A FOX News survey shown just now on the channel asked participants: "Is the country better off now than it was twenty years ago"?
A shocking (to me) 58% of the respondants said that it was. Just 38% said the country was worse than in 1987.
Let's see, what did we have in 1987? President Ronald Reagan underwent prostate surgery, and then got embroiled in the arms-for-hostages deal... Senator Gary Hart's involvement with Donna Rice became headlines... Reagan tells Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall... Northwest Flight 255 crashes in Detroit (mechanical failure, not terrorism)... Black Monday hits Wall Street in October... and yes, we did have the bombing of the USS Stark in the middle of the Iran/Iraq war, but we were basically offering assistance, not caught in the middle of things.
In 1987, were we into our fourth year of being buried in Iraq? Did we have a president who made consistent boneheaded decision after boneheaded decision? Did we have national headlines just because Michigan wanted to move up its presidential primary date? Was the security of the country in question? Was the United States embroiled in every matter in the Middle East? Were gas prices above $3 per gallon?
How can it be said that we are better off?
-------------------------------------------
At least the household things are better off today: budgeting is done, laundry is done, the car is fixed (it had no heat for a couple days), and Steve is actually using a car to get some running done at his sister's house.
* I'm worried about Jenni: we haven't talked much lately and she is under undue stress. I am hoping she calls soon. A conversation would be good therapy even if I didn't deem it the necessity it is. It's not good to bottle frustration up. We'll have to work on it.
* Garden City has its Santa parade today and the municipal channel is covering it live over cable. Boy was I tempted to walk over there and talk to some of them about possibly getting back into TV again. Alas, even if hired on-the-spot, what would that result in? I just tuned in the channel and it's scrambled more than a pay-per-view channel is! So much for any hope of a video resume begun, even in the best-case scenario.
* Thanksgiving at work was super-busy; I booked more than I do in an average day. What was more surprising was yesterday: only one run in 12 hours involved bringing Christmas packages, etc., home from a store. The parking lots were crowded, but the roads were relatively smooth.
That's unlike how I remember most of the shopping days after Thanksgiving. I'll be unbiased and call it "Super Friday". When did the term "Black Friday" become vogue? "Black Friday" has racial undertones... if not that, "Black" days, I thought, always referred to bad stock market days. A better term for the day would be nice.
November 24, 2007
November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving!
I'm preposting this to wish everyone a happy turkey day.
It just seems strange that we're going to be treated to all the works today, while looking around and still seeing some trees with green leaves on them. Plus a 60-degree day yesterday, complete with snow forecast for later today. Michigan weather is MORE than living up to its name this year.
My father and stepmom are heading to California to spend a week over there. I hope they have a wonderful and safe trip.
Jenni is expecting a true houseful today, and she gets to do all the cooking with no help from anyone else. She sighs and accepts this, and that's a shame. She needs all the help she can get and I hope she delegates some tasks today. I would offer my assistance in a heartbeat, but if you check out last year's Thanksgiving entry to look at my horror stories, you'll see why I retired the baster.
I volunteered to work today, anyway, even though we're not expecting anywhere near the chaos we had yesterday. Part of it is because I'm so used to working holidays, coming off six years at the airport, that it seems to be a natural gut reaction.
I would actually prefer working holidays than working regular days. On holidays, you can't get much business conducted. I'd rather have an off-day where I can use "regular business hours" to get everything done. And Lord knows, there's a lot that needs to get done on my plate.
Every party has a pooper, my mother would always say... that's why they invited me.
But the "pooper" will stay with me. My best wishes for a safe and happy Thanksgiving go to all of you, and stay with you as well. Enjoy!
It just seems strange that we're going to be treated to all the works today, while looking around and still seeing some trees with green leaves on them. Plus a 60-degree day yesterday, complete with snow forecast for later today. Michigan weather is MORE than living up to its name this year.
My father and stepmom are heading to California to spend a week over there. I hope they have a wonderful and safe trip.
Jenni is expecting a true houseful today, and she gets to do all the cooking with no help from anyone else. She sighs and accepts this, and that's a shame. She needs all the help she can get and I hope she delegates some tasks today. I would offer my assistance in a heartbeat, but if you check out last year's Thanksgiving entry to look at my horror stories, you'll see why I retired the baster.
I volunteered to work today, anyway, even though we're not expecting anywhere near the chaos we had yesterday. Part of it is because I'm so used to working holidays, coming off six years at the airport, that it seems to be a natural gut reaction.
I would actually prefer working holidays than working regular days. On holidays, you can't get much business conducted. I'd rather have an off-day where I can use "regular business hours" to get everything done. And Lord knows, there's a lot that needs to get done on my plate.
Every party has a pooper, my mother would always say... that's why they invited me.
But the "pooper" will stay with me. My best wishes for a safe and happy Thanksgiving go to all of you, and stay with you as well. Enjoy!
November 21, 2007
For a business to move forward
Think "capital improvement" and "basic improvement" as just a start.
When you're a business trying to move up, don't you use these two terms as a goal to improve operations and get more business?
I'm not out to criticize the company I work for. But cab companies abound in this area. We are only one of about five companies that strive and fight for every fare. Every transaction we earn is just that: we earn it. But shouldn't we show quality behind the transaction?
It's no wonder we let our mechanic go this week. Personally, the guy was a goof from the word go, even working on his own car on company time before working on the cabs that make the business and earn the paychecks.
One of our newest cars had to be disabled twice this week due to bad ball joints. The SAME one both times. It was fixed, and then the fix had to be fixed. A trained mechanic would have fixed it right the first time. So that's one cab off the road.
My cab was disabled last week for four hours to get new brake pads. Only half an hour was spent doing actual work. Apparently, it took him 2 1/2 hours to isolate the problem. Then another hour at the store trying to figure out what part he needed. Was I steamed? Kinda... it was my potential money I was losing just sitting at the office.
Today, four cabs out of a fleet of ten weren't running. I had to make a 2-hour, 70-mile run to Troy to pick up a fare and a driver who were stranded due to a bad - surprise - ball joint problem. It's fixed now by a different mechanic, but who knows when the problem will crop up again? After all, I'm hearing a thumping noise when my cab travels now, and the cab wants to veer right if I do anything beyond just tapping the brakes.
At the risk of having five cabs out of service, I decided to press on. I made good money. I also had to do the work of three drivers. Sound familiar?
The need is there for good, reliable service. I hope in the future that we can deliver like I'm sure the owner wants us to.
* What good is there left to say about Inkster? I was threatened with a $500 summons for trying to pick up fares there today. We service every community in the county. We do not need a license to pick up anywhere except at the airport. That's why we are classified as a limo service, not a cab service. Trying to explain this to the guy only got me another threat of $500, so I let it go at that.
If they don't want us, why don't they just tell us? Oh wait, they already did. They do have their own company, located two miles from my house. But they couldn't service me because I was "too far" from their target area.
And Inkster says they're recovering? Sounds like another "R" word is in effect there... as in "relapse".
When you're a business trying to move up, don't you use these two terms as a goal to improve operations and get more business?
I'm not out to criticize the company I work for. But cab companies abound in this area. We are only one of about five companies that strive and fight for every fare. Every transaction we earn is just that: we earn it. But shouldn't we show quality behind the transaction?
It's no wonder we let our mechanic go this week. Personally, the guy was a goof from the word go, even working on his own car on company time before working on the cabs that make the business and earn the paychecks.
One of our newest cars had to be disabled twice this week due to bad ball joints. The SAME one both times. It was fixed, and then the fix had to be fixed. A trained mechanic would have fixed it right the first time. So that's one cab off the road.
