tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40373939936703705152023-11-16T05:39:35.858-08:00Snippits from a People WatcherUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-7532338915703382932013-05-30T13:48:00.001-07:002013-05-30T13:48:30.159-07:00Last NightAll types come in with pets that they love.<br />
<br />
In other news, I usually draw something amusing on the drop envelopes that contain the money/checks that go in the safe to give the woman in bookkeeping a chuckle. I have in on her authority that one of the bank tellers kept one of my more inventive works.<br />
<br />
Put those two together, and what do you get?<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MRk0czRtw0BBz8lcjph1-mPhoRTYytHOEGOyBDYrG8QJCio76J5aDQZq6gyVLLivHOx-2cYtrTDdmC_JDicc5cL-esPndhK1-TmK4zJUk-DthuRFdNsemZIOJ-x51Ov2Opr_yHxjaGOx/s1600/voep2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MRk0czRtw0BBz8lcjph1-mPhoRTYytHOEGOyBDYrG8QJCio76J5aDQZq6gyVLLivHOx-2cYtrTDdmC_JDicc5cL-esPndhK1-TmK4zJUk-DthuRFdNsemZIOJ-x51Ov2Opr_yHxjaGOx/s640/voep2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuiW3Q_9nLa0OUWQeB36CKf1k0uY1AMDJgeSpxHmdr4WHuDGqHmOMEAPU68AmBXP1nIDedwP0n9KTTxnhwD1cW7on7csViKnN1N88Zhh-i0GFjh4cC5rOF7KmutKOTgSKvS6XqjQXqcHv/s1600/voep1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIuiW3Q_9nLa0OUWQeB36CKf1k0uY1AMDJgeSpxHmdr4WHuDGqHmOMEAPU68AmBXP1nIDedwP0n9KTTxnhwD1cW7on7csViKnN1N88Zhh-i0GFjh4cC5rOF7KmutKOTgSKvS6XqjQXqcHv/s640/voep1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I realize this looks different. I realized that my pic was blurry, so I just re-drew it quickly to show the back of the envelope. Kind of like Zach Weiner's "votey" on smbc-comics.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-88438356605634889282013-05-20T11:47:00.002-07:002013-05-20T11:47:39.102-07:00...But is it Possible?I feel like I did a pretty good job in my first veterinary related post explaining the brevity I use in these posts. Today's post is different, however.<br />
<br />
Take what I said before and add on that:<br />
<br />
<i>Yes, it is truly an awful thing to lose a pet or be in a position that you have to euthanize. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Very sad, sad indeed.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
However.<br />
<br />
People call up to deal with these issues all the time, and at some point, you've got to stop dancing around a word you don't want to say. Like "body". Kind of when you get these 20-something girls trying desperately to refer to the male genitalia on their dog, but not having the adequate vocabulary to avoid the word "penis".<br />
<br />
Yet they <i>reallllly </i>don't want to say it.<br />
<br />
lol<br />
<br />
So let's head to yesterday.<br />
<br />
I got one of those calls where bells started ringing in my head. Bells accompanied by sirens and a voice saying, "Stop. Pull over. Go straight to the blog. Do not pass go. To the blog. NOW."<br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">Veterinary Hospital, this is Redgirl!</span><br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #0b5394;">Do you do euthanasias there?</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">Yes</span>.<br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #0b5394;">Do you have to have an appointment? How much do you charge?</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">Twenty-four hours a day, no appointment needed. The injection is $100</span><br />
<i>Good girl, Red! You remembered to say "injection" rather then "liquid death"</i><br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #0b5394;">Well darn! I wish I had known about you guys.</span> (<i>pause. Will I get off this lightly?</i>) <span style="color: #0b5394;">The vet placed like a shunt in their leg. I'm uses to it being in the arm. Why would they pick one over the other.</span> (<i>ooof course not.</i>)<br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">They need to find a vein. It's possible the hind legs are easier to find one in.</span><br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #0b5394;">A vein? Why a vein? I would think they would just inject it into the leg.</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">The injection is meant to <i>euthanize</i>. It would be painful to be released on the tissues and take longer to have effect.</span><br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #0b5394;">Oh</span>. (<i>Please please please...what do you want? Why are we having this conversation? Do you have an actual</i> problem?) <span style="color: #0b5394;">We euthanized my cat yesterday. We took her home because we wanted to bury her. </span><br />
<br />
Me: (<i>waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop</i>)<br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #0b5394;">She was all stiff, but now she's.....soft.</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">Okay...?</span><br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #0b5394;">And I was wondering, I mean the head looks the same, but I was wondering if there was a chance....</span><br />
<br />
Me: (<i>Oh no. Tell me this isn't going where I think it's going</i>.)<br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #0b5394;">I mean, medically, in your experience, is it possible...? I mean because she's soft.</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">Well, once the rigor has passed, the muscles relax again, so that's normal.</span><br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #0b5394;">But the head looks the same. Because we were going to bury her, but if there's any chance.....</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMn6kG1AnWLDGwtlp9LqRgZMWi8xdjQ6wEpdsV717UkgMU8FpU51NmO-MdfpQDekfFKBldSlaOJj3xHxnxPklV6XhdvYhja4-o7E1-XSUmRYzZgzVLsVraAza5obGSgSvSDYXfCzCO5JB/s1600/cat_eating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMn6kG1AnWLDGwtlp9LqRgZMWi8xdjQ6wEpdsV717UkgMU8FpU51NmO-MdfpQDekfFKBldSlaOJj3xHxnxPklV6XhdvYhja4-o7E1-XSUmRYzZgzVLsVraAza5obGSgSvSDYXfCzCO5JB/s320/cat_eating.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only way around here to get a decent night's sleep!<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Me: (<i>Good lord woman! Lets hail back to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_coffin">Victorian</a> times and you can rig kitty with a bell and string on her little paw. That way, when she wakes up buried alive, she can jerk it and alert you!</i>) <span style="color: #990000;">Well, you took her to a vet, and you tell me they euthanized her. That means they wouldn't let you leave if they hadn't completed the job. They know how to tell.</span><br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #0b5394;">Yeah, they did listen to her heart and said it stopped. I listened for a heartbeat just now, but I couldn't hear one. Is it possible though, could her heart start beating again?</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">Like spontaneously?</span><br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #0b5394;">Yes.</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">No, not at this point.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And that's how it kept going. She kept circling around and around this idea that her cat would, because it was soft again, suddenly get up and be normal, mewling. Why they hadn't put it in the ground already is a mystery.<br />
<br />
Maybe they were doing a viewing?<br />
<br />
It makes me wonder if it was something along the lines of a guild manifestation, like she regrets having put down her cat and now hopes for a spontaneous heartbeat that will undo her decision. It was really bizarre.<br />
<br />
Thoughts?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-15714864190328137012013-05-06T13:30:00.001-07:002013-05-06T13:30:10.723-07:00ValidationI realize that a lot of my posts lately can be filed under the heading of "people are annoying and make me want to rip my hair out." It's possible y'all are looking for more variety, but ...<br />
<br />
... this is <b>my </b>blog. And I guess I'll write what I darn well please.<br />
<br />
And what pleases me is to try to school humanity into thoughtful improvement in their telephone manners.<br />
<br />
Cue phone conversation from the other night:<br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">Blah blah vet hospital!</span><br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #b45f06;">I set out some wet food for my cat this morning before I went to work at 7am. She usually eats it by the time I come home at five, but there was still half of it there. Is it okay to leave it out overnight so she can eat it?</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">Well--</span><br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #b45f06;">I need you to ask someone with a lot of experience in this, a lot of knowledge, like a doctor.</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">One moment please.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfLga4IAhJUzETm9cq_tmKoWxoVvNGnwroTSzG1NqRL_9L_GRN2rfcdZN9JQKmc33vtSw_s8TVnlVmpZuPNO6WJh1BfF47P8ordSEoMcfAbvdkj2d_SYgeok7_RMv9-9-kC7UoHoYyz_A/s1600/cat_eating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfLga4IAhJUzETm9cq_tmKoWxoVvNGnwroTSzG1NqRL_9L_GRN2rfcdZN9JQKmc33vtSw_s8TVnlVmpZuPNO6WJh1BfF47P8ordSEoMcfAbvdkj2d_SYgeok7_RMv9-9-kC7UoHoYyz_A/s1600/cat_eating.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This food tastes off. Where is my taster?<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I turn to Lola<br />
<br />
Lola: <span style="color: #134f5c;">What was that?</span><br />
<br />
Me: (explain) <span style="color: #990000;">I've decided you're very experienced.</span><br />
<br />
Lola: <span style="color: #134f5c;">From a can? That's only good for two, three hours tops. It really needs to be refrigerated any longer than that</span><span style="color: #b45f06;">.</span><br />
<br />
Me: (picking up phone) <span style="color: #990000;">Ma'am? I've spoken with someone who has experience in the subject. Wet food should only be left out two, three hours max. It's not good to leave out all day like that. If you need to leave it out, try using dry food.</span><br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #b45f06;">Well, my SISTER says that cats eat rotten food in the wild all the time, so I don't see how this would be any different.. </span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">Things aren't always ideal in the wild.</span><br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #b45f06;">Well, thanks anyway.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
I told Fifi later. Her response, which I wish I would have thought of was "<span style="color: #741b47;">Yeah. And feral cats only live 1 or 2 years in the wild</span>"<br />
<br />
Oh snap.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So here we have another case of someone who has already made up their mind calling to validate themselves. The problem here was, I didn't know what answer she wanted.<br />
<br />
Was she trying to prove her sister wrong? Usually when someone calls like that, they are trying to get you to back them up against someone, their mom, their uncle, but she was upset when I didn't agree with the third party.<br />
<br />
But if she agreed with the sister already, then why did she call?<br />
<br />
What was she after?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-92051212965938742212013-03-22T20:43:00.001-07:002013-03-22T20:43:15.676-07:00Doing My PartI am a good person.<br />
<br />
<br />
A wonderful person.<br />
<br />
Know why?<br />
<br />
I have a rescue dog!<br />
<br />
I deserve an award.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It all started the day I went into Admin for my daily snark-fest with “Abby” (Welcome to the cast!). Abby is like me, but with ten times the knowledge, seniority, and natural people skills. <br />
<br />
Posed playfully on the cabinets, there is an array of animals, mostly dogs and cat. They are all stuffed and are evocative of actual breeds, the idea being that if someone emotionally vulnerable loses a furry friend, we, if the moment is right, give them a plush replacement. <br />
<br />
My favorite is the horse with the plastic buster collar.<br />
<br />
This is not to say I don’t covet the giant stuffed dog over Abby’s desk. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
“Abby,” I say, after giving the low-down on “Ignorant Pharmacy Lady” (coming soon), “when are you going to give that one away?”<br />
<br />
“Him?” she snorts, “Never. You want ‘em?”<br />
<br />
My heart slows, my breathing stills. “Do you mean it?<br />
<br />
“Uh-huh.”<br />
<br />
“No, really.” I feel a little excited. “You mean it?”<br />
<br />
“Yup. He’s all yours.”<br />
<br />
“Yessss. I wonder what I’ll name him.”<br />
<br />
Abby says she’s always referred to him as Ike in her mind. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So, for the next couple of nights, I forget. <br />
<br />
Every time I go back to Admin, I see Ike and think a little guiltily of when I’m going to sneak him out of the hospital at night after my late shift. Something about removing a large stuffed animal dog that has been a fixture seems to lend itself to the clandestine. <br />
<br />
This is our secret, Abby and I.<br />
<br />
And Ike’s, though he doesn’t know it yet.<br />
<br />
It is like I am removing him from a neglected existence. No one will ever want him! Ever get him! Ever love him like I will!<br />
<br />
Two weeks later, I remember at the critical time, mostly thanks to the large word “<strong>Ike</strong>” written in “tar-ry stool black” on the underside of my left wrist.<br />
<br />
“Zounds, Lola!” I cry on the way out, “I have forgotten something of absolute necessity! I will see you again on the morrow!”<br />
<br />
Free of questioning eyes, I steal back to Ike’s cabinet top and swipe him. A cloud of dust falls to seal off any chance of a noiseless escape by evoking cacophonous coughing and wheezing sneezing. <br />
<br />
I continue my escape in the midst of these involuntary reactions to the material evidence of Ike’s loneliness and despair, zooming off in my car-of-not-so-much-stealth. <br />
<br />
The next day, I have a thought. <br />
<br />
What if, when she notices, she forgets? What if she was joking? Ike comes to work with me in the passenger seat of my car (no, I did not take the carpool lane….it’s not called that at 2:00 in the afternoon, right?). <br />
