Now, I know when I am at work I belong to the company. For the most part I am willing to do whatever they ask me to earn my pay. To that end, I was being paid good money to detail ambulances. So while I shouldn't complain, I was put out by the fact that my trainers were also being paid and I was doing their work. See, it's all about fairness.
Add to this that I thought my trainers were unprofessional-they used profane language, their uniforms looked a mess, and they listened to Tom Lycas-and you can perhaps empathize with me. But even I shocked myself with an uncharacteristic cynicism. By the time I was on my fifth ambulance of the morning this was running through my head, "do you realize I'm a fucking paramedic? I don't know how to say this, but I'm kind of a big deal." Now, of course that was in jest, and very obviously influenced by the ego-driven EMS system of LA, but still.
When I got home I was still feeling a little cranky. Then I found out that the Los Angeles Parking Enforcement Detail smacked down my appeal of the parking citation from 4th of July weekend which was issued to me completely erroneously. So, that compounded my already petulant mood. I started complaining to Sergei about my day and he, sweet husband that he is, didn't roll his eyes at me but said, "Come on, I'm going to buy you a beer." That was actually all I needed to snap out of it, just him to good-naturedly call me on my sulky mood. I didn't need a drop of anything to see it was all pretty silly.
But, I'm still steamed about the ticket cause it's all rising up off of LA Parking Enforcement's giant pile of bullshit. Here's (briefly) what happened. Sergei and I went to the mountains to hike on 4th of July weekend. It was busy and there weren't a lot of places to park. We drove quite a ways from the trailhead and found a blocked off street with just a few other cars. We parked parallel to the road in a turn out that was not labeled with any kind of parking enforcement sign. We come back three hours later and there are a lot more cars around our car and a truck parked between us and a steep rock wall. There was a ticket on our car saying that we were doubled parked. Is it possible to double park when there is only one vehicle? Anyway, they don't seem to understand this so I am going to have to re-appeal. This is purely on principle. I mean really, what's $40? It sure as hell isn't worth the time and frustration I have put into fighting the damn ticket. But if LA Sheriffs can just go around issuing tickets all willy-nilly it takes away from their legitimacy. And I would really like to think that law enforcement it legit. What's next, I'll get a speeding ticket while my car is stopped?
Anyway, I wrote one letter that apparently wasn't good enough for them. I even hand drew little to scale maps and diagrams of the situation. What more do they want from me? If they deny my next contestation I will appeal it in person. On principle.
Take a deep breath Holly.
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