Friday, August 5, 2016

Running Treasure Hunt!

It's August. And it's hot. I don't know about you but I don't feel motivated to do much of anything this time of year. I just want to lay in a hammock somewhere, on the beach, reading a trashy novel.

But I'm a runner, dammit! So I've been doing what runners do this time of year, slogging along, trying to get some miles in, and posting sweaty selfies. Last week while suffering through one of my runs, I couldn't help but notice all kinds of interesting things along the roadside. After I run by, I think about those things I see and the story behind them. Since my lack of ambition has extended to the blog, those thoughts about roadside treasure inspired a theme custom-made for the lazy running blogger.

Maybe the heat has affected my brain, but I thought, why not host a running treasure hunt! Yes! We all see interesting things on the run, right? While interesting may be in the eye of the beholder, I think it's fun to see what other people find along the route. I've got a link up at the bottom of this post so you can share your post. You don't have to be a blogger. You can post your Instagram, Facebook, or blog URL in the link up.

The rules are simple. After you link up, please visit at least 2-3 others to share the love. I do ask is that you link back to this post. There's a graphic at the bottom of the post you can use if you'd like. Feedback is always welcome!




All righty then. 

What have I found this week? Nothing terribly exciting but I did learn a little more about some of the things I found on the run. 

The Sticker: 
This TNP+CHI Airplane sticker--I've seen it in the back of a ton of cars lately. Seeing these and not knowing what they were was giving me serious FOMO that I wasn't part of some travel club. Silly me. My son hipped me to the meaning of the stickers. These people are Uber or Lyft drivers. The City of Chicago apparently requires them to post this sticker in their cars or they can't pick up passengers from O'Hare airport. And another piece of the puzzle falls into place.
Mrs Kravitz wondered what this sticker meant...
The Bench: 
I cannot tell you how many times I ran by this bench and felt sorry for the old guy who left his hat and book there. I spent miles agonizing over it. After a period of time, I wondered why the hat and book were still there. And I'm sure I don't have to tell you how stupid I felt when I finally stopped at the bench and realized that the hat and book were actually PART OF THE BENCH! Aye! This is a memorial bench placed by the family of an elderly man who used to read at the retention pond where I run. There's a plaque on the bench explaining all this.

Mrs. Kravitz solves the mystery.
The Chamois in the Fence: 
This fence is bordering the frontage road along a busy highway. I run on the sidewalk here. There's no parking or houses along this side of the road. Why is there a chamois stuck in the fence? How did it get here? Should I go back and get it? It would sure come in handy for drying off my car. Sometimes when I see stuff along the side of the road, I actually consider going back for it later. I've never done it though.

Why?
The Lazy Boy: 
Speaking of stuff along the side of the road, this chair was calling my name! It looked like it was in pretty good condition, just kind of ugly. I wonder if the scrappers picked it up. We have these guys who drive around the neighborhood, picking up stuff people put out at the curb. One time when I lived in the city, we tossed out a mattress. About 15 minutes later, a van pulled up with a stack of mattresses on the roof, added ours to the pile, and drove away. I don't think I could sleep on a used mattress. Or take a used chair home. Who knows what's in that cushion?

I almost sat down.
The Little Free Library: 
I've been seeing a lot of these "Little Free Libraries" popping up all over the place! This one was at a grade school that I ran by, but I've even seen them in people's yards. Apparently, it is a thing! I checked out the website and in addition to maps that list all the Little Free Libraries by you, you can get one for your very own. The goal is to promote literacy by sharing books. What a great idea! I ran by one of these a while ago, and there was a copy of The New Basics cookbook,  which I had received as a shower gift back in the dark ages. My copy is well worn, the binding broken, and I considered going back for this copy. I never did, and every time I pull out my cookbook, I kick myself.

Another mystery solved!

And there you have it! My first official Running Treasure Hunt. I'm so looking forward to reading about your finds. I'll keep the link up open for a week, so if you are just reading about this now, feel free to jump in!

The badge for the link up
What interesting things have you found lately? Do the Uber drivers in other cities have to put identifying stickers in their cars? Do you ever stop and rest on furniture by the side of the road? Any Little Free Libraries by you?

Besides my own link up, I'm also linking up with the DC Trifecta for the Friday Five! I've got five items here. Courtney, Mar, and Cynthia host this weekly link up. 














52 comments :

  1. That's really funny that you were worried about the hat and book but it was part of the bench! Definitely a mistake I would make as well. I used to see all sorts of weird things when I would run in the city. It's not quite as exciting around here. I have never heard of a little free library but that is a great idea!

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    1. I hoped no one saw me when I tried to remove the "hat" from the bench! Gah!

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  2. This is so funny because, over the years, I have seen SO many things!! I love that you thought the hat and book were real :-))) And, just yesterday, I saw this hideous giant red bear seat/chair thing. It's so hard to explain but it was just so ugly and clearly made for a child. I thought how the poor kid probably had nightmares about it until the parents finally put it out on the curb! Great blog idea :-)

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    1. I'm always amazed what I see by the curb! The scrappers have a field day in my neighborhood!

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  3. I don't see too much cool stuff on my runs. What I want to know is what does the TNP stand for??

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    1. Because I knew you'd ask, I looked. TNP stands for Transportation Network Provider. I wonder how much the consultants made to come up with that!

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  4. This has been fun. It has made me much more aware of things around me, even though I had a pretty boring week too. When I see furniture on the side of the road that looks pretty good, I think of my own dogs and assume , well, you know. Thanks for hosting!

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    1. My week was kind of boring too--figures, the week I decide to host this thing, right? Thanks for linking up and playing along. I think I'll do this again in the fall.

