Blog run today, to warn you all, Jdc104 may soon be back behind the wheel once in awhile, not on my bike, back to being licensed, insured driver. Been an interesting experiment to do the Art Walk production, complete with walking to do the poster posting for the State Theatre while walking, good way to meet the other gallery folks, venues and places who post the posters, make some contacts, and I'm an all weather walker. Environmentally friendly, you pay attention to weather, wardrobe, thank Payless Shoe Source, xmas and birthday gifts of shoes and socks, hardly dissed for some time, sweaters either. Easy to gauge the crowd turn out after walking down to do the show, and appreciation of public transportation I rarely use, but ACE train to get into where I used to sometimes work, play, even hang art.

Now, I bought my house near Graceada Park in 1982, partly, convenient to walk to bank, liquor store, coffee houses such as they were, my office around the corner at 9th and Campus Way, over to the office building we did at College and Needham, classes at MJC where students on first of semester noted I had convenient residential parking area. Easy enough to loan out my truck to employees to get to job site, let me walk home from office for lunch, etc. So this walking thing, and as a project manager, contractor boss, job superintendent, when out of pickup truck office, you walk a lot of jobsites, got to walk job with building inspectors, etc.

Convenient to walk to Minnie's, even Tiki, other restaurants and bistros, over to MoBand concerts, or just in park with my ex wife and the dog. Leave the car behind as close, if Vic and I thought we'd had a bit too much...... only a few blocks home, or if those band nights likely big crowd, we skip parking, walk to show. Which, three years ago Labor Day, on trip to Minnie's expecting ex-girlfriend for dinner, made a trip to take up invitation to their from Mom's house, where I'd moved to, brother took up my house as rental, as convenient to his parks job with the City, we switched residences, closer to my volunteer work with mental health on mom's side on Bodem, the truck we owned blew a rod on the 13 block trip, so parked it, knowing I'd be walking home at worst, if meeting with old flame, not get a ride with it. But I had the guitar, my first owned by me, with me, and somewhere after that last guinness, the irish I left on the bar, as not been out in seven months, and change of meds allowed for alcohol for first night out in awhile, I didn't drink any while on one that you just can't chance it, was easy, that's my health I needed to protect. But when someone told me someone messing with my disabled truck, parked on Elmwood, I went to check out Monster, keys in hand, Cops had done a U turn, figured it was me, and in past, certainly could of been, and i had the keys out, so got the trip downtown.

Now, the blood test was in dispute in court, and enhancement knocked dodwn, still a misdemeanor, but significant on how long you do dui school, points on record, etc, and I had noted I didn't get mine, type said O, typically that's O positive, but I'm negative, no Lithium levels noted, so got that dropped, and said ok, nolo contendre, got the probation notice in the minute orders, and immediately ordered up my reservation to meet my friend Marilyn over at Safety Center, and in such a rush, and the minute order not there as ammended in time, got the six month course, not the 16 week (3 month) minimum, first time offense, no accident stop, and only a thirty day suspension, but I've not wanted to screw this up, been walking for three years, end of probation to not drive without valid license, insurance, and completion of what I looked on as expensive, but valuable course for dual diagnosis support group leader training, something I was getting into anyway, as mental health also heads up drug and alcohol and prop 63 and other issues i was involved in expanded this for people who had both issues. To do what I've been doing, good to be familiar with twelve step programs anyway, and my partner JB is one who has the chips for a long time, and working with him, some of why I was interested anyway.

Why did I take on the self imposed exile from driving. For one thing, like the $50 public defender, MONEY...., gas prices up, bit mad at myself for getting caught, for once while walking, but as I say, keys in hand, and you find out the recidivism rate for DUI and wet and reckless, the driving on suspended licenses, far as bad or worse than those worried about illegal immigrants licensing, for the number of accidents, etc, caused by booze and keys to the ignition. Instead of wasting time in court, smart, as 2 weeks later, in case I lost, and no matter what attorneys may tell you, usual is cops cite you, you get some time, license goes away, most of the time, it was seven years on record, well that changed to ten, in 2005. I wanted this over, the chance of two more court dates better than most to get off, but I figured get it over, I've been screwed enough in court to just get on with it.

