Turning 30...

I'm 30 now. No longer in my rip-roarin 20's. I don't feel any different. I don't feel any older.

My Mom decided I'm finally old enough to stop getting stuffed animals for every birthday and Christmas. Probably because I have a ton and they've pretty much outgrown the space I have to keep them in so now all but a select few are in storage totes in the garage. I have just about every stuffed animal one could imagine. I remember coming home from school one day and finding a little brown and white rabbit sitting on my bed. Right on my pillow. I named him Dalto after a character in a book by Judy Blume. I think the book was "then Again, Maybe I Won't" and Mr. Dalto was the kid's dad's boss I think. I just thought the name was funny.

I have a green T-rex named Gregory. I got him from school in 3rd grade. I don't remember but I think I won him in some kind of reading contest.

Gregory is the big green dinosaur there in the front. 

I loved to read in school. Book It! Winning the pizza certificates every month and getting your own personal pan pizzas! I loved the old Pizza Hut in the Rapids. Had those classic tabletop arcade games. I had always been at a higher reading level than most kids in my class. I pretty much only had one other student for competition. I probably still have one of those Book It! buttons with the stars on it in my toybox. 

I even think I might still have the shoelace from first grade with all the colored beads on it. One bead per book read, and a different color for each genre. I've had a library card since I was 3. I still have the original one, and the library's not even at that location anymore. It's got a crack in it and had about 6 new bar codes, but they told me last summer they won't give me a new one until it's completely destroyed. 

There was even one summer, I believe it was the one prior to my sophomore year, we went to the county over and got a library card there because they were in a different inter-library loan system and I could read all kinds of new books. It was about the same distance from home anyways. There was even a time in 2nd grade I did a book report on two different books with the same title ("My Favorite Book"). The teacher humiliated me in front of the entire class and would not even give me a chance to explain myself that they were two different books with a whole different story line. 

OK, back to the stuffed animals. Sealy is a white seal who glows in the dark. My Dad would light him up for me every night when he tucked me in. Stryper is a white lion who is so perfectly huggable that he almost still goes with me everywhere. Baby Bernard is a puppy dog and when I press his right front paw, his left ear pops up. Tyg is a tiger who when squeezed, he growls. Although he seems to have come down with chronic laryngitis. Cuddly is a leopard who purrs when moved. Tuppy is a giant white whale that came from Tupperware. Man, the old Tupperware toys were the best. Why ever did they get rid of the school bus that converted into a classroom? Always wanted one, never got one. Just like the Big Wheel. I see now they make an adult big wheel! 

http://www.amazon.com/High-Roller-Adult-Wheel-Trike/dp/B00ADICLBA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1377742917&sr=8-3&keywords=adult+big+wheel

When I was a kid, I was upset that the boys down the street had a Big Wheel and I didn't. Okay, probably jealous because by then I was too big for it anyway. So one day when I knew they weren't home I took it from their yard and hid it in the girl's bathroom at the park across the street. Two days later when they found it and their mom asked me about it, I told her I didn't know anything about it and it was probably the mean boys across the street. 

Well, yeah, reminiscing is fun and who knows what my 30s will bring. I know it will no longer bring stuffed animals for Christmas or birthdays... lol like my old college roommate used to say; "now that I live on my own, I don't get toys for Christmas anymore.... I get household items." LOL 

I could use a complete set of nice pots and pans that are dishwasher safe, with lids, and will last longer and not rust the first time I wash them. 

So Mom gave me a bawking chicken for my final stuffed animals. I don't have a chicken... got a couple baby chicks, but no chicken. 

Some Quirky Cooking Escapades

I have never cooked a turkey before. This last year was my first time, partly because my Mom doesn't like turkey so we always had ham for the holidays. Which is why once I was a teenager I always begged to go somewhere else for the holidays... somewhere I knew there would be turkey. :) Although Mom did pull through one year when she made two turkey legs just for me at Thanksgiving.

My place of employment gives everyone a turkey for Thanksgiving. Well.... honestly, we had two HUGE Thanksgiving dinners... one with my family on Thanksgiving, one with Zach's family two days later. So we decided to hold off on our turkey til around the second weekend in December.

