Cars in front of bars result in
Blue and white lights at night

More people become depressed and suicidal or careless during the holiday season, than at any other time of the year

Santa Claus (Sinter Klas, etc...) does not have "GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARDS" to stuff stockings with. If you screw up - you'll get a lump of coal in your stocking!

I can see the local main arteries in my area, from where my house sits. Even in a backwoods rural area I have noticed that the flashing lights increase at this time of the year. Not just blue and white, but also red....

• Fire Trucks
• Paramedics
• Ambulances
• Life Flight Crews laying out landing zones (LZ's)...

That in itself is a 'Warning Order' that I take to heart. It is time to "TIGHTEN FENCE"

Friends that you have come over will BS about "Being alright to drive". They may think so - but are they really under your states legal minimum? It gets tighter every year, and the penalties go higher and higher...

You may see an oil patch or something on the road and swerve to avoid it - or know about a bump such as a manhole cover that sticks up on your street, but that is enough to get pulled over for questioning. Realise THIS: No matter the cause, "PROBABLE CAUSE" will be found to pull over as many erratic drivers as possible at this time of year. With good reason...

The law enforcement community is on RED ALERT at this time of year to observe all vehicles for unusual behaviour. Even if you drive completely sober - you can expect to be pulled over and at least evaluated to see if you are okay to drive. It's a fact!

I would recommend therefore that anyone tempted to drive after a party just GET OVER THE IDEA!!! Don't bring your own machine in the first place.... If it's that important rent a limo for krikes sake, if not, buy a case of something on the way home.

TRUST ME - IT'S CHEAPER IN THE LONG RUN

Next issue is: After everyone left (safely I hope) and you got quietly bombed in your own home - did you make sure the oven and everything were turned off? And so on like that....

The classic "Iron Left On" while the family went on vacation thing. A coffee pot can do that too...

If you planned on snowmobiling, four-wheeling, or whatever - while you were doing all that fun stuff, did any of your guests get "Cerebrially Disconnected" before they got on one of your machines? (even on private land). They can sue you later in fact. California people are notorious for such...) That is not a slam on "California people Et Al", truth is Cally is a "Lawyers Mecca" - you can make a fortune there even if you are a total schlock.

The usual 'Natural Christmas Tree Lights Warning' here - don't leave the lights on if you can't see it (IE: are asleep). Pine trees burn fast and hot if there is any ignition point at all. (Especially if they are dried out)

KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR FRIENDS at this time of year. Be alert to unusually morose or depressed people. It's the season of cheer - so we're all cheerful right? Not necessarily. The incidence of suicide is the highest when everyone (else) is celebrating (in the perception of depressed individuals)

Keep your eyes open and your ears as well. Usually - such an idea expressed is a cry for help. But there seem to be two classes of that:

1. Those who want to be helped by someone
2. Those who have gone over the edge completely

The first is likely to be counselable, but the second may need immediate intervention

YOU DON'T KNOW WHICH IT IS!
You CAN'T....

So please, please take it seriously if you hear words about self life-taking from anyone around you

I wish I had the official notes from the dept of the military for their holiday safety message to the troops. This instead comes from me myself, and is to the heart. ALL OF YOU at FTE - I don't want to go into the New Year reading about one of us who has gotten "AXED" by any kind of forseeable danger...

Look around, assess your hazards, DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID!
And keep an eye out for those who just might....

~Greywolf sends



PS: Hell, I can try and I can pray. Future gonna come anyhow...
I hope I done good

"Cross your claws" and y'all take care of one another....



I will dearly miss anyone of my "PACK" that isn't here in 2010

 

good post....

For awhile I was unable to drive at night (my vision sucks)

My wife (driving my truck) and I picked my brother up from a bar one night. (we were his DD's)

well, a 1/2 block down the road, we get pulled over. A cop comes to the driver side door, screaming my name and proclaiming I cannot drive at night.

I glared at him and stated "thats why i'm sitting in the pass seat, now why was my wife pulled over???"

he gave no answer.


Reminds me of a joke

One night, a police officer was stalking out a particularly rowdy bar for possible violations of the driving under the influence laws. At closing time, he saw a fellow stumble out of the bar, trip on the curb, and try his keys on five different cars before he found his. Then, sat in the front seat fumbling around with his keys for several minutes. Everyone left the bar and drove off. Finally, he started his engine and began to pull away.

The police officer was waiting for him. He stopped the driver, read him his rights and administered the Breathalyzer test. The results showed a reading of 0.0. The puzzled officer demanded to know how that could be. The driver replied, "Tonight, I'm the Designated Decoy."

 

Great post. Your reference to your "PACK" reminded me of The Hangover. I just had to point that out.

 

There is nothing at all funny about riding in a car that the disinfectant they use makes it smell oddly enough like the multiple copy chemical they use on "Special Request Forms" in the Military (any MIL guys ever notice that?)

Cops don't care what you call them while you are being transported - it's part of the job. So you might as well exhaust your stupidity as a means of entertainment on the ride.

You arrive in a brick and block place that you know not even God can get you out of without it costing you dearly - possibly everything.

Upon arrival, you will submit to a breath or a blood test - or your lisence is GONE. Period stop.

You aren't in your right mind, so you can agree or disagree at this point...

You will submit to a strip search - you won't be put in common custody unless you do. It will be in a herd of other guys busted for God knows what.... Sooner or later you will. You don't have any choice. Those are the rules, and you don't make them.

The statement "SPREAD YOUR CHEEKS!" stands out in my mind. They will look you over thoroughly. like I stuck a rolled joint up there to confuse them....

