La versión español está después de la versión inglés.
I’M SURE, GIVEN what’s going on in the world in recent days (months, years), many of you are feeling as disappointed as I am in our fellow members of the human race. Some days, it’s difficult to keep in mind the good people doing good things — if we are in fact fortunate enough to have decent lives surrounded by good people doing good things.
Often, when I’m on my walks, I’m so bitter that I find myself muttering under my breath when someone: Cuts me off; is rude; spits; fills the air with cigarette or, worse, cigar smoke; let’s their dog crap on the beach; is too loud; doesn’t acknowledge my greeting; picks the flowers; litters; talks loudly on their mobile phone; doesn’t pull up their pants… You get the idea. All they have to do is breathe.
I said I mutter under my breath, but I’ve noticed lately that I’m muttering in stage whispers. No one seems to have heard me yet, but it’s only a matter of time before I’m stopping in the middle of the pavement and yelling randomly at “YOU PEOPLE!!!” Obviously, these aren’t even the “you people” I’m truly angry with.
And my language has grown continually more offensive. My Mother the Dowager Duchess would not be pleased.
So, I’m trying hard to remain hopeful and kind despite … well just despite; let’s not go into detail. On my most recent walks, I haven’t muttered once. Whenever I feel the urge, I stop and take a picture of something beautiful. In the last three days, I’ve downloaded 741 photos. [Groan.]
What are you waiting for? Click the frickin’ images!
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ESTOY SEGURO DE que, dado lo que está sucediendo en el mundo en los últimos días (meses, años), muchos de ustedes se sienten tan decepcionados como yo en los miembros de la raza humana. Algunos días, es difícil tener en cuenta a las personas buenas que hacen cosas buenas, si de hecho somos lo suficientemente afortunados de tener vidas decentes rodeadas de personas buenas que hacen cosas buenas.
A veces, cuando estoy caminando, estoy tan amargado que me encuentro murmurando por lo bajo cuando alguien: Me corta; es rudo; escupe llena el aire con tabaco o, peor aún, con humo de puros; dejemos que su perro cague en la playa; es demasiado ruidoso; no reconoce mi saludo; recoge las flores; tira basura; habla en voz alta en su móvil; no les levanta los pantalones … Ya entendiste. Todo lo que tienen que hacer es respirar.
Dije que murmuro por lo bajo, pero últimamente me di cuenta de que estoy murmurando en susurros. Parece que nadie me ha escuchado todavía, pero es solo cuestión de tiempo antes de que me detenga en medio del pavimento y grite al azar a ¡¡¡“USTEDES”!!! Obviamente, estos ni siquiera son los “ustedes” con quienes estoy realmente enojado.
Y mi lenguaje se ha vuelto continuamente más ofensivo. Mi Madre La Duquesa Viuda no estaría contenta.
Entonces, estoy tratando de mantener la paciencia y la amabilidad a pesar de … bueno, a pesar de; no entremos en detalles. En mis caminatas más recientes, no he murmurado ni una vez. Cada vez que siento la necesidad, me detengo y tomo una foto de algo hermoso. En los últimos tres días, he descargado 741 fotos. [Uf.]
¿Que estas esperando? ¡Haz clic en las malditas imágenes!
pretty birdies, flowers & bubbles! interesting bubble maker there.
Anne Marie,
I love that bubble maker. It’s a bit of a dance.
I think you should frame the birdie shots and put then where Moose and Dudo can see them.
I feel your pain. I stage whisper in my head when in public, but behind the wheel of a car I am a profane screamer …windows up so people can’t hear, though.
Bob,
Dudo prefers bird videos. Moose doesn’t even notice; ain’t nothin like the real thing, baby. Good about the windows up; Jerry often forgets that step.
I am right there with you – annoyed with dumb people. I don’t mutter when i walk but I do speak out in the car – with the windows up! It has helped to ban watching the news – easier to avoid things by reading the paper and picking what I will read. I need to pay attention to just what is on MY plate – not someone else’s. My husband can get going on things so we have a word – HRUMPH – for saying instead of going on and on. That helps turn our minds to more pleasant things. If it is something you can’t do anything about leave it alone.
sillygirl,
Driving can bring out the worst in us. SG, who hates confrontation, gets really nasty mouthed behind the wheel. (OK, I can, too.) But I sometimes have to remind him that his window is open! I love HRUMPH!
If had to laugh at your wanting to say what you really think about bad behavior loud enough for others to hear it. My favorite thing to do when someone–male or female–fails to hold a door open when I’m passing through (I always hold doors for others) is to say ‘thank you’ quite loudly. My not-so-subtle way of prompting them to mind their manners. I so enjoy seeing their startled faces. Bad of me, I know.
Mary,
I had a friend who would do that, too, and I loved it. One day, we were together. She held a door. The other person said thank you and she didn’t hear it. She said loudly your welcome… and it got ugly. Oops!
How fortunate you are to have these positive distractions to balance negative ones of people being so ignorant and selfish.
SO many people just not ‘awake’…….so into themselves.
