All Crappy Things...

...must eventually come to an end.

A few days ago I was asked to join my chief photographer and my news director for a meeting in the news director's office. You know you've got problems when you are not wondering what you are in trouble for, but rather which thing they've found out about (heh).

At any rate, it turns out that I wasn't in 'trouble' per say, but that the news director was a little concerned about the anger in my post Two Hours, Eh?.

I don't blame them. Reading it now, it's a very angry post!

I guess what happened was that the trip out to California and the drama that accompanied it was basically the 'straw that broke the camel's back', as it were. All the displeasure I felt with my job, the opus of me being burnt out with having to see the bleakest part of society day in and day out, and the fact that I am totally alone out here, conjoined to form one big ball of pissed-offed-ness that was jettisoned in that post.

My news director seemed genuinely concerned with my well-being, which I have to admit was a total shock. That's not an attack against him, but honestly, finding a manager who gives a rats ass about anything other than the bottom line is as rare as finding a five legged ferret.

He also didn't seem angry with me at all, and he didn't come off as having any interest in stopping my blog. In fact he said 'You have the right to write anything you want.'

He did explain to me, though, how my displeasure and disgruntlement is going to effect my job performance. Having thought about that, he's right. I know at least in the past couple of months how I've shown up on scenes and not really put any effort into it. Looking at it like 'They're going to air 10 seconds of my video and not even bother looking for any of the good stuff.'

One of the things he asked me is 'why are you in news?' I had to think about that, and I replied 'Because I enjoy it.'

"Obviously you don't, or else you wouldn't have been so angry."

You ever have something just slap you in the face? That did.

Do I hate news? I don't think so. I really enjoy chasing spot news. I enjoy shooting, I enjoy interacting with other photogs, I have fun doing live shots and god bless me I like to edit. So what the fuck is my problem?

Having a few days to think about it, it's because I am just another cog in the wheel.

If I were to cease to exist tomorrow, aside from the minor inconvenience of having to find someone to work the overnight shift on Saturday and Sunday, nothing would be affected. I try and do the best I can, yet our ratings continue to slide; so that tells me that my contribution to the A.M. show doesn't really affect anything.

I tell my ND that I am upset that no one seems to notice when I do something right, however when I do something wrong everyone is on top of me about it. Of course, that's bullshit. Ron (the ND) was able to point out times when I was given appreciation. He also explained to me that hardly anyone is given kudos all the time.

And he's right. I've written about it before, how as a kid my grandmother's favorite past time was to tell me how worthless I am and how I am a failure and I can't do anything right. It appears that it's stuck with me, and now I am just this insecure asshole who needs to be patted on the back for the most mundane things.

I look back and see when I was at FOX, there were only a few of us in Master Control, so anything extra I did was noticed. If I were to call in, there was panic and disarray. When I was at WICS, there was no one else to work the weekends, so I felt appreciated. No one else took it upon themselves to go gather spot news at 2:00 in the morning, so I was constantly being thanked for my extra effort. When I worked at American Security, I worked seven days a week and would always be one of the few to volunteer for overtime, and I was thanked constantly. All those jobs made me feel like I was necessary.

Now here, if I don't do it, someone else will. I've lost the only thing that made me feel like I was an important person. My personal insecurity goes nuts when I am unable to be 'necessary.'

Ron brought up the fact that maybe I should consider moving back to the Midwest, being as the fact that I am alone out here isn't helping me any. He brought up the idea that maybe I should look for a job outside of news, since I am beginning to get burnt out on it.

That's all well and good, but I have nothing else I can do. I never finished college, and I literally have maybe two or three other skills. None of which I can make a living on. I want to go back to school. In fact the only thing that is keeping me from formally applying at the community college here is my uncertainty on whether or not I will just declare 'fuck it', pack up and move back to Illinois.

After our meeting, Matt (my chief) walked me back out to my car.

I'd like to take this opportunity to say, no, I am not naive enough to think that no one at work reads my blog. I use my real name. I don't change names of people I deal with. I have a link to my blog on my b-roll and Medialine accounts. I know other photogs around the market and at my station read my blog, so why wouldn't I assume my chief did?

Matt explained to me that despite my assertion to the contrary, what I write DOES reflect on KLAS.

That's unacceptable to me. I have a great deal of love for KLAS and Landmark (the owners). KLAS has a great group of people working for them, and Landmark is probably one of the best companies I have ever worked for. I don't think it's fair that my own personal issues should make KLAS look bad.

