Home Depot Parking Lot/Petri Dish

Lileks has Target, I have Home Depot. The one closest to The 1912 House may not be the best in the county (it was actually called the worst by the guy ahead of me in line for self-damn-checkout) but it’s ours and it’s convenient, and they’ve started to carry things to fix houses as old as ours in the neighborhood.

I go there nearly every day, sometimes multiple times a day. It’s not so uncommon for a lot of people, but if I can get a couple of bits out of it, what’s the harm?

Here’s the scary observation du jour; I was standing by the Jeep after loading up my purchases, and some guy comes marching out of Home Depot with his own purchase. What’s so odd about that? Well, he was wearing a Nike swimming cap (on his head? – ed That’s cute. – bob) and swim goggles.

So I’m thinking, was this guy doing laps, made the turn and suddenly thought “Gee! I need to pick something up at Home Depot! No, right now!” That’s the only scenario I could come up with. Except for the problem that if he had a sudden shopping urge while swimming, shouldn’t he have been wet? Is this merely an extension of the guys-wearing-bike-shorts-while-not-on-a-bike phenomenon?

Was he hoping that the gals would peer over the tops of their designer sunglasses and purr, “Look at the skull on that guy!”

Maybe he was simply a freak.

Your patient observer,

bob

INJURY UPDATE: As soon as I got done typing the final “b” above, I was stung in the neck by a wasp. I will take that as a sign from the Powers That Be to stop making fun of the retarded kids (or whatever that guy’s story is). Point taken.

INJURY UPDATE II: I don’t recall having ever been stung by a wasp before. I wonder if I’m allergic. The left side of my neck is kinda tingly. Does that mean anything?