My cab was disabled last week for four hours to get new brake pads. Only half an hour was spent doing actual work. Apparently, it took him 2 1/2 hours to isolate the problem. Then another hour at the store trying to figure out what part he needed. Was I steamed? Kinda... it was my potential money I was losing just sitting at the office.
Today, four cabs out of a fleet of ten weren't running. I had to make a 2-hour, 70-mile run to Troy to pick up a fare and a driver who were stranded due to a bad - surprise - ball joint problem. It's fixed now by a different mechanic, but who knows when the problem will crop up again? After all, I'm hearing a thumping noise when my cab travels now, and the cab wants to veer right if I do anything beyond just tapping the brakes.
At the risk of having five cabs out of service, I decided to press on. I made good money. I also had to do the work of three drivers. Sound familiar?
The need is there for good, reliable service. I hope in the future that we can deliver like I'm sure the owner wants us to.
* What good is there left to say about Inkster? I was threatened with a $500 summons for trying to pick up fares there today. We service every community in the county. We do not need a license to pick up anywhere except at the airport. That's why we are classified as a limo service, not a cab service. Trying to explain this to the guy only got me another threat of $500, so I let it go at that.
If they don't want us, why don't they just tell us? Oh wait, they already did. They do have their own company, located two miles from my house. But they couldn't service me because I was "too far" from their target area.
And Inkster says they're recovering? Sounds like another "R" word is in effect there... as in "relapse".
November 20, 2007
De-sensitizing
There was a fatal shooting earlier today at the Coney Island in Lincoln Park, where former roommate Mike and his mother often dined. The head cook, as well as the owner, may have been the unfortunate victims.
I found out some of the details from one of my fares today. Apparently, a man dressed in a trenchcoat pulled out an AK-47 and shot the people for no reason... also injuring a waitress during the skirmish. One of the customers caught in between the crossfire actually made his way out of there and went down the street to another restaurant. Out of breath, he tried to tell people there had been a shooting at the Coney Island.
He wasn't believed. And as a result, help did not arrive at the Coney sooner than it ended up being.
Are people desensitized by these events due to the environment around them? Or have people become a society of liars, to where the punchline to the "boy who cried wolf" story is retold? The trust is evidentally gone in society. Trust in safety is totally gone, as patrons around that area now can't feel comfortable patronzing the Coney, or any other restaurant in that area. Supposedly, the crackpot is still on the loose.
But what if these two lives could have been saved, if someone in the other restaurant had sent for help upon hearing the news? They wouldn't be persecuted if it was a false alarm. False alarms happen constantly. But could they have saved lives with quick thinking?
It's possible. It's not definite, because the incident is still under investigation. But you always have to wonder about the possibilities of any situation.
Years ago, this would probably have illicited more response. Just as car alarms would have done when they first came out. Now you hear the alarms everywhere, and do you see people running for them to try to catch any potential vandal or burglar? Not a chance. Even I just shrug the alarms off as an everyday sound effect, ranking up there with the birds.
Perhaps it's just another sign of the times, times which seem to be growing more violent and spreading from the city core. But it just doesn't seem right to me to have people's lives fall under such a general term as "sign of the times".
I thought each individual was worth more than that.
I found out some of the details from one of my fares today. Apparently, a man dressed in a trenchcoat pulled out an AK-47 and shot the people for no reason... also injuring a waitress during the skirmish. One of the customers caught in between the crossfire actually made his way out of there and went down the street to another restaurant. Out of breath, he tried to tell people there had been a shooting at the Coney Island.
He wasn't believed. And as a result, help did not arrive at the Coney sooner than it ended up being.
Are people desensitized by these events due to the environment around them? Or have people become a society of liars, to where the punchline to the "boy who cried wolf" story is retold? The trust is evidentally gone in society. Trust in safety is totally gone, as patrons around that area now can't feel comfortable patronzing the Coney, or any other restaurant in that area. Supposedly, the crackpot is still on the loose.
But what if these two lives could have been saved, if someone in the other restaurant had sent for help upon hearing the news? They wouldn't be persecuted if it was a false alarm. False alarms happen constantly. But could they have saved lives with quick thinking?
It's possible. It's not definite, because the incident is still under investigation. But you always have to wonder about the possibilities of any situation.
Years ago, this would probably have illicited more response. Just as car alarms would have done when they first came out. Now you hear the alarms everywhere, and do you see people running for them to try to catch any potential vandal or burglar? Not a chance. Even I just shrug the alarms off as an everyday sound effect, ranking up there with the birds.
Perhaps it's just another sign of the times, times which seem to be growing more violent and spreading from the city core. But it just doesn't seem right to me to have people's lives fall under such a general term as "sign of the times".
I thought each individual was worth more than that.
November 19, 2007
How much more proof is needed?
A-ha! Could've told you so.
Barry Bonds has been indicted by the authorities, apparently due to lying and obstructing justice in this baseball steroids scandal. Also, it's becoming apparent that his personal trainer (Greg Johnson, I believe), recently released from prison in the hopes he would testify against Bonds, is going back to the slammer because he still refuses to testify against his "friend".
Do you need any more proof of guilt? They're trying to hide what's ending up being obvious fact, transparently!
As Bonds was chasing the home run record this summer, the issue annoyed me so much that, yes, I finally decided to do my own video on YouTube about it. Being the kind person that I am, I decided to cut Bonds some slack and tell both sides of the story: the way he would look at it, and the way the public in general is looking at it.
Well, no one can accuse me of not at least trying to be fair. But being fair in this case was only courteous lip service. When you have this so-called superstar who brings negative public relations upon himself, and suddenly finds himself a free agent who absolutely nobody wants (and nobody would cheer), there's a problem.
Johnson, meanwhile, is facing a third term in prison for not opening his mouth when he should. This man does not know the meaning of the word "cooperation" and deserves the time in prison. He's causing as much of a distraction and is impeding justice as badly as Bonds is.
The question remains, as far as the home run record is concerned: keep it as truth, place an asterisk by it, or eliminate it entirely? Don't scoff when I say it should be eliminated entirely.
Done scoffing?
I base it solely on the following:
1. If you can ban Pete Rose for simple gambling and never have him in the Hall Of Fame, why NOT punish Bonds for something more serious? Gambling is a weakness, but remember, it's not illegal. What he did is as legal as one of us buying a lottery ticket.
2. Remember the Chris Webber / Ed Martin / University of Michigan story? Remember the end result? U of M had all their basketball stats from that period literally wiped clean. Now, literally no mention of all the success the Fab Five had during that juncture. Was there a backlash against the university? Nothing major that I can recall, or at least that made headlines in the news. Heck, Martin died a couple of years ago, and the local sports pages reported it as just a blip on the radar.
Baseball is enjoying record success, as reported by Bud Selig. This is happening in spite of the Bonds sideshow. It may not taint the game itself, but it will taint Selig's tenure (not that it hasn't been already), and fans' fascination with stats and records.
Bonds, to this point, is just one huge "K" for the game.
-----------------------------------
(The above would normally have been posted on my baseball blog... but I'm saving that for real news-worthy events, if you catch the drift.)
Barry Bonds has been indicted by the authorities, apparently due to lying and obstructing justice in this baseball steroids scandal. Also, it's becoming apparent that his personal trainer (Greg Johnson, I believe), recently released from prison in the hopes he would testify against Bonds, is going back to the slammer because he still refuses to testify against his "friend".
Do you need any more proof of guilt? They're trying to hide what's ending up being obvious fact, transparently!
As Bonds was chasing the home run record this summer, the issue annoyed me so much that, yes, I finally decided to do my own video on YouTube about it. Being the kind person that I am, I decided to cut Bonds some slack and tell both sides of the story: the way he would look at it, and the way the public in general is looking at it.