I took this thing out of the freezer on Thursday with plans to cook it on Sunday. After three days in the fridge, it was STILL FROZEN. So Sunday morning we take it out and toss it in the sink of water... when we decided it was time to cook it... getting the guts out was another story.... it took about four different tools to yank that little plastic hook-y thing out of it. Melted a stick of butter, basted it over, shoved it in an oven bag, and attempted to put it in the oven.... well, forgetting that the turkey would not fit with both racks in the oven. Should have thought about that BEFORE I turned the oven on... so Zach grabs a hot pad and the rack and we quickly decide since this thing is already 500 degrees and Zach is standing in the kitchen holding it the only place to go with it is outside on the deck into the snowbank :). I run and open the door and he tosses it into the foot of snow on the deck and it sizzzzzllllleeesssssss pretty funny.

This is what the turkey looked like when it was done:

Not bad for my first one ever.

We had turkey for the next two weeks.

We had just gotten done being overindulged with turkey, when Zach texts me and says he has a surprise for me. His place of employment had given everyone a turkey for Christmas. Since we ended up having four Christmases and tons more food, we decided to wait a month or two before making this one...

So a couple weeks ago we decided instead of going shopping for meat, we would just make the turkey. Took another Sunday afternoon and cooked it. Took it out of the freezer on Wednesday, this one was defrosted by Sunday and yes, this time I remembered to take the oven rack out before pre heating the oven. But I couldn't find the bag of guts anywhere in the thing, had no trouble getting the plastic thingie and the neck out, and it turned out much better. I think brand name had something to do with it...

This one was much prettier. I found the bag of guts when I cut it up but it didn't seem to harm it any.

Meat loaf has always been something else I have struggled with. I could never figure out how to get it rounded in the middle, until my Mom told me you have to form it that way in the pan. Ooops LOL. I have also been making homemade hamburgers a lot lately and been adding a pouch of onion soup mix into the meat.... saves having to cut up an onion and crying. The meat loaf turned out really good.

Before:

After: 

It was delicioso. 

Oh.... and I just HAVE to share this with you all.... check out this awesome pizza spatula that my cousin gave Zach for Christmas: 

It so reminds me of the movie Uncle Buck, where he uses the shovel to flip over the mega huge pancakes he was making for the little man's birthday. And yes, I know I burnt the pizza. :)

Our Apartment Hunt

It started in July. Zach moved in with me at Mom and Dad's due to unforeseen circumstances he could not control. So we decided that we could find a place to live together closer to work instead of driving 35-40 miles one way apiece. So we started looking around Baraboo.

First place we looked at, was way too small. One bedroom tiny, I don't even think our bed would have fit in the bedroom. Awesome location though, with the Baraboo River right out the back door. We passed on that one.

Next one we looked at over by the hospital. It was upstairs, decent size. I loved the built in shelves in the kitchen. We filled out the application, returned it, never heard back.

We looked at another place on the edge of town. We really liked this one. We filled out the application and I returned it.... but discovered I had dropped it in the wrong mailbox! I put it in the outgoing mail box instead of the rent drop box! Then we freaked out quickly, thinking someone would pick it up and we were the next victims of identity theft, but the landlord assured me it was probably shredded at the post office. 

We looked at another place that he fell in love with, but I didn't really. I liked that it was not an apartment building; it was the upstairs of a house. 2 bedroom, huge kitchen, nice sun room and huge deck.... disadvantage was it was two blocks away from the circus and the circus music was soooo annoying! The bedrooms were tiny and there were alot of walls.... I didn't like how closed off it felt. Unfortunately, they were the ones who accepted us... with a co signer. My parents agreed to co sign for us for one year and the company agreed.... said if we could keep up on rent payments for one year then they would remove my parents as co signers. I don't really have a bad rental history, just not a steady one in between living with family and friends. So we made an appointment to sign the papers on  Monday afternoon before Zach went to work. Friday afternoon, he got fired from his job. So we had a little bit of a setback. But knowing my active guy like I do, I knew he would not go without a job for long. In the entire time I have known him, he has not gone more then 3 weeks without work. He did find another job about a week and a half later. Because there was no way we could have afforded that place on just my part time job income.

