Yup, I knew that.     But a lovable crusty old man, at any rate.   

Lynda, I figured they must have something, of course as a ex-teacher you know more than anyone, that you can't learn IF you ALREADY think you know it all.  

 A_A,
We need MORE crusty old SOB's telling like it is, I don't know the "AGE" requirement for the position, but I'm thinking it's as much about the right attitude as the years Of course being a grey bearded crusty SOB, gives you the "proper" look!  Clint Eastwood in the UNFORGIVEN has it down pat!

The local park I exercise in has a 6 ft dog leash law on the trails, and provides bags for cleaning up the poo. Almost every time I'm out there, I end up "educating/infuriating" someone who thinks the rules apply for the OTHER guy.

I used to walk by, but now I say something. The people that take it well, either were honestly unaware, or know their in the wrong, and embarrassed that someone confronted them.

Then there are the one's, young/old who not only KNOW their doing wrong, they don't care and will argue and verbally threaten me for asking them to obey the rules.
I have a big puncture scar on my right forearm, front and back, from my UPS driver days. A Ladies Great Dane that she didn't have control over, clamped on me, and caused serious nerve damage, which to this day, still bothers me. Of COURSE she told me her dog had never bit anyone, and I must of done something wrong

 When the leash-less dog owners start up about THEIR dog being harmless/won't bite anyone, I show them my scar!!
 That and my telling them I'll turn them in a ranger station and they'll lose park privileges, works with 99% of them.

The other 1 % just walk off in a huff, and I turn them in. The park employees/rangers all know me, and since their shorthanded do too budget shortfalls, don't have a problem with me saying something.

I find the older I get, the less apt I'm too tolerate bad behavior, especially when people consciously flaunt the rules. I guess you get too a point in your life, where you just can't take it anymore
 Must be those CRUSTY SOB years

Solotripper:

Man, are we on the same page! Unforgiven is one of my favorite movies. Lot's like the Louis L'Amour novels -- the good guys are clear and in time they come out on top.

Used to have a Great Dane and they are great pets. Dane and I were walking down the street one day, my dog on a leash and under absolute control -- partly discipline and partly choke chain. A dog came boiling out of a house, smashed through the screen door, and my Dane simply knocked the other dog to the ground and stood there. Guys comes out of the house furious that my dog knocked his dog down. My dog, in the meantime, is simply standing next to me.

Many years ago I was running along the edge of a golf course in Reston, Virginia. Two standard poodles came over a berm, hot for my bod. I faced them, yelled as loud as I could, and made them back off. Lady came over the berm and yelled at me for intimidating her dogs.

You are right. Persons who own dogs need to keep them under control.

Guess I've been a crusty SOB lots longer than I have been a crusty old SOB.

Tim

P. S. Thanks to all who have posted here and given me an opportunity to vent my spleen!

Your dad and my dad, cut from the same stock. Starting in 8th grade I began to work for Dad -- doing carpenter work. Spartan 1 & 2 can see a house we built at the corner of Parma Road and Pope Church Road. We never had a contract. Folks asked us to build a house and we did.

Here I am, all these years later, still operating on the same work order and finding most folks don't know what I'm talking about. Oh well.

Tim

Spell check - Safari has one built in or maybe it's system based.... I recall the Google toolbar for Firefox and probly Explorer has one.

Fireplaces - So how many time does a person try to get birch that size that to burn, especially in that manner? How does anyone know when something that size is truly out? How tall are the BW grates? Is it acceptable/reasonable to build a small ambiance type fire on top of them?

I'll get off the lawn now....