<br />
I slide into Admin and casually ask Abby what the dirt is. <br />
<br />
“I see you finally took him.” She says, not looking up from the collection of scintillating pictures of his cat’s feces one client feels obligated to report on. He does this like any dedicated reporter, tracking the bowel movements to their lair and snapping pictures of PROOF before Rikki can cover them with the provided eco-friendly litter.<br />
<br />
I admit that he is out in the car with a set of shades on so that no one will recognize him in case he was breaking parole.<br />
<br />
Abby demonstrates how much she misses him by wiping the dust off from the print where he’s been and putting baskets for medical charts on the cabinet above her desk.<br />
<br />
I have done a good work today.<br />
<br />
I will soon post a picture of the happy pooch and me :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-53036741475600041982013-03-22T20:18:00.001-07:002013-03-22T20:18:59.369-07:00Who Took the Toaster?As you all know, one of my biggest flaws is an active imagination.<br />
<br />
<br />
I see a dog with three legs, and my first thought is <em>bear</em>!<br />
<br />
I see three police cars a block to the right with lights flashing and my first thought, which I quash, is <em>turn right!!</em> But secondly is<em> drug bust! Person now fleeing the scene and then…then they find blood spatters in the trunk!</em> And my little fingers itch for a police scanner to turn on.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This brings me to the headlining story for today’s post.<br />
<br />
A childhood friend of my mother’s was visiting with her and me one day, and she presented the following:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
On the street where she lived, people would put out things that were being offered “free to a <strike>good</strike> home,” the progenerater of the free section of Craigslist. It was a poorer area, so there was often a lot of random junk accessible to the street…that no one in their right mind would think of taking. <br />
<br />
Cue one special week…in the twilight zone.<br />
<br />
“Kelsey” had put out the Christmas tree the day after Christmas. The next day, it was gone. <br />
<br />
Other people’s junk had disappeared as well, some working, some not. <br />
<br />
Someone’s dilapidated couch that was free to take.<br />
<br />
Some lawn chairs that were <em>not</em> free to take.<br />
<br />
A toaster that was thrown away because it did not toast.<br />
<br />
Someone’s porch rug.<br />
<br />
A semi-working refrigerator.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Here’s the fun part.<br />
<br />
The next week, the things started appearing where they had been taken from. <br />
<br />
Kelsey’s tree reappeared on her lawn, somewhat more crispy than from the time it had left.<br />
<br />
The couch. The rug and lawn chairs. The not working and semi-working appliances.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3jhrjF146rzq87OETbbZbSzbx1XqIy1xnNdLSgs8eCObnfkPsWur85RtBBaIVV-3W2bZW82-59KNm57qZ2N9SSNJPlL1rXhmR3sG8g6cIGyNFiJn-eLY5xIu5ng8tYzePRXZEh__Ui0z/s1600/hairless+cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3jhrjF146rzq87OETbbZbSzbx1XqIy1xnNdLSgs8eCObnfkPsWur85RtBBaIVV-3W2bZW82-59KNm57qZ2N9SSNJPlL1rXhmR3sG8g6cIGyNFiJn-eLY5xIu5ng8tYzePRXZEh__Ui0z/s320/hairless+cat.jpg" ssa="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Save me!!!<br />
Wait...waiiit...why are you putting me <strong>back</strong>?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Kelsey’s thought was that someone needed their place to <em>look</em> furnished, and then had no further use for them. Who could these people be?, I wondered. Drug dealers that needed a house to look lived in, despite the contrary? Someone who wanted to, after having a toaster, see how many times they actually had the urge to toast something? (I sympathize; I don’t use my bright red toaster nearly as often as my toast-making dreams led me to believe I would) <br />
<br />
The broken-down couch to persuade a mother-in-law to stay in a hotel room the next time around?<br />
<br />
I suppose it was the returning of the items that really sparked my attention. <br />
<br />
Anything like this happen in your area?<br />
<br />
Ideas for the disappearing/reappearing tree?<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-78937875557741359642013-03-22T17:22:00.003-07:002013-03-22T19:34:28.813-07:00My Name, Your Name...Your Name?Today’s post is about you.<br />
<br />
<br />
Yes, YOU.<br />
<br />
In work or in school, you work on meeting your peers the first day or two. After that, the urge or the fact that you even <em>care</em> starts to fizzle and you just know the names of the people you interact with regularly and it would be rude to <em>not</em> know.<br />
<br />
You’re walking down the hall carrying a very important sheaf of papers, heading somewhere very important (because <em>you’re</em> important, yes you are!), and you see a familiar face. You both smile in acknowledgement. You remember meeting him the first week, but not a name.<br />
<br />
<em>Ah well</em>, you think, <em>whatevs</em>.<br />
<br />
The next day, you see him again. Again with the smiles of familiarity. This time, you both say hi.<br />
<br />
The next day, repeat. <br />
<br />
Two weeks later, you’ve seen him enough to know he’s getting shaggy around the ears and needs a haircut and that his favorite tie is blue with little gray fleur de lis all over it.<br />
<br />
Then you end up at the same table in the break room. He smiles.<br />
<br />
You smile. “Hi.”<br />
<br />
“Hi, Redgirl.” He says, “How’s that Widget Project going?”<br />
<br />
“Great!” <em>Crap!</em> you think.<br />
<br />
Because you don’t know his name, and it’s gone on long enough to be awkward. Worse is the fact that he obviously remembered yours, as well as pertinent details about you.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This happens to me more than it really should. I have examined myself and think that my lack of remembering comes from a lack of<em> caring</em>, like I mentioned earlier. <br />
<br />
Now, don’t hate me, but the honest truth is that I meet a lot of people (it seems), and if I don’t think you’re going to be:<br />
<br />
a) immediately useful to me<br />
<br />
b) someone in power I have to watch out for<br />
<br />
or someone that does something different or strange to make me recall who they are, I won’t bother trying to remember who you are.<br />
<br />
It’s a sad fact that a client who chews me out over the phone may get more brain cell storage than the lab delivery man I see every night and stays to chat, genuinely seeming to like the lot of us night crew. Crazy dog lady? I’ll memorize your phone number and be a<em> tragic</em> few seconds late picking up the phone…sorry, ladies I work with. Lab samples man? Yes, that’s your name to me right now.<br />
<br />
The annoying and awkward part crops up later, when you realize that not everybody goes around wearing nametags like they should. <br />
<br />
When working in a new environment, you can’t go around calling everyone “New Girl.”<br />
<br />
She’ll get confused when you’re not talking to her, but the other New Girl. <br />
<br />
You find out that someone was more useful than you thought they’d be. <em>Damn</em>!, you think, <em>Now it matters because they’ll start noticing if I avoid saying their name all the time. Also, I can’t single them out when I need something.</em><br />
<br />
And one that spurs me in particular, the knowing of things. <br />
<br />
More than knowing what goes on (either general knowledge or things of interest that are <strong>not</strong> general knowledge), I like to KNOW. When you work in a hospital without knowing names, it’s like looking at the Marauders’ Map from Harry Potter, with all the little footsteps going around but no little designations on them. <br />
<br />
Frustrating!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This may not be a problem for you. You may remember every single name you hear in conjunction to faces and favorite beverages and food order (like the game I play on lumosity.com to increase facial recognition). <br />
<br />
That’s nice. <br />
<br />
But if you are in a position to need to care or want to know, I have helpful tips for those of you embroiled in this awkwardness.<br />
<br />
<strong>Tip #1</strong><br />
<br />
When staving off awkwardness, be blunt!<br />
<br />
Society has not progressed in a way to prepare people for this attack, so success is yours. People have been trained to be polite to a “t”. <br />
<br />
Think to when you are standing in line and a grown adult cuts to the front. In a crowd, it’s rare for someone to call them out.<br />
<br />
I can think of only a couple reasons why. There is shock that someone would actually do it. There is embarrassment on their behalf. “That poor person is so socially inept that they think doing that is ok…tsk.”<br />
<br />
Or…they are a person who is willing to risk the payoff for a couple dirty looks and low chance at confrontation. <br />
<br />
When you are blunt with the “name game,” it gets the awkwardness out of the way quickly so you can move on to the subject of intent and distract them.<br />
<br />
“Hi! I’m afraid I’ve forgotten your name…?”<br />
<br />
“Helen…”<br />
<br />
“Helen! That’s it! Where did you acquire that spectacular sunburn?”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Tip #2</strong><br />
<br />
The friend of a friend is your friend. You’ve already tried being blunt and have forgotten their name <em>again</em>, you scatterbrain you! You know if you try it again, it will make you look like you’re not remembering on purpose. <br />
<br />
Enter that new guy you just met by the door whose name your guppy-like brain hasn’t had the five seconds required to forget.<br />
<br />
You see the prey. Mr. What’s-his-name-blue-tie. You smile. “Hi!” you shriek in a girlish chortle, “I’d like you to meet John. He just started here!” You step back.<br />
<br />
Little suspecting he is being used solely for information he can prize out of the subject, John steps forward, thrusting out his moist hand in anticipation of a networking opportunity. “John,” he says.<br />
<br />
Subject steps up and attempts to shake the limp offering. “Jared. Welcome to the team.” He reclaims his dripping hand and wipes in surreptitiously on the thigh of his gray Dockers.<br />
<br />
While making a note of Jared’s name and face, you also make a note to never shake hands with … with…what was his name?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Tip #3</strong><br />
<br />
The modern age has given us this next tip, though it carries with it the creepy feeling of being a stalker. (In a good way! A <strong>good</strong> way!) You pull up Facebook and obsessively go through friends of friends and hope that they put up their picture and not a picture of their dog, a flower, or a puddle shaped like their freshman year girlfriend.<br />
<br />
Or you can ask me. I know <em>almost</em> everything at this point…<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-3438201810961385952013-03-09T23:39:00.001-08:002013-03-09T23:39:26.104-08:00Hello?*briiing*<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5zI8ClbXSs3z2qr_Wydg2e3qHFfWVn622uChNfZ1a_1dDzz-6wwgab9vopv-NKiv6MFpfNWfNkBZoIQPjQVyhD0jd-j-JkqufhrpDRvhvLQQT6KLy36TYqJsJ18y5XlzQICwGpMPXjdX/s1600/evil-phone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5zI8ClbXSs3z2qr_Wydg2e3qHFfWVn622uChNfZ1a_1dDzz-6wwgab9vopv-NKiv6MFpfNWfNkBZoIQPjQVyhD0jd-j-JkqufhrpDRvhvLQQT6KLy36TYqJsJ18y5XlzQICwGpMPXjdX/s320/evil-phone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
*briiing*</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
*briiing*</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
*briiing*</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
</div>
<br />
*briii-- <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Hi!</span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">Hello! I --</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
Them: <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Hello? Hello?? Are you there?</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">Yes, I'm--</span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Them: <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Hahaaha...but we're not!! Leave a message at the beep! BEEEEP</span></div>
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">Ggggrrrrrr....</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Or how about:<br />
<br />
<br />
*briiing*<br />
<br />
<br />
*briiing*<br />
<br />
*briiing*<br />
<br />
*briiing*<br />
<br />
*briii--BEEEEP<br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">Hi! This is Red--</span><br />
<br />
Them: <span style="color: #38761d;">Hahahahahahahahaha..hah...ahaha...hahaha....ha ha</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">O_o</span><br />
<br />
Them: <span style="color: #38761d;">Looks like I found the speaker button! Now....if I can <strong>juuust</strong> find the message button.....</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">O_O</span><br />
<br />
Them: <span style="color: #38761d;">Oh well. In case I do, leave a message after the beep!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Attention people. I didn't think we needed to have this conversation, but after the other day doing callbacks, you leave me no choice. The following answering machine/voicemail message is acceptable:<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Hi! You've reached Redgirl! Leave your name, number, and a brief message, and I'll return your call as soon as possible!</blockquote>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Notice I did <strong>not</strong> say, "I'm unable to come to the phone right now." You can include this, but it is redundant. If you aren't answering, then .... you're unable to come to the phone right now. Duh. </div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
I <strong>also</strong> did not say:</div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Hi! You've reached Yvonne, Gary, Trevor, Michael, Trudy, Fido, Fluffy, Slithery, Ratty, Froggy, and Bubbles Radcliff! If you want to leave a message, we can't WAIT to hear from you!</div>
<br />
