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June Gloom and Ocean Temps
This should be required reading for every tourista from back East who flaps their gums about the weather here in San Diego County. It can't be sunny all the time here--without the "June Gloom," clouds, fog, and rain? It would be "Death Valley-By-The-Sea" here! As for me? I love the "May Grey/June Gloom" season--it's easier on my skin, plus I know that the "Sunny San Diego" weather the touristas crave is just around the corner. --LPR— June 3, 2010 9:21 p.m.
The Truth about the Dogs You See In Pet Stores
If I remember correctly, Petco does not feature puppies and kittens in-store "for sale." Which is good, because if I do choose to get a dog-or-cat, it will never be in a "pet-shop-cum-puppy-jail." I have had good experiences with shelter pets (two cats). However, know that while a kitten-or-puppy is cute, they require lots of time, training, and attention. An older animal doesn't require so much, but does require plenty of socialization time with it's new owner/best buddy. As for "purebreeds"? Unless you are raising it as a show animal, plus have the ready cash for the purchase price (among other things), which is rather pricey? Consider a shelter animal first--at least you get them healthy (before you can take your new friend home, it has to be microchipped, spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and given a pre-placement physical). The rest is up to you. --LPR— June 3, 2010 7:30 p.m.
On The Last Week Of Call-Ins, USDC Gave To Me:
Thanks, CF! New thread about how my "time in the barrel" went in less than two hours. --LPR— June 3, 2010 7:11 p.m.
How to Pick a Pit Bull
I always say that there are some pet adopters who should not be allowed to have custody over even a pair of dessicated cockroaches! This came true when I was living on Martin Drive in Escondido. Yes, we did have a dangerous dog living near the streetcorner. And guess which breed it was? Pit bull? Nope. Belgian Malmois? Uh-uh. Rottweiler? The only one living in our neighborhood was called Baby for a good reason. Dobermann Pinscer? Sorry. No, the breed of the "bad doggie" (which I had to draw-and-use my pepper spray on twice) was...A GOLDEN RETRIEVER! Obviously, it had been abused--but the owners were no prize, either. Just goes to show you that ANY pooch can either be loveable...or it can be vicious. Just look at their human! --LPR— June 1, 2010 10:48 a.m.
Liberty Station Grifters
When I worked at Target of Escondido, we had to deal with these sort of folks all the time. Candy-sellers, paid-petition-pushers, "Scambos" (not my term, btw, one of our security officers came up with that term) of every idea and concept...they all were there, especially around the holidays. I certainly got an earful from our guests about these folks. Unfortunately, all I could do was pass it up the chain-of-command to my supervisor. However, two of our "Leader Of The Day" staff (management personnel who serve as Store Team Leader (Store Manager)for that shift) were very proactive about dealing with them. It was made pefectly clear that any activities outside the store exit/entrance had to be cleared first with the Store Team Leader. Then, their "area of influence" was restricted to the Exit area. Plus, is the guests still complained, they had to leave, immediately. Violation of these policies resulted in the Escondido Police Department being called, a tresspass order (banning the person-or-group from store property) issued--or the police taking the offenders to jail on a tresspassing charge (only used when all else failed). Shoppers come to a store to shop, not be hit on for cash contributions or petition signatures. The stores know that these "busker-hucksters" drive down business and profits by driving away paying customers. They may be tolerated, but they certainly are not welcome! And as for that couple--"grifters" is not too strong a description of such folks. They prey on your sympathy to get to your wallet...no if's, and's or but's about it. One time, outside of a Home Depot back in 1986, my Dad and I were getting a lock for my storage unit. Some dude was sitting outside with a "VIETNAM VETERAN-PLEASE HELP!" sign attached to an ammo can (for donations. That bozo made the mistake of asking my Dad for a contribution. My dad swung around, lowered his glasses, and in his most "low-volume but very pi**** off Command Master Chief's voice" told him that he was a Vietnam Veteran (my dad did two tours in 'Nam with the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. The first with the First Marine Division, the second with CB-58 (Seabees)). That shut the dude up right quick. They may play on your heartstrings, but it's not your sympathy they want (for the most part)--it's your do-ray-mi (as in your ready cash)! If you smell Limburger coming from these folks, then trust your gut and do not bother! And tell the store management about them. If they get enough complaints--the "busker-huskers" have to pack up and hit the highway. --LPR— May 30, 2010 2:56 p.m.
Proposition 16 False Fact: No Right to Vote?
Both Propositions 16 and 17 are "boutique" propsitions. Just as the major funding for 16 was underwritten by Paciofic Gas And Electric, 17 was underwritten by Mercury Insurance's parent company, Mercury General. These propositions were not put on the ballot to help Californians, but merely to benefit the companies underwriting the funding for each of them. A flagrant abuse of the "Initiave System" that gave us "Jarvis-Gann (aka: Prop. 13)." Add to that the outright reeking pile of Bravo Sierra about not being able to vote (a classic example of Goebbels-styled propaganda), and you can plainly see that all PG&E is trying to do is retain a monopoly on not only their distribution, but also of their profits. Tell both Mercury General, and Pacific Gas And Electric, to take their greedhead inititaves, spread mustard on them, and chow down! Vote "NO!" on 16 and 17. --LPR— May 27, 2010 12:12 p.m.
