So, I left home around 4:30 pm to go see about a drop-in soccer group meeting at a park nearby.  When I saw the post about it on Craig's list yesterday, it seemed like a great idea!  But, the more I thought about it, the more shy I got about just showing up alone.  So, I went to the park without soccer gear and with a book, to walk by and see if it looked like something I wanted to try next week, once I at least introduce myself to the organizer.
There were about ten people there - several 20-30 ish men wearing stuff that looked very appropriate to soccer (more appropriate than a leisurely recreational game), and a few women sitting on the side with the kids.
Geez!  I am beginning to feel like such an oddball.  I don't have kids and, at 35, that definitely puts me in a minority.  Anyway, it all looked a little too competitive and intimidating to me, so I kept on walking and decided to sit and read where I could see the dogs in the dog park.
Well, the only place I could sit and see the dogs was IN the dog park.  So, I mustered up the guts to walk into a dog park, WITHOUT a dog, feeling like a big dork, and perched on one of the benches.
I love dogs.  Such joy and openness.  None of the dogs came near me for quite a while, which, in my current state of insecurity, was a little alarming!  But finally, this very lovely husky-type, wolf-looking dog, came running up and went straight for a lick on the face.  (Well, hello to you too!)  She stayed and let me scratch and pet her for longer than I expected, then went chasing after some other dog.  I then received a couple of drive-bys where the dogs stayed just out of reach and just checked out my surroundings, then another visit from my new friend, and finally another big curly-haired, sheepdog-looking dog came up and greeted me (minus the face-lick).
After about an hour of just watching an increasing number of dogs frolic, a human came up to me.  She was very nice and sat and chatted with me about dogs and trying to sell her home and whatnot.  I liked her.  I appreciate those people who are bold enough to come up and chat with me.  I like meeting new people (part of why my job is great).  To those who are that bold, I realize, it doesn't seem bold at all, but to me, they are one up on me.
Our greatest topic of discussion was bulldogs.  I had NO idea how aggressive those little buggers are!  I have always thought they were cute, but a little too loud in the snorting/breathing dept. to be of great interest to me.  But I didn't know they were bullies.  And it wasn't just one or two bulldogs.  There were about six of them and they were definitely trying to establish dominance, among pugs and terriers and labradors and GERMAN SHEPHERDS!  Are you kidding me?  This one was picking a fight with the breed of dog most often associated with law enforcement and tracking down criminals?  That is just ridiculous.  Of course, the owners certainly were not without blame in this.  For a moment, one of the more aggressive bulldogs was put back on a leash and then they let it off again and that's when the heated argument with the German Shepherd began.  Why was the bulldog back off-leash?  It already exhibited aggressive behavior!
It just was rather off-putting to me to be in an off-leash park and see owners not controlling the aggression, and , um . . . amorous behavior, of their dogs.  If it's not trained, don't bring it, I think.
I still yearn for a dog friend to accompany me to the park and maybe go for a run with, but I'll stick to my furball cat for now.  He has manners.