Finally, I did <strong>not</strong> say:<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Hewoah. Fank you for calling.....the Shmishs. Mommy and Daddy can't come to the phone ...right now. Pwease leave your name ...........and tewephone..............number. (insert indistinguishable words uttered by a child).</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
People. Please.</div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
I'm going to clear the air by saying that, as a member of your family or friend circle, there are moments (moments are small, tiny, teensy amounts of time) that I can appreciate an amusing message on your machine.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
Once. <br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
I have never seen a positive of letting your toddler either answer the phone or leave the message. I can't understand their high-pitched voices, and unless it was necessary, a lack of respect when someone answers the phone that can't even pass on who was calling to the parent. I was never allowed to answer the phone until I could be polite and comprehensible. I don't find it cute; I find it annoying. </div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
I also don't like being tricked. The "Hello! Hello??" game gets old fast. I'm talking the first time it happens. Many times, I'm calling as a favor to the person to let them know info that they want. When *that* happens, I'm not feeling very charitable. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
As for naming every living thing in your house down to the fish in the algae-infused aquarium, it wastes my time. Trust me, I'm not leaving a message for Bubbles. Really.</div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Now take aaalll these annoying messages and the likelihood you'll get one in your regular day-to-day calling. Move yourself to a professional setting where you are making 30 calls in an hour or two. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Suddenly, simply "annoying" gets a lot worse. There you are, trying to get off the phone as quickly as possible, and some amateur novelist is reading their sample chapter on the voicemail to force at lease ONE person to be familiar with his book. When Susie gives the info and instructions, I don't even know if I've reached the right house because I can't understand a word she's saying.</div>
<br />
It's like the baby turtle Squirt on Nemo giving instructions to Marlin.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
I feel like I have to flag some of our clients' numbers for a do-not-call list.<br />
<br />
So tell me.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
How does <em>your</em> voicemail rate?<br />
<br />
<br /><br />
<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-74161402061239032462013-03-09T23:04:00.001-08:002013-03-09T23:04:36.949-08:00Adventure!<br />
Adventure time for me!<br />
<br />
I visited the great land of Bedroom and took a trip on the "Pants" express. On the way down the mountain, the car took a sharp detour and derailed. <br />
<br />
Point being, I broke my leg while changing for work. It was like a bad Rice Crispies commercial...<br />
<br />
"Aaaaahhh!" *Snap* Crack(le)* Pop*<br />
<br />
Glossing over the unfortuate and painful details of dragging myself through a mortifyingly messy apartment with an ankle that flopped back and forth over a lack of stablility in the "hinging" area, <br />
<br />
I <strong>will</strong> tell you that breaking a bone sucks.<br />
<br />
I <strong>will</strong> tell you that I work at an awesome vet hospital. Who did I call as I was sitting on my floor in more pain than I've ever been in my life? (And I have a high pain threshhold...this is how I'm able to gnaw on my fingers like I do in my version of a bad habit) I called my boss, who then called a coworker to take me to the ER. You know who you are!<br />
<br />
I <strong>will</strong> tell you that the firemen that service my area are useful even when they're not looking into my eyes and saying, "All that matters to me is <em>your health,</em>" in the pictures that were taken and viewed multiple times since to distract myself from the pain.<br />
<br />
I will also tell you that when you are little, crutches look really fun. This is not true. Crutches are annoying. I have named mine "Pain" and "Suffering" and they are by my side at all times. I can not climb stairs with them yet. <br />
<br />
I'm going to sum up my ER visit with this:<br />
<br />
I wish I could have gone to my work place instead for care. I would have been willing to get down on all fours and bark if I thought it would work. I know the procedures, I know the prices of everything, and I get discounts :D<br />
<br />
Ah well.<br />
<br />
Took medical leave from school, have to sit while at work (....sadness.... >:), and everything takes three times as long. One coworker, every time I ask her to find a chart or get something, shakes her head and mutters "useless". I can't tell you HOW this is speeding my recovery!<br />
<br />
I fear I will have 6 weeks worth of filing to make up for, though. <br />
<br />
I got a boot from the orthopedist who, funnily enough, has teh same name as one of the doctors I am rather fond of here. When they said his name in the ER, I got really excited....for about three seconds. Then I remembered he treats animals, and I would be seeing someone completely different.<br />
<br />
He seemed to know his business, I guess.<br />
<br />
There is a lot that's negative about the whole experience, but as you know, I prefer to dwell on anything but. Silver lining in all this? My little sister came up to visit. She mentioned a conversation in her head that went something like this:<br />
<br />
"Oh! Poor Redgirl! I can go up and keep her company, maybe fix her meals while I'm there and situate her stuff. We can chat and watch Criminal Minds or Wire in the Blood together and I can work on my crazy quilt and try to entertain her!"<br />
<br />
What she got instead was:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9xEpxQA06N1mu0NUH45DLwgPp8lvlVivabB-YN5Cq9lMwz50I4altIpdHFMnEdU7SHaaskHYUK_gR7p-SCGcQCdOpNsaKnpwbEG7uJBEY1mi7dq-2xCZguGJ0EeVGRoZcRxVVrJDpYu8/s1600/Trash-Heap-300x221.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" jsa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9xEpxQA06N1mu0NUH45DLwgPp8lvlVivabB-YN5Cq9lMwz50I4altIpdHFMnEdU7SHaaskHYUK_gR7p-SCGcQCdOpNsaKnpwbEG7uJBEY1mi7dq-2xCZguGJ0EeVGRoZcRxVVrJDpYu8/s1600/Trash-Heap-300x221.png" /></a></div>
<br />
Yup. My sister gave up her three day weekend at the drop of the hat only to clean my apartment when she got here.turn my apartment from mortifying to horrifying, then onto cleeeen. She's pretty awesome.<br />
<br />
I'd like to say I've been blogging with all my free time, but when she cleaned, she uncovered lost seasons of NCIS, Castle, and the Mentalist, so I haven't exactly been bored. <br />
<br />
But it's back to the grindstone, so onward!<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-56627505986104879072013-02-08T12:18:00.002-08:002013-02-08T19:40:37.542-08:00Something New....As the discerning (and those with actual eyes) will no doubt notice, my layout has changed. A long time friend who, every time he visits my blog winces over the Internet. Today, our convo went something like this:<br />
<br />
Him: <span style="color: #351c75;">What was your blog again?</span><br />
<br />
Me:<span style="color: #cc0000;"> (website)</span><br />
<br />
Him: <span style="color: #351c75;">(redacted)! We've got to get you updated! Your colors are seizure inducing!</span><br />
<br />
Me:<span style="color: #cc0000;"> I like them...they remind me of a watermelon.</span><br />
<br />
Him: <span style="color: #351c75;">seizuremelon...</span><br />
<br />
I rather liked my amateur efforts at a header. I found it fresh and bright, and I especially liked my renaissance painting graphic of the noble looking lady stooping to listen at the tapestries.<br />
<br />
That said, once he put the name of seizuremelon to it, I knew that he was right. So, what you see are his efforts. The lady up top does not have my brown eyes (which I like to think of as "coffee-colored"), but she does do a good job of inviting you in on tidbits of interest. I would have hired her.<br />
<br />
If I held auditions.<br />
<br />
If I had money.<br />
<br />
So, let me know what you think!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-78741029670505198842013-02-07T13:54:00.001-08:002013-02-08T11:24:27.107-08:00People These DaysI think most of you know by now that I reside in the general area of California's capitol, so I'll relate the following phone conversation with the real places mentioned.<br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">Veterinary Hospital, this is Redgirl!</span><br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #b45f06;">Hi. I just brought my dog home from surgery today, and we didn't think she'd need any pain medication, but now she's hurting and we probably need it now.</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="color: #741b47;">Uh huh. When we want to give you pain meds, you should probably accept, especially after surgery. That's when we cut into the body, you know....</span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">Okay, and which doctor did you see?</span><br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #b45f06;">Dr. Binton.</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="color: #741b47;">Ah, not one of our docs. Yet again, I feel like I have been punk'd. For me, this is the feeling when someone calls us and acts as if they're our client. This confuses me until, at some point in the conversation, they mention something that clues me in on the following scenario: they've called their vet and hear our name mentioned on the answering machine for emergencies. Then I get to explain that we can't give them pain medication, look up records left on their doctors' desks, or clarify what their doctor proscribed to a pharmacist. </span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<span style="color: #741b47;"><i>We are there for one reason. Something horrible has happened, and you need your pet seen. We are specialty and we are open for you to come in. That's it.</i><i>I don't have access to the entire database for all the hospitals in the regional area. No, we are not an answering service. Yes, I'm real person. </i></span><br />
<i><br /></i>
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">Which hospital was the surgery done at?</span><br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #b45f06;">Sacramento.</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="color: #741b47;">Huh?</span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">I'm sorry, which <b>hospital</b>?</span><br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #b45f06;">Elk Grove.</span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="color: #741b47;">What? What's going on here? You are providing no information whatsoever. You are just naming cities. This is not helpful. Try again. But not by naming random cities. Try to answer the question.</span></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">The <b>hospital</b>? </span><br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #b45f06;">Oh. Ummm.... Elk Grove</span> <span style="color: #741b47;">(</span><i><span style="color: #741b47;">Aaaaaahhhh)</span> </i><span style="color: #b45f06;">and Florin. That one.</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">I see. Well,</span> (commence explaining why I can't provide random people with services if we haven't seen their pet and random medication on their say-so).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This was laughably frustrating because I suppose it didn't really matter <i>what</i> hospital she had the surgery done at, we couldn't just proscribe medication without an exam.<br />
<br />
What gets me annoyed --and I've touched on this before-- is when the following occurs in some flavor or other:<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcofygxkx2SjRpfxfLtNmRyFnFOLHO9vB5QOD4oRvcpE84CMqx0eATatvYMKUFAE5MYRSL3seYYZPyeb7LuJXrx27U8ozlDYBD8p3zAZ5AFahyphenhyphenl2kFcNc5MK9FgkGvxFY95Z7OdYRh0Pq/s1600/Keyboard+Job+Search.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcofygxkx2SjRpfxfLtNmRyFnFOLHO9vB5QOD4oRvcpE84CMqx0eATatvYMKUFAE5MYRSL3seYYZPyeb7LuJXrx27U8ozlDYBD8p3zAZ5AFahyphenhyphenl2kFcNc5MK9FgkGvxFY95Z7OdYRh0Pq/s1600/Keyboard+Job+Search.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh no, really. Go ahead. I'll wait. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Them: <span style="color: #134f5c;">Can you give me your address?</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">It's 702--</span><br />
<br />
Them: <span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c;">WAIT!! I need to find something to write with!!</span><br />
<br />
Really? There was nothing else you needed. You called solely to ask for a piece of information including numbers and the alphabet. I find it hard to believe that it was when I said the "2" that you realized, surprisingly, that you wouldn't be able to retain the info. The human brain can retain around 7 pieces of discrete information. This is why telephone numbers are seven digits long.<br />
<br />
I blame the digital age. No one has to practice remembering telephone numbers any more. They just hit "call Mom" in their phones.<br />
<br />
I guess it all dials (haha...<i>dials</i>) down to a public service announcement.<br />
<br />
I understand if you're stressed when you call me. If you don't have that excuse, don't be an idiot.<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-29857537339567158212013-02-03T00:11:00.003-08:002013-02-07T14:04:44.027-08:00Singing...when you don't know the words<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
You walk in to the sanctuary...you sit down...and instead of giving you a book with music, some bright person has the idea to just project words on a blank wall. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
Words are great...words are like a poem, right?<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
The voice kind of goes up and down when we talk, but that's just normal stuff. HERE, you are expected to have the background knowledge to walk in, look at words and say in your head (or to the person next to you, that's good, too) "Hey, I know this song!! It starts with a half note on B and is in the key of C. And when the chorus starts, it goes down to the 5th, and then the minor 3rd...."</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