Well, no one can accuse me of not at least trying to be fair. But being fair in this case was only courteous lip service. When you have this so-called superstar who brings negative public relations upon himself, and suddenly finds himself a free agent who absolutely nobody wants (and nobody would cheer), there's a problem.
Johnson, meanwhile, is facing a third term in prison for not opening his mouth when he should. This man does not know the meaning of the word "cooperation" and deserves the time in prison. He's causing as much of a distraction and is impeding justice as badly as Bonds is.
The question remains, as far as the home run record is concerned: keep it as truth, place an asterisk by it, or eliminate it entirely? Don't scoff when I say it should be eliminated entirely.
Done scoffing?
I base it solely on the following:
1. If you can ban Pete Rose for simple gambling and never have him in the Hall Of Fame, why NOT punish Bonds for something more serious? Gambling is a weakness, but remember, it's not illegal. What he did is as legal as one of us buying a lottery ticket.
2. Remember the Chris Webber / Ed Martin / University of Michigan story? Remember the end result? U of M had all their basketball stats from that period literally wiped clean. Now, literally no mention of all the success the Fab Five had during that juncture. Was there a backlash against the university? Nothing major that I can recall, or at least that made headlines in the news. Heck, Martin died a couple of years ago, and the local sports pages reported it as just a blip on the radar.
Baseball is enjoying record success, as reported by Bud Selig. This is happening in spite of the Bonds sideshow. It may not taint the game itself, but it will taint Selig's tenure (not that it hasn't been already), and fans' fascination with stats and records.
Bonds, to this point, is just one huge "K" for the game.
-----------------------------------
(The above would normally have been posted on my baseball blog... but I'm saving that for real news-worthy events, if you catch the drift.)
November 18, 2007
In 2017, will we know more?
It's four days before the 44th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination.
Even the die-hard assassination buffs who feverishly pursue this case will admit, after this time lapse, that we will never know the truth about how events unfolded that tragic day. That is the lure of the mystery and makes it even more interesting to research.
Thumbing through the Wikipedia entry on the Warren Commission, which oversaw the initial investigation into the crime, there was one thing I don't understand... Though over 90% of the assassination material is now in the public domain, it is stated that:
"The remaining Kennedy assassination related documents are scheduled to be released to the public by 2017, twenty-five years after the passage of the JFK Records Act."
How is this possible, given the advent of the Freedom Of Information Act?
It's true that one may ask what the big deal is... that if we know basically all we're going to know, what's the last bit of sealed information going to tell people?
I don't know much about official document declassification and how the process works. But wouldn't the public interest be served better if all the information were out there? Think about this: it's been 44 years since the tragedy. Most of the witnesses are getting on in age, if not deceased. Many of the prime players were actually done away with in the first fifteen years afterward.
Who's left around to challenge and say that this information should still be covered up until 2017?
The delay of the information release obviously meant a lot more in the 1970s than today. This gave the public its first concrete evidence that something was going on in government that officials didn't want to address. It's gone on for 44 years now and the research has passed on to a second generation.
The impression I get is that there are still those reluctant to share the information. Unlikely as it may be, what if that remaining 2% of information actually contains the golden nugget that finally puts the mystery to rest? It's possible the answer has actually been hidden for 44 years.
And then, the only question is: why? Why keep the public puzzled? Why keep their own government puzzled?
If indeed this was the intended reason, then it's done a great dis-service; not only to the researchers, but to the remaining Kennedy family and those that came before them.
JFK truly cared about the American people. It would be an utter shame for him if he ever knew of a blatant coverup that has lasted this long.
Even the die-hard assassination buffs who feverishly pursue this case will admit, after this time lapse, that we will never know the truth about how events unfolded that tragic day. That is the lure of the mystery and makes it even more interesting to research.
Thumbing through the Wikipedia entry on the Warren Commission, which oversaw the initial investigation into the crime, there was one thing I don't understand... Though over 90% of the assassination material is now in the public domain, it is stated that:
"The remaining Kennedy assassination related documents are scheduled to be released to the public by 2017, twenty-five years after the passage of the JFK Records Act."
How is this possible, given the advent of the Freedom Of Information Act?
It's true that one may ask what the big deal is... that if we know basically all we're going to know, what's the last bit of sealed information going to tell people?
I don't know much about official document declassification and how the process works. But wouldn't the public interest be served better if all the information were out there? Think about this: it's been 44 years since the tragedy. Most of the witnesses are getting on in age, if not deceased. Many of the prime players were actually done away with in the first fifteen years afterward.
Who's left around to challenge and say that this information should still be covered up until 2017?
The delay of the information release obviously meant a lot more in the 1970s than today. This gave the public its first concrete evidence that something was going on in government that officials didn't want to address. It's gone on for 44 years now and the research has passed on to a second generation.
The impression I get is that there are still those reluctant to share the information. Unlikely as it may be, what if that remaining 2% of information actually contains the golden nugget that finally puts the mystery to rest? It's possible the answer has actually been hidden for 44 years.
And then, the only question is: why? Why keep the public puzzled? Why keep their own government puzzled?
If indeed this was the intended reason, then it's done a great dis-service; not only to the researchers, but to the remaining Kennedy family and those that came before them.
JFK truly cared about the American people. It would be an utter shame for him if he ever knew of a blatant coverup that has lasted this long.
November 17, 2007
We're killing ourselves for petro
... literally, as happened in Detroit yesterday.
This takes the term "killer competition" to a whole new level. And this time, it's not an "only in Detroit" thing -- it's a nationwide problem.
(You can read the story here.)
So we'd lose some of our unlimited access to corn so that ethanol can be produced. So what? Ethanol can't come quick enough.
And speaking of autos and ethanol in general, why are car companies so reluctant to begin building cars that meet the fuel standards that the government wants to require? What's wrong with a 40 miles-per-gallon mandate in the next few years?
We all know that SUVs have taken a huge hit, and we know auto companies want consumers to buy more of them (and cars in general) to help out our economy. They would certainly be more appealing to consumers if something were done to increase fuel standards and help the consumer's pocketbook in the long run.
This takes the term "killer competition" to a whole new level. And this time, it's not an "only in Detroit" thing -- it's a nationwide problem.
(You can read the story here.)
So we'd lose some of our unlimited access to corn so that ethanol can be produced. So what? Ethanol can't come quick enough.
And speaking of autos and ethanol in general, why are car companies so reluctant to begin building cars that meet the fuel standards that the government wants to require? What's wrong with a 40 miles-per-gallon mandate in the next few years?
We all know that SUVs have taken a huge hit, and we know auto companies want consumers to buy more of them (and cars in general) to help out our economy. They would certainly be more appealing to consumers if something were done to increase fuel standards and help the consumer's pocketbook in the long run.
November 15, 2007
Single-sided or double-sided?
That was the question that brought in all the dough for me yesterday.
I had my best earnings day at the cab job yesterday thanks to two round-trips I made between Taylor and Ypsilanti. A truck driver received a rather new truck, minus keys. Why it had no keys, I have no idea. Being a regular person, I should have suggested they change the locks on the truck; if the former driver was disgruntled, he probably kept the keys in order to exact revenge on the truck later.
But being a cab driver overruled me being a regular person, and I kept my mouth shut. Good thing.
Talk about flimsy computer records: the computer said the truck took a double-sided key; the code book said a single-sided key. Being a regular person, I should have suggested he have both types cut.
But again, being a cab driver overruled me being the regular person, and I kept my mouth shut. Another good thing. It ended up being a $100 run, which enabled me to gross enough to pay off one bill of mine entirely.
Where am I getting knowledge about trucks anyway?
