Today is my last day off before heading back for summer semester.  Soon I’m head out to play disc golf.   Here is a short story were the reader gets to figure out the ending.

I drove down to the Charlotte area to meet a friend for an afternoon of disc golf.  I told him that I would pick up a $5 sub from Subway for a lunch snack.  According to Google Maps there was a Subway right near the course; perfect!  The exit off of I-77 was packed with retail.  I saw a Wal-Mart and figured that must be where the Subway is.  I was correct.  Unfortunately, the time was lunch rush and only two workers were there to handle the business.  After waiting in line for about 5 minutes, I ordered a the baja steak with pepper jack cheese on italian bread.  (Hmmm….that sub is good.)  The worker says, just before putting on the toppings, “Wait, you wanted the baja.  I gave you the philly steak.”  I replied, “Ahh that is all right just put the baja sauce on it. It will taste the same.”  Probably with the long line behind me the worker had no objections not having to take the time to make another sub.  But he still said, “Are you sure?” and I confirmed, “Yeah, no worries.”  Next the toppings, lettuce, tomato, and onion finish up the sub and I am ready to pay.  I did not want any chips or drink however I still did want to pay for two cups.  The cashier looked at me wierdly and said, “Okay, your total is $10.23.”  At this very moment, chemicals that trigger every bit of my frugalness flush through my body because the only reason I came to subway was to buy a bargain $5 sub.  Hoping there might be a mistake I timidly say, “I thought the sub was $5″  ”They are but you got the philly steak which is double meat so that is not $5.”   My facial expression is blank, mouth is wide open, and about five times I look over at the line and the back at my sub questioning whether I want to wait in line all over again.  Also in this brief five seconds of WTF, I think about how they made the mistake but I said it was okay and should I really get another sub but then I would be wasting that sub.  In the end though, I shrug my shoulders and say….”__________________”

If you read this blog or simply know me, then you probably know what I said and how the rest of the story turns out.  I amaze myself daily how so many small things run the larger scheme of my life.  Perhaps this make sense though because billions of cells collaborate to run the The Reality of Selfwalker.  There is no way to escape the union of micro and macro in this universe.

The week days just seem to zoom by, as if I am constantly running towards a weekend.  The weekend is always welcome site because it means hanging out with my wife and son for many hours, instead of the mere 4-5 hours during the weekday.

Last weekend April and I traveled down to Charleston, South Carolina.  April was running the Copper River Bridge Run.  The race was an amazing event with more than 35,000 runners.  Congratulations go out to April for being in the top 5% of her age group, being the 92 woman to cross the finish line, and for running below her goal.  Way to go wifey.  After the race was a festival for the runners that included an impressive buffet of free water, sports drinks, bratwerst, apples, oranges, bananas, 5 kinds of bagels, and much much more.  I have never seen anything like it and being the frugal person I am, the amount of free stuff was a bit overwhelming.  Also, I would like to thank my friend for the great hospitality.  We had great time spending the weekend at his place.

This weekend we went out hiking on a trail called Upper and Lower Creek Falls.  I carried Charlie in our backpack baby carrier.  He was a great little rider.  Drinking juice, eating gold fish, and floating through the woods are three things that mostly any body would love, no matter what their age.  After that we spent the evening at our friends.  We were able to do this because of how great Charlie is at sleeping.  We arrived at my friends house at 7:30, immediately set up his pack and play, started the sound machine, and left the room for him to sleep.  We did not have to return to the room once.  We left at midnight and he went right back to sleep when he was back in his crib.  Thanks Charlie for being such a great traveler.  

The weekend is almost over, almost time to start running again.