i'm in a sharing mood. aren't you lucky.

believe me when i say, i have some awesome things to share. and, i will get to them. but first, i need to vent about this lovely country i seem to be residing in. yes, i'm feeling sarcastic. you're more than welcome to skip this post and wait for tomorrow's. or, you can occupy your time catching up on some past posts. you can make your way now if you like. i think that's enough of a disclaimer. you're on your own now.

you see this photo above? the picture of a chalkboard, displaying the day's menu at the cafe, the beach hut? well, i went for a walk today by the sea and got thru matt good's first solo album while walking along the pebbles, happily snapping photos, minding my own business, stopping to watch the tide come in and do some reading. i saw the sun go down and started to make my way back to my car when i stopped at the beach hut cafe and noticed their menu board. thinking, hey, that might make a cool photo...maybe? maybe not. let's try it out. so i climb a few steps and start lining up my shot. i notice that the cafe is closed as i could see a light on. the chairs are on top of the tables. the entrance doors, off to the side are closed. i didn't see anyone in, but then again...i didn't bother to look. i'm here to take a photo of the chalkboard on the side of the outside cafe wall and continue on, like any other normal person.

i think at this point, goldfrapp is on and i can't hear what's going on around me. the next thing i know, a waitress - mid thirties is approaching me, asking what am i doing. i pull out an earbud and say, "excuse me?" she repeats and i reply, "uh...taking a photo?" and she asks why.


are you freaking kidding me, lady?

i know exactly where this is going, because it's happened to me before. however, at this particular moment, i wasn't thinking with the-smart-ass-part-of-my-brain. low blood sugar probably. i said something i totally regret now. i played the tourist card because of my accent. "i'm visiting...i've been taking photos of the beach all afternoon". then she asked what i was taking a photo of, and i say, "the chalkboard?!?!" and then she asks for what purpose and i reply, "uh, personal?". she then walks round to where i'm standing and looks and says oh. she walks away.

oh i was pissed.

get over yourself lady (ahahaha) and your little cafe establishment. you think this is intrusive, lady? you think that me, taking a photo of your menu chalkboard is intrusive? you're a public establishment and i've just stepped two feet off the sidewalk to take this picture. this country can be so hypocritical.

this is the country where cctv cameras are at the corner of every street in london. this is the country where in order to apply for a job, you, the applicant have to disclose personal details of your sexual orientation, marital status, whether or not you have children, any disabilities, who your doctor is, what sick time you've accessed in the past twenty-four months and....oh, AND what medical conditions or mental health concerns you've had or currently have, including medications. in canada, as an employer you would've been smacked with a lawsuit for discrimination if that's how you chose to hire people. but, for some reason, the english accept this form of monitoring.

again, you're in a public place and i do not need your permission to take a photo of...of all things...your menu board. get over it. processing it all as i walk to my car (because i'm a social worker and i can't switch this thing called, critical reflection off) i wished i had played along and inquired about the sign i must have missed that says, photographs of this establishment are prohibited. in which she would have replied, there isn't one...and i would have said, exactly...off you go and have a nice day. bye!

i like my imaginary rendition much better. and, i feel much better...now. venting is a beautiful thing. you should all try it sometime. and...this concludes my pre-menses post. tomorrow's post will be ten times better.