This is the same sort of problem you run into at a bus stop in South Sacramento....or at a vet hospital. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
In South Sac, it can sometimes be hard the decipher a person's sex when presented with shaggy hair, no figure, a rawboned face and clothing leaning towards anything that can be salvaged from a dumpster. </div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
There's usually also some withdrawel twitching as well.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
At a vet hospital, gender is very important to our clients.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Not just their gender either, but their pets' gender as well. This is understandable, as if you are going in to do a neuter (the general term for either sex), you want you vet's office to be aware of which parts they are cutting out. I suppose it would then be unsettling to hear your dog referred to as a he instead of a she in these circumstances. </div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
The problem is when the client comes with a dog you've never seen before and they expect you to know these details. They also get angry when you don't or you try to assume.</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">What's his name?</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
Them: (derisive glare) <span style="color: #45818e;">It's a girl.</span> >:(<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
What do they want me to say?<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">What's <strong>its </strong>name?</span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
That hardly sounds any better. Now I'm equating their dog to a toaster or other genderless appliance. </div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGWtt8gpV58NWYVoligHSPKHwntcNqybGjcDjFhujw5kfFjs_JZFi6CCUS3al90W7NhXBhay4oLNqK299kg6F0lPnjz5e08b_OgOSW4IudWPas-MzdCgkNK_RbtymGybtdZehzG21gs8U/s1600/hairless+cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ea="true" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGWtt8gpV58NWYVoligHSPKHwntcNqybGjcDjFhujw5kfFjs_JZFi6CCUS3al90W7NhXBhay4oLNqK299kg6F0lPnjz5e08b_OgOSW4IudWPas-MzdCgkNK_RbtymGybtdZehzG21gs8U/s320/hairless+cat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good Toaster! You good Toaster, you!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This puts me in the unenviable postion of trying to sound appropriatly adoring and gushy about their pet while avoiding the use of a prounound. <br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">I hope....Gigi feels better! If...Gigi has problems, don't hesitate to call!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Now I sound like a soap opera. If you've ever seen an episode, you'll know what I'm talking about. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
In regular conversation, you may get someone saying something like this:</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Gosh! I can't believe she drove her car off that cliff! If Mom hadn't been sober that night and able to go to the hospital and let Uncle know she was there, she may have died!</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
In a soap opera, everyone has to be named because the plots are so ridiculous, and most watchers have no idea who's who:</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Gosh! I can't believe Margaret drove her car off ShoresideCliff! If Glenda hadn't been sober that night and able to go to General Memorial Hospital and let Uncle Carson know Margaret was there, Margaret may have died!</div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
It just feels awkward. <br />
<br />
What's even worse is that we have tall counters and can't always see the pet...so I don't even know if it's a dog or a cat. I'm still working at the "be nice and sensitive because it's my job" thing, so more often than I'd like, I say:<br />
<br />
"What kind of animal do you have?"<br />
<br />
People don't like to hear their pet called an animal. Go figure. <br />
<br />
Saying "What the name of your little one?" can work...unless the "little one" is a 150lb Saint Bernanrd. Then you have to play it off with "ha ha haaaa....not so little then huh." and try and smile your way out of it. <br />
<br />
What's the most annoying, Fifi and I have decided, is the Client who names their dog something androgenous in the worst way. They take wicked pleasure in watching you struggle and inwardly cackle in glee when you get it wrong and they can pounce.<br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">What's this one's name</span>?<br />
<br />
Them: <span style="color: #45818e;">Taco.</span><br />
<br />
Me: (thinking furiously and makes a pained guess) <span style="color: #cc0000;">He's so cute!</span><br />
<br />
Them: (smirking I am sure)<span style="color: #45818e;"> Taco's a <em>girl</em></span> (you numbscull, can't you see the delicate angle of her jaw????)<br />
<br />
<br />
*sigh*<br />
<br />
You can't win.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-21450988862946189872013-01-20T20:46:00.002-08:002013-01-20T20:48:18.264-08:00The Strange and the MindnumbingI was at a meeting the other day for the front desk staff on how to please the client more. We talked about different needs of the client and looked at a poster that represented the client experience. One of the things that was on there was a representation of "Dr. Internet."<br />
<br />
Ah, Dr. Internet, you are a bane! You are reason that people now call us up and:<br />
<br />
1) Present a problem they think their pet is having<br />
<br />
2) Either tell us that they are supposed to see a vet and ask what they can do at home<br />
<br />
3) Tell us things that were suggested to do and merely want affirmation that they can do them.<br />
<br />
4) Get angry when we won't tell them what to do with their pet over the phone because<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>We've never seen their pet</li>
<li>We don't know the true diagnosis</li>
<li>If it's a serious problem, home remedies could easily make it worse</li>
</ul>
They will sometimes offer up strange and unorthodox methods of treatment. Some are even concerning.<br />
<br />
My coworker, Fifi, had the following dialogue:<br />
<br />
Caller: <span style="color: #134f5c;">I think my dog ate something toxic! What should I do?</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSH5JnWLGjyZzEyuQMHDlPlHt32B8WUS32xohYDp-9k0Pk9NBu2HuObnoZgzCoDyCBwwRvrGg_QLm6OkZfPbcX7rbiBnpRStbGH9GbLAwWFzD5JXUdUetZuVbM7SPLq3GlO3lnqCE8LBmu/s1600/GSD-at-Sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSH5JnWLGjyZzEyuQMHDlPlHt32B8WUS32xohYDp-9k0Pk9NBu2HuObnoZgzCoDyCBwwRvrGg_QLm6OkZfPbcX7rbiBnpRStbGH9GbLAwWFzD5JXUdUetZuVbM7SPLq3GlO3lnqCE8LBmu/s320/GSD-at-Sunset.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #4c1130;">Yeah, this vs. Gatorade? Gatorade, you got this, man, you got this.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Fifi: <span style="color: #38761d;">Do you know what they ate?</span><br />
<br />
Caller: <span style="color: #134f5c;">He licked some antifreeze.</span><br />
<br />
Fifi: <span style="color: #38761d;">We would definitely recommend you bring him in.</span><br />
<br />
Caller: <span style="color: #134f5c;">Would it help if I gave him Gatorade<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 14.545454025268555px;">®</span>?</span><br />
<br />
Wait.<br />
What?<br />
<br />
I see that some vet over on a website says you can do it, but as far as counteracting a toxin? I really don't see it.<br />
<br />
How about:<br />
<br />
Caller: <span style="color: #134f5c;">My dog ate (anything), I think I need to make him vomit.</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">Recommend you bring him in so we can induce vomiting.</span><br />
<br />
Caller: <span style="color: #134f5c;">I read online that I can use hydrogen peroxide.</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">We don't recommend that, as it can cause ulcers.</span><br />
<br />
Caller: <span style="color: #134f5c;">But will it work?</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">We can't recommend that. Ideally, you would bring him in.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Here's the thing.<br />
<br />
Why are you calling in for advice if you already know what you're going to do and don't plan on listening to anything I say except for what affirms you? Oh. I think I just answered my question. You <strike>want to feel like a good pet owner </strike>don't want to feel like a bad pet owner. I realize your ideal conversation would have gone like this:<br />
<br />
Caller: <span style="color: #134f5c;">Blah blah blah</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">Yes, I agree!</span><br />
<br />
Caller:<span style="color: #134f5c;"> I read on the internet I can (strange/dangerous procedure).</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">You did research before calling...how awesome is that! Since the internet is 100% trustworthy, I would definitely go ahead with that. No reservations!</span><br />
<br />
Caller: <span style="color: #134f5c;">Glad I know I'm doing the right thing without having to spend $$s for a professional! </span>(click)<br />
<br />
I know someone who's gonna want to try redoing their own electrical wiring with possible disastrous results.<br />
<br />
<br />
Then we have the Grand Parvo Experience. (I can see this will be a reoccurring theme here, so get used to it). This comes in several flavors.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Ignorance</li>
<li>Purposeful negligence with lack of understanding about possible outcomes</li>
<li>Denial</li>
<li>Rage</li>
</ul>
We've kind of touched on three of these, but we'll deal with denial now. This is a funny kind of caller. They just want to be right.<br />
<br />
Caller: <span style="color: #134f5c;">My chihuahua is vomiting and has diarrhea. He seems listless, doesn't want to eat or drink.</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">Well, has he been fully vaccinated?</span><br />
<br />
Caller: <span style="color: #134f5c;">No. My mother thinks he has parvo, but I'm sure he doesn't.</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">With the symptoms you are describing, parvo would be the first major concern.</span><br />
<br />
Caller: <span style="color: #134f5c;">Well, I don't think it is.</span> (Background: <span style="color: #741b47;">It's parvo, you dumba**!</span>) <span style="color: #134f5c;">No it's not, <i>Mother</i>!</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">We would recommend you get him tested.</span><br />
<br />
Caller: <span style="color: #134f5c;">Well, I don't think it's parvo. (click)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
So, basically, Junior called me up to back him against his mother. Great strategy, my basement dwelling friend. Holding a gun to a fortune-teller's head to make her tell you a different fortune is also a great way to change the future. After all, a conversation going:<br />
<br />
Caller: <span style="color: #134f5c;">No, no! Say it's not so!</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #cc0000;">It be not so.</span><br />
<br />
Caller: <span style="color: #134f5c;">My God, he's stopped leaking from both ends! Thank you, fairy dogmother!</span><br />
<br />
....is totally feasible.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-76686747810987355782013-01-15T14:30:00.004-08:002013-01-15T14:30:58.600-08:00Caring, or (No) Lack ThereofToday, I'm going to educate you, the masses, on a theme that appears quite a bit, especially in an emergency setting. I can usually tell that a conversation is going to have this theme when I hear the following buzz words:<br />
<br />
really adorable<br />
so nice<br />
the sweetest little thing<br />
rescued her<br />
can't pay now<br />
have no money<br />
<br />
They may possibly be arranged in a quickly spoken paragraph resembling the following:<br />
<br />
Last week I <span style="color: #6aa84f;">rescued</span> these two <span style="color: #6aa84f;">really adorable</span>, cute chihuahua puppies. They are the <span style="color: #6aa84f;">sweetest little things</span>, but now they are vomiting and <span style="color: #6aa84f;">I have no money</span>, so <span style="color: #6aa84f;">I can't pay you now</span>!<br />
<br />
The part about no money is usually said a touch aggressively, as if <i>challenging</i> us to say no, daring us.<br />
<br />
If the CareCredit thing won't work out, it really leaves me without options. It's a sad fact of the world that money is required for services. At a vet, it's not like in the human medical field where they are somehow obligated to provide service (check me on that, ppl with the knowledge?). At a vet, whether or not you feel that Fluffy is a true member of the family, a child in every sense but the human DNA sequence, we are not obligated to provide service merely because Fluffy is ill.<br />
<br />
Even more so, I am not the one providing the service. That is the doctor. The doctor who has spent years of their life and 100k on schooling, putting themselves in debt for years, and hospital supplies which would then come out of a paycheck. The only way they would do anything is if I LIED to them and told them payment had gone through.<br />
<br />
It is not as you seem to think. That I took this job solely to sabotage your pet's health.<br />
<br />
So when you call with the following, understand that I may be less than sympathetic.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Me</span>: Vet Hospital, this is Redgirl.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Her</span>: (insert sad statement about a chihuahua puppy)!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Me</span>: It does sound like you should come in if you can. It <i>is</i> $138 to be seen on emergency.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Her</span>: One-thirty-eight?! Can't you guys bill me or something? Do a promissory note?<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Me</span>: I'm sorry. We take payment up front.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Her</span>: So if I can't pay, you're just going to let my dog DIE?!<br />
<br />
