Dude. That's Cool

from JoeUser Forums

Tonight was kind of...weird. I stopped at one of my favorite watering holes, a little dive in Carlisle, PA called the BBQ Place. Despite the name it's a bar, across the street from a truckstop.

As usual I carried my knitting pack in with me. The bartender, who has been working in this place for even longer than the 20 years or so I have been stopping there, immediately asked me what I was making now. I hadn't even opened my pack and taken out my knitting yet. I did so and showed her the cabled scarf I am working on, and while she grabbed my usual brew (without my having to order it) ske asked me how the sweater had turned out. I guess that was what I working on the last time I had stopped in.

I sat at the bar and drank my beers while I worked on the scarf. As usual a few people asked about the knitting, and some casual conversations ensued. But then things got a little stranger than even I consider nornal. One guy came over, who looked like a regular (even a little trashy) trucker, asked me what I was doing and said "Dude, that's really cool", and while checking out what I was knitting kept putting his hand on my shoulder and stuff.

I should explain something about my nature. I am a very friendly, easy-going sort of person, but I do not like to be touched. It's just the way I am. Unless we are very, very close, don't put your damn hands on me. I don't like it and it tends to make me less than friendly and easy-going.

I was trying to keep things light and fun and tried to warn this guy off at first just with body language, tone of voice, and eye contact, but either he was too drunk or too stupid to get it, and I was getting more pissed by the second. Luckily Janie (the bartender who knows me quite well) came over and told the guy he had best take his hand off of me before he found himself laying out in the ditch and bleeding (she could tell I was getting pissed). He apologized and went away rather quickly.

Later, another guy, a really big dude, came over and expressed an interest in my knitting. I immediately got a bad vibe from this guy. I don't know why but I just immediately felt like this guy was a gay guy cruising for a date (fine but I don't swing that way). Nothing about him would have suggested it, but it's just what I picked up.  He was a little too friendly I think. He was also one of those who likes to put his hands on you.

At this point I'd had several more beers and was less, ummmm, reserved. Again Janie came to the rescue because just as I started to come off my stool to slam this guy's head against the bar for yet again putting his hands on me she stepped over, gave the guy a free shot, and told him to go sit down and drink it as she felt he was bothering me. When he asked me I just sat back on my stool and said "Yeah, you really are".

Janie's a pro.

 

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4,299 views 16 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

That's what you get going to one of those gay biker, truck stop BBQ, knitting joints.

I know not to touch people I don't know but sometimes after quite few drinks I start to lean in a little so I can hear them over the jukebox. My hearing is ok it's just my brain doesn't seem to separate music from speech as well on alcohol. It has been brought to my attentions once or twice that I was getting on someone's nerves. I don't even realize I'm doing it and would always prefer someone I'm trying to befriend tell me if I'm doing something that bothers them and I will generally tell someone if there getting on my nerves. You can't depend on the bartenders for anything around here.

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top

It is good to have places you are known in.

So what's up in Pa?  Last I read you were down El Paso way.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Hey Mason, either I have not been noticing with all the political BS going on or I have not seen you around for a while.

I have to be honest and say I am truly amazed as to how well taken the idea of knitting is to the places you go and the lifestyle you have. Please forgive my ignorance but as a TV person, I tend to see life close to what I see on TV and ion the past was usually correct but now a days things seem more sci-fi on TV compared to the real world and I am still trying to adjust. It's nice to see not everything is as bad as one things or has heard. I just have a hard time putting knitting and trucking in the same conversation without fining it strange. But you have shown me otherwise and that is definitely cool.

I always say " I learn something new everyday".

 

Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top

That's what you get going to one of those gay biker, truck stop BBQ, knitting joints.
End of quote

 

:LOL:

 

I don't even realize I'm doing it and would always prefer someone I'm trying to befriend tell me if I'm doing something that bothers them and I will generally tell someone if there getting on my nerves.
End of quote

 

I'm the same way, I'd prefer someone tell me if I'm doing something obnoxious.

Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting Dr, reply 2
It is good to have places you are known in.
End of Dr's quote

Yeah, it is. That's why I try to have regular places to stop at while on the road.

So what's up in Pa?  Last I read you were down El Paso way.
End of quote

I delivered down in Hell Paso, then ran up to Tulsa and picked up a crane truck chassis and brought it out to PA, then picked up a military truck at a Reserve post near Atlantic City and delivered it to the retrofit facility in Chambersburg, PA this morning. Now I'm just sitting around waiting for them to find me another load.

Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting CharlesCS, reply 3
Hey Mason, either I have not been noticing with all the political BS going on or I have not seen you around for a while.

I have to be honest and say I am truly amazed as to how well taken the idea of knitting is to the places you go and the lifestyle you have. Please forgive my ignorance but as a TV person, I tend to see life close to what I see on TV and ion the past was usually correct but now a days things seem more sci-fi on TV compared to the real world and I am still trying to adjust. It's nice to see not everything is as bad as one things or has heard. I just have a hard time putting knitting and trucking in the same conversation without fining it strange. But you have shown me otherwise and that is definitely cool.

I always say " I learn something new everyday".

 
End of CharlesCS's quote

 

Well, I think a part of why it's accepted by my fellow truckers and others I meet has a lot to do with what I look like. I have a pretty strong build and generally just look like someone it's best to not piss off. But in my experience people are far more open to new things than many people seem to believe. I also have a very easy going manner about me with just a slight bit of "don't fuck with me" just under the surface.  I'm just one of those people who most people tend to like and respect when they meet me, which goes a long way towards having them be acceptying of and interested in whatever I am doing.

While truckers, as a sub-culture, tend to be rather conservative and many are highly bigoted, especially when it comes to gays, they tend to be far friendlier and open-minded on a one-on-one basis, especially when it comes to one of their own.

I've always held to the idea that "people" are very stupid, but a person can be quite intelligent and open.

 

Oh, and don't base your world view on television, you'll remain warped and twisted for life :LOL:

Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top

Hell Paso
End of quote

:LOL: - I dont think Rose and Chris would agree. ;)

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Oh, and don't base your world view on television, you'll remain warped and twisted for life
End of quote

And will end up voting for Obama. :rofl:

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

You're right,  Janie is a treasure :)   Better a word to that stupid trucker driver than a fight

Although I think with you that fight wouldn't have lasted more than one punch!

 

Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting Trudygolightly, reply 9
You're right,  Janie is a treasure    Better a word to that stupid trucker driver than a fight
End of Trudygolightly's quote

Yeah she's a real pro and very good at keeping down the trouble.

 

Although I think with you that fight wouldn't have lasted more than one punch!

 
End of quote

 

Hard to say, he was a pretty big dude.

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Hard to say, he was a pretty big dude.
End of quote

So, two punches then. :)

 

Congrats on the feature, by the way. :thumbsup:

~Zoo

Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top

Congrats on the feature, by the way.
End of quote

Thanks, I hadn't noticed until you mentioned it.

 

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

recreational drug use tends to cause problems.

Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting taltamir, reply 13
recreational drug use tends to cause problems.
End of taltamir's quote

And idiots tend to post irrelevant comments.

Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top

You seem to be misinformed. alcohol is a recreational drug.

Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting taltamir, reply 15
You seem to be misinformed. alcohol is a recreational drug.
End of taltamir's quote

 

You seem to be misinformed, I couldn't give a red rat's ass about your pussy ass little comment. Your village called and they want their idiot back so you need to go buy a bus ticket home.

 

 

*Edit : After reading this again I feel I was a bit too harsh, and it was not called for. My apologies.