5.31.2008
Save St. John's High School!
I have regularly bagged on St. John's High School in South City for many years...I usually call it the "School of Last Hope," as it's the cheapest Catholic high school in the area...and if you flunk out of it, you're headed to public school, buddy!
Having said that, I don't think it's a bad school...just not my cup of tea. And there are a lot of students and teachers that love the school. Unfortunately, the parish that runs the school (St. John the Baptist) is shutting it down, apparently due to a six-figure deficit. The final approval for closure has to come from St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke, St. Louis' current favorite asshole.
Everything about this closing smells funny: the timing, the rationale, etc. Some students and teachers put together a video to try and convince the Pastoral Council to save the school, which I've embedded here. At least they didn't go down without a fight.
I don't know all the details about the situation. It made the local news, plus I know students and alumni and parishioners. But I do know that a plethora of Catholic churches and schools in St. Louis have closed over the past 15 years; others have seen enrollment drops. My grade schools (St. Anthony and Resurrection) closed a while back, and my HS alma mater (DuBourg) had 1000 students when I started in 1990...it's now at 600. On one hand, it's a sign of the times...on the other hand, the Church has no one to blame but itself.
I detest the Catholic Church, even though I was (kinda) raised in it...but I did get 13 years of good education out of them. If there is a way financially to keep St. John's alive, then it should remain open. At the very least, the school should remain open for 2008-2009. Even though a large number of students from St. John's will be attending my alma mater.
I don't know if everything has been finalized yet. Maybe an alumnus with lot of bucks will step in...maybe Burke will finally show that he has a heart...I dunno. If you wish to complain or make your voice heard, these are probably the best ways to do so:
St. John the Baptist Parish
4200 Delor St.
St. Louis, MO 63116
(314) 353-1255
Archbishop Raymond Burke
Archdiocese of St. Louis
4445 Lindell Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108
(314) 633-2222
Having said that, I don't think it's a bad school...just not my cup of tea. And there are a lot of students and teachers that love the school. Unfortunately, the parish that runs the school (St. John the Baptist) is shutting it down, apparently due to a six-figure deficit. The final approval for closure has to come from St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke, St. Louis' current favorite asshole.
Everything about this closing smells funny: the timing, the rationale, etc. Some students and teachers put together a video to try and convince the Pastoral Council to save the school, which I've embedded here. At least they didn't go down without a fight.
I don't know all the details about the situation. It made the local news, plus I know students and alumni and parishioners. But I do know that a plethora of Catholic churches and schools in St. Louis have closed over the past 15 years; others have seen enrollment drops. My grade schools (St. Anthony and Resurrection) closed a while back, and my HS alma mater (DuBourg) had 1000 students when I started in 1990...it's now at 600. On one hand, it's a sign of the times...on the other hand, the Church has no one to blame but itself.
I detest the Catholic Church, even though I was (kinda) raised in it...but I did get 13 years of good education out of them. If there is a way financially to keep St. John's alive, then it should remain open. At the very least, the school should remain open for 2008-2009. Even though a large number of students from St. John's will be attending my alma mater.
I don't know if everything has been finalized yet. Maybe an alumnus with lot of bucks will step in...maybe Burke will finally show that he has a heart...I dunno. If you wish to complain or make your voice heard, these are probably the best ways to do so:
St. John the Baptist Parish
4200 Delor St.
St. Louis, MO 63116
(314) 353-1255
Archbishop Raymond Burke
Archdiocese of St. Louis
4445 Lindell Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108
(314) 633-2222
It's procedure, but...
...does this not seem asinine?
The full text of the following story is being posted due to the short lifespan of stories on newspaper websites.
From today's Post-Dispatch: A colleague of Pete O'Neal, the fire chief of the Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District, says that O'Neal's arrest Thursday night after a traffic stop was politically and racially motivated.
"This is so out of line," Airest Wilson, a deputy chief at Northeast, said Friday. "I've never heard of anything like this." The Northeast district was called the Normandy Fire Protection District until January of this year.
O'Neal, who has been fire chief for about one year, is black. Normandy Police Chief Douglas Lebert, who is white, has been critical in the past of the fire district's performance.
He said O'Neal's arrest was handled like any other, and said Wilson's allegations were ridiculous.
O'Neal, 43, was pulled over about 6 p.m. on Florissant Road for going 12 miles over the speed limit in a white Ford Expedition that serves at the district's command vehicle, Lebert said. The SUV is not marked but has Normandy fire license plates and is equipped with lights and sirens.
When the officer ran O'Neal's drivers license, a fugitive warrant for failure to appear on a seat belt violation from Cape Girardeau County popped up and was verified. O'Neal was handcuffed and his vehicle towed according to standard department procedure, Lebert said.
"That's the way we treat every traffic stop and every individual who has a warrant," Lebert said. "We would not treat a fire chief any differently. I didn't make this warrant up. I didn't tell the chief to go speeding so we could stop him and I didn't tell our officers to track this fire chief down. This happened because this guy didn't pay his damn ticket."
Wilson said the incident has put the public's safety at risk because the impounded command vehicle is not available for calls.
After O'Neal was ticketed for the speeding violation, he was taken to the Normandy jail and then transported to the St. Louis County Jail so his out-of-county warrant could be processed. O'Neal posted $100 bond and was released about 1 a.m. Friday.
O'Neal could not be reached for comment.
Howard Shalowitz, O'Neal's attorney, said common sense should have prevailed during the traffic stop. Police officers often forgo making an arrest on minor failure-to-appear warrants and that it was not necessary to tow the command SUV since the fire station was less than a minute away, he said.
O'Neal believed the October 2006 seat belt violation had been taken care of, Shalowitz said.
The full text of the following story is being posted due to the short lifespan of stories on newspaper websites.
From today's Post-Dispatch: A colleague of Pete O'Neal, the fire chief of the Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District, says that O'Neal's arrest Thursday night after a traffic stop was politically and racially motivated.
"This is so out of line," Airest Wilson, a deputy chief at Northeast, said Friday. "I've never heard of anything like this." The Northeast district was called the Normandy Fire Protection District until January of this year.
O'Neal, who has been fire chief for about one year, is black. Normandy Police Chief Douglas Lebert, who is white, has been critical in the past of the fire district's performance.
He said O'Neal's arrest was handled like any other, and said Wilson's allegations were ridiculous.
O'Neal, 43, was pulled over about 6 p.m. on Florissant Road for going 12 miles over the speed limit in a white Ford Expedition that serves at the district's command vehicle, Lebert said. The SUV is not marked but has Normandy fire license plates and is equipped with lights and sirens.
When the officer ran O'Neal's drivers license, a fugitive warrant for failure to appear on a seat belt violation from Cape Girardeau County popped up and was verified. O'Neal was handcuffed and his vehicle towed according to standard department procedure, Lebert said.
"That's the way we treat every traffic stop and every individual who has a warrant," Lebert said. "We would not treat a fire chief any differently. I didn't make this warrant up. I didn't tell the chief to go speeding so we could stop him and I didn't tell our officers to track this fire chief down. This happened because this guy didn't pay his damn ticket."
Wilson said the incident has put the public's safety at risk because the impounded command vehicle is not available for calls.
After O'Neal was ticketed for the speeding violation, he was taken to the Normandy jail and then transported to the St. Louis County Jail so his out-of-county warrant could be processed. O'Neal posted $100 bond and was released about 1 a.m. Friday.
O'Neal could not be reached for comment.
Howard Shalowitz, O'Neal's attorney, said common sense should have prevailed during the traffic stop. Police officers often forgo making an arrest on minor failure-to-appear warrants and that it was not necessary to tow the command SUV since the fire station was less than a minute away, he said.
O'Neal believed the October 2006 seat belt violation had been taken care of, Shalowitz said.
5.30.2008
The new job...and hopefully the last one for awhile
I started delivering tonight at a pizza place in the Central West End. My mom, April and I now all work within 2 blocks of each other...oh joy.
Anyway... ;)
I tried to be as neutral as possible going into tonight's shift...if it went well, great. If not, oh well. I had a more positive feeling going into this store than I did the one in Crestwood, but karma is a son-of-a-bitch.
It was a good night. Everyone seems cool, the store is well-run and the pay setup isn't shady. I am now cautiously optimistic...I hope this job works out.
It's not a "real" job, but it's as real as I can get right now.
