Video Footage of My Speeding Ticket

In the discovery process the California Highway Patrol was forced to turn over the following footage of my speeding ticket. Enjoy, Dan.



...Don't let my husbands sarcasm fool you, we really do love our cop friends and all they do to keep us safe! Janay

"I find that hard to beleive officer."

This is Dan. I had to start that way because people have complained that they don't know who is writing on our blog. Rule of thumb, cute pictures and their descriptions mean Janay, sarcastic critiques of the society we live in means Dan.

Anyway, as you all know Janay is pregnant with number two. As most of you all know, when Janay is pregnant she really puts everything she's got into making the perfect child. Some women just sit around with a "bun in the oven", waiting until the bun has been cooked and they take it out of the oven. Not my wife. She is more like a blender that is combining DNA and it is spilling all over the place. It is not pretty what she has to go through. Morning sickness is for sissies, my wife has morning, after morning, a little before noon, a little after noon, afternoon, the time before evening starts, evening, post evening, pre-midnight, middle of the night, dawn, and once again, morning sickness. From her pre-pregnancy weight she has lost almost 20 pounds. When she looks for pregancy clothes my wife doesn't go to "Motherhood" or "Mimi Maternity" she heads for the for the petite section at macy's because all of her clothes are falling off. It breaks my heart to see the ribs in her back as she withers away to make another baby for our family. Thanks to all for the help you have given.

We went out to the east coast in September for my nephews baptism, nieces birthday, and the other nieces blessing. Janay was miserable and almost didn't make the trip, but my sisters convinced her to make the trip so they could help take care of her, rather than Janay helping take care of Afton and her family as was planned. For the two weeks that Janay was there she only left the house to go to church. Because Janay was so sick I took Mackenzie home with me for the week. I have to give a shout out to all the families that helped watch Mackenzie while I was at work: The Barnum's, Kimball's, Anderson's, Lewis', Bouck's, and Newcomer's.

Needless to say I was ready for Janay to come home so I could stop passing Mackenzie from house to house like some kind of unwanted puppy. Mackenzie and I headed to the airport to pick-up Janay. I pull up to the curb and can see Janay getting her bag at the luggage carousel. I got out of the car and opened up the trunk to put her bag in. To my dismay a flashlight carrying, airport security worker, way past his prime, told me to drive around again.

Me: "Dude! My wife is right there coming out as we speak."

Old Man: "Drive around!"

Me: "Are you serious?"

Old Man: "Drive around!"

I jump in the car and drive around the airport. As many of you know, the speed limit at the airport goes from 35 to 25 to 10 in approximately 17 feet. I pulled up to the curb where Janay was of course standing there like she was about to projectile vomit. I jumped out of the car to once again open the trunk and instead was screamed at by a California Highway Patrolman, "Get back in your car!!" Ponch came up to my window and we had the following conversation:

Ponch: "Do you have any idea what the speed limit is back there?"

Me: "That depends on where you are talking about."

Ponch: "Right back there."

Me: "If you are meaning before getting to the pick-up zone it is 25."

Ponch: "Do you have any idea how fast you were going?"

Me: (Realizing this is the oldest trick in the book that the CHP uses so that you will convict yourself of speeding with your own statement, I responded accordingly) "No officer."

Ponch: "I had you going 45."

Me: "I find that hard to beleive officer. How exactly did you come to that conclusion? Were you using radar?" (Obviously he didn't know he was dealing with one of the top speeding ticket litigators in Sacramento)

Ponch: "I was following one hundred yards behind you going 45 and you were pulling away."

Me: "I really find that hard to beleive, there is no way I was going that fast."

He then went back to his cruiser and had a nice conversation with the washed up flashlight security officer that told me to drive around, and wrote me a ticket. He brought back the ticket and I asked him if he was going to enjoy spending his Halloween in court with me as much as I was with him. He told me that the date will likely change when they mail me a notice.

I took my ticket and told him politely: "I will see you in court officer."

The notice came and my date wasn't changed, so I pull out one of my own tricks and go down to the court a day or two before the hearing and request a continuance. My date was moved all the way to January. First rule of legal defense work: delay, delay, delay. When I finally meet the officer in court, if he decides to show up, he won't be able to recall the situation of issuing the ticket when I cross examine.

