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« February 2006 | Main | April 2006 » March 30, 2006
Dover Court "Guilty" of Violating Common Sense!I'm a little annoyed right now. I was reading in my good friend's blog Voter Without A Country (check it out, it's awesome) some comments about corruption in the Dover city management. I'm not sure if what happened to me and my son today has anything to do with Dover itself or if it is statewide but it's a crime. My son was charged with a violation last week. Now, there are four classes of charges: Felony, Class A Misdemeanor, Class B Misdemeanor, and Violation - violation of course being the most petty - think speeding ticket type trouble (which is a "moving" violation). He was told to appear in the Dover courthouse today to answer to it. He asked me for a ride and I offered to tag along as well. We got there at the prescribed 12:30 and we didn't leave until three P.M. It was the slowest process, unbelievably slow. There were so many people there, it was absolutely clogged. I was assuming that his matter was going to be taken care of on the spot. He planned on pleading not guilty and since it was such a simple matter, he figured that it would be decided on right then. After all, it's a violation, not a misdemeanor or felony. But, no, he was told that he would have an additional court date to plead his case. Okay, my question is this. Why the hell could he not just sign the summons with his plea, mail it in, and be sent a court date through the mail as one does a traffic ticket violation? We both took a ridiculous amount of time from work (I had to leave my own work at 11:30 to pick him up) off to appear in court ONLY to enter a plea to a puny violation class charge. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! The crime being this -- so many of the people at the court were also pleading to simple violations, so many that the courtroom was overflowing and the process tediously slow -- how many tax dollars did that eat up? Thousands, let me tell you. There were never less than 6 officials of the court present at any time and the amount of time they all took to do things was ridiculous...no - REDONKULOUS. I will be writing the court with this issue. A simple violation is a simple violation, and should be allowed to be pled via mail like a moving violation. I wonder if this is a local court policy or is it statewide? Regardless, it's an absolute boondoggling waste of taxpayers' money to force a person to show up in court to enter his plea to a simple violation charge. Baloney, fooey, and hogwash - and no common sense!
Posted by at 04:00 PM | Comments (4) March 28, 2006
Burnt ToastMy friend Tina and I used to love meeting for lunch in downtown Portsmouth. Our lives have changed a bit and so we don't get to do it often, in fact it's been several months. Our favorite meeting spot was always the Friendly Toast. We love the decor, the food (the falafel and the artichoke dip were always on our agenda) and the service was always friendly (just don't sit in a window seat at noon if you don't want a splitting headache from the glare). I never had the chance to take my kids there and always have wanted to. I got the chance to take my youngest there a couple of weeks ago during a spur-of-the-moment shopping trip to Macro Polo/G. Willikers. I was psyched to finally take him, I knew he'd love it. He actually did enjoy the visit immensely, mostly because it was so new to him, there was so much visual stimulus, and he wasn't hungry.
I for one was crestfallen. What has happened to the Friendly Toast? The entire staff was absolutely nonplussed at all times. The Apathetic Toast? It wasn't that crowded yet the meal took over an hour due to slow service. The Tired Toast? My waitress never cracked a smile; in fact, I don't believe anyone working there smiled the entire time. The Sad Toast? It was as though they'd all stirred their coffee with phenobarbital swizzlers that morning. The Zombie Toast? My son was very well behaved, polite and quiet enough so I know it wasn't us. Well, I did spill a soda, but our waitress just walked by our table obliviously, so clearly she didn't even know. I had to flag down a different waitress for help, who proceeded to bring me several napkins and leave. No inquiry as to whether I'd like a replacement, no offer to help me clean it. The Mean Toast? My son had ordered a burger, the child size portion - though the tiny burger was served with a humongous, full-sized bun that dwarfed the burger. He didn't touch it (I don't blame him, it was frightening) but did eat the fries with gusto. I guess it's pretty hard to screw up french fries. I ordered my old favorite, the falafel and home fries. The home fries were fine, but the falafel was really dry and sat uneasily in my stomach. I wondered aloud to the waitress where the tangy yogurt sauce was. She raised her eyebrows, shrugged her shoulders and shook her head in a "ummm, sorry?" kind of way. No offer to get me some, or explanation of why it was missing, nothing. Was I speaking a different language than the entire staff? It was surreal. I couldn't believe this