Tuesday I left work early and went to court. Ugh, what an experience. I have never fought a ticket before, so I had no idea what I was in for. First of all, Mapquest lied to me and got me lost. I had to call a friend at work and get directions. I got there just in time, which was dumb because the judge didn’t come out until 15 minutes AFTER when we were supposed to arrive.
I was the 6th person to arrive, and they called us by who arrival order. It took FOREVER, ok really about 2.5 hours to get through it all. Before the District Attorney started talking to people he said, “If you are here for going 25mph over the limit, there’s nothing I can do for you. The legislature does not allow for any leniency. That’s one of the few things I can’t bargain on. I can’t let you take defensive driving and I can’t do a deferred adjudication.”
I was super ticked off. Had I just wasted all that time for nothing? I decided that since I was already there, and wasted all this time, I might as well meet with him anyways. Oh, I was allegedly doing 55 in a 20, so I was 35mph over the limit. I didn’t think there was any way I was getting out of that ticket, so I had hoped to at least bargain it down some.
The cop pulled me over because he said I was going as fast as the woman in front of me, and they clocked her at 55mph. So I bargained saying that I was not going 55, and that there was no way he could swear under oath that I was, since no radar gun was used. The D.A. knocked it down to 40 in a 20, so instead of playing $289 ($89 is court fees), I only have to pay $189!
I think about it now and I probably could have fought it in a jury trial and won because the cop lied on the ticket. He said he used a radar gun and he didn’t. But in order to go to trial I would have had to take a full day off from work, in addition to the half day I already used. I don’t get paid for time off, so I would have lost more money than I would have saved. Granted it wouldn’t be on my driving record if I had fought it and won… Oh well.
Tuesday night was bowling. We bowled a quiet team, only one of the team members came to talk to us. I thought we were nice to him, but later on he griped at Tomas online saying we were rude and antisocial because we were too into our Uno game and didn’t chat with them. Whatever! We beat their team in two games and won the match.
I didn’t bowl well at all. I didn’t come close to making my average. I really need to figure out what’s going on with my bowling, and I really need to go practice! Maybe I can find time to do that this weekend.
Last night I went shopping for more Christmas presents. I had set a goal that I would be finished shoppingby December 1st. I didn’t make my goal. I did finish 95% of my shopping, but I haven’t even started wrapping them yet. The other 5% of my shopping is as good as finished. I know what I’m buying, I just haven’t made the purchases yet, so the hard part is already over.
I met up with M.Lo for dinner after my shopping. We went to Manuel’s. She’s the only person I know that will actually eat there with me and not complain about the place. We sat at the bar and had appetizers and Hibiscus Martinis, but the Martinis sucked this time because the bartender didn’t make them right. I was so looking forward to that drink and it was ruined. Shame.
Tonight I’m going to try and wrap some present. I have no idea how much wrapping paper I already have at home. I may need to go buy some more.
