Flashing Lights

Road rage: a leading cause of accidents

I don’t claim to be the best driver or to have the best road etiquette, but I don’t just go around flashing my lights in other driver’s rear-view mirrors to get them to change lanes or pass them.

So when this happened to me on a trip to Salem a week or so ago, I was a bit angry and needless to say I could’ve flipped on the driver who did this to me. It wouldn’t have been all that terrible, but the wife and son were also in the car with me.

There we were heading North on I-5 in the far left lane traveling 75 in a 65 mph speed zone. Apparently that wasn’t fast enough for this car behind us. They took it upon themselves to get right on my bumper and then frantically flash their brights at me.

At first I thought maybe they needed help so I kind of put on my brakes, but why would they be on my bumper. Then they wouldn’t stop flashing, so I figured they were just in hurry. But I wasn’t about to let them bully me on the road. They had plenty of road to drive on and I was already pushing the speed limit as it was. They could’ve gone around me. But instead they had to flash their brights at me.

I don’t know how flashing your brights in my rear-view mirror is going to get you anywhere any faster; if anything it will cause an accident.

After I wouldn’t move out of their way they must’ve gotten hint, and they switched lanes. Now I suppose I could’ve been the bigger person, but why? I mean I’m not going to allow someone to bully me like that. Plus I wasn’t in too much harm at that point. Now if I had felt threatened then of course I would’ve switched lanes.

When the car switched lanes and sped off I immediately called the Oregon State Troopers. Usually I’m really good at getting the license plate, but this I wasn’t able to get it because the driver drove off too fast for me to see it. All that I was able to see was the color of the car and maybe the make and model, and that was a stretch.

There is no reason that driving should cause anyone to drive like that to get anywhere. Honestly though people leave earlier, plan for traffic delays and respect other drivers.

We have to keep each other safe on the road. Everyone wants to make it home safely.

Blog by Melissa Chandler

Social Media Animal Cruelty

An abused animal shared for all to re-post

I know that social media is an outlet for individuals to reach the masses. For the most part posts are associated with daily life, relationships, and the most recent sharing of video’s. Social media is also an outlet for families who live long distance to stay connected and share photographs and the happenings with each other. Social media is the way people stay connected in today’s ever distant world. However, when I see a post of any kind related to animal cruelty it just disgusts me.

Now don’t get me wrong, animal cruelty is just terrible and no animal deserves the awful abuse; but seeing it on my thread that is suppose to be full of happy is difficult to deal with. The sad faces, abused bodies that are shared, and the depressing words that adjoin just bring me down.

I understand that people want to stop this horrific act of animal cruelty, but what are you really doing by sharing and posting these kinds of things on social media? Yes you’re making people a tad bit more aware, however are really out there doing anything in the physical world outside the digital social media world?

People have the right to post what they want and it isn’t my place to tell anyone what to post, however take a moment and think about what you’re really doing. You’re not helping any animal who has suffered, you’re not stopping any abuser, and you’re not making yourself look any better.

What I mean by that last sentence, in my eyes it’s a little sickening seeing those sad abused animals on someone’s news feed. It's nauseating and disheartening. To be even more honest, I hide the post because it makes me want to cry. Those poor innocent animals have already suffered enough, why display their battered bodies for everyone to see like that? When a man, woman or child gets abused you don’t see on social media an abused picture with words asking to share and pass it on.

Let’s show these suffers, these animal suffers some respect and give them back their innocent and dignity.

Blog by Melissa Chandler

Disrespected and Mistreated

Your words do not define me

It is 2015, almost 2016 people. You’d think that by now homophobia would nearly a thing of the past. Apparently it isn’t though.

In some places it still exists, and it revels at those it can take down. It waits for that one person to take down and defeat them with all its might.

Today I experienced its evil wrath for the second time from the same individual. It stunned me the first time, but the second time I was in udder shock. I really thought that she would try to contain herself, but obviously she couldn’t.

Let me set up the scene for everyone.

Apparently this individual doesn’t like me referring to my wife as my wife and would rather me refer to her as my spouse. Each time that I referred to her as my wife this individual became enraged almost to the point of shaking and her voice became shaky.

Then when I tried to correct her she became argumentative and didn’t want to hear what I had to say. But of course, why would she? It’s only obvious that she wouldn’t want me to voice my opinion. And then she had to one up me with her side.

All of this happened on the first visit over a month ago.

On today’s visit it really set me off for the last time. Let me tell you, if it wasn’t for the fact that I needed her to complete a few paperwork turn in’s for me, I would have let her have it. Being treated like an “outcast” or like a “nobody” because of who I am isn’t okay with me.

