Things I don't like # 9 - Odd Personal Scratching

People that take off their shoes and socks in public to make sure that they can give their feet a good scratch with their overgrown fingernails. Then, calmly put their shoes and socks back on and start touching things.  I had to witness this and try not to vomit while on an airplane. And it went like this:

Man in his 50's takes of his shoes and socks.  He aggressively digs in to those itchy feet and gives them a good scratch. I try not to cringe and attempt to keep reading my magazine. I am sitting directly behind him in the aisle seat. He is probably glad to have the aisle seat. Do you know how I can tell? Because he takes his bare foot and starts grinding it into the carpet, leg fully extended into the aisle, because his nails were insufficient scratching tools. He really got into this. His grunts of pleasure were really quite enough to freak me right the hell out. Finally, he is done molesting the carpet and gives his foot a little love tap before he covers them once more. I don't know about any of you, but this idea would never cross my mind as being good and odd personal itching definitely is something I don't like.

Sorrow and Surprises

After the game between Italy and Spain the other day, I was feeling quite down....and a little lost.  Spain just beat Italy. The words didn't even sound right in my head. After a typical defensive showing by Italy and a tied up (0-0) game (add on the extra 15's), I was certain that the penalty kicks were going to move Italy right along into the semi-finals. (This is something the Italians are good at....you can imagine my shock). It took a little soul searching, but I realized that there are still good things to come. Germany is still in and will be playing Turkey tomorrow. Then, Russia and Spain play Thursday. Germany! Oh Dearest Ones! And Russia! I would not say I started out as a Russian fan, but I am pleased as punch to see what they have been doing. The Russia vs. Netherlands game was a stunner and I really hope they continue to "throw down" with Spain (by God they will need it!) because seeing Germany (I am already assuming they pummel the Turks) play Russia in the final would be pretty freaking cool. (Does anyone see the humor in a possible Motherland vs. Fatherland showing?) My point of this brief blog post is to remind  all of you soccer hooligans, that even if your team doesn't win, there is still something magic in the game. There is still that team that seems to come out of no where and play brilliantly. When that happens, it really doesn't matter if they are your team or not because you still get to watch some damn good playing. Yes, I prefer Italy, but at least I still have Germany. And, I get to watch Russia continue to improve with each game.  I will take the sorrow and the surprises because for better or worse, this game is what dreams are made of.  :)

#10 - Small women, big SUVs, recycling

I am going to preface this rant with the fact that I recycle. I think it is totally necessary and I enjoy doing it. I will load up the Jetta with glass, aluminum, paper, tin, etc and spend 20 minutes on a Saturday helping the planet. Sure. And, I will do it knowing that this is not the only thing I do to reduce my ecological impact. It is not a trade-off. Which brings me to the rant......

Small Women with Big SUVs at the recycling center: Being into snowsports and living in Alaska, I realize that a car will not haul four snowmachines or take the entire ski team up the mountain. Indeed, many people do not even have driveways which can be accessed by vehicles without 4-wheel drive. I am sympathetic. But, there will always be those people who insist they need the space. There will always be those people who believe that if they only had the space to fit everything they own into one vehicle (even if they won't ever do it, they want to know they could if they wanted to) they would be happy. They are dying for that moment when someone says "I am moving this weekend and I just don't have the space with my little car". It is that moment that they live for - the instant justification of their Ford Excursion. I digress....

I happened upon this person at the recycling center unloading her two bags of wine bottles. I noticed an empty rig and no tow hitch (meaning she did not need to haul around 5 children nor did she have anything to tow). I was already annoyed with life and her presence was irritating.  I also couldn't get over the American flags and Pro Bush trappings covering the back of her vehicle. Yeah...support our troops, but use as much gas as you can to continue to perpetuate our reliance on foreign oil. Good plan. She is talking on her Blue Tooth earpiece "Yeah, I am at the recycling center. I had to bring the Ford to fit all the bags. No. Just getting done...." blah blah blah. What bloody bags? There were two!  I felt like I fit half of the recycling in Juneau in the trunk of my VW. 

