Dont You Hate It When

Satriale's in Seminole Heights and Sayonara

2007-09-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

This might be my last blog entry. Grumpy's condition has become such that I just don't have the energy to keep this up any longer. I'd like to thank everyone who has read me over the past year or so and offered encouragement and dialog. As my final entry, I thought I'd just have to mention an establishment that the missus and I visited recently. I'd heard the place had undergone some changes and was worth a visit. I hesitate to mention the name of it, for fear of a contract going out, but I think folks can figure it out. The food was good, but I have to tell you, I thought I was walking into in Tony's NJ hangout. Not that it's a bad thing mind you, but if Tony or Big Pussy had been sitting out front, I don't think I'd have even been surprised. From the older gentlemen sitting out front to the squirrelly "bag men" coming in and out, ordering, but not really staying to eat. Maybe in my retirement I've just been watching too much tv, and the swiss-cheesed old noodle is playing tricks on me, but it just had that air about it. Be sure I'll be back again. It did feel kinda safe just having those folks around, and the food was just plain tasty.

Adios amigos, it's been fun. If you don't hear from me again you might always wonder, was it the sexually-transmitted terminal disease we call life that got me, or did I go to nap with the fishes.

BOCC, Just do your damn job.

2007-08-18T06:33:00.000-05:00

When someone hires you for a job they have certain expectations. Maybe responsibilites and tasks are diferent for each job, and might change over time, but the bottom line is they exchange money for your labors. So basically if you're not doing what you're being paid to do you're a thief. All most bosses want is simply for you to do what they pay you to do. Just do your damn job.

For the county commissioners, you represent the citizens of your district. That means you vote how you believe they would vote if all of them came together and decided as a group. Representing means you vote how the majority of those whom you represent would vote. How can you, in good concience, say that you're representing your constituents when the overwhelming majority have voiced opposition and outrage at the elimination of local Wetlands regulation? Your job might be a bit more complicated than say a cashier or truck driver, but we, the voters of Hillsborough County, your boss, want the same thing as any boss. Just do your damn job! Represent us, not your campaign contributors, not your own selfish interests, do your damn job and represent US. As with any boss, we can make your job easier or harder, but if you do what you were hired to do, your job is simple. Just do your damn job!

Bad business

2007-08-09T06:57:00.001-05:00

Most mornings I wake up watching the channel 8 news and finally I just have to say something. For a while they've been bringing on these folks during the Business brief that, honestly could try out for a George Romero movie without even trying. I know business ain't the sexiest topic, but at least act like you care and move at least a little bit. It's good for you and good for business.

Pucker up, Fred

2007-08-07T07:09:00.000-05:00

Now, I have to say that when I first heard about Fred Thompson, that he might be running for the Oval Office I was quite intrigued. I liked what he was standing for on most issues. Now I'm startin' to get disappointed. As my Granny used to say. It's time for Fred to "Either Shit or get off the pot." I thought he was a straight-shooter, but now he's coming across as a waffler to me. Grow a pair, man. Declare or move along. I reckon I can't be the only one who's getting a bit turned-off by this lack of commitment. It's just like a shy fella on his first date. He knows the gal wants him to kiss her, but he keeps hemmin and hawin, hinting around wanting her to say so without him actually asking or making the first move. Most of us have been there, only to find out we would've been better off to start smooching long before her pappy turned on the porch light. Fred, don't let the porch light catch you before you make a move, pucker-up man, pucker up.

Right rudder, engines all stop

2007-08-07T06:55:00.001-05:00

This is a little story about a phenomenon I see all too often round these parts. Can anyone tell me why folks seem to feel that they must come to a complete stop to turn right? Where was that in the manual, cause I sure didn't read that part. Thing is, they don't do it all at once either, they fool you with that gradual slowing down into the turn then when they're forty-five degrees to the roadway with their buttend still in the lane, it's Scotty, engines all stop. Those of us behind then start the dominoing of brake lights before the reject decides to push the accelerator and clears the lane. Is there a rule somewhere that says you must apply brake fully before releasing the pedal to resume travel? Unless there is a hazard, it's decelerate into the turn, accelerate out of it. No stopping required. Guess it's a good thing my car doesn't have photon torpedoes.

Nothing good happens after 2am

2007-07-27T11:55:00.000-05:00

Unlike a lot of folks, I reckon you could say I'm a morning person. I get up bright and early even on my days off. So, I might be a bit biased when I say this. Nothing good happens after 2am. I'm inclined to say not even after midnight, but bars 'round these parts keep the party going until a bit later than that, and I ain't one to rain on y'alls parade. What I mean though, is in the wee hours after normal folks wind down, the rest of the yahoos are usually up to no good, when they ought to be home sleeping. A good many folks driving around are drunk, so watch out for them. Other folks are plenty well-juiced and often looking to reaffirm their manhood or something and go looking for fights. Closing time love leads to all sorts of morning-after coyote getaways. The criminals often do their best work at night. I even read in Reader's Digest about how if you're in the hospital you're much more likely to kick the bucket overnight than during the day. Though there are all sorts of explanations, the end conclusion is the same. Even the hooker-looker hits on this here blog spike between midnight and 5am. The list goes on and on. Like I said, nothing good happens after 2am, so why don't folks go home and go to bed.

LOOK OUT! Another special session?

2007-07-26T08:41:00.001-05:00

This morning I read about the lapse of the requirement for insurance. While it's a shame that folks abuse the current system, I think the burden on the rest of us is going to get worse. If nothing else let's set it up that you have to have a special tag if you don't have insurance so we can glare at those yahoos and maybe shame a few of them into doing the right thing. What really chaps my buns though is that they're talking about yet another special session. Tell me something, do these lawmakers actually accomplish anything during their scheduled work times? Why do they have to call a special session for every little thing they should've fixed? I should try that with my bosses sometime. "Grumpy, did you get that project done? Sorry boss, I think I'm gonna need a special session on this one. And we worry about a few quacks abusing the system.

A single serving of justice. We might need a similar prescription here

2007-07-11T11:48:00.000-05:00

Former Food and Drug Regulator Executed in China

I read the above article this morning about how the Chinese executed a former chief of food and drug regulation for taking bribes to approve unsafe medicines. Kind of makes you wish we were a bit tougher on those folks sitting in their fancy offices dishing out poisons and disease with the only retribution they need fear is missing a few paychecks and a vacation at a country club prison. With the wheat gluten fiasco killing our pets and lord-knows-what practices our own corporations are endangering us, it would be nice to know that the ones making the decisions have a bit more motivation to protect the consumer. I'd even vote for a more poetic serving of justice. Give the tobacco execs a nice case of lung cancer, or emphysema. Drug execs are prescribed an OD of whatever toxins they're pushing. Tainted beef in extra helpings to the ranchers and food processors if they're found guilty. They might just stop and think a moment before they bend and break the rules and kill people with their products.

Steps to a healthier America

2007-07-08T11:07:00.000-05:00

I'm not much of one to exercise, so I like to trick myself into getting a little bit without really knowing it. Parking farther from the door when I can, walking and chewing bubble gum at the same time, and taking the stairs whenever possible. It's that last one that I'm griping about. Ever notice how in a lot of places taking the stairs is downright difficult? Let's face it, in most buildings the stairs are only there for emergencies, cold, barren and hidden in the dark recesses of the building. Not only that, sometimes those darn fire doors are positively hard to open, particularly if you're carrying anything in your arms. How about some stairs near the elevators, and make them easier to find when they're tucked away somewhere. I've been in buildings where you have to go all the way down the hall, hang a left, hang a right, another right, left, stop, turn around, put your left hand in, put your left hand out, and do the hokey-pokey just to get to the stairs, and when you get to your floor do it all in reverse. If you're unfamiliar with the building, you might even have to stop and ask directions. Everyone knows how we old guys hate that. Why not have a set of stairs right near and convenient where people can use them, we could all use the exercise even if we don't realize we're doing it.

Things that go bump in the night

2007-07-05T11:10:00.000-05:00

Not just bump, but snap, crackle, pop, boom. I ain't talking about my joints either. Of course it's to be expected, it being the 4th and all, but again the criminals came out of the woodwork when the sun went down. After two verbal admonishments of the offenders, we finally had to call the law when midnight came and went, the sounds of Baghdad continuing to ring down the block. I wish I understood how Charlotte county was restricted from banning the suckers. While the current state law was poorly written, surely the spirit was to not allow novelty fireworks to be sold in the state. It states very specifically the uses of fireworks sold in the state, and rowdy redneck games ain't one of 'em. I don't quite have a grasp on why Charlotte county wasn't allowed to uphold the spirit of the law and stop them altogether. I'd think that the local government should be able to say they don't want obnoxious fire starters sold in their jurisdiction, particularly this year. Trouble is, most fireworks users are ok. It's a matter of a few bad apples ruining it. I don't mind fireworks, but there's always the yahoo or 10 that thinks it's a 3-day affair and it's ok to blast all night long. Why does it always seem that folks like things that insinuate them into the privacy of others. Firecrackers, boombox cars, train horns. If they made a silent firecracker would anyone buy them? I would bet it wouldn't sell well. It these sort of shenanigans that make me think the monkeys might be a more recent ancestor to some than previously believed.

One year of Grumpy

2007-07-02T10:38:00.000-05:00

I almost missed my one year gumpiversary. Yep 12 months ago yesterday I started bitching. Never before that day, that day started it all. Well now, maybe I did complain before that, but never to so many people at once. While I'd like to say it's been a great year, if it were truly great, I'd be out of a hobby. So let's just call it a good year. A wise feller once told me that every day that you wake up above instead of below the dirt is a good day. I didn't camp in any caves last year so every day was must have been a good one. Thank you to everyone who reads, and thank you to everyone who's commented. Those precious comments are what make this all worth while, so if you wanted to thank a blogger whom you enjoy, just drop a comment now and again and we just get all giddy. So thanks for a good year and hope I can keep it up. The blog that is.

From helicopter parenting comes helicopter government

2007-06-30T15:47:00.000-05:00

The greatest generation is raising a generation of wimps. Here we are on the cusp of celebrating our independence as a nation and a little turmoil at an airport across the pond gets Homeland Security all wound up again. Folks, no one gets out of here alive, so best live it the best you can while you're here. All the parents who hovered over their kids protecting them from every little bump and scrape are setting up the future for a big fall. Since mommy and daddy protected them from all those little life hurdles, too many folks want Uncle Sam to take over on into adulthood. I'm here to tell you, a life too safe is a boring one. Sure you don't have to take up rock-climbing or parachuting, but you have to put yourself out there once in a while to really live. You have to take some chances, you have to get hurt sometimes. You remember those things while forgetting the routine of ordinary life. We don't need to get all in a tizzy every time some whackos go boom. We don't need Unc to hold our hand. If so, why not just stay at home? You learn to ride a bike or a horse by falling down a few times. It builds character, something this country could use more of.

Mindwashed media monkeys

2007-06-26T08:37:00.000-05:00

Folks once heralded the Information Age as a new revolution. Access to information was going to set free the masses and make our lives better. What has happened? Is it a case of the more we know, the more we don't want to know? Mr Duncan mentioned it in a comment below. This I don't care feeling that has spread throughout our society. I've mentioned it in past articles. Hell in a way this whole damn blog is partly because people just don't care enough to do the right thing. We see it all around us with low voter turnout and a lack of participation in the community. Oh, people have plenty of time to vote for American Idol, and take the kids to soccer and softball and karate and you name it, but don't have the time or energy to show up at local council meetings or even the polls on one or two days a year. Have we cranked out a generation or two of mindwashed media monkeys that just care about those things the talking boxes tell them to? Folks, I don't know the answer, but it's a crying shame when people care more about some fool singing and dancing on tv than their own elected officials stealing away their rights and future. We need a wake-up call and we need it now.

Time to teach some old dogs new tricks

2007-06-24T09:56:00.000-05:00

The Hillsborough County Commission have gone off and done it again. When are we good people of Hillsborough County going to get outraged enough to boot these carpetbaggers off the Commission? They voted on Thursday to eliminate the Wetlands Protection Division of the Environmental Protection Commission, a local entity that helps protect us from thoughtless over-building and preserves precious wetlands. Wetlands are those things that buffer hurricane impact, reduce flooding, help filter pollution, provide habitat for animals and are just plain pretty to look at. Even in the wake of lessons taught by Katrina we have these cretins wanting to allow more destruction of wetlands. In addition to supposed budget savings, their reasoning was it was restrictive to development. Blair said it delays home construction with an extra layer of regulation. No shit Sherlock, that's the point. We don't need a "Damn the environment, full speed ahead" development policy. Just who are these guys working for? Don't answer that, we all know who, and it ain't the citizens of the county. They're so comfortable that we won't do anything that they're not even pretending anymore. The stings are out there in the open and they're not even ashamed of it. Good folks of Hillsborough County it is time we stand up and say No More! We must send the message that we are tired of the puppets in power. Cut their strings and take back our county. More information can be found on Sticks of Fire:

http://sticksoffire.com/2007/06/22/
selling-out-our-wetlands-for-developers/

U-Can is another resource where you can keep informed of these issues

National Tab Out Day

2007-06-22T12:06:00.000-05:00

Every year now it seems that someone brings up a National Gas Out Day. I've read all about how it won't work, but I've got an idea that just might, if enough people participate. It won't save gas, but will conserve a lot of hot air. Let's have a National Tab Out Day. Hell let's make it a whole week, or a year. But for now let's start with just a day. We bloggers can spearhead it. No tabloid-style news for just one day. Let's for that one day not mention Paris or the latest missing white girl, or the other fluff that's out there being passed off as headlines. Let's change the channel when they try to give us celebrity "news" and refuse to even turn on CNN, MSNBC, Faux and the like. We might even expand it to the papers too. Don't buy a paper that day. If you get it delivered, don't open it on that day. If this catches on maybe we can even collect them all and dump them back on the steps of their offices. Let's take back our news. Let inaction be our action. Now what day shall it be? How about we pick release day. The day we release ourselves by refusing to talk about who else is getting out.

Divine comedy indeed. There must be a God and he has a sense of humor

2007-06-18T09:37:00.000-05:00

As with most folks, I often ponder my own mortality and what may or may not be out there. I gotta tell you, the longer I live the more I gotta believe He's out there and he gets a big kick out of messing with us. Not truly bad things mind you, though maybe there's some of that too. But those little things that just get you going. Like why else would it be that a whole flock of birds take a dump on your car right after you wash it. Or how it rains on the day you're allowed to water your grass.
I can't count how many times I go into a store, looking for one or two particular things, and that's the only section in the whole store that is crowded with people. There's always someone just browsing at a leisurely pace right where I need to be. Tell me that's not divine comedy. Let's screw with the old man and put that lady right there browsing the nail aisle just as he rounds the corner. Better yet, let's have the lady back up her cart right in front of the nails that Grumpy is buying. Oh and get this, she won't buy the first box of nails. She'll eventually just move on! Hardy har har har.
I've lost track of all the times where I've been driving around the parking lot and just as I make the corner of the aisle going the wrong way a spot opens up. Now I NASCAR around and just as it looks like I'm gonna pit in time to make grab the win, a spoiler meanders around mere seconds before, taking the checker flag of the primo spot. Tell me that's not funny stuff for the guy upstairs. I just keep on keeping on. Its happened so much and so often that I just laugh now, and give a nod to the big Guy. "I see where this is going" I muse.
How about you go to the beach, find yourself a nice secluded spot, you know the one, just far enough away from everyone or even better out of sight of the next group. Next thing you know a few minutes after you're settled in, the friggin' Brady Bunch shows up and entrenches themselves right next to you. Here's your friggin' story, have something more than a hunch and take your girls with hair of gold, and three boys of your own, and leave us all the hell alone. It's a big beach, find your own spot. I'm sure that tickles the funny bone of You Know Who, every time.
So anyway, even when it's frustrating as hell at times, it's nice to think in some ways we might be playing our part as the Royal Jesters. He's up there and the world always needs more laughs.