* George has proven to be a good fit so far at the house. He's like me the past eighteen or so months: a hermit around here. Self-proclaimed, so he's telling the truth. Steve and him get along, at least so far. I haven't had the courage to tell him that Steve uses up all the hot air around the house.
Steve had to take the bedroom adjoining mine again, like it was when we moved here. I had to wear industrial earplugs the last time because Steve's chronic cough kept me awake all night. The landlord couldn't sound-proof the room, so I had no choice. When Mike moved out, Steve switched to the front bedroom, which allowed me to sleep normally.
In the time between then and now, Steve's budget has him smoking those stupid little $1 cigars. As a result, his cough has gotten much worse in time. It's likely the couch for me tonight. He'll ridicule me for the choice, but deep down I know he'll understand, just like before.
* When my mini-van was broken into in Detroit in 1999, the thief took all my cassette tapes. Included in them was a tape made when I was three years old, with old Sesame Street songs in the background. On YouTube yesterday, I unearthed an old Ernie & Bert song called "La La La La...." about the letter "L" that I enjoyed at that age.
The damn song's been on my mind all day, and unlike hearing it on that classic cassette, it's annoying me to all hell today.
* And, talk about late updates, I never mentioned: Nick (Jenni's middle son) is off the eye patch, and his vision is almost 20-20; thank goodness. Basic treatment corrected his vision problem. He's also done well in math lately, getting a 100% on his latest test after he kept saying he failed. Jenni's been very concerned about his progress over the past couple years, but this week has given her relief. And I'm very happy for the both of them.
Jenni & I haven't seen much of each other recently thanks to events popping up on both ends. But we know each other to the point that we accept it, brutal as it may be, and we tend to what's on our individual plates before starting a shared one of our own.
Just another of the many reasons why this relationship has so much more potential than the others put together: simple acceptance.
I had my best earnings day at the cab job yesterday thanks to two round-trips I made between Taylor and Ypsilanti. A truck driver received a rather new truck, minus keys. Why it had no keys, I have no idea. Being a regular person, I should have suggested they change the locks on the truck; if the former driver was disgruntled, he probably kept the keys in order to exact revenge on the truck later.
But being a cab driver overruled me being a regular person, and I kept my mouth shut. Good thing.
Talk about flimsy computer records: the computer said the truck took a double-sided key; the code book said a single-sided key. Being a regular person, I should have suggested he have both types cut.
But again, being a cab driver overruled me being the regular person, and I kept my mouth shut. Another good thing. It ended up being a $100 run, which enabled me to gross enough to pay off one bill of mine entirely.
Where am I getting knowledge about trucks anyway?
* George has proven to be a good fit so far at the house. He's like me the past eighteen or so months: a hermit around here. Self-proclaimed, so he's telling the truth. Steve and him get along, at least so far. I haven't had the courage to tell him that Steve uses up all the hot air around the house.
Steve had to take the bedroom adjoining mine again, like it was when we moved here. I had to wear industrial earplugs the last time because Steve's chronic cough kept me awake all night. The landlord couldn't sound-proof the room, so I had no choice. When Mike moved out, Steve switched to the front bedroom, which allowed me to sleep normally.
In the time between then and now, Steve's budget has him smoking those stupid little $1 cigars. As a result, his cough has gotten much worse in time. It's likely the couch for me tonight. He'll ridicule me for the choice, but deep down I know he'll understand, just like before.
* When my mini-van was broken into in Detroit in 1999, the thief took all my cassette tapes. Included in them was a tape made when I was three years old, with old Sesame Street songs in the background. On YouTube yesterday, I unearthed an old Ernie & Bert song called "La La La La...." about the letter "L" that I enjoyed at that age.
The damn song's been on my mind all day, and unlike hearing it on that classic cassette, it's annoying me to all hell today.
* And, talk about late updates, I never mentioned: Nick (Jenni's middle son) is off the eye patch, and his vision is almost 20-20; thank goodness. Basic treatment corrected his vision problem. He's also done well in math lately, getting a 100% on his latest test after he kept saying he failed. Jenni's been very concerned about his progress over the past couple years, but this week has given her relief. And I'm very happy for the both of them.
Jenni & I haven't seen much of each other recently thanks to events popping up on both ends. But we know each other to the point that we accept it, brutal as it may be, and we tend to what's on our individual plates before starting a shared one of our own.
Just another of the many reasons why this relationship has so much more potential than the others put together: simple acceptance.
November 12, 2007
Unsecured eyesores
Could someone please rewind for me the tape of Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's last mayoral campaign speeches?
The particular part I want to hear again is what he said about neighborhood blight. The media is over-reporting about the shacks and burnt-out hulls scattered around every neighborhood, he said. It is not impossible, he added, to be able to get rid of nearly 50% of all dilapidated buildings before the end of his current term.
Did he actually demolish 50%, while leaving the other 50% to fester in areas I drive the cab around? Or did he bury the tape in convenient rubble?
Joy Road east of the Southfield (M-39) freeway is horrendous. Many of the kidney dialysis patients I transport to treatment live there. Across from the gaping field that used to be the Herman Gardens housing complex are two complete blocks of abandoned, burnt-out strip malls.
I've made two trips to Memorial Street, south of West Chicago Rd. in the past two weeks, and I took house inventory. Out of approximately 45 homes in the block, 30 are abandoned or unliveable. And only about 10% of those 30 are actually boarded up to keep the vagrants out. Only about half the aforementioned strip malls are secured in that fashion as well.
And the press made such a big deal about the remains of New Orleans after Katrina. Those bad parts of New Orleans look like an average part of Detroit these days. And don't forget about Inkster, the Detroit suburb I made mention of last week. Everyone knows a chunk of town known as "Little Saigon" for obvious reasons. You automatically forget the fact Inkster is home of the Marvelettes, who only put the Motown music scene in motion by earning the record label its first gold record.
But at least Inkster boards up all its bad buildings. Detroit, on the other hand, is literally unsecured.
The people aren't asking for, and can't expect, 100 demolition companies to come from all parts of the country and take on Detroit for one solid week, although that would be nice. We also can't expect The Home Depot to donate all its plywood to just one city, although if we could do it, they could help...
But are people going too far to simply ask for safer neighborhoods for them and their kids? We have affluent suburbs such as Livonia and Canton. They have their bad parts. But the bad parts are masked and their grounds are made inaccessible to those who wish to trespass.
Detroit recently got news that their latest census figures were actually wrong: the population surged back up above 900,000. What Kwame wants to see is a million, or over.
The surge was due to a numbers fluke, sir... not because you've carried your campaign promise from election time to now.
Downtown is one thing. It does look better. But how much of that cleanup was done thanks to Super Bowl XL locating here?
As a cab driver, it's not my policy to limit myself as to where I pick fares up, and at what time. They don't like me limiting myself, and neither do I. I hate to turn down a run and have management think I'm scared to do the run.
Truth is, I am. It's a scare that I wish I didn't have. A scare I really shouldn't have.
But a scare that's not being dealt with; plain & simple.
The particular part I want to hear again is what he said about neighborhood blight. The media is over-reporting about the shacks and burnt-out hulls scattered around every neighborhood, he said. It is not impossible, he added, to be able to get rid of nearly 50% of all dilapidated buildings before the end of his current term.
Did he actually demolish 50%, while leaving the other 50% to fester in areas I drive the cab around? Or did he bury the tape in convenient rubble?
Joy Road east of the Southfield (M-39) freeway is horrendous. Many of the kidney dialysis patients I transport to treatment live there. Across from the gaping field that used to be the Herman Gardens housing complex are two complete blocks of abandoned, burnt-out strip malls.
