lallaw is a Reader contributor. See staff page for published articles.

Comments by lallaw

Parents Taking Care of Children

Mindy3onesanda4: Some negligent parents need all the added grief the law allows. It depends upon the facts. But once you have a child you are wholly responsible for their life, their well being, their health. You literally have to walk around your home, at their level, and remove, lock up, cut chords, plug up outlets, put tempting/shiny/pretty things away. You have to be (and I hate this word but it says it) proactive. That is your JOB. And btw, parents who let their children under 10 or even 12 roam freely through their neighborhood and don't follow up and watch that they get to where they are going or have them call when they get there (or you call) or better yet, take the 15 min. to walk them or drive them there yourself have no one to blame but themselves when something happens. That may sound heartless...but it is not that I don't feel for them, it's that they fell down on the job. And their poor child paid the price. Some would say it is Darwin at work, but that is a mutilation of his theory. It is careless parenting at work...and many times we parents luck out and our kid is okay...but not always. Josh, I don't believe Eric Clapton was present when his son Adam fell out of the screen window to his death. I believe his son was with his mother, and she and Clapton were either separated or not living together at the time. If my memory of that event is correct, then I don't think he can be blamed! However, if your version is accurate I humbly apologize and yes... balconies and 4 year olds do not mix. Glad you survived your foray onto Clairmont Mesa Blvd. :)
— May 28, 2009 12:19 a.m.

Cell Phones (in cars, trains, buses, movie theatres, press conferences...)

I refused for the longest time to own a cell phone. I simply did not want anyone to be calling my purse. In fact, my first voice mail greeting said something to that effect..."hello, this is Lisa, and you have reached my purse. I'm not in my purse right now..." I finally broke down when someone I was dating seriously made my getting one a condition of a continued relationship (he had a cell, beeper, and mobile car phone). You can guess how long that relationship lasted: as long as it took me to record my voice mail message. Further, once you do have a cell phone, people expect to always be able to reach you and talk to you on demand! The get testy, suspicious even if you don't answer your cell when they call or if it goes straight to voice mail. Hey, I pay for this phone for MY convenience, not yours!! So most of the time, mine is turned off. It has been handy though when I've had a tire blow or I'm running late, lost, (miss my kid), etc. I have the same attitude about call waiting. Hey, I'm already talking to someone else!! Wait yer turn! Remember the good old days when people just called and either it rang until they gave up (well, okay, answering machines ARE very useful) or THEY GOT A BUSY SIGNAL AND CALLED YOU BACK. We live in this "microwave" society where everything must happen instantly if not yesterday. So RefriedG, I'm curious, just how does a cell phone enable Mexican culture? Is it because of a lack of a land based integrated telephone system...or is there another, deeper reason? I'm sitting at the edge of my seat awaiting your response... :)
— May 14, 2009 2:11 a.m.


A-frickin-men to all of the above. Sorry, but what makes anyone with a cell phone think that the rest of the world wants to hear or cares about what you have to say to the giggle puss on the other end or your voice box? I am so tired of standing in some line to buy something or deposit something and be forced to listen to some narcissistic megalomaniac yap ABOVE conversational levels into their cell. I should be able to shoot them for being so annoying rude. Here's a message I would like to send to all of you guilty as accused above: NOBODY CARES. Furthermore, it is rude as hell to be talking on your phone while you are checking out your groceries or going through a drive through. Would you carry on a conversation with a person live standing next to you under the same circumstances while the cashier or sales clerk processed your purchases or tried to get your attention? No, you would not. Know why? BECAUSE IT IS SO OBVIOUSLY RUDE. Same with people on planes as soon as we land, in airports waiting to board, on the train, in the doctor's office...try inside voices or better yet take it outside when possible or wait until you can yap privately. Unless it is a true emergency, having a portable phone does not abort all rules of social etiquette. And remember: NOBODY CARES or thinks you are so important about the inane nonsense you broadcast. I remember the first time I saw someone using a blue tooth device. We were all standing in line at the bank, when this woman who was a dead ringer for "The Nanny" - including the voice - appeared to start talking to herself! I thought at first she was talking to me, so I started to hesitantly respond. Then I thought she was mentally ill. Then I realized she was yapping "hands free." It takes either a lot of guts, or a lot of stupid to stand in the middle of a public place and talk at an elevated decibel level about stuff and nonsense while smiling straight ahead. (con't)....
— May 14, 2009 1:55 a.m.


Dear Neil Allen of Talmadge, in re: Ms. Atassi's cover article of April 30, 2009. I find the need to slightly mangle a well-worn portion of verse: me thinks you doth protest too much. What could have possibly set you off to pen that vivisection of this author, both as an author and a human being? The article documented Ms. Atassi's struggle to extricate herself from her own predicament of joblessness, semi-hopelessness, and ennui...likening it to the sea turtle that can't seem to leave the warm water effluent of San Diego's treatment plants even though it too knows it doesn't belong. At least that is what I read in that article. I saw none of the unpleasantness you complained of. I was entertained and bemused when I read it and it reminded me of that time I think many people go through, that period of life post high school (sometimes post college) but before the heavy hand of adulthood gives us a shoulder tap, when we still aren't sure what we want to be when we grow up. Or if we can grow up and grow away. We know we have to, and we want to be independent, but something - either a lack of frontal lobe development, low blood sugar, or fear - something holds us firmly in place. Both longing and loathing the comforts and security of childhood we can't seem to leave. Again, much like the misplaced sea turtles along our shores. Could you not read her own self-loathing for her lack of motivation and direction? And it is she who seemed to despise the idea of marrying simply to have a purpose, as I recall. Furthermore, I would point out that she is doing at least one thing constructive: she is writing; writing well, and getting paid for it! I didn't pick up the intentional slacker in her tale. I could be wrong, but the article had more of a calming and sober effect on me as opposed to inspiring a call to arms against a presumed malingering post pubescent! With all due respect, you were a bit hard on the gal and it makes me wonder if you have a 20 (or 30)-some living in your basement who thinks the delivery job you got him at Pizza Hut is beneath him while he steals your loose change left on the dryer. Even wayward sea turtles deserve a little love...and a second chance. Lisa A. Leitter La Mesa
— May 13, 2009 3:41 a.m.

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