Adventures in driving

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Not working at a desk in the same spot every day is quite a change.  And being out there driving every day is totally new to me.  One day last week driving in bumper to bumper traffic through a construction zone, I was stopped at a light.  And stopped .. and stopped .. and stopped .. Heh.  To my left was a turn off and there was a van parked there and there was a nicely dressed woman outside the van reaching in through the drivers side.  My first thought was that she pulled off because her kids were giving her trouble but my next thought was - looks like she's being pretty rough.  When she pulled back to wind up for a closed fist punch I saw a man sitting in the driver's seat and realized she was whaling on him!  He didn't raise a hand, looked like he was holding onto the steering wheel while she pulled his sweater and punched and slapped .. and then the light changed and traffic actually moved.  I drove away fully aware that if that had been a woman getting the crap beat out of her someone would have jumped out of their car to help her.  But because it was a man .. it became that weird double standard kind of thing .. and no one moved to do anything.  It was disconcerting to be faced with that and to realize I was one who did nothing.  Still .. a police car came whizzing by a few minutes later so obviously someone did something, even if it wasn't actually physically restraining anyone.

I have to admit to being somewhat dumbstruck by the whole thing.  The last thing I expected at that moment was to see a woman  beating the crap out of a guy who wasn't fighting back at all.  Didn't expect to see anyone assaulting someone I guess.  What is so bad that you have to stop your car to beat up the person with you?  Weird.

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Bwaa-aa-a-hahaha!!

Okay, but it IS cute!

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NOW NO soliciting please!

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A lady did not see my sign and knocked on my door 2 weeks ago. Upon answering the woman told me she was from a consumer survey group along the lines of Nielson, and wanted to ask me some questions.  If I would let her do that, she would give me $20.00.  So, I let her in.  45 minutes later she gave me a thick booklet and told me if I completed those questions, I would receive another $40.00.  And she gave me the promised $20.00.

Later that evening I started on the booklet and as the time ticked by I started to realize just how much time it was going to take.  At some point I saw that at about halfway through, I was going to be up way past my bedtime if I finished it, but on the other hand - even half was a ton of work so I didn't want to just quit.  At 3:00 am it was complete.  I haven't been up till 3:00 am in years!

The next morning on my way out to work I dropped the booklet on the porch expecting it to be picked up sometime during the day.  It wasn't.  I left it there flapping in the breeze until on the 5th day it was about to rain.  I took it in and threw it on the kitchen island figuring I had misunderstood something about when the lady was coming back ...  It sat there for a few days until I said "to hell with it" and tossed it in the recycling.

I received a voice mail yesterday from said lady, saying she wasn't sure why she hadn't picked up my booklet, and she would like to stop by.  I called back and left her a voice mail explaining how I left it out for her to pick up but I'm sorry, I tossed it in the recycling and it was gone so there was no reason for her to come by.  Maybe next year, I said.

Today in between my 2 doors I found another copy of the survey and a note.  When I opened it there were 2 20 dollar bills and the note apologizing for her not picking up my original survey, and asking me to accept the $40.00 from her, not the company.  She asked that if I did want to complete the survey again (I would rather open a vein) and mail it in - the company would send me another $40.00.

So I did the original survey but it didn't get to the company it was for.  And the lady felt bad for not picking up the survey I did - I'm sure she knows how long they take.  So she leaves me money but walks away with nothing.  Now I feel bad.  Still - I don't want to do the damn thing again.  Seriously, it took me a good 5 hours!  If I had seen her I would not have accepted the money, but she just left it.

Am I crazy for feeling bad?  I have no intention of doing that survey a second time.  I mean it forced me to face things like - why do I use Dawn dish soap instead of Palmolive and how often do I actually read the magazines I get in my mailbox?  Why do I buy what I buy, use what I use, think what I think ... !!!  Those are tough issues people!  I can't face dredging up all those things again.

But .. she gave me $40.00 ...

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Maxine Monday

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Because apparently I think my cat is the size of a small ferret!

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Jake is such a good sport.

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ARGH-H-H!!

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Buying something online tonight sent me into the kitchen to my purse to get my wallet.  While in the kitchen I remembered it was time to take some meds.  Did that and then - oh - my back hurts and my joints hurt, maybe some Ibuprophen will help.  Took that.  Oh, I think I'd like a snack - popcorn would be good, and quick.  Put that in the microwave and got myself something to drink while it popped.

When did I move here!?

Only 5 or 6 minutes in the kitchen total, and I was heading back to the living room with my single serving size microwave popcorn, a bottle of water/crystal light and a paper towel.  Sat down, picked up my laptop and saw the shopping cart for the store I was shopping in.

Did I have my wallet?

Of course not!

How many times a day does anyone else do that?  It is downright embarrassing how often I do.  Not going to count.  I mean - I'd forget the number anyway, wouldn't I?

You betcha!

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Thank God for GPS and muffler shops!

