Back to School

Traffic School that is! I'm developing a relationship with the San Francisco Department of Motor Vehicles that I really need to end. Hopefully this attendance of traffic school will be my last encounter with the Courts and the DMV for a good while. And why did I end up in Traffic School?
I got a speeding ticket.

A patrol unit pulled me over and reminded me that the 3 figure speed I was driving at was wholly illegal and qualified me for an instant driving ban. However, after some conversation and a display of contrition, the officer wrote me a ticket for 90 mph which meant I wasn't banned.

The courts issued me a fine of $311.00 plus court fees. I was now in a situation where I could expect to see my insurance premiums rise by $600 per year - but - this is America. If I attended 8 hours of traffic school I would have the offence suppressed meaning it wouldn't show up on my driving record so no increase in premiums etc. Do I want to go to traffic school? Hell Yeah!

Since this is San Francisco there is a very accepting spirit to all people which meant that of the schools I could choose from to attend, everything was represented - almost. Still, for a laugh, I chose to attend "Finally A Gay Traffic School".

Well, I got my certificate and am driving like a saint at the moment. Anyway I don't really need to be anywhere in too much of a hurry right now.

I was out in Belize in June to see the progress on the main house we are building out there. Everything was good and when I left at the end of June they were very close to putting the roof on. In fact that work should begin tomorrow. It was very rainy but still really enjoyable and relaxing since most of the rains were during the nights and the sun shone in the daytime.

Even though our place is basically a building site right now I was still able to have fun on our beach and in the sea. I even went out with my underwater scooter a few times, but the visibility wasn't great because the storms had caused the sea to churn up the sea bed.

I got back to San Francisco in time to go and photograph Pride 2008. Costumes were great as always and the atmosphere very convivial.

Back in San Francisco life regained it's pace of work, social events and just enjoying the place. A friend got married and I went a long to the wedding which was a very elegant and well catered affair full of "beautiful people".