So, today I'm going to spend a little time giving my thoughts on bad drivers. Yep, you know the ones, everybody on the road but you. We all like to think we are the perfect driver who obeys all the rules and never offends any other driver while all the other numbskulls behind the wheel are the problem. Or I do, at least. Here are some of my worst pet peeves:
The Multi-Taskers-- These are the people who believe that any point in time in which their car has come to a full stop is a good time to get something done-- namely, picking up their phone and checking for texts/emails. (I won't even go into the drivers who text and drive-- you already know that is bad, so I won't cover that here). No, I am focusing on my fellow roadmates who get so engrossed in their few minutes of worktime to put on makeup, dig for the french fry that fell on the floor, check their phone, or turn around and yell at their kids in the backseat, that they fail to see the light has now turned green and approximately 48 cars have already gone before them and they are still sitting immobile. If you do this in front of me, prepare for my car to yell at you. And my car has a really annoying yell- it has a high pitched MEEP MEEP! sound that will no doubt make you want to flash me an obsene gesture. But I don't care, you aren't paying attention. MEEP.
Please Let Me In -- Ok, you know when there's construction and the two lane road you're driving on has to become a one laner? Well, they give plenty of warning, usually, for you to make that merge over into the consolidated lane. Why is it there are always a few people who go cruising at full speed riiiiiiiight up to the very last 10 feet of merge space then want you to let them in? Chances are you merged way back at the first warning sign and have been inching along in the construction traffic for a good mile and a quarter when this little young thing in a convertible wants to bat doe eyes at you and plead for you to let her in. No way, sweetie, I am not letting you in. I will close in on the bumper in front of me so tight a Matchbox car couldn't get in there. Sorry, don't procrastinate next time. Maybe the old guy behind me will think you're cute and let you in.
You're not driving a tractor-trailer-- I can't stand this quirky, yet odd habit. I don't know if everybody notices it like I do, but this is where a driver is turning right or left and, for reasons unknown to me, they "swing wide" before making the turn. What the? If you happen to be beside someone when they do this, it makes your reflexes kick in, prompting you to jerk your steering wheel in the same direction so they don't bump you. What's with these people? If you're making a right turn, there is no reason to swing your car to the left just prior to making that turn! You're not driving a semi-truck! And you're not trying to whip a Suburban into a compact parking spot- you're turning onto a street! Argh. You get 2 MEEPs, just a reflex response, not intentional.
It's my turn, not yours! -- This scenario occurs when me and another car are both stopped at opposite stop signs waiting to turn onto a highway in which the oncoming traffic does not stop. What gets sticky is when I am turning left and the guy across from me is turning right onto the same highway, or coming straight across it. If I got to my stop sign first-- I will be going first once traffic is clear. Yes, that's right, even if I am turning LEFT, it is my turn (in my rule book, at least). So don't honk at me when I go ahead and go. You should just read my rule book. (btw, I looked this up in the Indiana BMV manual and couldn't find it. And Google shows that lots of people disagree on this rule of the road...)
The demise of the yellow light-- When did the yellow light become so disrespected? Nobody pays any attention to the yellow light anymore. More and more I see people who believe there are only two traffic signals->
Red= stop, and Green/Yellow= Go like hell.
I hate the people that just keep on trucking through the yellow light even though they are wayyyyyy away from it when it turned yellow. Did you know you are only supposed to proceed through the yellow light IF you are ahead of the white intersection line when it turns? It doesn't mean "hit it Bertha, before we get stopped on red!" This habit is particularly annoying when I am the poor soul waiting out in the intersection to turn left but can't because of all the people coming on through until that light is good and RED. MEEP.
Exiting the interstate- quite easily actually-- Good news, drivers! It turns out those guys in orange jackets actually build those exit ramps long enough to give you plenty of time to slow down when leaving the interstate! So you don't need to start slowing down 1/2 mile before your exit, ok? Same for when you enter the interstate-- use that onramp to get up speed, honey! Slowing down and hoping somebody lets you in without mowing you over is probably not working in your favor...
