Recently, our Chili the Cat developed some fairly serious issues. It is probably safe to assume he was within a day or so of certain demise. Cats are funny creatures that way. They tend to hide their ailments until it is nearly too late to help. You have to pay close attention to the few signs they do show. Humans, on the other hand, love to share. If they are happy, they show it…If they are mad, they show and if they are sad, they show it.

Case in point: my girlfriend’s emotions related to the forementioned misfortunes of our cat. After a week of taking him in to different veterinarians including a 12:00 - 3:30 AM Labor Day visit to the animal urgent care clinic, the girlfriend was in an emotional spiral. The next day, Chili seemed to be on his last leg - we decided to take him to another clinic.

After dropping him off at the clinic, my girlfriend stopped for coffee at a near-by Starbucks. Very shaken by the whole ordeal, she no doubt struggled to keep her emotions in check as she stood in line. When she arrived at the counter, she finally let go into tears.

So, here we have the picture painted; two total strangers meeting for the first time under fairly neutral circumstances. One of these strangers is openly upset. The other? As the first tears rolled and the bottom lip quivered, the barista sprung into action and attempted to provide support…

“Do you want some water?” (more…)

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My story, however, isn’t just about the food - it’s about the operation, the work environment, the inner workings if you will. As I pulled up to the drive-through window, I noticed a sign above many papers hanging on the wall on the other side of the building… While not completely guarded from view it’s placement behind the service counter suggested it was not meant for public view. What was this you ask?

The sign read, “Daily Game Plan”…

Game plan…a term usually reserved for strategic efforts that eventually become known to those who witness the outcome as the “epic battle”, the “major offensive”, or the “game of the century.”

What could Carl’s Jr. possibly have to say to it’s employees that would warrant its own wall and header sign - not to mention the fact that it is a DAILY game plan…like they have enough to say everyday to fill a whole wall! If we were to get a close examination of the wall, we might see things like “cleanliness is key,” “safe food handling,” “customer satisfaction,” and the ever popular “up-selling tips.”

Remember some of those “black-sheep” ad campaigns?

• Paris Hilton Commercial
• “If it doesn’t get all over the place, it doesn’t belong in your face”
• Flat Buns…

They seem to leave a certain impression of the establishment, right? Yet from the standard corporate blathering on their walls (I am guessing this is a standard feature found in all stores) - they are far from the in-your face feed barn they portray themselves to be. So, when you drive up or walk into Carl’s Jr. those images you have in your head from their campaigns go unfulfilled….Instead, you get the standard fast-food service - provided by unenthusiastic “associates” (another misplaced word in the fast food world). (more…)

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My last entry briefly discussed that sickening feeling we all get when a police car pulls in behind you - worse yet, how you feel when the lights actually come on. This installment, I believe, is even worse…

Irvine, CA really has a problem with traffic congestion during the 5:00 PM rush-hour. A combination of far too many cars and many close traffic lights can really snarl things up. Not sure if it is by design, but you can imagine the revenue generating opportunities for local law enforcement, as motorists constantly look for ways to shave seconds off their commutes.

The intersection of Michelson Drive and Jamboree Road is full of these opportunities. The straight lanes on Michelson for through traffic crossing Jamboree seem long enough, right? Not even close! Everyday from about 4:45 to 5:00 PM, these two lanes back-up all the way to Teller - making it nearly impossible to get into the turn lanes to go left on Jamboree. Further, most cars turning left on Jamboree at this time are looking to get on the 405 Fwy - requiring them to merge to the right shortly after turning on to Jamboree. This results in the outside turn lane filling up - blocking easy access to the inside turn lane. So, in order to save those precious seconds we discussed earlier, some clever drivers have started crossing the double yellow (and driving on the wrong side of the road) to enter the inside left turn-lanes.

While making a right turn onto Michelson from Teller (toward Jamboree), I witnessed a BMW cross the intersection into an on-coming lane to get to the inside turn lane. Before he came to a stop, a motorcycle cop, who was parked in a driveway to the right, shot across the road and pulled up along the driver’s side of the BMW. The fun had begun!  (more…)

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As I was on my way home the other evening, I was stopped at a red light at the intersection of MacArthur and Fairchild waiting to turn left onto MacArthur. As I looked to the left, I noticed a car moving rather slowly to the North on MacArthur in the right-hand lane. As the car approached the intersection, it moved into the left lane. It was at this point that the police motorcycle (depicted as a car in the picture) came into view, slowly trailing the car with lights flashing. As the car broke the plane of the intersection, the driver came to virtually a complete stop (in the fast lane, mind you) and abruptly executed a U-Turn. Just one problem here - the intersection is clearly marked with a NO U-TURN sign! After executing the u-turn, she slowed and eventually pulled-over.

Was this a case of extreme nervousness? Was she in shock - suffering from delusions as a result of the flashing lights??? Whatever the case, not only did she likely make her situation much worse as far as traffic laws are concerned, she risked the lives of complete strangers in the oncoming cars.

While most of us would agree that nervousness resulting from being pulled-over is understandable, it is likely that none of us would condone irrational, reckless behavior like this… Drivers oblivious to the rest of the world; definitely not Model Citizens!

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• Passengers with excessive questions at the check-in counter (as if they are the only one flying)
• Passengers in the security line who wait until they are in front of the agent before they ready bording passes and IDs (which happen to be buried in their carry-on baggage…
• Travelers at the X-Ray machines insisting “they let me bring this last time.”
• People at the baggage claim who place their six oversized bags right in front of the conveyor as they wait for their small duffel (blocking access to the rest of the luggage for 5 yards in either direction).