I seem to have a magnet for attracting law enforcement to my vehicle. It may be the McGeorge plate frame, it may be the sweet tinted windows, I don't know. But I do know that law enforcement is not infallible, and need to be kept in check when they pull numbers out of thin air. Was I going faster than 25, maybe. Was I going 45, I really doubt that, and it is my right to bring into doubt the accusation that I was going that fast. Bring it Ponch!!

Thank goodness for toilets!

Let the truth be known...my life has been put aside, you may not see or hear too much of me in the next few months. I'm pregnant with our 2nd baby. For those of you who were around for my 1st pregnancy, you remember how sick I was. Well, nothing has changed this time around. I've set up camp in my bathroom, the toilet and I have become good friends unfortunately the toilet knows more about me than I would like. Mackenzie has been a real trooper, she is learning to become her own women, much to my dismay. And poor Dan has been wonderful, he works all day, goes to school all night, then comes home and takes care of all the household duties that need to be attended to.

Though pregnancy gets the best of me, we are still excited for #2 we can't wait to meet our little one in the end of April / beginning of May.

Olympics 8/8/2008

I generally don't get too personal with my feelings on my blog since everyone in the world can access it, but I felt inclined to do so today.

For anyone who missed Sunday's 8/10/08 Men's 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay it was a MUST SEE!!! The race was incredible, I can't imagine how those 4 men must have felt after that race. I felt chills watching it, and it may be silly to say, but I almost wanted to cry. I felt great patriotism watching the US win such an amazing race!

I think I felt so connected to it because I grew up swimming and know how hard it is to make a come back like that. After the race, I began to reflect on my past as a swimmer and all the wonderful experiences I had. I learned a lot from being on a swim team, though swimming is generally an individual event, I learned a lot about team work, making the most out of your triumphs and defeats, I developed a lot of confidence, and surprisingly a strong testimony on the Word of Wisdom (those of you unfamiliar with the Word of Wisdom, it is a health code that Latter Saints live by...it includes abstaining from coffee, tea, tobacco, drugs, alcohol, and includes eating a healthy diet). I watched many excellent athletes fall into the party scene in high school and lose their ability to become great athletes.

As I look back, I feel gratitude for my swimming ability that I've been blessed with, for great coach's that spent endless hours working with me, for all the great friendships I developed, and for all the wonderful things I learned...Though I may not have very many outward talents or should I say hobbies (which I often complain about..ie scrapbooking, decorating, cooking, etc...) I am grateful for my one talent in swimming.

"Oh Canada..." Anyone else know the rest of their national anthem?

For our summer vacation this year we went on the first annual Hunt/Gainor Family vacation. Our destination was the land of the great white north, hockey, the looney, the phrase "eh", and the word BEG..."would you like a beg for that, no I won't beg, I'll pay for my item, but a BAG would be nice" Dan's most embarassing, yet favorite line to say! If you haven't guessed by the title, then yes, we went to Canada. It was a wonderful trip and one of the most beautiful places that we've been to. Not to mention the incrediable home of Jonathan's parents, filled with fresh air, flowers, good conversation, the softest linens in the world and AWESOME food and baked goods...Thanks Gainor parents! Here we are on the ferry ride from Washington to Vancouver Island. We even got to see some killer whales off in the distance.

We spent our first night in Seattle. For those of you raised by wolves in a cave, that is the Spaceneedle behind us. The view at the top was amazing.
We were glad we brought the duct tape to tie up our kids in case they got out of hand, but who would have guessed it would have come in so handy to complete the back seat entertainment center.
A tender moment before getting on the ferry to Canada.