Anyway... ;)
I tried to be as neutral as possible going into tonight's shift...if it went well, great. If not, oh well. I had a more positive feeling going into this store than I did the one in Crestwood, but karma is a son-of-a-bitch.
It was a good night. Everyone seems cool, the store is well-run and the pay setup isn't shady. I am now cautiously optimistic...I hope this job works out.
It's not a "real" job, but it's as real as I can get right now.
April's important and stuff (part 2)
The full text of the following story is being posted due to the short lifespan of stories on newspaper websites...and because the story involves my wife.
An article from today's Post-Dispatch, that features one of April's quotes from yesterday. Apparently, there are going to be 3 or 4 stories in the paper this week about ATV safety:
Carlos Hill doesn't own an all-terrain vehicle, but he's spent far too much time with kids who ride them.
Hill is a flight paramedic from Breese, and he's transported an increasing number of children on the Air Evac helicopter after they've crashed ATVs.
They don't wear helmets. Many ride the four-wheel machines meant for adults. Those who survive often have brain injuries.
On a whim, Hill e-mailed St. Louis Children's Hospital one day last year, after a particularly troubling week in which he cared for one child seriously hurt and another who died while riding ATVs. Hill said something should be done to educate the kids.
The simple e-mail got things rolling, and the hospital started a coalition that will kick off its efforts next month.
The message: Wear helmets and don't take passengers.
The Survive the Ride coalition will target 10- to 16-year-olds in rural Missouri and Illinois, where ATV accidents are the highest.
"Parents oftentimes view those more as a toy," said Hill, 52, who has worked as a paramedic for 30 years. "What's sad about those patients who are lucky enough to survive is that these long-term brain injuries are just devastating in many ways and can bankrupt a family."
In mid-June, Hill's employer, Air Evac, will pay for him and flight nurse Marc Scholes to travel to county fairs, air shows and other gatherings and set up a booth about ATV safety. In the fall, the coalition hopes to bring its message to 1,000 kids in rural schools, using other paramedics and flight nurses to make presentations and hand out brochures and school materials.
Children's Hospital is the lead agency in the campaign. Other partners are Arch Medical Transport, Air Evac, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Kohl's Cares for Kids.
Last year, Children's Hospital treated 55 children hurt on ATVs. In 2006, 45 were treated. So far this year, the hospital has treated 14 kids hurt on ATVs.
"It's unrealistic to tell kids not to ride them," said April B, a supervisor in the child health advocacy and outreach department at St. Louis Children's Hospital. "But if they're going to ride them, we want them to ride safely."
In the last month alone, three young people from the area have died riding ATVs:
— Early on the morning of April 26, Joanna L. Bendler, 19, of Lonedell, was killed when her ATV struck a tree on Project Road, south of Lonedell, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol.
— Early Tuesday, searchers found the body of DeSmet High School freshman Daniel R. Dorsey, 15, of St. Charles, in a flood-swollen creek in Gasconade County. Daniel had been driving an ATV the day before on a family farm and apparently wrecked it in Sugar Creek, off Stolpe Road.
— On Wednesday, Zachary T. Barker, 15, of Potosi, died in Washington County when a car struck the ATV he was riding.
Details of the crash that killed Zachary are tragically familiar to medical workers who worry about kids on ATVs.
About 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Zachary was on the back of the four-wheeler while his friend, David M. Forister, 14, was driving. David drove the vehicle out of a ditch doing a "wheelie" and onto Highway 8 at Dunberry Road in Washington County.
Their ATV crossed the eastbound lane without a problem. But it landed on all four wheels in the westbound lane and came to a complete stop — right in the path of an oncoming car, said Brian DeClue, the coroner for Washington County.
The car hit the ATV, throwing the boys about 60 feet. DeClue said neither boy was wearing a helmet.
Zachary died at the scene. David was taken by helicopter to Children's Hospital, where he was in satisfactory condition Thursday.
Zachary's death was the second ATV-related fatality DeClue has handled in eight years as coroner of Washington County, where the vehicles are popular.
"We're talking country, that's what kids do in the country," DeClue said. "They should have stayed in the ditch."
Shane Skillett, president of the Mid Missouri Mudslingers ATV-riding group, said he makes his 16-year-old son abide by all safety rules — especially wearing a helmet.
"He's not allowed on it without one," said Skillett, of Belton.
Skillett said the lack of experience of some young riders can put them in danger.
"They just don't have the skill that an adult has and they like to go fast," he said. In Missouri, ATVs may not be legally driven on roadways, with very limited exceptions, said Capt. Tim Hull of the Missouri Highway Patrol. When an ATV is on private property, there are no state requirements on the age of a driver, wearing a helmet or having a passenger, Hull said.
Hull gave these tallies for ATV-related deaths in Missouri for the past few years: 14 killed in 2006, 17 in 2005 and 13 in 2004. The total for 2007 won't be released until June.
National statistics compiled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report that 8,104 people have died in ATV crashes between 1982 and 2006. About a third of those were younger than 16.
In Missouri, 239 people died in that 24-year period, the commission says. In Illinois, the number who died was 164.
The Product Safety Commission defines an ATV as any off-road motor vehicle with three or four tires, a straddle seat and handlebars.
An article from today's Post-Dispatch, that features one of April's quotes from yesterday. Apparently, there are going to be 3 or 4 stories in the paper this week about ATV safety:
Carlos Hill doesn't own an all-terrain vehicle, but he's spent far too much time with kids who ride them.
Hill is a flight paramedic from Breese, and he's transported an increasing number of children on the Air Evac helicopter after they've crashed ATVs.
They don't wear helmets. Many ride the four-wheel machines meant for adults. Those who survive often have brain injuries.
On a whim, Hill e-mailed St. Louis Children's Hospital one day last year, after a particularly troubling week in which he cared for one child seriously hurt and another who died while riding ATVs. Hill said something should be done to educate the kids.
The simple e-mail got things rolling, and the hospital started a coalition that will kick off its efforts next month.
The message: Wear helmets and don't take passengers.
The Survive the Ride coalition will target 10- to 16-year-olds in rural Missouri and Illinois, where ATV accidents are the highest.
"Parents oftentimes view those more as a toy," said Hill, 52, who has worked as a paramedic for 30 years. "What's sad about those patients who are lucky enough to survive is that these long-term brain injuries are just devastating in many ways and can bankrupt a family."
In mid-June, Hill's employer, Air Evac, will pay for him and flight nurse Marc Scholes to travel to county fairs, air shows and other gatherings and set up a booth about ATV safety. In the fall, the coalition hopes to bring its message to 1,000 kids in rural schools, using other paramedics and flight nurses to make presentations and hand out brochures and school materials.
Children's Hospital is the lead agency in the campaign. Other partners are Arch Medical Transport, Air Evac, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Kohl's Cares for Kids.
Last year, Children's Hospital treated 55 children hurt on ATVs. In 2006, 45 were treated. So far this year, the hospital has treated 14 kids hurt on ATVs.
"It's unrealistic to tell kids not to ride them," said April B, a supervisor in the child health advocacy and outreach department at St. Louis Children's Hospital. "But if they're going to ride them, we want them to ride safely."
In the last month alone, three young people from the area have died riding ATVs:
— Early on the morning of April 26, Joanna L. Bendler, 19, of Lonedell, was killed when her ATV struck a tree on Project Road, south of Lonedell, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol.
— Early Tuesday, searchers found the body of DeSmet High School freshman Daniel R. Dorsey, 15, of St. Charles, in a flood-swollen creek in Gasconade County. Daniel had been driving an ATV the day before on a family farm and apparently wrecked it in Sugar Creek, off Stolpe Road.
— On Wednesday, Zachary T. Barker, 15, of Potosi, died in Washington County when a car struck the ATV he was riding.
Details of the crash that killed Zachary are tragically familiar to medical workers who worry about kids on ATVs.
About 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Zachary was on the back of the four-wheeler while his friend, David M. Forister, 14, was driving. David drove the vehicle out of a ditch doing a "wheelie" and onto Highway 8 at Dunberry Road in Washington County.
Their ATV crossed the eastbound lane without a problem. But it landed on all four wheels in the westbound lane and came to a complete stop — right in the path of an oncoming car, said Brian DeClue, the coroner for Washington County.
The car hit the ATV, throwing the boys about 60 feet. DeClue said neither boy was wearing a helmet.
