Hi,
it is officially winter. Yes, it is January 28th today, 30 degrees out, snowing and that is exactly what it is supposed to be doing. Why is everyone so shocked? People around here are everything from 'insulted' by the weather to 'total denial'. Come on, it is January, Mother Nature, and the calendar, gave you all fair warning that winter was going to get here. Get your boots on, go find your mittens and stop griping about it.
Every year it's the same old story. We kvetch it's too hot in July, moan about the days getting shorter in October, suffer the stupid holiday seasonal shopping of December, then, low and behold, the crying starts about real winter weather. Why? Put on the big-boy-pants and deal with it.... snow tires might be a good idea too while you're all at it.
Last week, during our first real snow drop, there was utter ciaos on the roads for two days. You all seem to completely forget how to drive in winter, I know there is about 8 months when you don't get to practice "proper spacing between cars", "stopping on icy terrain" or "driving with care in a blizzard" but if you have held a drivers license for more than 5 years you have had 5 winters to get the hang of it all. It's not brain surgery, it is common sense that rules, and physics. Big, heavy objects, going 60mph will take a long slide on ice to stop no matter how hard you hit the brakes, especially with out snow tires. Am I making my point yet about needing better tires in winter? Get better tires! There, I said it plain and clear.
While you are at it, having proper winter wear wouldn't be a bad idea either. That include boots, hats, gloves/mittens, scarf and a coat made out of more than just a layer of cotton. Everyone seems to be sick with the flu or a terrible cold. Duh? You can't walk around in 20 degree weather, wearing summer clothes and not get sick... unless you are a polar bear and in that case you can even skip the shorts and tees, but they OWN a permanent fur coat! Even the animals know to dress warmer for winter. Aren't we supposed to be the smart mammals on the planet? You would never guess to see people walking around, dressed for summer while the wind chill pushes the temperature down to the point of busting a thermometer.
Does congress need to pass laws so that the population will start to take the weather seriously? NYC has outlawed sugary drinks over 16oz. Maybe they need to add in a law for mandatory mittens when the mercury dips below 32°? I'm just looking out for your welfare.... and mine. I don't want your cold or flu. Put on your boots before you go out today. You will thank me when you don't slip on the ice and land on your backside.... and then get those snow tires on your car!
xox
m
Day Lily!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
The Next Step
Hi,I'm
not sure who I have told, and who I haven't, so I'm just doing a mass
e-mail to cover off what has gone on with dad and my moms' accident.
In my last posting I let you know that the driver walked away from court scot-free. While this is a horrible thing, that he should see no fine, charge or even a slap on the wrist for hitting a pedestrian at a crosswalk, the good outcome of this is that it finally made dad realize that the US legal system is not something he can take on by himself... so we finally got a lawyer involved.
My "Canadian" side of my brain didn't want to start up with a lawyer any more than my dad did, but the "US" side knew that this was a necessity and it was just a matter of time until my dad developed the same mentality. My friend in Fort Myers, Candace, just happened to swim regularly with a lawyer who specialized in accidental injury cases. Dad tried chasing a couple of other legal firms and got either no response to his calls or he was pawned off to a paralegal and never did hear from a lawyer about this case. The lawyer Candace recommended, Greg Bosseler, called me right back when I sent him an e-mail at 8:00pm and the next morning he was on the phone with dad at 9am, and at the condo talking face to face with dad by noon. I like this man, he takes action and moves! Dad really liked him too, even if he says he's "a little too tall"... I haven't met him but dad says he's about 6'4" and in our family that is a really tall person... not so much in the NBA. It's all relative. We have a lawyer.
Greg is now working on the case. I think his actions will involve suing the whole world but I don't care at this point. He plans to take on the driver in civil court, the insurance company to make sure they pay up big time, Marco Island for not having proper working traffic lights at the crosswalk (which is the reason the judge didn't hold the driver accountable for hitting mom, the lights weren't working? Really? What happened to the other 3 cars that stopped, the seven witnesses and the fact that it's still against the law to hit a pedestrian at a crosswalk for any reason?)... I'm not sure who else he's going to go after, but I hope it becomes a three-ring circus. I have offered to do a media blitz if necessary... I've always wanted to meet Barbara Walters... okay, maybe this isn't that important. What I did find interesting is how many people want to know who paid off the judge or did the driver play golf with him. Now THAT would make national news, well, at least Florida state coverage. If Honey-Boo-Boo can have a TV reality show I think we could, at least, make the nightly news.....
