Friday, January 2, 2009
Some Late Posts
Here is some pictures I just remembered that I haven't posted yet from one of our previous trips where we picked up parts of a crane. The crane was at a wind farm, so I got some neat shots of wind turbines.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Nutty Bars and Kool-Aid
Hello avid readers! Sorry for the long lapse in posts, I hope someone is still reading :)
An update in my life. Trucking was put on a temporary hold for me. I had my final court date on December 22nd. I was going in and didn't know what to expect. My hope was for not much in fines and 40 days in Lake county Jail and the all important suspended imposition. I was first on the list of 4 others in the court room. I had asked a few friends to come and support me and three showed up on my side and to lighten the mood were chanting "Let Chase free!" before everything got underway.
My attorney and I step through the swinging doors up to the table and in front of the mics and judge. My life was in his hands. We got underway immediately and started going over my case. Stomach churning and heart racing, the judge started with reading off my charges; said he read the packet I had put together, including references from 10 relatives, employers and other people in my life.
Still wishing I owned a time machine, my palms started to sweat as the judge continued. "It looks like you're a good guy with a promising future who got off track." I could have kissed the judge! I was glad that the report we gave him gave him a good representation of who I was as a person and how I was already changing for the better. He continued and I continued to hold my breath.
"I'm going to grant you suspended imposition," I had to hold myself back from hugging him, "you're fines will be in the amount of $2,000 and will have to sit 5 days in Lake County Jail." I did a double take and about fell over. "You will report in at 1pm on the 27th." At this point I had to do a mental recap. Not only did I get my suspended imposition, I only have to spend 5 days in jail AND it starts after Christmas! THANK GOD! I get to spend Christmas at home with my family. I was on cloud nine.
Christmas came and went and the 27th came far to fast. I walked up to the jail house and tugged on the door. Locked. I thought maybe they wouldn't take me, but just for the heck of it, I better ring the buzzer. "Hello?" I asked. "Hello." responded a voice in the box. I didn't know exactly what to say so settled on "Chase Anderton here, checking in for 5 days." I said it like I was checking into a hotel.
They let me in and looked through the stuff I brought with and shook their heads no to almost everything. My books were ok.
In regards to Jail:
I spent 5 days in a cell that looked like this.
________________
| | O | | | | | O | |
| | | | | | | | |
________________
|
| ======= | |
| ======= | |
________________
It's hard to explain but, the whole thing was shaped like a square separated in the middle. In the back were two rooms each with bunks on each wall and a toilet in the middle. In the front was a metal table and a shower. Each day we woke up at 7:30 to cereal, peanut butter and jelly and orange juice. At noon we had a hot lunch from Sunshine with mashed potatoes and a vegetable. Then at 5pm we got a sandwich, chips and milk. Then at 11pm lights went out and we all got in bed. A metal slab with a 2in cushin. I was never comfortable enough to fall asleep, only too tired to stay awake.
I got out today and am safe and sound at home. I got home had a cream soda, took a shower, shaved and now need a nap. I met a lot of interesting people in 5 days, but I need to get some much needed sleep and I'll tell you all about them in my next post.
An update in my life. Trucking was put on a temporary hold for me. I had my final court date on December 22nd. I was going in and didn't know what to expect. My hope was for not much in fines and 40 days in Lake county Jail and the all important suspended imposition. I was first on the list of 4 others in the court room. I had asked a few friends to come and support me and three showed up on my side and to lighten the mood were chanting "Let Chase free!" before everything got underway.
My attorney and I step through the swinging doors up to the table and in front of the mics and judge. My life was in his hands. We got underway immediately and started going over my case. Stomach churning and heart racing, the judge started with reading off my charges; said he read the packet I had put together, including references from 10 relatives, employers and other people in my life.
Still wishing I owned a time machine, my palms started to sweat as the judge continued. "It looks like you're a good guy with a promising future who got off track." I could have kissed the judge! I was glad that the report we gave him gave him a good representation of who I was as a person and how I was already changing for the better. He continued and I continued to hold my breath.
"I'm going to grant you suspended imposition," I had to hold myself back from hugging him, "you're fines will be in the amount of $2,000 and will have to sit 5 days in Lake County Jail." I did a double take and about fell over. "You will report in at 1pm on the 27th." At this point I had to do a mental recap. Not only did I get my suspended imposition, I only have to spend 5 days in jail AND it starts after Christmas! THANK GOD! I get to spend Christmas at home with my family. I was on cloud nine.