<i>Okay, I'm sorry. I feel for your dog, but it's really <b>your</b> lack of financial planning that is going to let your dog die, if that's what ends up happening. Owning an animal is a big responsibility, not just the food you buy it. They <b>are</b> like having a child, and you have to plan ahead. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Me</span>: I'm sorry.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Her</span>: All you people care about is money!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Me</span>: Oh, have <b>you</b> found a power company that accepts smiles and good will in exchange for products and services? I didn't know there were any out there! (Well, that's what I wished I could have said. Sorry, things cost money. Actually, I just stayed quiet.)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGi0vZyR-Ng-5hN6YEyMDGPH2SgBBeysqPFHDVqn89fO3OsT5mA8jxdZhQIEGW7CRxn3YFceBbYJ2ieUa8JYINIAuD-G4tzrKjMT0zUJjrLuN9ZZeqPaiDUjMBCQIKFM_x-9ROXSLTszta/s1600/GSD-at-Sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGi0vZyR-Ng-5hN6YEyMDGPH2SgBBeysqPFHDVqn89fO3OsT5mA8jxdZhQIEGW7CRxn3YFceBbYJ2ieUa8JYINIAuD-G4tzrKjMT0zUJjrLuN9ZZeqPaiDUjMBCQIKFM_x-9ROXSLTszta/s200/GSD-at-Sunset.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Her</span>: You guys are all just f**king pieces of sh**!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Me</span>: (Silence. Really, what could I say?)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;">Her</span>: You know what? F**k you!<br />
<br />
(click)<br />
<br />
<br />
There was a group of employees chatting at the front desk. I walked over to them and said, "Just so you guys know, we're ALL f**king pieces of sh**."<br />
<br />
Then they made me tell them the story.<br />
<br />
See, when you abuse someone for something they can't do anything about anyway, you're really just sucking any sympathy and goodwill I might have towards you, not even making me <i>wish</i> I could do something to help you. When you yell and curse at me for your own lack of preparedness, you're really just creating a story I tell my colleagues.<br />
<br />
You're really just writing my blog for me.<br />
<br />
So by all means, carry on.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-48834453496261956182012-12-15T13:14:00.003-08:002012-12-15T13:14:48.910-08:00B00B1E5!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I did not know when I went in to work today what the theme
would be. There is always a theme when you work nights in emergency, not always
good, but usually there. There are Cat Nights, Large Breed Dog Nights, Hit By
Car Nights, and Oh God Will Something Please Come In Nights.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tonight’s theme was not along the lines I was expecting.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
See, I wasn’t expecting “Boobies Night.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
True, one client flashed Dr. Aardvark a boob one night when
digging for her wallet in the foothills of her chest. It just popped right out
–-pop!— This was seen as the lesser evil when the selfsame doctor reported that
the client lacked <i>any</i> undergarments,
confirmed with her own eyes, much to her chagrin. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And Dr. Fish told of a time when she worked emergency on the
east coast how a well endowed woman came into the ER with a bird that needed
care. She plunged her hand ‘neath the plunging neckline and produced a small
bird from between the pressing sides of cleavage.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“My bird!” She cried, all aflutter, “My bird needs CARE!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Observing the crushed state of its feathers and the
breathless nature of its wee body, Dr. Fish replied, “No, it’s already gone.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“No!” she screeched, “He was alive in the car! He needs
CARE!”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dr. Fish gave her a pointed look. “Your bird needs a
cardboard box and an owner who knows how to dig a hole in the ground,” or words
to that effect that would allow her to retain her job.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tonight’s tales, however, are a little more direct with
their references.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cue the woman who came in to discuss financing options for a
pit bull that her daughter was trying to “rescue.” (Ah, after that last post,
it’s all I can do to keep a straight face around that word.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I suggested Care Credit as an option. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you don’t know about Care Credit and are trying to
finance veterinary or even your own medical needs, this is a great thing; look
it up in advance.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The woman paused, then said:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Yes, she has Care Credit. She used it to pay for her boob
job last year.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Picture Redgirl quirking a small smile, thinking this was
something the woman would join her in. Alas, the woman was merely relaying it
in the spirit of sharing information, not a laugh.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But it was the phone call an hour later that did it in.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her: <span style="color: #990000;">My dog just had puppies three weeks ago. Now she’s like
whining and doesn’t want to get up and the puppies only nurse a little bit and
her titties are swollen and sore.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
CoWorker: <span style="color: #38761d;">One moment. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Puts call on hold, lets me in on the scoop, and we both try
to compose ourselves. I call ER to find out the symptoms of a “retained puppy”,
a puppy that never came out and is rotting in the womb. Note: doc on tonight is
Dr. Bat, the doctor who made the comment about people who play fetch with rocks
with their dogs.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: <span style="color: #0b5394;">Does she have any vaginal discharge?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Them: <span style="color: #990000;">What discharge?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: (Must. Keep. Composure.) <span style="color: #0b5394;">Vaginal discharge.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Them: <span style="color: #990000;">Where would that come from?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me:…..<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Them: (to friend) <span style="color: #990000;">Any vaginal discharge? No.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: <span style="color: #0b5394;">That’s good.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Them:<span style="color: #990000;"> But what about her titties? They are all sore. Should
I rub the stuff they put on cow’s udders on them?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: <span style="color: #0b5394;">Well, the puppies not nursing aren’t going to help
matters…maybe if you came in –<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Them: <span style="color: #990000;">I could just try the cream on her titties first, see
how that does. What age can puppies have dog food?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: (sigh)<span style="color: #0b5394;"> Let me check.</span> (I call to ER) <span style="color: #0b5394;">Hello? Hi, yeah, we
have some first time parents here who really </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">don’t know anything. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dr. Bat: <span style="color: #a64d79;">Is this the dog you just asked about?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: <span style="color: #0b5394;">Yup. Also, quote, “her titties are swollen and sore,”
unquote.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dr. Bat: <span style="color: #a64d79;">Well tell her to get down there, he dog might have
a titty infection.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: <span style="color: #0b5394;">You slay me.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dr. Bat: <span style="color: #a64d79;">You have to speak to these people in their
vernacular. Those titties need to be looked at.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: <span style="color: #0b5394;">By a titty inspector.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dr. Bat: <span style="color: #a64d79;">I’m open for business.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dr. Bat is one of the fun ones, for sure. And as a woman, is
in possession, if I may say, of her very own set.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-27503459866052042102012-12-12T20:44:00.004-08:002012-12-18T10:53:28.119-08:00*TeeHee*So I realize this is my own humor here, but I really just crack myself up:<br />
<br />
Coworker: <span style="color: #b45f06;">So...Mrs Smith called, she's coming in tomorrow on ER. Dog has vomiting, lethargic, and a loose stool. She can't come in tomorrow for an appoint because it's packed. The schedule is <strong>packed</strong>!</span><br />
<br />
Me:<span style="color: #0b5394;"> I bet she wishes the same could be said of her dog's stool.</span><br />
<br />
*snort*Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-1121427151975612012-12-12T10:51:00.001-08:002013-02-07T14:21:44.480-08:00Bragging RightsOne of the things I've come to love is the client who feels the need to impart a certain fact about a dog or cat they are bringing in that really doesn't matter.<br />
<br />
Take, for example, this familiar scene from an ER visit. The client has handed over paperwork, and Fluffy has been taken to the back.<br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #741b47;">Ma'am? About how old is Fluffy?</span><br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #38761d;">We don't really know.</span><br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #741b47;">Do you have an idea, roughly?</span><br />
<br />
Her: <span style="color: #38761d;">He's a RESCUE dog. Our vet said between seven and nine years old.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Or how about this:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>Such-and-such client is checking out</em></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Me: <span style="color: #741b47;">Who's <i>this </i>cute little one?</span><br />
<br />
Them: <span style="color: #38761d;">Zumba....she's a rescue dog.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
<br />
I guess it's not difficult to figure out why people do this.<br />
<br />
First off, they may be trying to make conversation, maybe hoping for the following:<br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #741b47;">Oh, a <i>rescue</i> dog? Fascinating! Do tell me the particulars, as I am doing absolutely nothing else at this time!</span><br />
<br />
Them: <span style="color: #38761d;">Well, it all started one day in the ghettos of Auburn (Does Auburn even <u>have</u> ghettos?)...</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Possibly, <u>this</u> is their reasoning:<br />
<br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d;">Ohmygawd I'd better tell them it's a rescue dog, otherwise, they'll think that *I'm* the reason he has a broken leg and an oozing contusion on his rump when that's not the case. I FOUND him like that, <b>and</b> they'll think I'm a horrible person if I don't clear that up right away!</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></i>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YVllOceg4WmXJcj7XpO37HBMwjnuIJrTQAVw-rcvvmir3U9yNmxWevAD5xcDkSPv-ScoiMjBPVFmRsxd_pGpnpgk0Aka6Pg5Dk20MgQLtq-OawdnzabsbQtGdkrNgQ2K_fc5Gi3GPv69/s1600/GSD-at-Sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YVllOceg4WmXJcj7XpO37HBMwjnuIJrTQAVw-rcvvmir3U9yNmxWevAD5xcDkSPv-ScoiMjBPVFmRsxd_pGpnpgk0Aka6Pg5Dk20MgQLtq-OawdnzabsbQtGdkrNgQ2K_fc5Gi3GPv69/s320/GSD-at-Sunset.jpg" width="320" /></a><i><br /></i><br />
Don't worry. We don't judge.<br />
<br />
Much.<br />
<br />
Honestly though? Most of the time? I think this is what they're looking for:<br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #741b47;">Oh, a <b>rescue</b> dog? You <u>rescued</u> this poor unfortunate? Good for you! You must be a fantastic person, full of goodness and rainbows! You deserve an award of some type!</span><br />
<br />
I realize that I may be simplifying or putting things way over the top, but attend:<br />
<br />
There are <u>reasons</u> people actually rescue dogs (and cats), and those are perfectly valid. What I want to know is the motivations for mentioning it constantly for no discernible reason.<br />
<br />
Me: <span style="color: #741b47;">Do you have pets?</span><br />
<br />
Them: <span style="color: #38761d;">Yes! Our poodle, Stevie. He's a rescue dog.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
<br />
Why did you add that? The dog is still just as rescued without you telling the world that you did it, and in my field, everyone can claim to have a rescue dog. Lets pull the definition of rescue, shall we?<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">1) To free from confinement, danger, or evil.</span><br />
<br />
Hmmm. Okay. This one makes sense. At the pound in danger of being euthanized works. Moving on.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">2) To take (as prisoner) forcibly from custody.</span><br />
<br />
This could be stealing your neighbor's dog. Look! Here's Fifi, our new cockapoo!<br />
<br />
Them: <span style="color: #351c75;">Hey! But that's <i>our</i> dog!</span><br />
<br />
Them: <span style="color: #38761d;">We rescued him....</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">3) To recover (as a prize) by force.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
You just finished winning the "Greenest lawn in a drought, by golly" contest, and have decided that your prize is the loser's Brittany Spaniel. Good luck convincing the Home Owner's Association of the spoils of war there.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">4) To deliver (as a place under siege) by armed force.</span><br />
<br />
This just goes to show that a "rescue" dog can be saved or wrested with the help of canons and land mines from anyone you feel is undeserving. Your mother-in-law. Those neighborhood kids who never fessed up to denting your car with that baseball.<br />
<br />
<br />
So go forth, rescuers! Go forth and rescue dogs! For how else to make yourself feel good this holiday season but to obtain an animal and then announce to the world your good deeds....<br />
