Life in the slow lane... a funny story.

It all started when I was 16 I had just gotten my first car - a beautiful 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, it was poo brown where there was still paint and I was rolling on the factory 15's if you know what I'm sayin!

So I went out cruzin my new ride, (seat back and riding low like any respectable hood rat would) and I wasnt more than two miles from my house when the police decided it didnt look right for me to be in such a nice car, I guess they thought I stole it seeing as how it would be the first choice of many car thiefs. (See pic below, not the actual car but darn close)

So there I was my first joy ride not even five minutes old and already I'm getting popped by the fuzz.

Where I got pulled over was pretty busy intersection and it was a Saturday morning, and in Mesquite when you look like I used to and you drive a car as nice as this one (remember see pic above) they automatically assume you are up to no good, so of course they pulled me out of my car, and handcuffed me for "their safety" while they began an all out assault on my pristine vehicle. (Of course it didnt help that a couple of friends of my drove by and yelled out the window, "Officer be sure to check for pot!") Well of course this just led to a breach of my personal space, involving one extremely rough officer and a frisk that seemed more like a date gone horribly wrong than a search of my person.

So as I sat there handcuffed in the back of a mesquite police patrol car I pondered these thoughts: Do they have special handcuffs for midgets?

By the way this whole time they still hadnt told me the reason they pulled me over. finally the officer walks over and pulls me out of the back fo the car and takes off the handcuffs. I ask him what did and he said "You ran a red light, but your free to go with justa warning this time."

See this is where a smart non authority challenging youth would have said sir got back in the car and drove away, to not be harassed by the cops another day. But me being the guy that I am decided to state the obvious to the cop, "Dude theres not even a stop light around here!" well needless to say that was not the reactions they were looking for and after several minutes of being berated by the officer, about respect for him, for myslef and for the world it was time for me to be on my way, so I said thank you for your time officer (in the most sarcastic voice possible of course) and walked to my car and so began my relationship with the Mesquite Police Department. I am sure there will be many more stories shared on my blog but as for today that is it!

Phobia of the Day: Amaxophobia- Fear of riding in a car

Number of the Day: 911

And now for a special addition to todays blog we will be doing a "Where are they are now Segment" cause frankly animal of the day was getting old!!

Updated: 02/20/2005
Name: Peter Billingsley

Born: April 16, 1971, New York, New York

Claim to Fame: Peter is probably most noted for his role of Ralphie in a "A Christmas Story" Remember Ralphie's numerous requests for a genuine Red Ryder B-B gun that were repeatedly greeted with "You'll shoot your eye out." I just love that movie.But Peter actually got his start when he was nine years old on the TV series "Real People". He was there to provide the children's angle on the show.

Family Life: Great-grandnephew of Stork Club impresario Sherman Billingsley (his maternal great-grandfather was Fred Billingsley who was Sherman's brother).Brother of Melissa Michaelsen and Neil Billingsley (both actors)..Info: When I was in college in Arizona, my coach (I played basketball) also taught at a private school, Phoenix Country Day School. It was K-12th grade and only about 150 kids went there.He also was the High School baseball coach of this ultra exclusive school. (Hi Coach K!). Anyway he used to get his college students some jobs helping out around the school. We were all broke and needed money. To make a long story short. Peter went to this school along with his sister Melissa. Both of them were very nice and sweet kids. Not like so many others who were so snobby (some Wrigley kids, especially). This was right before "A Christmas Story" came out, and his sister was actually more popular at the time. Where Is He Now: He is now enjoying the success of directing, writing, and editing many music videos and short form programs.Peter is co-producing "Zathura: which Jon Favreau is directing. That's the third thing with Jon that Peter has produced.He and Jon are producers of the IFC program "Dinner For Five."You may have even seen him and Jon this past Thanksgiving asthey hosted a "Dinner For Five" marathon.