Some of you may have experienced this one. But it kind of ticked me off.
So I went out to run some errands and I pull into a strip mall parking lot. I'm scouting for a good parking spot and I just happen to see one right up front. Now I don't normally mind parking at the rear if it keep my rig safe but this spot had clear visibility, it was next to a handicap spot so it had a little extra room, and I could keep an eye on the rig from inside. Plus I new exactly what I was going for and I'd be in and out. Remember I'm on a Vulcan 900 with a sidecar.
I pull in and start to take my helmet off. I hear someone yelling "hey you". I look around not expecting that I'm the one being addressed. Some other people were looking in the direction behind me. So I turn around and there's a woman 30 yards away hanging out her SUV window yelling. She said "you know that's a car parking spot. You can't park there, you'll have to move." Of course my full face helmet's on so I'm not in the situation to carry on a conversation, and she's 30 yards away.
I was stunned. I wish I would have maintained my composure a little because I'm sure there were some great things I could have said. I basically made a gesture at the rig as if to point out "are you blind you dumb ass this things wider the most cars" and yelled back a "No" in response to the order to move. I stripped off my gear and went inside. She never moved, all the while blocking 3-4 cars.
I guess I could have handled it differently. I was laughing with Mijean that I should have walked over and "accidentally" ripped off her side view mirror with my prosthetic hook. That dang thing is always getting caught on something .
Just had to vent. Any suggestions for a future response?
I don't have a good response but thanks for the grins. Very funny. I usually get the walk around from folks and the "How does that thing handle?" or "I didn't know they still made sidecars"
A number of responses come to mind from: Where am I supposed to park? to Are you the Parking police? to just something really obscene, (which isn't nice, but less problem with the law than removing her mirror or something.)
I did have a women let her shopping cart roll into my 2 wheeler once, it set the alarm off, she was all apologies when I brought it to her attention.
Originally written by SinisterNerd on 2/21/2009 1:33 PM
Some of you may have experienced this one. But it kind of ticked me off.
Just had to vent. Any suggestions for a future response?
I have a handicap plate on my rig and seldom use a handicap parking
spot unless there is nothing else within reasonable walking distance
of my destination. I get accosted frequently by people who want to know
why anyone who rides a motorcycle qualifies for a handicap plate. I had
a man waiting for me outside a supermarket when I came out. He started
ranting and raving about me parking in a handicapped spot with the
motorcycle and sidecar. He told me he should have called the police to
ticket me for parking there. I told him to go around to the rear of the
bike and look at the tag. When he did look, he started bumbling an apology
and I told him "Crow is best eaten while it's still warm".
Life is good...
My wife asked me if I could get a handicap plate on the sidecar rig. I've thought about it but I haven't checked. I'm the same way with my truck though. I have a handicap plate on it and I'll use it if I feel I need it or that I won't interfere with someone that's worst off then me. I'm missing an arm and a leg but I get around better then most. And after I've seen many of the others using those spots I'm not so bashful about it. There's times when I've been in my wheelchair and I've seen more then able bodied people park and run in the store. It's frustrating, so for the most part I try to be considerate.
And in this particular case I'm sure if I had one on my rig and park in the handicap spot, that did happen to be open, this lady wouldn't have said a word. I think it was only because she saw that I had a "prime" spot, that she could have had, that she chose to be an ass.
It's just ticked me off because it took my <1000 lbs. rig to get me to the store and it took her 5000+ lbs SUV to get her there. So why am I no more entitled to the spot then her. I know I'm preaching to the choir. People just don't think. If I'd been on a solo bike I would have still parked there (although I'd have left room for another bike), and it would be perfectly legal. I really wish I would have confronted her and called the cops to set her straight.
In NJ you can get a handicapped plate for a motorcycle, no sidecar neccessary. I didn't know you were missing a leg. I think, in that case I would have said something obscene to her. Like "Do you have a deed to that parking space you dumb C, (for some reason women really hate to be called that word).
I really don't understand the stupidity and entitlement attitude that a lot o people seem to have today. Ex: parking in firezones rather than a space at a convienence/gas station, the killer is the talking on the cell, etc.
I once followed the local sherriff's wife, (car had special plate), she used no signals, chattering away on the cell phone, stops in an intersection to say hello to her friend. But then who's gonna give her a ticket.
Then there is always this solution:
Anger Management:
When you occasionally have a really bad day, and you just need to take it
out on someone, don't take it out on someone you know, take it out on
someone you don't know, but you know deserves it.
I was sitting at my desk when I remembered a phone call I'd forgotten to
make. I found the number and dialed it.
A man answered, saying 'Hello.'
I politely said, 'This is Chris. Could I please speak with Robyn Carter?'
Suddenly a manic voice yelled out in my ear 'Get the right fing number!'
and the phone was slammed down on me. (I couldn't believe that anyone could
be so rude!!)
When I tracked down Robyn's correct number to call her, I found that I had
accidentally transposed the last two digits. (After hanging up with her, I decided to call the 'wrong' number again.)
When the same guy answered the phone, I yelled 'You're an !' and
hung up.
I wrote his number down-with the word '' next to it, and put it in
my desk drawer.
Every couple of weeks, when I was paying bills or had a really bad day, I'd call him up and yell, 'You're an !' (It always cheered me up!!)