Slow Down, What's the Hurry?

2007-06-15T19:04:00.000-05:00

Every day it seems things are moving faster and faster. I don't know if it's me gettin older or the world gettin faster. Seems like we're in a hurry everywhere we go. No one has any patience. I'll be the first to admit I get a bit short-tempered when I'm forced to wait, but it ain't the waitin so much as it's the incompetence or rude behavior that ticks me off. I kinda like it when I'm forced to slow down and see what's going on around me. A stroll through the neighborhood, a walk around a park, an afternoon at the beach. Heck, takin the two hours to go see a movie is much more therapeutic than two full days of running errands, even if you get those errands done. Ever wonder why we continue to pile so much on our plates? Do we really need to schedule and fill every moment of every day? I feel like I might miss something if I sleep in on the weekend, but that's just plain silly when you think about it. Me and the Mrs. truly enjoy each other's company, but neither one of us can sit still at home. I reckon we should take the time more often. I can't recall the last time I just spent the day without thinking about all the things I could be or should be doing. Seems to me we oughta just schedule in some time without a schedule, without something to do, some time to just be, to just live. Oops, I'm late for my nap, got to go.

The nobles are revolting.

2007-06-07T09:30:00.000-05:00

As she was likely never properly disciplined as a child, so goes her life as an adult. Calling Paris an adult is using the term loosely I know. Here is yet another example that folks with money are treated differently. The ill-behaved little brat can't even serve her pathetic little sentence which should have been much harsher to begin with. So now, the sheriff sends her to her room. Like many little brats, it's no punishment at all. I reckon she's got all sorts of fancy things at her house that make house arrest little more than an unplanned vacation. I wish someone would order me to spend that much time at home. I just might get some of those honey-do's done. It's a sad day when we get such a clear confirmation of the new aristocracy. We peasants don't stand much of a chance when the nobles are above the law. Welcome to the dark ages friends, it's time for an uprising.

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming

2007-06-04T09:18:00.000-05:00

I read about that reality tv show they were putting on over in the Netherlands and just shook my head. I'm happy it turned out to be a hoax, but it sort of makes you wonder. People took it so seriously, you gotta figure it won't be long before someone pushes good taste that far. I was pretty disgusted by the Jerry Springer show when it was masquerading as real people at their worst, then with the reality tv shows that followed, to see just how far people were willing to go for a few bucks and some camera time, really turned my stomach. I hope reality tv comes full circle one day, and we have a reality tv show made up of reality tv producers competing to get their show aired. Only instead of getting voted off the island they're tarred and feathered and banished to a mud hut far away from any place. Maybe send them to Guantanamo or some other such fitting punishment. Or better yet, in honor of the Dutch hoax the losers all have to donate some organ(obviously not the brain since that would be a downgrade for any recipient) right then and there. Surgeons will be standing by each episode. Maybe then those parasites could actually contribute something to society. That just might be some must see tv.

Overtime belongs in football not the government

2007-06-01T07:58:00.001-05:00

Overtime is either for extraordinary circumstances or poor as shit planning. I'll give you one guess as to which it is for Tampa. Never understood why so many government types get so much overtime. You figure out how many people-hours it takes to do something, like staff 4 firemen on a truck each shift if that's what you want, and divide it by 40 hours per person per week, that's how many folks you need on staff. Then you could avoid the huge waste of overtime. I mean think about it, most normal folks work about 40 hours a week maybe a little more. Get much beyond that point and folks start getting tired and burned out and it's at that point we start paying them half-again as much for each hour. So, in essence we're paying more for getting lower quality work. It doesn't take a genius to figure out this is bunk. Just hire more people, do your homework and figure out how many people we need. The other problem I've seen over the years with overtime is so many folks become dependent on it as part of they're regular income. That creates a problem if you ever try to fix the system, like we need to do now. So the city's solution for overtime staffing for events, hmm lets hold fewer events. Brilliant! Our tax dollars at work.

One step forward, how many steps back?

2007-05-30T06:43:00.000-05:00

I noticed driving through downtown that they've started restriping some of the streets with bike lanes. I hope they continue that, because right now those lanes kinda stop and start from one block to the next it would make it hard for those biking guys and gals if they can't have a continuous lane to get where they're going. It would be painful to see those poor folks ride a block, get off the bike, and walk it to the where the next bike lane begins. Or they'd have to have a chase car for those unstriped sections since they might be far apart. Can't we give em a lane to go the whole way? You know, I'd like to see Tampa become more bike friendly, especially with the prices of gas these days. I'm noticing more and more folks at the bus stops too. I guess it won't be too long before we all might have to start thinking about different ways to get around. I'd like to see Tampa become more people friendly because the metal boxes with wheels that we lock ourselves away in for hours a day only go to promote selfishness and discourtesy. If more of us were able to bike or walk or ride the bus, I think we'd all get along a little better. Pedestrians can say good morning as they pass, bikers can ding that little bell thingy. They still have those? Well maybe not, but they'd still have the chance to wave and pass a greeting, or at least an enthusiastic "On the left!" as they go by. Folks riding the bus could form fast friendships or at least talk about the weather. I think if I ever ran for office that I'd make a point to walk around and ride the bus, or train if we get one and get the scoop from street level. Really hear what's on people's minds. I think making Tampa more people friendly starts with making it less car friendly so maybe there's a silver lining to the high prices.

Excuse me, I was here first

2007-05-25T06:58:00.000-05:00

I have a lot of respect for workin' men and women. Hell, I'm one of 'em, have been all my life. We all make mistakes, so I understand how things sneak up on you from time to time, but it's still a pisser when this happens. Nothing quite chaps my ass like being bumped out of order because someone wasn't paying attention. Take for instance the other day I went in and sat my fanny in the booth with acknowledgement of at least two watresses. Unfortunately neither of those gals was handling my section. I wait and wait, and then another fella comes in and sits one booth over. The waitress sees him, brings him water, coffee and takes his order before even asking if I wanted a menu or coffee. That really steams me you know. Then she isn't even apologetic, she says I shoulda said something sooner. Hell, like I'm supposed to hunt her down to get a cup of coffee? Jiminy Crickets, how do some of these folks keep a job?

One light, two light, red light blue...nope another red light

2007-05-24T06:54:00.000-05:00

Thankfully it never turned into a blue light, but I was starting to wonder the way things were going. Ever have one of those days? You have all the stuff planned out just so and once the first domino topples, the rest of the day is spent playing catch up. But you never do. It's like driving around and hitting every red light, well it's not really like that, part of the trouble is exactly that. Not only can I not find my keys and then the garbage needs to be taken out, then I realize Mrs. Grumpy's car is on the outside and there goes another few minutes. Before I realize it, I'm leaving home 15 minutes late and the cycle starts. I reach the first intersection, a stop sign. Low and behold not just one, but a line of cars are on parade. The clock keeps ticking. First light, oh I think I can make it. Nope. It turns red at the last second, that brick wall of a moment where you know you'll run it if you don't briskly and firmly apply the brakes right now. OK, so I wait. It's not so bad, I gave myself a few extra minutes in preparation. Here goes 2 or 3 of them. The upside is I am first in line. The light turns, I push that pedal and off I go. Now, I don't jackrabbit off the line, but Grumpy's never been one to dally at the green either. That's why I'm always amazed at the folks that think Old Betsy's itchin' for a race. Today is one of those days. Billy Joe Jimbo seems to think this Old Man is lined up for Gator Nationals. Off he goes no problem, no skin off my back, until half a block later the jackass cuts me off and slams on the brakes to make a left. Of course traffic is coming the other direction so its complete stop and wait time. There goes another minute or so. Blood pressure ratchets up a bit too. And so it goes, every light seems to have my number today. Red light. Red light. A City bus stops. Red light. Detour. Red light. Left turning traffic. Red light. Even those intersections with no cross traffic are conspiring. I'm beginning to feel battle-weary. I don't know if I'm going to make it. C'mon Betsy, we can do it old mule. It's not much further. When it's all over I finally arrive at my first destination only 5 minutes late, but aged much more. Lifes a funny little dance because next time I'll leave 5, maybe 10 minutes earlier and the imps will light up all the greens and then I'll get there a half-hour early. Sometimes you just gotta laugh.

Candid Coffee Capers

2007-05-23T07:04:00.000-05:00

Coffee, it's my lifeblood. More often than I'd like to admit I find myself at the communal coffee trough at 7-11. Now there's a sight, a bunch of us bellying up trying to tweak the brew just so. Problem is, the positioning of all the fixin's just ain't conducive to efficiency or manners. An elbow here, a dirty sleeve draped across your cup there. I tell you what, a camera trained on the coffee counter might just make a profitable reality show, or at least a website. Tonight on Candid Coffee Capers, see Joe sweet-talk the clerk for some more creamer, while Mary uses her diminished height to sneak in under the competition for the first cup of that freshly brewed black gold.

Of testicles and the excessively horny

2007-05-22T06:44:00.001-05:00

Now, I'm gonna bet that this here ain't exactly gonna be the sort of article that you might expect from the title. I thought a little titillation might be just the thing the get folks paying attention. It works for that Paris Hilton gal, so maybe a racy headline will get the blood going this morning. Sorry to disappoint you, but it's another gripe of mine around these parts. I just wonder what feller was sitting around one day saying to himself, now, you know what would make my truck just that much cooler, a pair of balls dangling down. Not sure where the memo was lost along the way, but in my day, all them there vehicles were female, like boats, and airplanes. Not sure why that is, but that's just how it was. I just don't get it, but then again, maybe I ain't supposed to. Maybe it's a sort of compensatin' for something they're lacking. Speaking of compensatin' what about those train horns they're sticking on cars and trucks these days. Now thats got to be nothing but attempting to make up for being short in the undershorts. Hey look at me, I got this big obnoxious horn. I'm a stud! Listen to me. Don't honk if you're horny. Please. In fact don't honk at all horny little man.

A waste of time might be the best thing to happen all day

2007-05-21T07:40:00.000-05:00

When you've been around awhile, you start to sense there's a lot wrong with the world, and the future looks kind of bleak. For whatever reason, people have stopped just getting along with one another because we share the same world. It's like we think every mistake or momentary lapse of reason is directed right at us. That guy that just cut you off, he did it just to piss you off right? Not likely, he's probably just a dumbass. That person that cut you in line, she and her high and mighty self just thought that she was too important to wait like the rest of us. Actually she was probably just in her own little bubble of self-importance and thought she was lucky. It's doubtful any malice was intended, but she did lack the decency to consider her surroundings. Problem is common courtesy just isn't there anymore. Everyone is just too damned self-centered and think their time is more important than anyone elses. Don't stop for the red light, that minute or two you'll wait will make all the difference in your day. Don't hold the door for the guy right behind you, those precious seconds add up. Arrive at a parking spot at the same time, nose your Escalade in there because you might have to drive around another lap to find a spot. I have all sorts of theories, but it seems to filter down to two basic things. Lack of situational awareness, and witnessed reward of agression. Folks are lacking situational awareness so those that are so self-absorbed just don't take note of their surroundings, and as a result are rude, pushy, and seem agressive without even realizing it. Also, I think we've all seen too many examples of agressive behavior being rewarded in what I call squeaky wheel syndrome. In driving, we see the guy running all the way up the entrance ramp to beat out a few more cars get let in, so as time passes now you have two guys and so on. It's like those folks that lined up for Playstations or to see the Star Wars movies back in the day. People will just start getting there earlier and earlier. People will complain sooner and for less cause because they saw the other guy get something for nothing. I have a brother that got so bad that I stopped going out to dinner with him because he was always asking for the manager for some minor detail or other. Just because they brought you fries instead of tater tots isn't cause for a free meal if they brought out the tater tots as soon as it was brought to their attention. Give us a break Fred. Anyhow, do you get what I'm saying, life ain't a competition. Leaving adequate stopping distance between you and the car in front isn't an invitation to play the Freeway equivalent of the college phone booth gag. Let's see how many cars we cans stuff into this lane. It's also not Nascar, I personally don't care if you're jockeying for pole or taking two seconds off your lap time on Tuesday's commute, I just want to get there alive. It's like this, we're all allotted a certain number of days, hours, minutes, and seconds on this here rock. We're gonna waste way more of them doing stupid things than we'll ever make up trying to beat the system or our fellow man. So, try to make it more about quality instead of quantity. That 3 minute red light might let you hear your favorite song, or dodge a crappy task, or even save your life, who knows. Also, just take more note of your surroundings, it's not hard and you might be surprised at the stuff you're missing. That smile or thank you, or bit of conversation might just make the rest of your day, even if cost you a minute, you're richer by so much more.

Daily Dose: I wonder if the camel made it through

2007-05-16T06:42:00.000-05:00

Well now, I've always been something of a religious fellow, but not necessarily the church-going type. The "good" reverend has said his last sermon. What I got to wonder is where the man's heart was. He was full of hate more than love, but he was a great recruiter. Did he think he could buy his way in, tipping Peter and Gabriel like a bouncer at the club: "Here's a coupon for all those souls I brought in boss, and think of all the bibles and literature those millions I collected will buy." I'm afraid he might have gotten it wrong. I picture a mafioso type: "Tsk, tsk, tsk, Jerry Jerry, we caught you skimmin' a little off the top. Your payments have been light for some time now. I'm afraid we can't let you in. Da boss is gonna want to talk to you out back tho'. Wait right here."
Since I'm already going with the mob theme, I'm going to borrow a quote from The Godfather. Vito said "A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns." I think a dishonest preacher with a bible can steal more than a hundred lawyers with briefcases. No man can judge another's soul, but Falwell's own words and actions spoke volumes about the kind of bigotry he professed. He might have brought a lot of folks to the fold, but was that enough? I think God will judge a man by more than recruitment. Falwell died a rich man, and we know what they say about that. May God have mercy upon your soul, Mr. Falwell.

Daily Dose: Why not wait your damn turn like the rest of us?

2007-05-15T06:22:00.000-05:00

One of my biggest pet peeves is something that Luckytop mentioned below. When a store has folks backing up due to understaffed registers and add a cashier, take a moment and figure out who's been waiting the longest. Where in life's little rule book does it mention that it's ok, if by chancea register opens as you just walk up, you can just take pole position, when there are several people who've been waiting an the adjacent register? The wingnut that does this often basks as though they were just crowned Mr/Mrs. Home Depot. They love me! They really love me! Guess what, no, you just happened to be the selfish ass that ignored the fact that you just bumped a bunch of us who've been biding our time. Next time you've won the checkout lane lottery, pause for a moment and see if there's someone who's been waiting longer and take your turn accordingly.