The down side of this is that it could takes a very long time to see the end of the story. We'll see how efficient Greg can be, but I feel much better knowing someone with experience and a law degree is taking action for dad. Closure is a nice thing to own.
xox
m
In my last posting I let you know that the driver walked away from court scot-free. While this is a horrible thing, that he should see no fine, charge or even a slap on the wrist for hitting a pedestrian at a crosswalk, the good outcome of this is that it finally made dad realize that the US legal system is not something he can take on by himself... so we finally got a lawyer involved.
My "Canadian" side of my brain didn't want to start up with a lawyer any more than my dad did, but the "US" side knew that this was a necessity and it was just a matter of time until my dad developed the same mentality. My friend in Fort Myers, Candace, just happened to swim regularly with a lawyer who specialized in accidental injury cases. Dad tried chasing a couple of other legal firms and got either no response to his calls or he was pawned off to a paralegal and never did hear from a lawyer about this case. The lawyer Candace recommended, Greg Bosseler, called me right back when I sent him an e-mail at 8:00pm and the next morning he was on the phone with dad at 9am, and at the condo talking face to face with dad by noon. I like this man, he takes action and moves! Dad really liked him too, even if he says he's "a little too tall"... I haven't met him but dad says he's about 6'4" and in our family that is a really tall person... not so much in the NBA. It's all relative. We have a lawyer.
Greg is now working on the case. I think his actions will involve suing the whole world but I don't care at this point. He plans to take on the driver in civil court, the insurance company to make sure they pay up big time, Marco Island for not having proper working traffic lights at the crosswalk (which is the reason the judge didn't hold the driver accountable for hitting mom, the lights weren't working? Really? What happened to the other 3 cars that stopped, the seven witnesses and the fact that it's still against the law to hit a pedestrian at a crosswalk for any reason?)... I'm not sure who else he's going to go after, but I hope it becomes a three-ring circus. I have offered to do a media blitz if necessary... I've always wanted to meet Barbara Walters... okay, maybe this isn't that important. What I did find interesting is how many people want to know who paid off the judge or did the driver play golf with him. Now THAT would make national news, well, at least Florida state coverage. If Honey-Boo-Boo can have a TV reality show I think we could, at least, make the nightly news.....
The down side of this is that it could takes a very long time to see the end of the story. We'll see how efficient Greg can be, but I feel much better knowing someone with experience and a law degree is taking action for dad. Closure is a nice thing to own.
xox
m
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
USA Justice?
Hi,
yesterday was the day that the driver who hit mom in Marco Island, last April, went before a traffic court judge. Dad went up to Naples to watch the proceedings. I think he also wanted to see who the driver was.
There was a police representative, but not the actual policeman who responded to the accident. Four witnesses were also in court. One witness stated that he was an engineer and he knew that the pedestrian crossing lights were not working properly at the intersection where mom was hit. The lawyer for the driver went so far as to complain that the driver incurred $3500 worth of damage to his vehicle because he was hit by mom on her scooter. In the end the judge decided that there was "inconclusive evidence" that the driver was at fault and the case was dismissed.
Mom had to have 5 surgeries, spent 3½ months in hospital and rehab, died, and the driver didn't even get charged or fined. This makes me sick to my stomach.
This was not the justice I expected. The policeman in court stated it is against the law to hit a pedestrian at a crosswalk, 7 people witnessed the accident, three of the four vehicles stopped for mom as she crossed the road.... what didn't the judge hear as evidence? Who cares if the crossing lights worked or not? She was at a legal crosswalk with traffic stopped going both ways and had the right of way.... this is not brain surgery!
I have finally convinced dad that he needs to get a lawyer involved with this matter. It will now become a civil court case.... and I hope it gets nasty. Where is Perry Mason when you need him?
Right now the US justice system makes me ill.
m
yesterday was the day that the driver who hit mom in Marco Island, last April, went before a traffic court judge. Dad went up to Naples to watch the proceedings. I think he also wanted to see who the driver was.