The first week of August I got my dream job in security at the casino. Full time. Benefits. Awesome. So we made the next quest to find a place to live by the beginning of October.

We looked at another place over in the same area where I dropped the application in the wrong box. The guy there was kind of weird... it was set up the same as the other building. But he made us give him a $99 utility deposit with our rental application, and a non refundable $20 background check fee. We gave it and he said we would hear something back in 3-5 days. Didn't. I called the guy and left messages..... he contacted me about two weeks later. Said he had to decline us due to the amount of money I am indebted to collections. I asked if it mattered that it was all medical bills, and he said it did not matter. He was a major jerk. He also said he could not rent to us because I work at Ho-Chunk and he knows for a fact that they do not help their employees with past debts. I was like WTF?

So we were shot down again. Not even 20 minutes after I got off the phone with him, I checked my email. I had received an email from the landlord of the place where I had put the app in the wrong box, and she was asking if we were still looking for a place because she just had one come available. I said yes and called her right away. We made plans to look at it on Saturday. We came down and looked at it.... filled out the app right in the apartment and handed it to her to make sure she got it this time (LOL) and she said she would be in touch. Monday morning I checked my email and she asked me to call Alliant Energy and ask if I could get the utilities in my name or if they would have to go in Zach's or would we need a deposit, etc. I thought this sounded like a good sign.... so I called the electric company and they said we were ok. I emailed her this info and the landlord replied "we're good to go for Oct. 1st, maybe sooner." I was so excited! We got the keys the Saturday prior to the first and moved in on the first.

It's a pretty decent size apartment. Nice deck, upstairs, it's warm, small kitchen, dining room, nice size bedrooms, tons of closet space with shelves... have a pantry AND a linen closet, I can have my kitty, and our first electric bill was only $37! It is soooo nice to have a 5 minute 3 mile drive to work instead of an hour and 35 mile drive one way! It's quiet, for the most part, except for the demon child downstairs I have dubbed Bam Bam because I swear he throws furniture (or himself) against the wall every night. It's on the edge of town, barely can tell we live in town.

Mall of America... FINALLY!

We finally made it to MOA! The day after my 29th birthday!

And what's the very first thing we did upon going inside? Yup! We rode the upside down rolly coaster! It was my first time on an actual roller coaster that took riders upside down... and the whole thing lasted only about 30 seconds!

 

And here I am riding the Pepsi Orange Streak roller coaster... this one went around the entire inside of the theme park... much longer but not as exciting...

 

Ahhh....enjoyin the good life. And a beer in this bar slash arcade slash bowling alley. Didn't really enjoy the price of the drinks though.....

But then we swam under the sharks in the aquarium. 

I think these little guys were my favorite. -->

SHARKS! DUN DUN... DUN DUN.... dun dundundundundun.....

This lil guy was just bobbling in the water... he was so still it was creepy.

Of course LegoLand was next.... here I am with Lego Woody. 

 

I can't believe you could just buy an assorted cup of Legos that you pick out! So many to choose from!

We went to Mystic Lakes and this band was playing live on the gaming floor! Zach had them wish me a Happy Birthday then he danced with me to the song they played for me.

Our hotel room was up there? Over there? Somewhere.... we had an amazing 5th floor view of the roof. But the most comfortable bed either one of us had ever slept in. Plus when we were checking in, the guy noticed I had a guide book, and told us there was a 20% off coupon for their hotel in there, and he even cut it out! Heck of a steal and the best nights sleep ever!

Moose Mountain Mini Golf. He looks so enthused.... 

Here is a better view of the upside down rolly coaster we first rode. We actually went back and rode it again before we left that night. 

 Rainforest Cafe for lunch on Sunday!

We got the best seats in the house. Table for two.... right next to this table-to-ceiling aquarium.

Cool flashy cup that I got to keep! Tropical drink melting in my hand..... 

