A Case of ‘Fuel Me Once ... ‘
Photographer Chris Carlson of Santa Ana saw a heart-warming sight at an on-ramp to the Garden Grove Freeway: Drivers were stopping to contribute money to a well dressed man holding up a gasoline can. Yes, people still come to the aid of a fellow commuter in distress.
The only thing is, the next morning Carlson noticed the same well dressed man with the same gasoline can at the same spot. And the morning after that, and the morning after that. Sure, gasoline is expensive but ...
Anyway, Carlson couldn’t resist stopping to ask the gent if he was still getting many handouts at the location.
“It’s one of those things,” the panhandler ruminated. “It works well at first. Then business starts to taper off. I guess I’m going to have to find a new exit.”
Can’t blame the guy for his somber tone. It’s always traumatic for a business to relocate.
Unreal estate: Today’s showings (see accompanying) include:
* A property staffed by someone to guard against meat-eaters. (John Valentine)
* A mansion of less than 2 square feet selling for more than $600,000 -- who says the real estate boom is over? (Michael Mangrich of Chino)
* A house whose accouterments include a ceiling (imagine that!) and windows that will cause you distress. (Richard Dobson of Vista)
Which reminds me: Another reader saw a listing for a property that he figures was “either a HUGE house or they figured out how to keep the cold air on the property from mixing with everyone else’s air.” He was referring to this line in the ad: “ 1/2 Acre with Central Air.”
Great moments in jurisprudence: Court reporter Ira Lee Newlander heard this exchange between an attorney and a witness during a deposition:
Q. Did you discuss with the parties to this case the scope of the deposition?
A. No ...
Q. Did you ever speak to me?
A. About two weeks ago when you called to scream at me.
Q. What ...
A. I -- that’s OK. I didn’t take it personally.
The attorney began his next question this way:
“Other than that communication with me ... “
miscelLAny: Referring to an item in Tuesday’s column, Diane Rivera wrote:
“Like the 11-year-old in your household, when I heard the Dodgers’ announcement that free lunchboxes would be given away, I also groaned, ‘I don’t want to think about school’ -- and I have been teaching over 30 years!”
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Steve Harvey can be reached at (800)LATimes, Ext. 77083, by fax at (213) 237-4712, by mail at Metro, L.A. Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A. 90012, and by e-mail at steve.harvey@latimes.com.