Daily dose of Grumpy

2007-05-11T07:33:00.000-05:00

I have noticed a few folks that come to the site nearly every day and I feel a bit guilty that I ain't been giving y'all new material anywhere near that often. I'm gonna try to come up with something a bit more regular. Pass me the bloggin fiber, or maybe something to put the meta in metamucil. Not even sure what meta means, but I know it's something computin' related. Well now, back to topic, I didn't want to be too redundant because many times the things that tick me off, are the same kinds of things day in and day out, but maybe a bit of Grumpy in your glass might help everyone.

Well, for the first installment I wanted to mention a bit of misplaced grumpiness. The underlying cause is still there because its a matter of mismanagement, but the folks that got my hackles up weren't really to blame. Went to get a cup of coffee. First off, we tried to use the drive-up window. We waited and we waited, no answer so we went in and the folks behind the counter took the Missus and my order. Then the gal just disappeared. Seems she was having a conversation with someone in the back so the other gal came up with one of our drinks, but didn't know about the other. We had now been at this for near about 15 minutes and I was startin' to get peeved. Well the first gal came back and finished up the order and we then found out the problem. Seems they were the opening crew and this was now about 4:00 in the afternoon. The relief crew didn't show up and they'd been there all day and to top it off, the drive-through was broken and store policy didn't allow them to put a sign to announce it either. I felt a little guilty that I was gettin' hot under the collar at those gals who were having a much worse day than I was. So maybe next time people seem to be goofin off or screwing up, maybe it ain't that at all. Even an old codger like me learned a little something yesterday.

The problem with bloggers

2007-05-05T07:24:00.000-05:00

I've mentioned my loss of faith in the mainstream media earlier and in that article I also alluded to the power and place of blogging. I'm afraid I might not have made too clear what was really on my mind. Part of the argument that I've heard about the conglomerating of media outlets is that local news is somewhat provided by community bloggers anyways so why should the big boys spend much time or money on it. Now, maybe I'm wrong in my interpretin' but if that's the case who's watching the bloggers besides other bloggers? I mentioned in an earlier post how taking a few comments on a blog and making news out of it is pretty haphazard. Relying on bloggers as correspondents is navigatin' a minefield with only half a map. It gets you part of the way, but still leaves a lot of room for Kaboom! So, if we don't have some commitment by professional journalists with a code of conduct, folks with something to lose other than their online reputation, (by the way, I'm disillusioned that we even have that now, but for arguments sake let's say we do for the most part) how can we put our faith in any news source where the publishers are often seen to pick fights with one another out of pure ego. Anyhow, bloggers do have their place, but it is in no way a replacement for a professional news organization. They're just a welcome supplement. There's also still a lot of work to be done restoring the integrity of our professional journalists and the faith of us average Joes.

Journalistic Integrity, the new jumbo shrimp?

2007-04-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

I've read the back and forth about the power or lack thereof of bloggers and blogging vice the mainstream media. I also started watching Bill Moyer's production on PBS last night. We've all witnessed the erosion of integrity of our journalists in pursuit of advertising dollars or in support of the orchestrated chaos we see in our foreign policy. Objectivity is ever more questionable, and a story that sounds just a little too juicy probably didn't have the proper research, or confirmation of sources, but it sells so ship it. That is where I place the importance of bloggers. I am sure there are analysts and writers much more practiced and skilled than myself that do more justice to the topic, but I see blogging as a check to the power of the mainstream media. It keeps them a little bit more honest, because someone just might be watching for more than the fluffy stuff. Those of us that have been around a while used to put a lot of faith in those reporters and anchors that we trusted to keep us informed. Now we have to wonder about every one of them. It's sad, when a good part of the public still relies on those questionable folks to tell them about local, national, and world events. Relying on mainstream media is just informed ignorance. It's too easy to pull the wool over too many eyes. Enter the bloggers. I don't include myself in that group because I just usually bitch about something I think could be better, but there are folks that invest a good deal of themselves and their time just to tell the truth as best they can. Hopefully it will be enough, because as we've seen, the paid guys and gals, the one's we've relied upon, the one's we've looked to for the truth, are no longer worthy of our trust. And that is sad. Journalistic integrity is like saying honest politics. You need a little tongue in your cheek. Nevertheless, I'll attempt to remain hopelessly optimistic that journalists see the error of their ways. Otherwise democracy as we know might one day wake up dead.

Close, but try again

2007-04-24T11:44:00.000-05:00

Voting solution?

Now, I agree they've got to do something, just not sure this is it. The votin' system is broke, so they need to fix it. This here's a stab in the right direction, but needs to go further. I think we oughta take this a step further and change that to "None of the bums." I know, I know, it would have to be a bit more pc than that, but the dreamer in m thinks we ought to set it up where if none of the bums get enough, they have to try again. Sounds good, but it wouldn't work in reality as no one would ever get elected eventually. How about a ranking system where you vote for each candidate ranking them from high to low. Overall highest score wins. Whatever they do, they gotta do something. I guess "I choose not to vote" is better than nothing(and would have still gotten you into Mons for free!)

Judge not lest ye be judged

2007-04-24T06:20:00.000-05:00

Nothing like taking a story out of context and jumping to the wrong conclusions. The St. Pete Times latched on to a discussion back in February about the encroachment of latino-oriented restaurants upsetting the neighborhood. Of course it didn't take long for someone without all the facts to pull a Johnny Cochrane and immediately cry foul, and claim we're all a bunch of stuck up racists in Seminole Heights. Funny thing about calling someone a racist, once you call it, the assumption is of guilt and it's pretty difficult to argue to the contrary. The other thing funny about it is that the connotation nowadays is that only non-hispanic, and non-black folks can be racists even when discrimination is practiced by everyone, excluding folks just because they aren't like you is wrong no matter what color you are. A couple of problems with the racist scenario amigo. First off you ought not assume that everyone posting on that there blog is from Seminole Heights. Though I imagine most are, there's been plenty of evidence that commenters often come from elsewhere. Second, there are plenty of anonymous posters there that get their rocks off posting all sorts of trash regardless of topic. Third if you followed the underlying discussion, the problem expressed is the excess of a single type of restaurant that have left those who tried them feeling excluded and undesired, the businesses just happened to be hispanic. In the neighborhood we've got about three, maybe four types of restaurants. Home-cookin' diners, latino, pizza, and the new deli. Technically I reckon, there's a couple of fast food joints but do we really want to call that a choice? If the majority of new restaurants coming in were any single type we'd be bitching. The one thing that Seminole Heights is desperate for, old-timers and newcomers alike is local businesses that keep us close to home. That outsiders comment indicated that it the businesses were aimed at people outside the neighborhood, while excluding folks within, not that it brought in outsiders. Enclave comment aside, my street has seen only a few newcomers in the past 3 years or so, most have lived here 10 years or more. As far as gentrifying and stereotypes the most "suburban white bread" neighbor we have is a latino fella that moved in a little over a year ago. His kin all have Cadillac SUV's and the like, boat, trailer, etc.
You shouldn't even mention Angelica in this conversation, it's, what do they call it, non-sequitur. Do your homework on that one. Her failure was poor management and poor execution of what could have been a pretty good idea. Folks that ate there could count on nothing but half-assed service and hit or miss food. Occasionally folks would sit for half an hour and never even get acknowledged by a waitress. That and the outdoor concerts pissed off near about every neighbor within a 1/4 mile.
You should read the Seminole Heights blog on the Cappy's thing too for some background before you hurt yourself making the racist leap. If you just read the blog with all the pissin' and moanin' you'd think that most folks hated the pizza place even though a fair number of them turned out to City Council. Feel free to call the neighborhood a bunch of gripes, bitchers, piss-and-moaners, whiners whatever. If anything thats more what this issue is about than race and gentrification. Folks here definitely like to gripe. The Times just latched on to a discussion to try to illustrate what thinks is citywide feeling, and someone else just latched on to a small part of that article to jump to the wrong conclusion

Who did Imus hurt?

2007-04-13T12:04:00.000-05:00

Now, don't get me wrong, what he said is in extremely poor taste at best. He was stupid. He made a huge mistake. I don't really listen to the old fart(ha ha look whose talking right?), so I don't even know what exactly he said but "that" phrase. But how does what one dottering old loon says affect a bunch of lady basketballers? Does this man have that much influence over the hearts and minds of people that they swing their opinions based on a bad joke? It's like those folks that listen to Rush, he's preaching to the choir, they're already convinced. I imagine Imus devotees are similar. If the pot hadn't been stirred, outrage insisted, indignation incited, it would have passed quickly and silently into oblivion. Instead Imus is now more relevant than ever to a broader audience than he would have had. Much more destructive words are uttered every day in our houses of legislature falling on deaf and disinterested ears. The various "offended" communities should focus on those problems that truly affect them instead of generating outrage over a rambling old fool. Can you imagine what would have happened if they had named it the Raghead Reduction Act instead of the Patriot act? Then again, who am I but another dottering old fool?

Winter passeth but rebirth follows with the Spring. Godspeed and calm seas to you good Sir. May you find peace and renewal as you journey forward.

2007-04-06T09:00:00.000-05:00

Local television personalities are a special sort. We welcome them into our homes and our lives. We grow with them, and they with us. We bear witness to tragedies and triumphs together. Their families become extensions of our own. A birth, a death, illness or marriage. All these events they share with us and we're all the better for it. The Tampa Bay extended family suffered a tragic loss when John Winter was found deceased. We knew him, yet most of us had never met him. We mourn the passing of one of our own and our lives will be a bit emptier with him gone. Whatever turmoil he carried in this life, may he cast off those burdens and travel swiftly and peaceably onto and in the next. Rest in peace John Winter.

And Today's Problem Is

2007-04-02T10:52:00.000-05:00

Folks, a comment a while back came from a fellow blogger across the pond who publishes his take on the world similar to mine. Please take a look.

And Today's Problem Is

Let him know you stopped by.

Is it easier to complain than compliment?

2007-04-02T10:11:00.000-05:00

Over there on the Seminole Heights blog there's been a lot of talk about bad service.

This here comment brought up a point that there's a lot more complaining than complimenting. I wondered about that, since my little spot here in Blogville has a whole lot of complaining on it. Hell, it's what got me doing this to begin with.
Anyhow, I figured that it's sort of like tipping, just sort of. Should you compliment when a person just does the minimum of what is expected? Meets expectations ain't really a high goal worthy of praise, it's just what someone should be doing anyway. I'd say if on a scale of one to ten you're getting all fives on your performance, be it your job, your business, your representation of your constituents, or whatever you might not really be deserving of anything more than your customers paying their bill, leaving a minimal tip, or having just enough turnout to keep you in office or maybe keep the other guy out. If, however you fail to meet expectations that's when the complaints start. Now, some folks have unrealistic expectations, but most of us just want what's right. Since most of that postin' over there was about restaurants I'll use that as the example here. I'd say most folks just want moderate prices, decent quality, and prompt polite service. That expectation is why chain restaurants tend to fare so well. It's a known quantity, and you have a good idea when you go, what the food is going to taste like, how long it should take to get it, and about what you're going to spend for dinner. I'm sure someone, somewhere, whose smarter than me said it sometime before, but I'd say unrealized expecations are the biggest cause of unhappiness in life. Even if something's going to be be bad, if you expect it, it ain't so bad. It's that curve ball life throws at you that whacks you upside the head that pisses you off. So that's why I think folks bitch so much more than they praise. Meets expectations is just that. People don't deserve compliments for just doing their job, that's what a paycheck is for. Courtesy yes, but not compliments. So I'd guess it's like a Bell curve, where most service falls in the middle, with only limited experiences that are very very good or very very bad. I'd put the compliment threshold probably somewhere about a 7 or 7.5 on that scale where the complaint threshold is anything less than 5 so you'd automatically get more complaints. Tack on the fact that the whole experience would have to sum to better than average, where it would only take a single instance to trigger a complaint, then that might factor in too. Either all that or maybe the world is just more grumpy than not. What do y'all think?

Tampa voters, thanks for nothing.

2007-03-28T06:35:00.000-05:00

Gather round youngsters and listen to a scary campfire tale. Be warned, this nearly-real story, happened right around here to a friend of a neighbor's uncle's cousin, honest. You might never sleep again, just so ya know. It happened oh so not long ago. You see there was this monster who went around exploiting good and decent folk, just like me and you, your brothers, your sisters, sons and daughters. He ate them up and spit them out. This big bad monster wanted to put dens of evil on every corner, fallen women on every block. He even wanted to recruit in schools for his army of darkness. He was the devil himself I tell ya. As part of his diabolical plan he was gonna establish the evil empire right here in good old Tampa Bay, and he was gonna do it with your help. All he had to do was get elected to office and the scheme was well on it's way...
As with many of these tales the monster was banished and the hero triumphant. Well, not quite. Sure, Tampa can sleep well. The big, bad boogieman was defeated, but that was no hero. More like a Frankenstein tale, the villagers rose up and defeated the monster. The victor wielded fear like a sword and used the electorate as a shield to thwart the usurper. I guess Tampa just wasn't ready for a stripper king. The nothing was their preference.
Granted, Mr. Redner didn't quite help his cause by the Jiggly Room offer, but pure and simple, this race was lost on fear. Miller's campaign resorted to scaring people to the polls to keep the Devil out. She couldn't present her initiatives because she had none. She couldn't stand on her record, because no one, including herself remembered it. So she resorted to that tried and true tactic of attacking character. Unfortunately it was all too easy, given Joe's past. I suppose it worked and we get four more years of yawns from the district one seat. The victor is spoiled or something like that.

Fence sittin' is for birds and I don't see your wings

2007-03-27T09:27:00.000-05:00

Some call it waffling, others say they're bein' wishy-washy. You might just call it indecision. Whatever you call it, I'd say most times even a bad decision is better than no decision. Just the other day I'm sitting at a light and a feller is walks up to the intersection(no walk/don't walk sign at this one) and he pauses, he looks at the road, then at us, the stopped traffic, then at the road again, then back at us, and takes a fair amount of time making up his mind. I'm pretty sure y'all can guess what happened. That's right he hoofs it across just about the time the light is turning green. If he would have committed himself to crossing after a safety check he'd have cleared the road just fine, but he wasted so much time decidin' that he put himself in harm's way. How about other situations? What do you want for dinner? I don't know, what do you want? Back and forth it goes, just make a damn decision already. It's not that hard.
Giving choices careful consideration is completely different from sittin' the fence. Seems like too many folks are afraid to commit and turn out wrong. There ain't nothing wrong with being wrong. Hell, we get more out of screwing up than we get out of getting it right, or even worse, gettin' lucky. And the real problem with fence sittin' is that all too many times nothing gets done until you make a choice. I'm here to tell you folks, time only goes one way, and you can't get it back once you let it go. Take your time sure, but unless someone is going to die or go broke on a bad choice, get on with it already. Just remember if you take too long, someone might die or go broke waiting on you.
I remember when I was a youngin' Sometimes I'd get to pick out what side items we were going to have with dinner. I'd stand in front of Memaw's pantry hemmin and hawin' trying to decide which vegetable I wanted and they were all so good, that it wasn't an easy choice. She'd finally tell me "Shit or get off the pot, dinner was waiting." Yep, she was a spitfire, but she was right. It didn't matter much what I picked, but we weren't eating until I did, so get on with it. So there you go. Shit or get off the pot, that reminds me of today's election and the candidates. I'll let you guess what I mean by that. Get your ass out and vote.

