Oh, the humanity

I was on my home from a party in Livermore last night, so I got off the freeway at Hacienda and went down Martinelli to get home. Here is a map for reference:



As I was coming up on Arnold, I noticed a dark shape in the dirt on the side of the road; I always take a closer look at stuff like this, which usually ends up being garbage bags or boxes. In this case, it was a person. To be more specific, it was an African-American male, who was lying there with his head on his arm, dressed all in black, and looked like he was sleeping. Since I am not used to seeing human sprawled on the side of the road, I called the Dublin police dispatch. As a side note, yes, I have the Dublin emergency phone number dispatch programmed into my cell phone.

Anyway, so the operator asks me if the man appears injured, and I say, "no, there's no blood or anything." She asks if I want to wait for the police, and I said I would since there were cars driving by. About three minutes after I hung up with the dispatcher, I see a police car on Arnold, and then he flips on his lights and drives the wrong way about 100 feet down the street where I was.

This cop gets out of his cruiser, turns on his flashlight, and starts shining it in the guy's face; as he is doing this, 3 more cops pull up, and a firetruck. I see the man moving, so he's not dead. This is a relief for me, since finding a dead body wasn't ever on my bucket list. I watch the scene unfold from my rearview mirror for a few minutes. The firefighters are doing something, and all the cops are talking. Eventually, one of the officers came over to tell me exactly what was going on.

Apparently, Dublin PD are extremely familiar with the guy who I found; this is the third time this month he has been picked up by them for being "severely intoxicated." The cop thanked me for phoning it in, and told me that this was "normal for [the guy sleeping on the side of the road]." He also told me that the man had just been released from the hospital that morning for the same thing, but they were securing him an ambulance to take him back.

Here's my question: how many people drove by without (1) noticing the suffering of a fellow human-being; or (2) not caring, or thinking it wasn't their problem. Is this what we have come to? Yes, the guy clearly has a problem and needs help, but seriously...

More moron-ocy

So, I was home yesterday when this stupid girl from Washington called. She even had the nerve to ask me who I was, and I said, "You called me: who are YOU?" I think the total number of phone calls was 5. Her cell phone number is (360) 286-4212. Not sure about a name, because it's a cell, but clearly, the lack of sun in WA left some brain damage.

Why I love general conference

1. I can watch it in my jammies
2. I always get answers to my prayers
3. Elder Holland rocks!
4. There are always talks I need to hear, despite my not realizing it
5. I get to sustain the Church leaders
6. I now understand the Church audit department letter, and feel grateful to do my part in helping them complete that duty.

White knuckled driving

It's been raining for what seems like forever; today it finally abated. On Wednesday, I went to work quite early, leaving the house at 6:45am, when it was still dark. It was also raining buckets at the time; so I was commuting with hundreds of others in less-than-ideal conditions. Many of you drive the 680 corridor between 580 and 24, and know that they are attempting to repair some of the asphalt so that it's not so bumpy and pothole-y. In any case, there are still four lanes, but the carpool and the slow lanes are now right up against the k-rail and the lanes are significantly narrower. So, I am poking along between 55-60 because it's pouring, and I thought I was going to die; there were people going about 75-80, people driving without their headlights on, people following too close - you get the picture. I mean, it's the law - you turn on your headlights when (1) it's dark, and (2) it's raining. If its dark AND raining, and your headlights are off, you are just asking for trouble. Plus, you scare people like me who are forced to white-knuckle it on our way to work.

Oh Michelle

Ok, Michelle - this one's for you. I love how you make new friends so easily, how you are always willing to try something new. I am grateful that, even though it didn't work out, you were willing to take in my puppy dog when things went south for Mike and I. You are my fellow clubber (occasionally) and Dublin friend.

An ode to Jeff, Daniel, and Juka

I am grateful to have you in my life. You invite me over pretty much every Friday, and in addition to opening your home to me, you cook (and call me fatty)! I'm glad that you put up with my weirdness, and my admittedly naughty sense of humor. You three are some of the kindest, most generous people I know. You make me laugh, you never force me to watch Avatar, despite repeated threats, and I can tell that you are generally interested in my well-being. Cran Grape!

Wow

So, I just got an email from my friend Matt, that his best friend, and our middle-school and high school classmate has finally passed away after dealing with septicemia, several transplants, and more days in the hospital than out over the past 6 years. Jon Krainock was 31: my age.

Life is short folks, too short to waste on petty BS and too short to live with anger, or waiting for something magic to happen. You have to create your own magic everyday and literally live each moment for itself. So, Jon, wherever you are, the contents of a letter I wrote you back in junior high were essentially this: you jokingly asked me to 8th grade grad dance, and you probably knew that I had a huge crush on you. Yes, of course I wanted to go with you, but thought you were just being a jerk (it was junior high, who wasn't a jerk?), so I basically told you to piss off. I'm sorry, and I am glad we got to chat, albeit briefly, via text last year. You seem to have turned into a remarkable man and father, and at least now your soul can rest from all the physical pain of the past 6 years. See you on the other side.