Zach's enjoying his ribs... and his "Corona-rita"

Best pic we could get with all the people around. I wanted one with both of us but he didn't want to pose for another picture lol 

Cannot for the life of me figure out how this fits into the salon it is in.... but it is a cool bike anyway. Vintage. 

So yeah, so happy I FINALLY got to go to MOA. I swear we didn't even see everything in that entire place and we were there two days. We are more the type who would rather spend money and time with each other doing something fun, rather then buying stuff. I did bring home some cool little items for Mom and Dad, and got some magnets and postcards as souvenirs. Can't believe it took 21 years for me to get there! Tons o fun!

 

On the Job Hunt....

...and hopefully not for much longer cuz... I GOT A JOB! Yeah!

Although I would have loved to have gotten the dispatch job at the local sheriff's department, I didn't realize (but probably should have known) that the process would take over 3 months. I probably should have been looking much sooner and completely during that time... but yeah, I'm lazy.

The application was due Dec 13th, the exam was Jan 21st, and my interview was Feb. 29th. I thought things were looking good.... I even filled out the wrong application and the contact person emailed me informing me of this, giving me three days to turn in the right one!

Then came test day.... she said 55 applied, and 44 were taking the test.

Never found out my score, just got an email that I passed with a 77 or higher. 70 was qualifying. And to sign up for an interview time.... there were 19 time slots. So it was me vs. 18.

The day before the interview, we got kind of a wild winter weather storm, and I got an email saying the person in line before my time slot had cancelled, so could I come in a half hour sooner? Absolutely! Me vs. 17!

Within about 5 days of the interview I got an e-mail saying I wasn't selected, which I knew once the interview was over that I didn't get the job and knew exactly why. Even though the Sheriff in the panel interview asked me about my background, I told him completely, and he said "thanks for being honest" but I knew that's what killed it. Oh well. 40 hours a week, at 14 something an hour with full benefits... yeah I can find that elsewhere... just not in this county....

So what's the next best bet? Get a summer job in the Dells then get the hell outta here. Cause ya gotta be crazy to wanna live around here without a decent job, unless you like traveling at least an hour one way...

I took a Wednesday and went to the Dells on the job search. Took a friend with me who has also been looking for work. We went to Chula Vista (dispatcher, lifeguard, housekeeping), Holiday Wholesale (warehouse), Ho Chunk (security and Guest Services... was told the security position closed a week prior but they would keep ap on file for 45 days), Kalahari (security, housekeeping, lifeguard) and Wilderness (security, housekeeping, lifeguard). Also picked up applications at Christmas Mountain and Atlantis. We filled out the same apps, gave them to the same people, for pretty much the same positions... and three days later, she calls to tell me SHE got a job at the Wilderness for housekeeping.

Sigh.

Got a letter from Kalahari saying they don't have time to review all applications, it will stay on file for 30 days, if I'm selected they'll call, feel free to re-apply after 30 days, blah blah blah.

Few days later get a phone call from Chula for an interview for the dispatch position, for maintenance and housekeeping. Had the interview on a Monday, she said her last interview is on Thursday and I will hear from her by Friday. Didn't. Call her the following Monday, she tells me her last interview is Tuesday and to call her Wednesday.... stringing me along, I didn't call her back. Still haven't heard from her.

Soooooo.... off I go again. Took another friend with me. She filled out an app at Wilderness, we both filled out an app at Great Wolf, I picked up apps at Knuckleheads, Buffalo Phil's, Ponderosa. SHE gets an interview two days later at Great Wolf.

We both applied for lifeguard.... I have experience and current certification... she has no experience and not yet certified.

Sigh.

I'm going alone from now on. Or taking someone with me who has a job.

Saturday morning I get a phone call for an interview at Knuckleheads. Go in Monday morning.... the guy who interviewed me was more nervous than I was. I thought it went well... got the usual "got a few more interviews....I'll let you know by the end of the week."

Nothing.

I kind of got the impression that you have to be a knucklehead to work there and that I am overqualified to work in the Dells.

Tuesday evening around 8:15 p.m. I get a phone call from Ho Chunk. She asked me to come in and "talk to her". Set an appointment for the next afternoon.