<br />
Often.<br />
<br />
You can stop now.<br />
<br />
I mean it.<br />
<br />
Really.<br />
<br />
I need a raise.<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-4983448867150555672012-11-29T14:04:00.000-08:002012-12-01T22:52:02.710-08:00Baa-aack!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am a fool.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here I am, bemoaning my lack of creative outlet when I have all the necessary ingredients for success! What ingredients, you say? No, not hours of boredom with access to a computer (Though that would be nice). Not handfuls of cash to pay a better, more prolific writer than I to lure more readers and actually post once in a blue moon.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead, I will utilize the brief period of time between six hours of failing at school and eight hours of charging seemingly exorbitant amounts of money for procedures at the vet hospital only to have owners discover they have to put the family dog down. I will use this time to record work exploits mixed with school exploits, and a pinch of woes I now own having newly joined the commuter wagon train.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s start this new age with a little quiz:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1: My ________ (dog breed) ate _________ (insert something strange).
<br />
<br />
<br />
2: My poor little _________ (dog breed) is TREMBLing! Not like normal. I think something’s WRONG.<br />
<br />
<br />
3: My __________ (dog breed) has back problems and can hardly walk. I think he needs and MRI.<br />
<br />
<br />
4: My dog was attacked by a ________(dog breed) at a _______(location).<br />
<br />
<br />
5: My __________(dog breed) is vomiting and has diarrhea. I have no money; what can I do?<br />
<br />
<br />
6: My dog is so lethargic, I can’t wake him up! He just lays there, trembles, and pees himself. What could possibly be wrong?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidx0xNeM9qxIzEhwEQSgR0KhPDz0xqUcJUB-BIqDdC4GS86qTPb9foSSkkQo74mIKrCosaPwiKBsamReuydM_9NsvcYcIl_VfuizNK4nhKEq6xCUTuWjQgq6KGTx88UilRdDfm_FKg_iMu/s1600/dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidx0xNeM9qxIzEhwEQSgR0KhPDz0xqUcJUB-BIqDdC4GS86qTPb9foSSkkQo74mIKrCosaPwiKBsamReuydM_9NsvcYcIl_VfuizNK4nhKEq6xCUTuWjQgq6KGTx88UilRdDfm_FKg_iMu/s320/dog.jpg" width="320" /></a><o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Got those answers all written down? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Great. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1: Lab. Labs eat anything. Observe the following:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Caller:<span style="color: #b45f06;"> I think my lab ate a rock!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: <span style="color: #990000;">Why do you think that?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Caller: <span style="color: #b45f06;">She brought me a rock about the size of a silver dollar, and I threw the rock away. She went and got it and brought it back (Labrador….<i>retriever</i> anyone?). She had it in her mouth, and then, all of the sudden, she didn't, and it wasn't anywhere on the ground.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Me: (calling back to ER, gives story in dry voice) <span style="color: #990000;">Would a rock that size be a concern for a 70lb dog</span>?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
ER Doc: <span style="color: #38761d;">She probably has no money. Anyone who would play fetch with a rock is an idiot.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2: Chihuahua. I have actually had this happen, people bringing their small dog, especially Chihuahuas in for “trembling.” Maybe the reason I’m so O_o over it is that, to me, that’s a necessary evil with small dogs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3: Dachshund. Hmm, I don’t know. How could a dog 3 times as long as it is tall *possibly* have back problems?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4: Pit bull, dog park. Caveat here: A lot of people love pits. I have met a number of wonderful, friendly pits. This doesn't change the fact that the physical nature of a pit (larger, muscled, strong) necessitate that people who want to turn those things in their favor and encourage aggressive behavior will exploit this. Police Departments import their German Shepherds from France and other countries because it’s next to impossible to find a suitable strain in the US anymore. Same thing is starting to happen with<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"> Malinois</span> (pronounced mal-en-wahs), the dogs that were part of the Osama take-down. People decide they want in on that and start screwing with the breed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dog parks are horrible places. It’s like someone said, “Hmm….what would make the worst environment for dogs? How about if we fence a small area, bring dogs in from all over the city who have a range of diseases who don’t know each other, unleash them all and see what happens?” If you don’t live in the country, I guess you need an outlet, but this one kind of sucks.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5: Pit bull or Chihuahua. I realize it looks like I’m stereotyping here, but it’s not stereotyping if it’s true. Most, if not all, of the cases of parvo virus we see are people from the poorer classes of society who have gotten themselves a puppy from a “breeder” and didn't get it vaccinated. It’s ridiculous! At the most, you’re looking at 100 bucks to get the thing vaccinated, and parvo, which can’t be treated, can run you in the thousands. What do your thousands get you? It gets us monitoring your dog and keeping an IV of fluids running for a week or so in isolation. It does NOT get medicine to make the parvo go away. Why? <i>Virus</i>. They just run their course while you stand there hoping your dog will pull through…while we do the same thing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6: I really wish I could post a video of a dog with this problem. They’re very calm, blink a lot and may be trembling. They also can’t control their bladder. A convo with the ER tech looks a little like this:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
ER:<span style="color: #351c75;"> Is there anything he could have gotten into?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Them: <span style="color: #b45f06;">No! Nothing!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
ER: <span style="color: #351c75;">I’m going to ask this question for medical purposes only. Is there a chance that he could have gotten access to any marijuana, medical or otherwise?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Them: <span style="color: #b45f06;">I’m going to kill my boyfriend!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-OaYmP_ADjguXqKT-Ds9PMbXEAzRIE9A2ytEwgx_HShWXsc3itTDyhM1EGShXyhY_l9jn06avZljqEDJei0947Ok9i-_fyBx7iRuIDdzxhapV2PZsCu1mRGju1x1u4m7RTNJvTp553QY/s1600/catwings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-OaYmP_ADjguXqKT-Ds9PMbXEAzRIE9A2ytEwgx_HShWXsc3itTDyhM1EGShXyhY_l9jn06avZljqEDJei0947Ok9i-_fyBx7iRuIDdzxhapV2PZsCu1mRGju1x1u4m7RTNJvTp553QY/s200/catwings.jpg" width="200" /></a>Ah, people! I do want to say upfront with respect to future posts a word of caution. When I worked at the Hotel, it was easier to share stories of humorous people and their crazy antics with respect to requests etc. At a pet hospital, it’s a bit more complicated. The devil’s advocate personality I have forces me to see a hysterical person acting out and bad behavior as a person being concerned about their pet. At the heart of it, that really isn't funny, and to make snarky comments about it would be in poor taste. The same as if some poor pet has to be euthanized. I ask you, therefore, to look at things from a new prospective: the prospective of that, in life, things happen. Not all of them are sunshiny and happiness all the time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For those who know me online or on the outside, you know that I sometimes have to get creative to find a way to keep my head out of these dark places. So, if I cavalierly speak of special parking spaces for people who are euthanizing for a different approach on breaking the bad news (“I’m sorry sir….I’m going to have to ask you to move your car….) and doing a special on cremations for the holiday season, that’s the nature of the business.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Carry on.<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-59544619820840970352012-07-26T13:29:00.004-07:002012-07-26T13:42:26.845-07:00Back to the Bench<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";font-size:130%;">Found this and realized I hadn't posted it yet.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";font-size:130%;">I give you my most recent court observation write-up!</span></p><span style="font-size: 100%; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto; font-size:100%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjckEkyWJJOLLooui1UAYyGYCeplnCdeIfmQHXPbTZ2-GcoG8_VlxDZsdqM6F47Xf8opYxbWVJcHSP5kWZpZ6TDCrc8RW1qoMrCyHNUarBXz9G7RsynHEmvsC-LoFm-kxW9T43USdnL2WNP/s320/swear.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769580399985537266" /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 100%; font-size:100%;"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:12.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";font-size:130%;">Picking a floor at random, I stroll down the hall hoping to catch whiffs of interesting legal material. Outside of Department 28, a uniformed police officer sits conversing with a suited man. Both direct me to a preliminary trial going on inside that they will be testifying in. Score! I settle into my plush chair and wait for the games to begin.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >I enjoy coming into a case cold – half the fun is figuring out what happened. First thing I notice is that the witnesses had obviously never seen a court show in their lives to know what the deal is as far as the swearing in process. Very similar to depo introductions, the lawyers counsel the witness on the fact that the court reporter cannot take down uh-huhs and hu-uhs…which the court reporter promptly takes down for the record. I find it interesting that the lawyers made a point of finding out that the child (14) understood the difference between the truth and a lie, but such conversation is never had with adults. I’m thinking some adults could use it.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Seeing/hearing that the witness seemed to lack adequate vocal chords for a room of that size, Prosecution asks that the microphone be turned on. Before he is done with the second syllable, Madame Court Reporter is in action. I’m sure she has been waiting for the chance.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Witness is asked if he recognizes someone in the room. I realize that it might be like that in all cases we hear in class…there is only one person in the room besides counsel, clerk, et cetera. How awkward t’would be if the witness recognizes someone they weren’t supposed to!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >The witness continues shyly and inaudibly answering questions, hesitating before each “yes” or “no” and I’m thinking that this sounds easy. I pull my air writer out and throw down a few practice strokes. Piece of cake. I’m confused, though, because <i>presumably</i>, the kid had been asked these questions before, yet he seemed to be hearing them for the first time <i>now</i>. Prosecution pulls out his phone while hurriedly saying, “Your Honor, just using the phone for the calendar.” Well played, well played. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >I lean forward with anticipation as the story begins to become clear. We have John and Jane. Jane has two kids from a previous relationship (Son 1 and Son 2). John gets together with Jane and they live at Jane’s parents and subsequently produce offspring (Son 3 and Baby). They then move to a house to themselves. Our alleged altercation begins when, around1:30am, John comes in and wakes up Son 1 and 2 to “help clean” the kitchen. His demeanor? “Acting dumb and complaining.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Prosecution tries to extract the story, but Son 2 doesn’t seem to remember ANY of the events that night…except for the fact that it involved sitting on the couch at some point. Thereafter, the police report states that Son 2 alleged the night in question that the John was pacing and yelling (and acting dumb) about their lack of respect and that Son 2 was “the weak one.” Son 2 then says to back off of the family. John subsequently takes a kitchen knife and holds it to Son 2’s neck and says he will kill them all. There is a scuffle, Son 2 escapes out the door into the street, followed by a large pot thrown by John which subsequently shatters in the street. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Areas of contention seem to be the ownership of the knife recovered by police at the scene. None of the witnesses recognize the knife in question as even coming from their kitchen. Photograph exhibits showing red scratches and marks alleged at the time to have been caused by the knife were from a “skating accident.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >DEFENSE: You told him to sit down. Was he standing up or sitting down?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >WITNESS: I don’t remember.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Q: was he walking around?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >A: I don’t remember.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Q: Would you tell someone who was sitting down to sit down?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >A: I don’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Q: When you walked out the door, did you take a frying pan with you?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >A: No.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Q: Do you normally walk out of the house with a frying pan?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >A: No.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Q: So you would remember if you had?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >A: I don’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Q: Did the defendant throw a frying pan at you?