Zachary died at the scene. David was taken by helicopter to Children's Hospital, where he was in satisfactory condition Thursday.
Zachary's death was the second ATV-related fatality DeClue has handled in eight years as coroner of Washington County, where the vehicles are popular.
"We're talking country, that's what kids do in the country," DeClue said. "They should have stayed in the ditch."
Shane Skillett, president of the Mid Missouri Mudslingers ATV-riding group, said he makes his 16-year-old son abide by all safety rules — especially wearing a helmet.
"He's not allowed on it without one," said Skillett, of Belton.
Skillett said the lack of experience of some young riders can put them in danger.
"They just don't have the skill that an adult has and they like to go fast," he said. In Missouri, ATVs may not be legally driven on roadways, with very limited exceptions, said Capt. Tim Hull of the Missouri Highway Patrol. When an ATV is on private property, there are no state requirements on the age of a driver, wearing a helmet or having a passenger, Hull said.
Hull gave these tallies for ATV-related deaths in Missouri for the past few years: 14 killed in 2006, 17 in 2005 and 13 in 2004. The total for 2007 won't be released until June.
National statistics compiled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report that 8,104 people have died in ATV crashes between 1982 and 2006. About a third of those were younger than 16.
In Missouri, 239 people died in that 24-year period, the commission says. In Illinois, the number who died was 164.
The Product Safety Commission defines an ATV as any off-road motor vehicle with three or four tires, a straddle seat and handlebars.
5.29.2008
April's important and stuff
Look! My wife is an expert and shit...I'm so proud of her!
The full text of the following story is being posted due to the short lifespan of stories on newspaper websites...and because the story involves my wife.
From today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch: For the second time in two days, a teen-age boy from the area has been killed while riding an all-terrain vehicle.
Zachary T. Barker, 15, of Potosi, died Wednesday in Washington County when a car struck the ATV he was riding on, throwing him about 60 feet, authorities say.
Zachary was a passenger on the all-terrain vehicle driven by David M. Forister, 14, of Potosi, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol. David was seriously injured.
About 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, David drove out of a ditch and onto Highway 8 at Dunberry Road, right into the path of a Pontiac Sunfire driven by Robert Kratky, 36. The Pontiac hit the side of the ATV. Both Zachary and David were thrown off.
Zachary died at the scene. David was taken by helicopter to St. Louis Children's Hospital in St. Louis. He was in satisfactory condition this morning.
The driver of the car was uninjured, the patrol says.
Zachary is the second teen this week to be fatally injured in an ATV crash. Early Tuesday, searchers found the body of Daniel R. Dorsey, 15, of St. Charles, in a flood-swollen creek in Gasconade County. Daniel had been driving an all-terrain vehicle the day before on a family farm and apparently wrecked it in Sugar Creek, off of Stolpe Road. Daniel was a freshman at DeSmet High School.
On Monday, a 14-year-old girl from Wildwood, Madeline Moreton, was seriously hurt when the all-terrain vehicle she was driving hit a tree. She was flown by Arch helicopter to St. Louis Children's Hospital. She was released this morning. She'd been driving it on private property in Washington County and missed a curve, smashing into the tree.
In Wednesday's fatal crash, neither Zachary nor David was wearing a helmet, said Brian DeClue, the coroner for Washington County.
DeClue said the boys were on a four-wheeler ATV, on the south side of Highway 8. When they came out of a ditch, the ATV was doing a "wheelie" and crossed the eastbound lane of Highway 8.
"When it got into the westbound lane, it came down on all four wheels and came to a complete stop" -- right into the path of the oncoming car, DeClue said. "The driver said they came to a dead stop."
The car hit the ATV, throwing the boys some 60 feet. They landed on the pavement.
DeClue has been coroner eight years and says this is the second time he's handled an ATV fatality. He said riding all-terrain vehicles is quite popular in his county.
"We're talking country, that's what kids do in the country," DeClue said. "They should have stayed in the ditch."
In Missouri, ATVs may not be legally driven on the road, with very limited exceptions, said Capt. Tim Hull of the Missouri Highway Patrol.
Wednesday was the last day of school at John A. Evans Middle School in Potosi, where Zachary was an eighth grader.
Zachary is the son of Glenn Barker and Lauri Barker and has two siblings. DeClue said Glenn Barker is in the military and was injured in Iraq by a roadside bomb. The father is undergoing rehabilitation at Fort Knox, Ky., DeClue said.
The two teens' deaths this week aren't the only area deaths this year involving ATVs. Early on the morning of April 26, 19-year-old Joanna L. Bendler of Lonedell was killed when the four-wheel all-terrain vehicle she was driving struck a tree on Project Road south of Lonedell in Franklin County.
Hull of the Highway Patrol said he didn't know year-to-date figures for ATV fatalities, but he gave these Missouri's tally for the past few years: 14 dead in 2006, 17 in 2005 and 13 in 2004. The total for 2007 won't be released until June.
A PUSH FOR SAFETY
Statistics compiled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission show that 8,104 people died in ATV crashes between 1982 and 2006. About a third of those who died were under the age of 16.
In Missouri, 239 people died in that 24-year period, the commission says. In Illinois, the number who died was 164.
Twenty-nine people died that first year (1982) that statistics were kept nationally, and the annual death toll topped the 200 mark three years later. By 1999, it had surpassed 300 deaths, and hasn't dropped below 400 deaths annually since. The year with the most ATV deaths was 2004 when 745 people died.
The Product Safety Commission defines an ATV as any off-road motor vehicle with three or four tires, a straddle seat and handlebars.
Data collected by the commission in the 1980s led to consent decrees in April 1988 with five ATV distributors. They agreed to stop producing three-wheel ATVs, offer rider training to people who buy them and recommend that only people over the age of 16 use the adult-sized ATVs. Those consent decrees expired in 1998, but seven distributors agreed to continue those efforts voluntarily.
Many of the kids who get seriously hurt in the region end up at St. Louis Children's Hospital. Injuries in such crashes rank above cuts as one of the top 10 reasons kids are admitted to the hospital. So far this year, 14 kids who got hurt riding an ATV have been treated at St. Louis Children's Hospital. The year before, the hospital treated 55 kids hurt on ATVs. In 2006, 45 were treated.
The hospital has started a coalition to spread the word about ATV safety. Survive the Ride is a coalition of hospital and helicopter workers who treat many of the injured. Starting in mid-June, the group will be going primarily to rural gatherings, such as county fairs and air shows, to urge riders to wear helmets and take other safety measures.
Children's Hospital is the lead agency in that effort. Other partners are Arch Medical Transport, Air Evac, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Kohl's Cares for Kids.
April Blastenbrei, a supervisor in the child health advocacy and outreach department at St. Louis Children's Hospital, said the air-transport teams urged some type of action because they'd been seeing too many ATV-related brain injuries in rural Missouri and Illinois.
Next fall, the coalition hopes to take its school-based curriculum into "geographic hotspots," the rural counties that are seeing the crashes, Blastenbrei said. The goal is to talk to 1,000 kids this year. The target audience: 10 to 16 year olds.
"It's unrealistic to tell kids not to ride them," Blastenbrei said. "But if they're going to ride them, we want them to ride safely. Our two biggest pushes are to wear a helmet and not to have more than one kid on the ATV. A lot of these kids are falling off being the passenger. The ATVs are built for one person."
The full text of the following story is being posted due to the short lifespan of stories on newspaper websites...and because the story involves my wife.
From today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch: For the second time in two days, a teen-age boy from the area has been killed while riding an all-terrain vehicle.
Zachary T. Barker, 15, of Potosi, died Wednesday in Washington County when a car struck the ATV he was riding on, throwing him about 60 feet, authorities say.
Zachary was a passenger on the all-terrain vehicle driven by David M. Forister, 14, of Potosi, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol. David was seriously injured.
About 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, David drove out of a ditch and onto Highway 8 at Dunberry Road, right into the path of a Pontiac Sunfire driven by Robert Kratky, 36. The Pontiac hit the side of the ATV. Both Zachary and David were thrown off.
Zachary died at the scene. David was taken by helicopter to St. Louis Children's Hospital in St. Louis. He was in satisfactory condition this morning.
The driver of the car was uninjured, the patrol says.