Life's tough, it's tougher if you're stupid

2007-03-21T12:47:00.000-05:00

I think it was John Wayne that said that. Ain't it the truth? If we all just stopped to think for a second, I'm pretty sure we'd find that life would be a lot easier. I want to expand on that idea though and say that being stupid doesn't just make your own life hard, it makes it harder on everyone. Sure missing your turn-off because you're yapping on the cellphone is gonna add some time to your drive, but now as you poke along looking for the best place to turn around or slam on your brakes or whatever, the rest of us are drawn into your chaos. Don't get me wrong, I'm not just talking stupid as in a lack of intelligence, I'm talking stupid as in distracted, or thoughtless, or anything where we lack thought or forgo a pause to think about what we're doing and the consequences it might have. And we're all guilty of it. It's is like a black hole, a vortex of idiocy that draws in everything around it. So, in other words Stupidity Sucks. The dominoes of dumbness. Whatever you want to call it.

We could all stand to put just a bit more thought into our life and maybe it wouldn't seem so tough.

It's a conversation, not a competition

2007-03-21T10:51:00.000-05:00

I've posted about this before, but it just keeps happening so I thought I'd gripe again. What is it with folks that feel like they have to be louder than anyone else around? For instance, the other day out at a restaurant there's a group of three fellas having lunch. The ambient noise is at a reasonable level, when all of a sudden these guys start trying to talk at the same time, and as one gets louder, the other one ramps up his volume. Before long it's like being at a Who concert, exceptin' it ain't music, and it ain't something I want to hear. I see this all the time. It's usually worse at places where you have to speak up even to have a conversation, but it happens often enough just about anywhere that's not too formal. Why not pause and allow the other person speak and converse in turn? When did it become acceptable to just try to outtalk the other? Is there a competition I'm not aware of? Will the loudest guy win? What's the prize? For these folks I hope it's a balled-up sock in the mouth.

Support Cappy's in Seminole Heights

2007-03-21T06:40:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow evening (Thursday, March 21, 2007 6:00PM) at the City Council meeting Cappy's will come before the council for rezoning consideration. This could be a make-or-break situation for them. I've posted previously about some of the issues and more information can be found at the Seminole Heights Blog and the Tampa Heights Blog

If you're able and have an interest in the neighborhood, please show your support for this burgeoning establishment. And to update my earlier post, I've eaten at Cappy's a few times, and it is mighty fine pizza.

How much time do you devote to being a good citizen?

2007-03-16T09:27:00.000-05:00

Occasionally I push the seek button on the radio, yesterday morning I overheard that Fisher show talking about Joe's get out the vote offer. I paused just a bit and caught them discussing that they don't vote, and that really don't know what's going on with local politics. As things often do, that got the old gears turning. What should a person's commitment to staying informed be if they're to be a good contributing citizen? Unquestionably, there is too much information to gather, collate, and absorb it all, but shouldn't we all be setting aside at least part of our day or week to know what's going on around us? Used to be we could count on reading the morning paper and watching the evening news and feel at least partly that we were getting objective reporting of events. Now everything is slanted, skewed, interpreted, and spun. It takes some concious effort to dig through the fluff just to know what's happening in our local, state and even federal government. I reckon the blogging world is a little better plugged-in than most folks, since that's pretty much what most blogging is, and bloggers tend to dig around non-traditional sources for their info. But what about the other folks, still reading the paper and getting the sound bites between the Anna Nicole and Diaper Astronaut stories? Working full time, raising a family, and managing a home doesn't leave a whole lot left in most folks day. Trying to stay informed is a form of work just the same as cooking dinner, taking out trash, changing diapers, or going to the office. Do any of us set aside time specifically for being good citizens? Do we make sure when we manage the hours in our days, that there's at least part of that time for either reading about or(even better) discussing what's happening in our world. The older I get the more I found the drive to stay in touch with current events, real current events, not the tabloid crap we get fed these days. I consider being informed a minimum level of participation as a good citizen. We should all be doing it. After that, what do we do about it? Some folks volunteer, some go into politickin', a few attend meetings, others write letters, some of us blog. There's all sorts of ways we can contribute and get involved. I know that most folks may never even find the time or ambition to even reach the first level, but I've learned something else as the years have kept on coming. The more I know, the more I want to do something about it. (I hope that isn't the Achilles' heal to all this, maybe ignorance truly is bliss) After a time though it becomes rewarding, and even fun at times. Granted there's only so many hours in the day, and like goldfish, tasks always seem to grow to fill whatever time we allot them. I figure in a lot of ways I'm just preaching to the choir by posting this on a blog, because I guess if someone's here they're already getting more informed than the papers and TV allow, but maybe we can all take the next step and get involved as well as get informed. Gotta go, American Idol is on. Just kidding folks.

If the vote is a-rockin', don't go a-knockin'

2007-03-15T12:14:00.000-05:00

I read that Joe is giving a little tit-for-tat by granting entry for his nudie bar for free with an "I voted" sticker. Do they keep track of how many of those are distributed? I can see some fella peddlin' them on the street after a few rolls of the stickers "fell off the truck." "Psst, over here...wanna vote? Wink, wink. Vote once for $5 or five votes for $20. I suppose if it gets folks to the poles, I mean polls, it's a good thing. Did you just vote or are you just happy to see me? I'd be curious to see if they release numbers to see how many voters they get to the ballot box. Nudie bar or not, just get out and vote.

Walk softly....

2007-03-15T07:44:00.000-05:00

Thank you to Tommy at Sticks of Fire for the mention. It was nice to see some referrals other than the ones about which I was complaining. They say that misery loves company and while grumpiness isn't misery, it's nice to know I'm not alone, my regular readers make this all worth while. Thank you to all the folks that put a little Grumpy into their day.

Now on to my latest gripe. I was chewing the fat the other day with someone about traffic, and rail, and buses. One of their first points was a knock on the trolley for not making money. Now I've worked around engineers long enough that you can put a value on pretty near everything. So it got me to thinking. I'm sure it's out there, but when you add up all the costs of building roads, maintaining them, enforcing traffic, how does that compare per person per mile to buses or rail? Now I know buses use roads so there's got to be some crossover cost. I mean if you're job as the government is to move people, wherein is the expectation of profit from something like the trolley, will a light rail face the same expectation of profit? Then I wonder too, having also spent my fair share working around government folks, that isn't improving the efficiency of transportation self-defeating when you look at the bottom line? I mean a huge portion of the transportation coffers are filled by gas tax dollars which would decrease if more people were moved on mass transit. Less funds would be received by law enforcement if fewer people were driving and receiving moving violations. I figure that less coffee would be bought at Starbucks, or Dunkin Donuts. Less fast food would be consumed. So maybe the whole Tampa economy is dependent on the automobile. I think the only way to change that is when population density reaches a critical mass.
Quandary number two. Government often works under the principle of spend what they give you so they give you at least that much next year and hope for more. If you cut spending or make it cheaper they will make you do even more with even less next year. So if any transit system made money or even saved tax money it would just mean that you'd be asked to make it better next year.
Making biking and walking would be even worse, as people get healthier, then the whole medical economy would collapse. Those folks wouldn't spend any money on gas tax or fares. Maybe pay toilets and increased shoe sales would recover some of that revenue. That and charging for increased water use for the requisite showers.
It's all a conspiracy I tell you. It's not the military industrial complex we should worry about it's the coffee-fast food-DOT triad that's scaring me.

Do I need my passport to go grocery shopping?

2007-03-13T09:52:00.000-05:00

I've intentionally avoided this topic until now, but last night was the last straw. I don't have a problem with folks coming over from other countries. That's what America is and was, a nation built by the pioneers from other nations who struck out to make a new and better life. I was out last night, and I needed a few items so I stopped into a store I don't normally frequent. We're not talking about a bodega, this was a mainstream chain, recently remodeled, all fancy and such.
I was pretty disgusted when I looked up to the store locater signs and every other line was in Spanish. It blew this old man's mind. Oh how we have come so far, that collecting a few more sawbucks is worth bending to those who refuse to make an effort to become real Americans. Language can be a great barrier to understanding, so I feel it is the part of the guest, visitor, or newcomer to make every effort to integrate. Every other immigrating people have made this effort. Language is also a major part of the identity of a nation and culture. Why now are we, as a people, the ones to give up part of our identity, just so we can sell a few more sacks of groceries? When I've traveled abroad, it was my responsibility to muddle my way through to communicate my needs and wants. Why do we spend so much money and effort to kowtow to the newcomers?
I hear so much about the work ethic and spirit and all the positive spin on immigrants, particularly the illegal immigration problem the nation is facing. Doesn't the fact that we cross the divide and print so much in Spanish imply that they aren't intelligent enough to learn English? I reckon that I'd feel insulted if I was making an effort to learn English and someone assumed I had to have it in Spanish, but that's just me.
I know this is a sore subject, but I had to say something. Let the arrows fly. Grumpy's got a thick hide.

Anybody here not looking for hookers in Tampa?

2007-03-12T07:35:00.000-05:00

Regretfully the overwhelming number of referrals I get to this little blog thing is folks from Yahoo or Google looking for hookers in Tampa. I'm telling you, naming a bait shop that ain't a bad idea. For all you wingnuts who did come here looking for hookers, try the massage parlors or those places in Drew Park. Stay off Nebraska, those sorts of "ladies" are now few and far between, and you're more likely to pick up a cop or get videotaped. Mrs. Grumpy and I still call in every one of those gals we see, I've heard the neighbors are doing the same. I'd love to post the mug of every john they pick up here, but the police web database doesn't allow me to search that easily, and I don't have the time to constantly sift it. If I figure out a way though, that's gonna be a pet project of mine. Maybe a little shame will keep them away.

She's got personality

2007-03-09T09:58:00.000-05:00

A younger acquaintance of mine recently decided to change jobs. I gotta wonder what folks are thinking when they're trying to hire someone these days. This was the craziest thing. This one place took her through an interview with their Human Resources department. That went well, so then she's scheduled for an interview with the person she'd be working with directly and to meet some of her potential co-workers. OK, that one was good. Next up and about 3 weeks after she first sent her resume she's scheduled to meet with the Regional Manager or some such fella. As far as she knew, that went pretty well too. Next stop, the job offer right? Nope, then she gets sent a personality profile. What the hell? Why not have that be the first step? Everyone involved had several hours of their time completely wasted by this point. She'd already taken another job by this time, so it was all a wash for her. I guess maybe they didn't have anything better to do.

Why all the hubub bub?

2007-03-09T09:44:00.000-05:00

Over at the Seminole Heights blog there's quite the stir about the recent election. The worms have been coming out of the woodwork venting their poison. I understand folks getting antsy about Joe Redner. He is definitely a controversial fella. His sordid past and questionable business might make folks a little squirmy. What I don't get is why folks are so nasty to one another and can't get along and discuss it like the adults we are all supposed to be. Jeff Harmon had some valid points against Joe and some others had some valid reasons in support of Mr. Redner. Those kinds of comments make people sitting the fence think about it and might even help make up their minds. Personal attacks against Randy, and calling folks juvenile for even considering voting for Joe, that's the way to sway 'em to your point of view. Get a grip people. Hell, I figure if he can get folks to the polls either for or against him, then he's done a good thing. 15% turnout, my Lord. 85% of the city should positively be ashamed of themselves.

Looks like I'll get to vote for both Joe and Randy

2007-03-07T08:57:00.000-05:00

Given the lack of turnout in Seminole Heights, I think Randy Baron had a pretty good showing. I hope he tries again next time. He can always count on Grumpy's vote. Now it appears that we get a chance to shake things up a bit. He's what some folks might call unorthodox, but I think we need to get someone like Joe on the council for a couple of reasons, not the least of which is to show folks that it can be done. Miller needs to hit the road. She hasn't done anything noteworthy during her time on the council and it's high time we get the deadwood out of there. Good show by Mulhern. Glad to see that one go the way it did. Also, I'm glad Pam got another shot as well. I'd like to see her get some of those grand plans to the finish line. To all those who voted, no matter for whom, Thank You. To those of you who didn't Shut the Hell Up already, you failed to exercise the only voice that matters in these things.

Bad attitudes and random acts of kindness

2007-03-05T09:26:00.000-05:00

The only reason I am relaying this part of the story is to provide a bit of background. I prefer acts like this be subtle and details kept only between the parties involved, but to set the scene I need to illuminate more than I like. Mrs. Grumpy and I were making our monthly trek to the grocery store, the bigger Publix up on Busch because it has a broader selection than the one here in Seminole Heights. As such, we have quite the load to place on the belt. There was a young couple in line in front of us. I was occupied with transferring items so I didn't get all the details of their plight, but it seems that their credit card was declined. They did not have cash to complete the transaction and the young man dashed out to the car, I reckon to find the rest. The cashier had already finalized the register and it was awaiting a credit card or something and he was unfamiliar with how to back out of it. All the goods had already been bagged and placed in the cart. Mrs. Grumpy decided to pay for the order. The cashier then proceeded to blurt in a smart-ass tone "Well, you must have plenty of money." How rude! First, what business is it of his, and why did he feel necessary to inject such negativity to this situation? He then cursed several times under his breath while manipulating the register. This is what I can't figure out. Why would a person who seems to have such disdain for people work at a job that requires constant interaction with other people. I will be the first to admit that I am not the most people-friendly person(They don't call me Grumpy for nothing), so I would never choose to work in a field where I need to deal with strangers all the time. I can understand having the occasional bad day, but when we spoke to the manager, it was apparent that this wasn't the first time. I wish this was an isolated event, but bad attitudes are permeating society. From restaurants to retail, from doctors to driving. I guess it sounds funny, Grumpy complaining about bad attitudes, but being grumpy isn't the same as being rude. Anyhow, I reckon the manager is going to coach the young man, and maybe he can learn from this. The young couple did give us some cash just before we were leaving the store. They were only short eight dollars. I reckon we had plenty of money.

What next, are they gonna tell us what color curtains we can hang?

2007-03-03T08:58:00.000-05:00

Neighbors want nooses removed

Where the hell do people get off trying to tell someone what they can or can't hang in their windows. You can infer whatever you want about damn near everything, so of course some folks are saying this is racially motivated. Nevermind that maybe he's got a facination with the macabre. I've had neighbors that had skulls and gargoyles and other gothic stuff, didn't mean they were devil worshippers. Or maybe he forgot to take down some Halloween decorations. I know folks that keep Christmas lights up all year long, and that don't make them anti-Semitic. Not that I agree with what he's saying, but, even if this fella is using it as a racial statement it's his right to do it in his own house, just as much as it's my right to fly an American flag. A campaign sign for someone like Ronda Storms, or Mary Gray Black is a hate symbol to some of us folks, y'all ought not be able to put those in public view either, right?
If those folks up in arms about the nooses want to actually accomplish something, they should be good citizens and parents. Use it as an opportunity to teach the kids about an ugly part of our past and some of the vestiges of that way of thinking. Then teach them how to show restraint and tolerance for that which is different. Teach them those things that make this country great.

Grumpy's voting for Randy Baron

2007-02-27T06:49:00.000-05:00

After careful consideration, I've decided to cast my vote for Mr. Randy Baron. I like what I've heard so far and want to give the fella a chance. His tenure as OSHNA president shows me he's a man that can get things done. I do hope Mr. Redner will run again next time, but this time out, it seems like he didn't have the spark he's had in previous races.

As for my absence, I'm afraid life has thrown me some curve balls lately, and it might be awhile before I get back in the game. Y'all take care now ya hear.