There was a police representative, but not the actual policeman who responded to the accident. Four witnesses were also in court. One witness stated that he was an engineer and he knew that the pedestrian crossing lights were not working properly at the intersection where mom was hit. The lawyer for the driver went so far as to complain that the driver incurred $3500 worth of damage to his vehicle because he was hit by mom on her scooter. In the end the judge decided that there was "inconclusive evidence" that the driver was at fault and the case was dismissed.
Mom had to have 5 surgeries, spent 3½ months in hospital and rehab, died, and the driver didn't even get charged or fined. This makes me sick to my stomach.
This was not the justice I expected. The policeman in court stated it is against the law to hit a pedestrian at a crosswalk, 7 people witnessed the accident, three of the four vehicles stopped for mom as she crossed the road.... what didn't the judge hear as evidence? Who cares if the crossing lights worked or not? She was at a legal crosswalk with traffic stopped going both ways and had the right of way.... this is not brain surgery!
I have finally convinced dad that he needs to get a lawyer involved with this matter. It will now become a civil court case.... and I hope it gets nasty. Where is Perry Mason when you need him?
Right now the US justice system makes me ill.
m
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Holiday? are you kidding me?
Hi,
Welcome to 2013. I, for one, am thrilled to have made it into the new year. A little battered and bruised but no worse for wear. Who ever decided to call this "holiday time" had a real sense of humor. It sure isn't a "holiday" for most of the people I see.
Over worked. Cramming it all in the few weeks before the holiday, extra chores abounds. Cleaning, shopping, cooking wrapping, arranging dates, times and locals for merriment plus the added burden of pretending to enjoy being stressed, over taxed and financially stretched. Are we having fun yet?
Crowded shops, parking lot hell, surly retail staff, over eating, crying children, too much tinsel, Walmart over-load, empty Scotch Tape dispensers, burnt cookies, drunk Santa's, nothing on the radio but 24/7 Christmas carols.......All threatening to critical mass on December 25th. Oy vey!
My version of "holiday" is not having to cook or clean for a week, something this time of year does not afford the average hausfrau. A holiday includes someone else mixing fruity drinks and serving them in the sun by a giant pool. Morning prune juice and shoveling snow do not conjure up a festive image in my mind. Parties should be in hotel ballrooms with dance bands. No bar mitzvah boy necessary, just great music and champagne with a big dance floor. Did I mention the "no Christmas carol" rule?
It is now a moot point. The holiday season has passed. We survived. I don't have to hear Frosty the Snowman again for another 357 days. I consider that a small blessing if nothing else. the guests are gone and the house has been cleaned within an inch of its life. the quiet is deafening, but I love it.
Bah humbug, and that is my final word on the issue.
M
Welcome to 2013. I, for one, am thrilled to have made it into the new year. A little battered and bruised but no worse for wear. Who ever decided to call this "holiday time" had a real sense of humor. It sure isn't a "holiday" for most of the people I see.
Over worked. Cramming it all in the few weeks before the holiday, extra chores abounds. Cleaning, shopping, cooking wrapping, arranging dates, times and locals for merriment plus the added burden of pretending to enjoy being stressed, over taxed and financially stretched. Are we having fun yet?
Crowded shops, parking lot hell, surly retail staff, over eating, crying children, too much tinsel, Walmart over-load, empty Scotch Tape dispensers, burnt cookies, drunk Santa's, nothing on the radio but 24/7 Christmas carols.......All threatening to critical mass on December 25th. Oy vey!
My version of "holiday" is not having to cook or clean for a week, something this time of year does not afford the average hausfrau. A holiday includes someone else mixing fruity drinks and serving them in the sun by a giant pool. Morning prune juice and shoveling snow do not conjure up a festive image in my mind. Parties should be in hotel ballrooms with dance bands. No bar mitzvah boy necessary, just great music and champagne with a big dance floor. Did I mention the "no Christmas carol" rule?
It is now a moot point. The holiday season has passed. We survived. I don't have to hear Frosty the Snowman again for another 357 days. I consider that a small blessing if nothing else. the guests are gone and the house has been cleaned within an inch of its life. the quiet is deafening, but I love it.
Bah humbug, and that is my final word on the issue.
M
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