When 'Caller ID' was introduced, I thought my therapeutic calling
would have to stop.
So, I called his number and said, 'Hi, this is John Smith from the telephone company. I'm calling to see if you're familiar with our Caller ID Program?'
He yelled 'NO!' and slammed down the phone.
I quickly called him back and said, 'That's because you're an !' and hung up.
One day I was at the store, getting ready to pull into a parking spot.
(Some guy in a black BMW cut me off and pulled into the very spot I had
patiently waited for!!) I hit the horn and yelled that I'd been waiting for that spot, but the idiot ignored me.
I noticed a 'For Sale ' sign in his back window, so I wrote down his
number.
A couple of days later, right after calling the first (I had is
number on speed dial,) I thought that I'd better call the BMW , too.
I said, 'Is this the man with the black BMW for sale?' He said, 'Yes, it
is.'
I then asked, 'Can you tell me where I can see it?'
He said, ' Yes, I live at 34 Oaktree Blvd, in Fairfax. It's a yellow ranch style house and the car's parked right out in front.'
I asked, 'What's your name?' (He said, 'My name is Don Hansen,') I asked,
'When's a good time to catch you, Don?' He said, 'I'm home every evening
after five.'
I said, 'Listen, Don, can I tell you something?' He said, 'Yes?' I said,
'Don, you're an !'
Then I hung up, and added his number to my speed dial, too. (Now, when I
had a problem, I had two s to call.)
Then I came up with an idea... (I called #1.) He said, 'Hello.'
I said, 'You're an !' (But, I didn't hang up.) He asked, 'Are you
still there?' I said, 'Yeah!'
He screamed, 'Stop calling me,' (I said, 'Make me,') He asked, Who are
you?'
I said, 'My name is Don Hansen.' (He said, 'Yeah? Where do you live?') I
said, ', I live at 34 Oaktree Blvd, in Fairfax, a yellow ranch style home and I have a black Beamer parked in front.'
He said, 'I'm coming over right now, Don. And you had better start saying
your prayers.'
I said, 'Yeah, like I'm really scared, ,' and hung up. (Then I
called #2.) He said, '
Let me guess - the woman's SUV had a soccer ball sticker on the back and while she was yelling at you she was on the cell phone.
You could have reminded her that an SUV is NOT A CAR either(and then ripped off her soccer sticker).
What a good laugh!
Your way of Anger management is a little dangerous, it reminds me to the day many years ago I had to hide a fallen down revolver while the driver of the car speeded at 160km 100mi through the villages with 6 persons inside.
And all just because his yeallousy that I flirted with his girl friend on a ferry trip.
Some people simply are brain amputated. There is nothing you can do about them- hopeless cases! I for my part decided to just walk away and never mind.
You find these guys in bussineses too.
To one General Manager (as usually an MBA) of a 220 person factory I was once urged to say to him:" Its urgent time for you to scratch your head!".....
Don't ask what followed....
A 38m long, over 60 ton, 1,5 Million$ production line is standing since 25.nov.2003...
Who has the loss?
Sven Peter
That's a good story about the Black BMW. It's been on the internet for the past ten years, though. LOL
Hey Rob,
Let me get this straight... you're missing an arm and a leg and you're concerned about people worse off than you are?? You're pretty amazing.
I'd like to invite you to ride with the Texas Honor Ride on 7-Nov-09 when we ride to BAMC in San Antonio. Check out our website and let me know if you can make it.
Terry Muilenberg
President, Texas Honor Ride, Inc.
P.S. You don't need any response to the bimbo in the SUV. Why lower yourself?
Originally written by SinisterNerd on 2/21/2009 4:33 PM
Some of you may have experienced this one. But it kind of ticked me off.
...
Just had to vent. Any suggestions for a future response?
Sounds like you're pretty level-headed, don't let the bastards grind you down (to their level). Maybe the ol' gal was just having a hard day.
Decades ago, my Dad went to the doctor for heart troubles - doc wrote him a 'scrip, it said "Noli Illigitime Carborundum"... words to live by. Oh, and "Carpe Diem" too!
Ride Brodie, Ride!
It irritated me at the time. But I'm over it. I just wonder how many people think like her when they see a bike or sidecar rig in a parking spot.
Terry, I'll mark the calendar for that one and try to make it. It looks like a good ride for a great cause.
I'm missing my arm and leg, but if you passed me on the street you probably wouldn't notice. I had a great group of Dr.'s and a great prosthetist. The wheel chair only gets used around the house and occasionally a trip to the store (when something breaks with the prosthetics). In the summer I run around in shorts and a tee shirt 90% of the time, but on the bike it's full gear year round. So most people don't notice anything other than the sidecar.
My wife and I were on that ride also. I am a member of the Fort Sam Houston Regimental Riders. I was on a Yamaha Venture with a Champion Escort sidecar. This was my third Honor Ride and I will be on the next on also. I work on Fort Sam Houston and I have a younger brother buried at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Look forward to the next ride.
Rickey-Glad you enjoyed the Texas Honor Rides. I didn't see your rig 'cause I was pretty busy counting cash as I am the Treasurer for the THR. You may have noticed my rig next to the merchandise tent with my dog tied to it. This year I am President AND Treasurer so I'll be pretty busy again. Be sure to look me up.
