Page 27 - Megan Reichman

Bitchin’ & Moaning

Sign Off By Judith A. Habert

I have to admit, I am a bit of a stickler when it comes to suppose to guess which days it will be closed and which
signs. Those of you who have read previous issues will note days it will be open. Or perhaps I should avoid this particular
my total annoyance with sign twirlers, but this goes even ramp onto the freeway altogether, to avoid my severe case
deeper than that. Sometimes I wonder who is it that is creat- of disappointment when I attempt to enter and find out that
ing these signs that appear all over town? today is one of those intermittent days?
For instance, the oth- Sitting above my desk
er day on a short trip in my office promi-
to take our post surgi- nently displayed on
cal dog for a car ride, my bulletin board is
because of course a photo I took sev-
he needs fresh air to eral years ago, in my
get all better, I came days as a promotional
upon the latest in photographer for New
a long line of signs York Newsday, it
that caused me to simply says, “Lamp-
giggle. Upon arrival shade parking here.”
at a local shopping Yes, it was found in
area there was a sign the parking lot of a
prominently displayed lampshade store, but
at the entrance to before you could real-
the parking area. It ize what stores were
read, “We make keys in the shopping center,
here.” Now, you must did drivers wonder why
be asking why would you would want to park San Diego
I find this funny. Well, a lampshade in this Woman
with my somewhat particular spot?
sick sense of humor, The dilemma of sig-
I noted that nowhere nage goes back some 27
on the sign did it indi- time and perhaps is
cate where the “here” evident with the now
was. For someone famous construction
not quite as heads sign which many felt
up as me, might they was a severe disser-
think that the keys vice to the workers at
were going to be any given construction
made right there in site. Okay, most of us
front of the sign. Or have heard the nega-
did they realize that tive stereotypes about
the sign was referring government employ-
to one of 15 stores in ees, but was it really
the shopping plaza. necessary to post a
Quite frankly the sign sign claiming “Slow
would have been men working?”
much more sensible Perhaps I am just too
had there been a visual or maybe just
tiny little man sitting insane, but I feel that
alongside the sign reform is needed in the
making keys. But, alas there was not, so now you had to sign industry and I am going to start a grassroots campaign
guess which one of the stores was going to be making the to make signs more accurate and less confusing. With that
keys. said, I suppose I will just sign off.
Another sign that always gets to me is “This ramp will be
closed intermittently starting October 15.” Okay, so am I

September/October 2010