So I am no longer going to continue Otakuphotog. I could continue to write about the silly shit that happens, or about my good days, but without the ability to write about my bad days, it's not a journal about my job.

That's what OP was supposed to be. But if my negative posts cause a negative reflection on KLAS, then it's pointless to carry on.

I was not asked to discontinue my blog, and I got into no 'real' trouble for the blog. But once again, my ability to not consider what happens outside my 4 foot 'Erin Zone' before I do something has hurt someone (in this case KLAS). As I said, this is unacceptable to me.

I appreciate all the people who have read my blog and contributed in the way of comments, both on the blog and in real life. I will leave the blog up and, if I make any major changes or start a non-work related blog I will post it here.

What for me now?

I am still pondering college. I need to take something that will get me a good job someday when I just can't take television news anymore. I am thinking about Graphic Design with a Web Design emphasis, but have also considered Emergency Management.

I'm also continuing my fan fiction Moon Trek, and I am working on a sci-fi book. Considering self publishing that once (if) I get it completed. Still have my anime obsession, and if you play EVE Online, send off a note to 'Usagi Tsukino', that's my character!

I leave you with my all time favorite song quote"

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end...

Ja...

Erin

Things to think about...

Guess I've got some things to think about. I'll be back when I am done. Might be a while, my brain isn't as sharp as it used to be. Too much sand up my nose.

Sorry!

I guess my last posting was a little cryptic. But I am assuming that if you have read my blog recently, you'd be able to guess what I am finding incredibly annoying.

At any rate, it's my weekend! Going to waste some time, get incredibly drunk and apply for financial aid so I can look into going back to school in the fall. It's only about $57 a credit, but I don't want to only take 3 - 6 credits per semester. I'd like to finish some time before I die.

Anywhooooo.... Off to buy some beer! Alas, one of the few things I like about this town. Can go get some booze any freakin' time I'd like! YAY!

You know something?

It's just really, really annoying anymore.

Really fucking annoying.

Really.

Reality Alone

I recently discovered a new channel on my COX Cable line up. It's called the FOX Reality Channel. Now, since I despise reality television with all of my being (COPS and COPS like shows being the lone exception), I never thought I would watch it. However my TiVo is acting up and pretty much forced me to watch a show called 'Solitary.'

Solitary isn't (at least to me) as much a reality show as it is a game show. Sort of like Fear Factor to a point, except no one is being forced to eat cockroaches. It's more like The Price Is Right, if it was made by Hitler.

Actually, it's nothing at all like The Price is Right, even if Hitler was the creator. But it is a really, really mean show! Here is the link to the official website. If you get FOX Reality, you should check it out. It's kind of fun watching others suffer!

Two Hours, eh?

For the record, I didn't just wake up. I just wanted to no longer be angry when I wrote this, and apparently a 14 hour sleep didn't calm me down enough. Luckily blowing mother fuckers up in EVE took care of it.

There really isn't any problem that can't be solved by blowing shit up, middle eastern politics aside.

Wednesday was an interesting night. I knew for a fact that it would turn out being all fucked up when I asked myself "How long can I stay at my house and listen to my scanners here before anyone notices I haven't dropped by the station yet?" It was going to be an attempt to see if there would be no news and I could camp out here and catch up on writing and resume making until four when I would have to go fetch a live truck.

Of course at 10:30 I get woke up and instructed that I would need to come right in at midnight as Kyla and I would be heading out to San Bernardino county to cover the wildfires. Normally we wouldn't as that's in LA's market, but the smoke from the fires had totally blanketed Vegas.

I was told that where we were going was going to be a two hour drive. I'm still half asleep (and it was a poor sleep at that, seeing as I fell asleep in my recliner catching up on TiVo) so I mumbled some sort of acknowledgment and went back to sleep.

I woke back up at 11:15, showered, changed and stopped by Walgreen’s to pick up some traveling supplies. Once I arrived at the station, things went from fine to 'ah, fuck'.

No one had bothered to actually see where our destination was. In fact I had to actually ask 'Are we going anywhere in particular, or am I just expected to drive till I see a fire?' I was told we were going to Pioneertown, CA, a two hour drive from Vegas.

I Google Map the directions.

