Blog Number 171

Greetings and welcome to today's random thought.

Well it is Saturday so lately that means our mornings are spent on the soccer field.  Last week was brutal.  It was mid 40's and the wind was around 20 mph and constant.  Today the wind was lower and the temperature was higher so it was at least tolerable.  On top of that, we (finally) won a game (2 goals to 1).

The afternoon was nothing exciting.  We did lunch, played some Crash Bandicoot and pretty much vegg’ed out (though I did put in a few hours of work).  Then it was time to go fetch the mail.  This had the potential of being the highlight of my day but the only thing worth keep in my mailbox was a letter from the Texas Department of Transportation.  More specifically, this was involving a toll charge that I evidently did not pay on 03/15/07.  It seems I missed paying a toll on State Highway 121, namely a 40 cent toll.  Tack on a $1 invoice fee and my total invoice added up to $1.40.  I do not recall being on that road on that date (in fact I seldom take the toll roads for this reason) but the invoice states I was caught on video so who am I to argue?

Now, they had to print this document and mail it (probably 40 cent cost) and I have to write a check and mail it back and then they have to process my $1.40 check.  I think if you add it up, everyone would be better off if they just dropped the matter but I don't think that will happen (and I am not willing to try).  The bottom of the invoice says, "Thank you for using Texas Tollways!"  The even have the exclamation point as if they are real excited that I chose THAT road and not some other road on my way to wherever it was that I was going.  The invoice does say that I was on the FM 2881 / Old Denton Road area.  03/15/07 was a Thursday and according to Google Earth, HERE is where I was when this happened.  Friends, I am telling you, I was not there!

Well, I decided almost immediately that all I would do about it was mention it to you my faithful readers.  I dutifully wrote my check and have mailed off my payment.  I guess the next time that I am (nowhere near) there, I will be more careful.

Thanks for reading my Random Thoughts.

Jon