I have a carefully random routine. One of the things the pros tell you is to not be predictable, because a stalker will count on your routine. Random's easy for me, I can do random. It's random and aware at the same time that's hard.

Because random=absentminded and carefree, right? Not so much.

I would also recommend that women not follow people around and stare. FYI.

A couple of my co-workers were a bit put out that they'd honked at me in traffic and I hadn't looked over.

Oh god, me too. So annoying. When do I know people in cars? Hardly ever is the answer.

Oh, and if I'm creeped out, keys are in a fist with them pointing out between my knuckles. But don't swat at the huge bug flying into your face like that or you end up giving yourself a nasty scrape....

It is weird that sometimes what seems either completely normal OR just confusing to you as a child is just downright weird and creepifying when you think of it as an adult. When I was in sixth grade, my best firend had an inground pool. When I used to go over to swim, her mother was all "Sophia has boobies. J___, why don't YOU have boobies?' Her dad was all" Wow, Sophia looks REALLY good in a bathing suit!" and her older sister (who was a lesbian) used to make me sit there while she brushed and brushed and brushed my hair. And I thought little of it at the time, but... Weird. Also, the best friend J. not only went to Harvard, but spent at least a semester as a call girl.

I was going to say...I thought not having a routine was the safe thing?

Or, you know. PUT OUT AN EYE.

Oh wait, wait. Nice Guy Backlash.

Actually, "Nice Guy, But..."

Women have routines? Do women here have car-reaching routines?

If it involves going down an alley, I usually have the "eyes and ears wide open" switch turned on, and my keys sticking out between my fingers--learned that in college, when I walked home from work after midnight on a regular basis.

Don't argue with me when I'm hugging you, dude. And Mal's a lot more than all right, by my man/woman criteria.

You do need the hug, as do all the Really Good Guys, because you get unfairly painted with the same brush by virtue of having a Y chromosome, and it's the other thing about the predators that majorly sucks.

I don't have a routine per se for getting to my car, but I am almost always conscious of where I'm parking and making note of my surroundings. Particularly when I travel, but come to think of it, in my day to day comings and goings.

Holy crap, Sophia. That's some family...