"ARE YOU ALL FUCKING INSANE?!?!?! THIS IS A FIVE FUCKING HOUR DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Mapquest quickly agreed with Google and confirmed that via interstate, we were looking at a five hour trek that would take us to within 5 feet of Palm Springs. Of course, we didn't have a single paper map of California anywhere to be seen, so I had to devise a back road plan that, at least on the monitor, looked shorter.

Then suddenly; "OH NO! WE DIDN'T CALL IN A PHOTOGRAPHER!!!"

I roll my eyes. I wanted to get on the road, so I tell them that I could do both the truck and the photog part, but our EP is pretty by the book (when he wants to be, *heh*) and said that a photog HAD to go. They got a hold of Joseph, who said that it would be an hour before he could get to the station.

Kyla and I were told to go, and Joseph would have to catch up with us.

I load up into trusty Unit 22 and we head out. For the record, there are some really steep climbs along I-15 and a DSNG van - a vehicle with a cargo van engine that's loaded down with 4,000 pounds of electronics including a big ass satellite dish - has a hard time going up them.

It's weird when a big fatass like myself is standing on the gas and we're still decelerating...

Anyway, we make it to Barstow, CA (140 miles) in two hours, thanks to my liberal interpretation of the speed limit. I get gas and purchase a So. Cal. map. It's determined that SR-247 will get us down near 29 Palms and close to the fire.

One of the fun things about a DSNG truck is steep downgrades. They tend to follow steep climbs. I tell you, 247 was a fuckin' roller coaster ride. Somehow Kyla managed to sleep through most of it, despite my constant 'WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!'

We finally arrive at SR-62 in Yucca Valley, CA. It's wild, as you can see the fires by now. It looks like the entire side of a mountain is on fire. We drive down to Pioneertown Road, which is closed off by a CHP trooper.

I hop out of the truck and walk up to him.

Erin: Hi there!
Trooper: Hello. (looks at truck) Where are you from?
Erin: Las Vegas, sir. They sent us down here 'cause the smoke is totally covering the city.
Trooper: Yeah, I heard that. What can I do for you?
Erin: Well, I'm wondering where I can go to get some great video of the fires.
Trooper: (looks at Erin like he's the biggest moron on the face of the Earth) Uh, why don't you just drive up into Pioneertown?
Erin: Well, you're blocking the road. It's closed, isn't it?
Trooper: (laughs) Well, media can go up there!
Erin: (falls on face) WHAT?!?! You're going to let us past?!?!
Trooper: Uh, yeah.
Erin: I apologize sir. Back in Nevada a police car blocking the road means 'turn around and go back 16 blocks to the media staging area'.
Trooper: You're in California now boy!

I kiss the trooper and hop back into 22. I nearly have an orgasm as I drive around his flares, while he did nothing but wave at us as we headed into the breech.

It was already 5:00, and our first window was at 5:55, so we didn't have a lot of time to drive around and explore. We were told there was other media up there, but we couldn't locate them. Apparently the really good fire and video was a bit further down the road, but seeing as it would have been a shame to drive all this way (we left at 1:00 AM and arrived in Yucca Valley at 5:00 AM) just to miss our windows, we set up near the historic wooden 'old west' buildings that were what made Pioneertown the nifty place I assume it is.

Joseph arrived just after our 6:00 hit, making so I had to be paranoid doing both the truck operations and the photography myself. I assume someday I won't care as much, but being as I am new at it, I can believe I've fucked something up and the TOC would be calling me demanding I get off the bird, only to get my voicemail since Kyla was using my cell for IFB.

We did a few more hits and sent back a look live for the noon. After the 7:25 hit and the look live was sent back, Joseph headed back towards Vegas. Kyla and I broke the truck down and were also instructed to head back. However we found out that no b-roll was shot, and being as there were a ton of firefighters roaming around, I went ahead and got some video.

It wasn't that good, since we didn't know where the good flames were (being as we didn't have a map of the area - my SoCal map was just general, not street level in towns of 600), but it was something fresh.

At the road block we found some people who lived up there. The police weren't allowing the civilians in (but they were the media, which made me orgasm again) so they were curious about their homes. We told them that all the houses we saw were intact, but we didn't go very far in. We then got some kick ass sound with the residents.

We call the desk, and they don't even seem to care, being as it took them 20 minutes to book our window for us to feed back some VO and the sound. We got it send back, and went to a small little diner for lunch.

Personally, I think they should have kept us out there for an actual live at noon. But whatever. We ate and started on the four hour journey back to Vegas. On the way back, I get a call and get totally bitched out about how the noon look live looked, even though I didn't shoot it. I apparently should have been out of the truck holding a reflector.

I probably should have. I am sure I could have been more useful, but I was under the impression that I was the TRUCK OPERATOR, not a second photographer. At any rate I accepted blame for the quality of our lives and continued driving, finally arriving back in Vegas about 3:00.

So after our 15 hour day, Kyla and I are slammed with 'thank you’s' and 'great job’s!' Oh wait, no we weren't. Just people making jokes about how it 'looked like' two hours on the map.

NO IT FUCKING DIDN'T!!!!! UNLESS YOU WERE USING A FUCKING GLOBE, THERE WAS NO WAY IT LOOKED LIKE TWO HOURS!!!!!!!

I'm not angry about the drive though. I love going out of town. In fact, I would have been perfectly happy being told to stay out there for a few days. I like to drive and I like to travel. What burns my biscuits is the fact that we went beyond what we were asked to do, what was expected of us by seeking out sound, and - if we had more time - seeking out more video; yet (I) get nothing but bitched at. Other people, for simply doing their standard every day job, get thank you notes and nominated for Employee of the Month (which I wouldn't care about except I want the $$ that you get as a bonus!!! *heh*) This is compounded by the fact that I find out that photographers at the FOX station (#4 while we are #1) are making about $5,000 MORE than me.

Despite all that, tonight when I go in I will do the best I can, as I will not let my dissatisfaction with my job (not the station - KLAS is a wonderful place to work and none of what I have bitched about is localized to them; it's a industry wide thing) and the direction I seem to be going with it effect the quality of work I provide.

I've pondered doing about $5,000 less work, but I really don't know what that would be? Making my white balance off a couple hundred degrees?

I am going to publicly acknowledge that I am sending a resume and tape to a midwestern station that is hiring an overnight photographer.

I've said it before, I hate this city. I'm tired of the crime, of the dust, of the police and of the casinos. I miss weather, and I would love to be close enough to my family to visit them on occasion.

What I do plan to do differently is not to be low-balled. I have a dollar amount in mind and if I am offered a job I will stick to it (with a little wiggle room) and if they won't accept that, then what ever. I am sick and tired of being paid less than what I am worth. I don't like this job enough to continue to be ass raped.

Anyway, I guess I did still have some anger in me. Guess I need to go blow some things up, eh?

...

I'd like for you all to take a close look at this map, by clicking on it, and explain how anyone can come to a reasonable conclusion that you can DRIVE (a 4,000 pound DSNG van, through mountains) from Point A (Las Vegas, NV) to Point B (Yucca Valley, CA - about 30 minutes north of Palm Springs) in two hours.

The story when (if) I wake up.

ATTENTION! Las Vegas Residents...

STOP POINTING GUNS AT THE POLICE!!!

I am sick of covering and hearing about officer involved shootings. STOP!!! If you don' want to be arrested, just run away. They (usually) won't shoot you then.

I am beginning to think this is some sort of odd, jihadi suicide effort to remove all the police from the streets; since, as is policy, all officers involved in an OIS are placed on leave until an investigation is complete.

We've had 19 so far this year (including one today), of which 11 people have died - plus one police officer. City of Los Angeles police have had 11.

Knock it off. Or better yet, just shoot yourselves and stop wasting tax money.

Don't Speak

And now for something completely different.
LINK SINCE INLINE PLAYER ACTS WEIRD IN FIREFOX

Long Week....

I hate six day weeks. I do enjoy the four day week that proceeds it, but I don't know if I still like my job enough to make it through all six days without becoming (more) jaded and angry.

It all started on Friday. I agreed to shake up my schedule because Justin wanted to do a really cool live from North Las Vegas. It was a fundraiser golf outing for the K9 unit. Since NLVPD is so cool with us I wanted to do my part in ensuring that the live would take place. There was a nifty demonstration and everything seemed to go off without a hitch.

Saturday and Sunday were pretty uneventful. There was a fire where someone died on Saturday. CCFD told me that the person transported would be 'fine', so that's what we reported. D'oh! He died. Found out at a homicide the next day.

That homicide was pretty sad too. Dude gets robbed, won't fork over his stuff so some punk ass teen cock-suckers shot and killed him right in front of his apartment and girlfriend.