I've made two trips to Memorial Street, south of West Chicago Rd. in the past two weeks, and I took house inventory. Out of approximately 45 homes in the block, 30 are abandoned or unliveable. And only about 10% of those 30 are actually boarded up to keep the vagrants out. Only about half the aforementioned strip malls are secured in that fashion as well.
And the press made such a big deal about the remains of New Orleans after Katrina. Those bad parts of New Orleans look like an average part of Detroit these days. And don't forget about Inkster, the Detroit suburb I made mention of last week. Everyone knows a chunk of town known as "Little Saigon" for obvious reasons. You automatically forget the fact Inkster is home of the Marvelettes, who only put the Motown music scene in motion by earning the record label its first gold record.
But at least Inkster boards up all its bad buildings. Detroit, on the other hand, is literally unsecured.
The people aren't asking for, and can't expect, 100 demolition companies to come from all parts of the country and take on Detroit for one solid week, although that would be nice. We also can't expect The Home Depot to donate all its plywood to just one city, although if we could do it, they could help...
But are people going too far to simply ask for safer neighborhoods for them and their kids? We have affluent suburbs such as Livonia and Canton. They have their bad parts. But the bad parts are masked and their grounds are made inaccessible to those who wish to trespass.
Detroit recently got news that their latest census figures were actually wrong: the population surged back up above 900,000. What Kwame wants to see is a million, or over.
The surge was due to a numbers fluke, sir... not because you've carried your campaign promise from election time to now.
Downtown is one thing. It does look better. But how much of that cleanup was done thanks to Super Bowl XL locating here?
As a cab driver, it's not my policy to limit myself as to where I pick fares up, and at what time. They don't like me limiting myself, and neither do I. I hate to turn down a run and have management think I'm scared to do the run.
Truth is, I am. It's a scare that I wish I didn't have. A scare I really shouldn't have.
But a scare that's not being dealt with; plain & simple.
November 11, 2007
The Sunday Pathetics
Finally saved a Sunday paper for the purpose of combing through all the hard-news articles, trying to judge how good or bad this world is. Many friends say they don't even bother watching the news anymore, because it gets worse and worse by the year.
Back in its early days, Superstation TBS had a Sunday morning program called "Good News". Before I actually watched it to find out it was another religious show, I actually thought it was a one-hour time slot of nothing but good news in the world. Judging by some of the news articles, it would be difficult to fill a 15-minute TV time slot per month with any good news that would place faith & hope in humankind from media alone.
* Pakistan and the former Soviet state of Georgia are under emergency rule, with militants at the ready to attack whoever they don't like. Surprise surprise, these people are against our government. Who isn't these days? Add to this the fact that Turkey wants to attack Kurds in the northern portion of Iraq, the only stable portion of Iraq to this point, and you wonder: how many wars are we going to be fighting in the next 50 years?
* Cassville, Missouri: Two men, aged 32 and 20, are wanted for the death of a nine-year old girl who they brutally raped before strangling to death with a cord.
* Pat Robertson of PTL and CBN fame backs Rudy Guiliani for president in 2008. Let's see: Guiliani's been married three times... supports abortion rights... and supports the war to a degree. There couldn't be more of a difference between the two people. Has Robertson, who always preaches about morality, changed his tune and confused everyone, including his loyal followers?
* Homeowners are behind on equity payments. These sad-sack mortgages they were victimized by years ago are causing them to fall behind on much more than just house payments.
* The full-page ad on the following page begins: "If you've been waiting for the right time to buy a home..." We're waiting... and still waiting.
* And let's not forget, there's a reason television is called the "idiot box": among other things, it can distract a person who's tired of hearing all this bad news. But there's a blasted writers' strike going on! Nothing new being produced, even Letterman & Leno are likely to go into reruns.
Overall, it's nice to be wired, and it's nice to be connected to the world as we are. Sometimes, especially now, though... it would be nice to find the "off" switch once in awhile.
Back in its early days, Superstation TBS had a Sunday morning program called "Good News". Before I actually watched it to find out it was another religious show, I actually thought it was a one-hour time slot of nothing but good news in the world. Judging by some of the news articles, it would be difficult to fill a 15-minute TV time slot per month with any good news that would place faith & hope in humankind from media alone.
* Pakistan and the former Soviet state of Georgia are under emergency rule, with militants at the ready to attack whoever they don't like. Surprise surprise, these people are against our government. Who isn't these days? Add to this the fact that Turkey wants to attack Kurds in the northern portion of Iraq, the only stable portion of Iraq to this point, and you wonder: how many wars are we going to be fighting in the next 50 years?
* Cassville, Missouri: Two men, aged 32 and 20, are wanted for the death of a nine-year old girl who they brutally raped before strangling to death with a cord.
* Pat Robertson of PTL and CBN fame backs Rudy Guiliani for president in 2008. Let's see: Guiliani's been married three times... supports abortion rights... and supports the war to a degree. There couldn't be more of a difference between the two people. Has Robertson, who always preaches about morality, changed his tune and confused everyone, including his loyal followers?
* Homeowners are behind on equity payments. These sad-sack mortgages they were victimized by years ago are causing them to fall behind on much more than just house payments.
* The full-page ad on the following page begins: "If you've been waiting for the right time to buy a home..." We're waiting... and still waiting.
* And let's not forget, there's a reason television is called the "idiot box": among other things, it can distract a person who's tired of hearing all this bad news. But there's a blasted writers' strike going on! Nothing new being produced, even Letterman & Leno are likely to go into reruns.
Overall, it's nice to be wired, and it's nice to be connected to the world as we are. Sometimes, especially now, though... it would be nice to find the "off" switch once in awhile.
November 9, 2007
Super-natural internet (and accomplices)
Wasn't Halloween over a week ago? Or is this house the victim of carry-over?
The past few days, the internet and telephone have been acting eerie. The phone will ring by itself, with no one on the other end. My custom then is to hit *69 (in lieu of not having caller ID) to see who hung up on me, but then there's no dial tone. The phone stays off the hook for about five minutes, then comes back on.
At the exact moment it comes on, the internet goes off, and we have to reset the modem. Then the internet will come back on, but the phone will go off again. And the process repeats itself a few times... and it normally happens between the hours of 8 and 10 PM.
I'm surrounded by people who believe in ghosts; Steve and Jenni in particular. Steve can visualize occurrences in advance; Jenni also can to a greater degree. I myself can see spirits drifting in and out. While theirs are shapeless, mine have form and definition.
There's still talk, even years later, about ghosts haunting this house. Steve and I conducted a mini-seance two weeks ago. Our attention keeps getting drawn to the vestibule closet, whose walls are made from the same type of wood as you would find on pallets.
Unless the closet was a later addition, there is a peculiarity here. The two houses to the east of me have the exact same room design, have the vestibule closet in the same place, and have either plaster or drywall inside them. Why pallet wood in ours?
Anyway, Steve and I got a far-out sense during the mini-seance, that this house is actually not the original house. Steve commented there may have been a gruesome fire here in the 1950s, with deaths of two children. I do sense some youthful angst around the house, though I'm still not sure if that's the exact story. Plus, Diane and Dawn have never mentioned anything about an incident; Diane has lived here since before this house was built.
Wow, did I get off track! Mind you, there won't be any second burning of the house. Items don't mysteriously get picked up and moved. We've had rodents under the back deck over the years as well; a ground mole twice chewed up our water meter cable. The other cables, save for the electric, hang by a thread near the foundation of the house. Perhaps wind is overtaking the ones that service our phone & internet.
But this year's been a very windy year. So why has it taken up to now for these things to become haunted? After Halloween, mind you?
