My sweetest Avery after she had FINALLY woken up on girl's night
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Frustrations!
Alright. I have tried to avoid it, but I can't help myself any longer. I must rant!
My whole life I thought that getting a DUI was a serious offense. That the punishment was a tough one. Boy howdy, was I ever wrong!!! As all 4 of my followers (thank you, by the way) most likely know, I was hit by a stupid a-hole drunk driver on the 4th of July about a block away from my house. He totaled the car I was driving, which happened to by my Mom's, and did a lot of damage to his vehicle too. When the officers showed up they did field sobriety tests on him and when they opened the vehicle they found several alcohol bottles. After he hit me, however, he got out of his car and started throwing OTHER alcohol bottles into his trunk... I am assuming so he wouldn't get an open container ticket on top of his DUI. Yes, folks, you are correct. This was NOT his first rodeo. He was cited for DUI and Improper Lookout on the scene and taken away in cuffs.
NOW! Pay attention!
The officers took him to their station to perform a breathalizer on him. I was under the impression that he would then be booked into jail, as that is where drunk drivers should go, yes? Yeah, well, think again! He was taken to the station where he blew a .16 (.08 is the legal limit), but then the officers brought him BACK to the scene of the accident and RELEASED HIM to someone sober. So good news for all that like to drive tipsy now and then. In the City of West Valley (and, come to find out, most other places around the valley) you can drive drunk, total a car, HIDE THE EVIDENCE THAT YOU WERE DRINKING WHILE DRIVING, and STILL make it to your holiday barbecue on time. What a deal!
As angry as this made me, I stupidly believed that the Justice system would come through. I have worked for a court. I have worked for a prosecutor's office. I have worked for a law firm. I am pretty familiar with the law. As I did research on DUI's, especially in West Valley, I found that the judge in that city is A JOKE! And not a very funny one! After dragging this case on since July (yes, six months), the lovely fella who hit me decided to plead guilty to DUI on December 18. As his punishment, hold on to your hats, he received 48 hours community service and a fine. THAT IS IT! Does anyone else feel this is preposterous?
To add insult to injury, the judge who was handling his case has a reputation of being extremely easy on his DUI reviews. For example, he had a defendant who had dirty urinary analysis' (meaning he was still drinking while on probation), he took almost a full year to complete one alcohol class, and had not paid his fine. What did our honorable Judge McCullaugh do? NOT A DAMN THING!Just put him back on his probation. Set him up for another 'review'. Are you kidding me?
I understand that people make mistakes. One of my dearest friends got a DUI. But he has paid severely for it. And you know what? He will never drive drunk again.
The very worst part of this whole thing is that there is NOTHING I can do. I never got a chance to speak in court. My voice was never heard because the Judge doesn't care! There HAS to be a way to change things, right?
My whole life I thought that getting a DUI was a serious offense. That the punishment was a tough one. Boy howdy, was I ever wrong!!! As all 4 of my followers (thank you, by the way) most likely know, I was hit by a stupid a-hole drunk driver on the 4th of July about a block away from my house. He totaled the car I was driving, which happened to by my Mom's, and did a lot of damage to his vehicle too. When the officers showed up they did field sobriety tests on him and when they opened the vehicle they found several alcohol bottles. After he hit me, however, he got out of his car and started throwing OTHER alcohol bottles into his trunk... I am assuming so he wouldn't get an open container ticket on top of his DUI. Yes, folks, you are correct. This was NOT his first rodeo. He was cited for DUI and Improper Lookout on the scene and taken away in cuffs.
NOW! Pay attention!
The officers took him to their station to perform a breathalizer on him. I was under the impression that he would then be booked into jail, as that is where drunk drivers should go, yes? Yeah, well, think again! He was taken to the station where he blew a .16 (.08 is the legal limit), but then the officers brought him BACK to the scene of the accident and RELEASED HIM to someone sober. So good news for all that like to drive tipsy now and then. In the City of West Valley (and, come to find out, most other places around the valley) you can drive drunk, total a car, HIDE THE EVIDENCE THAT YOU WERE DRINKING WHILE DRIVING, and STILL make it to your holiday barbecue on time. What a deal!
As angry as this made me, I stupidly believed that the Justice system would come through. I have worked for a court. I have worked for a prosecutor's office. I have worked for a law firm. I am pretty familiar with the law. As I did research on DUI's, especially in West Valley, I found that the judge in that city is A JOKE! And not a very funny one! After dragging this case on since July (yes, six months), the lovely fella who hit me decided to plead guilty to DUI on December 18. As his punishment, hold on to your hats, he received 48 hours community service and a fine. THAT IS IT! Does anyone else feel this is preposterous?
To add insult to injury, the judge who was handling his case has a reputation of being extremely easy on his DUI reviews. For example, he had a defendant who had dirty urinary analysis' (meaning he was still drinking while on probation), he took almost a full year to complete one alcohol class, and had not paid his fine. What did our honorable Judge McCullaugh do? NOT A DAMN THING!Just put him back on his probation. Set him up for another 'review'. Are you kidding me?
I understand that people make mistakes. One of my dearest friends got a DUI. But he has paid severely for it. And you know what? He will never drive drunk again.
The very worst part of this whole thing is that there is NOTHING I can do. I never got a chance to speak in court. My voice was never heard because the Judge doesn't care! There HAS to be a way to change things, right?
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
One of my many Christmas crafts. This one I just started today! The color of the yarn turned out kind of funky in this picture. It is really more of a brown color... I think it is called moss. Stay tuned! Or, if you want you can go look at what it will look like when it will be done where I got the pattern. This is FANTASTIC yarn!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Sheesh!
Had I any clue how much energy Christmas crafting took I don't know that I would have ever started! Good Lord! Okay, really it isn't that bad. We are actually humming right along. The problem is that once we get going on one project we think of 38 million other cute things we should do and we want them all done RIGHT NOW! I'm not ashamed to admit that I am all about instant gratification! This year, however, for the first year in.... well, ever.... I actually have my present for my person (we draw names in our family) bought and it is being shipped as I blog! I know. I rock.
Unrelated note.
*disclaimer* This could very well trigger a gag reflex!
I finally watched the movie 'Up' the other day. I have to say that it vaulted to the top 5 Disney movies I have seen. I will admit, it made me teary. Several times. I know that this is total cheese ball city, but how great is it that Mr. Frederickson loves his Ellie that much? And how amazing would it be to have someone love you like that? If you aren't all barfing your brains out..... I might have met someone. And I think he should be call Mr. Frederickson. Just saying!
Til next time!
P.S. I am considering making two other blogs. One dedicated entirely to my pet peeves and things that people do that piss me off. The other to funny crap that my sister's kids say. Both would be gems!
Unrelated note.
*disclaimer* This could very well trigger a gag reflex!
I finally watched the movie 'Up' the other day. I have to say that it vaulted to the top 5 Disney movies I have seen. I will admit, it made me teary. Several times. I know that this is total cheese ball city, but how great is it that Mr. Frederickson loves his Ellie that much? And how amazing would it be to have someone love you like that? If you aren't all barfing your brains out..... I might have met someone. And I think he should be call Mr. Frederickson. Just saying!
Til next time!
P.S. I am considering making two other blogs. One dedicated entirely to my pet peeves and things that people do that piss me off. The other to funny crap that my sister's kids say. Both would be gems!
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