No, I will *not* let you in. Wait in line like the rest of us peons.
The last half-mile or so of my little commute home today was not fun. I think it took about 20 minutes. As I approached the Jackson /N. Maple intersection, it *looked* like traffic was moving pretty well onto N. Maple. Even though it was raining cats and dogs, meaning traffic was difficult everywhere, I decided to chance a left turn onto the N. Maple construction zone. Knowing that the left lane would eventually disappear, I dutifully got into the right lane and resolved to wait it out through the next two traffic lights into the big construction zone.
And every single blasted last perfectly coiffed Lincoln Navigator-type soccer mom with a cellphone plastered against her ear seemed to want to come flying up the empty left lane and CUT IN FRONT OF ME in my Cute Little Blue *Fuel-efficient* Honda Civic with the Yellow Flower in the Blower! Sorry. I do not know why that particular demographic drives me so crazy. But it does. If your kid (I’m talking grade-school kids here) *wants* to play soccer because they are *passionate* about soccer or maybe they just want to spend time with their friends, GO FOR IT! Spend all that time (practices and games umpteen million days a week including weekends ALL YEAR) and money (uniforms, equipment, snacks, you name it) and HAVE FUN! If *you* are putting your kid into soccer because *you* don’t think she is *assertive* enough and you think soccer will help, I’ve got news for you. There’s a good chance that soccer (in the absence of a perceptive coach) will make your kid AGGRESSIVE, *not* assertive. There is a difference.
Okay, why I needed to get that off my chest, I’m not sure. To be fair and truthful, I didn’t see one Lincoln Navigator on the road today, at least not one that I noticed. I did see a few minivans. And yes, I have owned a couple of minivans in my time. But the vee-hickles that were cutting in were generally random with random drivers. It’s raining cats and dogs. Did I mention that? I love it. We need it.
And on a random tangent, the Planet Ann Arbor city council, in its infinite wisdom (this time I’m not being sarcastic), seems to have voted to ALLOW PEOPLE TO KEEP CHICKENS IN THEIR BACKYARDS! Hens only and there’s a limit (four, maybe?). I will not have chickens myself (been there, done that) but I sure hope we end up with some neighbors who do. Not betting on it though!
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Great Rant!
This is a common practice in STL.
One I am sometimes guilty of.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Ann Arbor is raising hens. Whut’ll they think of next??
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:36 pm
I want to raise chickens!
Mmmm, fresh eggs.
June 4th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
that *is* what valdemort would say.
June 4th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
So, the Maquis is raising hens, too? Sez it’s common practice in STL? Whoa….
BTW to the STL members of the FinFamilyClan, Nookley and the rest of her Field School will be at Hannibal Cave, MO, for her birthday (June 8) if you are brave enough to try to find her/them!!!
June 4th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
whoops, the 8 for “June 8” met up with a certain parenthesis and decided to make a smiley….