I Don't Think I Like You Very Much

I got a GPS (Global Positioning System). My car is fifteen years old. The idea of getting lost and the fear of breaking down if I'm lost was starting to freak me out a teeny bit. So I gave in. I've been in cars with people who use them, they didn't seem perfect, but neither am I.


And they got pretty cheap.


Today was the first time I used it, I had a few errands to run so I just programmed in "home" and went from there. I think it told me to turn left when I needed to turn right, and it just stopped doing its satellite thing for about a minute. Aside from that it worked fine. Oh, and it can't read traffic signs like "no left turn".


Later that day it was time for the big test! I needed to travel to unknown parts. But I had my GPS so I had no fear. Right as I turned off of my street "she", after all it is a women speaking, started to act weird, so I calmly restarted her. She was doing fine until I reached the highway, maybe I just wasn't listening carefully but I didn't see the exit she told me to take. I saw the one with the number 13A, but I didn't see 13B. Once I passed the exit I didn't see, she said: "recalculating".


I had to be somewhere at a certain time, but I gave myself an extra half hour, so I wasn't too worried.. Well, once we were on the recalculation route things really got fun. I had no clue where I was, I missed one turn because I didn't see the street sign and was too out of my safety zone to make an executive decision. Long story short, I got where I needed to be, on time and in one piece. I had NO IDEA where she took me but, I was happy.


Then came the rain.


I got to my next destination with only a slight hitch. By the time I returned to my car the rain was more like a torrential downpour. I get nervous driving in the rain, the radio station was talking about flash floods and traffic issues but I knew how to get home. For the fun of it I left the GPS on. I was alerted that there was a traffic jam and another route was suggested by my new friend. I figured this thing is run by satellite so it must know better than me.    


I followed her commands.


About two minutes after I got off at the exit she "suggested" I use, I knew I was going to be headed towards my own personal "Twilight Zone". It was loaded with cars, trucks and super huge trucks...and traffic was not moving. I will not bore you with the gory details, let me just say that my thirty minute ride turned into a 2.5 hour ride because of the rain, but more because of my new friend. 


Thinking back over the day and my "Twilight Zone" interlude, I have fondly dubbed her Talking Tina (Tina for short). Because on that day she proved she did not like me very much.

Practically Naked

Witness now the downfall of my morning's acceptable clothing to drive my child to school in.

In the beginning I would walk my daughter through the school yard, chit chat with the other parents and greet the teachers. I would have my clothes on for work, my hair brushed, a bit of make up on and my teeth cleaned. The weather was nice and the year was fresh and new.

It was a slow demise. As the year progressed she no longer needed to be walked through the school yard. She was more comfortable with her surroundings. I could now drop her off and be home alone for thirty minutes. This was the beginning of the end. First I stopped applying make up. When the winter came I would just throw a coat over whatever I had on. Then I started wearing a Baseball Cap with a ponytail. Last but not least I wasn't going to be talking to anyone so why brush?

In the Spring, thirty minutes became forty five and the coat was replaced with a sweater. After a few weeks of feeling comfortable with the new me, I started leaving the house in whatever I had slept in. (or at least what wound up on my bed) After all, who's looking? Now I'm just your basic Mom, dropping my kid off in the car. The kind of woman I watched with horror. "How could she leave the house like that?" Well, it's pretty easy.

Today was the last day of school. I rose early, dressed, made up, brushed and went directly to work after the drop off. I was forty minutes early, even my boss noticed.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Road Rage

There are far too many variables to get caught up in road rage.

For instance, the other day I was behind a car that was behind a school bus, the light was green. The school bus turned and stopped mid turn to let the kids off. (is that legal?) Of course the drivers behind had no warning that the bus driver would stop mid turn. The light changed and the bus road off. The car in front of me was too close to the corner. A pick up truck came around the corner, and yelled out the window at the driver of the car in front of me.

Sometimes we just get stuck in situations we have no control over. Why do people assume that people are out to do the wrong thing. How many times have I gotten stuck in an intersection because it looks like the car in front of me is moving right along, but then it isn't.

Not everyone drives the same route everyday, not everyone knows about that particular roadway or if you have time to make it through that particular light. Maybe someone coming towards you has glare in their eyes. Maybe they slam on their breaks because an animal ran in front of the car. And yes, maybe they even have a "baby on board".

Think before you start yelling, pay attention...get off your cell phone.