a peek inside the fishbowl

People parking in areas that are clearly marked no parking is kind of a pet peeve of mine.

HELLO LAZYBONES. Would it kill you to park legally… a few metres away? (This is not meant to be a rhetorical question because the answer is so clearly “no.”)

It happens around our school. A lot. And the parking police know it. There is one particular fellow who patrols the area religiously. Although I am annoyed with people who park illegally I find Mr. No Mercy (as I have come to call him) equally if not even more annoying. He’s a veteran ticket-hander-outer. He has this uncanny ability to swoop in with his little car, park, and write a ticket in about 30 seconds flat. He hands them out faster than you can say “butIwascomingrightback!”

So when I saw the lady park (rather illegally) and get out of her car and walk towards the school I wondered if I should say something to her about it. I’ve had bad experiences with similar situations before (e.g. this post from my old blog) and debated the wisdom of making a comment and opening myself up to a potentially crazy person I didn’t know.

But maybe she really didn’t notice and didn’t deserve a parking ticket after all. Would I want someone to point it out to me?

*sigh*

I had my answer.

So I caught her eye.

“I wouldn’t park there if I were you,” trying to sound as upbeat as humanly possible.
“Oh?”
“There’s a meter maid who regularly tickets people who park illegally around here.”
“Did I?” She asked, glancing towards her car.
“I’m not exactly sure, but I’d double check.” [I AM A VERY POLITE LIAR aren’t I?]

I was afraid she’d tell me to mind my own business but she didn’t seem put out by my suggestion at all. I watched her walk back, get in her car, and find another parking spot. When she returned she thanked me for pointing it out.

What about you? Would you have said anything?

The worst thing I ever did as a kid was …

(an evolving list)

1. Follow the instructions as they are written in the recipe.

2. If you are wearing black you will spill flour on yourself. Wear an apron.

3. A slightly-warmed oven is a good place to let the dough rise. But turn the interior light on, because you never know if someone will decide to preheat the oven to bake a roast.

4. Wash bowls and utensils ASAP after using them. If you don’t, you will inadvertantly discover a little-known scientific formula: flour+yeast+water=concrete.

5. Day-old bread makes great French toast.

6. Punching down the dough is lots of fun.