Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Update on Court Date for Mr. Hit and Run
We just got a subpoena to testify against Mr. Hit and Run in May. We will bring it on...
Monday, February 25, 2008
Hit and Run Drivers should be subjected to Hammurabi-esque Law!
I believe that if you leave the scene of an accident, you should then have to suffer the same injuries that you inflicted with your cowardly/callous disregard of others. I think a law such as this would encourage even the most drunken reprobate to stop and own up to what they did, because if they do not, the punishment will be swift and just.
Last summer, my husband and I were broadsided by a white SUV that was going over 100 mph on the highway. This sent us spinning against the highway barrier, completely totaling our car. Fortunately, our seat belts held us in and our airbags deployed, so our kids were not orphaned that evening. Dan was only bruised, but I had been in the passenger seat, and the impact had been such that I sustained most of the severe contusions, a broken rib and a traumatized spleen.
The "driver" in the white SUV did not stop, but just drove on home, because by law, he would be in more trouble if he stopped, since he was either a) coming back from partying hard and totally DUI or b) such a bad driver he really shouldn't be on the road. I suspect the former, since his Illinois license plate is "NITECAP."
We were very fortunate some witnesses caught the license plate and reported it, for when the officer went to his residence, he was there and admitted to the officer that it was indeed him and he was aware he had hit us.
I found out his court date for traffic court and attended. The interesting thing that I did not know before this happened is that in traffic court, if you do not show up to complain against the offender in traffic court, all charges are dismissed.
Then Mr. Hit and Run's lawyer proposed to the state's lawyer that they would only plead guilty to the bad lane change, if I dropped the leaving the scene charge--AS IF! That was completely insulting. An accident is an accident, but leaving the scene, especially when we were as banged up as we were, that is a CRIME. Punishable with JAIL TIME. Which people who are most likely under the influence of something and driving at over 100mph deserve LOTS of. So we were bumped up to misdemeanor court, which is where we should have been in the first place.
On the way up to the misdemeanor court, Mr. Hit and Run turned to me and said in a a casual, frat boy insincere kind of way, "Hey, sorry I hit your car."
I couldn't help it, I exploded. "YOU ALMOST KILLED ME! DO YOU UNDERSTAND YOU COULD HAVE KILLED ME!?! YOU COULD HAVE ORPHANED MY CHILDREN RIGHT THEN AND THERE! AND YOU JUST LEFT!!!"
Mr. Hit and Run looked surprised, like he didn't realize that there might have been people in the car he hit and sent spinning against the highway barrier. His lawyer called him over and started talking to his client intensely. I considered spewing some much more clever and withering invective at the top of my voice, but realized this would not help me at all. I went up to misdemeanor court, made sure that all the pictures of the car got to the state's attorney and made sure I didn't have to be there for that segment of his journey through the court system. My youngest was sick, and I wanted to get home.
I moved on from this first session in court which was back in September. I wondered how things were going to go for him, but figured that as worked up as I got, it was best I just let it go. What I really want to happen to this guy will never happen.
As it was, Mr. Hit and Run's lawyer called this morning to see if we had settled satisfactorily with the insurance companies. He had called Dan, and Dan said that I was handling it. I called the lawyer back and told him I had not decided. He said the court date had been moved out to May, and they were going to plead guilty to the improper lane change. What about leaving the scene of the accident? He would not say...now I am steamed again.
I am surprised that I so wish for vengeance. I will have to settle for 21st century legal vengeance, and I have decided to make sure this guy doesn't get away with less than it allows.
Last summer, my husband and I were broadsided by a white SUV that was going over 100 mph on the highway. This sent us spinning against the highway barrier, completely totaling our car. Fortunately, our seat belts held us in and our airbags deployed, so our kids were not orphaned that evening. Dan was only bruised, but I had been in the passenger seat, and the impact had been such that I sustained most of the severe contusions, a broken rib and a traumatized spleen.
The "driver" in the white SUV did not stop, but just drove on home, because by law, he would be in more trouble if he stopped, since he was either a) coming back from partying hard and totally DUI or b) such a bad driver he really shouldn't be on the road. I suspect the former, since his Illinois license plate is "NITECAP."
