My First Ticket...

Last Sunday (a week ago yesterday) I was sitting at my parent's house telling my family how Ryan and I had gotten pulled over the previous day because he had a brake light out. He didn't get a ticket, just a warning, but that got us talking about how I had never had a ticket before (we were specifically talking about speeding tickets at this point). Several of them said to me, "Well don't get cocky about it. " and "You better knock on wood".

Well, they were right. It only took six days after that for me to eat my words.

I had just left my parent's house on Saturday night and was headed to Ryan's for dinner. I decided it would be quicker for me to jump on the freeway and take the I-215 interchange rather than all the slower moving back roads. So I got on the freeway at 90th South. I merged into the slow lane and then was trying to merge into the middle lane when chaos ensued.

I glanced behind me to the left to check my blind spot and then looked forward again only to notice the big white van in front of me had hit their brakes. I didn't have enough time to stop and I didn't really want to crash into the back of them so I instinctively tried to swerve out of the way to avoid a collision. Upon doing so, I apparently jerked the steering wheel a bit too hard and I lost control. The car started to swerve back and forth for a few feet (just long enough to get around the van and another car to my left) and I attempted to slam on the brakes thinking that would somehow stop me. But little did I know that once a car is out of control, brakes do nothing to help. After one or two seconds of swerving I started spinning out of control. I didn't count the number of 360's I did, but it had to have been at least five.

I kept my eyes open the entire time and just watched the entire scene unfold around me. The interesting thing is, I didn't pay one ounce of attention to any of the other cars on the road. I had no idea where they were in relation to me, even though I did see blurry bits of them as I was spinning around and around. After about the third spin I offered a quick silent prayer, "Please just keep me safe." I knew I could do nothing to stop the car at that point and I just didn't want to be badly hurt. Shortly thereafter I could literally feel my car slowing as it continued to spin and everything felt like it was going in slow motion. At one point I thought my car was going to stop while I was facing the opposite direction of traffic but then it kept going and I thought "oh good. Just stop in the direction of traffic so I can just continue on my way." But before my car could make it all the way around, "WACK!" I hit something.

Instantly my car came to a dead stop and I was thrown backward into my seat. Once I gathered my senses I looked around me and realized I was now facing west on the northbound freeway sitting smack dab in the slow lane of traffic. I looked to my left and saw a bunch of cars attempting to move around me, and then I looked to my right and saw a white SUV off on the shoulder of the road. It was then that I realized I had hit another car. At the time of impact, I hadn't known for sure what I had hit since I had hit it from behind. I thought I had hit the cement barrier on the shoulder of the road but apparently I was wrong.

Upon coming out of my stupified daze, I reached for my phone and dialed 911. I didn't even have the sense to check on the person in the other vehicle. I knew I was okay and she appeared to be okay so I just called for help. While on the phone with dispatch a young man walked up and knocked on my window asking if I would like him to push me out of the lane of traffic. I said yes, not even thinking at the time that he had to walk out into high speed traffic to do so. He couldn't turn my car so he just pushed me backwards as far as he could. My front bumper continued to sit in the lane just slightly and cars had to cautiously move around me. The guy left after that and I never even got to thank him for risking his life to try and save mine. I did try to start my car so I could move it, but I couldn't get it to start. It must have been in as much shock as me!

The 911 dispatcher eventually connected me to the Utah Highway Patrol and so a UHP dispatcher got on the phone with me. He took my information then told me to find a safe place to wait for a trooper to get there. I wasn't quite sure where there would be a safe place to wait on the side of a fast moving freeway. I asked him if I should stay in my car and he said, "If you feel that is the safest place for you to be, then go ahead and stay there. Just be sure to put on your hazard lights and your seat belt." Oh fabulous...so he was basically telling me to prepare to get hit. How comforting. After that I did get out of my car for a brief second but it was so noisy and cold and I was more scared of being out of my car than in it, so I got back in.

