And the Verdict is.....

last modified: Thursday, October 29, 2009 (10:59:09 PM CST)

Guilty.

Yes, that is right. I went to traffic court as scheduled this Tuesday for that hauntingly, horrible ticket and I was shot down by the officer who acted as a judge hearing my case. He was shocked when I told him my story, especially the part when I wrote a complaint to Internal Affairs. He basically said he didn't care and didn't believe me. He also said I may have deserved the treatment I got. :-o Wtf??

The offense will be permanently on my record and my fine is practically an entire week's pay. They even added an additional fee for needing more time to pay, which really made me even more upset.
I started to tear up a bit in the Time To Pay office, I really was fed up and speechless.

Now there's a chance for several things. I can:

1) Ask if it's too late to take a quick defensive driving course for $35 (on top of what I'd already have to shove out for these buttheads) to get the fine reduced and prevent a possible insurance hike.
2) Hope and pray that my insurance doesn't go up by not doing the course because I have been accident/incident free for an entire year. The last incident was in 2008, then 2005, then 2003.. not bad, not bad at all I think.
3) Hope and pray my license also doesn't get suspended as well. If I remember correctly, there may/may not be a permanent speeding ticket on my record already. And, that is 4 points out of 12 in itself.

Cast your vote and voice! What route do you think is best? I'm on the fence and leaning towards 1 & 2.

In other news, I still haven't found a new "career" job and it's been a year now that I've been stuck at my "temp" part-time position. I feel like my Faith is being tested. I recently started to contribute my writing talents, since the job hunt is a struggle, to the store weekly newsletter that is circulated to Upper Management and store employees. I just hope I can get the second edition completed by the Monday 2pm deadline, and it's not looking that way right now because I am not scheduled to work in that area again until Monday 4pm.

As for artwork, I am on target for my annual December and January updates. I also managed to re-create my original banner using Photoshop 6. It doesn't have that nice oil effect that CS2 gave it, but I'm just happy it's not blurred. I hope to make a mauve-tone version eventually.

Hope all is well!

An Early Annual October Update for You

last modified: Sunday, October 18, 2009 (10:43:42 PM CST)

...And, I hope you enjoy it. :)

I am usually known for doing this update on Halloween, 10/31 for about 3 years now; but, I heard that MG and Cutie couldn't wait anymore. ~_^

So, here it is for all my RS buds and peeps who want to put a little "ginga" in their life. The highlight for this year's October update is in the Hotaru section and there are 2 other cels in the Sailor Moon section.

I added a new CG to my gallery called Peach Girl too. If anyone is willing to give me screen captures for the SM cels, that would be awesome. I've put a new dvd S season boxset, on my Santa wishlist already. :)

Enjoy!

Ginga

Update, Night Of Humilation Part II

last modified: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 (5:20:02 PM CST)

Well, it has been a few weeks since my incidence with the police and I am still pretty ticked off about it. For those who haven't read about it, please feel free to catch up on Ginga's ambles. :)

Anyway, I received an official e-mail from the Department of Internal Affairs who launched an investigation in my matter of 3 officers versus me over a ticket and a 45-min humilation/detainment. It basically said that they the officer stated that that my account of this incidence DID NOT coincide with the statement of the police officer who antagonized me AT ALL and they were not going any further with the investigation. If I would like to, please come down to the Internal Affairs department and file an Affidavit of Complaint in person.

Basically... it's he said, she said. This is complete and utterly ridiculous! I bet he's covering his butt so he won't lose his job!

I don't know what to do anymore.

*throws hands into air*

I'll let you dabble in it... ~_^

<3 Ginga

Night of Humilation

last modified: Friday, September 04, 2009 (2:24:32 PM CST)

I had just come back to my neighborhood from house-sitting a cat and a dog for a family member who is out of town; picked up McDonald's for dinner; and, was pulled over at 21:15PM last night, Thursday 9/3/09. I was flagged into a parking lot of Fire Station by 3 Officers on foot with flashlights and I was confused as to what was going on. I thought maybe their had been an accident or something. But, what happened next astonished me.

The officers who pulled my vehicle over for a minor traffic violation, proceeded to gender discriminate against me in the parking lot of that Fire station nearby the intersection. The officer issuing the ticket was extremely rude to me, along with the 2 other officers in the background, and all of them treated me in such an ill manner that I have NEVER felt so unsafe, mentally and emotionally violated, and discriminated against in my entire life. I really believe that they crossed the line, and had invaded and violated my rights to equal treatment, including privacy. Furthermore, what disturbed me the most was they were actually enjoying it.

After explaining to me why I was pulled over, 1 of them continued to raise his voice to me as I was answering and complying to his questions calmly and rationally. I watched him yell at the other 2 officers with him on duty saying, "Boys, we have a real winner here tonight. This girl is ignorant of what she's doing, saying, and what she had already done."