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  5. FOMO? So that's one I don't know what it means. Great link up . I had fun writing my post. I hope it gets you lots of traffic and you do it again. :)

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    1. Fear of missing out. Do you have FOMO that you didn't know what it meant? LOL. Glad you played along! I loved your post. Thanks for linking up. I hope to do it again in the fall!

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    2. I sure did. Now I'm in the KNOW :)

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  6. what a great idea! Unfortunately, I don't usually have my phone with me...I don't go too far from home (my town is not that grandiose) so I don't feel a "need" to have it along (and I hate wearing a belt, etc.). I'll have to keep my eyes open...there is a little creek on one of my routes (named after a bear, believe it or not) and there's a teddy bear strapped to the sign LOL

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    1. See...you will have to bring your phone along for my next one! I'll probably host another link up in the fall.

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  7. The little free library is so cute! I've heard about this but unfortunatley I do not have one in my town.

    I thinkt the weirdest thing I have ever seen on a run would be a sneaker. It was literally just there in the grass and I wondered how someone got home with only one shoe? LOL

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    1. I run along a lot of busy roads and I do see the occasional single shoe. I always think, how did that happen? Did someone throw it out the window? Where is the other shoe? LOL

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  8. I don't take many photos and certainly none are funny or even amusing, but I did make this collage one beautiful autumn day. I found different colored leaves in various areas on my run one beautiful autumn day.

    Love the hat/book/bench photo and its origin. What a lovely memorial.

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204216044376545&set=a.10202700948780102.1073741832.1090324607&type=3&theater

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    1. (I'm not sure how to make this a link but those interested can copy and paste this into their browser. I tested; it works).

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    2. I added it to the link up! I hope you don't mind.

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  9. I need to start paying more attention to what I see on my runs bc I don't think I see anything so interesting. Fun post!

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  10. The little free library is a great idea. I haven't seen any of those in my town. I have seen some weird things on my run too. How does anyone just lose one sneaker?

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    1. See, those are the questions I ponder as I plow through my miles!

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  11. There are a ton of little free libraries in DC - lots of people have them in front of their homes. I love them!

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  12. Yes, I have seen a few free libraries.If I weren't running, I would have taken a book.

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    1. I have so many books and not enough time to read them. Still wishing I took that cookbook!

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  13. This was fun - thanks for giving me something to run for this week!

    I have never seen a free library - I should start one, we have so many books!

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    1. I keep thinking the same thing! I usually just donate my books to the library.

      Your post cracked me up! Thanks for linking up!

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  14. I'm going to have to put some thought into this, I sure wish I could have taken some pictures of things seen on my run while in Myrtle Beach and the Walmart parking lots. Oh wait, some of them may not be rated PG.... Hummm maybe it's a good thing I didn't whip out my camera at Walmart!

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    1. Oh that would have been hilarious! Ok, I'm anxiously awaiting your finds!

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  15. We do have little free libraries scattered around, but I've never seen an uber driver in my town. This is fun. Makes me think I want to do an actual treasure hunt for my running club. That would be fun!

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  16. I love keeping my eye out for things when I'm out for a run. Its quite interesting the things that you come across. Since I always have my phone on me for safety reasons I'll have to remember to start snapping some pics of the things that I can see so that I can linkup in the future.

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  17. The only time I saw a little free library was when we were in CO! PA sucks ass. If I actually get out for a run soon I will link up to this. :)

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    1. Please do! I have a feeling you'll find some funny things...

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  18. yes! We do need to be in side by side chairs on the beach waiting on some shirtless waiter to bring us our next beach cocktail!!! HA! Ok, cool finds! I have a 10K to run on Saturday so now that I get the program here I will post what I find! I like the bench- cool! I would have to run by several times before I caught on I am sure~ :)

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  19. Aww, I love those little free libraries! One of my patients in the ER built one for his community! :] I haven't found any around here though!

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    1. They seem to be popping up everywhere around here. Hopefully they'll spread to your area.

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  20. You always see fun things on your runs - or funny people! I've heard of those little libraries but haven't seen one. I've only seen the "U" stickers in Uber cars. I bet those airplane stickers cost the drivers a pretty penny ...

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    1. They don't call me Mrs Kravitz for nothing! :p

      I don't think the airplane stickers cost anything but there is a $5 surcharge tacked on to the fee each time they go to the airport. At least that's what I read.

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  21. We have a similar statue in Harrisburg. It's a man sitting on a bench, with a suitcase and reading a paper. For YEARS I used to think he was lost... even after I knew it was a statue. I just kept forgetting.

    I saw fawns on my last run!

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    1. I love when I see deer or fawns. I always try to get a picture but they run away.

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  22. I love the Free Little Library but have not seen one in the city. Maybe it is only in the suburbs? Next time I am out on a run I need to be more on the lookout for treasure hunts. :-)

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    1. I haven't seen any Free Little Libraries in the city, come to think of it! Maybe you could start a trend!

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  23. One of the things I am always on the lookout for is Coke caps. It's ridiculous how many Coke (and water, and juice, and booze) bottles I see along the road. These babies are my gold! They're worth 3 points each, and it only takes about a billion of them to get free stuff. I also always keep an eye out for cash. Here and there I will find a penny, a nickel, or a dime. But today, 15 miles into my horrible hot and humid long run, I found a five dollar bill!

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    1. I had no idea that collecting Coke caps will give you free stuff! I never see those around here, tho. Lots of cans, tho. Thanks for playing along!

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  24. So fun! I saw one of those little library things when we were in Maine for the first time. What a great idea!

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  25. There are a lot of them around here! I see them quite often when I'm running.

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