Zachary is the second teen this week to be fatally injured in an ATV crash. Early Tuesday, searchers found the body of Daniel R. Dorsey, 15, of St. Charles, in a flood-swollen creek in Gasconade County. Daniel had been driving an all-terrain vehicle the day before on a family farm and apparently wrecked it in Sugar Creek, off of Stolpe Road. Daniel was a freshman at DeSmet High School.
On Monday, a 14-year-old girl from Wildwood, Madeline Moreton, was seriously hurt when the all-terrain vehicle she was driving hit a tree. She was flown by Arch helicopter to St. Louis Children's Hospital. She was released this morning. She'd been driving it on private property in Washington County and missed a curve, smashing into the tree.
In Wednesday's fatal crash, neither Zachary nor David was wearing a helmet, said Brian DeClue, the coroner for Washington County.
DeClue said the boys were on a four-wheeler ATV, on the south side of Highway 8. When they came out of a ditch, the ATV was doing a "wheelie" and crossed the eastbound lane of Highway 8.
"When it got into the westbound lane, it came down on all four wheels and came to a complete stop" -- right into the path of the oncoming car, DeClue said. "The driver said they came to a dead stop."
The car hit the ATV, throwing the boys some 60 feet. They landed on the pavement.
DeClue has been coroner eight years and says this is the second time he's handled an ATV fatality. He said riding all-terrain vehicles is quite popular in his county.
"We're talking country, that's what kids do in the country," DeClue said. "They should have stayed in the ditch."
In Missouri, ATVs may not be legally driven on the road, with very limited exceptions, said Capt. Tim Hull of the Missouri Highway Patrol.
Wednesday was the last day of school at John A. Evans Middle School in Potosi, where Zachary was an eighth grader.
Zachary is the son of Glenn Barker and Lauri Barker and has two siblings. DeClue said Glenn Barker is in the military and was injured in Iraq by a roadside bomb. The father is undergoing rehabilitation at Fort Knox, Ky., DeClue said.
The two teens' deaths this week aren't the only area deaths this year involving ATVs. Early on the morning of April 26, 19-year-old Joanna L. Bendler of Lonedell was killed when the four-wheel all-terrain vehicle she was driving struck a tree on Project Road south of Lonedell in Franklin County.
Hull of the Highway Patrol said he didn't know year-to-date figures for ATV fatalities, but he gave these Missouri's tally for the past few years: 14 dead in 2006, 17 in 2005 and 13 in 2004. The total for 2007 won't be released until June.
A PUSH FOR SAFETY
Statistics compiled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission show that 8,104 people died in ATV crashes between 1982 and 2006. About a third of those who died were under the age of 16.
In Missouri, 239 people died in that 24-year period, the commission says. In Illinois, the number who died was 164.
Twenty-nine people died that first year (1982) that statistics were kept nationally, and the annual death toll topped the 200 mark three years later. By 1999, it had surpassed 300 deaths, and hasn't dropped below 400 deaths annually since. The year with the most ATV deaths was 2004 when 745 people died.
The Product Safety Commission defines an ATV as any off-road motor vehicle with three or four tires, a straddle seat and handlebars.
Data collected by the commission in the 1980s led to consent decrees in April 1988 with five ATV distributors. They agreed to stop producing three-wheel ATVs, offer rider training to people who buy them and recommend that only people over the age of 16 use the adult-sized ATVs. Those consent decrees expired in 1998, but seven distributors agreed to continue those efforts voluntarily.
Many of the kids who get seriously hurt in the region end up at St. Louis Children's Hospital. Injuries in such crashes rank above cuts as one of the top 10 reasons kids are admitted to the hospital. So far this year, 14 kids who got hurt riding an ATV have been treated at St. Louis Children's Hospital. The year before, the hospital treated 55 kids hurt on ATVs. In 2006, 45 were treated.
The hospital has started a coalition to spread the word about ATV safety. Survive the Ride is a coalition of hospital and helicopter workers who treat many of the injured. Starting in mid-June, the group will be going primarily to rural gatherings, such as county fairs and air shows, to urge riders to wear helmets and take other safety measures.
Children's Hospital is the lead agency in that effort. Other partners are Arch Medical Transport, Air Evac, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Kohl's Cares for Kids.
April Blastenbrei, a supervisor in the child health advocacy and outreach department at St. Louis Children's Hospital, said the air-transport teams urged some type of action because they'd been seeing too many ATV-related brain injuries in rural Missouri and Illinois.
Next fall, the coalition hopes to take its school-based curriculum into "geographic hotspots," the rural counties that are seeing the crashes, Blastenbrei said. The goal is to talk to 1,000 kids this year. The target audience: 10 to 16 year olds.
"It's unrealistic to tell kids not to ride them," Blastenbrei said. "But if they're going to ride them, we want them to ride safely. Our two biggest pushes are to wear a helmet and not to have more than one kid on the ATV. A lot of these kids are falling off being the passenger. The ATVs are built for one person."
5.28.2008
There's nothing like that new car...
...odometer. I took this picture as we were driving off the dealer lot...4 weeks ago today!
Cleo does not want her butt sniffed!
I don't know why my neighbor parked right on my ass last night...I left a note on her car, asking her nicely to not do such a thing again.
5.27.2008
A Change Is Gonna Come
I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die
Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie and I go downtown
Somebody keep telling me don't hang around
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knocking me
Back down on my knees
Ohhhhhhhhh.....
There been times that I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
--Sam Cooke
Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die
Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
I go to the movie and I go downtown
Somebody keep telling me don't hang around
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
Then I go to my brother
And I say brother help me please
But he winds up knocking me
Back down on my knees
Ohhhhhhhhh.....
There been times that I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
--Sam Cooke
5.26.2008
Wendy's is back!!!
About two years ago, almost all the Wendy's restaurants in St. Louis closed...the major St. Louis franchisee filed for bankruptcy. For a time, there was only one in the area--17 miles from here, in Swansea, IL.
While we were driving around earlier today, April spied a reopened Wendy's in suburban Overland--about 15 minutes northwest of us.
At first, I thought it was just an old closed one, but April said she saw cars on the parking lot. So we drove over to it, and sure enough...a real live Wendy's!
There are now three Wendy's in the St. Louis metro area--Swansea (64 and 159), Overland (Page and 170) and Florissant (Lindbergh and 270). None of them are that close to us, but at least we have one that's closer to us than Swansea.
You know, I never ate at Wendy's a lot when I lived in St. Louis; we didn't live near one. But Rhoda and I lived just down the street from one at our first apartment in Philadelphia, so we ate there semi-regularly. They were the only place in Philly I knew of that served Pibb (as Coke distributes Dr Pepper in the Philly Metro Area).
That reminds me...when Rhoda and I lived in Germantown, we lived just 3 blocks from Burger King, so we had it quite a bit. Since coming back to St. Louis, I think I've had it maybe 3 or 4 times...and April and I have lived near one for over a year now.
While we were driving around earlier today, April spied a reopened Wendy's in suburban Overland--about 15 minutes northwest of us.
At first, I thought it was just an old closed one, but April said she saw cars on the parking lot. So we drove over to it, and sure enough...a real live Wendy's!
There are now three Wendy's in the St. Louis metro area--Swansea (64 and 159), Overland (Page and 170) and Florissant (Lindbergh and 270). None of them are that close to us, but at least we have one that's closer to us than Swansea.
You know, I never ate at Wendy's a lot when I lived in St. Louis; we didn't live near one. But Rhoda and I lived just down the street from one at our first apartment in Philadelphia, so we ate there semi-regularly. They were the only place in Philly I knew of that served Pibb (as Coke distributes Dr Pepper in the Philly Metro Area).
That reminds me...when Rhoda and I lived in Germantown, we lived just 3 blocks from Burger King, so we had it quite a bit. Since coming back to St. Louis, I think I've had it maybe 3 or 4 times...and April and I have lived near one for over a year now.
5.21.2008
The nickel-and-diming of America accelerates
From today's Post-Dispatch: American Airlines said Wednesday it plans to charge passengers $15 for the first checked bag, cut domestic flights and eliminate possibly thousands of jobs, as it grapples with record-high fuel prices.
Chairman and Chief Executive Gerard J. Arpey didn't specify how many jobs would be cut, but when asked whether he expected the figure to be in the thousands he said yes. American, a unit of AMR Corp., employs about 95,000 workers.