was my lovely Friendly Toast. While waiting another ten or fifteen minutes for the check, I took a good look around, trying to absorb all the funky art that I am so fond of. I took in as much as I could hold in my memory banks because that might be the only place I'll see them again. Later that afternoon I pondered if it could have just been a bad day for everyone working there - waitresses, cooks and others. I really wanted to believe it, such was my affection for the Friendly Toast. When I woke up at 2 AM with a nauseous feeling in my stomach, I hoped it would be a passing feeling. When I was revisiting my meal at 3 AM, I decided it was really over between us. Goodbye, old friend(ly toast). It was good while it lasted! Posted by at 02:17 PM | Comments (4) March 23, 2006
Ponderings from the Peanut GalleryI wonder why... ...it takes a nasty case of bronchitis to (re)jump start my diet? I've lost 5 pounds, yay! I can barely breathe, boo! ...my car smells like ass? ...I must pay to have my phone number protected from cranks and salespeople? ...my dog turns his nose up at his kibble yet eats his own poo? (side note: This may be linked to why my car smells like ass) ...there's no actual question here, just I wonder why?? ...my checks always bounce the day before payday? Why can't they wait just another 12 hours? ...it takes me an entire week to do last week's laundry now that I have my own convenient washer & dryer - when it used to take me 2 hours at the laundromat? ...I can't stay out of Petco even though I'm broke as hell? ...I wasn't born rich, beautiful, and completely sane? What are the odds anyway? ...I'm not famous? ...pot isn't legal? ...tobacco and booze are? ...we are still in Iraq? ...Bush is still President? ...we still manufacture non-hybrid vehicles? Well, that's all from the peanut gallery for now. I'm getting too deep, and could go on forever at this rate! I'm off to buy another bottle of air freshener for the car. Pee-yoo! How come no one What happens when the tide comes in to the ocean that is creeping? How come no one Why isn’t anybody answering my questions? What happens when the tide comes in to all the people sleeping by the sea? How come no one ************************************** Posted by at 11:52 AM | Comments (3) March 17, 2006
Woolly Bully!I read a comment on Kelly’s blog yesterday from someone who said they were frightened by “Bully’s sudden tones of aggression”. I do apologize -- I mostly huff and puff and snort, but I forget that we bulls can be scary when we do so. However, my blog does come with a disclaimer – in the About Me entry. Don’t be lulled into a sedate state by my habit of posting occasional entries that reek of sensitivity. I am indeed loaded with sensitivity, but a bull is a bull and never predictable. I am also loaded with bully attitude. Don’t step into the paddock if you don’t want to face the bull. I’m afraid to say that I can be ornery, blunt to a fault and have very little patience with vapid palaver or ignorant fools. I have always been so, in my life and on this blog from the very first entries. I don’t give a cowbell for others’ opinions of me, but I do feel ashamed if I manage to frighten someone; I don’t mean to. I realize that not everyone has a backbone of barbed wire and that some don’t take the evil truth very well when I lay it on the line. To those I say, peace, friend, I mean no harm. Don’t forget that even though I can seem mean as hell, I’m still a gentle soul at heart. Snuffle, snortle, snurf. Just try and remember there is nothing personal. If one day I strike you as particularly prickly, please read my “disclaimer:” I am opinionated, bossy, and a once a month beeyatch with several years to go. I have little to no tolerance for stupidity/cruelty/ignorance/apathy. I have a hide that can withstand a five alarm fire but I can be totally sidelined by the smallest injustice. Some days I gallop at high speed across the pasture, ripping up dirt clods and tormenting the cows; other days I’m content with a warm stall, a bucket of oats and a Navajo blanket. I am Bully, pat my head, feed me grass, hear me snort! Some might prefer to do that from the other side of the fence, though. Posted by at 10:51 AM | Comments (12) March 14, 2006
STFU Volume IIIt's been a while since I've felt the real, collective need to scream just STFU to several people at once. However, many of the headlines today have propelled me to create this entry, STFU II. Enjoy. STFU Case #1 STFU Case #2
My hat's off to the winners today. Posted by at 11:17 AM | Comments (4) March 13, 2006
