Things I've Noticed

I've been home slightly over a month now and there's things around town I've noticed could be changed to help things run more smoothly.  Normally some of these things would have gone un-noticed, while others still would bother me.  Guess you can take the soldier out of the garrison but it may be harder to take the garrison out of the soldier.  At times it makes me wonder if GSD is more than just a joke phrase that got away from me back at AJ.

For starters, the traffic patterns at John Adams Middle School (JAM) and Jefferson Elementary are absolutely INSANE.  Who tries to squeeze a full-width vehicle between parked cars that leave less than enough room to fit an original Jeep?  OK, other than our unit while on MSR Tampa this last trip to the sandbox.  Last Friday when it was cold out I picked up my son at Jefferson, went straight to JAM, and the traffic was already backed up to Illinois Ave. with waiting parents.  So I pull into the parking lot and discover (joy of joys) there's no lines designating parking spots.  Parents were parked facing what-ever direction they felt like, sometimes three cars deep (pretty sure the people stuck in the middle of those weren't the last to arrive) and just like the parents in the pick-up horseshoe never bother to look before pulling out.  I swear they just look straight ahead and expect the rest of the world to adapt to their situation.  Dropping off kids in the morning at Jefferson is much the same way.  In the last four or five weeks I've seen over a dozen near-accidents (some which would have left children pancakes).  The four-way intersection with JAM and Illinois Ave. is just as bad if not worse.  Do civilians read the traffic regulations anymore?  Granted my first thought was having some gun trucks set up a TCP and find some privates to paint parking lines in lot, but does anyone give a darn about how they are driving in a school zone with kids all over the place?

Another thing that has been bugging me is all the cats wandering around the neighborhood.  They tend to remind me of the strays in the Middle East, only I'm pretty sure I'd get into trouble if I dealt with them how I'd like to.  My first thought was a paint-ball marker with CS pellets, but I was informed that would violate city fire arms policy.  I'd try Dave's Insanity Hot sauce, but I'm pretty sure with the way my luck runs I'd have small furry corpses to remove from my yard.  Some have had collars on them, which further makes me wonder why people would spend money on a pet and then let it roam free all the time.

The last thing that makes me wonder lately is all these people who seem to be suffering from low self-esteem and compensating for it by driving the biggest, loudest, most-modified vehicles they can.  Seriously people, this is Mason City.  Where do you intend on driving a large Dodge Ram with a 3-inch body lift, chromed-out nerf and bush bars, with swampers?  And yes I am odd enough to notice there isn't a single dent, scratch, scrape, or any evidence of any on the entire vehicle.  Either the truck has never been truly off-road, or you have a lot of time on your hands to be buffing cosmetic damage out of it.  Oh, and would someone please tell me the point of driving a Land Rover IN TOWN and needing a five gallon fuel can mounted next to your spare tire?  Especially when the colours of the can clash with the vehicle's?

Ok, so maybe I was reaching for something to write about this weekend.  In all honesty though, these things do make me wonder lately, especially the way parents drive around the school (if driving a stock Jeep Wrangler with under-sized tires is compensating for something, I really have to wonder what it would be).  I'm not just ranting though, I am currently waiting for an acknowledgment from my councilman for the letter I wrote addressing the school traffic issue.

In closing (stop that cheering), I'd just like to ask parents to be a bit more aware of their surroundings when behind the wheel (especially around the schools).  For those with the "big" trucks, could you let me know where you get them muddy?  My Jeep's a bit too clean lately.

Be safe, and I wish everyone a happy holiday season.

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