Christmas came and went and the 27th came far to fast. I walked up to the jail house and tugged on the door. Locked. I thought maybe they wouldn't take me, but just for the heck of it, I better ring the buzzer. "Hello?" I asked. "Hello." responded a voice in the box. I didn't know exactly what to say so settled on "Chase Anderton here, checking in for 5 days." I said it like I was checking into a hotel.
They let me in and looked through the stuff I brought with and shook their heads no to almost everything. My books were ok.
In regards to Jail:
I spent 5 days in a cell that looked like this.
________________
| | O | | | | | O | |
| | | | | | | | |
________________
|
| ======= | |
| ======= | |
________________
It's hard to explain but, the whole thing was shaped like a square separated in the middle. In the back were two rooms each with bunks on each wall and a toilet in the middle. In the front was a metal table and a shower. Each day we woke up at 7:30 to cereal, peanut butter and jelly and orange juice. At noon we had a hot lunch from Sunshine with mashed potatoes and a vegetable. Then at 5pm we got a sandwich, chips and milk. Then at 11pm lights went out and we all got in bed. A metal slab with a 2in cushin. I was never comfortable enough to fall asleep, only too tired to stay awake.
I got out today and am safe and sound at home. I got home had a cream soda, took a shower, shaved and now need a nap. I met a lot of interesting people in 5 days, but I need to get some much needed sleep and I'll tell you all about them in my next post.
Monday, December 1, 2008
In Regards to Church and Not Church
Well, we've been home the past few days, I'll try and catch all the readers up. But first, I wanted to thank everyone who posted a comment on my last post.
We finished our last trip off outta the Big City and headed home to be with family and friends. Both my sisters made it home and our apartment lost some square footage due to all the laundry, luggage, sleeping bags and pillows. It was great, I was excited to have all five of us in the same place talking and laughing like we always do when we get everyone together. We had over some stray guests to Thanksgiving but they fit in quickly enough.
They were treated like another member of the family, even as far as being submersed into "Broom over who?", "Psychiatrist" and the 9 magazine game. Fun camping games that have grown to tradition in our family. We ate large helpings of turkey, stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes and pie that would have made the ungrateful lady from the truck stop buffet envious. Once dad and mom took to bed, us 'kids' were up way to late playing video games. It was uneventful, but pleasant to have everyone home and together.
And now, In Regards to Church.
Growing up, church was not a weekly event that was dreaded for us kids. We enjoyed the opportunity to be in an atmosphere more suited to our auras. I never really felt like I fit in around others in high school. My friend group was fairly uneventful and for the most part was prided in our inability to go out and drink and get into trouble and it was nice not having to fight that temptation alone in high school.
At church we would see friends from other towns and adults that we all had a good rapport with. It was not drawling like some places I've been. But always a high energy environment as far as we knew. I'm sure there was the ever present mindless gossip that the ladies around the coffee table thrived on, but I never had much to worry about. I knew that I had a good name built up for myself in the community's, never in trouble and only had one speeding ticket under my belt. Ironically enough, I was on my way to pick up mom and sis from a Bible Camp. (I tried the excuse with the officer, thinking maybe God would count it as spreading the Word and get me off the hook. I still got the ticket.) Other than the ticket, we had been blessed with supporters for Missions Trips and funds for whatever school activity required selling wreaths or candy for that term and I had fallen into a great job with a photography studio and things were looking pretty good for me.
NOW, I secretly fear talking with people from my former church now. Knowing how fast the ladies at the coffee table will spread my personal C.O.P.S. episode. I don't fear any judgments or scolding, just feel ashamed thinking back to the words I'd said over and over again to myself before college, "I've earned too good of a name for myself to risk it on this." And wonder why those words failed me so many times after High School. I suppose words don't make decisions and can't blame my former motto for my mistakes.
After High School I was doing great. I got moved in and stuck to my beliefs. I even had my roommate remove beer from our room once for fear of disobeying hall rules. The church I attended that year was fun, full of energy and reminded me a lot of home. The weekly youth service provided me a chance to try and inform new high school seniors of the dangers of college and how important sticking to what you believe is. I apparently didn't feel it was necessary to heed my own advice.