No SaleAah, what the American people can accomplish when completely unified. The United Arab Emirate's Dubai group ,has decided to pull out of the U.S. port sale completely due to negative reaction from the American people. So, as much as our president tried to quench the fire of fear he has fueled, and instead fan the flames of belated peace and trust, it did not matter. We, the people, in cahoots with the media (did I just say that!?), made our stance clear: “No way, no how.” So the Dubai group said, “Well, okay, fine – forget it then.” Take a look on the Rasmussen Reports website at the results of a poll on the American opinion about this subject. Just 17% agreed the sale should go through. (Sadly, very few Americans realize that many ports are already controlled by other foreign entities). Outcry was instant, very loud, unwavering and practically unanimous against this deal. I can’t remember a time when the American people were so united in their beliefs – to the point where the seemingly inevitable was overturned. It was accomplished without need for trials, legislation, red tape or trickery. We simply got our way, by simply using the power of the people. Kind of reminds me of a little thing we pulled off back in 1776. Imagine. Posted by at 12:21 PM | Comments (8) March 10, 2006
Leve us PHS kids alon, u stuped morrons!Oh my God - I am just reeling from reading all the rants and posts from seemingly illiterate PHS current students and alumnae. I realize that there is only a small sampling, three to five or so, that posted on the thread, "PHS students and substance abuse" on the seacoastconnects.com website. However, I can't believe that it is coincidence that the handful of kids posting are nearly illiterate. What are the odds - pull out four or five kids and - just coincidentally - they can't spell words like "realize," "would," "aren't," etc. nor can they manage to put a decent sentence together. Example: "these police and school officals are as dumb as a blind bat in the dark stop harrasing and drawing these little time people and students into the thick of something that they have not even got them selfs into, all i see every other week is somone from portsmouth has been arrested on drug charges and or trafficing what is a gram that bad? .... i can tell you when i attended portsmouth high from 2001 - 2004 i had more ways to skip past school and police officals with out them even knowing or haveing the clue of drug intuishion or possesion, leave these kids alone stop harrsing and ruining thier lives like max said tell em who is the rat is they will learn one day and relize being a snich is not the best for thier lives and what lies ahead of them. go after the big people the ones they gain thier product from not, the little time people who dont even have anything worth bring to trial. these kids arnt dumb they wount tell you anything. Besides half the people who are getting arrested are not even old enought to be tryed as adults a 16 yr old being tryed as an adult have fun in court. ill post my opion out to thew wrld so everyone can see this you people are a joke. these stupid trials and pictures this city keeps throwing out to everyone is rediculous..."
Maybe they could if they tried. Perhaps they are so riddled with teen angst, ADD, or self-righteousness that they simply can't slow down enough to remember their spelling, grammar and punctuation. I doubt it. My oldest son and I were both extreme ADD (and angst!) cases during high school and we can both type at a fast clip while misspelling nary a word. My son went to Oyster "Reefer" High School where Birkenstocks are required teacher's footwear and hemp the only acceptable material among the student body. There could be a half pound bag of reefer in someone's locker but the staff wouldn't think of invading someone's rights by searching students' "private property." Still, they managed to educate the kids from my son's class - one of the most unmotivated and distracted groups of kids I've ever known. Most of them went on to college the very next year. My son got lousy grades for the most part, not being genetically programmed to fit a typical school setting, but guess what? He can - and does - read, write beautifully, has perfect handwriting, and can spell his way through pages and pages of self-written poetry. My point being, either something is seriously wrong with Portsmouth's schools or the parents. Or both? Someone is clearly dropping the ball with these children. In fact, it seems to be that someone has taught these children to drop the ball. A dream of mine has always been to actually own a home in Portsmouth. I would love to live in this little town that I've worked in for 20 years - it's more like a hometown to me than the very town I do live in. However, my dreams are suddenly pointed toward Kittery, where kids can read and write and parents and teachers don't stand for such slack from their kids. Yes, Kittery has its share of "lusers" but on the seacoast, it looks to be the cream of the crop. I would give my eye teeth, or a finger, or more, if I could in some way homeschool my youngest son. But regardless, I am confident that when he is in high school and comes across a public forum that gets his juices going, he will be literate and show rational thought processes in his posts. He is already reading young adult classics and listening to symphony music (Band of Rogue's Big Band Zelda and Mario being a current favorite). Why is he so "advanced" (not advanced but right on target, if you look at WORLD statistics), you may ask? Well I believe it is an effort that is extended by not only me and his father, but the school as well. His school annoys me with their PC attitudes at times but they teach the kids well - they ensure that what they've taught STICKS IN THE CHILDRENS' HEADS. Kids are not encouraged to move on if they are not ready. They make this effort to a tremendous point during the primary years (K-3). There is a great effort extended while they are so young by the school in both its curriculum & policies and by encouraging heavy involvement of the parents. Is Portsmouth school system equal to my son's school system? I have no idea, but with the examples I've seen lately - not just in the news - but from the kids themselves - I wouldn't bet on it. Posted by at 10:13 AM | Comments (9) March 06, 2006
