Back in 2001, I worked the summer at Cedar Point Amusement Park, in Sandusky, Ohio. I worked a lot of hours, but had a blast on the days I got off. I remember one day I stepped into the only buffet restaurant they had and Snoopie was there.

Just a little side note, Cedar Point has a place for the Peanut characters that is an area filled with rides and games just for the kiddies. So, back to the story… Snoopie made an appearance at the restaurant and was greeting all the children.

I remember all of a sudden this big guy practically jumped over his table and tackled Snoopie. He then started beating the tar out of Snoopie. The thing is, the person within the costume was a barely 5 foot tall girl. She did not know what hit her and by the time everything was done, she had to be sent to the hospital and kids were hysterically crying. Of course, a lot of the parents were upset too.

I wondered: What set off that man? What did Snoopie do to him? Did it ever occur to him that he would probably traumatize a lot of children for some time?

People are strange in their ways. I will never know why someone does this or that. In this case, even though I was a single gal at the time, I chipped in to comfort the children and try to help them understand the situation. Although I did not know everything, all I could say was – “That man was just a bad man who probably never got the time to meet such a cool character like Snoopie. If he had, he would have been nice to Snoopie.”

Sometimes the answer does not have to totally be correct, but in this situation, children are looking for comfort, and not confusion.

When I go shopping at the mall and some outlet stores, I hear from the sales clerk, “What is your email address?”

And I am like, “Huh? Why?”

“So you can be updated with new items from the store?” is the response I most commonly hear from the sales clerk.

I do understand why companies are jumping on the bandwagon to snag email addresses, but when I get tons of spam, even outside my server’s Spam Assassin and all the filters I have placed, it gets to be tiresome.

SO… I stopped giving out my email address at the stores.

And if you notice, a lot of stores, especially in the United States (usually within the mall and some select stores), they even ask for zip code. I am sure it has to do with how the company can gauge where they should be advertising, and also alert the main headquarters statistics on where their customers are coming from.

However, I am a bit leery of beign asked for my email address. I already spend enough time online that if I really wanted to know about what is new in a store, I would subscribe directly from the store’s website, rather than ask clerks to type in an extra field and make people wait a little longer. Give them a break.

I think if companies truly want to reach their shoppers, especially since there are so many people online, even on Facebook – invest in advertising to attract fans to subscribe. Use the power of social media, rather than make store sales clerks feel like they are encouraging spam. I feel sorry for them. The one time I worked for a retailer I refused to ask for email addresses and gave the general manager a logical response. It just cheapens the experience and really, all people want to do is buy what they took off the rack or shelf and go on to the next thing they want to do.

In September 2010, Illinois raised the fines for speeding. The minimum offense that was $75, was changed to $125.

I admit it, I do have a lead foot, especially on the highway. In town, sometimes. Most of it when it is only myself in the car. For me, I have no problem with other people speeding – at long as they are not tail gating, cutting off people and just looking like a mess on the road, I am fine.

However, the crotch rocket (motorcycle – not traditional bikes, but the sleeker and sporty ones) riders are really pissing me off. I saw a guy pass at over 100 miles an hour on the highway and was cutting off people, not even using blinkers or even passing people properly. Sometimes in town I see this type of behavior and I just want to scream that someone is going to die – and it might be them.

Sure, motorcycles are cool, but not enough to die for. The articles I read in the local newspaper about motorcycle accidents mostly involve reckless driving or drinking and driving recklessly while on a crotch rocket.

Funny enough, some teens were speeding around in the local strip mall area in Centralia on a moped. Several times I observed them cutting in and out of a crowded parking lot, filled with moving and parking vehicles. I got concerned because – 1, I was not sure if all the of teens had their license to drive, and 2, it was reckless and the speed limit was only 10mph. They were clearly blowing that on the moped. I called the local cops, waited, and sure enough, the police turned up to take care of it. I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that I might have prevent someone’s kid from being hit in a parking lot for driving recklessly.

I have not married Sean. However, he and I have been living together a little over 2 years (since 2008.) It was difficult at first to be somewhat of a parental figure to his son because … well, he and I are not married, and his son is not my own.

I myself have lived through 2 different stepmothers. One of which is the best thing in my dad’s life. I think she is finally convincing him of her ways, which I agree with, even if it might not always work in my favor. Why? Well, I trust her and I have listened to her frustrations as an adult… and she is his wife. So it is not my job to be a decision maker in a home that is no longer mine.

However, for me, Sean’s son comes from a difficult household when he is with his mother. She is not the best person and to my knowledge, her reputation has consisted of burning bridges in relationships, especially with co-workers. This bothers me and I hear it from Sean’s son.

I am not a perfect mom. I think I have said that here at Mommy Blogger plenty of times and will continue to do so – because it is true and I would not be cocky enough to say I am. HOWEVER, I am proud of Angel. He does great in school, and is generally a good boy. He is a bit hyper, but that is to be expected. I love him and he knows that.

With Sean’s son, I can give him hugs and say I am proud, and verbally reprimand him when his is wrong. I am conscerned though that he cries on a dime and has nothing good to say about his own mother. He missed Halloween Trick or treating because.. well, she did not feel like it at the last moment. Sean made it up to him by taking him to the local parade, which earned in probably a lot more candy than if he would have gone out trick or treating.

I feel helpless that all I can do is listen to Sean’s son and pray that things will get better, but after a couple years of the same, and things seem to be getting worse, it is frightening to see how he will mature in his current environment. He has no place to play, no consistent home or school, and his mother would rather him be in his room.

It is frustrating and both Sean and I can do nothing unless there is some kind of proof of negligence.

*sighs*