For your Amusement (and a despair debrief)

"Do I have a thorax? Or is that just insects?"
--Matt

If someone forced me to answer truthfully to whether or not I have a sense of humour, I'd have to say "no". But--I do have a healthy sense of amusement (which Matt is constant fodder for thankfully). I thought I'd share some of the things that have made us laugh versus just describe boring ol' Euro-sites at you. Why, just now we are in a internet cafe run by a young dude with an afro and wearing a lab coat and stethescope. Outside is a skeleton in tube socks with a watergun through its pelvis. If that doesn't amuse than what will. Another amusing site was the water fountain outside the Kafka museum in Prague of two moving men holding their manhoods and having a pissing contest. (I'll happily share the video with you.)

Also making me laugh is American army radio in Germany. Or learning of "British stoicism coming to the fore" in a recent thwarted terrorist attack in London thanks to "authorities". Actually, their sensationalistic tabloid news is also a highly amusing read. We recommend listening to local radio while travelling--even if it's not in your language. While in Ireland we listened to horror holiday stories of the Irish in Spain, and just what those dastardly Spanish will do to you--like kick your wallet on subway tracks--but only if you wear socks and sandals. In which case, you deserve it.

Matt and I's soulful duet of "In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight..." is also recommended. Let's just say, Matt's part is all the high pitched squeely parts. Quite amusing trust me. (Hey, gotta come up with some kind of entertainment while motoring all those long miles on the road with Europeans threatening your life with their "slightly more aggresive technique".

Speaking of Europeans, did I mention that it is mandatory to wear a Speedo in some places. I've yet to get Matt's fine form in one. Even the sporty red one I suggested. And the variety of Speedos there are! I never knew! They come in snug, extra snug, and yikes!. In plaid, animal prints, demure black as well as sporty rouge. My personal fave has got to be the extra-elongating version.

And the French. Truly my favorites. The Nederpeople (the Dutch) are friendliest, the Deustchers (Germans--pronounced "doy-chers") you have to envy because no matter where you go, they're already there--esp on mountaintops. I swear they are born with little hiking boots on. But the French penchant for driving, creative parking, lively banter, inspiring smoking, and pissy behaviour in general is definitely amusing. We've witnessed screaming conversations on buses, on street corners, emitting from phone booths. We like to imagine the ones we encountered in the day who deserve the "baguette beating". (You can imagine.)

Maybe these are all "you have to be there" moments. Hmmm... one last try. Matt and I have taken up haiku writing. Why?

Feelings caught briefly--
discipline good for roving
Euro travellers.

You want to read more don't you??

Sticky butterfly feet
cling to old, familiar ways--
butterfly wings soar.

Ok. Enough with the funny/ not so funny.

A debrief on the despair/collage email is in order, since I think I caused some misunderstanding.(Plus, as Ken and Sonya say, I am the debrief queen.) Despair is a useful state to be born and lived through insofar as it propels us to faith--necessary in life whether one is religious or not. A caterpillar experiences death as it knows itself to become what it is meant to be, a butterfly. The cocoon is a tool, but a dark one. Yet, the darkness must be born. Once trapped inside, it must rely on faith. But we are not caterpillars. Instead we have to choose the cocoon ourselves. And that is something I am not always so happy about, nor exceptionally good at.

(Am I better understood now?)