One Way Or Another....
Thanks, guys--good to see you are actually reading my threads. AG--I should have rephrased that line, and I do thank you for pointing that out to me. Also, getting convicted in any state (but especially in The Former Confederacy, including Texas) of this sort of is a one-way ticket to what the WWE calls "Hell In A Cell"--only the blood spilled is for real, as well as the pain inflicted. TST--Thank you for your input, friend. There was a reason that I used the refrain from the Kenny Loggins song "This Is It." Because one way or another, John Gardner's life goes no further than the gates of the State Prison where he will spend his self-inflicted time in the Ninth Ring of Hell. New thread tonight. LPR— May 24, 2010 4:31 p.m.
At The 99
Back between June of 2000 and July of 2001, I actually worked at the 99 Cents Only store in Escondido as a stocker. I was opn the day shift, and had to be at the store by 06:00 hrs to help stock shelves, perform minor janitorial work, take trash to the Dumpster and used cardboard to the baling machine--all to have the store ready for business at 09:00, seven days a week. During the day, I kept the shelves stocked, ran a dust mop down the aisles once-an-hour, cleaned up spills (including broken glass and other, not nice, items), and assisted customers getting their purchases to their vehicles. Oh, I also brought in carts (by hand) to keep the cart well full. The best day for shoppers was Tuesdays, because the "food trucks" made their weekly delievries that morning. You could easily fill both your freezer and your pantry with good food for a low final bill. A lot of our products were "non-West Coast" brand names. Many of our canned items were from Canada (and were surprisingly tasty), and many of the "fresh/frozen" items were East Coast brands. Same with the candy we sold. The plasticwares, natch, came from the PRC. It was a good place to work, except they kept changing store managers every six months, as well as district managers. Also, I caught a bit of flack from "customers" who found out that we did not take personal checks. I just nodded and went on my way, while mentally flipping them the double dirty birdie for their bothering me with it, rather than store management. If I had to do it all over again? Perhaps, but at a much younger age (I was 36 at the time). Good thread, CF! --LPR— May 24, 2010 4:14 p.m.
Sometimes, I Do Wonder...
In response to #2: First off the bat, what makes you think that I'm NOT looking for employment? Even while I'm waiting for "the call-up that may not happen (Federal Jury Service, which I am liable for until 4-Jun-10), I still scan my daily Yahoo in-box version of Employment Guide for anything I can handle. plus, I make daily scans of Craigslist, Snag-A-Job, and other sites. I even have an application in with walmart for a part-time greeter's position. Plus, my resume is up-to-date--and it stays that way. Second, it seems rather obvious that you have never walked a mile in my shoes. Your commentary about "thinking about your welfare as your own responsibility" seems rather snide, and obviously ignorant. If I were truly not thinking of my welfare as my own responsibility, I'd still be living in a damn board-and-care, with no ambitions other than to eat, sleep, and poop. Sure, I may get SSDI (Social Security Disabilty Insurance) bennies--but I earned them! It is because I have them that I do live on my own, have food in my fridge, and clothing to wear. Having a part-time job puts extra jingle in my pocket and pays for other needs, certainly. Plus the intangibles of getting out and meeting people carries just as much as the paycheck I recieved twice-a-month, when I was "in the workforce." Third--using that Christian Bale quote in my thread is a major "no can do" in my book. I do remember something in the Ten Commandments about not taking The Lord's Name In Vain--and that is a line I NEVER cross, both for moral and ethical reasons. To sum up what I am talking about, Mr. de la Mesa: Before you dare judge me as irresponsible, and pull that reeking Limburger "Get A Job, Get a Life, And Quit Your Snivelling, Loser!" line on me? You might want to step out of your world for a few minutes. Maybe even give your position a good re-think. I have been where you are, fellow--and you can just as easily become like me (and I would not wish THAT on my worst enemy)! The SSDI bennies I get every month may sate my hunger, but the cheese I buy with proceeds from a job taste that much better! That's a good enough reason to keep plugging away until I re-enter the workforce...a day that I actually look forward to! Give what I have said a good think, sir. I hate unleashing like this upon a fellow blogger, but your comments could not go unchallenged! --LPR— May 19, 2010 8:46 p.m.
Red meat
Well, cross Donovan's off of my "try before I die" list. If the owner, as the story alleged, is in the FPPC's Bad Books for not reportig something he needed to report? To me, that smells like bad ethics. The money that Mr. Shea will pony up to the FPPC might smooth over their ruffled feathers there, but as far as I know, such ethical violations leave a mark thet will take years to erase--if that. Yet another corrupted day in Paradise Lost! --LPR— May 15, 2010 1:36 p.m.