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| LIAM AND HIS HYDRANT |
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http://animalfair.com/truth-territorial-marking/
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| TAKING SOME SNIFFS |
I now have an unfavorite hydrant. It is in Manhasset. This aggressive hydrant reached out and pulled the bumper off my Ford Focus. Never heard of such an interaction? I am sure you all have heard of drivers backing into a hydrant. Well this would be the tale of a proactive hydrant. Possibly practicing "the best defense is a good offense." It saw me coming and took the initiative to strike first. Or maybe it is sick of dogs stopping by.
Here is the story of the "Hydrant Attack" night
Date: Tuesday June 2, 2015.
Time: 7:30 PM.
Place: North Hempstead Town Hall, Manhasset.
http://www.northhempstead.com/
Mission Show support for the resolution to allows dogs on leash in several North Hempstead Parks. Tully Park is ours.
We arrive on a side street. Town Hall at the end of the block. I know how to get there as I had learned from a previous "lost" episode see blog story http://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2015/03/lost-late-last.html
that I must be sure where my destination is; this time I am. The day before, guided by my iPhone GPS, I have done a test run. What I am not sure of are the parking rules. The lot behind the Town Hall has scary signs threatening all parkers who do not work for the "Town" with everything short of life imprisonment. And on the opposite side is another lot where only commuters are welcome. Many parking spaces but I do not fit any category of parking eligibility. Weather is miserable. We have had little rain this spring but this night we have torrents. And the temp has plummeted to 53 degrees after a high of 88 two days before. I see a spot on the street but pass it by. Minutes later, with no other options, I decide to back up into it. At some point there is a clicking sound.
(I do not hear it) but my alert passenger says "I think you are attached to the fire hydrant." Or something like that. I pull forward to get away. Oh my. My bumper is detached from my car. Yikes. Let's get out of here! I escape into the forbidden lot. The extent of my bumper damage is amazing.
But we have business. Our resolution about allowing Dogs on Leash in our Tully Park is up for a vote and we have to get into the Town Hall. I have to put my jumbled feelings away. I do.
Transgender Resolution
I am helped to "get in the moment" by a passionate vocal contingent of petitioners wanting the transgender category added to the Town's anti-discrimination law. There are empty seats around us and they fill in with transgender petitioners. Their resolution is first. The anti-discrimination measure passes unanimously. The petitioners exhort those in the room to support the cause and stand. I stand. I observe we are being filmed by many iPhones. Videos, panoramics, photo bursts. Steve Jobs would be proud. I expect we will end up in a You Tube somewhere. This is the day after Caitlyn Jenner's announcement. The group then exits, hands raised in victory. I have never attended a town meeting and now understand that after one's resolution is addressed and acted on that you may leave. And are expected to.
Time: 7:30 PM.
Place: North Hempstead Town Hall, Manhasset.
http://www.northhempstead.com/
Mission Show support for the resolution to allows dogs on leash in several North Hempstead Parks. Tully Park is ours.
We arrive on a side street. Town Hall at the end of the block. I know how to get there as I had learned from a previous "lost" episode see blog story http://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2015/03/lost-late-last.html
that I must be sure where my destination is; this time I am. The day before, guided by my iPhone GPS, I have done a test run. What I am not sure of are the parking rules. The lot behind the Town Hall has scary signs threatening all parkers who do not work for the "Town" with everything short of life imprisonment. And on the opposite side is another lot where only commuters are welcome. Many parking spaces but I do not fit any category of parking eligibility. Weather is miserable. We have had little rain this spring but this night we have torrents. And the temp has plummeted to 53 degrees after a high of 88 two days before. I see a spot on the street but pass it by. Minutes later, with no other options, I decide to back up into it. At some point there is a clicking sound.
(I do not hear it) but my alert passenger says "I think you are attached to the fire hydrant." Or something like that. I pull forward to get away. Oh my. My bumper is detached from my car. Yikes. Let's get out of here! I escape into the forbidden lot. The extent of my bumper damage is amazing.
But we have business. Our resolution about allowing Dogs on Leash in our Tully Park is up for a vote and we have to get into the Town Hall. I have to put my jumbled feelings away. I do.
Transgender Resolution
I am helped to "get in the moment" by a passionate vocal contingent of petitioners wanting the transgender category added to the Town's anti-discrimination law. There are empty seats around us and they fill in with transgender petitioners. Their resolution is first. The anti-discrimination measure passes unanimously. The petitioners exhort those in the room to support the cause and stand. I stand. I observe we are being filmed by many iPhones. Videos, panoramics, photo bursts. Steve Jobs would be proud. I expect we will end up in a You Tube somewhere. This is the day after Caitlyn Jenner's announcement. The group then exits, hands raised in victory. I have never attended a town meeting and now understand that after one's resolution is addressed and acted on that you may leave. And are expected to.
Dogs on Leash Resolution
We are next up. Our committee leader speaks as do others. Our resolution passes. We are not filmed and do not cheer, but we too march out in a victorious manner.
I then have to face my hanging bumper and drive by the giant fire hydrant. I wonder if it has chewed on any other vehicles while we are at the meeting.
I have to get the bumper fixed. And that is the Claims part.
I have to get the bumper fixed. And that is the Claims part.
Part of the procedure of filing an insurance claim is filling out the accident report for the Motor Vehicle Department. There are 8 choices for accident descriptions. See pic below. None fit mine.
There is an option offered where you may draw your incident. So I do. I believe the proportions are accurate. That is the way I remember it. I am vehicle #1.
You see how the hydrant is menacing my tiny car as I carefully and slowly back up. It is leaning into the street. We were lucky we were not impaled by its appendage. My bumper did its duty and sacrificed itself for the greater good. I am tempted to go back to see it in daylight but fear another attack. And it may have grown larger, feasting as it does on unsuspecting parkers.
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| THE ACCIDENT POSSIBILITIES NONE OF WHICH FIT MINE |
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| MY DRAWING OF THE HYDRANT ON STEROIDS |
I have a 2015 Dodge Dart rental. I adore it. It has the new car smell. Liam is not allowed to ride in it. Part of the renter's agreement. No pets.
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| MY DODGE DART 2015 RENTAL |
My Focus has 2170.90 worth of damage. It is recovering in Great Neck. I did not take a photo. I could not bear to record it. Use your imaginations. Look at that hydrant. You can visualize the dismemberment.
It was all worth it though to see two measures passed. The park you see in the Liam hydrant pix is our Tully Park. We will be in there soon.
Later On
It is now Thursday, June 18, 2015
We still have no "dog" access to Tully Park.
I got my fixed car back yesterday.
I miss my rental.
Oh and it was legal to park in all the lots that night. After 7PM the day rules do not apply. Next time I will have to add "find out about parking rules" to my trip prep.
It is now Thursday, June 18, 2015
We still have no "dog" access to Tully Park.
I got my fixed car back yesterday.
I miss my rental.
Oh and it was legal to park in all the lots that night. After 7PM the day rules do not apply. Next time I will have to add "find out about parking rules" to my trip prep.
If anyone comes across me in a You Tube let me know.
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| LIAM LOOKING AT HIS HYDRANT AND TULLY PARK BEYOND |
Woof Woof
