Miles to Go?

This is a mere follow-up on yesterday's post. Does anyone have any idea as to how long I need to drive in order to make sure that my check engine light doesn't come back on? I've heard 30 miles and 50 miles. I'm sincerely hoping it's the former so I hit it by the end of April...which happens to be tomorrow. Need to get that registration renewed!

On the Up and Up: Converting My Catalyst?

OK, so I've mentioned my special car before, but today is the day that I'm finally getting it fixed. Or at least enough to pass smog testing. In California, you have to have a piece of equipment in your car that cleans the exhaust when it comes out. I'm not entirely sure how this happens or what that means, or why no other states have that, but either way, I'm not allowed to drive on the road legally without a working catalytic converter. So...as of May 1, hopefully I will be driving legally on the road! Hooray! Seriously, one of the biggest problems that I encounter with traffic is the lack of confidence I feel with my car. The windows don't roll down, the locks don't work, the trunk only opens if you try to do one of the previous two tasks, the car open alarm sounds for no apparent reason, the regular anti-theft alarm occasionally sounds for no reason, etc. etc. etc. So, let's start with the lack of current registration (I do have an extension, just so everyone knows that I do NOT drive against the law) and move on from there. Perhaps next we'll try to fix that damn door alarm from going off randomly and then get something shiny and new ;)

On a side note, as I was driving over from work to Wally the Muffler guy, I realized that I think I'm really the only person on the road who watches to see if there's anyone else coming into the lane I'm about to merge into. At least three times in 20 minutes, I checked my blind spot and looked over to see someone in the next lane over getting ready to merge into the spot that I was already motioning into. Why is it only MY responsibility to make sure that we don't bump sides in the middle of the center lane? Shouldn't anyone else have that responsibility too? Yesterday it happened with this lady on the way home from work and she moved her ginormous SUV into the spot that I was going to take whilst locking eye contact with me, as if to say 'oh, you didn't think you got to have this spot, did you? I had my people reserve it for me.' Oh get over yourself. We all have to share the road!


Oh well, I'll just be happy that we had zero collisions...from front, behind, or the side! Safe travels!

What's With That?!

On "The Show" this morning, they were doing a skit called "What's with that?" Several callers made notes that I thought should be mentioned here.
1. When people start slowly rolling through the intersection instead of coming to a complete stop at a stop light...what's with that?
2. When a F1 truck that COULD be going mock 3 is instead traveling 10MPH under the speed limit...what's with that?
And here's my contribution:
3. When someone sees that you need to get over before you take an exit that you don't WANT to take because they just don't feel like slowing down for you to get over onto the "through" lane...what's with that?

Care to take a shot?

PS. HAppy FRIDAY!

Be Afraid. Be VERY Afraid.

I love the title of this article: "Rain Wreaks Havoc on Morning Commute." It sounds like Godzilla or something has taken over the San Diego freeways, swiping at cars left and right. Other highlights of this fabulous example of serious journalism include:

• Due to "rain-soaked highways and freeways," 178 crashes occurred throughout the county BEFORE 11a.m. Monday morning. (PS. what's the difference between a highway and a freeway?)
• "When the current storm moves out, it will be replaced by night..." Glad we got that cleared up.
• Early-morning clouds will follow due to a "strong marine layer." People of San Diego: it's called FOG!

Hope everyone survived the horrifying RAIN STORM and made it through the night and strong marine layer. I don't know about you, but it was a close one for me! ;)

Morning Talk Show Saviors

On my way home from work today for lunch, I found myself searching for my usual companions on my daily commute--"The Show" with rock 105.3 FM--instead of jamming to the music. I'm not claiming that this is the best talk radio nor is it the best radio station. However, what I AM saying is that I realized on my way home today that I'd rather listen to a group of people (who I've never met) talk about their days (that I didn't live) than listen to music (in which I can participate).

And so I ask you...When did I become my father?! I used to hate listening to talk radio. I hated the interactions between the hosts and the lack of music. I waited until an admirable amount of time before asking him to PLEASE switch to something with music! Well, my friends, the times they have a'changed. I'm chalking this change in my morning mentality up to a few things. In no particular order these are: my age, today's pop music, and familiarity. I don't like most of today's pop. I don't want to hear K-e-money sign-h-a "rap" to the beat.

I am a working drone. I drive to work. I drive home. I sit in traffic. I merge. In these monotonous times, the only thing right now that eases my pain is the comfort of knowing that along with me ride Costa, Skye, Ashley, Boston Rob, and Eddie. Oh how I love my "friends!" But if you tell my father that I actually like talk radio now, I'll have to disown you.

Any favorite morning shows to share? Don't be ashamed of your "friends" :)

A Happy Ending

You gotta love the Melbourne mates from down unda'. The precise amount of sarcasm and seriousness was used to get the point across that 30 seconds just is NOT enough time between parking and getting a parking ticket. Please read this hilarious letter to the DMV of the City of Melbourne from the aforementioned pissed off parker :)

Changing of the Seasons

This morning I left a few minutes late (I really must work on that snooze alarm addiction) and cruised right into work on time. ON TIME! I thought it was because I missed the 8am rush to work, but after doing some more sleuthing I'm pretty sure it's because the schools out here are on Spring Break. (Side note: It's also Caesar Chavez day out here...East Coasters, say wha'?!) Conversely, this past weekend was the first weekend where people have started noticing traffic lined up to get to and from the beach. Yes, it's beautiful in San Diego almost 375 days out of the year. But there are definitely still seasons. To be honest, this past Sunday was the first time in a REALLY long time that I hit the beach, and oh how good it felt! So, I guess a big, fat "Thank you" should be sent out to the college gods for letting me get to work on time even after getting 15 more minutes of sleep. mmmmm..... And a big fat "crap" to the beach traffic. Luckily, I don't really go out on the weekends any more so an early morning wake up to get a parking spot on the coast is definitely a must do in my book! Happy Spring and safe driving, ya'll!