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >A: No.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Q: Do you remember telling the officers that your step-dad was swinging a knife around in the air yelling, “I’m going to kill you all!”?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >A: No.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >I think that Prosecution is getting a little miffed with the witness, and I know for certain when he says:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Q: Do you routinely come up with stories to get people arrested?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >A: I don’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Q: Do you normally spend time making up stories to get the police involved?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >A: I don’t remember….<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >When the next witness is called (Jane), I really wonder if there is TV in the house to familiarize the witnesses with the swearing in process. At least Jane seems to want to answer the questions. Too bad she doesn’t remember anything about the night in question except for what John <i>didn’t</i> do and that she and the offspring sat around while she coached them with a story to get John arrested…the details of which are hazy at best. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >A: I don’t remember anything that happened that night.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Q: You don’t remember anything from that night?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >A: Well, I remember some, but not very much.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Q: You were awake when you woke them up, correct?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >A: Yes.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Well, if she hadn’t been, that would answer a lot of questions. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >The story appearing to be the one that the witnesses want to spin (possibly with help from the defendant) is that Son 2 got into a physical altercation with the John in the same period of time that he, Son 2, had a case open in court. To avoid getting slapped into Juvie, he fabricated a story about John that was convincing enough that two police officers showed up in court and lied their heads off about how realistic it was. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >The bench really heats up when the suited police officer was asked about things that Son 2 had told uniformed police officer (still in the hallway). Defense didn’t like that one bit and put on his objecting pants. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >DFNS: Hearsay within hearsay under 115.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >COURT: Overruled.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >DFNS: Your Honor, that’s TWO LAYERS of hearsay!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >PRSC: It was in the police report, Your Honor. Under 115.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >COURT: Overruled.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=" Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >His Honor decides to break for lunch, as it is noon. Both lawyers, having heard I am there for observing, approach me and ask if I have any questions (to my surprise). I clarify what 115* is and Defense tells me that he still didn’t think it should be allowed. Prosecutions confides to both of us that he didn’t think it should either and that he was surprised it worked. When Defense walks off, Prosecution asks me if I think the defendant is guilty. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >“Well,” I say, “I doubt it went down exactly like the kid originally said it did, but something happened, and it’s not what they’re saying.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >He gives a shark grin. “They’re all lying right now. It’ll go to trial.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" >Conclusion: Domestic abuse cases must be really frustrating for the lawyers and the judge.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height:115%;Times New Roman","serif"font-family:";font-size:130%;" ><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family:";font-size:130%;" >*115 has to do with hearsay rules and that police officers are allowed to recount things other officers have said, like a verbal report or something.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-18052835366758506992012-07-26T10:58:00.006-07:002012-07-26T13:43:12.342-07:00Filling the Gap...and Onward!<span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Greetings, fellow lurkers!</span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">Bursting forth through the twilight of a semi-jobless state, I return to the battlefield of customer service, ready to gather stories into the basket of plenty.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">I abandoned the homestead after obtaining the job of *gasp* phone surveyor. Gotta use that sexy phone voice, right? A few things about that job didn't quite stack up to expectation. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">I found that I really <i>didn't</i> enjoy calling in every day at 2:30 to see if I had work at 4:30. That may have just been me. I was allowed to have my sense of humor....as long as it wasn't on the phone. Can't be biasing those surveys. And really? Those surveys were either:</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">A) So ridiculous they were funny</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">B) So boring my brain found a way to make them funny</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">Whether you reached your call quota was mostly luck. My last day, I was expected to reach a quota...all while calling elderly woman in their 90s. The very last survey I did was an 18 minute survey with a 96-year-old woman that took over an hour to complete because we needed to fill that age/area quota. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">And finally, I didn't relish suddenly having no income for over a week because there wasn't a survey going when I had to pay rent. </span></div><div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiPFCgL12gGCrIBSirfrl-q0C-BCyRpjbqIJ8tORyzGieAqmyk3BsYIrwfZpsNusqJcBfVxUlqnKfd7OnBRMLbbrcp2dTYL3LN55h-Zd_gEwGGDCHkoCTheyztOrJLoYEMl7-p7Ku8g4B/s200/Keyboard+Job+Search.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5769543504176431682" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></div></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">Cue: new job search!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">My deal is that if I can just land the interview, I can get the job. I don't know if it's that I'm lucky, that I've had crap jobs all my life (oh, wait, no, <i>that's</i> not the case), or that I put on a great show of sparkly competent charisma, but that's my experience. But, there's the key. (lol @ pic = bad pun)</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">I began applying right and left, flailing about the Intenets for jobs. I stopped keeping track of what I was applying for. Finally, one day coming back from lunch:</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">Friend A: You're phone was vibrating like crazy.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><br />Me: Really?</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">Friend B (yes, I have more than one): Like <i>crazy</i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">Me: Ha...maybe it's a job offer.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">Them: (Pitying smirks)</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">Me: (listens) Um...guys...it actually <span style="font-weight: bold; ">is</span><span>.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Well, it was an interview offer at least. It was for a Customer Service Rep at a Vet hospital.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Her: ....are yous still looking?</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Me: (HELL) yes :)</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;">One of the questions asked was, "Why do you want to work at a veterinary hospital?</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Me: Ummm...well, because I like the professional aspect of running a hospital, but enjoy the atmosphere of helping animals and all that junk.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Just kidding. I left the last part out. I enjoy working around animals, especially now that I don't have a pet of my own and can't see to get one in the near future. The next hurdle was that the job she was offering was full time...during the day. I told her about school, and it basically came down to that, if they liked me, they would put a night person on day shift and give me the night. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Interview went very well, was there for over two hours and started hearing the "when you work here" phrase. Queue forward to the working interview (make sure the rest of the team doesn't hate my guts on sight/I don't run screaming out the door), and we're back to "we'll let you know in a few days."</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I don't mind saying I really wanted the job at this point. REALLY wanted it, and thought I was on my way to getting it. But oh well.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Then, as I'm chatting in pharmacy, the call comes from ... let's call her Diane, to see her in her office. First words out of her mouth: "I've been waiting to hear from my boss so I can hire you."</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Oh yeah. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;">So here we go, Readers! Jump on the train leaving the station, making stops at awkward faux pas with customers, irritating co-workers, sub-intelligent phone conversations, and overbearing clients! I, Redgirl will head to the trenches and take one (or more) for the team to bring you the goods. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;">To start you off:</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">Man is standing by check out.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">Me: Have you been helped?</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">Him: Yes, picking up.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">Me: Animate or inanimate? (Like, you know, prescriptions or your pet after surgery or something)</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">Him: Inanimate (<---pleasant expression)</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">Two minutes later, see coworker come 'round corner with ... a box of ashes. Apparently, "pet" and "inanimate" are not discrete categories. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><i>*Mentally updating personal venn diagram references*</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;">Ah, well, that one's on me.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-80729511513602815862012-03-02T11:44:00.004-08:002012-03-02T13:09:38.177-08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span >Ok: My problem with cupcakes is that they can’t help being messy.</span><div><span ><br /></span><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 82px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAPBkb93jygxKgE6pThoarJT-_-KxS57oXaiONnoEyK_o6whFrs2ivZjmPX264pNsmBdnWAqCYns6TcDKfVff9_WM0bs0YW-gbBagqCwEDIKuyjcJ2oFN5lh8eyBGEEFwUtUIIeh1qQCB/s200/0302113636.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715409344901752690" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span >Come on people! The cupcake doesn’t enter a shrink-field as soon as it passes beneath the nose! Also, <i>cake</i> has <i>sugar</i>. It follows, then, that a cake in a <i>cup</i> will have sugar. Sugar is <i>sticky</i>. So, the evil plan of cupcakes is to make us look ridiculous with frosting on our faces and make our hands sticky so we don’t dare touch anything important.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7x1JHG_AfAZZSZ-Me9lCwN8ZrFxkw_WeR5jQ2eSKMU2aqXK1td1p4K2Bdj1bTZkZV9ESPW-4etmziysOzll4W_88ZSdgLC4RFQlllABvMoDJSuV-2Fo8NAqtNdS8fPX-fZ3xEayE5vUu/s200/0302113700.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715409533759250530" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 67px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div>And I really wanted to eat my cupcake :*(</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-3500852830465587962012-03-02T11:27:00.004-08:002012-03-02T11:44:00.229-08:00Bus Rides Are a Psyche Experiment<div style="text-align: center;"><span ><br /></span></div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">I noticed *this* on the seat in front of me, and took a picture for your amusement:</span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-EuEC1C6y-spu4qzyTfYfavGvKbnWDzHGKCObR9Imb24bSejShtbb_wKKPjEA_1HzGpuSxL8ZoMGdClwAe5JKvcEHDt6QYlsJeF3JtIpKzF255wOiv68qVfQyVUYoVwlGslaJfnv2rfuq/s320/0227161952.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715385593038398498" /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">It's like little mini-Phineas Gages. Do you see something different? </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-43372191944864600442011-11-09T14:22:00.000-08:002011-11-09T15:01:38.078-08:00More From San Jose<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is an exciting day for me.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I am inwardly bubbling because I have received a comment on the "Helen's Cousin From San Jose" post that tells the next chapter in the story. (<i>I hope you don't mind -- you posted under</i> Anonymous <i>so I couldn't check</i>)</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Anonymous submits a picture of their own while referencing the street mine was on with a local's familiarity. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeF17ToTV62tSAsAuQwEQRK-9qOhSnowGC9qPHHAWQcODjYaP08GGKwPZBuZQ_4p83VQmxp1HB34ASjDXn8Na72rh0S0Mio3cOt_O4P8nUFCtZtRRdPtiWtG8c-6rsDO26TUMCeQriYLP/s320/san+jose+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673125902949600338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div>Overly neat, obsessive handwriting? </div><div><br /></div><div>Check.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pertinent detail match, keywords "Helen's cousin", "San Jose", and a general theme of alleged harassment?