yeah, that's pretty much it...

quote of the week...

"I like winter because I can stay indoors without feeling guilty."

--Theressa Skelton

three words...

LOST. starts. TONIGHT.

quote of the week...

"The question is not whether our government is too big or too small, the question is: Is our government working?"

--Barack Obama

hypothetically speaking, of course...

One of the not so fun aspects of being employed in law enforcement is that some people just really don't appreciate your pulling them over and giving them a ticket.

I know, right?

Some anger is to be expected. I mean, how dare you stop them and cite them for going 10 over on a slippery day with no seatbelt or brake lights when you should be out there catching Real Criminals. So you ignore the anger and the snide comments, do your job, and wish them a safe rest of the day.

However sometimes, people don't appreciate it SO much that they decide that they are going to get back at the officer. They'll call and complain. And if they don't think that "well, I think traffic laws are stupid and I resent being told what to do by authority figures" is going to get them anywhere, they just make stuff up. This is when it really starts to get fun. Fun...or impugning someone's character, take your pick.

Allow me this moment of frustration:

It's just a ticket, people. And most of the time, it's not even the ticket you actually earned. 9 times out of 10, they write you up for a lesser charge, which amounts to a smaller point violation and a less expensive fine. They do this because they know that it's a pain in the butt to get a ticket, because they know that if you went into court you could get it reduced anyway, and because nobody gives them lollipops at the end of day based on how much revenue they pulled in. They have no personal investment in "catching you". Yes, you'll find the occasional power drunk jerk, but by and large...they just want the roads--and you--to be safe.

So, calling and making up stories about how you were verbally abused, or were (my personal favorite) sexually harrassed? Just because you don't want to 1) deal with the fact that you violated a traffic law and someone saw you, 2) pay your fine, and 3) get on with your life?

Sorry to get all 92-year-old grandma about it, but...you should be ashamed of yourselves.

Even if it's easy to prove your claim is unfounded, it still can take up to a month for all the people to do all the right things and fill out all the right paperwork. And even unfounded and dismissed claims end up on file. And--even if the officer has recorded all contacts and can prove that nothing unprofessional happened, they are still brought in and "counseled". Great use of time and resources. Great little added stress to an already stressful (and might I add, underpaid) job.

All because you're mad about getting a ticket. Nice.

quote of the week...

"There are no little things. 'Little things' are the hinges of the universe."

--Fanny Fern

quote of the week...

"If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera."

--Lewis Hine

things you think you'd never have to say to your children, #46

"No, I don't think that switching from 250 channels down to 40 channels on the dish can qualify as child abuse. Nice try, though."

the streak continues...

So if you read my comments, you'll notice I won a planner over at Light Refreshments Served. That's 2 wins in less than a year, thankyouverymuch. I am on FIRE.

I wasn't going to mention the planner until I got the thing and could decide whether it was worth talking about. Well I got it, and Holy Mother of Planners, Batman.

This baby is jam packed with complete and total awesomeness. If you are a woman, you SO want this thing and you don't even know it. Trust me. It's not just a calendar...it's more like a journal of your comings and goings and goals for the year.

My favorite part is that for every week, there is an end-of-week review. It gives you a few pages to write down things that worked, and things that didn't. Ideas, thoughts, impressions, things to do differently and things to remember to do. I love that. I would love to show you what it looks like inside, but I worry about copyrights.

So, if you are in the market for a new planner for 2009, check out The Success Choice. You may find you love it, too. They are very reasonably priced, as well...especially if you buy the whole year at once.

Here's mine, after I prettied it up...I always have to pretty things up. I'm annoying that way.

 

happy new year...

...from me and my gang.