Umbrella Wars....

Well, you'd think that Dubliners would be quite deft with umbrellas, considering the amount of time they spend with one firmly gripped. So why is it that I got stabbed today, not once but twice, on the 12 minute walk from the train station to the office?

First was a guy just behind me coming out of the station when he decided to open his monster umbrella firmly up against my leg. You know I've been here too long because I actually apologized for the temerity of my leg occupying the same space as his umbrella.

Second was a young lady up the street who, with umbrella already open and lethal, decided to do a rapid about-face, leading with the brolly, while I was two paces behind her. I felt like I was in a fencing match, and the little buzzer on my chest went 'bzzzzzzzzz'. This time she apologized, and I just muttered under my breath.

Luckily it's cleared up for the afternoon, or I really would have lost it at the sight of another umbrella being even remotely threatening within 20 feet of me.