If you had BOOTS when you were taken in - you won't when you are done being processed. Boots can be lethal - they know that. So you are given some kind of cheesey sandals. You won't see your belt again until you hit the street either

"Obie - did you think I was going to hang myself for littering?"
"SHUT UP KID!"

Your picture will be taken - dumb as you look at the time.

Someone impatient will ask you a lot of questions (one at a time, and the wait is interminable) before you are processed on, wondering what the hell you told them....

By this time, several hours have gone by. If you were stupid enough to get busted on a friday - you're in for the weekend and good riddance to you! In Tipton County Tennessee, you'll be lucky if the Judge is not off on a fishing or hunting trip and unavailable. The bottom line is that you are screwed and better adjust.

If you are in the military - you're going to miss muster. YEP! You're going to get burned TWICE, no ****....

The good news is that if you are in the mil - they got told. As soon as they are done with you, you get turned over to the military cops. The bad news is that you are going to be reemed twice....


DOES IT SUCK YET?

(OH! I forgot to tell you that this is a true story - happened in San Diego California many years ago)

At long last - by now you are dry, feel nasty, your clothes are bluntly RANK. You have a cotton mouth the size of the entire PLANET, and you can't do jack about it. Nobody even offerred a drink of water because you were of course "IN PROCESS" which takes a while.... You find your way to the common area....

BIG COPS SURROUND YOU

"Follow the lines on the floor! Your color line is yellow!"

"INSIDE! NOW!"

A gate clanks shut behind you.... It doesn't get worse than that, DOES IT?

I've got news - You don't know who or what is in there with you... DO YOU? What did these guys do?

THERE YOU ARE!

There is a "COMMON AREA" in the middle (in San Diego Jail) with a bunk area to each side, and a slimy nasty toilet area cleaned by "TRUSTEE's" once every other day or so. It makes you wonder if anything is safe to touch...

Beds are a sheet of steel with a thin military style matress (1 1/2 inch thick) The walls are cinderblock, except where bars. Yeah - it's exactly like that. And you don't know who is around you.

The second day I was there, a groups of GANGSTA people were brought in (it was a weekend) who promptly stole extra matresses from everyone while we were eating styrofoam boxed meals (subsistence fare - you don't want to try to live on it) and stacked them up on their own bunks. This left a few people on the floor - who did not go up against them - they were too well "CONNECTED"

One of those mats was mine - but I had slept on bare steel before. I slept on the damned thing anyway - it made no difference
Bunks on ships were just like them


ALL OF THIS IS A TRUE STORY THAT I RARELY TALK ABOUT

It happened a long time ago, but no less did happen.

Is that what you want to happen to you? Just because YOU THOUGHT you could make it a few blocks?

I swear - the price is heavy, and you better think about it.

THINK ABOUT THIS: What if everywhere you drive to - you had to walk, take a bus (if your area has bus service), or ride a bicycle?
Take a look out the windows next time you go to the store. How far is it really? How much stuff do you think you could carry if you didn't have a set of wheels? There was a time when I purposely bought a Burley (Burley is an actual brand name) bike trailer, and used it for camping out and hauling groceries. Maxed out with a months load of groceries the mile or so from the store was do-able but worrisome. I could feel the frame stretching on the tow rig every time I stroked the pedals, and it was level ground. I was lucky though - $350.oo for a bicycle trailer was no big deal to me at the time, just one more "toy". I even added a generator and single halogen light to it...

(I wish I still had that thing)

BUT! For those unemployed because a place of work is too far for your tennis shoes life without a lisence can be a real bee-atch, can't it? But then - many people just plain cheat...

I don't advise that. Getting busted for driving without a lisence is a destinct and seperate offence, which can and will result in your car, truck, or motorcycle going away instantaneously... As in IMPOUND/AUCTION/and or CRUSHED

Not a pretty picture is it?
*Thank you for listening to me share



I HOPE I HAVE FINALLY SCARED THE HELL OUT YOU



DO NOT DRIVE IMPAIRED
it won't work....

 

No need to scare me about anything if my comment sparked your second post. My dad was and still is a cop. I've known that "smell" since I was 2 years old when he used to pick me up in his cruiser.

 

Nah... It was out of a single simple thought that has re-occurred to me many times in my life. The stuff that we read and hear about happening to other people we often times just think is vaguely interesting - but that kind of stuff will NEVER EVER HAPPEN TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah - right!

And Carter is going to give back the White House silverware...

Quoting Rush Limbaugh: "SEE? I told you!"

In a way, it reminds me of one of "Murphies Rules of Combat":
"You are not Superman"

There are exceptions to every rule - but chance favors the unimpaired.

That was then, and this is now. I wish I had (in retrospect) had a long nightmare that I could have awakened from, rather than some of the experiences in my life that were more than a little painful. That I tell ALL OF YOU about things like that - is in the hope that others will avoid what that is like. I honestly never thought a thing like that would ever happen. But it did, and it does. And it WILL happen to the unwary or disbelieving. The best armor that I can give you is to tell you that if you think you are safe, and screwing around with it is okay; you are living in a fantasy world that will become shockingly real right before your very eyes - and when you can least well afford it.

THAT is the voice of experience. And those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.
What more can I say?

OH - that's true: YOU MIGHT KILL SOMEBODY, and it might be someone you know. Manslaughter is a serious offence, vehicular manslaughter in particular. There is a housewife serving a life sentence out in Maryland because she CREAMED an entire bus stop full of people...

Until she did that, she was an ordinary "Haus Frau" living in the lap, as it were. All of that changed in less time than it takes to tell of it.

You can read that all you want - but if it happens to you - you're done

 

STLtoday - Associated Press News

A Straight up JACKPOT for the suicidal alcoholic.....