Ahh, the big holiday time of year. It has always been exciting – usually it means no school (or work); it’s a time to stay at home and play video games, hang out with the friends or family, or frolic through the snow. The end of December and beginning of January brings back memories of school vacation and visits to the grandparents, and playing outside for hours until my gloves-made-of-socks became soggy and wet, making throwing snowballs ineffective (as they stick to the sock-gloves). This year, however, I did a couple of new things that I’m sure I will remember fondly: I broke my thumb and got teargassed.

Not in the same day, mind you. The thumb just so happened to get stuck in a car door (not in the nice part that has the rubber strips, that would have been far more pleasant). Aside from the pain that came shortly after the crunch noise, I can certainly say that it was the most awake/alive I’ve felt in some time (what is it about pain that does that? Is it the accompanying adrenalin?) Incidentally, alcohol wasn’t involved, which is notable since it seems to always be included as part of the seasons festivities, which somehow increases the possibility of things like this happening.

As far of the teargas goes, first a bit of explanation: in other countries (like the USA), you can easily buy pepper spray, tasers, shotguns, and other nice self defense mechanisms from your local WalMart. In Germany, one of the few things you can buy along those lines is teargas. Now, I didn’t know that before I found out what it smells/tastes like, but hey – live and learn. Anyway, some jokers put some in the ventilation system in a bar that I happened to be in a few nights ago, which led to a prompt evacuation of the place (its a rather small place, so it took under a minute).

I imagine if the same thing happened in the US, it’d be an “act of terrorism”, probably with a terrorist conviction too boot for the juvenile that pulled the prank. After the air cleared and one of the guys I was there with loudly proclaimed that he was the responsible one, we all shuffled back in and the DJ put some tunes back on. But hey – it made the night more interesting.

At this rate, I hope that New Years is a little less exciting.