Aching Muscles, Amazing Photos and a Bruised DOH! GlandAh, progress. As I posted earlier last week I've stepped on to the long and winding road toward physical fitness. Of course the road can't be straight, level and with several lanes to choose from. No, dear readers, my diet journey will be more like Rte 103 than I-95. But I'm confident I'll get to my destination. Last week's trials included being talked out of a workout for a bowl of kickin' crab chowda, forgetting my sneakers & sports bra and ending week one with sole custody of my seven year old child during two days of bitter-freakin'-cold. Well, I managed to excercise without the sneakers & sports bra -- just imagine an overweight woman with jiggly boobs and muck-lucks determinedly speed walking -- yeah, I laughed too. But I did it anyway, feeling ridiculous is easy and fun with Ben Folds' Whatever and Ever Amen in my earphones. Aching calf and torso muscles are a good sign that I'm doing SOMETHING right. I was able to convince my young prodigy that exercise outside is fun in the freezing cold. In fact, he managed to get me on a few sled runs while visiting a friend with a wicked slope in her yard (thanks Michelle - was that fun or what?). We also went on a walking tour through a part of town full of old and decaying mill buildings and I gave him free license with my digital camera. Following are some of his AMAZING shots. This kid is SEVEN, can you believe the eye he has?
And finally, I, Princess Gracenot, managed to nearly total my car while doing a mere 12 miles an hour in a school zone today. On a main street. With my ex's girl friend in the car behind me just so the moronic details could be recorded for prosperity. I dropped my Dunkin Donuts cup full of hot stinky coffee into my console full of change and in the momentary freak-out of it all was able to bounce off the curb, lose complete control of my car and attract attention from school children and elderly pedestrians alike. Instead of the usual flat tire that accompanies such a DOH! moment, I of course had to completely ruin my wheel, pushing it sideways and rendering further transportation impossible. Something I never ever thought I would say when I was in my early twenties - Thank God for Kittery cops - and yes, there's a snowball in hell right now. Thank you Officer Nice Man for calling a tow, calling my work, letting me sit in your warm car and for the lift to the station to wait for my ride. I was so frazzled I forgot to get your name but I'm sending a warm batch of cookies to the station with instructions to find their way to you. Spilled Dunkins: $2 Posted by at 04:20 PM | Comments (4) March 03, 2006
Find Your Inner BullI know a man who says everyone has their own elephant. By this, I believe he means that your elephant is your innermost self, the ultimate truth about your own self that you cannot avoid. It's an elephant, for pete's sake, you can't hide from it. Greg, that's a profound philosophy but I must veer from it and say that I have my own bull. Elephants are peaceful creatures. They lumber along, eat tons of vegetation, swing their trunks gently around their infants and each other. Hey, that's not my INNER self, that's my OUTER self. My INNER self, the ultimate truth about myself that I cannot avoid is that deep within, I am full of bull. I'm full of contradictions and orneriness, poking sharp horns about and tramping the dirt with cloven hooves. I run in circles and buck people off my back as they try with all their might to just hang on to me for a few more seconds. I am Bully, hear me snort! But being a bull isn't such a bad deal. We bovines have plenty of desirable qualities, such as our shit being able to fuel a car. Ooooo, take that, Mustafa! We inspire deep thoughts.
We inspire great art.
Before they started on the gas experiment, the Japanese cloned us so they'd have an ample supply.
Often imitated but never duplicated. Well, except for the cloning thing.
We bulls are peaceful creatures by nature, it takes a lot to piss us off.
But when that line is crossed, God help you.
I have no words for this, except that this guy has earned my admiration.
And at the end of the day, all we really want is a green meadow, some grass to chew, and a nice sunset.
Oh, and a statue in our tribute would be nice.
Some folks may prefer to pamper their inner elephants, but being Bully takes more dedication. It is a higher state of mind. Find your bull and may you find happiness. Have a great weekend folks. Snort!