The sleeping giant stirs

2007-02-19T19:40:00.000-05:00

It was a not-so-happy Valentine's day for folks stuck on those airliners up in the Northeast. Now I hear folks have gotten their Congressmen stirred up about it. I've been wondering when the flying public was gonna say enough is enough. We might be getting close to a real uprising. We've been pushed, prodded, crammed, lied to and taken advantage of for far too long. I've often been curious how, after 4 or more hours of sitting on the ground before taking off, a person who demands to be let off can be refused. Wouldn't that amount to kidnapping or false imprisonment? I mean, when the john's start backing up, and they have to open the doors to let fresh air in, how are they gonna then proceed another 4 hours or so to their destination? On those rare occasions I'm flying somewhere I build in a little bit of time for delays and such, but 4-10 hours on top of a long flight, I may not have enough medication, food, water, or any number of necessary items. Not to mention, I'm gonna start to smell. We need something in place to protect our rights, to protect us from this sort of abuse. I also wonder about that plane that was sitting on the ramp for 10 hours prior to leaving. You can't tell me those pilots were at the top of their game by that time. I hope this incident was the straw that broke the camel's back and we see some real change. Flying used to be something special, something where you felt like you were on top of the world, now its just a disgusting, frustrating way to go somewhere too far to drive. Maybe Amtrak will make a comeback!

Something to make you go hmm

2007-02-19T08:59:00.000-05:00

Flipped on the TV this morning and noticed that the History Channel is playing Planet of the Apes, on Presidents' Day. Given how the editorials portray W, I wonder if they meant it as it came across. Intentional or not, I'll admit I chuckled.

Tipping followup

2007-02-18T08:21:00.000-05:00

A link to this web video thingy came to me in response to my earlier tipping post. I love a good gangster movie so I thought I'd post it here. It ain't exactly how I feel, but sometimes movies say things in a way I never could.
Click on the link here: Reservoir Dogs

Grumpy's just send me your money and pray insurance company

2007-02-15T06:10:00.000-05:00

There's a lot wrong with the insurance industry. I just read that State Farm is refusing to write policies in Mississippi. Florida should send a sympathy note, and a welcome to the club. I can only see that sort of thing spreading even further. Before long they'll need to change the name from So-and-So's Insurance Company to "Just write us a check for no reason at all" or "Just send me your money and pray" Insurance used to be about Risk Assessment and Risk Management. Now it seems it's becoming all about Risk Avoidance. Oh look, a big storm "might" hit there again. I know, I know it is just a matter of time, but how long that'll be is anyone's supposin'. Guess what! Life is risk. Business is risk. Insurance, well that's risk. It's a way to gamble on bad things happening. You look at the numbers and if you can write so many policies and only so many bad things happen that you have to pay out, well then you pocket the difference. I'm sure there's a real good explanation, but I've never quite understood why they don't just spread the "cost of doing business" throughout their full customer base. If the price of wheat goes up in Iowa, we all pay more for our bread, not just those in the Midwest. Starting my own insurance company just might work, just send me your checks and pray nothing ever happens. Seems to be working for those other guys.

This household chore ain't a chore no more

2007-02-13T20:55:00.000-05:00

Santa promised something to make our lives a little easier, so we recently received one of those Roomba robots. I have to say there was some pretty stiff skepticism in the house, Mrs. Grumpy had even a little more than me. Now, we aren't afraid of new technology, but the idea of that little thing being able to do the job as good as us with our Hoover sounded a bit far-fetched. And to do it even while we weren't at home, humbug we thought. Boy, I haven't ever been so glad to be wrong. That little bugger is darn near heaven-sent. First off- it goes places we almost never went with our old fashioned vacuum. It fits right under most of the furniture, gets right up against the baseboards. On the wood floors it does a better job than any vacuum we've ever used. The best part is it does it with only a little bit of effort out of us. We just make sure it gets back on the charger, pick up a few cords and stuff off the floor, and empty the dust bin. Most of the time the little guy finds his way home on his own. I ain't often one to be gettin' so worked up about a household appliance, but something that made our lives a little easier is worth telling folks about. With this little fella running around I don't even know if I can call it a chore any more.

Hot for teacher

2007-02-10T10:03:00.000-05:00

Over on Sticks of Fire there's a post:Teacher's Pet

Seems like a blogger has got herself at the center of a minor ruckus for showing a little bit of skin on her blog. I guess a few folks got a bit steamed at the fact that she's "half-nude" or something like that. We live in America where folks have lots of rights of free expression, and Mrs. Robinson certainly has every right to put whatever she wants on her blog. I don't think the photo does anything but establish her as a human being with a life outside of the classroom which is more than OK. But that is just my opinion.
However, I think that saying that it is completely isolated from her job as a teacher is mistaken, if not naive. What she puts up there for the world to see reflects directly on her, and her position as an educator and role model. If an educator was, for instance, posting messages of hate, I would assume that someone would certainly see that what they do outside of the classroom matters. Not only that when you work for tax dollars the taxpayers opinion does matter as well.
That being said, I would hope that if someone has a problem with anything their child sees on the news or Internet, they use it as an opportunity to guide their child. If you're going to get up in arms about something, I'd say the glorification of plastic surgery on prior entries is much more "dangerous" to a developing youth than showing a little leg. To those in the other camp, no matter how hard you try to parent, our children are exposed to lots of things outside of our control, so the answer isn't always "Be a better parent and monitor what your kid does." While there are certainly busybodies involved as well, I'd be that some of the parents in arms about this most likely do have what they feel is their child's best interest in mind. Use of colloquial insults by both sides only demeans the participants and is in poor taste.

For exceptional service

2007-02-09T11:12:00.000-05:00

I was in a coffee shop a little while back and the tip jar had those words taped on it. That little phrase resonated with me. That and a few incidents lately got me to thinking about this whole tip thing. Why and how much do most folks tip? Where did it get started, and how did it get to where we are today? Without getting into all the rules of etiquette and the different service providers such as barbers, and deliverymen, I just want to give you Grumpy's take on waiters and waitresses and other folks that serve you food and drink. I was always brought up that tipping was to show someone how well they performed their job. That, a flat fee would never ensure high quality consistent service. Now I don't know if that second part is completely true, but I can say that with some of the traveling I've done, states where folks get at least minimum wage to wait tables, the average service is noticeably worse than here in Florida. But there were many occasions where the service was stellar by comparison. So when it was good, it was very very good. Here in Florida, the service is usually more consistently decent, but rarely is it ever great. I think that might be because folks here have to at least keep the customer happy to get a decent paycheck, where in those states where they at least get a minimum wage, the customers have less direct influence on what they make. I've also seen over the years that people have been averaging higher and higher on the standard tip, most of the diners I've noticed are closer to around 20%. I've also noticed all to much automatic tipping regardless of service. A waitress brings the food, but no refill on the drink and 20 minutes later happens by the table without even an apology for the empty glasses. My associates still throw down their 20% tip. Well now, didn't we just approve the crappy service, and reinforce that sort of nonsense. Now some folks have said, well you should have just gone up to the bar, or called on another waiter. Well, maybe I ought to just go to self service restaurants, or waitresses and waiters who force customers to do things like that should go work at McDonald's. I have a very simple metric for tipping most of the time. If a server keeps my drink glass from going empty, they will get 15-20%, if it gets empty, but only briefly, it drops to somewhere around 10%, if it goes empty for too long, you will get nothing, and either a note to the manager or a call from me. If I get above average service, my tip goes 25-30% Hell, the first time I ate at Bern's I was so impressed I left close to a 50% tip. So for any servers out there, when you spend that extra 10 minutes gossiping in the back, you might just be ruining a hell of a tip. I may be Grumpy, but honestly, I've never said a cross word, or had anything but a smile when I sit down at my table. Anyhow, lets get back to that exceptional service. I like that motto, for anyone who provides a routine readily defined service, why should I tip if all you are doing is your job? The folks at Starbucks drive through, 99% of the time I pull up, I order, I pull up, hand money, get change get coffee, and leave. No genuine smalltalk, my coffee isn't prepared any more quickly than the fellow in front of me, or the gal behind me, why the tip jar? I imagine a lot of folks automatically put some of their change in the jar after the money changes hands, but at that point, what exceptional service have you received? You haven't got your coffee yet. You could sit there another 5 minutes while the person gabs it up, or helps someone else. You can't take the tip back if you become less than satisfied with the service, stick your hand in that jar sonny and see how that works for you. It's a gimmick. And you're seeing it more and more places. It would be better if they put a charity jar there for the impulse donation than call it a tip jar. Now that I think about it, I should carry a tip jar around all day for all those little things I do. If I open the door for someone, shake the tip jar. How about if I let you in line because you have a couple items and I have a whole lot, shake the tip jar. Let you out in traffic ahead of me, shake the tip jar. I bet I could make a fortune, in this day and age, all those little things seem to be exceptional service.
Well folks, how do you tip? What makes good service stand out from just what should be a minimum standard? Are you an automatic tipper, or do you actually consider the level of service you receive and pay accordingly? Don't worry, Old Grumpy's blog is still free, I ain't got a tip jar yet.

Here be dragons

2007-02-05T17:14:00.000-05:00

The wife of an acquaintance was recently diagnosed with cancer. The prognosis isn't so good. The daughter of a close friend of the family recently took her last breath, another victim of the dreaded "C" monsters. Every year more and more names I know are added to that roll to be called up yonder. Here now in the evening I find myself thinking more and more about how I might face those days I start strolling down that long dark hallway. I wonder, do I want to know when it's comin' or do I want the reaper to skulk upon me and snatch me while I ain't looking?
Well now if it's the latter, then who cares right. Ain't nothing left to wonder or worry. It's just done. However, if I know it's comin', if I hear something like those dreadful doctor's words "I'm afraid it's malignant," will I face it with quiet dignity or mentally thrash about in denial and rage? I reckon I just won't know until my pirogue puts into that port.
I think it will be sort of comforting if I'm given enough time on this here rock. I'm not ready to go just yet, but I think in time I will be. I've lived a hell of life so far, and there's a lot left to live. But we all gotta ship out one day. So I've just been a wondering.
I like to think that I can maintain a dignified grace. Sort of like I imagine the Man in Black must have had, when I listen to those tunes of his written there in the dusk of his days. The voyage of life, even with the swiftest of winds and the smoothest following sea, is a tiring one and as good as it might be, eventually, we're all just going to wear out. When the time comes, none too soon I hope, and I close my eyes to take that final dirt nap, I'm pretty sure I'll be ready to rest. So folks, when that dark tide starts rising, and the ferryman gets close to shore. Yes sir, I think I'll wade out to meet him with a handshake and a howdy. Until then, I guess y'all are just stuck with old Grumpy for a while.

Why Tampa?

2007-02-02T08:25:00.000-05:00

I've been around this town quite a while. I was born here, moved away, moved back, moved away, moved back. Most of my family living here has been the primary motivator for my settling here, but I gotta wonder. Not too many folks I meet have any long-term ties to Tampa, so I am curious as to what the attraction is. Don't get me wrong, it ain't a terrible place to live, but I don't think if I was footloose and fancy free, Tampa would be that dot on the map I'd pick to call home. Is it the weather? It can't be the culture, we're still a few decades behind the curve in that area. I was taking in a show at the Performing Arts Center a while back and there was a fella in attendance in ratty jeans and a t-shirt. I just rolled my eyes and thought "Only in Tampa, but, at least he's actually going to the theatre." It's true though, Tampa has always had this air of the proletariat about it. I guess in some ways, it is endearing, homey even. However it's also left a feeling of stagnation. Folks just keep moving in, but progress is lagging way behind. I used to brag to folks about Tampa traffic, or lack thereof. Friends that lived in cities of similar size had their rush hours and gridlock, and I'd just whiz to work and home. No longer, more and more folks with more and more cars moved in and the system just didn't keep up. And, there ain't any alternatives to driving. Stormwater, same thing, more development, and the infrastructure just didn't keep up. Water usage, every year we gotta restrict how and when we use water. That means that we haven't kept up. Can we catch up? It hardly seems likely. What I wonder though, and back to the original question. Why do so many folks pick Tampa as a place to move? If it's the weather, will a big hammer of a hurricane send folks scurrying away? Any thoughts?

Some folks really might be late to their own funeral

2007-02-01T07:43:00.000-05:00

What is it about people who are perpetually late? I know this gal, 5 minutes means 10-15. Meet you at 5, and by 6 she might just show up. Almost never is there an apology, or even an acknowledgment that she was anything but on time, as scheduled, as agreed. Where is it in the Life's Instruction Manual that says it's perfectly acceptable to waste my time. I don't really tolerate this socially, but this is a business acquaintance and I have little choice. For some of you who read regularly and might be wondering, yes this is the cellphone offender as well. What I don't really understand is how a person goes this long in life without learning basic consideration of others. Before anyone says it, yes I have mentioned it as diplomatically as I can, attempting to be humorous. Again, there's no acknowledgment that being late for almost every meeting is anything but OK. Honestly, I think when this person passes, anyone that knows her will show up to the funeral late and still be surprised when the casket is already there.

Hallmark operatives are probably on their way to my house already

2007-01-31T09:12:00.000-05:00

If this is my last post, you know what happened. See, it's like this. That day coming up in two weeks is a bunch of hooey. Mrs. Grumpy and I used to buy into it like everyone else, but after a few years of having arguments and disappointments we just dropped out. No more Valentine's Day. Now, don't get me wrong, Grumpy ain't nothin' if he ain't a romantic. But I don't need some made up day to tell me when and how to treat my gal like she deserves to be treated. A card out of the blue. Flowers for no reason at all. Even a goose on heiny or peck on the cheek when no one is looking. All these things are how you tell someone that they're pretty darned special to you. If you have to let the greeting card companies do that sort of thinking for you, you've already lost it. If you make her feel special on Feb 12th, or April 18th or August 1st then Feb 14th is just another day no better, no more special, and certainly no less. Just my wooden nickel's worth of wisdom.

Dynasties are ok for the NFL, but keep them out of the White House

2007-01-21T08:35:00.000-05:00

I woke up this morning and the headline just about slapped me in the face. Who needs coffee with a shock like this. "I'm coming Elizabeth! I'm coming!" Not that it's any real surprise. I figured she was jockeying for a run a while back. Still, we need some fresh blood in the Oval Office, no pun intended. We've had too many years of the Bush's and Clinton's, how about some new ideas. Let's put someone who's only suspected of being a crook instead of someone who has such a questionable history of unethical behavior. Either way, let's give some new person a shot at it, what's the worse that can happen?

Redner or Randy, I'm gonna have to chew on this one a bit

2007-01-17T12:57:00.000-05:00

Now, it may surprise some of y'all, but I voted for Mr. Redner during the last election. I know, I know, with my ranting about the streetwalkin' y'all might have thought that I'd be die-hard against the "stripper king" of Tampa. Well Grumpy can still surprise you, I voted for him. I was ready for a change, and it would've been pretty interesting to shake things up with someone as storied as Mr. Redner. Now I see that he's entering the District 1 race. This one is gonna be tough call for me. I've seen some positive action during his time as the president of OSHNA by Mr. Baron who is also in that race. I am sure that Mr. Baron will also bring some focus to problems plaguing our neighborhood that have been overlooked for a long time.
Don't get me wrong. Mr. Redner, while I think he has some good ideas, has me much more interested in the "shake-up" factor than his policy. The council could use some indigestion to get some things moving.
So there you have it, I just have to decide to vote for heartburn or the hood.
Either way, I hope all of y'all get out and vote.