Going to dui school, learned a lot of good info, health included, found out no hep C, no hiv, freebie test on one component of class, I don't have health insurance, so sure.... good to know. I was however, the only member of class, always on time, always participate, finished class in minimum time allowed, didn't even bother to abort, when school and I discovered I only needed to be there 16 weeks, on week 18. I figured I'd get some brownie points for that. I did, but walked on anyway, see the insurance costs, even if you don't a car, like me, who hasn't owned one personally since 1977. Always in family business, or trust, or my ex-wife's car, as got the fleet discount rate. I'm from LA basin area originally, where I learned to drive, for the mileage I have, decent record, and this is my one and only for this sort of thing, intend to keep it that way, as happened after I'd not had cocktails on a regular basis for over 6 years, been off other crap for a decade, and have other options. So, I'm insurable. Many aren't. It's amazing how many folks had more than one of these disasters in my class. How many never quite finish up....... Felonies start at the 18 month class, with some time. My awp only three days, happened to be taken at place I was working, mental health and hospital area, five blocks from home, easy walk to work. Location is everything.

So, I encourage my fellow modestans, and we have a pretty good rate of incidence in town, I see on my own street, too many of you take that curve at Sunrise meets Bodem Street a bit too fast, quite a few of you wobble at last call time when i'm out having my coffee, last cigar I wish I could quit.....and hit Keith's tree to often. This is why the MPD has that grant to do the DUI stops..... nice of you folks to post those warnings, but rather they be sneaky like they were on me.... gets me a blog topic, get you guys to think, even if a mistake, and I had enough at Minnie's that night, to want to walk home, though likely half of what booked on, as that O was noted to be wrong on the test, nonetheless, I've lost friends, had real issues with my insurance at work for employees who I needed on jobs, but couldn't drive any of our trucks to do the work, even had to consider taking them off forklifts, as construction dangerous enough. Had an issue with a friend, subcontractor boss, on my job in Turlock, had to get him some help, and I had to also on that same one, related to mental health, so we kind of in mutual support group, of bosses and supervisors who've had to take that self inventory, be like the others, to keep doing what we do, for cash, for families, and be smart about it.

So, I want to thanks friends for giving that ride I need to get to art walk, to get the easels, to make meetings, I talked with my doctors, shrink on the dual diagnosis thing, I'm not one, but if it enough to talk about, worry about, be concerned, doesn't hurt to go to Recovery stuff, check in on reality, give it up if you need to, want to, or just smartly finding out where you really are on that, as you might want to drive, be able to, safely I would hope, even walk without looking over your shoulder for cops, etc..... even dumpster diving is more profitable, easier get away, although they can get your license number, with this new anti-scavenger ordinance, if you can drive.

I also want to thank friends who graciously usually, accepted my turn down of a ride, due to I like walking, last three years, I don't ride at all, with people I think might get pulled over, as passengers can get nailed too, and if you got a dui, or wet and wild, remember, stopped by cops with your designated driver at risk of joining your situation, or not insured, no license, thay can hassle you, violate your deal with court, take you in and you ain't but needing that ride, may be like me, not drinking at all that night, it really is quite expensive.

So, I hope this is information you all can use, as I'm waiting for my brother to pick me up, take mine, and one of Keena's works down to Commonality Show at Centre Plaza, if I didn't have easels to take with us, I'd walk, maybe make two trips, but have to get home after the music, and Keena called, his ride, as he rides his bike, doesn't own a car, often the problem of fixed income, medically challenged folks, may not make it, and he's on the poster, remind me to get that painting down there for him I had at State Theatre.

We have had fun doing this, but mom's had eye surgery this month, glad Scott off for the holiday weekend to help me out here, but would sure be nice, to pick up the art project partner today, and two weeks from now, that won't be a problem, but this show is today........ so, why the reference to smudged reputation, art pun, for report on lessened carbon footprint, despite the ink, pencil and charcoal I often use for drawing.

jim drive safely out there, I intend to. Now, its known I do go down to Blue Monday, if its not iced tea, coffee, or club soda, it is guinness, or may have a glass of wine, even an irish whiskey once in awhile, but I walk there, this too expensive not to continue, healthier habit anyway, as I know its a 23 block walk home, enjoy the night walk when I do it. Know the benefits of designated driver, and me, I'll be drinking earl grey tea, or dark roast blend if that's me.