I go in, and while I am sitting in her office waiting for her, I see the Intent to Hire paperwork sitting on her desk.... I'm sitting there thinking "is that for me?... I haven't even had an interview...."

She walks in and asks me one question: the fated "tell me about yourself."

Oy. I was myself. Don't remember what I said but she replied that she liked my application, she liked my demeanor, that I have an approachable face and this was the type of person she wanted at her front desk, someone who customers wouldn't be afraid to approach, and she was going to hire me.

So I asked her what she liked about my application (I left resumes with just about every app) and she said that she could tell I was working towards something, and she liked that, and usually when she came across someone like that she had to grab them while she could because there's usually a very short amount of time that she could.  

In other words, we got along great :)

She sent me down to HR to fill out some paperwork, then I had to go downstairs for my wiz quiz and get my picture taken, and I was told the results should be back Monday or Tuesday and then I would be called to come in and fill out the rest of the paperwork.

I got the phone call today. I go in tomorrow afternoon for the rest of the paperwork and orientation is April 16-17!

It will start out as an LTP, but she said if they like me and I work out well then they may consider hiring me on full time year round. She is aware of the fact that I may not want to remain in this area beyond mid September, but I told her we would see what happens between now and then. I will be trained on all three shifts, but will mostly be on thirds, which I love anyways. When I told her I would prefer overnights, she was surprised and kind of happy I think, and said she did not gather that I like overnights from my application.

Night owl for life!

 

Plan A... or B... or C...

... not to worry... there's 23 more letters of the alphabet....

The crazy dog is barking again. Because Dad's toast popped up in the toaster. Oh yeah, Lassie's a weirdo. She also barks when Dad pulls a Kleenex out of the box, when he blows his nose, when you open the microwave door, and if the microwave beeper goes off and you're not paying attention to it, she'll come stare at you like Eddie does on Frasier until you get up and fetch it. If you're standing up, she'll get behind you and poke her long nose into the back of your knee and herd you towards the kitchen. Goofy pup.

I pick things up and I put them down. :)

Mom is trying to convince me to go work on a cruise ship. Looks like fun. But it's not something that can just be done temporarily. They want you like 6-8 months at a time then it depends on the job you've got on if you even get to go off the ship in port. Along with sharing a cabin with 1-3 other people in a space that's tinier than a dorm room... although seeing tons of places I have never been or could never see otherwise would be amazing... Doesn't help that she is watching Cake Boss right now and they are featuring a Disney cruise line where they had to make a huge cake decorated like a cruise ship. Thing wouldn't fit in the elevator so they had to carry it down the stairs... I thought for sure that was going to be a cake disaster.

This last summer I was looking into doing the Disney College program, but after thinking about it and talking about it, and then looking into it even more... the day I went back to fill out the application... was a day too late. I may look into that for this summer. Again, it would be going somewhere I have never been and doing something I have never done. That looked like tons of fun.

This past Saturday I took the test for a job as dispatcher in the local sheriff's department. It's a really great job for this area. Basically, unless you work for the school district or the county or city, you're driving 30+ miles to find any good job. It would be a great position to get. Better than anything I have ever had before. But there is a lot riding on it. I mean, I am pretty sure I passed the test, although it will be close to two weeks or more before I even find out my score and if I make it on to the next wave of the process. If I get it, I'm staying here. No way I am giving that up. But it's a process. And highly competitive.

On the other side of that... that's the only thing riding on me staying here. If this doesn't come through for me, I am going to Phoenix to finish school on campus. Because these online classes are just insane. Everyone was telling me when I was in college that they did online classes here and there for what wasn't offered on ground. And they all said "oh they're so easy" and "you should try them, you'll like them" and yada yada yada. Well, y'all were wrong. I HATE THEM! I am in my third one now, and my first program core class, and it's annoying as heck. I feel like I am not learning anything. Like I am in a degree mill. And I hate that. I don't feel I learn this way effectively. I would rather be in the classroom. And the more I look into going to Phoenix, the more I want to go. Especially since I just changed my major and now I am looking at another two years of school for my master's degree.