Jim,
If the only problems in the world were the ones I’ve mentioned, it would be a much MUCH better place.
I walk my little Chihuahua every day at a park in town (we have two parks and I divide our time between them depending on how many tourists we have.) One of my pet peeves, like you, was people who wouldn’t pick up after their dogs. Now, a local store that specializes in all things “doggy” has installed at the parks several stations that dispense free plastic waste bags for poop pickup. Now there’s no excuse and it seems to be working pretty well. I’ve always carried my own bags even though my little dog’s poop is no bigger than a Tootsie Roll. 🙂
TTParkTrash,
We have those poop bag stations around, which is great for those pole simply caught short. And most people are very responsible anyway. Just something for me to complain about. All the world should have such problems.
I too am super disappointed in the human race. I find it difficult to watch the news or even go online now. Just ugly terrible story after ugly terrible story. The weather sucks here (think high winds 80k and rain/snow) and was howling all night so I got very little sleep which didn’t help. My dog and my hubby make me happy so there’s that 🙂
Cheapchick,
And we are so fortunate to be able to find our happiness. I’m going for a walk today and I’m going o smile at everyone… dammit!!!
Scoot, you have a beautiful life, a gorgeous husband, cutie pie kitties and us. Life is too short to allow the anal orifices of the world to poop on your parade. Getting bitter and/or hostile only affects you and not the buttheads. Count your blessings, stop and smell the roses, hug a teddy, kumbaya 🙂 If all else fails, remember your ass still looks good in jeans!
Deedles,
Yep, it’s all about the ass! Kumba-fuckin-ya. [oops]
Yeah, it is! I wish I had one in the back. Front butt is a little hard on the heart. Now, you need to go wash your mouth out with a big bowl of ice cream.
Well #^@% it has been a B!)Ch of a week. I wish I could cuss, under my breath or out loud. They say cursing is a sign of a brilliant mind, or of mental decline.
David,
Or a brilliant mind in mental decline? Shit!
Ohhhhh I feel soooo relieved …. ‘cause I react exactly the same way – the stage whisper is getting louder 😉 and I thought is was only me….
Lars,
What a relief! And you seem so much nicer than me!
I can relate! Luckily I have your blog (and the whimsical, interesting and sometimes delightfully weird comments that accompany your posts)
The Internet and its populace seems to become more craven every year. Or perhaps I am becoming more jaded! Either way your website remains one of the few remaining sites that I look forward visiting.
On occasions it is impossible for kind, decent and thoughtful people not to decry the inconsiderstions of others
TPA,
The comments often make my day. Good and clever people that make me momentarily forget the assholes… I didn’t tell you assholes is apparently a word most often used in the northeast United States and rarely used in places like South Dakota. Fascinating, huh? I learned that on British television (Stephen Frye).
Photography is a great way of coping! Just don’t hit any one with your camera or phone, eh?
Debra,
Nah, I’d just grab someone else’s phone.
These are tough times, but your photos help me enjoy life. As does pot.
Love,
Janie
Janie,
I’m so glad my photos help. Pot sounds good!
Love Love Love the bubbles and sweet birds ! Life is beautiful and we can make it that way. Hopefully for us and others.
I stopped watching news national and CNN for years salacious, grubby, coarse and cheap headlines. I watch the local news gives a quick look at what is happening, lots of local news good and bad and weather lots of weather ! makes my day better.
parsnip
Parsnip,
Reading and watching international news can be so overwhelmingly distressing some days. And although I know no news source is perfect, CNN is certainly not the one that would come to MY mind when I think of salacious, grubby, coarse, and cheap headlines.
I don’t know.. these past few weeks here in Australia have taught me a different lesson. People can be awesome to each other. It is nice to know. 🙂
Snoskred,
I’m so glad to read that. Thinking of you all. What awful times. I witnessed California fires over the years and there was never anything like this.
I can tell I will have to stop in here more frequently. I am drawn to blogs that don’t report any news, so to escape. I found you on the Mistress’s blogroll and wanted to stop in, I miss my daily stops at his place terribly. Such beautiful pictures. With everybody in a hurry, cranky, or just angry these days, no one seems to see the beauty in the world anymore. These picture have brighten my night.
Agnes,
Thanks so much for visiting! I hope I can keep you distracted… and smiling. I miss the Mistress whenever he takes a break!
As always such great photos – brings a touch of needed colour to the grays and whites of winter here.
On the talking out loud I find I’ve been doing it for a while now. On our long morning walks Nora has heard a good deal of bitching, whinging and kvetching – not of it in a stage whisper. It’s often directed at people who don’t return greetings, rude drivers, people who think the sidewalk is meant only for them and their friends, and others who encounter my displeasure. The advantage of having Nora along is that if embarrassingly challenged I can always say I was talking to the dog.
Willym:
I’ll just tell them I’M talking to the dog and point to nothing. That’ll stop them from saying anything to me.
My southern mother would would exclaim, “Isn’t that nice!” when she was thinking, what utter BS. Most people thought she was so kind. A few caught on and would grin.
Susan:
I’ve got a video to share with you on that very subject!