The first call I made after 911 was to my mom. She asked me where I was and told me that she and my dad would come find me. Then instantly I realized something. I hadn't called Ryan! I said to my mom, "Wait! I need to call Ryan!" She sounded surprised that I hadn't called him yet and told me to call him. I guess my instincts just took over in that moment. For the past 34 years I have called my parents for everything. It didn't dawn on me that I have someone else to call now! I'm lucky he wasn't too broken up over the fact that I called him second. :)

It took about 5-10 minutes after hanging up with dispatch for the trooper to arrive and he quickly assessed the situation and had me move my car. By then it started right up so he stopped traffic in the slow lane and had me pull out and straighten my car on the shoulder of the road. Once that happened, traffic began moving at a normal pace. He checked on the other lady and then came back to give me paperwork to fill out. As I was getting started on it, Ryan came and jumped in my passenger seat! It was such a relief to see him! It took about 10 minutes to fill out the paperwork and then he issued me my citation and told me I was free to go. Since all the damage to my car was in the rear and I still had one working tail light, the trooper let me go ahead and drive my car home, with Ryan following close behind. I was glad I didn't have to call a tow truck.

When I told the trooper what happened, he seemed as shocked as I did that I had walked away from that without injuries. I look back and think about how much worse it could have been. I could have hit any number of cars as I was spinning out of control but I only hit one. And, I had somehow managed to slow down considerably before hitting her that the damage to both cars wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been. I have thought about how things might have turned out had I just hit the white van in front of me instead of swerving out of the way. Everything could have played out so differently, for better or worse. There is no way of knowing that for sure. All I do know is that for how bad it could have been, it turned out pretty good. I consider that to be a miracle.

And now if anyone asks if I've ever gotten a ticket*, I'll have a good story to tell!

My poor car...

*My family was specifically talking about speeding tickets when I mentioned I had never had one. The ticket I got after this accident still wasn't a speeding ticket so I can technically say I have not yet had a speeding ticket. But I have now had some kind of ticket.

Road Rage...

I just had an interesting experience on the road. Truthfully it left me quite shaken. Someone apparently wanted to kill me...or at least do harm to me and my vehicle. Here's the story:

I was driving back to my place after having just spent a very nice evening at my parent's. I was listening to "The Men of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir" CD (which, by the way, is definitely worth the purchase) and just contemplating about what a wonderful day I had. As I was driving, I noticed the car in front of me was going a bit slower than the speed limit so instead of following too closely, I decided to move into the next lane. At that point I noticed the car then started to speed up. Perhaps they thought I was trying to pass them and they wanted to prevent me from doing so. Well, I really wasn't in a hurry, I just wanted to go the speed limit. So, I stayed where I was and kept driving.

When I got about two lights from where I needed to make a left turn I decided I should get back over into the lane I had previously exited. Upon doing so, I ended up behind that same car. When the light turned green and the cars ahead of us went through the light, the car in front of me continued to sit there for another 4-5 seconds. I just sat there and waited. I didn't honk my horn or appear to be in any kind of hurry. In fact, I didn't even step on the gas. I just sat there.

After the 4-5 seconds the car finally went. Very slowly. It was almost like they were the tortois and not the hare. I didn't want to go around them again because I knew I'd have to turn left anyway so I stayed behind them. As we were approaching the next light they hit their brakes. Hard. Nobody was in front of them and there was still a good 20 feet before they got to the light. I hit my brakes to avoid hitting them. Still I did nothing. No honking of the horn, no obscene gestures. I felt like I was in total control of myself and I was proud. I had no idea why these people were apparently so upset with me.

That light turned green and they started to go. Again, very slowly. In about 30 more feet I would have to turn left so I continued to stay behind them. Within about 5 seconds of my passing the intersection they slammed on their brakes again! This time harder than the first time. I once again hit my brakes and was able to stop within about a foot of hitting their car.

At that point I raised up my hands in frustration and yelled "What are you doing?" Obviously they couldn't hear me. I decided I had had enough so I pulled around them into the middle lane since I had to turn left anyway. When I started to pass them, the guy SWERVED toward me in the middle lane, coming within a foot of hitting the side of my car. He then swerved back into his own lane and I sped by as fast as I could to avoid getting hit.

I will be the first to admit that when a car is driving below the speed limit I will often times follow too closely behind them. But I didn't do that tonight. Tonight I simply switched lanes. I had done absolutely nothing wrong in this situation. I found it interesting that this guy was so concerned about his precious Audi that he was more focused on my driving than his own. Because of that he actually attempted to cause an accidet three separate times! If anyone was being a hazard it was him, not me. And what really got to me was that he not only put his life and mine at risk, but also the girl who was in the car with him. Did he even stop to consider her? Most likely not.