Looking for a hooker in Tampa you sick puke? You need help, find it here.

2007-01-11T14:14:00.001-05:00

Perhaps that wasn't too sensitive of me, but I can't believe the number of people surfing over to my little spot here on the Internet because they did a search about hookers in Tampa. Now I'd like to believe some of them are looking for fishing tackle, but the cynic in me knows otherwise. Well now, if you get your rocks off by picking up some nasty streetwalker you might want to take a good long look in the mirror and ask yourself if you might have a problem. I reckon they call it sexual addiction though personally I think you're just plain disturbed. I mean again, just think about it, who does that? Prostitutes carry all sorts of potential problems and you might just bring that stuff back home with you. I ain't one to preach, but for Pete's sake get some help, or just stop.
Surf your nasty butt over to one of these places and seek some help or maybe find a shrink.

Sexual Addiction Help
National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity (NCSAC)
Sexual Addiction Recovery Resources

I think I just might open a fishing store and call it Hookers on Nebraska, think of all the free advertising.

Filthy creatures

2007-01-10T12:10:00.000-05:00

This is gonna be short, but I just have to say something. What is it with people who think of the world as one big landfill? I was behind these folks on East Hillsborough the other day, and out the window flies a full MacDonald's bag of trash, the cup followed soon after. The filthy beasts, is it so hard to find a proper place to dispose of your garbage? I would hate to see what these yahoo's home looks like. And another thing whats with those folks that put their garbage cans out three days before pickup and then leave them out empty the rest of the week? In my travels I've seen some places where the street looks like every day is trash day. New York was like that last time I was there. We don't need our neighborhood to follow that path. Just take it out the evening before and drag it back in the following day, is that so difficult? If you noticed, I've refrained from calling the folks above animals, didn't want to insult them, the animals that is.

All new meaning to a taxi ride

2007-01-07T09:39:00.000-05:00

When you get to be my age, you sometimes think you'd seen it all, but then life throws you a bone to tell you it's always gonna be stranger than the stuff you make up. Last night the missus and me went to dinner at Spaghetti Warehouse and were travelling back home. We always drive up Nebraska and it's not all unusual down south of Martin Luther King that we see ladies of the evening. We always call the police and hope that they take care of it. Last night we were just a bit south of Columbus and there was this gall dressed up in what I thought was Halloween costume. She looked like a taxicab in a miniskirt. Hell even her hat said "Taxi" The way she was making eyes at Grumpy told us all we need to know about her attentions. Trust me, at my age, gals that age don't do a whole lot of flirtin in my direction unless they got alterior motives. Well her outfit led me to wonder there was gonna be a whole new code for doing that sort of business, you know How much is the fare for a ride? Going downtown or uptown, or just around the block? That sort of thing. I just hope that she got a ride in the bluelight cab to the hooscow.

The usual suspect

2007-01-07T09:28:00.000-05:00

Well now, I never thought when I got to be my age I'd find myself at a home improvement store so often. But as luck would have it, all the puttering and tinkering I do around the old homestead has me in Home Depot way more often than I'd have figured. There's a few things about that store that bother me, but one has been gnawing on me for a while now. Lately I've been panhandled in the parking lot in every increasing frequency. I haven't run across this at other stores around, but this one it's happening more and more. Usually I call the manager and he/she assures me it will be taken care of.
I have sympathy for folks down on their luck, but hitting me up in the parking lot of Home Depot ain't the way to do it. Hell, folks come out of there wielding hammers, and two-by-fours, and might just be frustrated enough with one of them newfangled self-checkouts that they just might snap. Anyway, then I figured, why don't Home Depot pay those guys a nickle a cart or something for bringing em back in that would solve two problems at once. Nah, doubt that would work as the beggars probably wouldnt do it, and the bleeding hearts would cry that the cart caballeros were being taken advantage of. Oh well, guess I'll have to keep shaking a box of ten-penny nails at em to fend them off.

Shopping cart rodeo clowns

2007-01-04T07:47:00.000-05:00

We've all been here: You pull into a parking lot, and there it is, a shaft of light from the heaven's above beaming down on that primo parking spot, right up near the front and bam! As you round that SUV you're thwarted by a shopping cart left right in the middle of the spot. Dagnabit!
The way I see it this here's a double-sided problem, in general people seem to be getting lazier, and with the cutbacks on personnel there are fewer and fewer folks to round up these free ranging carts. One of the worst places around is the Home Depot on Florida..that place is like the frontier days on the Great Plains, carts running loose all over the range. All it takes is a little effort to walk one of these domesticated beasts of burden over to the corral so at least they're not bumping into cars or taking up valuable real estate. Here's a suggestion, why don't they make a game out of it or at least entertaining? Hire one of them rodeo clowns for the parking lot, and if you round up one of these critters, he'll make you a balloon animal. If'n he's not busy then he can lead the roundup himself. It would be nice if everyone just pitched in and walked the cart to it's corral. It's the right thing to do. Don't be one of those shopping cart clowns unless it's in your job description.

Seminole heights blog going to the crapper?

2006-12-28T07:46:00.000-05:00

I've been reading over on the Seminole Heights blog lately about the blogman proposing to do away with anonymous commentatin'. Needless to say the suggestion was met with quite mixed reviews. Early on, I realized that I wasn't allowing anonymous comments and decided to open it up. So far I've noticed no increase in the number of comments, heck I don't get many to start with so why limit even a single one.
The Seminole Heights blog however has quite the reader base because for most of it's life it's been a fine resource for local events and commentary. It truly had the pulse of the neighborhood at it's heart. Quite honestly, from what I've been reading over the past coupla years, I don't see things changing all that much. Most of the anonymous crap has been just that...crap.
What I find quite humorous are the remarks by what I had thought were otherwise smart folks. It ain't censorship, it ain't Big Brother, it ain't nothing like that at all. Guess what people, its the Internet, if "they" want to know who ya are, they already know. Now, the only argument I can say has merit is that it is just one more account we got to remember the log in for. In this day and age, I agree that we got too many damn usernames, passwords, PIN's, phone numbers, emails, you name it. But for that arguement I gotta say, so what, if you want to have a part in the neighborhood, it's a small price to pay, it's sorta like votin', or going to local government meetings,it takes a bit of effort,so what. As for the spam remark, I been bloggin' myself for a few months now, got my email address posted up there for the world to see, and so far, I ain't seen a single piece of spam. Call me lucky I guess.
I bet all these yahoos that say well, I aint gonna read the blog no more, are the same one's that say I ain't registerin' to vote because I don't want to get called for jury duty. Well now, we all know that don't hold water.
Anyhow, I've been reading that there blog for a while and it seems to me ever since they announced the departure of the blogman, things started to slide. I ain't saying one caused the other, but just from my perspective that's a good place to mark the time. So what happened?
I don't have an answer, but it's probably been a few things. The blogman did have a way of catalyzing neighborhood issues with his rhetoric, and he had a quirky eye for local happenings, both public events and day-to-day local flavor. That seems to have become rarer and rarer in the postings. The comments on the otherhand have gotten more and more immature. I would like to think that they're the result of a couple of bored teenagers in the neighborhood with nothing better to do. But knowing some of my neighbors, I have to suspect some of them are from folks old enough to be adults, but not acting like them. People emboldened by the fact that they never have to answer for their words. What I gotta wonder is, if their wife or husband, or sons or daughters, or mothers or fathers knew what they were doing, how would the relatives feel. I can only imagine a feeling of overwhelming shame would be what they felt. I mean, dear lord, the poop comments? That sort of thing was funny when we were 12.
Well, blogman, I hope you stick to your guns and follow through with your no-anonymous comments. Best of luck to you.

What is the point?

2006-12-22T11:57:00.000-05:00

This one ain't so much about being grumpy, but just a bit of wonderin'. The past few years this phenomenon I'm gonna mention has grown to be just a bit farcical. I have a few friends and family members that even on up into our golden ages has insisted on exchanging gifts for the holiday. That in and of itself isn't the pointless part, as most folks, myself included, get some enjoyment out of giving. The silly part is what started as a while back as a single exchange has become a veritable pandemic of swapping gift cards. A thoughtful gift is one thing, but I don't really see most of these folks often enough to have any idea on what they need or want, nor they me. Additionally,when you get to be my age, you don't need any more stuff anyways. SO we have fallen into this giving each other $20 gift cards to some restaurant, or the movies. We might as well be handing each other a $20 bill. It's just silly. Besides I for one think that gift cards are no better than giving cash, which is just tacky. So finally this year I finally put my foot down. Supposedly, we're all in agreement that we just exchange christmas cards and well wishes. The thought is still there, and that's what counts right? It will be interesting to see if anyone caves.

I may be Grumpy but I ain't no Grinch

2006-12-19T08:52:00.000-05:00

Well folks, I know my postin's been a bit lackadaisical of late. I have to admit with all it's troubles and frustrations, the holiday season always livens up the spirit and a lightens the soul, at least for me. I will be travelling some this year so I wanted to make sure that I took the chance to wish everyone Merry Christmas! Call it whatever you want, but I'll be saying Merry Christmas thank you very much.
I normally respond to comments in the proper area, but someone commented on the Furniture sales and since it's been a while I wanted to make sure that I addressed it and it didn't fade into the sunset. Seems the fella or madam was a furniture salesman and took issue with my post. I'll let y'all read that one, but in rebuttal I will say that most of what he or she said just propped up what I said. I ain't looking to waste your time so leave me the hell alone. I don't go buying any real piece of furniture on a whim, I "test drive" a couch just like I would a car. He or she also admitted they lie to "get us excited" about a piece. Blow that one out your piehole. I aint saying that all of y'all are bad, but leave me be, if you approach me when I enter, give me your name or card, and let me alone to browse, you can bet that I will look you up when I have questions or wish to purchase, but if you shark me, I will find someone else even if I have to go to another store or come back another day.
Glad I ain't buying a couch for Christmas. Unless my butt smells like cinamon and evergreen, this puppy still has a few miles on it.

Let me stick that cellphone up your rear since your head is already there.

2006-12-08T18:23:00.000-05:00

OK, I was at a business dinner last night with a co-worker. Towards the end of the meal her phone rings. Now, not so long ago, I bit the bullet and got myself one of those, but a cardinal rule I've set myself is to not answer the phone in a restaurant if I'm with someone and to only answer it long enough to tell a person I will call them back out of respect for other diners. Well I guess I didn't send out the memo. My associate commences to chattering away. It was a small restaurant mind you, and my acquaintance is by no means a small woman, and quite boisterous to boot. Trying to be diplomatic, I finalize the bill and provoke payment from her, "hint hint" let's go. No joy. 15 minutes or so, I can feel the ire rising from the other patrons, so I get her attention, "ready to go?" Eye contact but no acknowledgment. So I excuse myself, "I will be outside," attempting to distance myself, hoping to imply "Take note, I am not with this woman and take no responsibility for her actions" Still nothing but loud yapping and guffaws ring out for another 15 or so minutes before she realizes I'm not coming back, I suppose. Through the glass in the front I can see other customers getting ever more frustrated as she drowns out their conversation. Finally she gets up, and just as she walks out the door she ends the conversation, a quick, oh sorry, that was my sister. Now this wasn't an apology or an acknowledgment of the rude behavior, but just a trite pardon me. How can this woman find her behavior acceptable? She has just made an unpleasant evening for a group of people and kept me prisoner for an additional 30 minutes of my life because there were some final details that needed to be taken care of before I could depart. I'm sure I'm not the only one who felt like shoving that phone where the sun don't shine. "Can you hear me now?"

Holiday hell in a handbasket

2006-12-01T12:32:00.000-05:00

Well look here, a fella goes away for a few days to visit kin for some turkey and dressing and long winded catching up and I come back to all sorts of hullabaloo in the neighborhood. Not to mention some tales of holiday headaches.
First off, the wench that hit the pedestrian over near the elementary school. While this here's a sad story for the guy and his family, it really is a surprise it hasn't happened sooner. The lack of sidewalks in Tampa, particularly Seminole Heights, makes it a pretty scary place to walk. On top of that you throw in people speeding down residential streets and yacking on their cellphones and its just a matter of time. I hope the man pulls through, but I guess it ain't looking too good for him. Why in hell is everyone in such a damn hurry to speed through streets that are barely wide enough for two cars and kids play? The standard the city keeps for traffic calming is asinine. Speed humps can't be that expensive.
Ya got bikes being stolen. No surprise there with Hillsborough High so close and all the riffraff that walk down to the projects near Lake and Central.
Now on to my holiday stuff. What is it with people who think checking into a hotel is carte blanche for throwing out their manners? We stayed at a pretty upscale hotel for the past week and the place had kids running amok. The exercise room had a half dozen of the little monkeys in it almost the whole time. Hows a fella supposed to get his cardio workout? And up and down the stairs sheesh, in my day my pappy woulda tanned my hide if I had even once let a door slam in a motel. Where's the consideration?
This holiday, the topic of charities came up a few times. Old Grumpy has a pretty generous heart, but I gotta tell you. It's so hard to not be suspicious when it comes to giving to charities. An acquaintance told us of a coworker who bragged last Christmas that his kids were signed up with 4 different organizations and received all sorts of stuff. The fella wasn't poor, but was raking it in by bilking the system. I like to think there's a extra special place in Hell for assholes like that, but you just gotta feel like there's a whole lot of that going on.
Well, it's good to be back. Happy holidays.

Unregistered, unlicensed, illegal and dangerous

2006-11-20T07:33:00.000-05:00

Last week my wife was driving south in 275 when a white van changed lanes into the side of her car. Thankfully she was aware enough to react just as he was merging into her and slowed. She called 911, relayed a description of the passenger, vehicle, it appeared to be a painters van, and found a suitable place to pull over. Any guesses on the description of the passenger? The dusky asshole grinned at her through the whole thing. When the officer arrived to make the report the tag wasn't valid, it was deactivated a few years ago. Imagine that. The officer supposed that had they pulled the guy over, he would not have had a license or insurance. The officer said that this was the third hit and run call that day involving an unregistered or illegal tag. Luckily the damage was minor and my wife was unharmed other than her nerves. It's not likely this guy will alter his behavior, and he's still out there.

What makes you grumpy?

2006-11-15T10:57:00.000-05:00

I been posting here off and on for a few months. Its actually been therapeutic. Having an outlet like this, and knowing that at least some folks are reading it has made me a lot less grumpy. I know that I'm always gonna be a grumpy old fart, but letting it out does help. So I pose the question, what sort of things really piss you off? Anything lately just get your goat to the point you want to just pop? I promise that I'll be right back with more grumpy tales, but let me know that what winds you up besides the things I've already mentioned. Or even if I had mentioned it, let me know that too.

Looking for hookers in Tampa

2006-11-13T06:40:00.000-05:00

Recently, I've started looking at the statistics from this here blog. One thing that came to my attention is just how many perverts out there stumble across my blog from Google or elsewhere by typing in "Looking for hookers in Tampa" or "Nebraska Prostitutes" or "Tampa Prostitutes." And they come from computers all over the country. Well, Hell, it's no wonder the streetwalkers are still working this area, folks from all over the US are potential customers. Well for anyone one of you yahoos who are here because you're trying to find prostitutes in Tampa, let me tell you. The community is very active along much of that street and are taking photos, video, tag numbers, and calling the cops. People are regularly being arrested and convicted. As a result there are only a few of the prostitutes left so find em somewhere else. We don't want you here, and by god if I catch one of you doing your thing in my alleyway, I'll make sure you don't have the plumbing to do it again, with a good old size 12 boot. Take your filthy behavior elsewhere.