American, the nation's largest carrier, said Wednesday the fee for the first checked bag starts June 15 and that it would raise other fees for services ranging from reservation help to oversized bags. The other fees will mostly range from $5 to $50 per service, the airline said.
Business travelers are going to start using conferencing technology more or travel less. Pleasure travelers are going to stay closer to home or drive, which could wind up being cheaper, depending on where they go.
April and I are flying to Baltimore on Southwest in 2 weeks...and quite frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to charge one or both of us for another seat, given our girths. Fortunately, most of this trip is being paid for by April's company, since it's a business trip. The rest is being paid for by part of our stimulus check.
We're fortunate...my gas costs are actually down because I'm driving less and have a more fuel-efficient car. April goes through a tank of gas every 2 weeks. We're trying to be more frugal while still "enjoying" life...it's going fairly well for the most part.
I can't recall things being this bad in...25 years? I don't even think 1991 and 1992 were this bad. Of course, I was 16 in 1992 and 6 in 1982, so my perception may be off.
Chairman and Chief Executive Gerard J. Arpey didn't specify how many jobs would be cut, but when asked whether he expected the figure to be in the thousands he said yes. American, a unit of AMR Corp., employs about 95,000 workers.
American, the nation's largest carrier, said Wednesday the fee for the first checked bag starts June 15 and that it would raise other fees for services ranging from reservation help to oversized bags. The other fees will mostly range from $5 to $50 per service, the airline said.
Business travelers are going to start using conferencing technology more or travel less. Pleasure travelers are going to stay closer to home or drive, which could wind up being cheaper, depending on where they go.
April and I are flying to Baltimore on Southwest in 2 weeks...and quite frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to charge one or both of us for another seat, given our girths. Fortunately, most of this trip is being paid for by April's company, since it's a business trip. The rest is being paid for by part of our stimulus check.
We're fortunate...my gas costs are actually down because I'm driving less and have a more fuel-efficient car. April goes through a tank of gas every 2 weeks. We're trying to be more frugal while still "enjoying" life...it's going fairly well for the most part.
I can't recall things being this bad in...25 years? I don't even think 1991 and 1992 were this bad. Of course, I was 16 in 1992 and 6 in 1982, so my perception may be off.
5.19.2008
It's like a dream come true!
The full text of the following story is being posted due its short length and due to the short lifespan of stories on newspaper websites.
From today's Post-Dispatch: Police say a trailer loaded with 14 tons of double-stuffed Oreos overturned Monday morning, spilling plastic sleeves of cookies into the median and roadway.
Illinois State Police Sergeant Brian Mahoney says the truck's driver was traveling from Chicago to Morris on I-80 around 4 a.m. Monday when he fell asleep at the wheel and slammed into the median.
Mahoney says the force of the crash ripped open boxes of the cookies, but their plastic wrappers kept them from covering the ground.
The crash about 50 miles southwest of Chicago remains under investigation.
Mahoney says no charges have been filed but both lanes of traffic remain closed while authorities remove the cookies.
I love me some Oreos...especially Double Stufs! The wife, on the other hand, hates them...she thinks they taste like dirt and lard. Can you believe that I actually married an Oreo hater?! It must be love!
From today's Post-Dispatch: Police say a trailer loaded with 14 tons of double-stuffed Oreos overturned Monday morning, spilling plastic sleeves of cookies into the median and roadway.
Illinois State Police Sergeant Brian Mahoney says the truck's driver was traveling from Chicago to Morris on I-80 around 4 a.m. Monday when he fell asleep at the wheel and slammed into the median.
Mahoney says the force of the crash ripped open boxes of the cookies, but their plastic wrappers kept them from covering the ground.
The crash about 50 miles southwest of Chicago remains under investigation.
Mahoney says no charges have been filed but both lanes of traffic remain closed while authorities remove the cookies.
I love me some Oreos...especially Double Stufs! The wife, on the other hand, hates them...she thinks they taste like dirt and lard. Can you believe that I actually married an Oreo hater?! It must be love!
5.14.2008
New search box
Notice the little search engine towards the top of the page?
Now you can use that to search for anything on the Bosque from the last few years, which should be helpful since I killed off the forum.
Neat, eh?
Now you can use that to search for anything on the Bosque from the last few years, which should be helpful since I killed off the forum.
Neat, eh?
5.13.2008
A gentle reminder to those that order pizza for delivery
We all know that times are tough right now...gas, food, cost of living...it's all going up. Pizza prices are no exception...I believe Pizza Shit has raised prices twice in the past year. Normally, it's only once a year.
But I've noticed that people are cutting back on their tips. Granted, I work in an area with a bunch of asshats...but the tips definitely seem to be smaller than normal.
Folks, if you can afford to order from us, you can afford to tip. The only people that get a break in my book are the elderly and the disabled.
So quit being cheap...fucking pony up the money already!
Thank you.
But I've noticed that people are cutting back on their tips. Granted, I work in an area with a bunch of asshats...but the tips definitely seem to be smaller than normal.
Folks, if you can afford to order from us, you can afford to tip. The only people that get a break in my book are the elderly and the disabled.
So quit being cheap...fucking pony up the money already!
Thank you.
5.12.2008
I'm on the wagon now
I start physical therapy tomorrow for my back...and I assume they'll have the paperwork for my shoulder too, so that will probably be included.
The shoulder is actually feeling pretty good today...best it's felt in a week. Maybe I didn't tear anything after all. I'm not going to chance it though. I tried to get an earlier appointment with the ortho folks today, but nothing happening. I'll try again Wednesday...I don't want to pester the nice lady that answers the phone every day.
Once I get into a walking routine again, I know my back will feel better. It's just a matter of really staying focused and making sure that I'm exercising every day, like I did when I first got sick in '05. Right now, I can walk about 18 minutes without stopping...soon I'll be back up to 60 minutes. Eventually, I want to get to the point where I was when I left Philly--2 hour-plus walks around various neighborhoods.
Here's to a good start...and a steady pace.
The shoulder is actually feeling pretty good today...best it's felt in a week. Maybe I didn't tear anything after all. I'm not going to chance it though. I tried to get an earlier appointment with the ortho folks today, but nothing happening. I'll try again Wednesday...I don't want to pester the nice lady that answers the phone every day.
Once I get into a walking routine again, I know my back will feel better. It's just a matter of really staying focused and making sure that I'm exercising every day, like I did when I first got sick in '05. Right now, I can walk about 18 minutes without stopping...soon I'll be back up to 60 minutes. Eventually, I want to get to the point where I was when I left Philly--2 hour-plus walks around various neighborhoods.
Here's to a good start...and a steady pace.
5.10.2008
It could be worse (part 4)
We had dinner with a friend tonight that is going through a turbulent period in their life. They're generally unhappy and it seems like they're sacrificing their aspirations for their spouse's. To complicate matters, they have 2 children.
April and I felt really bad for our friend...we hope that they can find the happiness that they deserve. And I am so grateful to have April as my wife. We don't stand in each other's way and always try to come to an agreeable solution to problems. And we don't disrespect each other.
And to think that I thought I would never get married...
April and I felt really bad for our friend...we hope that they can find the happiness that they deserve. And I am so grateful to have April as my wife. We don't stand in each other's way and always try to come to an agreeable solution to problems. And we don't disrespect each other.
And to think that I thought I would never get married...
5.09.2008
It could be worse (part 3)
(part 3 of 3)
Now that I've caught you up on the exciting job stuff, let me fill you in on my wonderful health.
I apparently injured my left shoulder sometime Tuesday or Wednesday. I don't remember doing anything in particular, but by the time I got off work Wednesday night, my upper left quadrant was throbbing--chest area, armpit, shoulder and my upper arm. It was even painful to touch. And the pain has continued in varying degrees since. I tried treating it with ice, heat, ibuprofen, tramadol and flexeril...even Percocet. But they only helped a little. As I type this, my arm is killing me. But I want to get this shit out before I take a Percocet and head off to my Perco Haze.
The only thing I can think of that might have caused this is the fact that Cleo has a large heavy door that I'm still getting used to. I don't recall my shoulder hurting after a particular door-closing, though. *shrugs*
I went to the doctor today, and she thinks that there is a problem with my rotator cuff. If it is torn, I will have to have surgery. I see the orthopedic surgeon on June 2nd. Meanwhile, I'll finally start physical therapy in the next week or so, but it will now be for both my back and my shoulder.
