Still something after all these years

When you're looking for a job or have a project idea that you want management to consider, the professionals tell you to develop what's sometimes called a bus-stop statement or elevator pitch. The scenario is that you have 30 seconds to tell your story - what you're going to do or what you did, why it's important, and how you're going to do or how you did it. Without being frantic, you can speak about 150 words in 30 seconds. (Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is 186 or 268 words, depending on what your definition of a word is.)
Lately, through high school and college reunions, Facebook, and chance encounters, I've had the chance to re-establish contact with friends from long ago. What do I tell them of my life?
In its shortest form: "It's better than I expected, for which I am deeply grateful."
The next level up sounds like an obituary - married with two children, seven grandchildren, parents were ..., graduated from ... and ..., was a member of ΦΒΚ, worked at ...,  also did ..., and so on.
After that, the stories aren't so easily told or controlled. Why was I such a jerk back then and why am I not (or think I'm not) like that now? How come my first job after college was as a Kelly Girl office temp? And why did I have to leave work nearly three years ago? And, oh, by the way, how's the family?
Of course, everyone has their own set of stories. You tell your story, listen to someone else do the same, and you find that everyone, I think, is surprised by life. Even if they had plans, good plans that came true, they'll still encounter a set of reverse-threaded lug nuts. (Chrysler products in the 60s had reverse-threaded lug nuts on the driver's side; the theory was that the nuts, would tighten themselves as the wheels turns. It was almost a good idea.)
Then, again, we should never forget the possibility that there are some who are just better than us.
When asked "How's it going?" one friend would reply simply, "Yeah." Most people never noticed.

Crime in suburbia

From The Landmark (subscription required):

Holden

Monday, May 18

2:16 a.m. Suspicious vehicle on Tamarack Circle with some damage; vehicle malfunctioning
8:00 a.m. Main St. damaged by tracks of loader; MassHighway notified
1:44 p.m. Car broken into at Rail Trail, purse and diaper bag taken
2:17 p.m. Resident reports neighbor dumping brush and cut trees on his property; boundary line problem

Tuesday, May 19

2:23 p.m. Party who is not police officer directing traffic on Main St.
3:23 p.m. Loud music on Dorothy Ave.
5:35 p.m. Caller reports workers at construction site urinating in sight of school bus
6:03 p.m. Report of solicitors on Sycamore Dr.; solicitors advised of rules
9:31 p.m. Business signboard causing blind spot for vehicles entering roadway
10:09 p.m. Suspicious man walking down Fisher Rd. with black duffle bag

Wednesday, May 20

12:51 a.m. Loud music reported on Dorothy Ave.
12:45 p.m. Caller complaining about traffic on her street due to detail
2:20 p.m. Item blocking vision at intersection of Sherwood Hill and Main St.
3:11 p.m. Cement mixer pulled down wire on Arizona Ave.
10:20 p.m. Loud music on Dorothy Ave.

Thursday, May 21

8:49 a.m. Business owner asking to run license plates in parking lot; advised of policy
11:19 a.m. Complaint about tree work on Mountview Drive
1:20 p.m. Report of person leaving high school angry
4:20 p.m. Truck removing water from stream on Princeton Lane reported; no contact
4:22 p.m. Trash removed from roadway on Main St.
9:05 p.m. Wood chipper and chainsaw being operated on Greenwood Parkway; trucks shutting down
9:21 p.m. Party at residence on Sterling Rd.

Friday, May 22

10:19 a.m. Vehicle observed with suspicious persons inside
8:24 p.m. Large amount of water in road on Salisbury St., may be leak

Saturday, May 23

6:28 a.m. Two parties asking to speak with officer at PD on Main St.