By the time I got to my house I was shaking and was so upset that I had to take several deep breaths to try and calm myself. Then I had to say a prayer just to get rid of the anger I felt. Never in my life have I experienced road rage quite like that. I hope it never happens again.

But I do have to say that I am very happy with how I handled this situation. I could have reacted very differently. I hope he somehow recognizes that.

Love and Hate...

I hate driving. I've always known this, but yesterday a lightbulb came on in this dim brain of mine and I think I may have figured out why. Sometimes Most of the time, I have what I term "people claustrophobia". I don't usually feel anxious in tight enclosed spaces, but stick me in the middle of a group of people without a way out, and I all of a sudden feel like my chest is closing up on me. If I feel like I'm stuck around people, especially slow moving ones, I freak out. Because of this, I always have a tendency to walk super fast around a crowd of people until I am in the open. At a crosswalk, I'll try to manuever myself to the front of the crowd so I can be the first to cross the street. This is also true when driving. If I get stuck in traffic, I get ornery. If people are going 10mph below the speed limit and I'm stuck behind them, I get ornery. I drive the way I walk: manuvering my way around the slow people until I'm in the open. I can't be caught in the middle of a bunch of slow movers without a way out or I freak out. My friends tell me all the time I drive crazy. This would be why. I hate driving.

I love kids. I went to my parents last night to have them help me with a christmas project I'm working on, and as I was standing in the kitchen I happened to look down and see a piece of paper that had christmas ideas jotted down on it for my sister's family who lives in Arkansas. I was glancing over this paper when I noticed my 10 year old nephews list. The first thing written down said "A jar of pickles". I laughed out loud and said to my mom, "[He] wants a jar of pickles?" She said that my sister told her kids their individual christmas would be smaller this year because they were getting one big family gift. So each of the kids had to think of some little items they would want instead of big items. A jar of pickles. If only I could be as content with such a gift. Sometimes kids really are the best teachers. I love kids.

Stupid Drivers: Take Two

If anyone were to ask me what my biggest pet peeve is, I would most likely tell them it is crazy/stupid drivers. I have this amazing lack of patience when I drive and I believe it's all because people are - quite possibly - INSANE!! Take last night for instance:

I was driving down the road and in front of me was a lady in a tan Toyota Corolla who was going about 30mph. The speed limit on that part of the road is 35mph. As bugged as I already was that she was going under the speed limit with the closest car in front of her about 500 feet away, I still tried to stay calm and patient. So, I stayed about a car length behind her.* Apparently she felt that a car length wasn't enough distance because she kept hitting her brakes to get me off her tail. This went on two or three times and since I was reaching the cap on my level of patience, I decided I would just pass her. So I switched lanes and proceeded to pass when all of a sudden she SPED UP!!!

I know what you're thinking. And trust me, that's exactly what I was thinking too. I tried to remain as calm as possible - which at this point was becoming almost impossible - and thought that since she was now going over the speed limit, I would get back behind her. I moved back over and immediately upon doing so, she slowed back down! Then - as if that wasn't enough - she once again began to hit her brakes because I was too close!!!

Seriously, does this sound like I had even done anything wrong? By this time I had completely reached my breaking point and I had to take several deep breaths to keep the profanities from billowing out of my mouth. But I still gave that woman a piece of my mind. I said:

"You are not only going below the speed limit, but you are hitting your brakes for no good reason. Both of these driving techniques are not only ticking me off, but they are holding up all the traffic behind me as well. So why don't you focus on your own driving and not worry so much about me? I am a good driver. I have no intention of hitting your car. But by the way you are driving, it almost seems as if you want me to hit your car. It is clear that you are the hazard on this road, not me. Therefore, why don't you quit worrying about me and move it along so we can all get home?"

At that point I shooed my hands at her as if to imply she should speed up. When she still insisted on driving 30mph and I finally had my chance to pass her where she couldn't speed up, I took off.

Sadly though, it was too bad that my amazing speech was wasted on myself. She really could have benefited from it.

