My day in (lower) court.

Almost four months to the day I got my ticket for making an illegal left turn I headed to court to ask for 12 hours of traffic school. I was told to arrive early for the 1:30 p.m. hearing and discovered there was really no need. I eventually found out they go by alphabetical order for the most part. I'll explain that later.

Roll is called and you are seated by your last name. You are forced to listen to a recorded message about what to expect today. The first people to appear in front of the judge are those that are already locked up. One guy had been hiding from the justice system for 17 years. The judge was actually pretty good to those that have missed court dates and had fines that stacked up by cutting most of them.

The judge was also entertaining by showing the ignorance of some people pleading in front of him. One guy rolled through a camera light and said he made a full stop before making his turn and pleaded innocent. The judge was ok with that, but said, "Do you want to see the evidence first?" The guy did and they set up a computer and the judge said he would allow him to interrupt the proceedings if the video showed he was innocent. The guy didn't and came back to plead guilty.

As for me, he called me up and told me what I was charged with and what my plea was. "Guilty." He than said, would you like 12 hours of traffic school? "Yes." He then ordered me to pay the cashier and told me good luck.

That was it. That was all. Four months of wondering how hard it was to ask for 12 hours of traffic school was all for naught. Then again, he may have been cool about it.

So what I have I learned about this? The simple answer is: Don't get cited for anything. But if you do get cited, make sure it's the only one within 18 months. And if it is, enjoy the show and don't make it harder than it has to be.

An NHL game and all I can eat; how can I go wrong?

Happy New Year!

My friend Damian and I have wanted to go to a hockey game but could never find a good time. It's hard since I work nights and he travels a lot for his job. But we finally went to a Kings game on Thursday night.

We found more than we bargained for, however. While looking for tickets, I discovered they have an all you can eat section at the 300 level – basically in the rafters. A hockey game and all you can eat for $45 dollars.

At first, I thought, that's absurd. I passed the information on to my friend and he felt it more of a bargain. His thought was, the all you can eat was only an extra $9 so why not with concession prices they way they are.

So we got to the Staples Center and neither of us had much to eat all day. We made the trip to the all you can eat area. As we were going there, we read the rules. It's a four-item minimum and the items include soda, hot dog, popcorn, nachos and peanuts. He began with two hot dogs, Dr. Pepper and nachos. I countered with a hot dog, nachos, popcorn and Dr. Pepper.

After powering that down, we collected another hot dog, nachos and soda on our way to the seats. Now, the Los Angeles Kings vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs would have been a great game 15 years ago. Currently, both teams are two of the worse teams in the NHL and are coming off blow out losses.

We got another bonus, the Canadian National Anthem along with the U.S.

While we didn't expect much, the Kings made their home fans happy by scoring four goals in the first period, that's rare for any team. Sitting at the 300 level wasn't bad either. You get to see the entire ice and how the players position themselves.

During the period, we were almost trying to hurry with our food to make another run during first intermission. We realized it wasn't going to happen.

So we sat out getting more food and waited until the second intermission and got one more soda and nachos. The person working concessions kind of laughed when she saw us again.

We figured that the hot dogs would have cost $4 and sodas, nachos and popcorn $3. It's safe to say we got our money's worth.

I would definitely go to another hockey game (BTW the Kings won 5-2) and as for the all you can eat, I'd see it more as a dare.

I’m trying again

I think I am being set up for a fall again. The responses to my last blog gave me hope.

… Tell me if this took too long; it took me 3 hours to wrap 24 presents. That is eight presents an hour for those that can't divide.

Before you answer that, keep this in mind. I made specialty name cards that I had to cut out. The name cards are in the shape of talk boxes that you would find in comic strips. I got the idea when I wrapped a friend's birthday present with pug dog wrapping paper and left different sayings on a few dogs. It took about a minute to cut out one of those things, so there is almost a half hour.

But all my wrapping is complete. Now is this a problem: It took me longer to wrap my presents than to pick out my presents by a half hour.

… While wrapping, I was also watching Mystery Science Theater 3000 on my computer. I ended up watching two movies since it took so long. I thought it would take me 90 minutes, the length of one episode, but it took two.

If you are wondering what MST3K is, it is a guy and two robots watching bad – and that really doesn't describe how bad – movies and making wisecrack remarks during the show. It's no surprise that I like it, I know. You can find shows, in parts, on YouTube. If you want any episode recommendations let me know.

… Not everything is happy news; one of my sisters, who shall remain nameless, informed me that my parents' vow renewal ceremony is postponed. Talking to my dad (who was at the dentist at the time with a chipped tooth), he told me that the priest was unavailable due to a move from his congregation.

But once he settles in on his new congregation, he will perform the ceremony. So there is no date set. I'll keep you posted on any news.

… Finally, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year if I don't talk to everyone again.

Is anyone reading these blogs?

It's just a question.

… I finished all my Christmas shopping spending just under $250 and in a time of two and a half hours. I was shopping for eight nieces, five nephews and other family and friends. The time is what people find shocking. I look at it this way; I have a good idea of what I am looking for each person on the list. It's not that I don't care as some may argue; I just get to the point with no dilly-dally.

I'm buying presents mainly for children ranging in the age of two weeks to 10 years old. I'll walk up and down and aisle, stop, and say: "I think (so-and-so) would like this." They usually do. Well now that I think of it, I've never gotten a complaint.

Now, I just need to wrap everything.

… Between now and the last time I blogged, I spent time with my parents. I picked them up from the airport as they arrived from Mexico and took them to my sister Georgia's house in Pasadena. The next day, I drove them to Fresno where my sister Clemencia lives and where they had left their truck.

I used to drive my parents everywhere when I lived at home. I thought it was pain then. Years later, however, I found it was enjoyable.

On the way there, I asked them what they wanted for lunch and at first didn't know until they saw an In-n-Out billboard and said they wanted to go there. Then my father said their food is good for you. Now keep in mind, my dad is now 78 and had never heard of the food pyramid, let alone the four basic food groups. I asked why he thought that and he said, "They put so many vegetables on their food." He had a point.

He then told me that another sister, Rosa, took them to an In-n-Out before they had left for Mexico and they enjoyed it, they had never been there before. I reminded him that they do have In-n-Outs in Tracy and Stockton and he was surprised and asked if they were new. I said no, the Tracy one has been there since I was in high school.

But I am looking forward to them renewing their wedding vows next month.

… I've been babysitting a two-year-old recently for a friend at work. He and his wife take their newest born to the doctors nearby and leave me for at least 90 minutes with the toddler. Their child, Sophie, knows me well enough that the parents know I am not a stranger to her.

The first time was easy until an hour into it. Then Sophie realized after watching her DVDs that her parents weren't there. She began to scream and cry and I tried reasoning to her but that wasn't happening and so I put the DVD back on. It worked, but I felt like I failed and took the easy way out.

It wasn't until later where I learned a trick. Focus is everything. While having dinner, I had her crayons and was drawing. She became possessive and said it was hers. Later on, as she was trying to play with one of her parents who was trying to get dinner ready, I yelled out, "Look Sophie, I'm coloring." She stopped and looked, then came towards me. So the next time I watched her, it was much easier.

… It's Christmas time and once again I turn into the free airport shuttle for friends. I started this week taking a friend to the airport who's flight was at 7 a.m. That translates to me getting up at 5 a.m.

Maybe I am just too nice. So, if anyone needs a ride, you know what to do. This is a service for friends and family only. No friends of a friend or family of a friend. But I will do friend of the family for some reason.