Town

 We ran an errand into town, Far Guy needed to go to Fed X  to get a box.  I have been trying to get a parking spot outside of Ben Franklin for weeks.  ( Cause I needed some yarn...yes I really did!)  So anyways Far Guy dropped me off and picked me up...stopping traffic both times..oh well we could have been tourists.  (There is center parking and street parking, so traffic often stops for people crossing the street. )

Now I have a question for all my readers.  ???

If you were driving 5 miles over the speed limit 60 in a 55 zone and a car was following you close and wanting to pass so bad that they passed you in a no passing zone...double yellow lines because it was a hill you could not see over the other side to see if anything was coming...what would you do except hold your breath and say a quick prayer that nothing was coming???  AND say you just happened to speed up enough to see the License Plate number...because you see during the Detour we have had all Summer traffic is heavy and there were many cars in front of me.  Then perhaps I followed the car part way home because they just happened to be going past our driveway...but headed further on down to the lake..and I am very curious to go and look at all the license plate numbers.   

What would you do?  Would you go look..out of curiosity...out of delayed road rage...you so want to write a note and leave it with the date and time just incase it was a teen driver...maybe it would save a life someday??? 

Far Side

Out for lunch

 Far Guy and I went out for lunch after our Defensive Driving Class.  We take the class every three years it gets you a 10 % discount on Car Insurance and gives you a refresher/reminder of what to do and not do. 

We picked up a few misc things in town, came home and had a nap. 

Far Side

Discouraged

We are discouraged but it could be worse…we were reminded of that as we spoke to a friend whose husband was buried ten days ago.  Dead is worse that having some port problems.

Far Guys port is severely occluded, now even the fancy smancy too expensive pump will not push the liquid gold through his veins.  We made a mad dash to the infusion center and from now on he will have a normal IV there until the doctors and Far Guy figure it out.   It ties us down, but where do we go anyways?  Not far.

Sometimes it is dangerous to leave the boonies.

Garden path at a display garden

Now…what do you think the proper response is when another car tries to force you off the road…go into the ditch, let them hit you from behind or tromp on it to get ahead of the bums?   It has happened to me twice in the new passing lane on the way to town…being a nice old lady I go to the right lane in case someone wants to pass me…not any more ..no more Minnesota nice for me. I am taking that left lane if a vehicle is in sight.  I refuse to yield to idiots that want to come along side me until MY lane ends.  If I hadn’t been driving I would have taken a photo and reported them. ( One time I tromped on the gas and sped ahead, the other time I stomped on the brakes before my lane ended in the ditch…those rumble strips are awfully loud.)

When I called them some really nasty words Far Guy said “Calm down sweetheart.” I think they were probably on the phone and distracted…I would like to see mandatory jail sentences for phone use while driving.  Throw a whole bunch of them in jail for six months and impound their vehicles and sell them at auction….that would stop a few distracted drivers and save a few lives….then again we as a society cannot even get the drunks off the road and out of vehicles… something is rotten in our traffic laws/court system. Discouraging isn’t it?

Towanda

Yesterday I took the Defensive Driving Class that allows Minnesota Drivers over 55 years old to receive a 10% discount on their auto insurance.  You have to first take an eight hour class and then every three years take a four hour refresher.  This was my year.

Now I have had all the instructors in the area.  I was not impressed with the number of stories told by the old Highway Patrolman…most of the class was laughing hysterically at his jokes and stories…me not so much I was there to LEARN something.

I was not impressed with the story about the ambulance that was hit in an intersection…supposively the rig spun around and as it did the back doors flew open and the fellow that was on the gurney having a heart attack was propelled gurney and all into a field where the fellow died.  Well the last I knew from my days as an EMT the gurney is locked into place during transport….it being propelled out of an ambulance is highly unlikely…the locking mechanism must have failed.  

Nor was I entertained by the tale of the 99 mile 100 MPH high speed chase.   I don’t understand why Law Enforcement puts the general public in danger in high speed chases.

I did learn that one of our traffic laws was changed, you can accelerate 10 MPH above the 55 MPH speed limit to pass another vehicle.

It is not illegal to ride in the back of a fifth wheel trailer, a house trailer or a pickup truck…although it is pretty stupid.

I am glad to be done for another three years.  Saw some neighbors and relatives there taking the class too.

Old car at the fair last summer

I had a Parking Ticket once over at NDSU but I went by the cop shop and got it fixed.  So far I have avoided all speeding tickets..knock on wood…I do have a heavy foot sometimes.

Towanda…if I had my way anyone with a DUI would not pass go and go directly to jail for five years.  Throw away the freaking key.  The Retired Highway Patrolman said “1 out of every 3 vehicles after 12 midnight is being driven by a drunk driver.”  Now that is scary.

  

Defensive Driving Class

I took a class. It is over..thank goodness! In Minnesota when you are over 55, you can take a Defensive Driving Class and receive an extra ten percent off of your automobile insurance. It is an eight hour class, it was on Thursday nights.. now let me tell you..it was a tough decision for me to commit to this class on a Thursday..because that is the night Survivor is on. I bit the bullet this time..because the next time the class was offered is in January..well I like going out on snowy 40 below zero night by myself even worse than missing Survivor. So I went to the class..yes I gave eight hours of my life up to sit in a room with elderly people to save my ten percent. Despite my bad attitude I learned a thing or two.

First thing: Wear your seat belt. This has never been a problem for me. As a previous Fire and Rescue EMT..the first time I was at an accident scene and the guy that had not been wearing his was trapped under his car and screaming ( screaming is a good thing..he had a good airway) ..would have convinced me if I had not been a seat belt user.

Second Thing: Fatigue causes 80,000 accidents a day. If you are sleepy..pull over and catch a nap. Sleep deprivation is cumulative. I have not slept well for years..so it will take me years to catch up on my sleep. I may be napping more along the roadside.

Third Thing: The old ten and two hand position..now it is more like eight and four or nine and three..why? When the air bag deploys your hands will go into your face. Not a problem for me ..as I do not wear fancy rings..but just look at your own hands..all those purdy rings you have on will come back in your face at 180mph..and will leave some marks..they might even leave one of your eyes if you are lucky..so no more ten and two for you. If you doubt me the next time you are in your car..try it out..a nine and three hand position rotates your hands and the rings on them down and away from your face.

Fourth Thing: North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin have the most DUI's per capita. What can I say..the winters are long up here, and many people drown their sorrows in alcohol. I am not one of those people...but have to watch out for the ones that are. I would like them all to have license plates that say..Drunk.. and a number.

Fifth Thing: Road Rage is on the increase. Ignore these people with their honking horns and hand signals. I have found winter to be the worst time..but I have my own form of revenge..a mitten..

Sixth Thing: Trucks are way bigger than my little old car..give trucks some room. If you cannot see them in their mirror..they can't see you either.

Seventh Thing: Teenage Drivers: They need some help. IF your kid is caught up in an unsafe situation..can they call you or will they think "I can't call home for a ride..my parents will kill me" They should be able to call you any time night or day..without repercussions..talk to your kids..make a contract with them..so they can always call you.

Eighth Thing: Cell phones are causing many accidents. Text messaging is now illegal in Minnesota.

So there is my thing or eight for the day. So you see it was not a total waste of time..maybe I reminded someone of something that may save their life or someone elses:)