I am quite concerned about this development. For now, I have to "relearn" to deliver using my right arm. If I have to have surgery, even with one good arm, I figure I'll still be out of work for most of the summer. We could manage financially, but it'll be extremely tight. And I'd hate to have April or any of my family devoting time to my recovery...because they'll wind up getting sick of me pretty quickly.
And I can't practice bass right now as it is...with surgery, I wouldn't be able to play for most of the summer. This could affect Sycamore in the long term, as it could delay us playing out to crowds, which I'd like to do sometime this year. Granted, Eric could play bass, but I'd rather have him as a second guitarist, so that we can do more with our songs. I dunno...the band is still in the gestational stage anyway, but still...
I could talk to you about the deteriorating condition of my heart as well, but that's another story for another day...
So until we leave for Baltimore, I'm sticking with Pizza Shit. As much as I hate working there, it's tolerable, it's generally easy and I pretty much get along with everyone. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know, right?
And as much as things suck right now, I have a wonderful wife, a new car, friends and family that I love and I can still pay my bills--for now, anyway. Things could be a lot worse.
*knocks on wood*
Thank you for letting me vent...it's been one of those couple of weeks...
Now that I've caught you up on the exciting job stuff, let me fill you in on my wonderful health.
I apparently injured my left shoulder sometime Tuesday or Wednesday. I don't remember doing anything in particular, but by the time I got off work Wednesday night, my upper left quadrant was throbbing--chest area, armpit, shoulder and my upper arm. It was even painful to touch. And the pain has continued in varying degrees since. I tried treating it with ice, heat, ibuprofen, tramadol and flexeril...even Percocet. But they only helped a little. As I type this, my arm is killing me. But I want to get this shit out before I take a Percocet and head off to my Perco Haze.
The only thing I can think of that might have caused this is the fact that Cleo has a large heavy door that I'm still getting used to. I don't recall my shoulder hurting after a particular door-closing, though. *shrugs*
I went to the doctor today, and she thinks that there is a problem with my rotator cuff. If it is torn, I will have to have surgery. I see the orthopedic surgeon on June 2nd. Meanwhile, I'll finally start physical therapy in the next week or so, but it will now be for both my back and my shoulder.
I am quite concerned about this development. For now, I have to "relearn" to deliver using my right arm. If I have to have surgery, even with one good arm, I figure I'll still be out of work for most of the summer. We could manage financially, but it'll be extremely tight. And I'd hate to have April or any of my family devoting time to my recovery...because they'll wind up getting sick of me pretty quickly.
And I can't practice bass right now as it is...with surgery, I wouldn't be able to play for most of the summer. This could affect Sycamore in the long term, as it could delay us playing out to crowds, which I'd like to do sometime this year. Granted, Eric could play bass, but I'd rather have him as a second guitarist, so that we can do more with our songs. I dunno...the band is still in the gestational stage anyway, but still...
I could talk to you about the deteriorating condition of my heart as well, but that's another story for another day...
So until we leave for Baltimore, I'm sticking with Pizza Shit. As much as I hate working there, it's tolerable, it's generally easy and I pretty much get along with everyone. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know, right?
And as much as things suck right now, I have a wonderful wife, a new car, friends and family that I love and I can still pay my bills--for now, anyway. Things could be a lot worse.
*knocks on wood*
Thank you for letting me vent...it's been one of those couple of weeks...
It could be worse (part 2)
(part 2 of 3)
Of course, I'm glad that I "left" Pizza Shit on good terms, so that I can still work for them. But it'd just be nice if the owners and bosses would chill and quit having power orgasms.
So I called and/or went to 18 different pizza shops Monday and Tuesday. Most places weren't hiring, but I did get a few apps in. And I actually got a job at one of them...which lasted all of one day.
I got hired by the Imo's on Watson Rd., across from Crestwood Mall. From my initial discussions with the general manager, I got the feeling that she just wasn't a very nice person. She looked and acted like Laura Innes's character from ER--Kerry Weaver. Without the crutch though. ;-)
So I went in yesterday, filled out all the necessary paperwork, read the sexual harrassment guide, etc. etc. I signed everything I was supposed to and took it back to her. Looking surprised, she asked me if I had read everything. When I said that I did, she had this look like, "I seriously doubt he fucking read all this, but whatever." Man, that pissed me the fuck off...I just knew at that point that this job would be short-lived.
Long story short, the setup they have was very foreign to me, rather inefficient and asinine in some aspects. The people working there seemed cool for the most part, but didn't seem to like their jobs. The final straw was the way the drivers are paid--it was borderline shady, and would probably screw me come tax time.
At first, I was going to work there until we leave for Baltimore--4 weeks from today. Then I decided I was going to just work tonight and then tell them I wasn't coming back. But I had to go to the dentist in Kirkwood this morning, and I was already near the shop, so...
I told them at 12:15 this afternoon that I wouldn't be back...when I was asked why, I simply said that it wasn't a good fit for me. And that was pretty much it.
Of course, I'm glad that I "left" Pizza Shit on good terms, so that I can still work for them. But it'd just be nice if the owners and bosses would chill and quit having power orgasms.
So I called and/or went to 18 different pizza shops Monday and Tuesday. Most places weren't hiring, but I did get a few apps in. And I actually got a job at one of them...which lasted all of one day.
I got hired by the Imo's on Watson Rd., across from Crestwood Mall. From my initial discussions with the general manager, I got the feeling that she just wasn't a very nice person. She looked and acted like Laura Innes's character from ER--Kerry Weaver. Without the crutch though. ;-)
So I went in yesterday, filled out all the necessary paperwork, read the sexual harrassment guide, etc. etc. I signed everything I was supposed to and took it back to her. Looking surprised, she asked me if I had read everything. When I said that I did, she had this look like, "I seriously doubt he fucking read all this, but whatever." Man, that pissed me the fuck off...I just knew at that point that this job would be short-lived.
Long story short, the setup they have was very foreign to me, rather inefficient and asinine in some aspects. The people working there seemed cool for the most part, but didn't seem to like their jobs. The final straw was the way the drivers are paid--it was borderline shady, and would probably screw me come tax time.
At first, I was going to work there until we leave for Baltimore--4 weeks from today. Then I decided I was going to just work tonight and then tell them I wasn't coming back. But I had to go to the dentist in Kirkwood this morning, and I was already near the shop, so...
I told them at 12:15 this afternoon that I wouldn't be back...when I was asked why, I simply said that it wasn't a good fit for me. And that was pretty much it.
It could be worse (part 1)
(part 1 of 3)
Greetings to all!
Obviously, I haven't been doing a very good job of blogging the last 2 weeks. Life's been kinda busy...well, sorta. Things are really fucked up right now, but I know that they could be a hell of a lot worse. I just need to get through this current rough patch.
Let's start with the job front: I departed from the newer place 2 weeks ago...I never went back to work after I injured my back. Well, I actually did go back...for about 5 minutes on Monday April 21st. But I was sent home after the owner found out I couldn't really do any physical labor. I sent the owner's wife an e-mail later that day, advising them to call me when deliveries picked up. Other than picking up my paycheck on the 23rd, I haven't spoken to them or heard from them since.
As a whole, I enjoyed working there for the short time that I did. But they just didn't plan out the delivery side of things, so we had no delivery business. And dealing with three bosses telling me what to do was a pain. And the owner glad-handing me one minute and then kinda being a dick the next minute that last day still doesn't sit well with me. Maybe the owner/chef really is a good guy...but it seemed like we were expected to excuse any shitty behavior he displayed...and that just seems like a cop-out to me.
And let's be real here...I don't mind helping out where help is needed. It's bad enough that I deliver pizzas while having a Masters degree, but doing dishes is where I draw the line. So instead of doing the job I was hired for, I was fucking washing dishes for $7 an hour...and felt like I was being treated like a stereotypical dishwasher. Fuck that.
So, I've been picking up shifts at Pizza Shit. Fortunately, there's been enough shifts that I can make as much money as I did when I was working there full-time. But I hate working there. I dunno...I think I'd enjoy it more if the owners weren't such stereotypical business types. And if I were part of the in crowd. I don't normally give a shit about stuff like that, but when favorites are clearly being played, and being in that crowd helps you...well, sometimes, I'd like to be in the in crowd.
Greetings to all!