</div><div><br /></div><div>Check.</div><div><br /></div><div>Excess punctuation? (<i>That misplaced comma just slays me...SLAYS me</i>)</div><div><br /></div><div>Check!</div><div><br /></div><div>I have, however, two interesting things to add. Notice the text:</div><div><br /></div><div>Helen's cousin from San Jose, harassed me for never feeling what she <span class="Apple-style-span" >waited</span> for me to.</div><div><br /></div><div>Okay. That's just weird.</div><div><br /></div><div>Second, notice how on BOTH pictures, the perfectness of the handwriting begins to degenerate after the third line. Hmmm.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Anyone with more possible details to this tale of love imagined, love lost, and enmity gained, please share!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-58299681915040204592011-11-01T15:38:00.000-07:002011-11-01T15:43:36.772-07:00Sally's Past (aka Legal Terminology Chap 32a)Sooo...I have always approached studying in interesting ways. When the last chapter of Legal turned out to be a hodgepodge of random words, I wrote the following to entertain myself:<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">(bold words are terms used)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">W</span><span class="Apple-style-span">hen Sally got home from school one Wednesday, she knocked on her mothers' door. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">"What is it?" her mother called. Mrs. Thorin was a busy woman; she did not have time for much of Sally's 9-year-old prattle today.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">"Mommy," Sally's shrill voice cut through the oak door. "There was a strange man today. A strange man that kept following me. He kept asking me questions."</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Mrs. Thorin jerked the door open. "They have <strong>stalking laws</strong> to prevent that sort of thing! What did he look like?"</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">"He was old," Sally said, "and he had a big mustache. He said he was my father."</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">"<strong>Alleged father</strong>, young lady. I never let him take a <strong>paternity test</strong>." </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">"Then what, Mom?" Sally pouted, "Am I <strong>adopted</strong>? An <strong>issue of marriage</strong>?"</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">"Well, That Man and I were married at one point, but we had <strong>irreconcilable differences</strong>. I had you after we divorced. He tried to go for <strong>joint custody</strong>, wanted <strong>split custody</strong>, but got <strong>sole custody</strong> because he was a cheating, lecherous dirtbag. That means he's a <strong>noncustodial parent</strong></span>.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">"What kind of differences?" Sally asked. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">"Well," her mother hedged, "it was a <strong>corporate resolution</strong>. It was so serious, they even wrote it out and put the <strong>corporate seal</strong> on it. The man was not good for my career."</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">"But MOM," (Sally's brain was not moving too fast, as usual) "Why would the company care who you married to?"</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">"Well, my father, as you know, was the chairman of the board. he wanted to release more shares on the market, and he made divorcing that sleazy scumpod a condition if I wanted to keep my <strong>subscription right</strong>. He couldn't have had that sort of control if it was a <strong>public corporation</strong>, but it was a <strong>professional corporation</strong>."</span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-9264608846012156322011-11-01T15:29:00.000-07:002011-11-01T15:41:56.778-07:00Court Observation: Try #2<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">The first thing an enterprising observer of the baser issues in life must do –besides locate the proper courthouse – is to decide on the content of the desired case. I, Madam Soon-to-be-Court Reporter took the lead from my fellow college delegates. I took their lead up to the sixth floor. I took their lead back down to the first. Finally, I found it. The menu.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">I would like to submit into evidence Exhibit 1: the menu of the day, otherwise known as the court calendar. I scanned the day’s specials. There <em>was </em></span>certain allure to a homicide case being tried by a one Judge Savage*.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">On the elevator, someone overheard our quandary. Two words were all we needed. Those words were “follow me”, and follow we did. We followed to Courtroom 41, a lewd & lascivious case being tried by a Judge Candy. Over the jury box, where the jurors would have to mutate into owls to see it, was a banner proclaiming “Jurors Make the Difference.” I find out through clever deduction that we are sitting in on a child molestation case. I deduced this from the judge and attorneys asking every juror if they’d ever been connected to a molester or molestee. One woman initially stated that she had, but it wouldn’t be a problem. Less than 10 minutes later, she decided it was. Oh well. Would that one <em>more</em> juror had bitten the dust so my favorite juror of the day could have taken the box. In his mid-20s, when asked what he did with his free time, the good-looking young man responded, “Mostly play video games, play my guitar…drink beer.” Life is good.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">To lay the case out for any interested parties, I’ll summarize. An 11-year-old wakes in the middle of the night to his mom’s boyfriend getting personal with his “personals” while holding an abnormally large Chihuahua in his other hand (Really. That thing was too big to be a Chihuahua.). Upon the child’s awakening, Mr. Garcia says “Charlie”, aforementioned dog’s name, and deposits the dog on the bed. Then he goes to the wall and hits it, swatting, according to the victim, Jackson, a mosquito. Upon telling his tale to his mother in the morning, it is discovered that the elder brother also allegedly received alleged attentions from Tom Garcia. Panic ensues. Other incidents are now thought to be additional instances of molestation, like when Tom would sit in the bathroom while Jackson studies for a test and quizzes him through the shower curtain, et cetera.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">The players are the People, a smartly dressed female attorney who constantly called the defendant “Tom” and stood close to the 11-year-old boy on the stand in a mothering fashion. The attorney for the defense was a man in a tan suit that had difficulty speaking above a whisper. In fact, I have it on good authority that Madam Court Reporter was going to strangle him herself if he didn’t speak up pretty darn soon. Mr. Perez-Tan-Suit refers to the defendant as Mr. Garcia, no doubt to attach respectability to him. Compatriots decide that he is an expensive private attorney. I agree. I also decide to stay for the cross even though I have my hours Just Because it looks Fun. He indeed starts the entertainment off with staying as far away from the boy as possible. I bet he’s afraid to appear threatening.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Let’s learn some testifying tips, shall we?</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">If you either want to change your testimony or you don’t like the answer that comes to mind, just say you don’t remember. After all, what can they do to you? Example (fictional):</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Q. Do you remember telling your daughter that your neighbor’s dog would bite her if she left your property without telling you?</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">A. I don’t remember.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Q. Yes, you do.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">A. No, I don’t. And you can’t make me remember.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Tip two: decide the mental age of your witness. Do not talk down to them. If you do, try not to make it too obvious. Here’s what <em>not</em> to do:</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; ">Q. Was Mr. Garcia always the one that initiated the wrestling? I’m sorry. I shouldn't have used such a big word. It’s okay. I didn’t know that word at your age either.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><em><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></em></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><em><span class="Apple-style-span">Oooh…patronizing.</span></em></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">However, once you have decided your witness cannot understand words of more than three syllables, and you have informed him that you don’t expect him to, do not do the following. It makes you look like a four-letter word that means “cad” approximately:</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Q. Have you spoken to your father about this situation?</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">A. The what?</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Q. About what happened.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Mr. Perez-tan-suit, why would you use big words when little words will do?</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">How about this: Do child molesters really think that they can sneak in, molest a child, have the child wake up and then leave? Like, “hmm…maybe he’ll think it was all a dream.” All I can say is <em>wishful thinking, much?</em></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">And while we’re on questions, how about some observations?</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Judge Candy seemed to be paying little attention to the case. He reminded me of a carnival fortune telling machine. You stick a quarter in, and out comes either “Sustained”, “Overruled”, and “Approach the bench”.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Defense wanted to bring up a time when the kid said that a tornado hit his school, but he had actually dreamed it and thought it was real. Defense wanted to bring it up so bad that he snuck it in there three times. I could have played tornado Yatzee.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Let’s wrap up with testimony snippits:</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Q. How did you know Tom was calling?</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">A. [The phone] said ‘inmate calling’.”</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">And</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Q. What don’t you like about mosquitos?</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">A. They can crawl on you while you’re sleeping.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><em><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></em></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><em><span class="Apple-style-span">Note: this is not why people don’t like mosquitos. Keep that in mind.</span></em></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Finally with</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">Q. Why didn’t you see his hand?</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">A. Because I wasn’t looking.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">That is all.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span">*names changed in an effort towards discretion</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4037393993670370515.post-13413598176087413422011-10-31T12:08:00.000-07:002011-10-31T12:11:14.885-07:00Helen's Cousin From San Jose<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMC11cwfc0E4AQnm-H3xsG8ZWcknXJ1T4qJpLosMXs6PYkWAZaktgm21bVq_FwO2BFQeAPkp_NHrnTBIGXoVSoqcvC87glqui80CTY60fURCS_g0bDZWYI3ZVBg_WBTvemv1426zLdOQ3E/s1600/1024075052.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMC11cwfc0E4AQnm-H3xsG8ZWcknXJ1T4qJpLosMXs6PYkWAZaktgm21bVq_FwO2BFQeAPkp_NHrnTBIGXoVSoqcvC87glqui80CTY60fURCS_g0bDZWYI3ZVBg_WBTvemv1426zLdOQ3E/s320/1024075052.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669735725921132946" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" >So. Found this gem on the pavement of my bus stop at 7th and J Street...mentioned it in 120s for you who were there.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" >As near as I can figure, the author is either a man or a woman (lol), so scenario one is:</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Male. Let's call him Bob. Bob knew Helen for some reason. Maybe they were friends or maybe they were lovers, but things didn't stay tight like that. Helen's cousin (from San Jose) comes out for a visit. Maybe she's heard great things about Bob and wants to stake her claim. Bob isn't having any. So....Helen's cousin (from San Jose) goes around the town trash talking him. Bob isn't down with this, so stages a passive-aggressive note on a random sidewalk two blocks from the jailhouse.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" > </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Scenario two is more likely, as you've got decent penmenship and the unnecessary use of commas. (Come on...I'm right, aren't I?):</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" > </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Female. We'll ignore the possibility that she's speaking of herself in the third person and assume this concerns three women. We'll call our main character Robin. Helen's cousin (from San Jose) heard about the rockin' times that Helen and Robin were having down in old Sactown and wanted a piece of that action. She trains on down, but Robin doesn't want anything to do with her. She's good with fast times with her bestie Helen. Helen's cousin (from San Jose) feels her offer of friendship spurned and begins to smear her already somewhat shady reputation around the streets. Robin goes passive-aggressive on her dirty blond head of lies and invective and posts a paragraph of doubtful prose.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" > </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" >In the comments, explain why her puncuation is incorrect lol</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10