  Kingston is WEIRD OK, so I was just out for my usual run, but I went in the morning this time...note to self: never again! My body protested so much I could barely run the whole way :( Anyway, I pushed myself and did well enough for a bad day. I've had worse. But that's not what this entry is about. RANT I just have to say that people are really bizarre here. I dunno if this stuff would happen to me anywhere or what. Somehow I seem to attract weirdos and rude people wherever I go, even if I'm minding my own business - NO! - *especially* if I'm minding my own business. Like if I'm running. I'll be in my own little world, focusing on my breathing, my body's response and the scenery (I run my the water, where it's always beautiful). For example, on any given outing, at least 2 cars will honk at me. At first I thought it was because of something else, like another car or a friend, but gradually I realized it actually was me. I get the people who yell stuff out their window as well, but I can usually never make out what they're saying. One day I was almost done a really solid 1 hour run and I had to stop for a traffic light; when I stopped it was the first time I stopped during the entire run and I didn't know how tired I was.
I decided to stop on the sidewalk, bend over at the waist (facing the intersection) and rest my hands on my knees, with my head down. I'm sure you've seen exhausted athletes do this before...it's nothing unusual. BUT I guess it was annoying enough that an old lady honked loudly as she drove by. It wasn't a cheery *beep! * to say hi either. it was more of a *BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!
* to say she was irritated. To this day I don't know why anyone would do that. I just want to take a second and explain that when I leave the house I am always well-dressed and well-groomed. I do not wear skanky clothes, although in the summer I have a penchant for tube tops (to avoid strap tans! ) and skirts of medium to short length - although they always fit well and never look sleazy or too small.
When I was very little, my parents told me I would be tall and pretty when I got older, so I needed to have excellent posture and an even, confident walk. People notice it now and ask if I'm a dancer LOL....not a chance! Anyway, I supposed I stand out more than a little, but almost all the girls at Queen's are gorgeous, rich and well groomed, so why then do I stand out so much?
It gets so bad (I get some kind of attention on at least 5 separate occasions per hour I'm out and I'm not joking or exaggerating because I have kept track more than once) that I worry that maybe I've forgotten to put on a shirt or maybe I'm having my period and blood is leaking down my leg...but I always check myself in the mirror 3 times before I leave, out of habit, and I know when I'm going to start menstruating every time and have never had an accident (there's always a first time I guess).
The truth is that I have NO IDEA why this happens. Sometimes it's really unpleasant, like the encounter I had with a crazy old guy on a bike just now. It was pretty confusing and upsetting. Basically I was running along and suddenly I hear a torrent of filthy language from about 50 metres away, coming closer. This old guy on a bike is riding towards me along the street, talking crazy shit like "Fuck you! Can you feel what's fucking emanating from me right fucking now? Fucking bitch....." and that's pretty much what I caught and he rode by, but, as he was yelling, I was able to catch all the cuss words in the English language at least once. It makes no sense that anyone would choose to yell at anyone on the street for no reason unless they were crazy. It's still bothering me. And yesterday I was out taking photographs for referencing when I do my tourist art series, I stopped to take a picture of the sunset and I hear a voice behind me asking what I was doing and oh, wasn't the sky lovely this evening.
I turn around to see this grubby townie guy, maybe 40, 5'6" standing WAY TOO CLOSE. I was polite and friendly and stated that I was taking a picture of the sky and the church nearby, then took it and started walking away.
He follows me, talking about how he's going to see prettier sunsets where he's going on Sunday. I keep walking because there aren't may people around, but he follows and catches up to me, mentioning casually that he's going to Kiev and can't wait. He says the old churches are beautiful at sunset or at any time of day. He asks me if I take photos as a hobby. I say no and laugh because I'm really nervous. He ducks into the townie bar next to us at this point and says to have a great summer. Now I'm sure he was harmless and friendly, but I'm not an overly friendly person to weird older townie men that come up to me in lonely streets at twilight. Just at the end of my run today, I learned an important lesson: men in suits may look professional but that again is only the way they LOOK, not the way they ACT. I ran by this man in a fancy suit with a briefcase who leaned toward me and made kissy sounds. Some guys can be dressed up, but you can't count on them to behave better than 3-year-old children or intact male dogs. Maybe you guys are pissed now because this rant sounds arrogant, but honestly I am a self-conscious person.
Being treated like I am is very upsetting and I would like it very much if people would just come right out and say what they mean if they think I look pretty or if they like my shirt or my shoes or whatever. Lots of people do that too, actually, and I love compliments and will always smile and say thank you politely. Usually random positive comments make my day. If you have something rude or unpleasant to say to random people on the street, just keep quiet. It doesn't help anything! /RANT 