My own economic indicators

2006-11-11T06:21:00.000-05:00

Something dawned on me recently. Something that's been nagging me, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It's everywhere, but so insidious I'm not sure that most folks pay it any mind. Go to Target, or Home Depot, Barnes and Noble, or Best Buy. Publix, SweetBay, or many CVS's. You walk in and do your shopping and when it's time to checkout you approach and lo and behold, there's a dozen, or sometimes even twenty registers and one, maybe two cashiers. I'm not sure what the deal here is. Is it poor design? I've dug deep into the Grumpy memory banks and offhand I can't recall a time when I've seen even half of a bank of registers being used. Did someone overestimate demand? Even during the holidays I can't say I've noticed where they've had anywhere near even 3 out of 4 being used. I'm sure some industrial engineering has determined something about utilization and customer flow and all that, but in reality it seems like a waste of space and certainly has a negative impact on my impression when I walk up to that sea of registers at Target and a single port has the lighthouse on.
Customer service has become a misnomer these days, and this register system seems vestigial, a sign of old where giving prompt service has given way to lower costs and minimizing personnel.

I want to tell furniture salespeople to "Sit on it"

2006-11-04T09:01:00.000-05:00

The other day Mrs Grumpy dragged me into yet another furniture shopping adventure. There are few different activities in this world that I despise with a passion so strong that I could inspire a cult following with. You've probably already guessed that shopping for furniture must be one of these activities. You got it, hit the nail on the head, bingo, right on target. Yes absolutely I do indeed concur wholeheartedly. I'm sure a few of the others will find their way into the blog one of these days. Now, back to the furniture shopping. Why do these guys and gals, always seem to come straight out of sleazy used car lot? Furniture shopping for me is bad enough without being stalked, interrupted, and pressured to buy something. The wife and I walk in and are just browsing as many times we just don't know what we're looking for, if anything in particular anyway. Sometimes we're just shopping for the sake of shopping. Anyhow, we walk in and I hear the Jaws theme start to play. The fin pops up and they start circling, I give them the glare of doom, but it only makes them hesitate for an instant...."Hi, my name is Bob, I'll be glad to help you find what your looking for, and while I'm at it try to force our extended warranty, because you're a moron if you don't take that, and let me throw in a complimentary stain protection that will only cost you twice what the piece of furniture does!" Toothy grin...No thanks Bob, we're just looking at the moment...."well, my name's Bob, let me know if I can be of assistance!" Ok Bob, will do. Next we meander through the displays, Bob keeping a perfect 18.4 feet away so as to not seem intrusive. We pause momentarily at couch just to look at my watch and Woosh! Bob materializes like something out of Star Trek, "Isn't this a wonderful piece, I have the same one in my living room, is this a color you like or perhaps you want something a little darker, a little lighter, a little...." No Bob, we're actually just browsing. And so it goes, my Grumpmeter raising every encounter until finally we get fed up and move on to another store. What I have to wonder is does this generate more or fewer sales because I for one refuse to engage these type of sales people. If I happen to find a piece, I will intentionally avoid the annoying ones by coming back on another day so someone else gets commissioned. Occasionally I will get a person that greets us at the door, passes us a card or just his name and offers to help us, but then returns to his desk, counter, assigned spot, until we seek him out. That guy/gal will get my furniture business every time. Needless to say, shopping for cars is another of those activities, but I'll save that for another day.

I like my votin' like I like my lovin', in and out and done in just a few minutes

2006-11-01T18:16:00.000-05:00

I hope the machine got my choices right, and that they get put into the system right, and that they actually get counted. It was a hard year this year, I normally vote Republican, but this year I found myself picking the other guy more than ever. Truth be told, Bill Nelson seemed like a pretty good choice even if he was a Dem, but compared to Kooky Harris, that one was a no-brainer. I tell you what, there ain't no excuse for not votin' nowadays, I was in and out in a matter of minutes, almost as quick as Mrs Grumpy and me on our special night every coupla months. Now don't tell her I said that, I'll get a smack upside the head. But my point is, it's easy you can vote darn near anywhere in town and it only takes a few minutes. Just get out there and let your voice be heard, and just check that machine isn't changing your vote before you say OK.

Halloween ain't what it used to be I guess

2006-11-01T18:02:00.000-05:00

All in all Halloween was ok this year, but a coupla things bother me year to year. The biggest one is the hoodlums without costumes coming up and expecting a handout. What's the point, unless it's just preparing em for their future, I expect to see some of them working the Interstate exits and some of the busier intersections in a few years. After a certain age you oughta just tell your kids they're too old to be out trick or treatin, now, I don't know what age that is exactly, but I'm thinkin 16 or 17 is well past it, though an exception is if they're with younger brothers and sisters. That's downright nice to see that it still happens sometimes. We only had one group of the crashers, so I'd rate this year a success. Almost all the kids said thank you, and most said trick or treat without prompting, though some were a bit scared of old Grumpy at first, so that mighta had em a little quiet. We didn't get any tricks played on my block so thats good too I reckon. Come on back next year.

Trick or treatin

2006-10-31T15:46:00.000-05:00

This might come as a shock to some folks, but this is one of those holidays Grumpy don't really mind too much. It ain't like the 4th or New Year's where the hillbillies are poppin off noisemakers, this one is almost all about the kids. And usually it's all done and over with by 9 or so. What's not to like? Besides, its the one day a year when old Grumpy don't look so out of place. I don't even need a costume to scare folks with this mug of mine. No, Grumpy will keep the porch light on and pass out candy until it runs out. I heard they had us listed in the paper so I hope we don't get too many outsiders pillaging the treats before the neighborhood kids get their share. Happy Halloween.

If you can't learn how to drive it, don't buy it

2006-10-29T11:44:00.002-05:00

People never cease to amaze me. The SUV's are the worst, but I see pickups and big cars do it too. The folks that are either too scared of driving something so big, or don't know where the limits of the car are. Constantly, you see them taking up two parking spots because they can't line up in a single one, or drifting over the line on the curves in traffic, or taking part of the other lane on narrower roads like Nebraska. A couple of other examples are the big R/V's too. The damn thing is as big as a truck but they'll let any old fart go buy and drive one. I know what you're going to say, Grumpy is an old fart too, but damn, I'm not out driving something the size of a semi down the road at 10 miles under the speed limit. Back to the other bunch though, they oughta make you take some sort of class if youre going to buy something bigger than a normal sized car. Hell they make you pass a special test to ride a motorcycle, and pretty much the only ones youre gonna take out on that is yourself. These little gals in the big SUV's don't even seem to be able to see out of the thing much less know where the corners of the vehicle are. It's like the title says, if you can't drive the thing down the road and stay in your lane, or park in a normal parking lot, buy something smaller, hell you might even save a little gas.

Inappropriate public displays of affection

2006-10-25T07:06:00.000-05:00

Back in my day, a boy was lucky to get some time alone with a gal, school dances were no contact during slow songs. What's happened to what should be common decency and restraint? Just the other day I was trying to eat my dinner in a restaurant and this young couple was darn near having sex while they were waiting in line. Why? I ask. I mean, I'm not advocating a 6 inch rule(although who really knows what 6 inches really measures nowadays, reminds of a story I heard one time, ever wonder why women never were too good at home improvement tasks that require measuring, because men have been telling them that "it" really was six inches their whole adult life). Anyway, what I'm saying is a quick kiss, and a hearty hug is certainly acceptable, but save the open-mouth kissing and groping for somewhere more private. If we want to see that stuff, we'll stop in one of those naughty shops or do paperview, or hell just turn on those rap videos, thats almost as good.

Drive-through dingbats

2006-10-23T07:43:00.000-05:00

Today I thought I'd post about drive-through window idiots. Customers, not employees, that might be a whole other post one day. There's a couple of different breeds aof this animal. First off, there's the people who don't really have any idea what they want when they get to the window and will sit there forever before they order, or ask dumb questions like "Does the quarter pounder with cheese come with cheese or is that extra?" Or "What kind of fish is in the fish sammich" We're not talking fresh catch of the day here people! It's supposed to be "fast" food. These people are the lightweights in the fastfood idiot world however. A minor annoyance that cause only a slight delay.
Next up the list are a certain type of person whom you can almost always count on to invidiually order and pay with 4 or more people in the same car. Now, get this, everyone would be faster, including those folks if they got their lazy butts out of the car and went inside, but no. They have to pull up to the window, pass the money back and forth for each person in the car. Those are in a dead heat with the next breed of drivethrough dingbat.
The full minivan or SUV! Little league team decides to hit McDonald's on the way home from the game and they decide the best course of action is to go through the drive-through. Now you get 10 different orders, and a lot of kids are picky so its not just 10 cheeseburger happy meals. Sheesh, so much for convenience.
Grumpy's doc has advised him to lay off the fast food, so it's not like I gotta put up with these folks all the time, but it seems like every time I'm in a hurry or just get a craving for those fries and find myself in the drive-through one of these not so elusive beasties is in line ahead of me. And I don't have my dingbat stamp for my huntin license.

No free parking, go to directly to the poorhouse, do not pass go and do not collect $200

2006-10-20T11:40:00.000-05:00

So thats how the city is going to punish Seminole Heights, by trying to run out one of the successful and more popular businesses. Over on the Seminole Heights blog theres been a lot of talk regarding the parking issue at Cappy's pizza. Not sure how much is truth and how much is just rumor and conjecture, but someone mentioned that to meet the permit standard for occupancy the number is based on square footage, so the requirement would be on the order of 70 spaces. 70, is that a typo? The car lots that dot Florida Ave have been very creative with parking on their lots and if you bulldozed the building and made a parking lot on the site instead, I'd bet that even those creative buyherepayhere dudes couldn't fit 70 cars on a lot that sized. Here's an idea for fund-raiser have a contest on how creatively you could fit 70 spots at Cappys, or any other single lot in Seminole Heights. Best way in the world to keep businesses down in Seminole Heights is applying these outrageous parking requirements. Palma Ceia Beef O Bradys is a comparably sized restaurant and they at best have about 10 spots and maybe another 10 shared with the other businesses in the building. Maybe that part of Tampa has "special" codes. And if parking was such an issue, why don't they do something about the residences that have parking lots in their front yards, 4 and 5 cars for a single family house. Or better yet, how about the county employee that parks beneath the no parking signs on Idlewild most nights. Don't apply unrealistic standards to the neighborhood please. I haven't been to Cappy's, but it seems to be pretty busy most of the time, so I reckon theyre doing something right.

One sure way to make your vote not count

2006-10-19T12:07:00.000-05:00

Kombatrock's comment

Mr Kombatrock, I do share your concerns regarding the current questionable voting practices and politics in this country. The system is definitely broken, and the worst result of these problems is the loss of faith it's creating in the electorate. What scares me the most is how this plays right into the hands of those currently in power. A loss of faith in the system means fewer voters and apathy completely favors the Status Quo. High voter turnout would make the good old boys quake in their boots. A smaller voter pool is easier to manipulate and non-voters don't ask too many questions about the results. I liken it to playing the lottery, or the old saying by Publishers Clearing House. You can't win if you don't play. One election might not turn it around, but if people show up to the polls in record numbers, and things seem fishy, there'd a whole lot more folks to answer to. Right now, too many times people don't question it because they didn't even go to the polls.
I never said I cornered the market on grumpy, I posted something about that back a few months ago. There's a little bit of Grumpy in all of us. And if I had a dream like the one you mentioned, my grumpmeter would have probably pegged out if not blew up altogether.

Take two aspirin and don't call me, call the mortician

2006-10-19T11:40:00.000-05:00

Knock on wood, I myself have been rather fortunate to live this long and never really need to spend much time with doctors or in a hospital for my own problems. I have spent a fair bit of time visiting or accompanying friends and loved ones there. The ER has to be the biggest misnomer I've ever heard of. In so many cases there is no emergency, just someone who feels bad and wants to be seen without an appointment. Here's the deal, if youre young and not pregnant most times if you feel like crap, its either because you didnt take care of yourself properly or you've got an ailment that many of the people around you have. Stop clogging up the system with your sniffles and sneezes and cases of the runs. I am sure people die every day because someone was bending a doc's ear about some rash they got after pulling weeds the weekend before, or spent some time with a coyote woman on Friday night. If you feel like crap call a doctor and make an appointment or use a walk-in clinic. All this sort of thing leads me to the title of this post.
Someone very dear to me passed along just over two years ago. She had been struggling with a form of cancer for a number of years and we all knew that it was only a matter of time. Unfortunately her time came earlier than perhaps it should have in a country with the level of care we should have available to those who really need it. Her end was punctuated by the hurricanes of 2004. She was hospitalized with pneumonia while she was evacuating from Hurricane Charley, because the system is overburdened she was rushed out well before she was ready to a nursing facility. They never treated her for the pneumonia, only the primary illness which she'd been dealing with for quite some time. Miscommunications in her transfer had her unmedicated for the pneumonia further and had her in physical therapy while she still had symptoms of pneumonia. We were told she would be coming home on the following Monday. She was rehospitalized on Friday and I received the call Saturday evening that she wouldn't make it through the night. She didn't, but she was surrounded by her loved ones at the end and for that I am grateful.
I am not shovelling out blame, because we are all human, and we will all pass on one day from one thing or another, but, the system failed her miserably. Everything was geared toward shuffling her off as quickly as possible to make room for someone else. Most of the staff I encounted on my visits were clearly overwhelmed and overworked. Someone, probably tired, or irritable, or simply had too many things going at once, didn't write something down, or tell someone the right things and so her care suffered for it, and it probably cut her life short. I'm sure the insurance company saved a bundle. Just think a moment the next time you rush off to the hospital for a runny nose, just think of what it might cost someone else.

Just a little pizza my mind

2006-10-17T09:52:00.000-05:00

Over the years I've had quite a number of occasions to partake in pizza parties, at the office, at social gatherings etc.. I for one, prefer Pepperoni. Not only that, I won't eat pizza that has anything other than meat cheese and sauce, although occasionally I have picked that crap off, it's just not worth it. Now here's what gets me steamed up. I will use the office party example. They go around and take a census of what pizza folks like. Almost everyone says, oh...Supreme, Hawaiian, or Vegetarian. There has rarely been a time where more than myself and perhaps one other has said, Pepperoni only please. Invariably, the result is that in an order of say, ten pizzas only one is pepperoni only. Can you see where this is going? When the pizza arrives, the greedy bastards descend on the pies like vultures. And unless Grumpy had strategically positioned himself at the front of the swarm, which is quite undignified and out of character for me, he is usually out of luck, because the Pepperoni pizza has already been taken, so now Grumpy has to pick peppers and mushrooms off his pizza or go without. You can't get the flavors of those things out of the cheese. Sad I know. Seriously, is it a life-altering event, no, but it is entirely uncalled for with a bit of forethought.
Here's the part that no one seems to get, no one seems to have ever put together. People who like Supreme, or Hawaiian, and even people that like Vegetarian, but are not vegetarians themselves, all like Pepperoni pizza too. And when the chow bell rings, people are grabbing the first slice they find that is edible to them, pepperoni included. I don't know how many times I've seen the slick-haired prick who insisted on Supreme smacking his lips on a sweet heavenly slice of my pepperoni pizza. "Oh, were you the one who ordered the Pepperoni?" So please, I beg you, next time youre organizing one of these sorts of events please take a moment and factor in those of us with limited palates preferring Pepperoni. No one will ever complain if the Supreme runs out with a Pepperoni pizza sitting next to it. World (Pizza?)Peace is possible if we all work together.