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This has been one of those roller coaster weeks so far, things have looked GREAT and then NOT SO MUCH.  My job requires me to visit client offices which - 10 years ago I never would have done, being quite simply the most geographically challenged person I know.  Ah-h-h GPS.  The lady in my car who has changed my life.  But sometimes I think she messes with me.  She doesn't calculate the route right away and I inevitably try to guess which then necessitates a u-turn when she decides she knows where I should go.  I think she does this on purpose.  The other day she sent me up on the tollway for 5 minutes (would have been shorter but there was construction) and a toll, and then she had me take the next exit ramp to a regular street.  WTH?  That same day she sent me up onto the highway on a very loopy ramp, had me drive about 10 minutes and get off on another circular ramp and get right back on another loop to a different highway.  5 minutes later I was exiting again.  And circling.  And dizzy.  I swear I heard her giggle.

Cause I knew you wanted to see it.

Today after leaving a client's office I was trying to hear what the lady was telling me and I kept looking around because OMG somebody near me had a muffler so loud I couldn't hear myself think!  I couldn't tell which car it was and after stopping at a light, accelerating and decelerating I came to the conclusion .. it was me!  ALL OF A SUDDEN!  My car was fine 5 minutes before.  And all of a sudden it was louder than any muscle car with headers and dual exhaust.  UGH.  The lady has the ability to find service stations and the like, and when I asked nicely she found the closest muffler shop and showed me how to get there.  Loudly.  Of course when I got there I realized my phone was on low battery and I had no way to charge it.  Can you say - stuck in a muffler shop God knows where without a phone/internet panic???  Heh.

A grand later .. yes, it was more than just a muffler .. I was back on the road, this time on my way home.  Good day, bad day, good day, bad day .. right now I would settle for simply smoooooth.

Sheesh!

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Maxine Monday

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Maxine Monday

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Disturbing

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Today Drew Peterson was found guilty of the murder of his 3rd wife, Kathleen Savio.  I don't know if the facts of the case warranted a guilty verdict, but with one dead wife, and another missing after she reportedly threatened to tell about the murdered one, I think it's a good bet he did it.  Most likely murdered that 4th wife, Stacy Peterson, as well.  But that's not what I wanted to write about.

Peterson had a high powered defense team, made up of well known Chicago attorneys.  I'm sure they argued for their client as well as it could have been done.  And when they would come out of court to face the media on court days, they donned their dark sunglasses and presented a cool, united front.  An arrogant, united front.  They appeared to be treating it as a game.

Kathleen Savio

It has been reported that the jurors were attentive and seemed to be getting along well.  So well in fact, that they started coordinating their clothing. One day they all wore brown, another day - red. One day they even all wore sports jerseys.  What fun!

And while those lawyers were enjoying their press, and the judge was allowing the jury to amuse themselves, family and friends of Kathleen Savio sat quietly throughout the trial, as well as family and friends of Stacy Peterson.

Stacy Peterson

What happened to respecting the victims of crime, being sensitive to the grief of families who have lost loved ones?  When did a murder trial become the appropriate time for playing games and having fun?

Today Kathleen Savio's family finally got justice for her death.  They will never see Kathleen again, but at least they know that Drew will never again be a free man.

Stacy Peterson is still a missing person, her family does not have an answer to what happened to her much less justice for her disappearance.

It disturbs me to no end, that the memory of these two women did not automatically engender respect in that courtroom, and out.

Really.  WTF?  Why?

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Maxine Monday

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Anatomy of a cold.

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Wednesday - I noticed a slight post nasal drip thing going on, felt a little tightness in the chest.  Didn't sleep well that night, throat started to hurt when I swallowed.

Thursday - Headache, sore throat, tight cough.  Broke out the NyQuil to sleep that night.

Friday - Headache, head felt like a brick, tight cough, feverish, went to work but went home before noon.  Stopped at the store on the way home to pick up whatever I might need over the weekend so I wouldn't have to go back out.  Walking into Jewel I was met by blaring music and dancing employees approaching rapidly.  I almost turned around and left. They handed me a bag with coupons and some other stuff (I was delirious) and I told them not to come any closer I was sick.  Further into the store an employee pinned a balloon to my cart and tucked a 10 dollar gift card in my hand.  I warned him I was sick and he smiled anyway.  It was a bit surreal.

Slept a good part of the afternoon, did NyQuil again that night.

Saturday - got up early, fed the animals, watched a little TV and by 11:00 am I was back in bed where I stayed until past 4:00 in the afternoon. Felt a bit like a zombie.  With a cold.  By 10:00 I was ready for bed again.  NyQuil is my friend.

Sunday - slept till 9:30. About 2:00 I laid down again until 6:00. Starting to feel a bit better.

When my kids were little I couldn't do this.  But now - if I am sick - I let it dictate.  If it wants me to sleep - I sleep.  And I get better.  It's when you can't lay down and rest that it takes longer to get well.  At least that's my theory.  I know it's a hell of a way to spend a holiday weekend but I think I'll be well on my way to feeling better before I have to go back to work on Tuesday.  Might even feel well enough to get some things done around the house tomorrow!
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