Tuesday, Feb. 26 is the official - according to McGraw-Hills catalog, Chase's Calendar of Events - national "Oh For Pete's Sake Day."
And a good thing too, because if one wants to celebrate this event by venting, in downtown Tampa one can look around and see a number of situations which will make one howl "Oh, for Pete's sake."
Or, as Charlie Brown puts it, "Good grief."
Nobody is sure of the origin of the term "For Pete's sake," but the history books say it was probably to prevent muttering what was once considered to be a blasphemy.
But we like 'For Pete's sake,' and Heaven knows we have to use it enough around here.
For instance: you all know about the dangers of texting and/or calling while driving.
And if you don't, then you haven't been reading the papers and don't know that according to the National Transportation Board , three-thousand people are killed in this country annually in driving accidents in which texting and/or calling were a factor.
And maybe you don't know that Florida is one of only 11 states which does not have an anti-texting/calling law in effect.
But that does not excuse the utter foolishness of barreling down Kennedy Blvd during rush hour whilst texting and/or calling, or as we have recently noticed, applying mascara, curling one's hair, juggling coffee, a cigarette, and phone to the ear.
Oh, for Pete's sake.
Then there's the skateboarders all over the city sidewalks. And sailing over your head -you're on the sidewalk - or streaking right in front of you as they lift off from Malio's parking lot and aim for Ashley Drive.
And they're all over the place on downtown sidewalks, especially during the busy lunch hour which is enough of a hazard with all of those people in their - and your - way who are walking and texting.
Oh, for Pete's sake...and we'll add #%&*@!
Oh, and the loose tiles on the grounds of Curtis Hixon Park.
If you are walking by or through the park, you need to look down as many of the tiles which make up the walkway are loose and they are deadly, and Examiner has experienced the ease with which one can go air-borne by tripping on one of those loose tiles....especially if one has had to remove eyes from the tiles to avoid the pedestrian who was about to ram into you due to walking and texting.
Oh, for Pete's sake.
There, we vented.
Thank you McGraw-Hill for giving us this opportunity to let off steam without muttering a blasphemy.
Oh, and Tuesday, Feb. 26, Chase's Calendar of Events reminds us is also, World Spay Day, National Personal Chef Day, and the birth dates of Buffalo Bill, Fats Domino and Jackie Gleason.
Good grief.
Comments