So...that is irritating. Those that drive the biggest possible vehicle that they can find for no other reason than the fact that it is huge. Get a car with better gas mileage if you really want to improve the ecological outlook..

Start of 10 Things I don't like.

There are things that I don't like. Of course, there are more than 10, but I have to prioritize. This list is not going to be the "Top 10" because they are in no particular order. My level of dislike for things that make the list is subject to change. And, as I am perpetually stubborn, things will likely not be dropped from the list. This whole thing is an opportunity for me to rant....I enjoy ranting. :) 

Holy shit. Finally a vacation post!

The short version: I went to Europe. I had a good time. I took pictures. Go here to see them: http://grumpledumps.photoshop.com

A better version:

Some say that if one is in love, the object of their affection crosses their mind first thing in the morning and last thing before sleep. Well, that settles it. I am in love with the Alps. It seems mundane to merely recite all the places I went and all the things I saw because it was more a matter of "something coming over me" than  just visuals. I will say that Switzerland, Liechtenstein (sweet little Liechtenstein), and Austria are some of the most beautiful places I have have experienced. I experienced culture shock and jet lag (jet lag being worst of the two). I won't even get into the whole experience with the doctor with the fluffy hair (that might be another post!). 

The historical sites are absolutely breathtaking, but little things are what did it for me. I loved small markets packed with fresh food and no need for organic because nothing was a cocktail of fake sugar and transfats anyways. I loved the cheese. I loved how there was entire aisles full of chocolate, but only a few choices of cereal. I loved kasekreiner in the middle of the night from a street vendor. I loved cobbled streets. I loved small towns and random castles. I loved the trains. I loved the ease in which I found goods not made in China. I loved the little Viennese cafes and people watching. I loved feeling safe in a big city (Vienna). I loved the attitude of both working and playing hard.  I loved that everything was cheaper than it is in Juneau, Alaska. 

The best thing about the trip was being able to take time off and do some "nothing" in such a splendid place. I am a person who doesn't always know how to relax or stop and just enjoy the moment. I am constantly filling up all of my time (work, climbing, skiing, yoga, running, court sports, JMR, keeping up with soccer games, book club, creative writing club, studying for GREs, brushing up on Spanish, trying to learn German, oh, and friends (who help me take time out for beer and the like)). For the first time in ages, I was able to just chill out and not worry about filling every moment with something productive  And really, taking a train through the Austrian countryside is the perfect way to enjoy the moment. Indeed, most of the time, I was so captivated, that I forgot about my camera (sorry to all those who wanted to see tons of photos).  I spent my last moments in the airport in Zurich staring out onto the airstrip. I wondered what exactly would happen if I just never went home?

I hope to return as soon as possible....for as long as possible. 

Creative Writing Club

I have three months of posts to make soon. I have been an absolute lazy slacker not posting the writing club stories.......

Haiku: Theme undecided

I am still catching up - then I will have regular entries and themes. These are the ones in the beginning which only used the word of the day, but was without theme.

Word: Noctilucent 

By Debbie

Noctilicent white

Into the night my crane flies

Silent drifting down

By Sarah

Head craned out window

Rain drowns me in chilled silence 

Cold keeps me awake

(I was being a smartass using the word "crane")

Noctilucent eyes

Penetrating kiss

Only for tonight

Bonus because I was, at the time, feeling poetic....

Hard saying goodbye

Shall we ever meet again?

Your scent fades from me

Damned the heart and mind

Catharsis lost on Sarah

Attachments cause grief

Response by Debbie:

If ever alone

Let my heart be ripped away

Allow me solitude

Response to Debbie by Sarah

Solitude in twos

Lonely twin souls shall comfort

Spared of lonely night?

We were a couple of cheerful women that day.....