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*

I like children and people. The people I have problems with are usually ones with bad attitudes and have not been taught proper manners or respect.

I was taught while growing up not to walk through another person’s yard. It was considered rude, and by law – trespassing. Why would someone mow or plant flowers when someone is going to trample through the yard that has no sidewalk.

I know there are a lot of people who have yards and do not care, but for those who carefully cultivate their grass and flowers, trespassers push the peeve button. I had an argument with a grown woman who trekked through my yard instead of the alley. Where she walked was between the bushes and my house, only inches from my window.

For me, when I am home, I do not want people peeking or walking that close. It bothers me as I do not know who is walking through, what they want, and if they might be a problem later on. I had told her to stay out of my yard and explained why she should not be walking in another person’s property – other than it being just plain rude.

I do not go catching people because I am bored. It is pretty obvious when I can hear them. I may live in a small town, but I have been robbed before when living in a big city – it is something that triggers my fears.

Other than the woman, I have also had teenagers walk through. It was not fun dealing with them and because they were very threatening, I decided to just remind them that the police station was less than 5 blocks away and it would be certain that if I called, their parents would hear about it.

However, then I thought – maybe their parents are not teaching them proper manners? My own son is taught not to just walk through strangers’ yards. I was taught by my father and my grandparents. I have even had the opportunity to care for the lawn when I was a teen. I even helped my father with gardening – we had been featured on the front of the Lifestyles section of the Belleville News-Democrat at one time because our backyard was amazing (and not a single part was landscaped by an outside business.)

Anyhow, fencing my yard is not an option. I have thought about putting flowers in the areas people are trying to cut through. In fact, there is a lot of things I have to do to the yard, but I feel that it would not last if people are being rude and stepping through like they owned the place.

Am I being extreme when I happen to catch people walking through my yard? Any suggestions to prevent this in the future?

November is NaBloPoMo, or National Blog Posting Month. Last year was my first year trying it out and I had fun. It was not a problem writing every day at Blondish.net, but since I have really been neglecting my Mommy Blog, I really wanted to dedicate posting each month.

It should not be hard coming up with at least 200 words in an entry, which is my usual self set preference to qualify as a blog post (unless it is a photo blog.)

However, I do realize it is difficult. Trying to juggle my life and my online life are two different things, especially since my online life is not my priority, except for my work. I can understand with other moms that it can be difficult to sit down and write an entry when kids are hollering, or running…. or just about to. The blogging part is easy – the getting to get a chance to sit down and blog is the challenge.

However, it is a challenge I am willing to take up this month. I also took up the challenge for NaNoWriMo, which is National Novel Writing Month. So, that is a lot to do this month in between everything else.