The past few days, the internet and telephone have been acting eerie. The phone will ring by itself, with no one on the other end. My custom then is to hit *69 (in lieu of not having caller ID) to see who hung up on me, but then there's no dial tone. The phone stays off the hook for about five minutes, then comes back on.
At the exact moment it comes on, the internet goes off, and we have to reset the modem. Then the internet will come back on, but the phone will go off again. And the process repeats itself a few times... and it normally happens between the hours of 8 and 10 PM.
I'm surrounded by people who believe in ghosts; Steve and Jenni in particular. Steve can visualize occurrences in advance; Jenni also can to a greater degree. I myself can see spirits drifting in and out. While theirs are shapeless, mine have form and definition.
There's still talk, even years later, about ghosts haunting this house. Steve and I conducted a mini-seance two weeks ago. Our attention keeps getting drawn to the vestibule closet, whose walls are made from the same type of wood as you would find on pallets.
Unless the closet was a later addition, there is a peculiarity here. The two houses to the east of me have the exact same room design, have the vestibule closet in the same place, and have either plaster or drywall inside them. Why pallet wood in ours?
Anyway, Steve and I got a far-out sense during the mini-seance, that this house is actually not the original house. Steve commented there may have been a gruesome fire here in the 1950s, with deaths of two children. I do sense some youthful angst around the house, though I'm still not sure if that's the exact story. Plus, Diane and Dawn have never mentioned anything about an incident; Diane has lived here since before this house was built.
Wow, did I get off track! Mind you, there won't be any second burning of the house. Items don't mysteriously get picked up and moved. We've had rodents under the back deck over the years as well; a ground mole twice chewed up our water meter cable. The other cables, save for the electric, hang by a thread near the foundation of the house. Perhaps wind is overtaking the ones that service our phone & internet.
But this year's been a very windy year. So why has it taken up to now for these things to become haunted? After Halloween, mind you?
November 7, 2007
Three's company, too
It became official today: We gain a roommate by the weekend.
The winner is George, who throughout the "screening" process showed enthusiasm (not desperation) in getting another place. He currently resides in a bad part of town, where all the things you read about are reality. Words won't be minced: he lives in Inkster, which, by all sights, is NOT recovering the way the politicians say it is.
Wow, what a surprise, given that it was said by the politicians.
The house will more resemble a warehouse the next few days as Steve and I rearrange and move furniture (rearrange? Why don't we eliminate?... I know) to accomodate our new arrival. With this, our bills will be cut an additional 25% per month, which helps everyone's bottom line.
So much for a relaxing weekend on my part. But if it relaxes the wallet, it will still be a productive weekend nonetheless; a trend-setter.
-----------------------------------
Boy, did people ever speak up for change at the polls yesterday. My old Southgate mayor was re-elected, but in no less than four Downriver communities, new mayors will be brought in.
Melvindale's mayoral change was a no-brainer. Twenty-five years ago, the city got into negative PR when a chemical leak gave them the nickname "dirty city". It happened again in October as a chemical leak went untreated and caused the evacuation of 3,000 of their residents, with faulty response from the mayor at the time.
One might consider it as a case of short tempers among the citizens. Whatever it was, they recognized the power of their vote, which is what everyone in this country should dream and make a reality.
The winner is George, who throughout the "screening" process showed enthusiasm (not desperation) in getting another place. He currently resides in a bad part of town, where all the things you read about are reality. Words won't be minced: he lives in Inkster, which, by all sights, is NOT recovering the way the politicians say it is.
Wow, what a surprise, given that it was said by the politicians.
The house will more resemble a warehouse the next few days as Steve and I rearrange and move furniture (rearrange? Why don't we eliminate?... I know) to accomodate our new arrival. With this, our bills will be cut an additional 25% per month, which helps everyone's bottom line.
So much for a relaxing weekend on my part. But if it relaxes the wallet, it will still be a productive weekend nonetheless; a trend-setter.
-----------------------------------
Boy, did people ever speak up for change at the polls yesterday. My old Southgate mayor was re-elected, but in no less than four Downriver communities, new mayors will be brought in.
Melvindale's mayoral change was a no-brainer. Twenty-five years ago, the city got into negative PR when a chemical leak gave them the nickname "dirty city". It happened again in October as a chemical leak went untreated and caused the evacuation of 3,000 of their residents, with faulty response from the mayor at the time.
One might consider it as a case of short tempers among the citizens. Whatever it was, they recognized the power of their vote, which is what everyone in this country should dream and make a reality.
November 6, 2007
Do you sequester them?
Michigan grows broke, part 157... and it only gets more pathetic.
Still at issue with the government is the realization that hey, we may have made a mistake with imposing this service tax we passed without voter approval in October. They're talking about transposing that to an addenum for the state business tax.
However they get their money is up to them. But following a missed deadline in October which resulted in the government shutting down for a few hours, and narrowly averting a second shutdown just days ago, they're fighting a negative fate here again.
At least, during their deer-hunting seasonal break.
With the state at a crossroads, does our government, accused (and rightfully so) of doing nothing until the last minute, give themselves a reprieve in the Michigan wilderness with unfinished business (and the livelihoods of many) on the docket? The proposed break lasts for 18 days. Supposedly, it's said somewhere in the state constitution that this 18-day "holiday break" is for the hunters in Congress.
Out of all the congressional people in there today, it was reported that only two have applied for deer-hunting licenses. Spokespeople also say that the politicians need to "get back in their districts" to serve their constituents.
Over what? Taxpayer-paid coffee?
If the government is now all of a sudden concerned about supporting their consituents and want to make a difference to put some *gasp* honesty in politics, the best thing they can do is forego their break, or at least cut it to one week, and only AFTER this latest tax bug-a-boo is solved.
The average person these days probably doesn't care if they see their congressperson in November. What they want to see are results. They want to see an economy on the rebound in the not-too-distant future. They want to see an economic base begin to stabilize.
Wise companies budget for the entire fiscal year, at the start of the fiscal year. They don't want to invest in white-out as they keep recalculating income and expenses, namely taxes. With all the ideas assured of passage, and then revoked, nobody can work a budget except through a pencil.
These pencils should not have to last an additional eighteen days if a solution can be reached in half that time. Wouldn't the politicians consider it better for their egos (trying to use some reverse psychology here) if they could enter a reasonable week-long break knowing they passed a solution that will keep this state solvent into next year? With election season virtually ending today and having no one to campaign for, December gives them plenty to time to go back to their districts.
First things first is the business at hand, which is to solve the budget situation so that we can breathe. The papers are already pessimistic about the holiday season making less money as consumers buy less.
Why fan the flames any longer, figuratively letting Mrs. O'Leary's cow to cross the lake to set our hopes ablaze?
Still at issue with the government is the realization that hey, we may have made a mistake with imposing this service tax we passed without voter approval in October. They're talking about transposing that to an addenum for the state business tax.
However they get their money is up to them. But following a missed deadline in October which resulted in the government shutting down for a few hours, and narrowly averting a second shutdown just days ago, they're fighting a negative fate here again.
At least, during their deer-hunting seasonal break.
With the state at a crossroads, does our government, accused (and rightfully so) of doing nothing until the last minute, give themselves a reprieve in the Michigan wilderness with unfinished business (and the livelihoods of many) on the docket? The proposed break lasts for 18 days. Supposedly, it's said somewhere in the state constitution that this 18-day "holiday break" is for the hunters in Congress.
Out of all the congressional people in there today, it was reported that only two have applied for deer-hunting licenses. Spokespeople also say that the politicians need to "get back in their districts" to serve their constituents.
Over what? Taxpayer-paid coffee?
If the government is now all of a sudden concerned about supporting their consituents and want to make a difference to put some *gasp* honesty in politics, the best thing they can do is forego their break, or at least cut it to one week, and only AFTER this latest tax bug-a-boo is solved.
