The Unreasonably Fast And I’m Furious

I was pissed. I’m not going to lie. The officer should have given me a warning and sent me on my way. Rest assured a warning serves the same purpose as a ticket, if the reason for a ticket is to slow people down.

As soon as I got home I went searching for ways to beat the ticket. Sure enough Wallingford’s signs are probably out of code and weather conditions made radar use iffy.

When the state asked me to mail in my plea with explanation I sent a half dozen typed pages with photos and charts!

I was on my way home from work one night in May, driving up Cook Hill Road, Wallingford, when I was greeted by flashing lights and a quick blast of the siren from an oncoming police car. He wanted me to stop.

I pulled to the curb, cut the ignition, turned on the lights and put my hands on the steering wheel. When it was time to get the registration and insurance card from the glove box I first asked permission. I was polite. I did all the things I was supposed to do.

Long story short I was ticketed for 51 mph in a 35 mph zone. Officially my charge was “Sec. 14-218a. Traveling unreasonably fast.”

Cook Hill Road is a lovely two lane road I travel nearly every night on my way home from work. On most nights I see no other vehicles on Cook Hill or any of the roads I travel in Wallingford.

Is 51 mph unreasonably fast under these particular circumstances? No. It certainly wasn’t unreasonably fast in Helaine’s well maintained SUV on a dry, deserted road.

I guess that’s beside the point.

I was pissed. I’m not going to lie. The officer should have given me a warning and sent me on my way. Rest assured a warning serves the same purpose as a ticket, if the reason for a ticket is to slow people down.

As soon as I got home I went searching for ways to fight it. Sure enough Wallingford’s signs are non-compliant with state code and weather conditions made radar use iffy.

When the state asked me to mail in my plea with explanation I sent a half dozen typed pages with photos and charts!

This morning I reported to the Meriden Courthouse for my arraignment.

Arraignment? Isn’t that for criminals? All of a sudden I was unsure I’d done the right thing.

I headed to a small courtroom in the basement. The word stubby comes to mind. It was a stubby courtroom.

Three attorneys were there representing the state, each taking case-after-case-after-case.

Before I could get to the specifics of my case, the prosecutor assigned to me offered a deal. I could plead guilty and get a reduced fine, plead not guilty and await a distant trail, or have the case dismissed and pay $75 to the Connecticut Injured Victims Fund.

I chose option three. Wouldn’t you?

$75 seemed like a reasonable price to make it all disappear, plus my money was going to a very good cause. I went upstairs to Room 128 where payment is made.

As I waited a man to my left signaled he wanted to ask a question. “If you’re arrested for driving on an expired license…” he began.

“I’m not a lawyer,” I replied. I shouldn’t have worn a suit!

A few seconds later I overheard the man to my right explain his need for information on a license suspension from the ’90s.

“I just got out after 17 years,” he told the clerk.

I didn’t dare look.

After a few minutes I was handed my receipt and drove home. There was still enough time to nap before work.

Case closed.

Good News From The Shelter

I want to let you and Helaine know that two fur-kids went home today due to your altruistic efforts. We also had countless calls of interest, and have several appointments set up for meet and greets.

Here’s an email I just got from Lisa at the Wallingford Animal Shelter. This past weekend I photographed their dogs and put together a slideshow movie.

Dear Geoff,

I want to let you and Helaine know that two fur-kids went home today due to your altruistic efforts. We also had countless calls of interest, and have several appointments set up for meet and greets.

Yes, your efforts have and continue to make a difference in the lives of the voiceless, abandoned.

My sincere and deep gratitude for all you have done for them. “Ain’t nothing better than watching you smile”. My heart is grinning from my pulmonary artery to my left ventricle. 🙂

Here is a fitting quote I wish to share with you:

Unselfish and noble actions are the most radiant pages in the biography of souls – David Thomas

Shine on Geoff and Helaine Fox – your souls are radiant!

Blessings,

Lisa – Wallingford Animal Shelter

Helaine is asleep, so I’m telling you first!

I would be lying if I didn’t say I am pleased. This is what we hoped for.

The Puppies Of Wallingford

Please watch this video from today’s photoshoot and pass the word. Wouldn’t you like to rescue your new best friend?

If you like what you’re about to read and see thank Helaine. This one is her doing 100%.

We are beholden to the Wallingford Animal Shelter. After all they were the ones who found Doppler and made sure Doppler found us!

With that in mind Helaine had an idea, I could shoot photos of the Wallingford’s available puppies! Maybe, just maybe, flattering photos could move a shelter dog to a forever home.

We drove to Wallingford this afternoon and met with Dean and Marci and all their boarders. Lots of licks. Lots of love. Very photogenic.

It’s important for Wallingford to find homes for its residents. Here’s why from Lisa, Wallingford’s Animal Control Officer.

By law, it is entirely up to the animal control officer whether a pup lives or dies. As the animal control officer in Wallingford, I choose life. For I truly believe there is a lid for every pot – I just have to find it.

Please watch this video from today’s photoshoot and pass the word. Wouldn’t you like to rescue your new best friend?

The Rest of Our Philadelphia Trip

One of the prime reasons for going to Philadelphia was to go the see a Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park.

