denise
http://www.successinthesuburbs.com

Reply to this comment

Leave a Comment

CommentLuv badge

{ 1 trackback }

Previous post:

Next post: