Disappointing Stereotypes

I live downtown. Part of my agreement in living in an urban environment is parking curbside in front of my residence. Seems reasonable, yes?
Well, in order to park in front of my home, or on the street in general in downtown Denver, as in most domiciles of the city, it requires a parking permit. A free permit which you may obtain by strolling into the Department of Parking Works downtown (a mere few blocks from my house) and showing proof of residence. No big deal. The sticker is placed on the front window of your vehicle(s) and they even offer up to 2 guest permits (window hangars) for guests who wish to remain at your home for longer than 2 hours (which is the parking time limit for street parking). Every year thereafter, you may renew via mail by simply signing a form stating all previous info remains the same.
On September 3, 2010, I resubmitted info for the permit I already have and requested my two guest permits, via mail.
On September 24 (noted via mail stamp on envelope) I received this form letter:
We received your application for a Residential Parking Permit. You did not enclose the proper documentation to obtain a Residential Parking Permit. Please submit the following items that have been marked:
*to follow in the form letter, were numerous items which had no relevance to my situation, but I read diligently, wondering what could I have possibly forgotten, the small form only required drivers license number and signature - confirmation all information on record was the same.

I then reached the highlighted area, which someone duly took time to check and highlight for me, in case I wasn't intelligent enough to comprehend the marked line:
"Any outstanding parking tickets need to be paid before a residential parking permit can be issued. Please contact the Parking Cashier Office for further assistance"
AND
"Please return all required documentation including documents previously submitted"
[I highlight in bold because that's how it is highlighted in the letter]
Note: date I submitted request for new permit: September 03, 2010
Note: date letter stamped via PostMaster September 24, 2010
and
Note: date parking ticket I received (apparently in anticipation of request for parking permit):
September 21, 2010 1:13 p.m.
I can only assume, after driving downtown and being ticketed for "parking 18 inches away from curb" in front of banking structure, for 4 minutes while I used atm, the Residential Parking Office connected the license plate to the request for renewal and immediately sent out required form letter.

Here are my issues:
1) In effect, if the government is so prompt in sending out form letters to reject permits, why are they not so prompt in sending out permits... when request was sent 1 month prior to expiration and 3 weeks prior to vehicle being ticketed?
2) The definition of "outstanding"[out-stan-ding]

–adjective

1.

prominent; conspicuous; striking: an outstanding example of courage.

2.

marked by superiority or distinction; excellent; distinguished: an outstanding student.

3.

continuing in existence; remaining unsettled, unpaid, etc.: outstanding debts.

4.

(of securities and the like) publicly issued and sold or in circulation.

5.

standing out; projecting: a stiff, outstanding fabric.

6.

Archaic . that resists or opposes.

or opposes.

—Synonyms
1. eminent. 3. owing, due.

A. The ticket received on September 21, 2010 is not due until October 11, 2010 - hardly OUTSTANDING

B. There is an option to dispute the citation, which I fully intend on doing, for number of reasons - primarily, the one which indicates I was not parked 18 inches or more from the Goddamned curb. [Oh, you know I have photographic evidence in my favor]

3) Even if I had paid the citation the same day, placed my check in the mail on the eve of the 21st of September and it had been received on the afternoon of the 22nd or 23rd of September, there is no way in hell this letter could have been adjusted on the same day and my citation information updated to reflect payment by the afternoon of the 23rd before this mail went out on the 24th. That would lead to a massive inconsistency with the timeliness of the government and the original issue with why it took 3 weeks to produce my Permit in the 1st place.

WHAT GIVES?
This form letter, addressed to no one, is in fact an indication of everything wrong with the government and the impersonal attention given to tax paying, law abiding citizens who do indeed attempt to do the right thing all the time, pay tickets on time and choose to live on the right side of the street and are treated as common criminals with no INTENT to continue to do the right thing, even though proven historically.
I have no history of unpaid parking tickets (with Denver at least). In fact I have had only 1 parking citation in the last two years which were shown "paid" on the form letter they sent me. Yet, I am being held hostage to get a parking permit to park on the street in front of my house until I pay a parking ticket received 3 weeks after renewal application.
I don't bitch about much, but I am not appreciative.
In fact, I have composed a similar letter to the Department of Public works expressing my disgust at their offensive form letter and unfortunate display of stereotypical government "red tape" games, and indicated not only would I not be wasting my time (stamps, envelopes, etc) re-submitting application, but I would instead be parking my vehicle in my fucking garage, and expressing as powerfully as possible the ineptness of our city and state policies via word of mouth, and every social networking tool which maintains an audience.

Sexual Harassment and the English Language

"I have more than 9 years making my job..." ~ Ines Sainz

This was part of the response to the accusations of the Jets players (and coaches) by Ines Sainz this morning on the Early Show on CBS. Apparently after being hazed in the locker room while attempting to interview Jets player, Mark Sanchez, Ines tweeted her discomfort. While she did not formally charge the team, fellow reporters did. She has also since accepted a direct apology from the Jets team. She has denied her initial, "uncomfortable" feelings and is now stating it's no big deal.
Ms Sainz did state she has been in numerous locker rooms and done over 250 interviews with top athletes. She probably did not anticipate the national coverage of her statements via Twitter, and now possible repercussions of her statements. She had an invitation to the boys club and other professionals are threatening that invite with their public statements.
She wants to be viewed as a professional, as she should be, and takes her career very seriously.

That being said, in listening to her response, I was surprised by her grasp of the English language (or lack thereof). I understand she is a foreign reporter. But levels of professionalism and a basic comprehension of the language in the country where you report (or simply work for the rest of us) would seem to be necessary. I mean I've seen craigslist ads which require a grasp of the English language, why not a position which is seen and heard throughout the nation by a large percentage of Americans, on television, no less? Across the board, when you are masterminding an international media driven profession, shouldn't you be held to the same (if not higher) bar as everyone else in the country?

photo via changeinatmosphere.com

Maybe not.

I wish I was an international reporter, eh, English, it's just for silly Americans.

Remember...

Today marks the ninth anniversary of 9/11.
Today is my mother's birthday, *Happy Birthday Mama*.
Two weeks ago to the day, my son celebrated his 9th birthday.
Nine years ago today I watched in horror as terrorists took away our sense of security with a well planned attack against our country. With a new baby, I remember sobbing for 2 days thinking, "How could I have brought a child into such a horrible world."

Today, a new friend climbs stairs in honor (and respect) of the downed firefighters from 9/11; the men that sacrificed their lives everyday, but actually gave them for us on this day, nine years ago.

I work this afternoon at the airport. Silently, we all know what the impact of this tragic event nine years ago has had on the airline industry, but do we acknowledge the men and women who go to work in an airplane everyday to help restore America's faith in the industry?

I have been asked numerous times over the years how 9/11 affected my choice to become a flight attendant, and was that what prompted me to stop flying. Most people that know me know I did not become a flight attendant until after 9/11, and part of my choice was directly pinpointed at normal people doing normal things to do their part to keep this country (not only safe) but fearless. If women and men, no different than me (moms, students, housewives, writers) can stand up for our country, we all can.
I thought, if I can bring my smile to work everyday and make people feel better about flying... more safe... not afraid of what lurks... just enough to maybe do it one more time, I've done my part.

I would hope today every American takes at least one moment to think about 9/11, not just to remember the awful event that happened, but to recognize the impact of what each of us can do to stand strong in light of what happened. We all lost that day, but what can we gain today?

*no pictures...just memories today*

The airport and kids

Anyone with kids realizes that travel takes a lot of preparation.
Especially if you have kids.
Prep prep prep
Parents also have to have a certain amount of resilience and tons of patience.
I have traveled with my kids for the last 14 years and as challenging as it could have been, I consider myself organized and proactive. I anticipate almost every obstacle before it even thinks about popping up. I pride myself on being prepared for any kid challenge that might show up. I realize that my priorities are in line with my children being happy, but I don't over think preparing because my kids need it so much, as I also have the thought of other travelers in mind. If my kids are whining everyone suffers.
So, needless to say after successfully carting kids around the world for years and nurturing proficient young travelers of my own, I was shocked yesterday to see (not a single mom, but a mom and dad team) a family with 2 small children (ages 4 and 7) completely out of control.
Dad had mistakenly (giving him the benefit of the doubt) booked his ticket for the day they were traveling and booked the mom and the two children on the following day's flight.
Hahaha haaa
You will indeed think this is funny when the details follow.
The mom brings the two children to the waiting area to wait for dad to work out the details. Can they be re-booked for today? Can dad wait until tomorrow? Will the children be able to sit for 8-10 minutes without setting the airport afire and stabbing each other in their constant display of inability to behave for any length of time whatsoever.
The smaller child continually taunts the older child until the older child moves seat...to which the small child follows to taunt further. The mom at this point grabs the arm of the smaller child and shoves him into the seat from which he just arrived. The older child begins to whine, "what will we do, how will we get home, I wanna go home", to which the mom responds, in a similar whiny tone, "I don't know what we're gonna do", as if they were stranded on a desert island with no food, covered in zsi zsi flies, and cannibals were hot on their trail.
The father saunters over with their caravan of baggage from their 1 week vacation, 2 states over, and states the facts, "it will cost $205 dollars to change their tickets, or they will have to wait until tomorrow". $205 dollars? cha ching, this sounds like nothing for a family of four, and I'm broke.
On the other hand, big deal, wait until tomorrow. A hotel room is $50 bucks, suck it up - these kids don't have to be anywhere.
But, these are things rational people think. What happened is this:
The mom puts her head in her hands and begins to weep. One seat over mind you. I'm almost in her purse, we're so close. She begins to cry out, "I can't travel with the kids alone". To which dad responds, "I have to go to work". To which the kids begin to torture one another relentlessly, while the businessman on the other side of them begins to wriggle in his seat.
Now, I'm thinking, "what the hell is going on here"?
Then, one of the kids wanders about 5 feet from where they are sitting and the mom leaps up grabs him by he arm, marches him back to the seat, and he begins to scream. At which point dad, pinches, pokes, something physical quietly, and tells him to be quiet. Then the kids starts wailing even more. Now mom holds her hand over the mouth of the child demanding he be silent.
The entire family is an emotional mess.
The whole while, the older child making comments on the behavior of the younger one as if he was so above the antics he was, in fact, participating in passively.
The older child starts shouting, "what are we gonna do, what are we gonna do".
Dad makes a phone call to have the family picked up by grandparents...yes, they have family...still in the airport area. Then quietly says to mom, "can you travel alone with the kids"? To which she gets a stiff upper chin and says in the most passive aggressive voice I have ever actually heard outloud, "I will travel alone with them, you have to work, and we can't do without". Imagine Eeyore.
I could have vomited on the spot. It was the worst piece of drama I've ever seen - from tears to stiff upper lip in 45 seconds, with a spot of violent outrage sandwiched in between.
And from such an average looking family.
They didn't look like drama.
I caught the glance of the businessman on the other side of this theatrical mess looking at me, and I refused to make eye contact for fear of my reaction. This wasn't funny, it was pathetic and crazy, but so outrageous, it was difficult to have a rational reaction.

After they moseyed away it occurred to me this was probably a well oiled plot by dad to ditch this craziness and escape.

3 Angels

Today was the beginning of the last vacation before the beginning of the new school year.
I try and take the kids somewhere every year so we can bond and touch base before the school year starts and time gets away from us again. It is an opportunity to talk about everything they are anticipating as well as the summer events thus far.
Catchup time and new beginnings.
It's also an opportunity to capture memories of childhood and the good things we all remembered as kids - the chance to pass it down. Beaches and bike rides, summers end, and road trips...the good things that we remembered about being a kid and of our parents.
This trip held a little more depth for me because I knew I had some lingering personal issues that were hanging like an emotional brooch around my neck. I wanted to keep everything separate yet get the closure I so desperately need.

The flight to Los Angeles was full but we were told there were enough seats for all three of us. Super! One more stress off my back. We boarded and sweet, I got an exit aisle seat with one child seated behind me, and the other in the row ahead of me. No worries.
Then I noticed a commotion and realized someone did not have a seat. I volunteered to ride Fourth Jumpseat (with the fight attendants) so no one would have to exit the aircraft, and the flight commenced.
The Flight attendants - the 3 Angels who were sent to me, in my like form (as God has indicated they would be), were funny, and sweet, and all strong in faith.

Their similar demeanor's to mine engaged me.
One was extremely funny and used colloquialisms that I used and had an edge about her. One took her job very seriously, yet was quiet and thoughtful. The last was strong and serious, but worked to maintain her sense of self in the light of others. They all spoke to my personality, yet all three together pulled me into
Their lightness of being held my attention. Their words moved me and spoke to my heart and my faith and I realized I was lucky enough to be acutely aware of one of those moments when the Universe is speaking to you. And I listened.

This is what they told me:
"You are strong"
"Trust your instincts"
"We can't pick a man for ourselves, we have to let God show us who He has picked for us"
"All that glitters is not gold"
"When you find "the one", he will tell you, he will pursue you. You will know."


I left with my heart feeling lifted and knowing how to get through one more day because someone sent me 3 angels to help me on my journey.
Today, I needed that.

"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life there is
only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when I needed you most
you would leave me."
The Lord replied "My precious, precious child,
I love you and would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints in the sand,
it was then that I carried you."

Only on Fridays

Today I knew would be the best Friday yet.
I had big plans for a fantastic day. Starting with a short, 3 mile run, I just wanted to get the face flushed and stretch my body a bit.

As I ran through downtown, I felt like a Nike commercial, feet hitting the pavement, cars around me, the homeless and the business people brushing past with much and no determination whatsoever.

I had a pedicure and lunch planned with Sweet Andee who always makes me feel better about myself with her positive outlook framed by a firm grip on reality and honest rhetoric. She is my breath of fresh air.

I ran errands and headed home to start a project which would take up my afternoon while distracting me, all the while keeping me out of trouble and keeping my mind clear for the evening.
Then phone calls for Happy Hour and more socializing with friends - Which is, by all accounts, the best way I could spend any day. Taking care of my body, clearing my mind, writing and sharing myself with my friends.
Who could ask for a better day?
The down side of this is I would love to do this everyday, so finding a way to balance - keeping all this good stuff happening on a regular basis has been my challenge, but I did come up with 3 new ideas for writing projects and if each day only had 6 more hours, I could write them all.

And how did Friday come to have such an impact on me?
This is the real question.

Perception is Reality

This topic has come up numerous times in the last month with various friends.

"We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." ~Anais Nin

Our experiences, our histories, our perception molds everything - who we are.

It's funny, you can be at a party and an incident can happen and ten different people at the party recount ten different versions of what happened... And they will all be right.

Any event has specific particles which makeup the action, but interpretation is always subjective. Are we even capable of monitoring an event and not letting our feelings assist in the interpretation? Everything we see, hear, touch and smell has a knee jerk reaction, defined by experience. Every experience is owned by perception. Even objective journalists, judges, ambassadors can't help having a feeling associated with every experience, even if they suppress it. As humans are we brilliant enough to separate the two?

We exist as "feeling" beings for a reason.
We love.
We own passion.
We pride ourselves on being intellectual beings, yet clearly affected by experience and feeling.
Our passions ignite change.
Yet we rally for equality and fairness.
"All's fair in love and war", is the epitome of our self-service. Nothing is fair. Or equal.
It only exists because we try to balance our intellect with our base human response.
Who you are is only based on how you act. And why others perceive you as who you are is solely based on their reaction to your actions.
You can be whoever you want in this world, and your actions do indeed define you, whether you believe in everyone else's perception or not.