Barbs Place Fish n' Chips in Victoria Harbor. We almost walked around the whole island to find this place. But it was well worth the walk. It was a very popular place, we had to turn away three sets of grannies that wanted to sit at our table.
The Empress Hotel in Victoria. I don't think Jonathan knew he was in the picture. Because if he did know, he surely wouldn't be standing there with his hand on his hip like that. Very cute Jonathan.
Moments after leaving the Empress Hotel on our way to do some shopping, we were vicously attacked by some Canadians....birds that is. I was in front pushing Mackenzie, when all of a sudden I heard a splatter all around my feet, like someone had poured a bucket of mud off the top of the building. Then I heard a scream from behind me. The splatter was bird poo hitting the cement, what I didn't hear was all of the poo that hit Janay in the head, back, face, and Jonathan's back. This all happened in front of a corner cafe with everyone watching and laughing. A lady walked by and told Janay, "welcome to Canada." Melissa performed an emergency wash on Janay's head with a bottle of water and hand lotion. But the hand lotion was no match for the overwhelming stench of seagull excrement with a seafood diet.

On Friday we went deep sea fishing in the Pacific Ocean for Salmon and Halibut. For fear of losing our lunches we all wore sea sickness patches, and took a dramamine pill. This cocktail of seasickness medication, and waking at 4 in the morning made for a tiring day, but we all had a good time. We caught a couple of Red Snaper, and walked away with our lunches intact.
It may be July, but that memo didn't quite make it to Canada, it was COLD up there!!

On Saturday we went to the Buchart Gardens. Definitely the most beautiful gardens I have ever been to.
Kenzie smelling the flowers.
And what would a family vacation be without running out of clothes for your boy! We stopped at Taco Bell before all of our flights took off, but at Taco Bell, no shirt, no shoes, no service. Since Isaac's clothes were currently soaked, his sister was kind enough to lend him a sweater so he could enjoy a cheesy roll up inside.

Thanks Gainor family for doing all of the work to organize this vacation for us! We had a great time, and look forward to the 2nd Annual Hunt/Gainor Vacation!!

PS...don't forget your permanent resident card. Jonathan forget his card and was held up at US immigration, he barely made it on the ferry back to Washington. He sprinted to get to the boat and within seconds from leaping from the dock to the boat, the boat pulled away. It was a close call.

Rafting the American River

I just want to say that everyone should have a manly man for a friend. Paul Middleton is a manly man. He does everything cool, rafting being one of them. It is even better when the Manly man is nice enough to take you out to do cool stuff with him. On Saturday we went up to the Middleton's place with our friends the Bouck's and Anderson's and rafted the river. I think we were on the river for 3 1/2 hours, and we loved every minute of it.Don't be jealous of our pasty white bodies!

I think we were the only ones who got the memo that we needed to smile

After taking a few moments to relieve himself in the river, Mike Bouck pulled Matt Anderson out of the water, like a shark was about to take his life. We are saddend to report that Mike's powerful pull was done with such force, that Matt lost his favorite shirt (you can view Matt's favorite shirt in the photo above, his is on the left side) that he had tucked in the back of his swim shorts. After our raft trip the topless Matt and shoeless Dan walked into Old Navy (don't they have a policy of no shirt, no shoes, no service...well not for these boys, they walked in the store like it ain't no thang!) After 10-15mins of shopping Matt successfully found himself a nice new pink polo, and Dan successful found $2.50 flip flops. Why did we have to get Matt a shirt and Dan some sandals? Because we had to eat at our new favorite Italian Restaurant, Macaroni Grill! (See the Olive Garden Post Below) Rachel Anderson was a trooper. She changed in the McDonald's bathroom and went straight to work as a Server at the Macaroni Grill. Rachel served us the best Italian meal we've had in recent memory!

Thanks Paul and Jenny for a great time!

Where is my salad?

So Thursday night I took my wife out on a date. Mock me if you will, but the Olive Garden is my favorite Italian Restaurant. First of all because of the all you can eat salad and bread sticks, and second because I order the same thing every time and am never disappointed, Spaghetti with meatballs. We arrive at the Olive Garden in Folsom and get our table in a little over 5 minutes. Great. A minute or so later our waitress shows up and asks how we are. I say to her "We're great." But in my mind I'm saying "Why don't you have a bowl of Salad in one hand and a Parmesan grater in the other hand?" She takes our drink order and decides to come back with them after about 5 minutes...once again no Salad and bread sticks. Instead she asks for our order and I give it to her. Then she asks "Would you like to add a salad or bread sticks?" I respond, "No we'll just take the regular stuff that always comes." I am trying to be patient with the young lady so I am all the time thinking, why in the world would I pay for some other "special" salad when you are supposed to be filling me up right now with the free stuff?? She takes off.

