An expensive cup of coffee - part 2

I decided to try to battle the violation for turning left before 9am.

I went to the "Violations and something or other" office in downtown Minneapolis Friday morning. I had planned on getting down there early in the day but because of meetings and problems with work, I didn't make it until almost 12:30.

The waiting room was pretty full. The count down counter was at 15. I asked for the next number which was 44!

After about 15-20 minutes they started calling out numbers and it looked like it was going pretty fast. Most people were only in the inner offices for a few minutes. I really had no idea where or what was happening on the other side of the door.

When the number got to 42, it stayed there for quite a while, of course. Finally my number was called. I was prepared to argue my case as an extreme violation given that it occurred at 8:50am - only 10 mins under the wire.

The gentleman who called my name was in jeans and short-sleeved shirt. I figured I would be taken to a hearing room or such. Nope. Went to his little office with a desk, his chair and one other chair.

Before I could even say anything he said, "so you want to get this off your record?" I said I did. He said, "okay, but you have to pay the fine of $125.00." I said yes and then asked if I could get the fine reduced.

"No," he said, "it is one or the other. Off your record or reduced fine."

I agreed to the off the record option and signed the release. I have to have a clean record for a year for it really to be off. What it really means is the prosecution is suspended for a year. I paid the fine at another window.

On closer reading of the form, I noticed that the fine is actually also removed and becomes a prosecution fee which goes directly to the precinct that issued the violation. That just reeks of quota system. The violation dollars don't go toward a general police or road or safety fund but to the precinct. Obviously there is an incentive for each precinct to maximize their violations and if there is budget to be considered, then a quota has to be involved.

A garden view

Decided to work late but at least sit outside on a beautiful evening here. And here is the lovely view from my picnic table.The picture doesn't really do justice to the colors.

Some more catching up - sunrise

I've tried to doctor this photo and it doesn't really do the sunrise justice....but here is the sunrise from the 25th floor of the Hotel Anatole last week in Dallas.

Some more catching up - Kathy and the zoo

I took the noon flight home on Thursday so I could go to the Minnesota Zoo with my friend and previous co-worked, Kathy Just. Her electric co-operative sponsors a free evening at the zoo.

Here we are in the very bright sun light.


Kathy has a really nice digital camera. Here are some of her pictures.


This beautiful gibbon and her partner who is black were both very animated.

Some catching up...Michele in town

Friend and previous co-worker, Michele Charron, was in town last week. She stopped by and we went to Stellas. Stellas has a great roof top bar. It was crowded as all get out. The view of downtown Minneapolis is spectacular.

Mazda 3

I've been wanting a Mazda 3 rental for quite a while. I always really enjoyed the Mazdas I have owned or my Mom's.

The Mazda 3 is definitely fun to drive. It is nimble and quick. The interior seems a bit dated. The gauges are set deep into the dash.

Speaking of the gauges in daytime they have white faces with black lettering. At night the have blue faces with red lettering and red lights. The gauges are easier to read at night than day.

Those little boxes of cereal

Could they make something more difficult to open than those little boxes of cereal. That's what the hotels mostly serve and I have the hardest time trying to get the darn things open.

First it is the box itself. I think these boxes could be the safest place to keep your valuables if you had the technology to make them yourself. I usually end up punching a hole in the box with the end of my spoon.

Once I've mangled the box, there's the plastic bag inside. Again the glue is something from NASA. I have only luckily avoided exploding the whole thing all over the room as I attempt to pull, twist, rip, tear, bite the thing open. A co-worker suffered the embarrassment of the exploding bag not once but twice. Raisin bran sprayed all over the place.

Of course, that was funny as all get out because it didn't happen to me.