At age 21 my family spent the day with me, barbecuing and giving the final alcohol lecture before I was released into the scene by the government. Church seemed to fade out and I didn't look back. I had reached my spiritual college peek, luckily I had accomplished a few things before that day while still in my prime. I had become an RA for the college which took care of my living and food expenses for the next year and I had secured a job at the local newspaper to fulfill my internship requirement. Unfortunately also provided plenty of funds to support my now growing habits.
Church vanished from my life, but many of the foundations it had instilled didn't. I suppose I had that going for me. Everyone now knew me as the Christian who could bend the rules instead of using them for a slap on the head. I suppose my rule stick was made of soft pliable rubber but never let anyone tell me differently on what I believed.
I have asked people many times what heaven will be like and always had a picture in my head of Isaiah 51:3. I'll let you look it up for the literal Word, but in my head, I picture a crowd of thousands of people so overwhelmed with happiness that it made the area around each of them seem brighter. I'd seen it a few times with people in church or on a mission but I had lost the image and replaced them with faces of friends and bottles of various colors and contents; liquid or otherwise. I didn't know exactly what it looked like anymore and my life was turning quickly into a cloud of smoke, anger, disappointment, paranoia and yet.... contentment was always next to my, lying more to me every day. I wanted to share that part of the story with everyone so you understand how emotional this next part is. I saw a glimpse of heaven again and it came from a little girl.
We were in church, middle section of a triptic pew arrangement and forward a few rows and to my right, was this little girl. Normally loud, seemingly unaware that more important things than what she had to say were going on around her, had fallen silent. She was now swaying back and forth to the song being sung by the praise group. She continued to sway, then suddenly threw up her hands and spun in a quick circle. Her arms reminded me of somthing she may do while running towards a long lost relative or friend. Then again, spun around, he hair raised parrellel to the floor she had spun so fast, but managed to catch my eye, mid spin, arms still up expenting someone to run into them.
That's when I saw it. She was singing the words to the song with a huge, dimpled smile on her face and it seemed like the area around her lit up and I imagined her with wings and a halo surounded by thousands of other. Heaven. It was brief and followed quickly by a stern scolding from a mother in the pew behind her to sit down and stop spinning. But I had seen it and it reminded me of the other times I'd seen heaven though the eyes of other. I choked back, my neck tightened and the note I was singing squirelled up into a crack.
It was one of the best times things I'd seen in church in a long time.
We finished our last trip off outta the Big City and headed home to be with family and friends. Both my sisters made it home and our apartment lost some square footage due to all the laundry, luggage, sleeping bags and pillows. It was great, I was excited to have all five of us in the same place talking and laughing like we always do when we get everyone together. We had over some stray guests to Thanksgiving but they fit in quickly enough.
They were treated like another member of the family, even as far as being submersed into "Broom over who?", "Psychiatrist" and the 9 magazine game. Fun camping games that have grown to tradition in our family. We ate large helpings of turkey, stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes and pie that would have made the ungrateful lady from the truck stop buffet envious. Once dad and mom took to bed, us 'kids' were up way to late playing video games. It was uneventful, but pleasant to have everyone home and together.
And now, In Regards to Church.
Growing up, church was not a weekly event that was dreaded for us kids. We enjoyed the opportunity to be in an atmosphere more suited to our auras. I never really felt like I fit in around others in high school. My friend group was fairly uneventful and for the most part was prided in our inability to go out and drink and get into trouble and it was nice not having to fight that temptation alone in high school.
At church we would see friends from other towns and adults that we all had a good rapport with. It was not drawling like some places I've been. But always a high energy environment as far as we knew. I'm sure there was the ever present mindless gossip that the ladies around the coffee table thrived on, but I never had much to worry about. I knew that I had a good name built up for myself in the community's, never in trouble and only had one speeding ticket under my belt. Ironically enough, I was on my way to pick up mom and sis from a Bible Camp. (I tried the excuse with the officer, thinking maybe God would count it as spreading the Word and get me off the hook. I still got the ticket.) Other than the ticket, we had been blessed with supporters for Missions Trips and funds for whatever school activity required selling wreaths or candy for that term and I had fallen into a great job with a photography studio and things were looking pretty good for me.
NOW, I secretly fear talking with people from my former church now. Knowing how fast the ladies at the coffee table will spread my personal C.O.P.S. episode. I don't fear any judgments or scolding, just feel ashamed thinking back to the words I'd said over and over again to myself before college, "I've earned too good of a name for myself to risk it on this." And wonder why those words failed me so many times after High School. I suppose words don't make decisions and can't blame my former motto for my mistakes.