Obviously, I haven't been doing a very good job of blogging the last 2 weeks. Life's been kinda busy...well, sorta. Things are really fucked up right now, but I know that they could be a hell of a lot worse. I just need to get through this current rough patch.
Let's start with the job front: I departed from the newer place 2 weeks ago...I never went back to work after I injured my back. Well, I actually did go back...for about 5 minutes on Monday April 21st. But I was sent home after the owner found out I couldn't really do any physical labor. I sent the owner's wife an e-mail later that day, advising them to call me when deliveries picked up. Other than picking up my paycheck on the 23rd, I haven't spoken to them or heard from them since.
As a whole, I enjoyed working there for the short time that I did. But they just didn't plan out the delivery side of things, so we had no delivery business. And dealing with three bosses telling me what to do was a pain. And the owner glad-handing me one minute and then kinda being a dick the next minute that last day still doesn't sit well with me. Maybe the owner/chef really is a good guy...but it seemed like we were expected to excuse any shitty behavior he displayed...and that just seems like a cop-out to me.
And let's be real here...I don't mind helping out where help is needed. It's bad enough that I deliver pizzas while having a Masters degree, but doing dishes is where I draw the line. So instead of doing the job I was hired for, I was fucking washing dishes for $7 an hour...and felt like I was being treated like a stereotypical dishwasher. Fuck that.
So, I've been picking up shifts at Pizza Shit. Fortunately, there's been enough shifts that I can make as much money as I did when I was working there full-time. But I hate working there. I dunno...I think I'd enjoy it more if the owners weren't such stereotypical business types. And if I were part of the in crowd. I don't normally give a shit about stuff like that, but when favorites are clearly being played, and being in that crowd helps you...well, sometimes, I'd like to be in the in crowd.
5.04.2008
Cleo's story (part 3)
(Part 3 of 3)
Next, #2 came calling, and April dealt with him. He said that the deal should be fine, and that the car would be down there the next day; she told him that he was full of shit and that she knows about the car, having just talked to #1. He begged her to give him until the following morning to find a black or yellow one within 300 miles of the dealership; she told him he had until 9:15 Wednesday morning.
#2 called before 9:15…he could get one in red, white or silver; April and I discussed. White and silver are definitely out. Red was tempting…very tempting. I went back and forth for a while, but then decided to go with my original choice—we were buying Cleo at dealer #1.
We went up there, and April asked to speak to the sales guy’s boss right away. April told him about all the bullshit we had been dealing with and expressed her displeasure with sales guy. He profusely apologized…and the car was now down to $15,500.
We finished up the paperwork, dealt with finance and headed back to South City with Cleo.
I love the car…I’m so happy with it. And April likes it too. Hopefully, I’ll have my new personalized plates in a month or two. I’m keeping them a secret for now…
Here’s where the clusterfuck really started—the whole negative equity thing. Our impression was that the car dealer would eat it…that is, “the Malibu is worth $2500, but you owe $5200…you’re starting with zero.” That was not the case at all…apparently, that meant they were flexible to giving you a loan despite having negative equity. This was totally a misunderstanding on our part. It sucks, because now the car payment is more than I thought it would be, but it’s still reasonable and affordable. The dealer that had the ad was Jim Butler Chevrolet in Fenton; we wound up buying the car from Johnny Londoff Chevrolet in Florissant.
The salesman (Keith Caldieraro) and his manager (Jim Schlabach) at Londoff felt that Butler was misleading us. In truth, we hadn’t talked to Butler at that point—we were going by the commercial. The salesman at Butler (Spencer Tarrance) felt that Londoff was ripping us off on the price and trade in. In truth, I misread the paperwork at Londoff…I thought the original quote was $17,400. Keith also based the payments on 60, not 72 months. Essentially, there were misunderstandings along with shady-ass salesmanship…both contributing to a Goddamn mess.
Would we buy another car from Londoff? Eh…probably. I mean, April had issues with the sales guy at Twin City Toyota in Herculaneum when she bought the RAV4 last year. But we’d buy another car from them if they had what we wanted…same with Londoff. In the grand scheme of things, the experience wasn’t atrocious…just asinine.
And I have Cleo…that’s all that really matters in the end. :-)
Next, #2 came calling, and April dealt with him. He said that the deal should be fine, and that the car would be down there the next day; she told him that he was full of shit and that she knows about the car, having just talked to #1. He begged her to give him until the following morning to find a black or yellow one within 300 miles of the dealership; she told him he had until 9:15 Wednesday morning.
#2 called before 9:15…he could get one in red, white or silver; April and I discussed. White and silver are definitely out. Red was tempting…very tempting. I went back and forth for a while, but then decided to go with my original choice—we were buying Cleo at dealer #1.
We went up there, and April asked to speak to the sales guy’s boss right away. April told him about all the bullshit we had been dealing with and expressed her displeasure with sales guy. He profusely apologized…and the car was now down to $15,500.
We finished up the paperwork, dealt with finance and headed back to South City with Cleo.
I love the car…I’m so happy with it. And April likes it too. Hopefully, I’ll have my new personalized plates in a month or two. I’m keeping them a secret for now…
Here’s where the clusterfuck really started—the whole negative equity thing. Our impression was that the car dealer would eat it…that is, “the Malibu is worth $2500, but you owe $5200…you’re starting with zero.” That was not the case at all…apparently, that meant they were flexible to giving you a loan despite having negative equity. This was totally a misunderstanding on our part. It sucks, because now the car payment is more than I thought it would be, but it’s still reasonable and affordable. The dealer that had the ad was Jim Butler Chevrolet in Fenton; we wound up buying the car from Johnny Londoff Chevrolet in Florissant.
The salesman (Keith Caldieraro) and his manager (Jim Schlabach) at Londoff felt that Butler was misleading us. In truth, we hadn’t talked to Butler at that point—we were going by the commercial. The salesman at Butler (Spencer Tarrance) felt that Londoff was ripping us off on the price and trade in. In truth, I misread the paperwork at Londoff…I thought the original quote was $17,400. Keith also based the payments on 60, not 72 months. Essentially, there were misunderstandings along with shady-ass salesmanship…both contributing to a Goddamn mess.
Would we buy another car from Londoff? Eh…probably. I mean, April had issues with the sales guy at Twin City Toyota in Herculaneum when she bought the RAV4 last year. But we’d buy another car from them if they had what we wanted…same with Londoff. In the grand scheme of things, the experience wasn’t atrocious…just asinine.
And I have Cleo…that’s all that really matters in the end. :-)
Cleo's story (part 2)
(Part 2 of 3)
So, sales guy and I sat down to crunch some numbers. I had already filled out a credit app the night before and was told that financing would not be an issue, and that the payment would be right around what I was looking for ($230-270 a month).
He appraised the Malibu…and this was where things started to get ugly. I already didn’t care for the guy because he reminded me of the stereotypical frat boy that I dealt with at SEMO…plus he’s a sales guy, so I hate him by default.
$2000…that’s the appraisal price he gave me. After the rebates and incentives, along with the negative trade equity, the car would be about $16,400…the payments would be about $330 a month.
I did some research going into this. I knew that the Malibu was worth at least $2500. And we were under the impression that we would pretty much be starting with zero—that is, our negative equity would cancel out the value of the Malibu…the dealer would eat that. That was apparently a misunderstanding on our part, but more about that later.
I told him that I thought I could get a better deal from the other dealer (the dealer whose ad we saw on TV), but that I would keep him in mind. He did the whole “talk to my manager” spiel, but I was pretty much done with him at that point. They were sticking with $16,400; I was heading south down I-270 to the other Chevy dealer.
I went down there and talked with their sales guy…I wasn’t impressed with him either. He seemed really nonchalant about selling me a car…like it’s no big deal. Okay, so now I’ve dealt with extremes. He thought he had a yellow Cobalt for me; I asked him to double-check that it had the options I’m looking for. He did…and it didn’t.
Then it came to me…
I told him about Cleo, and that if he could get it down to his dealership for a better price, I’d buy it from them. I told him that I would talk to the missus and see if we could come out there early the next morning; he said he would get the car from the other dealer.
Meanwhile, sales shithead #1 had been trying to get a hold of April via e-mail (which is going into an e-mail account that I created) and phone (her cell phone). I explained my day’s activities to her in detail, and told her that she could call him if she wanted to.