Monday got busy. I was informed that I would be doing a sat shot from north of the city at the wild fires. Was my first solo, but I was pretty sure it would be okay. I decided I would leave extra early so I could fuck things up a bit and still have time to fix it.

WRONG! METRO got into a pursuit with a moving truck. You know a pursuit is going badly for you when the watch commander gets on the radio and begins to scream at the pursuing officers. They were supposed to let the helo follow while they backed off for a half mile. That way he wouldn't do anything rash.

He did anyway, driving the wrong way up streets and even down the Boulevard! I tried my damnedest to catch up, my dash cam rolling, but it seemed like every time I got into position to cut them off, he turned a different direction. Plus the bastard got all the green lights and I was constantly getting red.

Alas I finally caught up with them and of course got a red right. Dude got on the freeway, but then tried to cut back to surface streets without taking an exit. He got stuck and ran on foot. The dogs went after him and he thought it would be a good idea to get into a fist fight with the K9's. He then learned what a stupid idea that was and left in an ambulance.

Now it was 4AM! So instead of having two hours to drive 40 miles and work on getting the sat shot set up, I had one hour to go back to the station, drop this tape, explain what happened, load into 22, drive 40 miles and set up.

I pulled it off!!! YAY!

Tuesday was a bit smoother, except when I got to Boulder City for our AM live (which was a sat shot, since BC is on the wrong side of the mountains) it was lightning. I consulted with our weather lady, Sherry, and we decided to go ahead with the shot. However, it got worse and the lightning got closer.

Not one to take any risks, as I don't need people on B-Roll making fun of my corpse,, I called the sat shot about ten minutes before the hit. Boulder City then got wholloped.

I have three jackets in my SUV. I stupidly brought none. Yet I had to go outside and shoot the monsoon. I'm writing this on Thursday and my shoes are STILL wet. In the time of about 30 minutes we got well over a half an inch of rain. Lightning was striking VERY close. Joseph (another over night photog) and Kyla are comfy and in their SUV, while I am outside getting drenched.

It was the most fun I've had since I left Illinois. I love storms, and I love shooting in them. I just wish I had my jacket as my shirt was white and you could probably see my man boobies.

Anyway, we finally got our shot up and I fed back a VO and we managed one of our three scheduled hits.

Wednesday started off bad. I got called about 10:50PM. I had just woken up and was still in my undies (wonderful visuals, I know) and was instructed to rush to UMC and get video of a OIS (officer involved shooting) coming in. I don't explain how dumb that is and hang up. I quickly get dressed and get out the door (now 11:00). I hurry as fast as I can and get to UMC (11:10). I see lots of ambulances and lots of police cars. I wait a bit before my station calls me. I explain that I missed the ambulance (not explaining that an ambulance leaving Flamingo and LVB at 10:48, going code 3 (lights and sirens) to UMC at Rancho and Charleston (about 5 miles) is going to arrive before me getting dressed, and driving 5 miles near the speed limit, forced to obey all traffic control devices...).

I was then told to head down to Flamingo and the Blvd. and relieve the night side crew.

It's a MOTHER FUCKING HOLIDAY!!!! There are an uncountable number of cars on the strip, not to mention that half of it is shut down due to the OIS. I finally make it to where they want the media about 1:00. I then find out that Lindsey, our night side reporter, got some home video from a tourist of what happened after the shooting. METRO apparently found out too and drug her to the homicide detectives who yelled at and intimidated her into handing over the tape.

After our EP found out, he called the news director who apparently - and rightfully so - went ape shit. In the end, METRO ended up giving us the tape back, but I am wondering if they wish they didn't since the tape seems to contradict the statement they gave us on the matter.

This one will be interesting to see how it turns out.

Continuing on, I meet up with John Farrell later and we have some coffee. We hear a short pursuit and then a foot chase. Nothing new. Eventually we hear a command post being set up. That's interesting.

We decide to drive up there. The METRO watch commander isn't calling us back, so we don't know what's going on. I hear that NLV is helping, so I call the NLV PIO. He tells me that it's a METRO thing, but they told NLV that it was a stolen car.

Who gives a damn about a stolen car here? So I tell John and turn around. I show up back at the station and go inside where I find out that Kyla and Jorge are out there. They are calling it 'police activity.' My phone rings and John tells me that the watch commander finally called him back and said that it's a guy who kidnapped a woman, raped her, and left her in the desert.