And I need to work on finishing my book. I have a new laptop now, my notes are scattered who knows where in between a zillion places, and I have nothing better to do. Might as well get moving on that and look into publishing. I think it will be best as a trilogy though. Now if I could just figure out where to end it.

I pick things up and I put them down.

Like a Kid on Christmas Eve

These online classes just are not working for me. Why on Earth am I paying $70 per class to use an e textbook that doesn't even make sense to use? I can't highlight it, I can't take notes, I can't flip back and forth between pages without scrolling my eyes all out of focus and by the time finding what I am looking for, forgetting what I was seeking in the first place.

This is my first bout of online classes. The first two weren't so bad... but this is my first program course, principles of marketing... which shouldn't be a problem; I had a couple years of marketing in high school. Which.... was .... ten... years.... ago.

No. The problem I am having is with a bazillion folders having to be opened to locate one thing, and fifty more having to be opened and links to go through to find the other thing that goes with it (and with my lack of a short term memory, it can be rather frustrating) and that everything comes as a download instead of being directly on the site... why oh why does something so easy have to be so difficult? And it's something that doesn't even have to be difficult. They just like to make it that way it seems. Of course, there's reasons for why the school is laid out that way. I don't know them, but I am sure there is.

So what's the difference between the reason and an excuse? Hmmm.... it's a fine line. Imagine this common scenario.

Student walks in late to class. Teacher asks "what's your excuse?" Student says they overslept. That is the true and honest reason. Result: detention for being late.

I believe there is a difference between an excuse and a reason. I just think excuse is used improperly way too much.

Say someone just got fired from their job. Instead of picking up and finding something new, they stay up until the wee hours of the morning, sleep until 2 or 3 pm, and never leave the house all day. What's their reason for not finding something new? There is no valid reason. What's their reason? Making excuses. Laziness.

So why am I awake typing this at 230 a.m.? I'm way tired but don't feel like sleeping. I know I should, because at the moment I am like a kid waiting for Santa. When the parents tell the children "the sooner you go to sleep, the sooner Christmas morning will be here...."

Yes, the sooner I go to sleep, the sooner I will get to go home. This crazy weekend visiting La Crosse has had its ups and downs. Unfortunately, more downs than ups. I can just never make up my mind. When I am there, I want to be here; and when I am here, I want to be there.

Changes Are in Store...

So I no longer live in the apartment trailer park. Currently, I don't want to change the name of the blog. I think it's cute. Maybe the description though... I went from having three roommates and one cat to three cats and one roommate.

I am glad I am out of that neighborhood though. Too much drama that I did not want to be involved in. Been on the south side of the city for almost a week now, and it's been okay. I think things will be okay.

I did have a job. Since the end of August I was working in a factory, started on first shift then transferred to second shift, but missed one day due to unforeseen things that happened that I am not going to post about, and then ended up leaving on my lunch break on Thursday evening because I was throwing up and in the bathroom more than I was on the line. I asked my supervisor if I could go home and he said yes. The temp place called me Friday morning and said they didn't want me back due to my attendance. I was working with Zach on first shift and that ended up leading to a few problems between us which kind of ended our friendship relationship. I miss do miss him but nothing will cure that but time.

Wow I thought this neighborhood was quiet. Just thought I heard gunshots but they were too rapid so I go peek out on the deck and someone's lighting off a ton of huge aerial fireworks. Nice.

Actually, it's not that quiet here. There's still a lot of construction going on from the tornado cleanup in this neighborhood and the hospital a few blocks away is undergoing a major overhaul. So it's difficult to sleep in when the windows are open, and they have been because it's been hot for a Wisconsin October!

I am going back to school though. Currently am doing online classes through Grand Canyon University (GCU) out of Phoenix, and am actually considering moving down there to attend on campus instead. Just looking into the options and possibilities and pros and cons and finances for getting there in time for spring semester. It's a tough decision, but what I'm feeling led to do. I feel there is nothing left for me in La Crosse right now, and the more I look into what the campus has to offer, the more I am getting excited to make it happen.

