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Thursday, August 25, 2011

Pissed Off

Last spring, I was awarded the Professor of the Year Award, and it felt pretty dang awesome to be recognized in such a way.  And, part of the award is more than awesome: it's a reserved parking space -- my choice of space -- for the entire academic year for 2011-2012.  So, it has felt SO good to pull onto campus everyday and know that I don't have to circle the lot 20 times to find a space; I can just pull in and park.

Until yesterday.

And then again today.

And that's because some other thoughtless faculty member was parked there.  There's a SIGN!  With MY name on it; it says: "Reserved for Professor of the Year: Jess, English Department"!  (I'll take a picture some time; it's Awesome Sauce.)  Yesterday when it happened, I actually encountered the "perp" as he was getting into his vehicle, and I confronted him.  The shakedown went like so:

Me:  "Um, hi!  Are you Jessica H.?"

Him, looking guilty:  "No."

Me:  "Yes, I know that because I'm Jessica H!"

He was appropriately apologetic and I felt vindicated.  But, then I pull in today, and...different vehicle there!  It wouldn't piss me off so much if it were a student parking there, because, well, students disregard that kind of stuff all the time.  But both days, it has been a fellow faculty member!  (I know this because of the campus tag hanging in their vehicle.)

So, today I called security and asked for the vehicle to be ticketed.  They told me they would "investigate it."  Not very satisfactory to me: I want tanks and torpedoes.  So, I composed a "stern note" (I didn't want to come across as angry or offensive, but I wanted to shame them -- this space is part of an AWARD and having a fellow faculty member disregard that actually feels incredibly disrespectful) and placed it under their windshield wiper.  I hope they feel remorse for intruding on something that is special to me.

Maybe I need to booby-trap the space -- poison darts seem appropriate, right?!

25 comments:

Julie D said...

The nerve! I hate when "my" parking spot at work gets taken. I've contemplated loading up a Nerf with bird poop... and you can imagine the rest.

Amber said...

Ha! I love how emotional parking spot issues can get!

I have an assigned spot, and one day at work I went downstairs and there was a note on my car that I wasn't allowed to park there, and I needed to move immediately or be towed! When I went to the parking office they were rude to me: "Who told you that you could park there?" I'm all: "You did, YEARS AGO when you assigned me that space."

Then they proceeded to let the other guy keep my awesome space, and reassign me to a crappier one! I'm still pissed off about the whole thing months later.

People need to know not to mess with other people's parking spots.

Anonymous said...

if that doesn't work resort to putting nails behind the tires- then they'll really stay away! ;)

Anonymous said...

I know a guy...

TNTcoach Ken said...

I bet that space is at least a mile from the main building.......... HA

Erin said...

I love the confrontation, very witty. As for the note, I hope you put it in a plastic bag because the rain might eat it up.

Wes said...

Academia with no respect... who'd a thunk it! LOL... ;-)

(and we wonder why people why people are so angry all the time)

Krissy said...

OMG I am laughing so hard over here at your shakedown with offender #1. I too would be the SAME way! What the hell?! Totally disrespectful! And for the record I like your approach with the note, they should feel like scum on the bottom of their shoe after they read that!

Stephanie said...

I love this post almost as much as the one where Norah is caught feeding Scooter food under the door!

Marlene said...

That is so IGNORANT! I hope it doesn't continue. Can you just park right behind them and block them in? hehe

B. Kramer said...

Next on PassiveAgressiveNotes.com! Good luck reconciling your parking dispute. If you want tanks and torpedoes, by goodness, bring tanks and torpedoes. Cheers!

Erin said...

Oooh, I feel your pain! Why is that people think they can disregard assigned parking spaces all willy nilly? I once had to have someone towed out of my spot at work. Thankfully it wasn't another employee but considering I worked at a courthouse I was a little concerned that the offender (who was probably at the courthouse for some other offense) would key my car or worse. Hope you get your situation sorted out soon!

JojaJogger said...

I know a gal who knows a guy, just let me know.

ajh said...

I"m glad you did something. That is very rude. You should be POd.

Lee said...

I would be pissed too! You won that space!

The Boring Runner said...

When I was a HS senior, we had our own parking lot. Well, one of the cocky jock types who was a junior or something decided that he would park in the parking lot because he thought he was big stuff. Wellllll, me and one of my friends might have let all of the air out of tires one afternoon. :) I figured if he wanted to park there, he should be there for a while! Of course, cops were called, a few fists were actually thrown.

So, in summary.....if you move air from one spot (tires) to another (not in tires), is it really a crime?

Heather said...

Poison darts or well placed nails seem totally appropriate.

Nicole @ Haute Runner said...

Don't blame you for being pissed off!! I would have done the same thing. You earned that spot and it is extremely disrespectful of people to just take it from you!

BrianFlash said...

You have every right to firebomb the perp's car. Or at least key the door and slash the tires.

Of course, I would expect someone to take my space - darn academics can't ever follow society's rules...:)

Carolina John said...

Screw that, slash some tires! Leave a note that says "parking in my space has consequenses". Then blame the guy that parked next to your space.

MNFirefly said...

How rude of them?! Would they consider if they were in your shoes?

N.D. said...

that's ridiculous!!! I hope you get them. How rude!

Alice said...

That is exactly why I hate people some days. Probably was a faculty member who just figured since you had a baby and were on mat leave you wouldn't be needing it. People suck! Keep shaming them until they leave your spot alone. :)

Anonymous said...

I have my own parking spot at work and I hate when people park there! Ours don't have our names or anything in front but they are numbered and dang it...spot 851 is mine! Hopefully it is just due to it being the beginning of a new term and things will work themselves out!

Agate Lake Girl said...

That would piss me off too! Did you try a witty limmerick? :)

Is that even how you spell limmerick?