So, this morning I witnessed a new one to add to the ever-growing list of airport insanities. The curb-side box-in!

I dropped my girlfriend at the John Wayne Airport this morning (SNA) - a relatively small airport that serves as an Orange County alternative to making the trek to the much larger LAX. Traffic at the terminal was steady but not too congested - it looked like curb-side check-in was going to be a relatively easy task… I pulled into the unloading zone (see the green car in the linked illustration) Curb-side Approach

I helped her with her luggage, kissed her goodbye and jumped in the car pleased with the ease of it all - an easy exit was just moments away. Suddenly, a car pulled into the space behind me (only temporarily mind you), around my driver’s side and stopped slightly ahead of me in a double-parked position (see the black car in the linked illustration) Airport Box-in

So, this aero-idiot takes it upon himself to box me in - forcing me to back-up and merge into the steady flow of traffic at a 90-degree angle. Not sure why the space behind me was not suitable, or why he didn’t pull up farther to allow me some space to get out. At least this time it wasn’t a Mercedes (Mercedes owners are probably getting a little sensitive with all the uber-bashing)… No, this was an Escalade - you know a Chevy nicely appointed with 22″ wheels and the skin of four to five cattle that had no idea they would serve such a lofty purpose as to provide comfort for some idiot’s ass.

So - plainly stated - double parking at airport curb-side check-in zones is in no way Model Citizenship!!! Thanks for reading!

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Merely seconds after agreeing to wait and still facing the crosswalk spanning Michelson, a black Audi A3 zipped right in front of us after running the red light by using the cross-walk to our left. Stepping into the crosswalk a moment sooner would have meant certain demise!

While we were waiting on Teller to cross Michelson from east-to-west, the Audi approached the red-light on Michelson from the south. There were two cars in each of the straight lanes and one in the left turn lane. Seeing that he would likely have to wait at least 30 seconds for the light to turn green in his favor, he threw caution to the wind and made an abrupt move for the right hand turn lane…slowing only slightly as he approach the corner, he made an angled right turn. What he did next bordered on insanity…

After making his loose tight turn, our model moron continued - crossing the intersection by straddling the crosswalk spanning Teller and turning back onto Michelson. I have included a visual which illustrates this madness in full color… give it a little click-click-click-a-roo!

So, basically we have another entitled idiot who clearly believes his phantom stature in life justifies breaking laws and putting other people at risk. This was truly an amazing display - apparently, his senselessness knows no bounds… Definitely not a Model Citizen, but a Model Idiot indeed!

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While I am myself a parent, I would never claim to be an expert at parenting. In fact, anyone who claims such capability likely has serious issues of their own… I do however have a sense for what is appropriate when it comes to kids in public places. Some examples of potentially volatile situations involving children and the public realm include: Babies on airplanes, Babies at the movies, Toddlers at the grocery store and so on…

In this particular story, the forum happens to be a restaurant. Surprised? I didn’t think so… We all know there are endless potential pitfalls with the child / restaurant relationship: The fussy child; the food thrower; the runner; the silverware drummer; and the ever-popular screamer. You have to be on top of your game to pull off a sit-down dinning-out experience that does not incite a riot at your favorite eatery… Enter what apparently was ladies night out - to Claim Jumper.

In this story, we open with three mothers sitting at a 4-top (restaurant speak for a table and 4 chairs). The conversation is light and typical. The restaurant is filling up so their voices are just slightly elevated, but judging from the casual tone at the table this is likely a somewhat regular meeting. As our meal progressed the full scope of their night out became apparent. Apparently, these not-so-model mommies established a kiddie table for five in a booth near their 4-top.

The “absentee supervision” was not a good idea.

  (more…)

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This story focuses on the abrupt re-direct walker. This is the kind of walker that, while walking slight ahead of you, decides to change directions without even a hint of their intentions. As I walked behind our man-of-the-moment (about 8 feet behind at the 5 o-clock position), I tried to anticipate his next move….

He knew I was behind him, for just 25-30 steps earlier, we both stepped onto the sidewalk from opposing directions. I even paused briefly curbside to allow the walker the right-of way (we were close enough to have collided had I not yielded). The trouble started with the “drift.” A slow encroachment on my path over a period of 15-20 steps – essentially forcing me to alter my path…I chose a little more distance instead.

There was no way I could have guessed what was coming – it defied perambulator logic, bordered on absurdity, was just plain silly. Without warning, Willy Walker slows (ever so slightly) looks off to the left (for reasons still unknown) and with the skill of an NFL running back, makes a 90-degree cut to the right – right in front of me. Forcing me to put on the breaks and cut to the left to avoid an embarrassing mid-sidewalk collision. Of course there was no acknowledgment of the near miss, no motioned apology for the misdirection, not even a word to indicate that he was aware that there were actually other people in the world (especially the one about 1 foot off his flank, struggling to maintain personal space). I wonder if this guy also drives a Mercedes… Inconsiderate pedestrians – hardly Model Citizenship…

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It was a routine night at the gym - nothing special or peculiar to discuss. There was an average crowd, easy access to the equipment, and a Lakers game to watch… The story occurred as we left the gym and made our way back to the truck…

The wind had picked up a bit since we entered the gym - probably 20-25 mph. It felt even colder now and we hurried to the truck to get out of the cold. As we arrived at the truck, Renee pointed out the first predator - lurking deviously in the dark. As we looked around, we noticed several more lot sharks although displaying much less threatening postures…

(more…)

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