Well, rats
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2005 10:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rolanniNarbonic's not answering the phone this morning. Probably part and parcel of Mom's nefarious plans for Artie.
Yesterday was sunny for a change, so in the afternoon we went down to South China and drove a buncha Subarus. The 1998 Impreza hatchback with low miles was too smoky, despite having obviously endured heavy-duty smoke-killing protocols. The 2003 with higher miles was...OK... but felt -- how do I say this? -- small. So, we broke down and drove a Forester. Nice vehicle. Felt solid on the road, and had plenty of zip; plus it's got the bit of height that I've gotten used to in the Blazer, and cockpit actually has more leg-room than the Blazer, while the passenger's slot is about the same. The controls are nicely placed and obvious, and, hey -- the air conditioner and radio work. I am So Doomed.
Before the Great Auto Adventure, and as part of the gym-and-errand-thing, I ran into a fellow collecting signatures to "Save Your Marriage." Had a table set up in front of the Unity Town Office, which shares an entrance with the post office.
"Sign the petition to save your marriage, deah?"
"Don't believe I will, thanks."
"Now, why not? I see that ring on your finger."
"You do, and it's been there for twenty-five years, coming up. I'll tell you what -- my marriage has been a source of great comfort and strength for me for almost half my life..."
"Well, then, why don't you just --"
"...and I have several very dear friends who are denied that comfort and strength because some people are homophobic, self-righteous, and just plain nosy. I think that's wrong."
Silence for the beat of three while my man studied the cloudless sky.
"Well, then. Have a nice day, deah."
"You, too."
I do believe I'll pay some bills.
Yesterday was sunny for a change, so in the afternoon we went down to South China and drove a buncha Subarus. The 1998 Impreza hatchback with low miles was too smoky, despite having obviously endured heavy-duty smoke-killing protocols. The 2003 with higher miles was...OK... but felt -- how do I say this? -- small. So, we broke down and drove a Forester. Nice vehicle. Felt solid on the road, and had plenty of zip; plus it's got the bit of height that I've gotten used to in the Blazer, and cockpit actually has more leg-room than the Blazer, while the passenger's slot is about the same. The controls are nicely placed and obvious, and, hey -- the air conditioner and radio work. I am So Doomed.
Before the Great Auto Adventure, and as part of the gym-and-errand-thing, I ran into a fellow collecting signatures to "Save Your Marriage." Had a table set up in front of the Unity Town Office, which shares an entrance with the post office.
"Sign the petition to save your marriage, deah?"
"Don't believe I will, thanks."
"Now, why not? I see that ring on your finger."
"You do, and it's been there for twenty-five years, coming up. I'll tell you what -- my marriage has been a source of great comfort and strength for me for almost half my life..."
"Well, then, why don't you just --"
"...and I have several very dear friends who are denied that comfort and strength because some people are homophobic, self-righteous, and just plain nosy. I think that's wrong."
Silence for the beat of three while my man studied the cloudless sky.
"Well, then. Have a nice day, deah."
"You, too."
I do believe I'll pay some bills.
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no subject
Date: 2005-05-03 04:15 pm (UTC)Silence for the beat of three while my man studied the cloudless sky.
"Well, then. Have a nice day, deah."
"You, too."
I am proud, yes proud, of such a courteous and pointed conversation. You are my roll model for conservative interaction!
You are my roll model for conservative interaction!
Date: 2005-05-03 05:38 pm (UTC)"You are my roll model for conservative interaction!" made me laugh a bit. Consider melant'i and balance... and then consider the day I got a phone call from Rolanni, warning me that she wasn't sure she wouldn't be arrested.
And, as the story came out, it happens that Rolanni was driving about on her way to work one cool Maine winter's day and came across a lovely stretch of road wherein there's a park -- a playground actually -- beloved of children, and a river flowing by it, and across the street, a hospital; I think at the time it was one of three in the city. There was a lot of snow on the ground, but the area was still frequented by children, especially since the road is also one of the better routes for school buses and a way to get to some prime ice-skating and sledding areas.
Suddenly, and without warning, Rolanni spotted strange and hideous signs sitting side by side by side, a bunch of them, directly across from the emergency room and obstetric and pediatric entrances. Gracing some of the signs were words calling down brim-fire on the hospital and employees and doctors (and thereby upon women who might use some of the services there, in particular anyone availing themselves of birth control of any type, including abortions.
But there were other signs (note location -- playground, route to school, obstetric, emergency, pediatric entrance) -- with obscenely gruesome images
claimed to be the results of abortions -- arranged in such a way that anyone approaching the hospital from any direction would have to see some of the signs.
Rolanni pulled over, stopped car, and began tossing the unattended signs over a snowbank.
At this juncture, a man sitting in a nice warm car some distance away (like maybe a quarter mile) got out of his car and began yelling at her. Nothing daunted, Rolanni continued to toss the signs -- face down -- as far and as fast as she could, down the bank,
Eventually the man arrived in Rolanni's vicinity, yelling, claiming ownership of the signs, and the right to have them there. He apparently shoved her to get between her and the rest of the signs. Rolanni asked his name -- he smirked, and refused to give it. Her asked her name, and she told him. Gloating, he said he'd have her arrested.
And so, Rolanni left the scene of the crime and drove directly to the police station, to not pass go, wherein she explained to the officers that the man was threatening her with arrest for destruction of property.
The officers said that yes, the man had a permit for his "demonstration..." and that if she *had* "damaged" the signs she might be responsible for reimbursing the cost of said signs. But then, they needed more information.
So the sent Rolanni on her way... but before she left they identified the man (a well-known local defender of his right to control other people's lives), explained that apparently he'd gotten too close to the playground, and also, it seems that a demonstration is *not* a demonstration unless accompanied by a real-live-and-present person standing with the demonstration in the same snow as the signs. Additionally, it appeared that the person in charge is supposed to own up to a name when requested. They'd send an officer over....
Rolnani arrived at work only to have the boss ask if in fact she was the lady recently seen vandalizing obscene signs near the hospital. She admitted she was, and he told her he was pleased to hear it and to keep his phone number close in case she needed bail thrown. His daughter and wife often had to go by those signs on the way to doctor appointments as well as on the way to gymnastics, and he was sure that between himself, friends, and the Unitarians.... bail wouldn't be a problem.
It never came to that. However, it turns out that she'd forgotten to mention that she was shoved by the miscreant. Apparently the someone who told her boss of the incident had witnessed *that* and if court action did happen, was willing to testify.
We avoid driving down that road when we can; some days the nut reappears.
Re: You are my roll model for conservative interaction!
Date: 2005-05-03 10:26 pm (UTC)Ah, but I did...I remember all my childhood teachings about "heaping coals of fire upon the heads of those who ..." etc. etc. Turning those words back upon their source under fire was brilliant. Of course, they didn't know that Rolanni was willing to dual over the topic, if necessary.
The poor idiot doesn't know that Rolanni is now probably quietly gunning for him. It's a hard stance to take, especially if your town is heading funde--I know my Ex told me once he was going to turn around and drive home if we had to cross a picket line to see a gay revue. I said fine, quietly planning to drive myself back down if he did... .
I think it's great you are ready to bail each other out. 8^)
And she *was* polite to the sign man. She didn't toss him over the embankment.