The Gift That Keeps On Giving

I refer, of course, to tattoos - they provide endless opportunities for derision. You know only too well the dim view the Curmudgeon Societé Generale takes of today's enthusiasm for tattoos. This visual makes clear a large share of the reason why they are apparently so popular. 

One can forgive boys going to war that they get something tattooed their last night before the big offensive, but for the broader group of people living in a civilized society, there is no excuse for tattoos that show in public. 

None. Zip. Nada. 

Country Music

I hate country music.  Actually, all members of the Curmudgeon Societé Generale are sworn to hate country music. If I lived in a part of the U.S. that lives and breathes country music, I would have to shoot myself. From what I know of these places, there's a lot of shooting going on anyway. 

Country music is always whining about lost loves, loneliness and whatnot. Depressing crap. 

Compare that to the Beach Boys or the Beatles - happy, aspirational music. Music that leaves you feeling upbeat and ready for anything. No whining. 

Hell, compare it to most any music and country comes up short. 

Right Mind (Slight Return)

Nobody in their right mind comes to Sanibel in "high season" either (i.e. the winter).

Despite being warm and having what many consider a wonderful overabundance of nature, it also has exactly one main road stretching the length of the island. One. No traffic lights. 15,000 people on top of the 8,000 here now. Not pretty. 

I suspect left turns are simply out of the question. 

No Seeums

As part nature preserve, Sanibel is host to a slew of critters. Outside of household pets - excluding dogs - curmudgeons don't do well with critters. 

One of Sanibel's critter plagues is the humble - and aptly named - no seeum. These flying, biting pests can even fit through screening. And let me tell you, their bite leaves a nasty welt. 

You would think a mosquito got you, but as we all know, there is enough residual DDT from the early 20th century spraying floating around in the ground water to prevent THAT!

These damned no seeums must have evolved a resistance to the stuff - the wind dies down and they're all over you. 

Paradise, my eye. 

Island Pricing

Understandably, things cost more here on an island than on the mainland. In the past, we could sneak over the bridge to a Publix to save a few bucks, but they built a new bridge and now charge us $6 for the pleasure. 

So I understand captive markets. Nonetheless, I still am struggling to understand how a burger and a breakfast sandwich at Newark Airport cost about the same as an entire dinner for two here on Sanibel, a place not known for good deals. 

I'm guessing it's time to wake up and smell the roses - New Jersey is not worth the money. 

In the interests of fairness, I will admit that I also had a root beer float in Newark, but, come on.