After High School I was doing great. I got moved in and stuck to my beliefs. I even had my roommate remove beer from our room once for fear of disobeying hall rules. The church I attended that year was fun, full of energy and reminded me a lot of home. The weekly youth service provided me a chance to try and inform new high school seniors of the dangers of college and how important sticking to what you believe is. I apparently didn't feel it was necessary to heed my own advice.
At age 21 my family spent the day with me, barbecuing and giving the final alcohol lecture before I was released into the scene by the government. Church seemed to fade out and I didn't look back. I had reached my spiritual college peek, luckily I had accomplished a few things before that day while still in my prime. I had become an RA for the college which took care of my living and food expenses for the next year and I had secured a job at the local newspaper to fulfill my internship requirement. Unfortunately also provided plenty of funds to support my now growing habits.
Church vanished from my life, but many of the foundations it had instilled didn't. I suppose I had that going for me. Everyone now knew me as the Christian who could bend the rules instead of using them for a slap on the head. I suppose my rule stick was made of soft pliable rubber but never let anyone tell me differently on what I believed.
I have asked people many times what heaven will be like and always had a picture in my head of Isaiah 51:3. I'll let you look it up for the literal Word, but in my head, I picture a crowd of thousands of people so overwhelmed with happiness that it made the area around each of them seem brighter. I'd seen it a few times with people in church or on a mission but I had lost the image and replaced them with faces of friends and bottles of various colors and contents; liquid or otherwise. I didn't know exactly what it looked like anymore and my life was turning quickly into a cloud of smoke, anger, disappointment, paranoia and yet.... contentment was always next to my, lying more to me every day. I wanted to share that part of the story with everyone so you understand how emotional this next part is. I saw a glimpse of heaven again and it came from a little girl.
We were in church, middle section of a triptic pew arrangement and forward a few rows and to my right, was this little girl. Normally loud, seemingly unaware that more important things than what she had to say were going on around her, had fallen silent. She was now swaying back and forth to the song being sung by the praise group. She continued to sway, then suddenly threw up her hands and spun in a quick circle. Her arms reminded me of somthing she may do while running towards a long lost relative or friend. Then again, spun around, he hair raised parrellel to the floor she had spun so fast, but managed to catch my eye, mid spin, arms still up expenting someone to run into them.
That's when I saw it. She was singing the words to the song with a huge, dimpled smile on her face and it seemed like the area around her lit up and I imagined her with wings and a halo surounded by thousands of other. Heaven. It was brief and followed quickly by a stern scolding from a mother in the pew behind her to sit down and stop spinning. But I had seen it and it reminded me of the other times I'd seen heaven though the eyes of other. I choked back, my neck tightened and the note I was singing squirelled up into a crack.
It was one of the best times things I'd seen in church in a long time.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Trip 003
Well, we're on our way back from the big city. We dropped off our load of hay to we were bringing to the New Ulm area yesterday. What happened since then... hmm well right after we left the drop spot Dad was having trouble with the truck, the brights were not working and the blinker wouldn't work correctly either. He decided that the problem with the brights was that the headlights weren't on so I got online to find a Freightliner repair shop for the blinkers.
They acted like a kid pretending to be sick to miss school and strangly started to feel better once they heard we may have to find a doctor to fix them. We got through the trafic in Minneapolis and to the place in Mounds View I was supposed to be staying at for the next year and started packing. My sister and her friend also volenteerd some time and effort to help me carry and pack. These are also the same two who got my car outta the truck stop long term parking, before it got towed to the impound lot's long term parking. THANK YOU SO MUCH KACE. You were a huge help! I hope I get a chance to help her some day :)
We were leaving my place and on the radio happened to be home by chris daughtry. It was a pretty emotional feeling hearing that song and just assessing everything that was going on in my life... I spilled a couple, but it was brief and I got a txt from a friend that's timing was just perfect (Thanks ;))
We wen't out to Buffelo Wild Wings for dinner that night, played the trivia game and dad and I got our pictures taken with the BW's crowns, I grabbed a princess one, but didn't notice until my sister pointed it out.
This morning the plan was to get set up with a new broker and take a load of cement walls and the stuff from my place through SD to Dakota Dunes, but this morning I missed a couple phone calls from our broker because my phone was on vibrate and I didn't know she was going to be getting ahold of us. But I guess we were too late getting to a fax machine and lost the load. UGH, I felt terrible. I'll have to leave my phone off vibrate at night.
