Traffic Court

Got to go to traffic court today to represent my boss's son. He was going a little faster than what he should (+46) in a school zone (hey, he was late for class)!

When I was at court, I experienced something that any non-attorney should be sicked by. While sitting waiting for my client's name to be called, the Judge's clerk asked if there were any other people who were represented by an attorney. Any of those (there were 50 people in the room) who had attorneys were then taken right away (there were 3 of us).

While waiting, the clerk was being very obnoxious to the people and making sure everyone in the room knew that the person was an idiot. Then I get up there with my client, we sit down, and begin small talk about new york city. He wanted to know why I just did not call to take care of this. I told him I enjoyed the ride and he laughed. This is the same guy who was degrading all of the other people in the room.

So then we talk about the case. He looks at my client and tells him that he was going too fast (no crap). Then he said, but because you brought him with you (he looked at me) I will be able to help you. Then he looked at me and I told the sad story of my client and how he had been warned by his teacher before about being late. Then the guy looks at me, my client is facing 11 points - resulting in his license being suspended and a $600 fine) and says, I cannot get rid of the entire ticket, but I can get this down where his license is not taken away. So we work out a deal, sign the papers, and are out of there.

So here is the thing...If a normal person does not know an attorney or cannot afford an attorney, they are screwed? I mean, I am happy that I am an attorney and I know what needs to be done and what does not, but what about all of the rest of the people?

Oh, and when I went to file the papers, the woman behind the counter asked me if I specialized in Traffic Law. I told her no, but I do specialize in Personal Injury - then I gave her some cards and she was going to give them out to her friends...good god...I AM THAT PERSON!

Hurt Feelings?

You ever been in a situation where a group of your friends were all meeting to celebrate an important ocassion and you were not invited? You ever been in a situation where you thought you were someone's friend, but then you come to find out that that person does not look upon you the same way? How awkward!

I found out a few weeks ago that a friend of mine, or so I thought they were a friend of mine, was having a dinner party to celebrate the "hopeful" engagement to his girlfriend. At first this did not bother me, but then I started hearing about all the other people who were invited to this special occasion (all of which were good friends of mine). How awkward!

But then I also started hearing about the people who were not invited, people who I thought were good friends of this persons' and then I realized that the person is not good at letting things go - but can any of us say that we are truly good at it?

I think that it bothers me the most that I will not be there when this person celebrates a wonderful day. Although I will see him next week, it just will not be the same.

But that is life.

Cell-Phone Bravery

Cell-Phone Bravery
Those of you who know me know that I get very angry when someone is talking on their cell phone and not paying attention. When I lived elsewhere and drove to and from places, this anger was because people were too busy with their conversations to realize that they were not paying attention. Now that I no longer drive and spend my transportation time on foot, I always get angry when someone is talking loudly on the phone, walking slow while on the phone, or just not watching where they are going because they are talking on the phone. However, there are many people who do seem to talk on their phone and walk at the same time (very similar to drummers who can chew gum and march at the same time - really it can be done).

Drivers in New York are horrid! Those of you who have experienced it can attest that no matter what a walker is doing, the driver always thinks they have the right away. This usually takes on the form of the typical driver who honks. Why do they honk? When someone honks at me, it startles me, slows me down, and it takes longer for a car to make a turn. But the real question is why do drivers think that they have the right away to make a turn when the walk light says that the pedestrian can walk?

Case in point: Last week I was walking from my apartment in Astoria to the local Blockbuster a few blocks away. During my trip I was talking on my cell phone, trying to get caught up on last minute conference details, when I came upon Broadway. The light was green, which meant that I did not have the go ahead to walk. I waited until the walk signal changed (still talking on the phone). Then the light changed and I started to walk. While I was walking a woman in a van began making a left turn into me. I was not walking slow, just a normal pace. The woman was a foot from my legs when I turned to her and looked at her. Then I kept walking across the street. She proceeded to roll down her window and yell at me: "Maybe if you got off your g-damn phone you could walk." So, I responded, as any person in the right would, "Maybe if you lost some weight you could walk." Well this did not make her happy - she started yelling further words out her window: "You should come over here and I will show you who is fat you a**hole." My response, of course, "Whatever bi*ch." Now keep in mind that this all took place over the course of 30 seconds. I had not idea what came over me, and neither did the 50 or so people standing around.