I love my wife more than life itself…you all just don’t understand. And the next part of the story is one of the many many reasons that I do…because she has the balls and stomach to deal with shit like this.
April essentially laid it out to #1: your price, your appraisal and your terms suck. He told her that his boss would not let the car be sent to the second dealership; she told him to get off his high-horse and quit trying to hijack the deal. He then backed off and proceeded to kiss her ass. April got him down on the price to $15,800, with payments in the range we wanted.
So, sales guy and I sat down to crunch some numbers. I had already filled out a credit app the night before and was told that financing would not be an issue, and that the payment would be right around what I was looking for ($230-270 a month).
He appraised the Malibu…and this was where things started to get ugly. I already didn’t care for the guy because he reminded me of the stereotypical frat boy that I dealt with at SEMO…plus he’s a sales guy, so I hate him by default.
$2000…that’s the appraisal price he gave me. After the rebates and incentives, along with the negative trade equity, the car would be about $16,400…the payments would be about $330 a month.
I did some research going into this. I knew that the Malibu was worth at least $2500. And we were under the impression that we would pretty much be starting with zero—that is, our negative equity would cancel out the value of the Malibu…the dealer would eat that. That was apparently a misunderstanding on our part, but more about that later.
I told him that I thought I could get a better deal from the other dealer (the dealer whose ad we saw on TV), but that I would keep him in mind. He did the whole “talk to my manager” spiel, but I was pretty much done with him at that point. They were sticking with $16,400; I was heading south down I-270 to the other Chevy dealer.
I went down there and talked with their sales guy…I wasn’t impressed with him either. He seemed really nonchalant about selling me a car…like it’s no big deal. Okay, so now I’ve dealt with extremes. He thought he had a yellow Cobalt for me; I asked him to double-check that it had the options I’m looking for. He did…and it didn’t.
Then it came to me…
I told him about Cleo, and that if he could get it down to his dealership for a better price, I’d buy it from them. I told him that I would talk to the missus and see if we could come out there early the next morning; he said he would get the car from the other dealer.
Meanwhile, sales shithead #1 had been trying to get a hold of April via e-mail (which is going into an e-mail account that I created) and phone (her cell phone). I explained my day’s activities to her in detail, and told her that she could call him if she wanted to.
I love my wife more than life itself…you all just don’t understand. And the next part of the story is one of the many many reasons that I do…because she has the balls and stomach to deal with shit like this.
April essentially laid it out to #1: your price, your appraisal and your terms suck. He told her that his boss would not let the car be sent to the second dealership; she told him to get off his high-horse and quit trying to hijack the deal. He then backed off and proceeded to kiss her ass. April got him down on the price to $15,800, with payments in the range we wanted.
Cleo's story (part 1)
(Part 1 of 3)
Cleo (my 2007 Chevy Cobalt) was built at the GM assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio in January 2007. She was sent to a Chevrolet dealership in suburban St. Louis that same month.
She then apparently sat there for the next 15 months. She was parked against a chain link fence, blocked in by a sea of other Cobalts of various colors. When I first drove her, she only had 9 miles on her.
After trying to get rid of Malibu Barbie several times, I decided earlier in the year to keep her for the foreseeable future… I wasn’t sure when I would try to buy another car. If I kept her until the wheels fell off, that would have been fine.
About a week and change ago, April saw a TV ad for a Chevy dealer in which they offered to pay off negative trade equity and had big GM incentives. Negative trade equity was one of the big stumbling blocks in trying to get rid of Malibu Barbie—I owed about $2000 more than she was worth, plus I wanted to downsize cars. This either turned off some dealers or they were offering payments that would be more than I could afford.
So, I sent out a few quote requests last Sunday--under April’s name. I specifically laid out the situation with Malibu Barbie along with my desires in a new car. Given the incentives—and the fact that the subcompacts don’t seem to get great gas mileage anyway—I decided to go for a Cobalt. I like the Cobalt…it’s smaller than the Malibu, but still has plenty of room. It looks sporty, has plenty of power and gets good gas mileage. And I wanted it in rally yellow…it’s a ridiculous color, yet it looks beautiful to me and suits me perfectly. Black was my second choice.
The responses came back pretty fucking quickly, with each dealer willing to take on the negative equity. None of the dealers seemed to have a car in the color I wanted with the specs I wanted, but a dealer can usually acquire such a car fairly quickly.
So basically, I impersonated April, while describing the car that I specifically wanted. I know…fucking retarded, right? But I’m just not good in dealing with car folks. I know that not all of them are assholes, but I just never seem to have good luck with them. Plus, I had dealt with each of these dealers already late last year/early this year, so I didn’t know if I’d have issues in dealing with them this time around.
So, it boiled down to two dealers, and I drove out to one of them Tuesday morning. The first dealer didn’t have an exact match, but he pointed over to a car along the fence.
And there was Cleo…a little blue coupe, parked against the fence that separates new cars from the service area…dirty and surround by newer, shinier Cobalts. I was immediately attracted to her color— Laser Blue Metallic is incredibly bright and obnoxious…almost as much as Rally Yellow. Then I sat down in the car and looked at the odometer—9 miles. I had never seen a car with so few miles before.
I headed out for a test drive. The cockpit is smaller and tighter than the Malibu’s, but I was comfortable and didn’t have any problems getting in and out of the car. The acceleration was good and the handling was nice. It looks sharp, is one of the cheapest cars to own in this country and gets good gas mileage. Yes...this was the car that I wanted.
Cleo (my 2007 Chevy Cobalt) was built at the GM assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio in January 2007. She was sent to a Chevrolet dealership in suburban St. Louis that same month.
She then apparently sat there for the next 15 months. She was parked against a chain link fence, blocked in by a sea of other Cobalts of various colors. When I first drove her, she only had 9 miles on her.
After trying to get rid of Malibu Barbie several times, I decided earlier in the year to keep her for the foreseeable future… I wasn’t sure when I would try to buy another car. If I kept her until the wheels fell off, that would have been fine.
About a week and change ago, April saw a TV ad for a Chevy dealer in which they offered to pay off negative trade equity and had big GM incentives. Negative trade equity was one of the big stumbling blocks in trying to get rid of Malibu Barbie—I owed about $2000 more than she was worth, plus I wanted to downsize cars. This either turned off some dealers or they were offering payments that would be more than I could afford.
So, I sent out a few quote requests last Sunday--under April’s name. I specifically laid out the situation with Malibu Barbie along with my desires in a new car. Given the incentives—and the fact that the subcompacts don’t seem to get great gas mileage anyway—I decided to go for a Cobalt. I like the Cobalt…it’s smaller than the Malibu, but still has plenty of room. It looks sporty, has plenty of power and gets good gas mileage. And I wanted it in rally yellow…it’s a ridiculous color, yet it looks beautiful to me and suits me perfectly. Black was my second choice.
The responses came back pretty fucking quickly, with each dealer willing to take on the negative equity. None of the dealers seemed to have a car in the color I wanted with the specs I wanted, but a dealer can usually acquire such a car fairly quickly.
So basically, I impersonated April, while describing the car that I specifically wanted. I know…fucking retarded, right? But I’m just not good in dealing with car folks. I know that not all of them are assholes, but I just never seem to have good luck with them. Plus, I had dealt with each of these dealers already late last year/early this year, so I didn’t know if I’d have issues in dealing with them this time around.
So, it boiled down to two dealers, and I drove out to one of them Tuesday morning. The first dealer didn’t have an exact match, but he pointed over to a car along the fence.
And there was Cleo…a little blue coupe, parked against the fence that separates new cars from the service area…dirty and surround by newer, shinier Cobalts. I was immediately attracted to her color— Laser Blue Metallic is incredibly bright and obnoxious…almost as much as Rally Yellow. Then I sat down in the car and looked at the odometer—9 miles. I had never seen a car with so few miles before.
I headed out for a test drive. The cockpit is smaller and tighter than the Malibu’s, but I was comfortable and didn’t have any problems getting in and out of the car. The acceleration was good and the handling was nice. It looks sharp, is one of the cheapest cars to own in this country and gets good gas mileage. Yes...this was the car that I wanted.
5.01.2008
Meet Cleo
My Laser Blue Metallic 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt LT coupe:
I'll post the story of buying Cleo tomorrow.
I'll post the story of buying Cleo tomorrow.