She spelled my name wrong, she all couldn’t spell my wife’s name, and she asked me a question that was none of her business. I felt so disrespected and mistreated. All I could do was get up and leave.

For the entire 20 or 25 minutes it took to drive home from the university I was furious. I couldn’t think of anything else, but the rage I felt toward this individual. I couldn’t believe that someone like her worked at a university that is suppose to be gay friendly. I mean to apply to attend; there is a question basically asking if you’re gay friendly. Do faculty get asked the same questions?

Now home I can’t help but hope that my situation opens eyes of others that have been disrespected and mistreated in this same way. It isn’t okay. On the drive home I told my son that being gay or straight is okay. I will love him no matter what. I also told him that if someone ever makes fun of him that can come to me and I will defend him 100 percent. Everyone deserves love.

Blog by Melissa Chandler

‘Tis the Season

Ravenous creature pass the wishbone please

The holidays are upon us once again. It seems that we just celebrated Thanksgiving 2014 yesterday, and now it is going to be here in 12 days. Time really flies when life just happens. Before we know it Christmas will be here, then the New Year, and 2016.

Thanksgiving, a time to be thinking of reasons to be thankful. Then taking those thoughts and putting them into thoughtful actions to show your appreciation. Seems like a lot of work, so that does it; I’m going to settle for a turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and all the other fixings. Don’t forget the pumpkin pie.

After Thanksgiving comes Black Friday, which isn’t even a holiday. However, it has been transformed into this “holiday” event that is just ridiculous enough to mention. People treat this day like it is a day to go all out and blow money like it is going out of style. Forget what yesterday was all about...be thankful for what? Who cares. Let’s go spend lots of money. Act like ravenous animals at the stores and then pass out. This sounds like a great idea.

Then one month later is Christmas. The day kids dream of as soon as December begins. It is as if a timer goes off inside them and BAM it's an explosion of I want this and I want that. Christmas this and Christmas that. It isn’t even about the real meaning of Christmas anymore.

Christmas to me is about spending time with the ones you love. Being surrounded by people who you want to share a special day with. It isn’t about the gift’s like everyone thinks. I think it is about the games, jokes, laughter, and stories shared.

Lastly, we have the end of one year and the beginning of a new year. It is a transformation point. I don’t like where people have taken this day to though. Why does this day have to be celebrated with alcohol and outrageous partying at all hours of the night? I mean really, it is the new year for literally 365 days. I understand that it is cool to celebrate, but come on one drink and call it a night.

Maybe I’m just being a nit-picky old lady, but I stay up long enough to open the door, welcome in the new year and go to bed. That is it. I use to watch the ball drop on television, but even that became too much to watch.

People have become so out of touch with the simple side of things. Maybe after reading this you too will rethink your routine, or not. ‘Tis the Season.

Blog by Melissa Chandler

May Tom cat rest peacefully

Stray cat runs for safety only to lose life

It isn’t everyday that we see death. Today I woke with the best of intentions and headed out the door as I usually do. Within a few moments it was the end for one innocent stray cat I will refer to as “Tom”.

Stray cats will fight for many reasons and it is out of our hands. However, I cannot help but wish I would’ve ran over and done something to stop these two this morning. Something inside of me told me to stop what I was doing and examine the cat fight.

A few brief moments go by. As I am standing by my car about to get in a loud growl and hiss caught my attention. I looked up to see the two cats running towards the road. Traffic was coming and there was no way to stop the cats or the cars coming. I was helpless.

The antagonist cat backed off while “Tom” ran into the road and was hit by the vehicle that flung his body violently up into the air. Within seconds of this happen the vehicle drove off and didn’t even bother to check on “Tom’s” well-being or lack thereof.

Immediately I was filled with several emotions and began screaming frantically. I couldn’t contain myself. I didn’t know what to do. Being the owner of three precious cats myself I couldn’t imagine any of them being in such a terrible accident.

I fell to the ground and tears flooded my face.

My wife consoled me the best she could, however she didn’t realize what I had witnessed.

A woman had moved “Tom” from the middle of the road, so that no more cars would potentially hit him. She covered “Tom” up with her sweater. My wife brought out a garbage bag and then the woman took “Tom” to her father’s house to be buried. The three of us couldn’t just let him rot on the side of the road like that.

If more people would get their cats spayed and neutered then there wouldn’t be stray cats everywhere and cars wouldn’t be hitting them on the road. Secondly, the person driving that car how could you just kill an innocent animal and just drive off? They matter too. If that was a person you wouldn’t be allowed to just drive off. You would have to be held accountable for the crime.

This incident has really put stray animals into perspective for me.

Blog by Melissa Chandler