The title of this sounds like it could be some Indian name. Or the nickname of a Charger quarterback.

But it has to do with that annoying piece of machinery that we all hate.

The first time I remember seeing one, I was about 12-years-old. This black family moved across the street, and I was always going over there to play basketball with the guy, Wes Jones, who was in his late 20s.

His wife always seemed to be getting mad about something. I believe this stemmed from the fact that she never wanted to leave their hometown in Chicago.

She once complained that the fire trucks here were yellow and not red. Wes explained that it was probably easier to see yellow trucks at night. She thought about this for a second, before yelling "I don't care! The trucks should be red. They look weird being yellow."

We were in the garage once looking for a basketball and she complained about the snow blower. She said, "Why the hell did you bring that thing? Ain't no snow in San Diego."

Wes, who had this great big smile beneath his mustache, replied "We can use it as a leaf blower."

It wouldn't be until about 10 years later, that people abandoned their brooms for leaf blowers. And, it blew my mind. I didn't think this was something that was really necessary.

And it was one thing when I was at the dentist trying to read the latest Sports Illustrated, only to be annoyed by the loud noise outside. Leaves were being blown from one sidewalk to another.

I was at my parents house months ago, and my stepbrother was mad at a neighbor, who everday blew leaves and junk into a storm drain in front of my folks place. He left a note on the door, telling him it was loud and annoying. Not to mention, probably not good for the storm drain.

(little did he know, the neighbor had some high-tech security cameras set around his house; he left a note saying he should've just talked to him in person, instead of leaving a nasty note).

That never works. How often do neighbors politely make a request, only for it to become World War III.

I didn't think the note was all that nasty. To me, it's nasty to not consider your neighbors when you make noise. That could mean a loud stereo, a dog barking, and of course...leaf blowers. Come on, people! Use a broom, and think of your neighbors.

I was at my bank yesterday, and two gardeners were working in the area and whipped out the leaf blower. Aside from all the dust they were blowing, it was loud.

I closed the sunroof, and rolled up the windows. I knew the bank teller would want to talk to me, as I had a somewhat unusual transaction I was requesting.

The leaf blower was about six inches from my car, and I heard the teller yelling. I waited a second, for the gardener to move by, and then we finished the transaction. I would've loved to have asked the gardener why he's doing that when customers are nearby. But who knows if he'd understand me (or turn off his leaf blower, and not be able to hear me).

And these things smell horrible. Can't someone like Al Gore talk about how bad they are for the ozone layer or something?

A few people have told me recently, that my tone and choice of words on my blogs, can come across as harsh. It might make people think I'm a jerk, when I'm not.

I take that into consideration when I say the following:

If you own a leaf blower, you're an idiot.