Posted by at 03:39 PM | Comments (3) March 01, 2006
Was it the Rocky Mountain Oysters?*Okay I'm not one to post more than one blog a day, but when I logged on to the front page of www.seacoastconnects.com, which is a great site for just about everything local or not so local, I couldn't help myself. The wonderful staffers at seacoastonline do a great job pushing our blogs. I'd probably get 5 hits a month (3 of which would be me re-reading my entries and looking for errors in my obssessive compulsive way) if it weren't for their banners and links to our blogs here at blogthecoast.com. On the seacoast connects website homepage, a kindred blog will be linked to different headliner articles. For example, under an article on pesto pizza, there will be a link to the blog "Wine Me, Dine Me." While checking out the front page I literally choked on a banana pepper (wait for the irony) when I saw what the powers that be chose to link me to:
Don't get me wrong -- I totally appreciate and welcome it when anybody or any site uses my blog as a link. The more hits the merrier and the more educated we will all be (snort!). I can't help but wonder, though, where this will take my blog as far as who will be linking to me in the future! I guess it's just my lot in life to be classified as "Strange But True." Just ask my folks. *what?. Posted by at 01:20 PM | Comments (6) Yeah, We Take 'emI have a pet peeve that I'm going to turn into a minor rant today. You know I can be excessively "wordy" so please bear with. I'm hoping someone who has a stake in my subject might take what I say to heart. I am someone who rarely carries cash on me. I mean really, it's more like, NEVER. I've had to write a check at the York tollbooth because I didn't have cash! I use my “debit” card for everything. My bank issued me a clever little piece of plastic that works like an ATM card but can be used just like a credit card with no “PIN” involved. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about – is there anyone in this country who doesn’t have a bank card? Come on! I mean, I use my bank card at Dunkin Donuts for pete’s sake! So why, why, why are there still stores that don’t accept credit cards? I realize that the credit companies, Visa, MasterCard, etc, do charge a nominal fee per transaction for the service. So what? A few pennies to the dollar (usually 1-3%) is certainly worth offering this convenience to your customers. I am a vendor. I sell things on ebay, all the time. I accept credit cards. I wouldn’t think of not accepting credit cards – do you know how much business I would lose? No one wants to wait two or three weeks for their stuff just because I had to wait for a personal check to arrive in the mail and then wait longer for it to clear. Customers love being able to click a button, type in a number, and pay me instantly, thus receiving their merchandise within a few days. I’ll put this in an open letter to all stores who don’t accept credit cards. I won’t say outright that it’s directed specifically at a convenient store that may be located near a certain little league ball park on a certain corner in Portsmouth near a certain cemetery. Dear Merchant, I just want to tell you something. I have no beef with your store itself, or your clerks. This is why I never say anything to the clerks directly – I don’t want to seem like I’m insulting them – I’ve seen plenty of customers be rude and I know they don’t need any more from me. However, I wanted to let you know why I walked out of your store without buying anything. I popped in for a soda and a sandwich, which goes for about five or six bucks, and asked if your clerk if the store took credit cards. I asked, because I always carry my bank card instead of cash. She replied, “Sorry, no, but we DO have an ATM over in the corner!” (smiles and furrows apologetic eyebrows to me). I walked to the ATM and saw that it charged a $1.95 fee or something like that. My bank charges a $1.00 fee when I use my ATM card at a merchant’s machine. So basically, I will be paying eight or nine bucks for said soda and sandwich. No thanks! I might as well enjoy a hot meal served at the Friendly Toast. I’d rather tip a waitress than an ATM. You might not accept credit cards because you are a small convenient store and you believe the charges you accrue from the credit companies are not worth it. But let me point out another view – my view (the right view, of course). I walked out of your store without buying anything because I didn’t want to pay an extra three bucks. I will also never come to your store again because I love using my bank card and you don’t accept bank cards. I will also at some point say to more than one person, “Oh, don’t go there, they don’t accept bank cards and you have to use their stupid ATM, which charges two bucks!” And likely, the people I say this to will just keep going to the next convenient store, which is TRULY “convenient,” because it doesn’t force you to use an ATM machine if you don’t have cash on you. Merchant, your store just went from quaint and convenient to a pain-in-the-ass. Do yourself a big favor and hook up with the credit corporations. I promise you that you will profit in the long run. Sincerely, An annoyed bank card holder Posted by at 09:24 AM | Comments (6) |
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