Au Cochonnet Marin

We are back in business… well, almost.

Last Sunday, around 25 players showed up at the Marin pétanque field. An average number for a “normal” late summer day. But we are not living normal days…
For most of the year, we have been directed to cover our faces and stay put. And most of the people have been complying with this. But how long can you live in isolation before going off the deep end?

So yes, people are eager to get out of the house and mingle with their fellow human beings. And last Sunday they did just this. It seems that after many depressing months the sport of pétanque is back in business! And nothing tastes as sweet as a mouthful of an almost forgotten fruit.

There is an old saying that goes “The misfortune of some brings contentment to others.”
Regular players might have noticed that lately, many club outsiders are now coming to our courts. This is because the Lamorinda club (due to a city dispute) has lost access to its field.

Players needing an outlet to their repressed energy are now coming to our beautiful, shaded field. And this is great!
Most people are creatures of habit, and they usually don’t stray too far from their regular haunts. The closure of their field prompted them to seek solace somewhere else. This is great because normally, we only see those people in tournaments, once or twice a year.

And sometimes, you don’t know these individuals very well. Now we get a chance to know them better. Personally, I was surprised by the shooting skills of some. Never judge a book by its cover. Some quaint looking people turned out to be great shooters!

We are back in business but wearing a face mask is “de rigueur.” This is not easy to do, particularly when it is hot, and when you are exerting yourself. But this is what needs to be done, and there is no excuse for not doing it. If you don’t comply with this basic rule, you are an accomplice to the continuing pandemic and its ever-rising death toll.

We will see better days, but not this year, as our beloved leader assured us. Rather be safe than sorry. We cannot let our guard down until we have proof that a vaccine will work and until we are all immune from this so-called “hoax.”

We are back in business, but not as yesteryear. Be sure to follow our guidelines and use some common sense. Your life and the lives of others depend on it.

Pétanquely yours,

Alain

PS: Vote and vote early!

Harassment, like Covid-19, is more virulent than ever. And it is not a hoax.
The Internet used to be a pleasant place to visit, but not so much anymore. Now, anytime you get there, you will be subjected to relentless harassment.
It will feel like visiting a Mexican resort town; you will be accosted every 5 minutes by somebody who wants to sell you something.

No matter what you are looking for, after a few minutes of browsing, an ad will pop up and beseech you. And it is more insistent than a political fundraiser. Sometimes browsing the Internet feels like being solicited by a “sporting woman”. No matter how you look, the lady wants your business. But at least, she is nicer and not as pushy as the Internet pimp.

Television used to be a provider of news… Today it is nothing more than a pipeline for commercials… The news is lost in a flood of noisy promotions. The industry is behaving like a business on its last leg, trying to squeeze out a few more bucks before closing down. Greed will eventually kill the Golden Goose.

The public is increasingly turning to the Internet for information. But every news outlet now wants you to “subscribe”. “To continue reading, please sign up.”
Every Tom Dick and Harry want your precious address, but I don’t want to divulge it too easily. It is not for public consumption. Too many people are already privy to my address and sending me unwanted junk. Basta!

Harassment is not something new. It is an old American institution. Women have been subjected to it for a long time and they are finally fighting back. Good for them. But it is not only a women’s problem. It is a universal problem, and everybody should rebel against any aggressive pressure.

Most of the people don’t respond well to cyberbullying. It is counterproductive, and it will drive customers away instead of attracting them. In the future, they will steer clear of sites where they are being harassed.

There is a world of difference between seduction and harassment. Seduction is a synonym for the act of charming someone. Harassment means to torment, annoy, bother.
On the Internet or anywhere else, I want to be charmed, not tormented.

 If you want to entice, fondle instead of going against the grain. Use a “patte de velours” (velvet paw) instead of bare claws.

Alain

Some people are hopelessly incapable of making a clean exit.
It sounds strange but I actually know individuals affected by this strange affliction. The “hard to part” disorder.

When they say, “I am leaving”, it doesn’t mean that they will decamp in the next few minutes. It indicates, that eventually, in the next 30 minutes or so, if the wind is blowing in the right direction… they might make themselves scarce.

I find this rather annoying. I am the type of person who is out the door right after exchanging a kiss or handshake. I don’t look back or linger. What is done is done. Changing anything after such a deliberate decision has been made is bad karma.

But some people find making a clean exit hard to do. They always need more time… to think, gather their wits, and set their compass before making this momentous decision.

I once knew a person who was the ultimate bad “leaver”. He started to say goodbye in the kitchen. He then stopped in the dining room for more talk. He paused at the front door for a few last thoughts… and he coerced you to follow him to his car for more schmoozing.

It was absolutely exhausting. I always tried to remain civil but the frozen smile on my face was becoming harder to maintain with each passing minute.

To me, a goodbye kiss or a handshake means that a deal has been made. The departing person is ethically bound to vanish within minutes. Not implementing this contract is bad form, especially since the host might have to pee or flush his bowels.

The old “I left my panties on the sofa“ won’t cut it with me. No excuses! Once we have smooched, you have to leave. It’s the rule!
Leaving is like a bungee jump. After you have made your decision, there is no turning back.

So, if you want to stay on my good side, once we have cuddled, or whatever we have done, don’t expect anything from me anymore. Make a clean exit! Get on your horse and get the hell out of here.
This is what goodbye between two rational people means.

Goodbye, my friend. Vaya con Dios…  Ciao… Auf wiedersehen…. and don’t you dare to look back or say another word!

Alain