People suck sometimes

Fuck it pisses me off when people don't stop for injured animals or animals in danger it really does.

Nick, Matt and I were having a lovely picnic in the gardens across from the Arts Centre when we saw a dog roaming the park. Naturally as we had food there we were hoping the dog would not be coming to make friends with us just yet and just ignored it and carried on with our conversation. Moments later we hear a loud bang and turn to see the blue heeler ricocheting off the bonnet of a silver car with a yelp as it was pushed to the centre of the busy road. The car sped off while the cars behind attempted to brake and miss the dog. A few onlookers jumped up and one of the girls and I made it to the road. She picked up the dog (who was yelping in pain and struggling to stand) moved her to the side of the road in the shade. I called the animal hospital who then put me on to the Lost Dogs Home ambulance who came as soon as they could. It just really pissed me off that the person driving the car didn't even come back. It shits me that someone could leave another living creature for dead in the middle of the busy road. Sure it's traumatic being the driver and knowing you've hit someone but how the fuck can you live with yourself knowing that you didn't stop to render assistance? Even the lady in the car in front of the car that hit the dog came back to check on the dog as she'd seen it all in her rearview mirror. It just makes me angry. There wasn't much in the way of external injury. A little bleeding from the front right dew claw and a little where the abdomen meets the hind legs. Nothing was visibly broken but I'm fairly sure that the hind legs took a fair brunt of the force of the car. It was amazing that she was still alive really. I'm getting all angry thinking about this again. We (Nick, a somewhat goth couple of girls and I) sat with her until the ambulance came (flashing lights and all) and then slid her onto the makeshift gurney and carried her to the car. The poor thing was not impressed with the move as it obviously pained her. She was in shock and I think the last thing that she wanted to see was another dog but there was a dog in another section of the station wagon/ambulance. In true fighting style she picked herself up as much as she could and dragged herself to the other end of the car and tried to sit up but ended up just curling up into a ball. I hope she's okay and I hope she has a home to go to. It's silly I know, but I'm going to call tomorrow and just see how she is. I guess it's closure for me.

Besides, Gene and my family can testify that I'm always the first to get someone to pull over in a car and help get dogs or cows off the road. If reincarnation exists I hope that someone will help me if I'm a scared creature that somehow found myself in the midst of loud fast scary big things. Grr people.

The whole affair put a dampener on things but Nick was wonderful and came back with hot drinks which were nice and soothing. We ended up lazing in the park watching a little girl play with a bubble gun and later a family strolling through the gardens with bright parasols. It was just what I needed after the late night last night. A little sunshine and (relatively) fresh air is good for the soul really.

We headed back to Matt's where we finished the night talking about theatre and shows we've seen/worked on/want to do. Then we watched Matt's version of Gypsy complete with director's commentary and fast-forwarding. It was great although I really wish I'd gotten to see it live.

It never ceases to amaze me what Matt can do with a show. It's always a challenge and always a fantastic learning experience working with him. Admittedly I've only worked with him once but he brings out the best in people and his craftsmanship in storytelling... I just don't know how to describe it but it feels right. I look forward to working with him again.

I keep thinking about what I'm going to do when my contract with the Games finishes and the thought of not having something to move onto is stressing me somewhat but I guess I need to work out what I want to do and chase that. There are just so many things that I want to do. I need to focus.

Every year I want to build on my skills and well I hope I can actually do it this year. I want to understand better how theatre is put together. In a similar way to writers looking at the forms of writing and various structures involved in writing, I want to get a better understanding of the elements that go together to put on a good show and how they work. I don't need to be a master of all trades, I just want to understand and try. It's a challenge but I think it'll make me better at what I do. I think everyone should get out there and challenge themselves to do something that they wouldn't normally do every now and then. It's refreshing!

I guess even though I didn't really do much other than relax all day it feels like it's been a long day. The whole incident with the dog really took it out of me. I think I was feeling stressed because I felt helpless. I couldn't do much to help the dog who was obviously distressed and in pain. She couldn't tell me what bits hurt and how she felt. She could just lie there. I felt helpless because I couldn't help her and I was angry that the person who had caused the pain didn't stop. I was angry because they had placed this creature in this position, even though it wasn't intentional, and hadn't even given a damn what happened to it. It made me very angry.

Tomorrow is a new day and I will still probably be angry but I'm not going to let it take over my life. I will continue to stop and help where I can because frankly that's just the kind of person I am. I guess I am a little idealistic and seem to think that most people would act the same way. Silly me.

People suck sometimes.