Coke, Pepsi, does anyone really care?

2006-10-16T14:25:00.000-05:00

OK, this is something that has long been a peeve of mine. And, I've always wondered if anyone has ever had a negative response. Server: May I take your drink order? Diner: I'll have a Coke please. Server: Is Pepsi OK? I mean I know folks have their preferences, but seriously has anyone ever changed their order based on that? Diner: Oh Pepsi, you don't have Coke? Not even a can in the back? Perhaps you could run over to the 7-11? No? Well I guess in that case I'll take a glass of tea instead.
I could maybe see 7-up or Sprite, just maybe. Definitely the Dr Pepper vs Mr Pibb, not even close in taste but Coke vs Pepsi. Sometimes I just say Coke or Pepsi, or whatever Cola ya got. The question just seems dumb to me.
Have a Coke and a Smile.

Activism, Apathy, and A$$holism

2006-10-13T05:30:00.000-05:00

The way I see it there are pretty much three camps when it comes to community issues. Community can be local, regional, or even national. It boils down to those who do something about it, whichever side they take. Then there are those who either don't know about the issue, or don't care enough to get involved. Again, caring could mean that it's something that doesn't affect them or those they know, not that they actively chose to ignore it. Well then you got what I call your asshole bunch. These are the folks whose sole contribution is to piss and moan about the issue with nothing constructive to offer. Stop your whining! If you don't like something about how the city is doing something, Goldarnit then get involved. Don't just post anonymous comments on a blog, or bitch over coffee at Nicko's or to your neighbor about how it oughta be this or that. Talk is cheap unless you're talking to those who can make change. I'm not sure which is worse. Apathy can certainly be more dangerous given that most people seem to choose this course. But, it's the assholes that make everyone, particularly in Seminole Heights, seem like a bunch of spoiled whiners who don't even show up to the polls when they get their chance.
Speaking of that, here's another thing, people, VOTE! The turnout numbers for voters these days is atrocious. You people ought to be ashamed of yourselves. I'm not gonna lecture you about how so many people died for you to have an opportunity to have a voice in your government(They did) or how every vote makes a difference(It does). All I'm saying is given that you have all these newfangled options for voting, you got no excuse now. None, Zilch, Zippo buster. Now it boils down to the fact that either youre just plain lazy or just don't care. Its pretty danged scary to think that it might be that you just don't care anymore. Again, that much apathy to the way things are going these days scares the hell out of me. Youre only powerless if you choose to be. Get involved somehow. Theres an old saying about lead, follow, or get out of the way. I don't like that saying too much, because following and getting out of the way has led us to where we are today. We need more people to get involved. If you agree with something, support it, if you oppose something, take a stand against it, but don't just obstruct for the sake of obstruction. And for God's sake don't be an asshole.

Red light runners are ruining the planet

2006-10-11T12:40:00.000-05:00

What is it with you people? Who the hell gave you such a sense of entitlement that you feel the rules of the road do not apply to your highness? I am not talking about squeezing the pink by slipping through under the cautionary yellow and the red light catches you midway. I mean you pricks that run right through the light after it has changed to RED. We all have those times where we might misjudge just how long that yellow light is going to hold out for us. Not excusing it, but I know it happens to all of us. What I want to know is how did we let it get so bad that now 3, 4, even 5 cars blow through an intersection, or people who clearly cannot exit an intersection, feel justified in entering and blocking it just to save a minute or two. Here's some advice, leave your house earlier, if you're racing to get somewhere, or get there a few minutes later and help your blood pressure, and the health of the rest of us who are law-abiding and courteous. We have several bad intersections in Seminole Heights, particularly along Hillsborough Avenue on either side of the Interstate. People pull into and block Central Avenue on nearly every cycle of the light. People blow through the red light at Florida 2 or 3 at a time. All of these things might save the perpetrator a minute or two, but in the grand scheme costs all of us by domino effect exponentially more time. I dare say that there has to bea very measurable economic and enviromental impact by the scofflaws when you factor the time, money spent on fuel and maintenance, the health care of increased stress, the spewing of that many more exhaust chemicals. The other day, I was driving west on Hillsborough, and traffic was backed up all the way past Armenia, stop and go. This was somewhat, but still near rush hour. Guess what the traffic was caused by. An accident, nope, a huge number of cars, not really, it was caused by a bunch of irresponsible, inconsiderate nincompoops on Himes to squeeze out one more light cycle and block Hillsborough. After that intersection, there was no traffic. Now all this backup on Hillsborough, was causing additional traffic on Armenia. Theres a chain reaction that spreads out the effect of these seemingly isolated events to impact traffic miles away. So next time you're considering running a red light, or blocking an intersection, think about it for a second. Was that two minutes worth it?

Don't need a hearing aid with these folks

2006-10-09T06:22:00.000-05:00

This weekend, the Mrs. and I went out to Olive Garden restaurant. I love that there Never-ending Pasta Bowl. Well we got there just before what I guess is the after church rush and were seated promptly in a booth next to a party of three. Well no sooner did we attempt to converse with each other did the Foghorn let loose. Then the Diesel Locomotive piped in and the Jet Engine responded to both. I've been around a long time and never in my life have I heard even one person speak as loudly during normal conversation as these three yahoos. My dear lord sitting 6 feet away from them was painful and I have partial hearing loss from years of operating heavy equipment when I was younger. No exaggeration folks, when I went to speak to Mrs. Grumpy I could not hear my own voice with the Jet Engine gal was speaking. We asked to be moved and were promptly reseated about 4 booths away. Shortly thereafter the Rock Concert's food arrived and things settled down. Here's the thing. I've noticed this more and more when I've gone out. People don't lean closer to each other to talk when they're in a noisy restaurant anymore they just get louder, and then even within their own group, they don't wait their turn they just talk over the other person and it's not long before the caucophony is like sitting next to Niagra Falls. Thats definitely was what was happening with these three, they were just raising their own volume instead of waiting their turn in the conversation. Thank goodness they at least didn't talk with their mouths full or I might not have been able to even order with out getting a bullhorn to speak to the waitress.

Trust Me, Sex Ain't THAT Good

2006-10-04T23:21:00.000-05:00

Grumpy has been oft told that he marches to the beat of his own drummer, that his noodle has a way of synthesizing information thats a bit off from most folks. Be that good or bad, you hear something enough, I guess there's something to be said for it. Now what does that have to do with sex? Well something I came across recently just got me to wondering. I read about some youngin' over in Europe that committed suicide because he was still a virgin at the ancient age of 19. First off it reminded me of an old adage:"I used to feel sorry for myself because I couldn't get a girl, until I met a man who had no hands." Sorry for that mental image, but there's truth to be found in that little gem. Grumpy has been around for a while and I've had my share of companions both in and out of the boudoir. Some were great, some, well to be gracious, were, eh, not so great. When I say great, I mean, worthy of tales over beer at the local watering hole, without needing to exaggerate, myself deserving none of the credit, it was all her. Anyway, as good as it was, it ain't that good. I've had other experiences that were just as sensational. A beautiful sunset over the snowy mountains while skiing in the back country, or a perfectly prepared lobster tail with the right glass of wine. So while this young chap probably had some other issues, it's sad that something in his life made him believe not getting a piece of ass before he turned 19 was worse than dying. Now, reading over there on the Seminole Heights blog there's been some comments, juvenile ones at that, directed at Mr Luckytop. I won't further validate them by repeating them, but needless to say they were sophmoric and directed at his orientation. What does this have to do with the fellow in Europe? Well it got me to thinking about back in my time when homosexuality was thought to be either a mental disease or even sillier, a choice. Back in Grumpy's day a fellow could well get beaten to death for being outed. At best he might lose his job, his family, be ostracized by the community, all for "choosing" the beefcake instead of the cheesecake. Now that doesn't quite make sense does it? I mean, I can't say from experience, but I reckon the end result of the encounter is pretty much the same physically, emotionally and all that. Why would anyone risk all that for a particular way of rolling in the hay. We're not talking a few indiscretions, but a way of life. Again, sex ain't that good.
All this reminds me of a time when I was filling up my gas tank at a gas station near the Interstate up on Bearss. This has been a while back, but a couple of retirees pulled up at the other side of the pump and while the old-timer(hehe, look who's talking now) pumped the gas the Mrs. was sitting in the car. Well the feller started asking me about the area. They had been travelling for a bit and asked about the hotels, so I told them that the hotels in that area and just to the south were of the seedier sort and they might be better off going into downtown or out near the airport, the wife being a bit hard of hearing, and sitting in the car asked the old guy to repeat everything I said. Then he asked about good restaurants so I mentioned where the chain's were and threw in a plug for Malio's and the Colonnade, again, she exclaimed, "What did he say Irv?" Again the guy repeats everything, starting to show his frustration. About this time, I asked them where they were travelling from. Irv said they had driven all the way down from South Carolina. Before I caught myself I, I happend to blurt out, "South Carolina, hell the worst sex I ever had was with a woman in South Carolina." Of course the Mrs. didn't catch that and said "Huh, what did he say?" Irv, without missing a beat, said "He said he thinks he knows you!"
Back to the point above, you spend all your youth chasing tail, chasing a paycheck, chasing a promotion, so that by the time you're an old dog, all you have the energy for is sitting on the porch and well y'all know what old porch dogs do. He knows. Sex ain't that good. But then again it ain't that bad either.

Why does everyone in Seminole Heights seem to hate the Riverwalk

2006-10-01T19:30:00.000-05:00

Over the past couple of months I've seen a lot of mention in the comments on the Seminole Heights blog about Mayor Iorio's Riverwalk project. I wonder why there is so much focus on this single project. Now, I realize that many of the comments also go on about code enforcement, or this or that, but this one project just seems to raise such a huge uproar in and of itself. I've been around a while, and in that time, I've been a number of places. For years and years Tampa had one of the least inviting downtowns I've ever visited. I look back at the pictures by the Bergert Brothers and see that the downtown was once a vibrant and lively center of urban life. What happened? Up until just a couple of years ago Tampa's downtown looked the same as it did in the early 70's. Very very little changed. Did white flight and inept administration cause a time freeze? Whatever it was, Tampa was a fine example of "what not to do" in urban planning. The CBD isn't close to downtown. Chicken and egg arguments aside, hardly anything was ever open to attract people in the evenings or keep them around past quitting time. Parking was always a problem, transportation alternatives were either non-existent or were so poorly scheduled they were unusable. Met Min and the Salvation Army draw homeless people from all over. Downtown became a lonely and scary place after 5:00.
Now I see these beautiful concept drawings of a park along what could be a lovely waterway. What a grand idea! Drive down Bayshore any evening and you see loads and loads of people young and old alike out on along the bay. If you build it, they will come as they said in that baseball movie. If Bayshore is any example people will certainly utilize this new linear park. I've heard folks poo-poo'ing about how no one will use it because theres no parking. I don't recall Bayshore having any dedicated parking either, but there's no shortage of people there. Not a whole bunch of parking for the Friendship Trail on the old Gandy bridge either, but it always seems to have fisherman, and bikers, and runners, and walkers too. People will find a way.
Someone also mentioned homeless people being a problem. Now, I was in downtown Atlanta not too long ago. The wife and I went out to stroll in once of the downtowna park in the evening and yes there were homeless people. It's a fact of downtown life, but it doesn't seem to keep people from getting out and using these public spaces. Adequate law enforcement I'm sure will take care of most of those sorts of problems.
I say build this beautiful park, I most certainly will take regular strolls along Tampa's waterfront.

Where have all the cashiers gone?

2006-09-29T16:29:00.000-05:00

I just made a trip to the Home Depot. First, before entering the store, I was my normal otherwise happy self, well my normal grumpy self, as my wife likes to call it. Not too grumpy, just the normal day to day annoyances thus far. Let me tell you what, ever since Home Depot got those newfangled self checkout thingamajigs, it's damn near impossible to use a real person. Most of the time the only human running a register is the lady trying to manage those 4 machines which inevitably have a problem. Beep please place item in the bagging area, damnit! I did place the item in the bag. Beep please place item in the bagging area..take it out, put it back in the bag, Beep unexpected item in the bagging area...the lady gets the machine to acknowledge that yes the item was placed in the bag and no there wasn't anything else in the bag. That machine was starting get pushy with old Grumpy I tell you what. Next up, Beep please place item in the bagging area! Goldarnit! It's a shovel, how am I supposed to put this item in the bagging area??!!!??!?! It doesn't quite fit in the unusually-sized item area. Now the lady is busy cajoling another one of the registers-run-amok into realizing that the customers are doing what they're supposed to be doing. Now, I'm no Luddite, but they shouldn't be using these things to put people out of work, just make them an option for someone who's just buying a few items, to speed up the whole system. I for one have made every effort to use a human when I can. A polite smile from a cashier does a lot more to warm old Grumpy's heart than that infernal machine yelling at me Beep please place item in the bagging area!!

Kids these days, it ain't the kids it's the parents or lack of.

2006-09-26T19:44:00.000-05:00

There's a little twit that rides a dirtbike around my neighborhood creating all sorts of noise and commotion. Now, I see at least two things wrong with this situation. First he's never wearing a helmet and I'd guess he's about 14. Now if memory serves thats too damn young to be riding this contraption on the streets and even if that was legal, he oughta be wearing headgear. Now I call the little nitwit a nitwit, but in all fairness it's not his fault he was born to Cretins that think it's ok to have their teenager riding a DIRTbike around city streets with no helmet. I recall hearing about a little thing called Darwin awards, maybe they'll be winning one one day. I feel sorry for the kid. The dirtbike thing is the other part of this that gets me. Now, I've been around a long time, but I can't remember too many dirt roads in this part of Tampa anytime recently. Why would you think it's ok to get one of these things to ride in the city? These are the kind of folks that give rednecks a bad name. I bet they bought the big box of fireworks at Walmart too. Grumpmeter is level 5.

Greener pastures or so they think

2006-09-21T20:19:00.000-05:00

I read recently that the Seminole Heights blogman is moving on to greener pastures. There goes the neighborhood. He says that he wants the blog to remain with "local" observations but he's retaining creative control as editor. I for one think that's pretty presumptuous for someone who's heart is no longer in the game to be the fella making the final decisions from the outside looking in on what's appropriate and what isn't. The other thing is running a blog is hard enough when the material is close to your heart, so I wonder if he'll still find the time. I wish him and his wife all the best, but I feel that the blog has jumped the shark when the blogman leaves. I wonder how many of his readers will feel betrayed or consider him to be a sell out. Moving to the suburbs, tripling his commute, burning that much more gas, sitting in that much more traffic, spending that much more time each day away from friends and family, spitting out that much more pollution, and paying that much more in taxes. But we all gotta do what we all gotta do. Farewell blogman, best of luck to you. I hope they won't be putting old grumpy out to pasture anytime soon.