Found a head on the beach.
Found another head on the beach.
Yesterday I stared at some kids making out on the beach in front of me. I'm not against public displays of affection in theory but in practice I think it's gross. Plus I could tell the girl was less into it. I wanted to give her an out in case her boyfriend was coming on too strong by making them feel uncomfortable.
Making people feel uncomfortable when they are being bad is the only kind of civic action I'm involved in. For example, this woman at church kept coming in and out of the chapel and propping open the door. Someone told her they wanted to keep the door shut and then she turned around and mimicked that person by making the "blah blah blah" action with her hand and by opening and closing her mouth really fast while rolling her eyes. I was staring at her and when she noticed I didn't look away because I thought that if she was going to do something so overtly immature and rude she should know that I was watching her. It's kind of ineffectual, I know. In fact, I saw her about two weeks later at TJ Maxx browsing Petites while I was over in in Womens. Yeah. Who's laughing now. I get it.
So I stared at these kids and then for a second I looked at my kids who were behind them and waved at them to come in. Then I commenced staring at the making outers. The girl chuckled and told the boy that she thought "that lady" was looking at her but really "she was looking at her kids." and then she gestured at my kids. I wanted to say, "No, I'm totally staring at you and I heard what you just said about being relieved that I'm not staring at you but I am and I hope you don't go all the way with that boy because he's too pushy." But I didn't. They left pretty soon after that.
I also stared at a woman in a golden bikini while she played Frisbee with a man in the waves. He kept "teaching" her about catching and he threw the Frisbee into the waves so she would have to jump and swim. When she threw it "badly" to him he told her to go get it herself. And she did.These people were over 30. Why were they even together? Why did gold bikini lady have to fit into and look good in the golden bikini and also frolic in the waves and also be proficient at Frisbee? Her boyfriend was a jerk. I hope when I'm over 30 and wear golden bikinis I refuse to suffer jerks.
Wish you were here.
Awesome post. I love how you practice your civic duty! I am the EXACT same way. I stare my indignation at wrongdoers. Wish I was there too.
ReplyDeleteI wish I were brave enough to continue the stare after they notice me staring.
ReplyDeleteBest vacation postcard ever. "Making people feel uncomfortable when they are being bad is the only kind of civic action I'm involved in"---AHA HA HA HA HA! Also, I can't believe someone in CHURCH did the blah-blah hand!!
ReplyDeleteNo one should have to suffer jerks, ever. I like your observations. I also love to people watch on vacation. Have a lovely time.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, do you worry when you are out of town that making it public on your blog will open you up to a break in or something? Don't worry about me, I live in DC....
I admire you so much!
ReplyDeleteAre you gonna shrink the heads? I only ask because my word verification on this comment is "parli", which reminds me of parley, which is pirate-ish and don't they shrink heads? Or maybe that is Harry Potter. Can you make CHUD a cool acronym? I also invited Aunt Polly to the pig roast - hope you don't mind. :)
ReplyDeleteSo what beach did you visit? Your in my hometown. ;) I suggest Coronado beach and Del Mar has great beaches, too, and La Jolla Shores. Have fun! You are a brave woman to brave the beaches with schools getting out this week.
ReplyDeleteI am jealous that you are at the beach. It is my favorite place in the world. Have a lot of fun people watching!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge fan of staring at people. Which is probably why people aren't a huge fan of me. But I only use it in civil duty matters as well. Or if someone is dressed REALLY strange.
ReplyDeleteI never suffer jerks when I'm wearing my golden bikini.
ReplyDeleteMy husband imitates me by whipping his head around and glowering at stupid drivers...they need to know what they've done and can I help it if I'm the person appointed to make them feel the shame?
ReplyDeleteI think you are delightfully awesome. Love it.
ReplyDeleteYou are delightfully awesome. love it.
ReplyDeleteMmmm - I wish I was at the beach too - we are still in school!!
ReplyDeleteTonight at Outback, I came late and kept changing my mind about the side, and on the last change Andy told me that the waitress rolled her eyes real big and that she noticed that he noticed and froze. I was mad and explained to all present a conclusion that I had come to in the MTC, that exaggerated eye rolling is the most offensive gesture a person can make. When she came back, everyone at the table was talking about eye rolling and I'm sure she was worried about her tip.
ReplyDeleteSan Diego is our favorite place! Well, Coronado is actually, but you get the idea. We usually go every summer but this year, we're unable to. So thanks for rubbing salt in the wound...or sand, rather.
ReplyDeleteI love blogstalking you!
ReplyDeleteIf people didn't want to be stared at, wouldn't they just act normal/appropriate?
ReplyDeleteNot only is it our DUTY, they EXPECT it. Even thrive on it, in some cases.
Which is why I stare until someone makes eye contact, and then I roll my eyes and act like I wouldn't notice/care in a hundred years WHAT they're doing.
i used to keep my mouth shut on such issues...UNTIL I HAD KIDS...then i lost all inhibitions! i guess that comes from going from "shy" to "here i am world" during the labor of my first child when a teaching group came in to watch me be checked!
ReplyDeleteI'll be right there w/you..golden bikini girl's bf is a jerk!
You've got a new follower!! :o)
Seriously. Why isn't there a direct link to your blog from Mormon.org?
ReplyDeleteLOL... i'm so glad to realize i'm not the only lds person who feels and acts in certain ways. thanks!
ReplyDelete