*I was actually quite proud of myself for staying a car length behind her. I generally have no problem riding the bumper of cars who are going below the speed limit for no good reason (see previous post.) A car length, to me, is a lot of room for the speed we were going. She should just be grateful I was holding my temper because I could have showed her what "close" really was.

Venting Session...

1) If the speed limit is 35mph, you are expected to drive 35mph. If it's 65mph, you are expected to drive 65mph. Do you understand? I really don't care about excuses. If you don't have a valid reason for going below the speed limit (exceptions are road construction, accidents and rush hour) then speed up! If you are going below the speed limit without an exception, I will ride your bumper and I won't feel bad about it.

2) If you are ever invited to speak at the Democratic National Convention (or Republican...I don't really care which), then please don't have a botox session 30 minutes before you speak. You'll look like a complete freak standing up there speaking through a crack in your lips and not being able to move your face. I don't care how passionately you feel about women's rights, it's not attractive and nobody in America is going to take you seriously.

3) If you insist on taking mass transit then it is your duty to 1) shower before boarding the train in the morning and 2) re-apply deoderant before you board the train at night. I don't care where you live. Trains are often crowded and nobody needs to suffer through their ride home because you smell like a decomposing animal.

A Day at the Derby...

A few friends and I went to a Demolition Derby on Saturday night. There are no other words to describe it other than pure redneck fun! Here are some pictures of the evening:





The car I was cheering for got high centered on the concrete barrier. Sad day for me...



And if you are really curious as to what constitutes a "redneck" event. Here are three clues. 1) the crowd leaves their seats to participate in a giant "Boot Scootin' Boogie" contest.

2) Women show up with their hair ratted so high it looks like something is nesting in it (she woman in center of picture):

3) They bring in tractors to clear the demolished cars instead of tow trucks:

Nothing could be better than watching cars bash into each other over and over until each car becomes nothing more than a pancake on wheels. Well, if it keeps it's wheels. Sometimes the cars were driving on just their rims and the hoses were flopping around spraying everywhere until the car would finally overheat and start smoking. But even then...they kept on going. We simply could not believe these people didn't die or have their car burst into flames! It was a barrel of laughs and we enjoyed it so much that we promised to go again next year!

My roommate is in the process of putting all our pictures into a short video. So stay tuned for more derby fun!

Oh The Stupidity...

Picture this...

You are driving down State Street with a friend. The two of you are chatting, not really paying attention to anything around you when all of a sudden you notice a guy on a motorcycle right in front of you. He has both hands on the handlebars (gear shift, gas...whatever you call it) but something seems wrong with his head. His right ear is touching his shoulder and he's driving with his head completely sideways. You look closer and say to your friend,

"Is something wrong with that guy?" She looks up and says,

"I don't know. Is he talking on his phone?"

"No way, he couldn't be!"

"Then why is he driving like that?"

"I don't know!"

At that moment you notice the guy lift his head, bring his hand up to his ear and GRAB HIS PHONE!!! Keep in mind this entire time you are behind him only going about 15mph on a 40mph road.

So he grabs his phone and then proceeds to try and put it in his back pocket, while he is still driving down the road 15 mph. He speeds up, slows down, speeds up, slows down. Finally he slows down so much that you nearly crash into the back of him. So, you lay on your horn. The guy hurries and speeds up to about 25 mph but then has to stop at a red light.

You pull up behind him and both you and your friend are practically cursing his name up and down. How could he be so stupid? Why would anyone try to talk on a phone while driving a motorcycle!?!? The questions keep coming when you all of a sudden notice that he's turned around on his motorcycle and he's SMILING at you!

You turn to your friend, she turns to you and says,

"Does he think we are flirting?"

"No, he couldn't be that dumb!!"

You both give him the evil eye, he turns back around and then proceeds to check himself out in his rearview mirror. Really, he's not that much to look at and both of you are starting to feel nauseous.

The light turns green, he starts to go and you can't take anymore of his antics so you decide to take a different route home. As you turn left at the light you say to your friend,

"On top of being a complete moron, the guy wasn't even wearing a helmet!"

"I'm pretty sure there wasn't much up there that needed protection." she replies.

You both laugh and drive on.