FAIR WEATHER WALKERS

I am not angry at them. I just don't understand them, and wish I could figure out the mystery that's been confounding me for the past 5 years!

It's not my mission to depress everyone with my incessant complaining, but the only thing that REALLY matters...is ME! 

Here is the back story...Ever since our Yorkie, Benji, has been part of our family I've walked him about every two hours. I do this for two reasons, first, he will not stop barking, crying, whining and complaining until I take him out, and second, if I'm just a few minutes late he will "let it fly" all over the house with reckless abandon! 

Therefore, I have to take him him out in all kinds of weather, climate changes, and temperature differences. Now, all of you PETA people...don't fret!

I will not take him out in EXTREME hot or cold weather! During those times, we put down "potty pads" and he will go on them...sometimes.

Here is my point! It's about tom, isn't it! 

Whenever the temperature is below sixty degrees F., I see almost no one walking their dogs, or even walking in general! Conversely, when the temperature is above eighty degrees F. the streets are nearly devoid of pedestrians, and dog walkers!

On the other hand, when the temperature ranges from 60 to 80 there are so many people on the sidewalks, and walking path that you can hardly get past the crowds, bicyclists, dogs, joggers, skateboarders, roller skaters, and every creature great and small!

So I call them "fair weather walkers!" No, not to their faces! I'm way too "chicken" for that! But I mumble it under my breath.

Remember the mystery I told you about? You don't?

Well, anyway, the big mystery to me, that I can't figure out, is what do these people do about walking their dogs when it's too cold or hot for their liking?!

Do they just allow them to "let it fly" in the house from late June to early September...and late October to early April?!!

How are these doggies getting any exercise?! By the way, how are the walkers, joggers, skateboarders, rollar skaters, bicyclists, and all creatures great and small getting any exercise if they only go outside in that narrow 20 degree range?!!

Maybe Benji and me are the only rugged individuals remaining in Pekin, Illinois! Maybe our town is loaded with wimps! 

Don't believe me? Drive here to Pekin and go to the walking path that runs behind the Dollar General store. past the torn down Pekin West High Screwl,

and all the way down to the beautiful banks of the Illinois river, when it's not between 60 and 80 degrees F. and see how many people are there!

Then, go there when it's "PERFECT WEATHER" and behold the multitudes of "fair weather walkers" you'll witness!!

Okay, I'll admit I'm a bit bitter when me and my buddy, Benji, are trudging through the frozen tundra of central illinois, or the blazing summer heat, and we are THE ONLY ONES OUT THERE SUFFERING...there's no one to say Hi to, and...yes...it's kinda lonely!!

Well, I can't speak for Benji. I don't really know if he's bitter or not, and he is sort of anti-social when it comes to meeting strange doggies and people, so he may enjoy our miles of walking in the vast wasteland of feeling like that Twilight Zone Episode when there was only one man left on earth!

In conclusion, if ANYBODY can tell me why folks don't go outside unless it's the optimal temperature, please let me know the answer!

Another question that puzzles me is...why do the majority amount of citizens in Pekin choose to walk in the street instead of on the sidewalk? Maybe I'll save that for another tom!

Who is this Tom, everybody keeps talking about?