Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Roadsides used to be manicured. What happened?

Why is it that Floridians can't have the roadsides and medians mowed in a timely manner any more?

We used to come down from the north to visit friends in Florida years ago. We never needed to see the "Welcome to Florida" sign to know we were here. The roadsides were beautiful - mowed, trimmed and litter-free.

Twelve years ago, when we moved down here, they still were something to be very proud of. But in the last three years it's like we can't mow grass until it is at least two feet tall.

It's pretty disgusting and dangerous. You can't see oncoming cars when you have to cross the medians. If homeowners were at fault, they would be fined long before their lawns got as high as the roadsides have become lately.

Maybe, you say, it's because of the excessive rains. Homeowners still have to keep their lawns mowed. If these road crews were up north, they couldn't stop plowing the snow just because extra snow decided to fall.

Acronym column gets an A-OK

Re: From AAA to ZZZs, treat acronyms with TLC, OK?, July 31 column by Jeff Webb:

I truly enjoyed Webb's column. It made me ponder the various phases of my life, too.

I left for the U.S. Navy in 1965 and truly missed my fiance. Going AWOL occasionally crossed my mind, but I thought better of it. I'd sit tight until I had some R&R. I didn't want to run into an MP.

In 1968, I became a Florida probation officer and learned about FCIC, CC, GPS and court-ordered programs such as SOC, SAC and LSP. If clients didn't comply I would do a VOP, although the lazy ones should have been charged with FM as far as I was concerned.

I wanted to stay active so I joined a men's softball league. Unfortunately, I ended up with a GP, JI, AF and a HAMY.

Now I sit home and watch all the commercials for numerous drugs for all my ailments.

My favorite is the one for ED, where they warn about a side effect that may last for four hours and require me to call my MD.

(P.S. If I forgot anything, it was due to an SM.)

Translations: AWOL: absent without leave; R&R: rest and relaxation; MP: military police; FCIC: Florida Crime Info Center; CC: community control; GPS: global positioning system; SOC: sex offender counseling; SAC: substance abuse counseling; LSP: life skills program; VOP: violation of probation; FM: felony mopery; GP: groin pull; JI: jock itch; AF: athlete's foot; HAMY: a pulled hamstring; ED: erectile dysfunction; MD: medical doctor; P.S.: postscript; SM: senior moment.

[Last modified August 7, 2005, 01:29:21]