March 12 - Lisa's Musings (on cops and warm weather ) and Every Day Life

Let it not be said (at least not this week) that there's never a cop around when you need one.

Maybe it's just me, or perhaps where I drive, but did you notice that there were cops everywhere now that the weather's begun to warm?

I swear I didn't know that were this many deputies on the western end of the county and I've been covering this area a long time.

Perhaps like the bears, hibernation season is over, because suddenly, I see patrol cars sprouting like crocus at practically every corner.

During the winter, the only time I saw them was at crash scenes.

However, this week, it seemed like no matter the time of day, I didn't have to drive very far to see one of those distinctive patrol cars. And, I'm sure there were some non-distinctive ones out there, too.

So where were they all winter?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about seeing them out and about. In fact, it makes me feel safer knowing they're out cruising and keeping an eye out for law breakers.

And hopefully they'll be on the lookout for bad drivers because there sure are a lot of them, talking on cell phones, texting, trying to play with their babies while driving ... the list is infinite.

Although, according to a story in the Free Press today, the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning announced that in 2009, there was an 11-percent decline in people killed in traffic crashes.

It's being attributed to an increase in seat belt use, less drunk-driving wrecks and ... I think this is the capper: there have been reductions in the number of miles driven because so many people are out of work.

Er, to be politically correct, "because of the economic downturn."

In fact, preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Transportation shows that the number of national highway deaths in 2009 is the lowest since 1954 -- which is four years before I was born.

(Wait, were there cars back then?)

Let's face it, if you don't have a job, you don't have the money for gas.

And, I'm sure that seat belt laws have helped.

Let's hope since no one has any money that less people are drinking and driving.

But my guess is a nationwide ban on talking on any kind of cell phone while driving would help trim those traffic fatalities, too.

Think of the money that local municipalities could reap from all those fines in these trying budget crunching times. With all the fines, police departments could add officers with this additional revenue.

I'm sorry but, I don't care how important you are or think you are, there is no reason on Earth why anyone needs to be connected 24-7, there just isn't.

No one is that important that they can't put down the cell phone for a little while and drive somewhere.

Not so sure how to deal with the mom's playing with their babies while driving scenario other than whacking them over the head with a little common sense.

The point is with this spring-like weather, folks (although the Farmer's Almanac says there will be two more snow storms), the cops are back out on the streets, so watch your speed.

(And quit talking on your darn cell phones while driving.)

Just an observation, guys and gals.

March 2 - Lisa's Musings From Every Day Life

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Green Eggs and Ham. The Cat and The Hat. And all that.

I headed to Barnes and Noble today for a Dr. Seuss birthday bash this morning. There was a story time, balloons, a real Cat In the Hat.

Great fun.

It's been a while since I've read Dr. Seuss and as evidenced by the full rack of books, there are a lot more of his stories out there then when I was a kid.

But I think most people would agree, Green Eggs and Ham takes the cake. Or today, it took the cookie.

Just ask any of the about 30 adults and children who arrived for the special celebration, which also kicks off March as Reading Month.

In my book, every month should be reading month.

But March works OK, too.

Because any excuse will do.

To buy a new book or two.

Feb. 11 - Lisa's Musings From Every Day Life

Did you ever play the license plate game on a long trip when you were a kid?

Today, en route to Ann Arbor, I wish I'd been playing because I saw plates from Montana and Alaska. Do you know how hard it is to find those plates?

Especially if you're playing while driving up and down the East Coast -- which, as a kid, I spent a lot of time doing while my mom drove.

Spying a Montana plate reminded me of a couple years ago, when a friend and I passed the time playing this game while en route to a National Specialty dog show in Wisconsin.

We both agreed that it's easier to play this game in the Midwest (she played on the East Coast as well) because of all the semi's on the east-west highways.

That's of course, if trucks are an allowed vehicle while playing.

If you REALLY want to make it hard to get all of those states -- and the Canadian Provinces -- only allow cars and passenger trucks.

When you allow semi plates on the list, you can find a lot of unusual states -- like New Mexico and Texas and Washington State.

My friend and I also took a few detours through truck stops.

Hotels are also great plate finding spots and since were were staying in one, we added a few missing states when we arrived at our destination.

Not sure if this might be considered "cheating," but we made the rules ahead of time so it wasn't like we changed them along the way.

And despite all the admitted "extras" we allowed in our quest, one of the few plates we did not find was Montana.

It figures I'd find it today, several years later and less than 15 miles from home.

Maybe next time we should detour through Ann Arbor before we head out on our next great road trip this September.