And this just beats them all-- if you do this, you should stop it now. It is the worst of all driving offenses. Yes, this is the person behind me when I'm in the fast lane on the interstate who.... you know what it is----> flashes their headlights at me. Major road foul.
Now, I am not a slow driver. I go just enough over the posted speed limit to bore a cop, but enough that I make good time getting on down the highway. When I am in the fast lane, it is because I am passing someone. If you are behind me and decide that I am not passing that person fast enough, flashing your headlights at me will only serve in motivating me to turn off my cruise control and match the speed of the person who I am passing. Yes, that's right, I will slow down. And I hope you get pulled over after you go roaring past me in the right lane and there's a trooper just ahead just looking for someone to nab.
MEEP.
All things Olive today:
Apple Cider Tea
My dogs cuddling with me on the couch
Karma
Monday, November 15, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Dear Baby...
Someone prayed for you today. We were at a team lunch celebrating other things and my boss said a prayer for you, me, and Daddy, as well as my coworker who is also expecting her first child. It was such a sweet moment, it made me tear up. Since I found out I was carrying you, so many people have said so many kind, warm, and thoughtful things to us. We're very blessed to be surrounded by great people. I can't wait for you to meet them.
You've been pretty active today, baby. I can feel you moving around just under my belly button, then over to the side, and back to center again. It feels like bubbles or pebbles rolling around in there. I wonder what you're up to. Are you making a nest? You usually start moving around a little while after I wake up and start getting ready for work. I think you like going to work with me because every meeting that I sit in usually results in you doing flips and twists in there while I am holding back a smile and trying to pay attention. Right now I am worried that this computer sitting on my lap is too warm for you.... let me grab a pillow.
I can't believe we're halfway through the pregnancy journey already. We had a rocky, scary start, but the rest has been such an amazing experience. I've been followed by very good doctors and they make sure everything is o.k. I've had more than my fair share of ultrasounds, but I've loved seeing you with every single one. Each time we get to see you, you're a little bigger, a little more active, and looking more and more like you're ready to come see the world. But you just stay in there for a few more months, ok?
Your Daddy's getting more and more excited to meet you. His favorite song right now is called "Anything Like Me" by Brad Paisley. I'll have to print a copy of the lyrics and save them for you. Your dad wishes I would stop listening to talk radio in the car and listen to acoustic coffee-shop soft rock on the satellite radio. He thinks it would be good for you to hear that kind of music. I'm afraid I'd probably fall asleep listening to that. I am pretty sure you like X103 better anyway.
Speaking of coffee shops, Starbucks' decaf pumpkin spice latte is pretty much on my mind all the time right now. Yum! I am also looking forward to the peppermint mocha that they always have in the holiday season. And I've been on a mulled apple cider kick. I hope you're enjoying these different flavors.
So far pregnancy has been fascinating. Besides the expected food aversions and nausea, I first noticed my nails and hair grew like crazy from the vitamins. Then I got several aches and pains that came and went. And as my belly has grown, I've gotten more cautious. You're in there all safe and sound and I want to make sure you stay that way. I drive a little slower, hold on to the handrails on the stairs, my fabulous high heeled shoes have all been put away, and I look both ways 18 times before crossing the street.
We've tossed around a lot of names for you, baby. We come up with a few and let them roll around in our heads and see how they sound out loud a few times before deciding whether or not it's a keeper. Grandma picked "Oliver" for you, which I loved because we all know how much I love Olives! But it was a definite "no" from Dad. We've got one for you now, I want to keep it with me for a while though.
The house is going through a big transformation. Since we didn't know if we'd ever be parents, we piled up all of our extra space around the house with our junk. Now we have to sort through all that to make room for you. I am quite shocked and embarrassed of all the stuff we've kept over the years.... It's been work but it's fun too to find old things we forgot about and deciding what to keep and what to donate or get rid of.