Before we go on, let me say how displeased I am with naming rights to stadiums and arenas. It’s a shame there’s no longer a Veteran’s Stadium in Philadelphia or Oakdale Theater near me in Wallingford, CT. Maybe there is a benefit to me by having Citizens Bank or Chevy (in the case of the Oakdale Theater) kick in some cash… though I don’t see it.

I am tilting at windmills. It’s never going back.

My friend Peter picked us up at the hotel and it didn’t take long to drive to South Philly and the stadium. Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field and the Core State Arena (it’s hurting me to write this) are all located on the same tract of land that held the Vet, Franklin Field and the Spectrum (still there, but now with a corporate name preceding the word Spectrum).

I paid the $10 to park and we found a space fairly close to the entrance. Helaine had bought four tickets from a broker – though they were only marked up $4. We walked into the stadium.

Since this was my birthday trip, Helaine had arranged for my name and age to be flashed on the scoreboard with the other 11 year olds. We went and signed in. There was a charge, but I got a very nice Phillies hat.

The ballpark itself is a very nice place. Whereas the Vet was all concrete and steel with no thought of aesthetics, there’s lots of exposed brick and other warm touches now. And, Vet Stadium’s turf – possibly the worst playing surface in all of professional sports, has been replaced by beautiful real grass.

Beyond the outfield is a huge food court – Ashburn’s Alley. That’s where we headed first.

Steffie wanted to have a genuine Philly Cheesesteak, and Geno’s of South Philadelphia fame is represented. This is not ‘old school’ baseball food. It wasn’t soggy. It was hot. It was delicious. We found a place to sit and ate our lunch.

The game was scheduled for 3:15, so we headed down and took our seats. I was surprised that there had been no hassle when I brought my camera and two lenses in. The Phillies web site said it would be OK, but I had a sneaking suspicion there would be scrutiny over any camera with a removable lens.

These were probably the best baseball seats I’d ever had. We were behind the Phillies dugout, in the sun, 25 rows from the field. We were in foul ball territory. We were very close to the action.

The Phils were playing the San Diego Padres… and the Phils had gotten hot! The night before, Chase Utley ended the game with a walk off homer. Is there a more macho act?

For us, the game began slowly. It seemed like Robinson Tejeda, the Phillie starter wasn’t in control. I say ‘seemed’, because when you see the box score, you see a pitcher totally dominating the opposition. It’s funny how those two elements don’t always match up.

I took a lot of pictures at the game. Some might say I took too many pictures. Here’s my favorite, Bobby Abreu ducking out of the way of a Pedro Astascio fastball. Judging by the catcher’s glove, this pitch was traveling where it was aimed.

We stayed until the very last out, anticipated the worst when Real Cormier was called in, but getting a one inning gem instead. Billy Wagner picked up the save.

After a short stop back at the hotel, the four of us (Peter included) went out searching for dinner and the sights. We hit South Street first, but realizing that wasn’t the right spot for dinner, headed to Market Street and the Penn’s Landing area.

Again, we found Italian food. Again, it was very good. But we were very tired.

Our walk back to the hotel was uneventful, but left me uneasy. There were too many places which seemed sinister.

Tonight, I sent an email message to Mayor Street. It’s attached to the link at the bottom of this entry. Whether this kind of message makes any difference or not is beyond me, but I am always willing to write and make my opinions felt.

We finished up our stay Sunday with brunch on the Moshulu.

Since the launching of the Moshulu (pronounced Mo-shoe’-loo) in 1904, she has had a long and exciting career on the seas working the ports of Europe, South America, Australia, America and Africa. She was confiscated by the Americans in one war and by the Germans in the next. She has traveled around Cape Horn 54 times. She has hauled coal and coke, copper ore and nitrate, lumber and grain. In lesser days, she has served as a floating warehouse. In grander days, she won the last great grain race in 1939. Today, the Moshulu is the largest four-masted sailing ship in the world still afloat.

I once heard someone say you should never go out to dinner at a revolving restaurant. I think the same applies to converted sailing ships. The food was OK – nothing special. The ship was OK too… but just OK.

The interior of the ship was larger than I expected. I know that because of the schlep from our table to the buffet!

By 1:30 we were heading home. We headed north on I-95, over the Delaware via the Betsy Ross Bridge (A white elephant when it was built, I hope it’s more useful now), Route 90 to Route 73 to I-295 and then the New Jersey Turnpike.

We waited as long as we could before getting off I-295 and onto the Turnpike. It made no difference. We were stuck in stop-and-go traffic for the better part of an hour before things opened up. The rest of the trip was uneventful.

Oh – there was that sign on the George Washington Bridge that I captured. I’m hoping it’s legal to take photos before you get to the sign, as I did.

So, what have we learned? We were surprised and pleased that Steffie enjoyed the game. Yes, she got a shirt and excellent junk food… but she bought another shirt with her own money and seemed to be interested in the game.

We also enjoyed visiting Philadelphia, the place where we met 25 years ago, as tourists. There are rough edges that need to be smoothed for Philadelphia to become a better tourist destination, but so much is in place right now.

Continue reading “The Rest of Our Philadelphia Trip”