Figuring Things Out

Wow. A lot has happened since I last posted. I've been slacking.

First of all, everyone told you to keep up on what happened with that bogus citation I got on Memorial Day weekend. Last written, it was headed to trial. Well, a week before trial the D.A. sent me a letter stating that the cost of a trial did not warrant the expense of the ticket.

Dismissed. No trial, no fine. However, a week later. things completely turned upside down but since this is the Internet, I am not going to go into details about that.

It's Going to Trial...

Met with the DA on Friday. Was hoping to get this bogus ticket dismissed. Guess I was wrong. The DA was not interested in hearing what I had to say.... only said he could reduce the fine amount. I even tried explaining to him what happened... nope, didn't want to hear it. All he said was it was between the deputy and I and if I wanted to ask him questions then he would set a trial date and mail me the info... it would probably be in thirty days or so.

Yeah and I thought about getting a lawyer, but everyone I have talked to about this thinks I have a pretty good case on my end... I know the law, I know the elements of the law and that reason alone is enough to let the judge know I did nothing fitting the elements of the crime. I have to go in and keep a cool head, but I do have plenty of questions for that deputy. The DA says (and not knowing how he got this out of the three sentence statement in the narrative from the officer) that it sounds like the deputy was just frustrated and sick of dealing with me.... still, not enough for a DC ticket... since I did nothing under the elements of the state statute for disorderly conduct.

On the other hand, some people are telling me to just pay the ticket and let it go. I would, if I knew I deserved it. There's only been two other tickets I have ever fought in my lifetime, because I know if I got the ticket I did it and am more than willing to pay for the consequences. But this one, I did not deserve. Therefore I am fighting. Most others have been traffic violations, some ordinance violations, but the only other two I fought were.... and here's good stories behind both... one was for prowling and the other for violation of ball playing regulations.

Seriously.

The prowling one, a friend and I were playing a game we invented called "Prowler" and just so happens well, we had nowhere to play (all the parks int he city are closed from 11 pm to 7 am) so we made the city block I live on our boundaries. Just so happens I lived half a block away from the PD, and as I was on the sidewalk looking around the corner for my prey, an off duty officer comes out of the PD claiming I was looking in the windows of the house on the corner. He chased and dragged me back to the PD and had an on duty officer come write me a ticket for prowling. That one was thrown out no problem.

The other one was for violation of ball playing regulations. Basketball. There's a nice park on Sand Lake Road with a basketball court so I was up there playing one night.... it was about 1040 ish (remember the park closes at 11) when an officer steps out and tells me they got a complaint about me playing basketball so if I left he would appreciate it. No problem, I left. Few nights later, I was out there about the same time, and an officer walks over to me from Kwik Trip across the street, munching on pretzels and Gatorade, and tells me I need to leave because the park will be closing soon. I said OK and I left.

Just after 1030 a few nights later, I'm out there playing basketball and a squad car flies up to the curb, steps out and yells across the court "Holly get over here and give me your driver's license!" I asked why (yeh I was young and rebellious) and he says "because you've been told you can't be out here playing ball this late and we've been out here a few times for you playing ball this late so tonight you're getting a ticket."

I was like, "a ticket for what?" and he replied for violation of ball playing regulations.... I was at the other end of the court, he was on the other side of the fence, and I was pissed, so I whipped the basketball across the court at him and it bounced off the fence next to him. He yelled "Do you wanna go to jail for disorderly conduct?" I said no and then he yelled for me to get over there and give him my ID.

This is the same officer that wrote me the prowling ticket. So he gives me the ticket and I asked him if the park is open til 11 why can't I play basketball until 11?

He says the park is open til 11, but there's a city ordinance saying no one can play basketball in any city park or playground between the hours of 1030 pm and 7 am.

The ticket was dismissed because even though it's a city ordinance, it''s not posted anywhere in the city in any of the parks or playgrounds. I told the city attorney that and he agreed.

So those were the only other tickets I've ever got that I've fought, because, come on now... they were both pretty bogus. As was this one. We'll see what happens at trial. Bring it on, 132!