One of our friends bought you a pair of camouflage pants because your Daddy's been hunting a lot already this year and she wanted you to have your first pair early. Well I left them laying out hoping to take them up to your room on one of my trips upstairs and our little dog Cami got ahold of them while we were gone from the house. We came home to find little shreds of camouflage around the house. I guess she doesn't like camouflage....
So that's where we are now, baby. I'm working and going to school and making sure I get plenty of rest and quiet time to put my feet up and relax with you. I love you with all my heart. So does Daddy.
All things Olive today:
The baby catalogs and coupons we're getting in the mail
Fruit- I can't get enough fruit lately
Finding old things and taking trips down memory lane
You've been pretty active today, baby. I can feel you moving around just under my belly button, then over to the side, and back to center again. It feels like bubbles or pebbles rolling around in there. I wonder what you're up to. Are you making a nest? You usually start moving around a little while after I wake up and start getting ready for work. I think you like going to work with me because every meeting that I sit in usually results in you doing flips and twists in there while I am holding back a smile and trying to pay attention. Right now I am worried that this computer sitting on my lap is too warm for you.... let me grab a pillow.
I can't believe we're halfway through the pregnancy journey already. We had a rocky, scary start, but the rest has been such an amazing experience. I've been followed by very good doctors and they make sure everything is o.k. I've had more than my fair share of ultrasounds, but I've loved seeing you with every single one. Each time we get to see you, you're a little bigger, a little more active, and looking more and more like you're ready to come see the world. But you just stay in there for a few more months, ok?
Your Daddy's getting more and more excited to meet you. His favorite song right now is called "Anything Like Me" by Brad Paisley. I'll have to print a copy of the lyrics and save them for you. Your dad wishes I would stop listening to talk radio in the car and listen to acoustic coffee-shop soft rock on the satellite radio. He thinks it would be good for you to hear that kind of music. I'm afraid I'd probably fall asleep listening to that. I am pretty sure you like X103 better anyway.
Speaking of coffee shops, Starbucks' decaf pumpkin spice latte is pretty much on my mind all the time right now. Yum! I am also looking forward to the peppermint mocha that they always have in the holiday season. And I've been on a mulled apple cider kick. I hope you're enjoying these different flavors.
So far pregnancy has been fascinating. Besides the expected food aversions and nausea, I first noticed my nails and hair grew like crazy from the vitamins. Then I got several aches and pains that came and went. And as my belly has grown, I've gotten more cautious. You're in there all safe and sound and I want to make sure you stay that way. I drive a little slower, hold on to the handrails on the stairs, my fabulous high heeled shoes have all been put away, and I look both ways 18 times before crossing the street.
We've tossed around a lot of names for you, baby. We come up with a few and let them roll around in our heads and see how they sound out loud a few times before deciding whether or not it's a keeper. Grandma picked "Oliver" for you, which I loved because we all know how much I love Olives! But it was a definite "no" from Dad. We've got one for you now, I want to keep it with me for a while though.
The house is going through a big transformation. Since we didn't know if we'd ever be parents, we piled up all of our extra space around the house with our junk. Now we have to sort through all that to make room for you. I am quite shocked and embarrassed of all the stuff we've kept over the years.... It's been work but it's fun too to find old things we forgot about and deciding what to keep and what to donate or get rid of.
One of our friends bought you a pair of camouflage pants because your Daddy's been hunting a lot already this year and she wanted you to have your first pair early. Well I left them laying out hoping to take them up to your room on one of my trips upstairs and our little dog Cami got ahold of them while we were gone from the house. We came home to find little shreds of camouflage around the house. I guess she doesn't like camouflage....
So that's where we are now, baby. I'm working and going to school and making sure I get plenty of rest and quiet time to put my feet up and relax with you. I love you with all my heart. So does Daddy.
All things Olive today:
The baby catalogs and coupons we're getting in the mail
Fruit- I can't get enough fruit lately
Finding old things and taking trips down memory lane
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