The average person these days probably doesn't care if they see their congressperson in November. What they want to see are results. They want to see an economy on the rebound in the not-too-distant future. They want to see an economic base begin to stabilize.
Wise companies budget for the entire fiscal year, at the start of the fiscal year. They don't want to invest in white-out as they keep recalculating income and expenses, namely taxes. With all the ideas assured of passage, and then revoked, nobody can work a budget except through a pencil.
These pencils should not have to last an additional eighteen days if a solution can be reached in half that time. Wouldn't the politicians consider it better for their egos (trying to use some reverse psychology here) if they could enter a reasonable week-long break knowing they passed a solution that will keep this state solvent into next year? With election season virtually ending today and having no one to campaign for, December gives them plenty to time to go back to their districts.
First things first is the business at hand, which is to solve the budget situation so that we can breathe. The papers are already pessimistic about the holiday season making less money as consumers buy less.
Why fan the flames any longer, figuratively letting Mrs. O'Leary's cow to cross the lake to set our hopes ablaze?
November 5, 2007
Full service is REALLY gone
Yes, the days of the gas station attendant pumping your gas, checking your oil and other vital fluids, and offering to change your windshield wipers are long gone. The last full-service station that I saw was during my 1996 trek down to Myrtle Beach, at an old-fashioned Mobil gas station on some out-of-the-way road somewhere.
But what did I see today while driving in Taylor? A new gas station price display. There's a price for "regular with car wash" and "regular without car wash"!
Sorry if I may seem naive, but I couldn't believe this. Believe it or not, it would cost you more at the pump to NOT have a car wash. I wonder if they get you for the difference once you do enter the car wash... many of those auto-washes charge you $3.00 or more for just the basic wash: no wax, no underbody treatment, nothing.
How long will this latest breakdown in prices last? Mobil was the first station to offer cheaper gas if you paid cash, versus using a credit card (even theirs). This lasted, I believe, three years with other stations joining in. What happens three years later? Signs displayed all over the place: "Cash or credit, same low price."
Shouldn't the opposite be true at the BP gas station I'm referring to, especially with our natural resources dwindling? With lake levels at record lows, and the never-say-die rumor that our water would have to be pumped to parched areas of the nation? Communities insitute water restrictions or outright bans on summertime usage during hot weather. Why encourage car washes under these conditions just to make gas a few cents cheaper?
But you never know. With gas prices as they are, people may be tempted to see past the fine print and save a few pennies for a clean car.
I just want a car that holds itself together, clean or not.
But what did I see today while driving in Taylor? A new gas station price display. There's a price for "regular with car wash" and "regular without car wash"!
Sorry if I may seem naive, but I couldn't believe this. Believe it or not, it would cost you more at the pump to NOT have a car wash. I wonder if they get you for the difference once you do enter the car wash... many of those auto-washes charge you $3.00 or more for just the basic wash: no wax, no underbody treatment, nothing.
How long will this latest breakdown in prices last? Mobil was the first station to offer cheaper gas if you paid cash, versus using a credit card (even theirs). This lasted, I believe, three years with other stations joining in. What happens three years later? Signs displayed all over the place: "Cash or credit, same low price."
Shouldn't the opposite be true at the BP gas station I'm referring to, especially with our natural resources dwindling? With lake levels at record lows, and the never-say-die rumor that our water would have to be pumped to parched areas of the nation? Communities insitute water restrictions or outright bans on summertime usage during hot weather. Why encourage car washes under these conditions just to make gas a few cents cheaper?
But you never know. With gas prices as they are, people may be tempted to see past the fine print and save a few pennies for a clean car.
I just want a car that holds itself together, clean or not.
November 4, 2007
Another historical moment attended
Just got back from the 2007 PBA event at Taylor Lanes. I've only attended a handful of events in all the years I've watched bowling on TV, but I've attended some good ones.
* Today, Walter Ray Williams extended his PBA titles record to 43 with today's win, and I was there. Also witnessed the potential rebirth of the ladies' tour.
* I was there when the late Earl Anthony became the first to win 40 titles.
* I was there when the current Player Of The Year, Doug Kent, won his first title.
* I was there when Hall Of Famer Marshall Holman won his 22nd and final PBA title.
* I was there when the seventeenth televised perfect game was thrown.
There weren't many extra-cirriculars out there. Norm Duke & Brian Voss made things great last year with their Skills Challenge segments, which they don't have this year. No bowlers made their way to the bar to drink and shoot darts. Everything was basically cleaned up over there by 3PM.
But I did call ahead this year... which means I got in for free, got the program for free, and got the VIP seat for free... and my face was all over ESPN yesterday as I boldly predicted!
I have never seen so many 10-pins left by one person over two games as was the case with Walter Ray today - nine of them covering 20 frames! Unbelievable. Being able to shoot spares as well as he does is what carried him.
And guess what - Erin gave me four free games to bowl when all was said & done - Walter Ray even watched me bowl a frame or two. How about that - the greatest bowler in history watching me. Of course, by the third frame, he left, so I figured he got scared and didn't want my bad habits running off on him!
I was rooting hard for Eugene McCune - he's won one title in 23 years of competing and falling just short. I hoped he would win, but I don't mind seeing the titles record continue to fall.
---------------------------------
One reason I left earlier this year, other than the bowlers disappearing this year versus being more accessible this year, was that November's rent payment was in Mike's hands, as he was holding money Steve loaned him.
As of now, you guessed it: no money from Mike, and no way to get a hold of him because he's not answering his phone. So, six years late, I'm going to pull revenge on his father - by taking some of Mike's stuff like Dennis did to me in 2001.
There's no guilt complex I'm feeling... after all, when a guy messes with you and threatens your shelter, it's good reason to try payback. I've gotten more liberal in this regard lately.
I'm still happy he found true love. But love can blind, just as much as it can be blind itself. You don't let it blind yourself from the friends you've known since Day One. I wish him happiness, but Steve and I are done with him otherwise. Just waiting on Steve to get done with work so I can take him over to Mike's.
* Today, Walter Ray Williams extended his PBA titles record to 43 with today's win, and I was there. Also witnessed the potential rebirth of the ladies' tour.
* I was there when the late Earl Anthony became the first to win 40 titles.
* I was there when the current Player Of The Year, Doug Kent, won his first title.
* I was there when Hall Of Famer Marshall Holman won his 22nd and final PBA title.
* I was there when the seventeenth televised perfect game was thrown.
There weren't many extra-cirriculars out there. Norm Duke & Brian Voss made things great last year with their Skills Challenge segments, which they don't have this year. No bowlers made their way to the bar to drink and shoot darts. Everything was basically cleaned up over there by 3PM.
But I did call ahead this year... which means I got in for free, got the program for free, and got the VIP seat for free... and my face was all over ESPN yesterday as I boldly predicted!
I have never seen so many 10-pins left by one person over two games as was the case with Walter Ray today - nine of them covering 20 frames! Unbelievable. Being able to shoot spares as well as he does is what carried him.
And guess what - Erin gave me four free games to bowl when all was said & done - Walter Ray even watched me bowl a frame or two. How about that - the greatest bowler in history watching me. Of course, by the third frame, he left, so I figured he got scared and didn't want my bad habits running off on him!
I was rooting hard for Eugene McCune - he's won one title in 23 years of competing and falling just short. I hoped he would win, but I don't mind seeing the titles record continue to fall.
---------------------------------
One reason I left earlier this year, other than the bowlers disappearing this year versus being more accessible this year, was that November's rent payment was in Mike's hands, as he was holding money Steve loaned him.