I kept walking, and talking, and then went into Blockbuster - where they did not have the game I was looking for - left and went back home (all the time continuing to talk on my phone).

So I ask you, why is the sky blue?

Terrorist Attack on Sunday

SO I have heard from Grandma, Uncle Ned, and Mom about my thoughts on the "terrorist" attacks that may or may not happened on Sunday. They all want to know if I am planning on using the subway on Sunday. My response to them is - YES!
See, every Sunday I go into the city to watch the Cleveland Browns play. Living in Queens, I only get to see NY Giants and NJ Jets...No Browns games. So I guess it comes down to whether or not watching the Cleveland Browns is worth risking a terrorist attack. With the Cleveland Indians done, I MUST have something to look forward to.
Seriously, though...All of this talk of terrorism is crazy. It is not going to make me, or anyone for that matter, change what I can and cannot do. I spoke about this in the past, but to change the things that you do just because of a "threat" is a form of giving in. So I will do what I must tomorrow and watch the Browns beat the Bears.

Go BROWNS!

Katie Holmes - Say it aint so!

I Used to Like Katie Holmes
Katie Holmes has a "bun in the oven." This is what I read on the way to work this morning on the subway. What the heck is going on? Does anyone else think that Ms. Holmes is so totally brainwashed that she has NO Idea what is going on? Or do you really think that they are in love and will happily ever after?

According to People.com, Tom Cruise's fiancée, Katie Holmes, is pregnant with the couple's child, Cruise's spokesperson, Lee Anne DeVette, tells PEOPLE exclusively.

"Tom and Katie are very excited, and the entire family is very excited," says DeVette.
Cruise, who has two children, Connor, 10, and Isabella, 12, with ex-wife Nicole Kidman, began dating Holmes in mid-April. He proposed to her atop the Eiffel Tower in Paris in June. DeVette says there is no wedding date set.

DeVette would not comment on the baby's gender or say how far along the pregnancy is. The rep did say that Holmes, 26, "has never felt better."

Cruise, 43, is currently shooting Mission: Impossible 3 in Los Angeles.

COME ON! Can't you just picture Tom persuading Katie to get knocked up? "Come on Katie, it will be good for your career! "

Ohio native, and "good" catholic girl - what happened???

Movies, Moving Out and those DAMN INDIANS!

The neighbor next door moved out last weekend. She had been there for four years. Little did I know that there would be workers in the apartment bright and early Saturday morning. What do I mean by "bright and early?" 7:30am is what I mean. At least it was the same time that I normally wake up, so I guess that is something. The pounding continued throughout the day, with my finally deciding that I could take no more. So as a result I walked across the street and saw a 1:35 movie - Serenity.

For those of you who have been paying attention to the Indians, you know that they were playing Saturday and Sunday for a possible spot in the Playoffs. For those of you who have been paying attention, you will also know that the Indians lost on Friday, which made Saturday all that more important. However, because of the crappy television in New York, only the Yankees were being shown on television. So rather than sitting at home, with the pounding next door, and watching the updates on the internet, I thought that it would be okay to see a movie.

Serenity was one of the BEST movies I have EVER seen! Now I was a HUGE fan of the quickly cancelled series on FOX, but I had no idea that Joss Weadon would do such a great job taking his ideas to the screen. There has been a lot of talk about how this will be the "new" starwars, but I am not saying that much. What I am saying is that this was an enjoyable movie with great special effects and a lot of dialogue that will make you laugh. At the end of the movie, people actually clapped! It was that good.