Is it just me, or does it seem like there are more and more vehicles in the Phoenix metro area with Mexican plates? It seems like they are starting to outnumber the snowbirds and other out-of-state visitors.

Tonight, on the way home, I was passed (and by passed I mean, of course, blown by like I was sitting on the side of the road on blocks) by a Grand Marquis with Chihuahua state plates. Of course, he was right ahead of me at the next red light, and when that light turned green he was off like a rocket again.

No wonder my auto insurance keeps going up.

<ring>

The house phone is ringing. Since TMBWitW and I have cell phones, we don’t normally answer the house phone.

<ring>

I’m sitting right next to it, I’m the only one home, so I figure I’ll answer it.

“Good morning, Cartter’s” – dead silence. Oh great, I’m on an autodialer and the lag between the answer and the person is –

“Yes, is this the Cartter residence?” (If you had been polite enough to have been listeneing while the phone was ringing, and you had heard me answer the phone…)

“Yes, it is.”

“Is Scarlet or Cary available?”

“This is Cary.”

“Mr. Cartter, this is (name of insurance company) calling to update our records. This phone call may be recorded for quality assurance purposes (second voice: OK, now just go right into it) Is your home phone number XXX-XXX-XXXX?” (Great. A trainee. I’ll bet they teach her all sorts of illogical questions.)

OK, now I understand that the autodialer dials the phone and hands it over when someone answers. But, really, since you are reading your script from the database that the autodialer used to dial my number, why is it necessary to ask if this is still my home phone number?

“Yes, it is.”

“Mr. Cartter, did you recieve a letter asking for an update of information for your policy with (name of insurance company)?”

“Yes, and my wife returned it with the updated information either yesterday or the day before.”

“OK, thank you for your time. (second voice: give him the contact information in case he has any quesitons) Mr. Cartter, in case you have any questions about this phone call, please call 1-800-XXX-XXXX and refer to contact number XXXXXXXXXXXX.” <click>

Me, staring at reciever: “Well, I’m glad I don’t have any questions, since I didn’t record that conversation and I didn’t have anything to write with.”

Princess has found a home.

J and A decided to make her a part of their family. Their two boys love her so much, when we visited them last night the youngest was afraid that we were going to take her with us when we left. He cried until after we were gone and Princess was still there.

TMBWitW and I are happy, relieved, and sad. Happy that we were able to find her a good home, and we had final say over who adopted Princess. Relieved that the placement period is over. Sad that Princess just wouldn’t fit in.
It has been so hectic, that I forgot who we were working with to place Princess. I will have to dig back through my notes and post that information here, to publicly thank Carol (I at least remembered her name, just not the organization she is with) and to let others know about her.

Last night, on the way home from church, it was kind of raining a little bit. My wife and I were stopped at a light, and there was a car headed north, waiting to turn west. There was a glob of traffic going south, and a person on a bicycle approaching the intersection from the north, on the west side of the street.

Do you see what I was imagining?

Turning vehicle got a clear spot, started the turn. Saw the bicyclist, stopped – across southbound traffic. Southbound Dodge pickup saw the turning vehicle stop, hit his brakes. Freshly wet pavement in Phoenix, after a long dry spell = ice rink. Even with his ABS working overtime, the Dodge hit the turning car in the right rear passenger door, spinning her clockwise 180°. The look on the bicyclist’s face when she realized she was about to wear a Toyota was rather odd – and all control left her muscles as she just coasted into the driver’s door of the Toyota. The light turned green for us, and, since I am not a doctor nor was my lane blocked, my wife and I continued on our way.

A lack of common sense really hurts sometimes. That, and not paying attention to your surroundings.

D: “S., there’s a unit of wood under the side roof, do you want to get it or do you want me to bring it in?”

S: “Uhh, yeah, D.”

D: “The answer requires more than just ‘yeah,’ S.”

This kind of stuff makes me laugh quietly as I continue to work…