As of now, you guessed it: no money from Mike, and no way to get a hold of him because he's not answering his phone. So, six years late, I'm going to pull revenge on his father - by taking some of Mike's stuff like Dennis did to me in 2001.
There's no guilt complex I'm feeling... after all, when a guy messes with you and threatens your shelter, it's good reason to try payback. I've gotten more liberal in this regard lately.
I'm still happy he found true love. But love can blind, just as much as it can be blind itself. You don't let it blind yourself from the friends you've known since Day One. I wish him happiness, but Steve and I are done with him otherwise. Just waiting on Steve to get done with work so I can take him over to Mike's.
November 3, 2007
Three months rush in one day
Wow, what a task... finally completed!
Though not updated every day, I have virtually caught up on all entries since I went on hiatus in July. The timeline is pretty much complete and accurate and I apologize for not being around lately. I was actually in a writing mood today... this has been fun.
Speaking of not being around lately, one of my top favorite blogs here on blogger, Malls Of America, which I linked to before, has not been updated since the end of August. One moment, Keith Milford was adding pictures and everything most every day, then BLAM! Nothing. Exploring malls from the past are something I really enjoy (I have one on my computer desktop) and Keith had a good thing going. I hope he hasn't fallen off the face of the planet.
The PBA Tour makes its annual stop in Taylor tomorrow. I am planning on being there earlier this year, at the 11 AM door opening. I called two days ago and told them to leave a message for Erin, the GM, that I was going to be there. So I fulfilled the promise to call ahead of time to where I might get MVP seats and be seen on ESPN. I've told Jenni and my dad to watch tomorrow to see if they can sight me. They threw a 300 game at last year's event, and Walter Ray Williams, the 42-time winner, is the tournament leader. It would be a pleasure to meet him.
Jenni's doing pretty good... work was better yesterday (starting a new streak of accident-free days)... Tyler's acting up again... still working on choosing one of two people to move in here... watching YouTube videos of The Price Is Right with Bob Barker (since Drew has no clue)... hoping my consecutive days of a headache gets snapped at 17... and waiting for the potential first snowfall on Tuesday. My life is very active by all stretches, and thanks to an honest sit-down, now you know, as Paul Harvey says, "The Rest Of The Story."
Thanks for your patience in waiting for new material, and I promise to update more frequently.
Though not updated every day, I have virtually caught up on all entries since I went on hiatus in July. The timeline is pretty much complete and accurate and I apologize for not being around lately. I was actually in a writing mood today... this has been fun.
Speaking of not being around lately, one of my top favorite blogs here on blogger, Malls Of America, which I linked to before, has not been updated since the end of August. One moment, Keith Milford was adding pictures and everything most every day, then BLAM! Nothing. Exploring malls from the past are something I really enjoy (I have one on my computer desktop) and Keith had a good thing going. I hope he hasn't fallen off the face of the planet.
The PBA Tour makes its annual stop in Taylor tomorrow. I am planning on being there earlier this year, at the 11 AM door opening. I called two days ago and told them to leave a message for Erin, the GM, that I was going to be there. So I fulfilled the promise to call ahead of time to where I might get MVP seats and be seen on ESPN. I've told Jenni and my dad to watch tomorrow to see if they can sight me. They threw a 300 game at last year's event, and Walter Ray Williams, the 42-time winner, is the tournament leader. It would be a pleasure to meet him.
Jenni's doing pretty good... work was better yesterday (starting a new streak of accident-free days)... Tyler's acting up again... still working on choosing one of two people to move in here... watching YouTube videos of The Price Is Right with Bob Barker (since Drew has no clue)... hoping my consecutive days of a headache gets snapped at 17... and waiting for the potential first snowfall on Tuesday. My life is very active by all stretches, and thanks to an honest sit-down, now you know, as Paul Harvey says, "The Rest Of The Story."
Thanks for your patience in waiting for new material, and I promise to update more frequently.
November 1, 2007
Things that go "bump" in the day
Today I was involved in my first auto accident after fifteen years of driving.
I got smacked in my cab by a Mack truck, literally, on Telegraph Road in Brownstown. I was stopped in the left-most lane trying to make a left turn into a mobile home park with signals on, when suddenly I felt a "WUMP!" and next thing I know, this tanker is right behind me.
About thirty seconds after the impact, the passenger I had with me started complaining about neck problems. Upon inspection of the car, I noticed very little damage sustained with the hit, which I think was at 30 MPH. At this point, my mind wrote off the damage and I became more concerned with the welfare of my passenger. So I had a little discussion with the tanker driver and arranged to have his supervisor contacted immediately. The last I saw of Scott (the passenger), it appeared he was having whiplash. I asked him three times if he needed treatment, and he turned me down three times -- even when I asked "are you sure?"
I had a very heavy heart when I left there... and just want tomorrow to pass quickly so that I can get to this weekend that I desperately need. Of course, the boss went nuts and asked "how can I send the car out in this condition?" Damn hard plastic bumpers; if they had been chrome as in the good old days, you might notice a little discolorization, but nothing else. I had to laugh to myself as he said this; my attention turned to the cab next to me which had a nice green streak of paint stretching from the rear bumper to the rear passenger door. His father-in-law's cab had a big gash on the bumper. My damage was cosmetic in nature only. Why does he fly off the handle at something minor?
Days like this make me wish I never took the job. I barely made any money today, and with the stress about Scott, I know tonight won't provide much sleep.
I just can't understand how that stretch of Telegraph Road (which looks a lot like the road layout in the photo below) can function with the increase in traffic - without a left-turn lane or more signals throughout the area.
Hopefully this doesn't show a sign of me becoming accident prone. The night blindness thing notwithstanding, it actually is a great stress to take some of these passengers along, simply because you know someone else's life is in your hands. Even at the airport, what we did affected only us, not a paying customer.
I got smacked in my cab by a Mack truck, literally, on Telegraph Road in Brownstown. I was stopped in the left-most lane trying to make a left turn into a mobile home park with signals on, when suddenly I felt a "WUMP!" and next thing I know, this tanker is right behind me.
About thirty seconds after the impact, the passenger I had with me started complaining about neck problems. Upon inspection of the car, I noticed very little damage sustained with the hit, which I think was at 30 MPH. At this point, my mind wrote off the damage and I became more concerned with the welfare of my passenger. So I had a little discussion with the tanker driver and arranged to have his supervisor contacted immediately. The last I saw of Scott (the passenger), it appeared he was having whiplash. I asked him three times if he needed treatment, and he turned me down three times -- even when I asked "are you sure?"
I had a very heavy heart when I left there... and just want tomorrow to pass quickly so that I can get to this weekend that I desperately need. Of course, the boss went nuts and asked "how can I send the car out in this condition?" Damn hard plastic bumpers; if they had been chrome as in the good old days, you might notice a little discolorization, but nothing else. I had to laugh to myself as he said this; my attention turned to the cab next to me which had a nice green streak of paint stretching from the rear bumper to the rear passenger door. His father-in-law's cab had a big gash on the bumper. My damage was cosmetic in nature only. Why does he fly off the handle at something minor?
Days like this make me wish I never took the job. I barely made any money today, and with the stress about Scott, I know tonight won't provide much sleep.
I just can't understand how that stretch of Telegraph Road (which looks a lot like the road layout in the photo below) can function with the increase in traffic - without a left-turn lane or more signals throughout the area.
Hopefully this doesn't show a sign of me becoming accident prone. The night blindness thing notwithstanding, it actually is a great stress to take some of these passengers along, simply because you know someone else's life is in your hands. Even at the airport, what we did affected only us, not a paying customer.
The accident was not my fault. Nonetheless, I'll be starting on Monster.com all over again. Something tells me this stepping stone is about to sink.
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