February 2005

Friday while heading into work I saw someone who had been pulled over by the police. Normally my first reaction to that scene is thinking “fucking pigs!”. However to my astonishment the first thing the popped in my head was “Serves you right, fucking speeder.” These are immediate reactions with no thought involved, so it shocked the hell out of me. Why the change of heart all of a sudden? Pretty much all my experiences with police have been negative. Granted, the majority of those times I was breaking the law. Regardless though, that has shaped my opinion over the years. I’m not saying it’s the correct one, just mine. However I am acquainted with a cop that I actually like. One of the cops who works at The EARL on the weekends is a pretty cool guy. He is the same one mentioned in my Eraser nipples post. After rereading that previous post I realized I’m rehashing some information, so I’ll give you a fresh cop story.

Back around 1997 I took a trip up to Charlotte to visit a friend of mine. I procrastinated my departure so when I arrived it was pretty late. My appearance was pretty shaggy, I was long overdue for a haircut, had a tie-dye shirt on and torn jeans. My friend had just purchased his place so I had never been there before. I go up to a door and knock, there was no answer so I knock again. The door opens and a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police office is standing right in front of me. I was no stranger to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg cops. I was pulled over so many times there I lost count and some of them even knew my name. In fact one asked one of my brothers if we were related after pulling him over. Back to the story, so the door opens and they is a cop standing there. My first thought was “Oh shit, I knocked on the wrong door!” followed quickly by “Oh Shit, it’s a cop!”. At that particular time my car was illegal, my license might have been suspended and I’m pretty sure I had some contraband on me. The cop starts hassling me immediately. He knew my name and said he heard I was coming into town. I was thinking “I can’t fucking believe this, what the hell is going on? How does he know who I am and how did he know I was coming?”. Well turns out I knew the guy, he was one of my friend’s childhood friends. I didn’t recognize him because of his high and tight and I was blinded by the badge. Plus this guy was crazy and I didn’t think he would get hired on as a police officer. Some people that know me think I’m crazy and my friend even crazier than I in some aspects (we compliment each other well, we both inhabit different parts of the craziness spectrum). This guy however has us both beat, he would do things like kick the crap out of someone’s car just because they parked too close to him. Not ding his car mind you, just parking too close. It shocks me who they’ll give a badge and a gun to. That’s a lie, no it doesn’t. So after the paramedics started my heart again we all had a good laugh about it and I proceeded to tell him about my car situation which made it even funnier.

So there you go, a cop story. I have more so look for more from time to time.

Yes, my car and license have been legal for quite some time now.

On the way to work this morning I saw a cop trying to catch speeders. My reaction? “Fucking pig!” Maybe I’m not going soft after all.

How’s that for jumping around from subject to subject?

Baby one more time by Travis.

baby_one_more_Travis.mp3

A friend of mine gavintiegirl just started a blog, just a couple entries so far but it looks promising. She has also torn into some of my opinions and calls me a hippie but we’ll let that slide.

I have a couple of comments on her second post The Tooth Fairy Stinks!. Is it just me or is Tooth Fairy inflation getting out of control? Dollars! I was lucky to get a quarter, are kids teeth worth more on the black market now days? Must be all the hormones they pump into dairy cows that increase their value. Mutant bacteria resistant enamel coated calcium chewing utensils. From what I hear the Tooth Fairy sells them to China where they’re broken down and reconstituted into faux ivory Wal-Mart products.

While I’m on the subject check out The Tooth Fairy Legend has some pretty interesting stuff. I want a tooth necklace!

Grinding and eating teeth since 1977!

Update: Want to know where the name gavintiegirl came from? Well here you go.

So this is probably old news to most but I’m a little slow on the uptake at times. Merlin Mann has a cool site called 5ives where he posts random lists of 5 items. Pretty witty stuff, one of my favorites is below. This guy has a great memory too, knows dates and all sorts of stuff from his childhood. I think I fried most of my memories long ago, I’m still waiting for brain undelete software.

Five terrible fake Anne Geddes photo shoots

1. Infant slumbers in the sling of a powerful trebuchet
2. Three napping newborns, juggled by slightly larger fourth baby
3. Pile of sleeping babies, dressed as pirates, provide ballast for leaky catamaran
4. Preemie in miniature bifocals used as precious paperweight
5. Month-old twins nestle in a slowly warming crock pot

I blew out a tire, got ink on someone’s pants and stood up some friends. Other than those events it was a pretty good weekend.

Update: I also forgot to call a good friend on his birthday. Sorry Eddie!

Recently I was thinking I need a new car for the upcoming Bush Apocalypse*. Thanks to boingboing I have found one. Plus the car has a cool name.

*Bush Apocalypse idea stolen from Patton Oswalt

Here is a picture caption from the latest issue of National Wildlife published by NWF.

“After Mating, a female decorated cricket devours a spermball offered to her by the male.”

© David H. Funk

Here is another snippet from an article on Alaskan Kodiak bears:

“And do not take a dog bear-watching. Dogs are likely to pick fights with bears and run to their owners for help.”

I can totally see Thorin doing this.

Here’s what I’m doing for Valentine’s Day. I know, I’m being cheap this year but I’m saving up for a new football team.

For just shy of a half million dollars, $458,000, stay the night in the posh Presidential Suite at the Peninsula in Chicago and receive a $174,000 white diamond ring for the lady, $98,000 cufflinks for the gentleman and a $169,000 Continental GT Coupe Bentley 2005 for you both to fight over. You’ll also lounge around in your very own Pratesi cashmere robes and la Perla silk lingerie, dine on a five-course meal and relax in the spa. Available Feb. 12 or 14.
http://chicago.peninsula.com/iflash.html

From Clark’s Travel e-Scapes