We found a couple of partial loads to combine to get us back home. We finished loading the first partial and got a call from the second one. Long story short (because I don't really know what all was said over the phone) but something about... It's Friday, they're going home early, sorry for messing up your plans. So now we're almost to Worthington with my stuff and a partial load of these huge drilling tools.
I have some pictures I'll post after a bit when I can get them off my phone.
They acted like a kid pretending to be sick to miss school and strangly started to feel better once they heard we may have to find a doctor to fix them. We got through the trafic in Minneapolis and to the place in Mounds View I was supposed to be staying at for the next year and started packing. My sister and her friend also volenteerd some time and effort to help me carry and pack. These are also the same two who got my car outta the truck stop long term parking, before it got towed to the impound lot's long term parking. THANK YOU SO MUCH KACE. You were a huge help! I hope I get a chance to help her some day :)
We were leaving my place and on the radio happened to be home by chris daughtry. It was a pretty emotional feeling hearing that song and just assessing everything that was going on in my life... I spilled a couple, but it was brief and I got a txt from a friend that's timing was just perfect (Thanks ;))
We wen't out to Buffelo Wild Wings for dinner that night, played the trivia game and dad and I got our pictures taken with the BW's crowns, I grabbed a princess one, but didn't notice until my sister pointed it out.
This morning the plan was to get set up with a new broker and take a load of cement walls and the stuff from my place through SD to Dakota Dunes, but this morning I missed a couple phone calls from our broker because my phone was on vibrate and I didn't know she was going to be getting ahold of us. But I guess we were too late getting to a fax machine and lost the load. UGH, I felt terrible. I'll have to leave my phone off vibrate at night.
We found a couple of partial loads to combine to get us back home. We finished loading the first partial and got a call from the second one. Long story short (because I don't really know what all was said over the phone) but something about... It's Friday, they're going home early, sorry for messing up your plans. So now we're almost to Worthington with my stuff and a partial load of these huge drilling tools.
I have some pictures I'll post after a bit when I can get them off my phone.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Home Again, Jigidity-Jig
Well we just dropped off the last of the bricks to Hebron Co. in Sioux Falls and are headed home to get some food. It's been a long day and we're both tired. 6:30am was a pretty early start [for me], did get to see the sunrise, but my Mt. Dew hadn't fully kicked in and forgot to take a picture of it. I ALMOST forgot to take a picture of this load of bricks too. Luckuly for you all, here they are.
The bricks being used for the new Sanford building in Sioux Falls. The old Seminary across from Augustana College. I should have marked one of them with something unnoticeable unless I knew what to look for and go back years from now once it's all put together and say "I helped bring THAT brick here!" It wouldn't be a momentous day in my future, but full of memories. I'm sure I'll still go back or happen by it just to see exactly where these 8x8 bricks from Kansas Brick and Tile were actually used for.
We got to this work site pretty easily, Dad didn't quite believe the directions we were givin but we made it. Going back in my posts, remember when I talked about city drivers? Tonight we had another run in with a 'cell phone using, mirror makeup checking, totally oblivious' female city driver and dad gave me my next piece of Trucker Wisdom. "When you're driving, pay attention to driving." [Refering to all sexes :)]
I could find any deep intellectual way to apply "When you're driving, pay attention to driving." to my life, but I'd like to see who all is reading. PLEASE post a comment on this post and tell me how I could apply it. Truckers aren't the only people in this world with wisdom, let's see what you got. ;)
"When you're driving, pay attention to driving." TruckerWisdom.
The bricks being used for the new Sanford building in Sioux Falls. The old Seminary across from Augustana College. I should have marked one of them with something unnoticeable unless I knew what to look for and go back years from now once it's all put together and say "I helped bring THAT brick here!" It wouldn't be a momentous day in my future, but full of memories. I'm sure I'll still go back or happen by it just to see exactly where these 8x8 bricks from Kansas Brick and Tile were actually used for.
We got to this work site pretty easily, Dad didn't quite believe the directions we were givin but we made it. Going back in my posts, remember when I talked about city drivers? Tonight we had another run in with a 'cell phone using, mirror makeup checking, totally oblivious' female city driver and dad gave me my next piece of Trucker Wisdom. "When you're driving, pay attention to driving." [Refering to all sexes :)]
I could find any deep intellectual way to apply "When you're driving, pay attention to driving." to my life, but I'd like to see who all is reading. PLEASE post a comment on this post and tell me how I could apply it. Truckers aren't the only people in this world with wisdom, let's see what you got. ;)
"When you're driving, pay attention to driving." TruckerWisdom.