2:13 p.m. Caller regarding having vehicle towed from private residence
3:50 p.m. Person in towed vehicle at auto repair lot
4:47 p.m. Mixed breed dog found on Mountview Dr.
9:00 p.m. Loud party heard in the woods by Rail Trail
10:47 p.m. Report of loud music and kids yelling on Timber Lane

Sunday, May 24

12:10 a.m. Elderly male attempting to flag down traffic on Main St.; needs ride to Worcester
2:03 p.m. Group of small children playing in street on Quinapoxet for some time
5:19 p.m. Caller concerned about youths hanging around Main St. business parking area; youths dispersed
6:15 p.m. Resident concerned about four-wheelers being operated by youths, also concerned about lawns being destroyed and exhaust smell in Bascom Parkway area; no contact
8:31 p.m. Loud band playing on Armington Lane; parties spoken with
10:24 p.m. Firecrackers reported on Bascom Parkway, also kids running around
10:52 p.m. 911 Caller reports older male scared kids behind Davis Hill School; another witness reports seeing male come out of woods behind Davis Hill

Paxton

Monday, May 18

3:11 p.m. Low wire snagged on small school bus, Streeter Rd.
8:02 p.m. Caller advising wild turkey just flew through screen into house, Pleasant St.

Tuesday, May 19

7:54 p.m. Caller reporting green water at residence, Brigham Rd. Hydrant flushing on street.
10:21 p.m. Water Department employee reporting that resident yelled at him to stop flushing the hydrant or he would turn hydrant off himself.

Wednesday, May 20

5:15 p.m. Caller advising that "Ninja"-style motorcycle passed him at about 100 mph. on Rte. 56 near Rutland line.

Thursday, May 21

12:44 p.m. Wire down on Richards Ave. near Emerald Ave.
3:26 p.m. Caller reporting he just hit a wild turkey near the Spencer line.
5:28 p.m. Barking Chihuahua on Merry Lane. Owner brought dog inside.
6:25 p.m. Tractor trailer unit took down power line, West St. Wire is live, power shut down on road.

Friday, May 22

7:43 p.m. Motorcycle operator tried to do a "wheelie" and fell off, Pleasant St. past Brooks Rd. Arrest: - unlicensed operation of motor vehicle, reckless operation of motor vehicle.

Sunday, May 24

7:25 a.m. Caller reporting loud noise from a party in the area, Forestdale Rd. No contact with individuals in area, no noise apparent.
11:03 p.m. Audible alarm from school auditorium. Building checked, everything in order.

Princeton

Monday, May 18

6:40 a.m. Request for animal control officer, Rte. 140 S
4:57 p.m. Request for light department, Gleason Rd.
5:37 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Sterling Rd.

Tuesday, May 19

7:02 a.m. Traffic safety hazard, Rte. 140/Hobbs Rd.
7:25 a.m. Traffic control duty, Rte. 140 N
10:49 a.m. Public service, Town Hall Dr.
6:14 p.m. Request for light department, Redwood Dr.
7:23 p.m. Public service, Rte. 140 N
7:40 p.m. Public service, Mountain Rd.

Wednesday, May 20

12:42 a.m. Public service, Town Hall Dr.
6:42 p.m. Request for animal control officer, Calamint Hill Rd. N
8:35 p.m. Public service, Mountain Rd.

Thursday, May 21

9:51 a.m. Public service, Beaman Rd.
8:33 a.m. Request for animal control officer, Sterling Rd.
11:17 p.m. Suspicious incident, Sterling Rd.

Saturday, May 23

8:39 a.m. Traffic safety hazard, E. Princeton Rd.
8:51 a.m. Public service, Rte. 140 N
9:32 a.m. Public service, Mountain Rd.
3:22 p.m. Assist fire department, Ball Hill Rd.

Sunday, May 24

10:54 a.m. Assist other PD, Osgood Rd.
12:21 p.m. Assist fire department, Mountain Rd.
3:41 p.m. Traffic safety hazard, Worcester Rd./Sharon Dr.
3:41 p.m. Request for highway dept., Worcester Rd.