We were very fortunate some witnesses caught the license plate and reported it, for when the officer went to his residence, he was there and admitted to the officer that it was indeed him and he was aware he had hit us.
I found out his court date for traffic court and attended. The interesting thing that I did not know before this happened is that in traffic court, if you do not show up to complain against the offender in traffic court, all charges are dismissed.
Then Mr. Hit and Run's lawyer proposed to the state's lawyer that they would only plead guilty to the bad lane change, if I dropped the leaving the scene charge--AS IF! That was completely insulting. An accident is an accident, but leaving the scene, especially when we were as banged up as we were, that is a CRIME. Punishable with JAIL TIME. Which people who are most likely under the influence of something and driving at over 100mph deserve LOTS of. So we were bumped up to misdemeanor court, which is where we should have been in the first place.
On the way up to the misdemeanor court, Mr. Hit and Run turned to me and said in a a casual, frat boy insincere kind of way, "Hey, sorry I hit your car."
I couldn't help it, I exploded. "YOU ALMOST KILLED ME! DO YOU UNDERSTAND YOU COULD HAVE KILLED ME!?! YOU COULD HAVE ORPHANED MY CHILDREN RIGHT THEN AND THERE! AND YOU JUST LEFT!!!"
Mr. Hit and Run looked surprised, like he didn't realize that there might have been people in the car he hit and sent spinning against the highway barrier. His lawyer called him over and started talking to his client intensely. I considered spewing some much more clever and withering invective at the top of my voice, but realized this would not help me at all. I went up to misdemeanor court, made sure that all the pictures of the car got to the state's attorney and made sure I didn't have to be there for that segment of his journey through the court system. My youngest was sick, and I wanted to get home.
I moved on from this first session in court which was back in September. I wondered how things were going to go for him, but figured that as worked up as I got, it was best I just let it go. What I really want to happen to this guy will never happen.
As it was, Mr. Hit and Run's lawyer called this morning to see if we had settled satisfactorily with the insurance companies. He had called Dan, and Dan said that I was handling it. I called the lawyer back and told him I had not decided. He said the court date had been moved out to May, and they were going to plead guilty to the improper lane change. What about leaving the scene of the accident? He would not say...now I am steamed again.
I am surprised that I so wish for vengeance. I will have to settle for 21st century legal vengeance, and I have decided to make sure this guy doesn't get away with less than it allows.
Friday, February 22, 2008
What are they thinking?
What the heck is Chevrolet thinking when they make those commercials with an audio combination of the Presidential March underscored with "Terminator" horns? I don't want to buy a Chevy, I want to vote for John Connor!
Car manufacturers have been known for using subliminals in advertising before--could it be that they are really trying to let us know that cars are indeed bringing apocalyptic doom to us all? Since few models of Chevrolet are remotely sexy, are they somehow trying to access our Freudian wish for death in order to sell cars?
Personally, I want a death built with better quality and a decent gas mileage. Y'know, to get me to the other side more economically...
They used this ominous audio combo with the last two election cycles. The paranoid side of me wonders if it is also like the "bat signal" for to the other corporate entities that their special interest groups are poised to screw with the next election? Wow....now that is clunky. Never mind.
Car manufacturers have been known for using subliminals in advertising before--could it be that they are really trying to let us know that cars are indeed bringing apocalyptic doom to us all? Since few models of Chevrolet are remotely sexy, are they somehow trying to access our Freudian wish for death in order to sell cars?
Personally, I want a death built with better quality and a decent gas mileage. Y'know, to get me to the other side more economically...
They used this ominous audio combo with the last two election cycles. The paranoid side of me wonders if it is also like the "bat signal" for to the other corporate entities that their special interest groups are poised to screw with the next election? Wow....now that is clunky. Never mind.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Alien Illusion Scarf!
This will be celebrated with a post, even though this is primarily where I do essays. I made this scarf for my 7 year old nephew, because he likes cool stuff like this, and I needed a challenge.
The aliens can only be seen if viewed from the side. Otherwise, it looks like a striped scarf. This is not a fun pattern to knit, and it took me about 2 months of free evenings, but I really like the result. The pattern can be found in the book, "Stitch and Bitch."
