Things that make Speedy laugh so hard she makes the room echo

When out running, I usually find myself on long paved roads with bike lanes. Bike lanes just beat sidewalks, even with their hands tied behind their backs; you don't have to avoid pedestrians, asphalt really *is* softer, and there are fewer cracks and inconsistencies in a bike lane. I try to run on the left side of the road, but sometimes getting to that side is a major inefficiency, so I run on the right occasionally. Nevertheless, an inherent problem exists between stupid/mean drivers and running in a bike lane. WHY DO THESE DRIVERS HAVE TO BUZZ YOU GOING 10+ mph OVER THE SPEED LIMIT?!?!? Buzz--as in driving fast and on (or over) the white line, as in too damn close to me. Grr. They have plenty of room in their lane. I think these drivers' problem is that they are either completely distracted and don't see me, or they have a negative value on their self-esteem meter. They probably can't run or don't exercise and want to scare anyone out of exercising so they have less of a negative value in self-esteem land. They must resort to a huge metal extension of their bodies because their bodies alone are worthless. (That last sentence is also how I feel about people who must accelerate as fast as possible an who tailgate and weave through traffic every time they drive, but that is a different rant). Luckily, most drivers are conscientious and some even cross into the next lane to give me space.

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Does anyone notice how infrequently cashiers check ID for credit cards? Or even look at the back of your card for that matter? It completely bothers me, especially since I write "CHECK ID" in thick black letters on the signature bar on the back of my cards. Just my luck, I misplaced my license this weekend and of course both the places I paid with my credit card asked me for ID. The first one let me off the hook when I told her it was in the car. The second let me use my Costco card for ID, after talking to her manager.

Yes. I found my ID tonight and put it back in my wallet. Thanks.

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On my way into work yesterday, I was remembering my feelings while I was still in school about going into the working world some day. It worried me that I wouldn't have summer vacation or winter break any longer, and that I'd have to actually work for at least 8 hours a day instead of working, and then taking a running break and working again. But, it's not bad at all. The past two years, I've had two weeks off at the end of December, and last summer I had the entire month of July, um, "off". I still have holidays and even vacation time. It helps that I absolutely love my job. I'd work all day and into the night if I didn't get hungry, my brain didn't fry itself, and I didn't pass out at my desk at dinner time. All in all, the working world is awesome. No, I'm not jaded yet. Give me 5 years, k?

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I took a "What country are you?" Test online today, and I'm so glad I got this country... Tee hee. Here are the results:

The Netherlands Your country is 43 concerned with morals, 77 prosperous, 58 liberal, and 42 aggressive!

Controlled marijuana use and euthanasia are legal in your country. Congratulations! You're prosperous and you're self-assuredly liberal. But you couldn't invade Belgium even if you tried. For your information, the possible countries in this test include: Haiti, North Korea, Albania, Russia, Vietnam, Turkey, Poland, India, Singapore, China, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Libya, Tanzania, East Timor, Lithuania, Indonesia, Iran, Canada, Israel, Sweden, Australia, Germany, or the United States of America.

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What I lack in low tolerance toward drivers while driving, I make up while running. I shake my fist at cars that cut me off, or pull out in front of me, or drive too close and too fast. Asses. If they pull out in front of me and then stop right in my path, they'll get a slap. BAM! goes my hand on the trunk. =) Sometimes I'll flip them the bird, and to people who know me, that is a big deal. However, I have a much higher tolerance for people on my runs. I'll say, "Mornin" or, "Hello." to other runners and sometimes to bikers and people walking their dog. If they don't say hi back, I'm usally ok with it, unlike some of my old runner friends who get really offended and pissed. BUT, I've been running this particular loop in the morning, and the last three times I've run it, I've said hi to this particularly skinny white Stanford girl, and SHE HAS YET TO SAY HI BACK. At first, I thought it was because I was wearing University of Washington gear. Then, maybe I said it too low or too late so she couldn't respond. But today, I said it loud and clear and looked at her and she saw me and didn't say anything back! I was so pissed. How rude! I'm not attempting to be friendly with her again. I called her a couple of names out loud when she was too far away to hear. Next time, I'll flip her off. Probably not, but thinking about that on my run made me laugh out loud. Heh.

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I consider myself a conscientious driver. I don't road rage, I rarely yell at the top of my lungs at other drivers, and I tend to let people in. Basically, it comes down to a forgiveness threshold, I realized today. Mine is "the three-strikes-out of driving". Some people have a one-strike threshold. Today, a van pulled right out in front of me. "Ok," I said to myself, "He didn't see me." Then, the driver proceeds at a rate far below the speed limit and the brake lights flash on and off for no reason. "Dude," I mumble. "What's up? Well, I'll pass him at the two-lane portion." So we turn left onto the main street and he starts hauling. "Asshole," I declare and zip by, 10 over the speed limit. Whatever, weird van driver.

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Ok. So everyone I know has a blog. Peer pressure, ya know? The last time I tried this was in 2001, when I had to create my own webpage and host my "journal" on my website. Maybe this will last longer. Who knows? I may have more to say to the world now...

I was telling my co-worker about how my landlady has tomatoes growing on her plants already, and I have none and I planted earlier. Boo. =( Well, I came home today and inspected my beefsteak plant, and I have 3 little tomatoes now! I'm so excited! My first garden of my own, and it's growing! The plot of land is 4' by 8' and I have 2 tomato plants, 6 chiles, 3 soybeans and a dozen lettuce heads. I hope it works out.

Oh yeah. Welcome to my blog.

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