The 2 other officers began laughing and making smart comments and jokes about me in the background. One comment I explicitly heard was, "Oh, she's a college grad-- she must think she's above the law because she's rich." "No, I just think she's stupid for not noticing us in the first place. Oh, here comes another winning ticket," as another car was pulled over behind me. I immediately felt uncomfortable, unsafe, and got the impression that this whole situation was a game to everyone... except me.

The Officer yelling at me looked up and laughed, then proceeded to interrogate me and made smart comments insinuating that I was a bad driver and a threat to public safety. He ordered me to drive around the parking lot at the fire station and stop in front of a mailbox. I thought I understood him clearly and did what I thought the officer told me to do. When I pulled up, the officer was angry and proceeded to to tell me and the other officers, "Are you ignorant or something? You didn't follow my instructions as I asked."

Apparently, I was wrong and misread the direction he was pointing his hand when he told me to drive. I really didn't know what to think except that I was being treated badly while I was being as polite as possible under the circumstances. The other officers continued to laugh saying, "We are having a great time because she's the ignorant one here tonight [she, referring to me.]" By then the other car who was issued a ticket had left. "Oh, I am having a great time issuing this ticket," replied Officer #1. I tried to apologize to him but he told me to shut up and listen to him. He proceeded to tell me that I do not listen and follow instructions and that is why I was pulled over in the first place for the minor traffic violation and why he was telling me I was a threat to public safety. At this point, I couldn't look at any of the officer's faces. I was so upset by this verbal abuse and felt demeaned by the officers on duty at the intersection. The atmosphere felt that bad and I held back and continued to keep calm.

He was also upset that I didn't stop my car upon his command in the parking lot when I knew I did. My car briefly rolled for about 1/2 a foot or so before it completely stopped. He then proceeded to yell at me for disregarding this direction as well and I told him I did what I was thought I was supposed to do.

During all of this, while he was taking down my personal information including place of employment for the ticket. He continued

Fight or Flight at the Post Office: A funny, true story

last modified: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 (3:28:12 AM CST)

I went to the Post Office yesterday to mail a response to an job ad I saw in the Classifieds in the Sunday newspaper before heading to work my midnight shift. After all, I wanted to mail my resume and L.O.I. for consideration in my endless pursuit for a real, full-time position. I walked into the lobby and observed that there were 2 automated postal machines. One had a line of at least 4-5 persons, the other 1 person. Armed with card in hand, I made the quick, educated decision to walk up to the machine with the least amount of people.

I waited behind the man patiently as he was finishing up his transaction and printing his postage. I felt a sense of excitement as I realized that I was going to have my resume mailed before any of these women, loaded with tons of clunky packages, had a chance to use the machine they were waiting to use.
Nothing major, right? Just another typical day, you would assume? Wrong.

As soon as my fingers began touching the screen of my machine, I heard the women yelling at me, "Hey, you cannot use that machine! You must wait in line just like everyone else. This is where the line begins and we have been waiting patiently for a long time holding these heavy packages to use these machines. You are being rude by not allowing us to go ahead of you and by you just walking up to use that machine."

I could feel the 'fight or flight' instinct kick in as I continued to use my machine and specify I wanted to use First Class for 1 day delivery time at $1.05. My adrenaline pumped and I could feel my heart and consciousness race as I retorted, "Excuse me, who said so? As far as I am concerned, there was only 1 person in line using this machine and I am clearly next in line. You are waiting in that line to use that machine." The women looked at me as if I had committed a mortal sin. In their eyes I was a line-jumper, a disgrace to God and all Mankind. To them, I had broken the Rules of Politeness and they were ready to make a public example of me by flogging with their words of discourteousness. They decided to declare war upon the smart, young, and witty Ginga123.

I continued to blatantly ignore them and concentrated on printing the postage necessary to mail my resume. Enraged and outraged, I could hear the women attempting a riot by threatening to remove me from my machine and call a supervisor, although I awaiting my receipt to print by this time. I could feel the fear and anger inside my my chest and throat. My mind already flew, but my body wouldn't budge. I was ready for battle and could do little to control myself at this point. My voice echoed throughout the lobby as I exclaimed, "Ladies, I do not care! There are clearly 2 machines and 2 separate lines! I am clearly next in line and I do not care!" A silence came upon the lobby as I grabbed the receipt and my postage and stepped away. They lost the War of Politeness.

I could feel a sense of frustration and relief as I walked to the other side of the lobby and filled out my envelope with mailing addresses, etc. I glanced over and saw that they continued to wait in line at the other machine. Not a single person moved over to use the machine I had used and it was available for anyone else to use.

I finished writing on my envelope and walk back toward the machines to the Mail Deposit Drop Box. I felt victorious as I saw them watching me mail my resume and peeved that they tried to belittle me. I could still hear them bicker about me. As I got closer to the door, I glanced back once more to give them the 'eye' and saw that they were heckling another brave, young woman who did the exact same thing I did. I could hear the War rage on as she also said the same thing, "I do not care. There was no one in line to use the machine I used and I was next in line. Now, if you'll excuse me, I am trying to mail this letter."