slight "Moment of Dad" hiatus, back to our regularly scheduled program...

I am going to take a few days off from "Moments of Dad" for the simple fact that the idea well has run dry. He'll be back, but closer to the end of the month to cover the first anniversary of his passing.

Thanks for reading what I've written so far, and some Dad stuff will be back in the next few days.




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First of all, I think I need to breathe a sigh of relief that I do not work in my hometown's school district.

Why?

Read here...in a nutshell, the junior high school principal is in big trouble. (The rumor is that embezzlement is the word being thrown about.) In addition, the rumor mill also states that our dear superintendent has been banned from the Riverside Casino for "drunk and disorderly" charges. (Please note this is hearsay, meaning I heard it and I'm saying it now.)

I know that no school district is immune to such problems, but it seems like my ol' alma mater is just like a little Peyton Place sometimes. Over 10 years ago (1992, I think it was), there was a big brou-ha-ha about - YOU GUESSED IT - someone in the position of leadership at the junior high and some extra curricular activities with other teachers.

Could someone explain to me what is in the water there? People wonder why I don't want to move back to fair Washington, and this is one of the reasons.

At least here in the DC Metro area, if you screw up something, not as many people know about it. Let's face it, in a metro area like DC, NYC, Chicago or San Francisco (as well as others), the neighbors in your cul-de-sac might know what you did, but it's not like the MAYOR is going to find out, or anything like that.

In a town with a population of less than ten thousand, you can bet your sweet bippy that everyone knows a little bit of something about what you did, as well as other little mini-scandals that are slipped in by others that have it on good authority.

And here I am, perpetuating the vicious circle...however, I've done my time and living here is my reward. So there...nyah nyah nyah.

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OK...does it scare anyone else that Hugh Jackman from "X-Men" and other fab films and Adam Rich from "Eight Is Enough" are the same age?

They're both 38.

That means Adam Rich is MY AGE (roughly) and so is Hugh Jackman, but Adam Rich annoys me more. Why can't I win on this one? Oh well...




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I've missed so many opportunities, but finally, a new "Huh" award winner is here!

Recipient: Kim Kendrick, Johnson City, TN

Reason: Ms. Kendrick lost her parrot, and it was subsequently found. I'm not immune to the owner/pet relationship phenomena. However, here's what makes me scratch my head...to quote the article:

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - A pet Amazon parrot who flew away from his owner in Johnson City has been found in Long Island, N.Y. Owner Kim Kendrick lost her 47-year-old parrot named Buzzy nearly two months ago while she was walking outside with him.

Judge's comments:

Who the hell walks a PARROT!?

Granted, I am a little prejudiced against parrots...they scare the crap out of me and I'd never have one as a pet, ever ever ever. My first husband's aunt was into raising parrots, and I didn't go to her house so much.

But COME ON! When you take a parrot outside for a walk, you're taking a risk. Unless its wings are clipped, it's gonna want to fly. Parrots have urges, and beaks that can crack nutshells.

Are YOU going to argue with a parrot if it wants to fly away?

I'm not...but then again, I will do everything in my power to keep away from said parrot.

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Another new award has been created to counteract the "questionable judicial decisions" award created a month ago. Rancho Sudiegirl, Inc., makers of the "Rip Taylor Action Figure" complete with free confetti, is pleased to present the inaugural "Attajudge" award!

This award goes to a judge that makes a LOGICAL legal decision. These are very rare.


Recipient: Judge Mitchell Turner of Iowa City, Iowa.

Reason: Mitchell awarded the father of a U of Iowa student more than $448,000 for damages from one of two downtown Iowa City bars. Paul Kearney, father of Michael Kearney (22 year old Iowa student who died after a beating administered by Daniel Corbett on New Year's Eve '03) sued two bars, and was awarded the $448K from Vito's bar.

To quote the article:

Judge Mitchell Turner ordered Vito's to pay Paul Kearney $448,013.83 plus interest, court documents show. A settlement in the case was reached in July but was disputed by Vito's insurer, Prime Insurance Syndicate, which filed a lawsuit regarding the policy limit.

Kearney reached a settlement with The Union Bar in Iowa City in March. He sued both bars for $1.3 million in damages for serving alcohol to Daniel Corbett on New Year's Eve 2003. Corbett, now 23, struck Michael Kearney, 22, and rammed his head into a concrete wall, police said.

The attacker claimed self-defense, but police claimed the opposite, that the attack was unprovoked and neither man knew the other.

Judge's comments:

As both a UI alumna and former Iowa City resident, I am really glad to see this happen.

I'm not a prude, believe me. I've tied one on and done several stupid things while drunk. I am sure I'll get flak for this, but here's my opinion.

The men were both of legal age and therefore couldn't be held back from drinking in the first place. However, something sparked it in addition to alcohol, and the bartenders at both places should have had their eyes open a little more. I know you can't be in more than one place at once, but I also know that Vito's and The Union bar both have a large staff, especially on primo drinking nights (Thursday - Saturday).

Furthermore, if both establishments are serving alcohol in the first place, that's just a powder keg waiting to blow. They should claim responsibility if they know someone is under the influence in the first place but continue to serve them. There are ways cutting off can be done in a subtle yet effective manner.

Mr. Kearney lost a son due to two bars, right across the street from each other, that didn't "cut off" the alcohol consumption of his son's attacker. Yes, Corbett could have gotten booze from a corner liquor store, but you know what? HE DIDN'T. Therefore, the bars should claim responsibility and pay the hell up. If the don't want to, that's where the courts come in and give a little "friendly persuasion".

Ah yeah...

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Finally...

Thought for Today: "Everyone's quick to blame the alien." — Aeschylus, Greek poet and dramatist (524 B.C.?-456 B.C.?).

Sudiegirl's response: ALF was right!

Have a good 'un, folks...I will be back on Friday the 13th...ooh...scary!

Sudiegirl