I am not good at finishing craft projects. This gives me hope that some day I may even finish a sweater.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Good Neighbors
Yesterday, I shoveled at intervals throughout the day, removing 11 inches or so of perfect snowman/snowball packing snow from my driveway and sidewalk. It was hard work, and I made sure to lift with the legs. I feel no need today to go do an upper body workout at the Y like I normally would. Every muscle has been well used. A lot of my neighbors were out with their shovels too, and our kids were alternately helping and making forts and snowmen.
A few of my neighbors were buzzing away with their gassy smelly snow blowers. I don't begrudge this of my neighbors who I know have health issues, back problems, etc. However, I do get irritated with the able bodied neighbors who use theirs just because they can. I really start to dislike them when they only use it enough to clear the driveway for their SUV and don't use it on their sidewalks. Then they swerve out, cell phone to ear, ignoring oncoming traffic, sipping their coffee, and they drive away. It's a tired cliche that SUV drivers are the most selfish scum on the planet. I won't belabor that. It's still a tragedy to watch them in action.
What really touched me in a life affirming way was my next door neighbors. They are in their 60s, and between them the have had 4 hip replacements and 2 knee replacements. My husband and I regularly try to shovel for them whenever we can. That is the good neighbor thing to do, and I think we are also trying to store up some good karma.
Yesterday, though, my husband had the flu, and just for extra kicks, the water heater sprang a leak and flooded the basement, so I was a little overwhelmed. (Oh karma, wadIdotayou?) I didn't get over to their place much more than to help move the heavy slush that gets plowed up at the end of the driveway from the plows.
My next door neighbors were out about 7 times yesterday, moving snow as a team so it wouldn't get too heavy for them. I did not get out more than three times, and it was heavy work each time.
They must have been exhausted, but they knew I was a little frazzled, and on the third time I was out, they insisted on helping me with the shoveling of our sidewalk and the end of the driveway. I was struck by how sweet and selfless and neighborly that was. I also felt guilty. I felt guilty for being helped by two people who could barely stand, but I was also grateful.
I am lucky to have neighbors who look out for each other. Being a good neighbor begets getting good neighbors, more often than not. I feel blessed to be surrounded with this sort of goodness that feeds back to us. I feel sorry for Mr./Mrs. SUV who will never understand this, living in their little selfish bubble, maybe not even bothering to learn their neighbor's names.
A few of my neighbors were buzzing away with their gassy smelly snow blowers. I don't begrudge this of my neighbors who I know have health issues, back problems, etc. However, I do get irritated with the able bodied neighbors who use theirs just because they can. I really start to dislike them when they only use it enough to clear the driveway for their SUV and don't use it on their sidewalks. Then they swerve out, cell phone to ear, ignoring oncoming traffic, sipping their coffee, and they drive away. It's a tired cliche that SUV drivers are the most selfish scum on the planet. I won't belabor that. It's still a tragedy to watch them in action.
What really touched me in a life affirming way was my next door neighbors. They are in their 60s, and between them the have had 4 hip replacements and 2 knee replacements. My husband and I regularly try to shovel for them whenever we can. That is the good neighbor thing to do, and I think we are also trying to store up some good karma.
Yesterday, though, my husband had the flu, and just for extra kicks, the water heater sprang a leak and flooded the basement, so I was a little overwhelmed. (Oh karma, wadIdotayou?) I didn't get over to their place much more than to help move the heavy slush that gets plowed up at the end of the driveway from the plows.
My next door neighbors were out about 7 times yesterday, moving snow as a team so it wouldn't get too heavy for them. I did not get out more than three times, and it was heavy work each time.
They must have been exhausted, but they knew I was a little frazzled, and on the third time I was out, they insisted on helping me with the shoveling of our sidewalk and the end of the driveway. I was struck by how sweet and selfless and neighborly that was. I also felt guilty. I felt guilty for being helped by two people who could barely stand, but I was also grateful.
I am lucky to have neighbors who look out for each other. Being a good neighbor begets getting good neighbors, more often than not. I feel blessed to be surrounded with this sort of goodness that feeds back to us. I feel sorry for Mr./Mrs. SUV who will never understand this, living in their little selfish bubble, maybe not even bothering to learn their neighbor's names.
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