Rutland

Tuesday, May 19

8:52 a.m. Person upset about ongoing dog issues in neighborhood, Jamie Ann Dr.
10:24 a.m. Young man sleeping beside slide at Memorial Field playground
4:05 p.m. Bus driver requesting help to get cars off access road so he can get through, Naguag/Central Tree

Wednesday, May 20

12:38 p.m. Motor vehicle all over Rte. 68 in Hubbardston, headed towards Rutland

Thursday, May 21

12:25 a.m. Motor vehicle accident, Edson Ave., car versus pole
6:28 a.m. Caller reporting broken utility pole, Edson Ave.
8:39 a.m. Person wants to speak with officer about neighbor issue, Main St.
1:32 p.m. Verizon requesting officer for large cable down, Maple/Emerald Rds.
5:38 p.m. Complaint about dirt bike in area, Meadowbrook Cir.

Friday, May 22

12:43 a.m. Cattle in road, Pommogussett Rd.
9:15 a.m. Multiple complaints about speeding motorcycles, Pleasantdale Rd.
9:59 a.m. Low wires, school bus can't get through, Prescott St./Orchard Hill Dr.
4:36 p.m. Tree branch down blocking road, Hillside Rd.
7:05 p.m. Cow on Pommogussett Rd.
10:59 p.m. Complaint about barking dog, Marjorie Ln.

Saturday, May 23

8:03 a.m. Loose cows, Pommogussett Rd.

Sunday, May 24

9:37 a.m. Car egged during night, Cameron Dr.
11:18 a.m. Dog broke his line and is loose, Laurelwood Rd.
11:23 a.m. Citizen complaint about storm drain being potential safety issue, Juniper/Blueberry Lns.
9:18 p.m. Report of shots fired, Central Tree Rd.
10:52 p.m. Welfare check, female parked next to Dumpsters for several hours, Maple Ave

Sterling

Monday, May 18

9:16 a.m. Officer wanted, Redstone Pl. Caller reports finding roaches on property
1:56 p.m. Coyote in backyard, Albright Rd.
10:01 p.m. Vandalism, found fireworks in mail box, Squareshire Rd.

Tuesday, May 19

9:06 a.m. Suspicious activity, motor vehicle parked at substation, Chocksett Rd.
9:56 a.m. Assist DPW line painting in center of town, Main St.
1:13 p.m. Assist DPW line painting in center of town, Main St.
4:26 p.m. Report of fireworks in mailbox, Squareshire Rd.
5:26 p.m. Vehicles parking on grass, Redemption Rock Trl

Wednesday, May 20

7:51 p.m. Officer wanted, Leominster Rd.

Thursday, May 21

4:10 p.m. Assist citizen, Meetinghouse Hill Rd.
6:25 p.m. Large group of youths near fire station, Main St. Officer asked to disperse group
6:58 p.m. Large tree limb fell in Jewett Rd.
7:38 p.m. Dog running loose in roadway trailing leash, Redemption Rock Trl.

Friday, May 22

10:43 a.m. Escort, Meetinghouse Hill Rd.
12:20 p.m. Dog chased wild animal into car, Patriots Way.
4:09 p.m. Assist with infant car seat adjustment, Leominster Rd.

Saturday, May 23

2:36 p.m. Caller reports ground hog inside vehicle, Patriots Way

Sunday, May 24

1:26 a.m. Vehicle was struck with a spoon, Wilder/ Beaman Rds.
9:55 a.m. Loose Husky near four corners, Redemption Rock Trl.
10:18 a.m. Report of possibly mistreated dog, Justice Hill Rd.
4:57 p.m. Report that youths have built skateboarding ramp and are in roadway, Redstone Hill Rd.
5:36 p.m. Request to speak with officer about previous incident, Main St.

I might be a bit cranky myself if ...

Sometimes, you just got to get the crayons

This afternoon was filled with delightful music as Tess and Krista had their piano lessons at our house. In the meantime, Cassie and I colored Barbie's hair blue.

The rain falls on the just and the unjust, leaving us alone

via Wundermap

I will what to my clients?

This clipping came from the introductory documentation to a fairly popular piece of open source software:

(My guess is that the ever-helpful spell-checker turned what started out as beable into beadle.)
Anyway, these folks are not alone.