Beginning of Fall Quarter....and other pertinent news

The first week of my fall quarter has left me dazed and confused. My classes look excellent, but intimidating as usual, my books look fascinating, but expensive as usual, and all the firm resolutions I made in the summer to keep organized and disciplined are already out the window(Does anyone know someone who works at a storage and organizational store? I need help). Because I am reeling from the fast-paced nature of this week, I decided to sum up some important news tidbits.

1. The Chicks, my beloved flag football team, is up and running once more. We have our first scrimmage on Saturday. Due to our very fierce and mighty presence last year(although we only won one game) Fuller intramural sports came up with a new rule: All teams must have at least two males on the field at all times. It's a pity when equal opportunity comes full circle. Anyway, we had to recruit another male.

2. I finally had my meeting with the head of the Pasadena Transportation Department. Prepared to meet and argue with a bullish troll of a man with large-horned rimmed glasses and sneering face(the only type of person who would ruin others' lives with parking tickets, of course), my strategy was completely dislodged by the gentle, mild-mannered man who stood before me. I was further thrown off by the snippy woman in the background who kept putting her two cents in with a bored roll of her eyes. I found out that this problem is shared by many businesses in the area(such as Starbucks), and consequently, I'm sure the city of Pasadena is making a killing knowing that every worker who has to get to work before 6 a.m. is at risk of paying a $36.00 parking ticket. My only real recourse would be to start a petition and go to the City Council. This, of course, would take quite a bit of time and money. Due to these factors, I regret that I will not be leading a parking revolution here in Pasadena.

3. We actually got our first rain down here...quite shocking when you think that last year this area only accumulated 1.75 inches of rain. I feet like a new woman, and my Oregon blood rejoices in my veins.

Dear Pasadena Parking Police: This means war (of peaceable nature, of course)

Today I got yet another parking ticket. This is my third in two weeks, and at $36 a pop, you can imagine I am not a happy camper(or rather, urban dweller). The first ticket was fair, and I will cheerfully pay it, as it was due to a momentary carelessness in not thoroughly reading the parking sign. The second was not exactly unjust, but certainly illogical and extremely frustrating. The third? Completely ridiculous.

This morning, I parked at about 4:50 a.m. around the corner of the store(in the 4 hour parking) to avoid getting a ticket like I had the previous Friday when it was parked in the 2 hour parking in front of the store. A parking cop came up to us at 5:25 a.m. and asked if our cars were in the front of the store. I told him mine was around the corner. "Is it a green Mazda?" he asked.
"Yes," I said.
"I already ticketed it," he said. "There is no overnight parking in Pasadena from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m."
"I didn't overnight park," I said. "I just parked it a half an hour ago. Can you take the ticket back?"
" It's already in the computer, I can't take it back. There is no overnight parking".
"Ummm.... Officer.....Garcia, is it? Once again, I was not overnight parking. I just got here. Where do you suggest we park? We just got tickets for parking here on Friday, so that 's why I parked around the corner. Do you see that this is a little unfair for those people who work early in the morning?"
"I'm sorry, I can see that, but there's nothing I can do about it."
"Can I speak to someone concerning this?"

I now have in my possession the name and number of the head of Pasadena's parking police. I realize the normal thing you are supposed to do is send in a written letter contesting your ticket(with the check), but I personally think it is a much better option to meet this guy face to face and have a real heart-to-heart.

The passing of the baton, the changing of the guard: An ode to Shamarack

Well, the time has come to officially say goodbye to Shamarack. She has still been in my possession the last couple of months, as her services have been needed by several car-less friends. However, it is now time for her to move on to her new home. Although bittersweet as this moment is, I am happy to report that the couple with whom she is going are fine people, and they will treat her with the respect and finesse on which she thrives. To those who are wondering-the conditions of the transfer are as follows: They will keep her name as Shamarack, and they will not remove the "Don't hassle me, I'm local" sticker. So, on this momentous occasion, I wish to submit an ode to Shamarack, in honor of her service to me over the last 10 years.

Over hill and dale
snow and hail
you have driven me.

Through the tundra and rock
the dirt and the car lot
you have taken me.

You sheltered me in your comfy(although somewhat awkward) embrace
and put a smile on my pasty face
that night when I could not drive straight through to Oregon

You filled yourself to the brim
and made my eyes swim
with my stuff during the many times I've moved

You never failed me in the snowy mountains
(except for that one 360 you did on the way back from Yosemite)
You never failed me on the road
(except when you died suddenly on the L.A. freeway going 70 mph)

Your legends will be told
your stories will be sold
and thus your exciting adventures will live on.

A cut above the common yocal
and everywhere you are local
Oh Shamarack, you are a car for queens.