I have a weird problem

[Droopy]

I'm a truck driver and I was at work today hanging out in the driver's waiting area with a few other drivers waiting for my truck to be unloaded. One of the drivers would not stop staring at me. It was starting to freak me out because the last time somebody stared at me like that they wanted to kick my ass. The guy got up and walked over to a chair next to me looking at me the whole way and sat down in the chair.

I said, "How ya doin?" wondering what the guy wanted.

He said, "Damn, boy, are you old enough to drive a truck?"

I just smiled and said, "I've been driving for 9 years" and about that time the dock worker was handing me my paperwork.

He said, "Nine years?" with a look of disbelief.

I said "Yes," and walked away.

You have to be at least 21 to drive big trucks. I'll be 33 on October 4th. I've lost some weight recently and I've been getting some strange looks from people. My dispatcher at work looks at me and can't talk right at the same time. He'll be looking at me like he knows something isn't right and trying to talk, but his words come out real slow and he loses track of what he wants to say. When I talk to him on the phone he's fine. I was damn near 280 pounds a couple of months ago and I'm down to 255 now. I've lost a lot of weight in my face. I've almost completely lost my double chin. I guess the weight was making me look older. I've always looked young for my age. If I still smoked and drank store clerks would be carding me for cigarettes and beer right now. When I was in college about 1.5 years ago there were these girls that would come up to my floor of the dormitory and flirt with everybody. I was on the way out to get some beer one Friday night and I was in the elevator with the girls and they asked me what I was doing. I told them and they asked me how old I was. When I said 31 they started talking as if I was their grandpa. They had thought I was 18.

I guess this could be a good thing if I were vain. I might look like I'm 35-40 when I'm 50. But I really wish I looked 33. The problem with looking really young is that people treat me like a kid. I don't care if some guy who's old enough to be my grandpa treats me like a kid. That's alright. But I hate it when somebody my age does it. The most frequently asked question of me is, "How old are you?"

And no I can't grow a beard. That's the second most frequently asked question of me. Some asshole actually told me if he had a face like mine he'd grow a beard. Even if I wanted to I don't have enough coverage as far as facial hair goes.

[CanuckAmok]

1. they guy who said you should grow a beard...

...you shouldhave told him that if you had a face like his, you'd shave your ass and learn to walk backwards.

Oh, no, wait... you said you were trying to NOT have your ass kicked.

Nevermind.

[Droopy]

4. lol

Yeah, I don't do violence very good.

[HEyHEY]

2. Meh, screw it - can you help it? No! Have some fun with it!

[Droopy]

6. I guess I could go hang out at the college bars

And pretend to be 21.

[auntAgonist]

3. well that's it Droopy....

You'll just have to post some before and after shots! I get somewhat of the same reaction from people. It's amazing how quick they are to go on and on about my weight loss , makes me wonder what they'd say if I was gaining LOL ..

All of a sudden, I'm a person 'worth' talking to now that I'm thinner. Go figger. More people speak to me at work than ever before .. they all want to know 'my secret'.

Enjoy the stares, you've worked hard for them :)

:yourock:

[Droopy]

5. I'll post some pictures when I get down to about 200

I don't have the means to upload pictures right now.

[auntAgonist]

12. I will look forward to that Droopy!

[Heidi]

7. And none of them notice your heart and mind, Droopy?

It's admirable that you're getting physically healthier, and I look about 10 years younger than my chronological age, too, but it's a shame these folks are missing out on your heart and mind. :pals:

[Droopy]

8. Thank you Heidi

That's a very nice thing to say. Very few people actually take the time to get to know me beyond the cyber world. Part of that is my fault. I'm not a very outgoing person. Another thing is that I write much better than I talk. So you guys are seeing a side to me that people out in my day to day ramblings don't see. But I'm still the same person. I just can't get the words to come out of my mouth. But my fingers work alright.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. I'm too sleepy to be really intellectually smart right now, my dear

Droopy...

But I'll second what Heidi has to say...Too bad they're missing out on your heart and mind and soul...

We sure as heck know better, here on DU...

We are lucky to have you around to talk to us...



:hug:


:loveya:

[Droopy]

11. And I'm lucky to have you guys

Thanks :hug:

[enigmatic]

10. Don't worry about it

The best thing is that you're getting healthy; looking younger is a bonus.

I'm 42, but people have said that I look 10 years younger when I don't have my goatee. I take it as a compliment.

[Droopy]

15. I'd take it as a compliment, too

If it didn't affect the way that people treat me. That's the main thing that bothers me. I'm actually starting to like the way I look now that I've dropped some weight.

[enigmatic]

21. Physically and mentally

it does work wonders, doesn't it? I need to lose 20 pounds ,yself these days; what is your workout routine?

[Droopy]

24. I bought a membership to the YMCA

I don't know if you all have those in Canada. They are cheaper than the big name spas. I lift weights every other day and I walk 3.5 miles in an hour on a treadmill. On the weekends I will walk 7-10 miles a day on a bike path that runs along side my house.

I've also started dieting and I usually keep my calories between 1600-2000 a day.

[enigmatic]

25. We've got them

So you do cardio and weights; how much do you lift?

[Droopy]

27. Yes I do at least 1 hour of cardio every day

I lift on the weight machines. They are for beginners basically. But you can get a really good workout from them if you're not in the best of shape. I do twelve different machines all designed to work the upper body.

[enigmatic]

28. thanks bro

I gotta start doing this myself..

[auntAgonist]

13. Droopy

do you run local now or do you go out of state? Just curious. I run I-94 on a daily (2x) basis. Thought maybe our paths have crossed.
I still have my CB in my car.

:hi:

[Droopy]

16. I just do short haul now

I go from Dayton, OH to Toledo, OH and back every night. I don't get near 94. I've been doing short haul for the last 5+ years.

[auntAgonist]

19. That's not too bad a run at all.

Gets you home and able to look after your health. Good deal!


:hug:

aA

[Robeson]

14. Relish it kiddo.....

...and consider it a compliment.

[Droopy]

17. I'll keep that in mind

[CaliforniaPeggy]

18. Hey there Robeson...

Don't you mean to say "it" instead of "is"?

It took me a moment to understand what you meant...

:shrug:

[Robeson]

20. Thanks CaliforniaPeggy....

...Its late, I've had one to many margaritas, and the keyboard is acting funny right now....:silly:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

29. My dear Robeson...

I don't believe there's any such thing as too many margaritas!

When you get tired, though, the keyboard can behave crazily!

How late is it where you are? If I may ask...

:hi:

[Robeson]

32. Its 1:38 AM here in the Central Time Zone.....

...and even with my buzz, I'm still not sleepy...:shrug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

34. Well, eventually, you will be...

You are two hours ahead of me...

:hi:

[knowbody0]

22. Droopy

you are fuckin beautiful
smiles

[Droopy]

26. Thank you

:D

[RevCheesehead]

23. Funny -

on here, you look about 45. :shrug:

Who needs shallow people?

[Droopy]

30. Who needs them indeed

But you'd be amazed at how many shallow people there are in the world.

[RevCheesehead]

31. well, just yesterday I was thinking

"I haven't read a good "Tales from the road" in a long time.
Glad to see you're still around.

We're all pretty deep around here (with the possible exception of KitchenWitch). And it gets pretty deep around here, too. :)

[Droopy]

33. Yeah

I don't know why but I just haven't felt like writing one of my stories from the road. There were a couple I was going to do, but I just haven't gotten around to it. I guess I've had other things on my mind. Or maybe I'm just lazy.