Before I get to what I intended to write about today, can I just ask what the hell happened to my Orioles last night? We actually haven't been doing that bad this year, but a score of 30-3? Now that is shameful! And apparently a record! My poor birds!
Anyway, moving on...I had a really unusual experience yesterday. I'll start from the beginning. The first thing I do when I get home from work is kiss my husband and then get Lola's leash on her so we can go on our long walk. This walk has become so routine for us that Lola will actually pout if we just go for a shorter one for some reason or another. It's usually just the two of us and sometimes Jon will join us if he feels like it. But anyway, last night it was just me and Lola.
We were nearing the end of our walk, a part which takes us in front of another group of condos that are situated across the street from our building, when I noticed a guy in his mid to late twenties walking towards us. This is nothing out of the ordinary because it was about 5:30 or so, a time when many people are getting home from work. I tend to smile at and greet everyone that I come across on my walks and this time was no different. As we approached him, I smiled and said hello. He did the same, but just as he was walking past me, he turned and said, "Can I ask you a weird question?".
Me: "Umm, sure, go ahead."
Stranger: "I'm so-and-so (can't remember his name now) and I just moved in here. Do you live here?" (Fidget-fidget-nervous energy-fidget)
Me: "Yeah, I live over there (pointing to my building). I'm Katie."
Stranger: "Well, I need help with my curtains. I have two sets and I don't know which ones to hang. Can you come in and show me? I live right here." (Shuffle feet-fidget)
Me: (Visions of every Dateline program on rapes and murders of unsuspecting women flashing through my head. Blame the dog, blame the dog!). "Umm....well, I have my dog."
Stranger: "That's okay, it's just right here."
Me: (OhmygodwhatdoIsaywhatdoIsay?) "Ummmm..."
Stranger: "I can hold your dog for you!"
Me: (Flash ring! Flash ring! HAVE HUSBAND! Who rather enjoys me alive!) "Ummmm, I don't think my husband would like that."
Stranger: "It's just right here."
Me: (Eyes darting desperately to the street, hoping Jonathan would drive by at just that moment to save me) "No, I'm sorry, I don't think I can."
Me: (Feeling really bad, because what if this is just a clueless guy who needs some decorating help?) "But you should try roman shades! They look really nice!"
Stranger: "I already have the curtains."
Me: "Well, just describe them and maybe I can help you that way!"
Anyway, the awkward conversation ended with him telling me about the two pairs of curtains that he already had, one that just happened to be the color of the pants I was wearing. I quickly told him to pick the ones that matched my pants and beat a hasty retreat to my condo.
Okay, does anyone else find that the slightest bit odd or is it just me overreacting because I've watched one too many crime shows? I haven't always listened to everything my parents taught me, but I certainly as hell remember them telling me not to go anywhere with strangers! Good lord, that was creepy! The fact that he repeatedly asked me in when it was obvious that I was uncomfortable is the part that really weirds me out. I feel bad if he really is just a harmless guy, but I guarantee I would feel a lot worse if he did turn out to have sinister intentions. No thank you, sir, I would rather appear rude or jaded than raped or dead.
And Lola, I love you like you're my own child, but perhaps it's time we adopted a brother for you. Like a german shepherd type brother.