What really irritates me (and scares me as well)

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:21 pm

In this economy and with my tenuous employment situation, the trip to Starbucks is a rare treat I allow myself.

I'm the drill master in the morning. I'm the first to get up. I have number 2's breakfast ready to go from the night before - complete with supplements in a cup stored in the refrigerator. I get my shower, and then go to his bed with the shake and vitamins. He drinks, he is led to the shower, and he's off. By the time he's out, his clothes are ready. If it's a good morning, I get him to the bus stop where I chat with the other dads and one mom. (Strange how roles have changed these days...) I then get back, check on the dog, and get number 1 son up. By the time he's ready, I have the car ready to go to take him to a school not in our district. I drop him off, and then I'm ready to start my day.

That's when I hit the Starbucks. Like many places on this West End, there's more business traffic than there are parking spots to handle it. I'm often waiting patiently for a space to open up. That's what I did this AM.

And then I see it - the thing that drives me to the verge of insane rage. There is a Mercedes running with doors locked. It is in the safety zone in-between two handicapped spots, effectively rendering both of them useless to a wheelchair-bound individual. Maybe it's someone with MS, or a returning veteran who has yet to get his new legs. In any case, one selfish (and privileged) person thought himself important enough to eliminate the access to two handicapped individuals.

I go inside to scout the Starbucks line. Surely this is where the person is. And then I see him - a tall young man in perfect shape, all of about 30 years old. It is everything I can do to stop myself from following him and...

I turned to the young woman next to me and talked it out. In-between growls, I told her how much the situation bothered me. I can take an insult. I can take a punch thrown at my head if I'm artful enough to cause it to miss. One time anyway. But when I see the vulnerable being taken advantage of by the selfish and/or sociopathic, a beast within comes out. I do not like this beast. I cannot live comfortably within my skin when the slumbering beast has awakened. And if I don't f-ing hit something or someone, the beast tears me up inside. It's like taunting a pack of hounds with a live fox, and then not letting them out of their cages. Animal lovers wouldn't put up with that schit.

I do not understand "the protector." I don't know why I was cursed with him. I never asked to play this role. The funny thing is, "he" doesn't even show up on a Myers-Briggs personality test. I am an ENTP - The Visionary. Meanwhile The Protector is INFJ. I'm alike on just one dimension of that 4-D assessment. Until schit happens...

It's easier to live comfortably turning your back on such social injustice. I wish I knew how others did it. And these are the little things in life. I'm always afraid of what will happen when that life-and-death situation arises. That's why I really don't like frequenting places where trouble happens.

- Bill

CornMaiden · Post by **CornMaiden** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:29 pm

How about a brightly colored memo note placed under the offending person's windshield, letting them know you would appreciate them being courteous to those needing the 2 parking places...followed by letting him know you have his license and have no qualms reporting it to the proper authorities.

Corn Maiden

Van Canna · Post by **Van Canna** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:49 pm

Hey Bill,

You could sign the note on the windshield as the 'IRA Gunman'

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:50 pm

Another reason to avoid overpriced burnt coffee....

F.

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 11:29 pm

Van Canna wrote:
You could sign the note on the windshield as the 'IRA Gunman'

Might as well live up to the reputation I'm accused of.

Camera phone will be ready if he does this again. Public posting following. Stay tuned.

- Bill

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Tue Jan 12, 2010 11:42 pm

Of course how many handicapped people do you actually see get out of cars with handicapped plates?
Some are just obese and can use the extra workout.
Unfortunate that those plates are abused by some that don't need them.

If a 30 year old guy hops out of a handicapped marked car and sprints in to get his coffee would you feel different??

I remember taking my wife to downtown Boston to see a free concert at Government Center and arriving hours ahead for a decent standing view. A public transportation van pulled up, a 400+ obese woman was wheeled out they rolled her right up to the stage asking everyone to move so they could get by.

Maybe it's just a Massachusetts thing........
I hope so for the countries sake.

Van Canna · Post by **Van Canna** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 2:47 am

A public transportation van pulled up, a 400+ obese woman was wheeled out they rolled her right up to the stage asking everyone to move so they could get by.

Did she get that way by overeating?

Van Canna · Post by **Van Canna** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 2:51 am

Bill Glasheen wrote:
Van Canna wrote:
You could sign the note on the windshield as the 'IRA Gunman'
Might as well live up to the reputation I'm accused of.
- Bill

Bill...the 'gun runner'...

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 3:14 am

I don't know for sure Van.
But I've been to Italy twice and never seen an obese woman there.

My wife had on a show the other night about a 400 pound fat kid who watched video games all day and couldn't get out of bed. There was nothing physically wrong with him. True now it is impossible for him to walk normal, but it seems to me he could have gotten up at some point.

Anyway, the show drove me nuts and I had to leave the room!

Van Canna · Post by **Van Canna** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:07 am

f.Channell wrote:I don't know for sure Van.
But I've been to Italy twice and never seen an obese woman there.

My wife had on a show the other night about a 400 pound fat kid who watched video games all day and couldn't get out of bed. There was nothing physically wrong with him. True now it is impossible for him to walk normal, but it seems to me he could have gotten up at some point.

Anyway, the show drove me nuts and I had to leave the room!

Really sad when you think of it. But it has to be some sort of disease...no?

f.Channell · Post by **f.Channell** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:13 am

Some type of psychological problem, but it seems if mom brought him salads instead of potato chips and soda he would lose weight.

F.

Van Canna · Post by **Van Canna** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:25 am

True enough.

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:32 am

This kind of obesity is a combination of affluence, inactivity, and a plethora of food designed for taste as opposed to nutritional value.

No excuses. The treatment for such people? Gastrointestinal surgery. Basically you make the stomach too small for them to stuff themselves any more. One could accomplish the same thing by sewing their mouths shut for most of the day. I rest my case.

- Bill

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 4:37 am

f.Channell wrote:
If a 30 year old guy hops out of a handicapped marked car and sprints in to get his coffee would you feel different??

I actually look for handicapped license plates or tags for cars marked in those spots. Ninety-nine percent of the time they are there - especially at a pharmacy. In general people tend not to abuse the privilege here.

I haven't yet witnessed a blatant case like what you're talking about, Fred.

- Bill

CornMaiden · Post by **CornMaiden** » Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:35 pm

Another radical thing you could do (if your are fast enough and bold enough) is to park right behind that person to block them in and then call the police while he cannot get out.

Some one I know caught a woman at her house with her husband during day hours and did that. She blocked her car, came in and found her license in her purse left on the chair (and kept it), then called the police.

They came. Proof of adultery for the courts.

Radical idea.

Corn Maiden