Thursday, August 17, 2006

The Places We Have Come to Fear the Most

Nothing new to report, I’ve been lax in my blogging. I’m sure I’ll regale you all with tales of my trip to Colorado some time (or at least post some pictures), but now is not that time. Right now it is 7:45 in the morning and I am awake because I can’t sleep. All the things that have been bothering me this week have just accumulated in my head and now they have nowhere else to go. I oscillate between a state of worried to anger and then to guilt for feeling angry. I don’t know what to do. Sunday, August 6th was Rob’s birthday. It was also someone else’s birthday, whom Rob and I were supposed to have lunch with. Although I called her on her Birthday, she never called me back. And I finally swallowed my pride and wrote her an e-mail (my own phone is broken – I can listen to messages, I just can’t make any calls – I ordered one off of eBay; it should be here already, but it isn’t), but she hasn’t replied. I don’t understand. I feel like if something were really wrong, someone would call me to let me know. Then I start to wonder: what happened? What events transpired to bring about this lack of communication? What did I do? I don’t know, but I woke up this morning feeling so unhappy and missing my mom so much (I know she’d have some good advice about the whole thing, and we’d both feel better). All I want is to call her. Just her voice alone would make me feel better. I usually talk to her every week (or more) and now it has been 13 days. She does not have an e-mail address, and the only way I can call anyone is using Rob’s phone (I still can text message, which has allowed me to squeak by thus far), but carrying on long conversations with other people while he’s around (and on his phone!) isn’t exactly proper social etiquette. I’m in a general state of dissatisfaction. And I miss my mom…

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Trivial Talk

There’s a new trend in the vogue world of traffic violations. Apparently red is out. I don’t know what hip new trendy color is taking it’s place, but as far as traffic is concerned, no one seems to understand how this old horse works any more. My favorite faux pas is the Red Light = Stop Sign. In broad daylight, and moderate traffic, I have witnessed several people: stop at the stoplight, apparently become frustrated to the point where they can no longer wait 30 seconds for the light to change, and drive right on through that red light. This is no longer in the vein of yellow means go really fast and oops I just happened to run a red light. Nope. Everyone falls for that moment of weakness (once in a while, every day, every light, I try not to judge too harshly for fear of donning the “hypocrite hat”). No, I’m talking about a deliberate stopping and waiting, looking around (probably to make sure there isn’t any oncoming traffic or even perhaps a police officer lurking several cars away), and driving merrily on through that red stop light. Another fashion that never quite caught on with some is the right-turn-green-arrow. This accessory compliments a red light nicely, but sadly not all fellow drivers agree. Some seem confused by it. They wonder if the accessory is really the fashion for them (you can tell this type by the hesitant edging forward that goes on when this elusive arrow presents itself. Do they go? Is it OK!?). Others just flat out refuse to change. Red lights just shouldn’t wear such risqué accessories and therefore these drivers just go on pretending not to notice. Finally (and forgive me if I’ve forgotten anyone who annoys you – or you yourself), my personal favorite is the driver who has a slight case of tunnel vision/cell phoneitis. They’re a bit distracted but very excited by the green arrow. Wait for these drivers to evolve from what first seems the obstinate type. Before long they’ll jam on the gas, squeal the tires, and head around that corner so fast, you’ll wonder if you even saw them at all.

Well, that’s all the complaining I can muster in one session. Stay tuned.