Now we have been at our table for 15 minutes and not a trace of a breadstick, olive, or garden salad can be found.

It is now 20 minutes we've been seated and the girl appears from no where, drops some breadsticks on our table and says, "here's something for you while you wait." Like she is doing us some kind of favor! As if her manager found out she would get fired. Then not more than a minute later some kitchen guy brings out our food. Still no salad. I sit there, and stare at my food, refusing to eat until I get my warm-up salad on. But this is the type of waitress that you only see like flashes of gold in the pan, there one second, gone the next. I wait, like a duck hunter in the brush. Then I see her and call her over. I ask,

"Where is our salad? Did the policy change since we were here last?"

She responds, "We'll I've worked here for a year and a half and it has always been like this."

"Well the only reason we come here is the salad and breadsticks!"

"Oh you mean the free salad? You told me you didn't want salad."

"No, I told you I didn't want some fancy salad that you all sell, I asked for the regular old salad that you guys dispense by the ton."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'll go get you one."

As she walks away, I was wondering, if she didn't know I was talking about the salad policy, what the heck was she thinking when she said she had worked here for a year and a half and it has always been like this.

So by this time it is like 7:30, and we've been seated for half an hour. But once again, like 5 minutes goes by and she still doesn't bring a salad. Some other employee passes our table and I tell him:

"Hey buddy, I have no idea where our server is, but can you just get me a bowl of salad?"

"Oh sure."

He walks away and I can hear him, but I can't see him, and a female voice tells him "Tell them I will be right with them. A minute later, Janay was talking a phone call outside, and the manager walks up to me and says:

"Hi"

I look up from my plate, "Hi", and we kind of just had this awkward stare at one another, because people don't usually walk up to me, say "Hi" and watch me eat. After a second, and realizing I'm not going to say anything, she says:

"So I understand you want to talk to me?"

"Ummmmm, no, I just want a bowl of salad."

"Oh, you didn't want to talk to me?"

Mental thought: Unless your hiding a bowl of salad behind your back, then no, I don't want to talk to you.

Actual Conversation: "No, I really just want a bowl of salad to go with my dinner."

"We'll have one right out for you."

Finally, about 5 minutes later, the elusive one, saunters over, with a grin that says "Everything's Fine! I'm the greatest server in the world, so cheery, so friendly, your wish is my every command" she plops the salad bowl on our table 40 minutes after we had sat down.

I eat one bowl, that's it, one. Because by this time I had metally and physically been broken by this Olive Garden waitress, given in and eaten most of my meal already before my salad. For me, 3 bowls of that salad is the norm, before my food even comes out!

If I weren't on a date with my wife, things would have gotten ugly, I would have gone Bakersfield Chimp in this place (true story http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/04/national/main678061.shtml) but since I have to be on my best behavior with her, I kept things pretty cool.

Then, there was the check. We had a movie time to make, and the waitress had disappeared again, so I just put my credit card on the edge of the table. When she appears, she takes our plates, and leaves the credit card! I gave her 3 minutes to come back, or I was headed for the manager that likes to watch me eat. She made it just under the deadline. We paid and left. We made a pact that we will never eat at Olive Garden again, unless friends or family force us to, and we also will go with the understanding and expectation of receiving the worst service in the world.

Lest you think our decision was too hasty, I will recount our previous visits:

Previous Visit: Janay and I go on a Friday night, wait an hour an a half to be seated. Once seated, a black widow starts climbing in and out of the wall we are sitting next to. Rather than kill the spider, then simply scoot our table 2 feet down the wall.

Visit Before that: My family (6 adults, and 2 children ages 2 and 4(the children did not eat)) receive horrendous service, and when the bill comes they tack on the automatic 18% gratuity because we were a "party of 8".

Visit before that: Janay and I out with friends. I order the never ending pasta bowl. After my second bowl of pasta, my never ending pasta bowl ended. The waiter refused to give me more pasta, even though he had brought out 5 different bowls of pasta for my buddies wife who would take a bite and ask for something else, "because I want to try them all!"

So long Olive Garden. It was a love-hate relationship that has now, sadly, and like so many of these relationships, ended in divorce.