The Truck That Can Float - 002
We decided that the trip from Cloud Ceramics to Sioux Falls was a little dry, so we decided to see if we could float the truck across the Missouri River on the South end of Yankton, SD. If you have ever seen the old rickety bridge that we'd had to cross, you would know that either way was a risk.
I said we'd sink like a 'Semi Truck full of bricks', since that's literally what we were.
I posted some photos of our floating adventure of the GPS so you can see, we did make it across!
I guess that doesn't prove we made it across, but kinda fun to watch that little GPSmobile swim it's way to the other side of the river.
Truth is, the old bridge in Yankton was discontinued for a newer updated model that our handy navigator didn't know about, so we crossed the new bridge completely dry and unharmed. Here's a picture of the new bridge.
I said we'd sink like a 'Semi Truck full of bricks', since that's literally what we were.
I posted some photos of our floating adventure of the GPS so you can see, we did make it across!
I guess that doesn't prove we made it across, but kinda fun to watch that little GPSmobile swim it's way to the other side of the river.
Truth is, the old bridge in Yankton was discontinued for a newer updated model that our handy navigator didn't know about, so we crossed the new bridge completely dry and unharmed. Here's a picture of the new bridge.
Trip 002, Back to the Heartland
Well, my second official trip post. We picked up a load of bricks from a couple places in Kansas. One place called Kansas Brick and Tile and the second half at their sister company, Cloud Ceramics. We're taking them back to Sioux Falls, SD! A couple of updates:
Dad felt lonely with his hurting finger, so accidentally squished mine between two of our trailer's side wenches, I'll post a picture of the situation, but my fingers don't look bad enough to be honored by a picture.
We stopped last night and ate at the truck stop Bosselmans in Salina, KS. Which leads me into my next piece of advice I've gained. I guess I don't really know if I actually gained anything, or just a reaffirmation of my already pretty good people skills.
Imagine this, we're sitting down in a booth to look through the menu, already a bit disgusted by the story on the news about an anti tolerant Gay and Lesbien group raiding the Sunday services with chants and flyers of an Evangelical Church in Michigan. OK... FIRST OF ALL! How does this help a cause? If they wanna go after some of the biggest anti homosexual groups, don't interupt their service and yell in their face; be tollerent for the sanctity of a Church Service and save the pickets and leaflets for the political arguments downtown or even outside the church... What really gets me, is when these people came into the service that morning, leaflets hidden; I'll bet 10 to 1 they were welcomed with a smile and a handshake by the people who apparently hate them so much.
So I was a little peeved at parts of society even before I had gotten my water. Then we were waited on by a nice lady who wasn't mean or gruff or aggitating in ANY WAY in my opinion. She took our orders and we waited. I played the triangle peg game on the table, completed it down to one peg once, but couldn't repeat. From behind us, a lady started to slam her coffee cup onto the table instead of politly asking for some assistance.
She filled her cup and was obviously a little angry with the lady at the tables 3 year old behavior and when she came back to our table we said, "Don't let them people get to you!" the waitress smiled and gave us a 'I didn't know what I did wrong or how to make it right' looks and dad and I nodded to reassure her she didn't do anything wronge and she wouldn't be able to do anything to make it right with them.
OK, I could live with it, but it did draw my attention to their table and here's what I saw: They were a couple in their early 50's. Dad says "Angry people always seem older." so it could have been much less, because they were pretty angry. The man had a mullet that would make Macgyver jealous, with a traditional trucker cap (even though I wonder if he wasn't a local) and the smell of smoke lingered around him. The wife sat across him in a booth type table. They wouldn't have been able to sit side by side if they wanted to, she was a large lady. I would assume she was having the buffet, which featured all the ribs and fried chicken she could handle.
OK, I could live with the cup banging and the almost movie-esque whitetrashyness about them, but what happened next blew my mind. The waitress brings out the guys dinner, supprising to me he had orded a taco salad. They brought it out in the traditional crispy edible bowl, it looked full of toppings, good green fresh lettuce and we couldn't see what inspired him to proceed to yell at the waitress for a number of things she didn't have control of and also yelled at her because his taco salad wasn't in a soft shell.... WHAT?! Who serves taco salads in a softshell bowl?! Come to think of it, I don't even know how that would work...
