#earthday

So today I was on my way to school thinking about what I should blog about on #earthday.  I had a couple of different ideas running through my head and I couldn’t really center in on any topic that I felt I could just fly off the handle with.  Well after leaving the gym I was encountered with something that I didn’t even consider as a topic.  DRIVING! So many different things ran through my mind and I just wanted to throw them out there to see if any of you had the same feelings I have.

The thing that happened that sparked my mind on this topic was the lady in front of me at an intersection.  Now the row of cars across from us were all in the lane to turn left as well.  Now when both sides of cars are turning in opposite directions, there should be a little pause…then continue on driving.  Now this is what I thought was going to happen.  But I was mistaken.  This lady proceeded to sit in the middle of the road with her blinker on…not moving, not looking like she wanted to go anywhere until all the cars from the other side.  This just angered me so I just proceeded to go around her and give a little toot of the baby Yaris horn at her.

So like the style of my 1st blog post I am going to rattle off some things that driving bring to mind:

1.  Turn Signals:  Have you ever been driving and your a little closer than the safe distance from the car in front of you and all of the sudden they just turn.  And you think that “Hey that would have been a great time for a turn signal.”  It happens way too often out there.  Just remember, thats what they are there for! USE THEM!

2.  Cell Phones:  Now the lady I spoke of was on her cell phone too.  Just out of it.  Now I could tak about cell phone drivers all day but one thing I want to concentrate on is the speed limit and cell phones.  If  you can maintain the speed limit and stay in your lane, then by all means talk away.  But if you are on your cell phone and you seem to slip under the speed limit then you need to hang up the phone right away.  I was behind someone the other day and they were going 55mph in the fast lane on the expressway.  The speed limit was 65mph.  So I speed up to go around this driver and see that this person was on their cell phone.  No more than a minute later I see this car flying by me and the person is no longer on the phone.  About a 15mph difference between driving with and without a cell phone.  Do us all a favor and buy a blue tooth. Just don’t where it all the time like some Geek Squad member at Best Buy. Completely unnessary.

3. Pay attention to the road ahead of you. One thing I always try to do is quickly identify all of the problem cars ahead of me on the express way. One thing I have with this is when cars are merging on the express way. Some of these cars really aren’t in any hurry to get on so you have to decide to let them on by slowing down, or speeding up and risk that person playing a bait n switch type of game where they choose to speed up too. Then it just gets awkward. So I was trying to let this van on when she was clearly out of real estate, but she was way too nervous to be driving, or so it seemed. So as she is trying to get over, then decides to somewhat break check. So I have to break check because she is now about halfway in my lane. And the truck behind me that was 15ft away is now 15in away. And from the look in my rear view mirror he wasn’t too happy. And about a minute later the truck that was behind me is speeding by me and the lovely driver leans forward and gives me the bird! I just look back and give him a big thumbs up and a smile. Seriously? Something that I got stuck in and he is flipping me off? Whatever. Sorry I didn’t want to cause a 5 car pile up!

4. You ever notice when the light is red that people still love to move up as close to the next car as possible? This drives me nuts. HELLO!? The light is still red, we are not going anywhere. Just chill out enjoy the red light and the couple minutes to find a great song on your radio or your iPod.

5. I love people who sing and drive! But when I pass you and admire your rendition of “Private Eyes” by Hall & Oates, don’t stop singing or give me a dirty. You’re the one who is singing in the car. I always make sure that I sing to the car beside me at a red light or aim my air-drum sticks their way when they look at me. So a word to all you drivers you have an audience, you should aim to please! Who knows you might be on a hidden camera TV show. Haha!

I might have a blog post about driving later on in my blogging lifetime, maybe two or three. Everyday brings about a new situation and new drivers to have them with. But I have a suggestion for Earth Day 09. A lot of people should leave their car/truck/van in their driveway and just choose not to drive. Try public transportation, maybe?