@&#$(@!&$&!!!! That's much more newsworthy than a stolen car. I grumble, but we already have a crew there, so there is no point in me going. I go into the booth to hide until 9AM. In the meeting, everyone is guess what is happening. I tell them, but apparently no one believes me, because later someone tells me 'That was a good guess!'

I explain that it wasn't a guess, but a statement. Oh well. It eventually turned into a stand off and finally the guy killed himself. Probably wanted to do it before the police had a chance to. (I know, that wasn't fair and I'm sorry...)

At 9 and hurriedly ducked out of the station and drove straight home. Hit the bed and crashed. Damned long weeks. But there is no rest for the weary, as Saturday comes around too soon for my liking anymore.

Happy 4th Of July!

Happy 230th Birthday, America! Here's wishing you another 230, assuming the Republicans and Democrats don't kill you first!

Please play the MP3 file as loud as you can, especially if you are at work!

I just wanted to add, please remember three things on this 4th Of July...

• 1 - Dissent is not unpatriotic.


• 2 - Our nation was founded on rebellion.


• 3 - You cannot save a nation by destroying it.

WARNING! Otakuphotog is not responsible if you actually are at work and you stupidly play anything I post on my blog at full blast. Have a great holiday!

1st Amendment Cock Punched in MO

Sorry it's taken me a while to comment on this.

Let me preface this by saying that it's not my intention to turn Otakuphotog into some sort of anti-cop blog.

I am sure that you have all heard about the roof collapse in Clinton, Missouri that killed one man and injured nine others. What you might not know is that a Springfield, MO news crew was arrested during their noon live shot.

What appears to have happened is that the Missouri Highway Patrol instructed the news crew, who was outside of the crime scene tape and in an area that there were several civilians and two other journalists, to move to a 'media staging area.' The news crew refused and continued on with their live shot. The photographer, Cliff Erwin was arrested during the live, and reporter Sara Sheffield was arrested immediately following. They were transported and booked for 'failure to obey a reasonable order of a police officer' at the local jail and released.

The problem with this is two fold.

First, the police didn't order the civilians or the other journalists to move, which negates any 'public safety' nonsense the police might use. That shows that they were specifically targeting this news crew - probably because they were obviously a news crew (the story doesn't clarify if the other journalists were print, radio or tv - as tv journalists are a lot easier to spot than print or radio).

Our legal rights give us (the media) to be anywhere civilians are allowed. Rounding up all the news crews and ordering them into one point constitutes prior restraint - by failing to allow parts of the story to be told (for instance, you can't interview witnesses, victims, etc. if you are corralled in a media area). Prior restraint is ILLEGAL.

This news crew disobeyed an illegal order from a police officer. There is nothing illegal about that.

The second thing is that there are actually people in the media DEFENDING the illegal actions of the MHP. Both Medialine and B-Roll have threads on this. And while less so on b-roll (as photographers have to deal with this crap on a daily basis) there are bona fide journalists who feel that the police were within their rights to arrest the news crew. Here are some examples of stupidity in its finest.

Solution to (sic)probem! When law enforcement tells you to get the hell out of the way, get the hell out of the way, period. It doesn't matter if Barbie is about to break her big story for her resume tape. Issues can be taken up with the police administration later. Oh yes, state police supercede locals in all jurisdictions in some states.

all of these questions are valid, but the law is clear: when they tell you move, YOU MOVE.

My favorite is a b-roller who contacted his local MHP Public Information Officer and was told the following:

He said that the crew had been asked to move for a half hour and that the other people who were around were plain clothes officers.

I don't often actually laugh out loud, but I did in this case. Are we to believe that there were two dozen (as the linked to story reported) plain clothes MHP troopers just hanging out?

Nice try, MHP.

I hear so often from media types 'It's not worth going to jail over '. I ask, when are your rights worth going to jail over? When will people say 'enough is enough' and demand that the people we ask to enforce the law actually obey it?

I really am itching for a confrontation tonight. If it happens, I'll be sure to post my mug shot.

Six Months!!

Six months smoke free! Yay! With of course the exception of the 10 cigarettes John Farrell made me smoke.

Just kidding. :)

Occassionaly I will have one with some people but it's interesting now about how when I have it - one, I don't enjoy it and two, I have no desire to have another one once I am finished. Guess that means I have truely kicked it!

According to quit.net, I will now live an extra one month and 11 days. I am going to be seriously pissed I get some sort of really painful terminal disease. Either that or I die in the most ironic way possible, being run down by a cigarette truck.