The waitress got the manager and they left from view. I hope they fill out a comment card and never come back, business owners don't need to deal with people like that, who are professional swindlers. Who can make a big deal out of anything in their meal to get it free and have learned the unfortunate truth, that they can get away with it. Anything to shut them up and get them out the door.
Everyone in our sectional felt terrible for the waitress and about 5 booths either appologized to her, or added a couple more extra dollars to make up for the couple who obviously left with a free belly full of ribs and chicken and didn't leave any tip. The waitress asked why she "Can't take them to the back and shoot them, just this once?" we didn't have a great answer why not to shoot them, but adviced against it anyway.
Again, reaffirmation of things I already am that I can't take for granted.
On a lighter note, here's how they transport bee's! :)
Dad felt lonely with his hurting finger, so accidentally squished mine between two of our trailer's side wenches, I'll post a picture of the situation, but my fingers don't look bad enough to be honored by a picture.
We stopped last night and ate at the truck stop Bosselmans in Salina, KS. Which leads me into my next piece of advice I've gained. I guess I don't really know if I actually gained anything, or just a reaffirmation of my already pretty good people skills.
Imagine this, we're sitting down in a booth to look through the menu, already a bit disgusted by the story on the news about an anti tolerant Gay and Lesbien group raiding the Sunday services with chants and flyers of an Evangelical Church in Michigan. OK... FIRST OF ALL! How does this help a cause? If they wanna go after some of the biggest anti homosexual groups, don't interupt their service and yell in their face; be tollerent for the sanctity of a Church Service and save the pickets and leaflets for the political arguments downtown or even outside the church... What really gets me, is when these people came into the service that morning, leaflets hidden; I'll bet 10 to 1 they were welcomed with a smile and a handshake by the people who apparently hate them so much.
So I was a little peeved at parts of society even before I had gotten my water. Then we were waited on by a nice lady who wasn't mean or gruff or aggitating in ANY WAY in my opinion. She took our orders and we waited. I played the triangle peg game on the table, completed it down to one peg once, but couldn't repeat. From behind us, a lady started to slam her coffee cup onto the table instead of politly asking for some assistance.
She filled her cup and was obviously a little angry with the lady at the tables 3 year old behavior and when she came back to our table we said, "Don't let them people get to you!" the waitress smiled and gave us a 'I didn't know what I did wrong or how to make it right' looks and dad and I nodded to reassure her she didn't do anything wronge and she wouldn't be able to do anything to make it right with them.
OK, I could live with it, but it did draw my attention to their table and here's what I saw: They were a couple in their early 50's. Dad says "Angry people always seem older." so it could have been much less, because they were pretty angry. The man had a mullet that would make Macgyver jealous, with a traditional trucker cap (even though I wonder if he wasn't a local) and the smell of smoke lingered around him. The wife sat across him in a booth type table. They wouldn't have been able to sit side by side if they wanted to, she was a large lady. I would assume she was having the buffet, which featured all the ribs and fried chicken she could handle.
OK, I could live with the cup banging and the almost movie-esque whitetrashyness about them, but what happened next blew my mind. The waitress brings out the guys dinner, supprising to me he had orded a taco salad. They brought it out in the traditional crispy edible bowl, it looked full of toppings, good green fresh lettuce and we couldn't see what inspired him to proceed to yell at the waitress for a number of things she didn't have control of and also yelled at her because his taco salad wasn't in a soft shell.... WHAT?! Who serves taco salads in a softshell bowl?! Come to think of it, I don't even know how that would work...
The waitress got the manager and they left from view. I hope they fill out a comment card and never come back, business owners don't need to deal with people like that, who are professional swindlers. Who can make a big deal out of anything in their meal to get it free and have learned the unfortunate truth, that they can get away with it. Anything to shut them up and get them out the door.
Everyone in our sectional felt terrible for the waitress and about 5 booths either appologized to her, or added a couple more extra dollars to make up for the couple who obviously left with a free belly full of ribs and chicken and didn't leave any tip. The waitress asked why she "Can't take them to the back and shoot them, just this once?" we didn't have a great answer why not to shoot them, but adviced against it anyway.
Again, reaffirmation of things I already am that I can't take for granted.
On a lighter note, here's how they transport bee's! :)
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