#awaaaaake

I have a question.  An honest one.  What is so important that people seem to totally disregard the safety of themselves and others in their race to get somewhere?

I love driving.  Love it.  I love my car.  I love driving with the windows down and radio on.  I like driving around for no reason at all, though it's not something I can really do right now because of high gas prices.  But I love driving.  And honestly, it's not really that hard to make sure I check all of my mirrors, windows, and blind spots before I do something like turn or change lanes.  It really isn't.  So why is it that ever since I got my license I've been almost hit probably five times by people not checking to see if the lane next to them is clear?

I mean, honestly people!  This has happened to me a ridiculous amount of times in the past three years.  Today, it happened again and I really was just ready to let it go.  But then...   All I was trying to do was get to the store to pick up some things for work.  We ran out so they sent me out to get them.  On the way there was when the idiot almost side-scraped me.  It was on the way back where an idiot decided he was going to turn right on red.  Which is okay.  Unless I'm the one coming across the intersection in that lane and happen to be right there when they're turning! 

This person didn't even look long enough to see if I was moving.  They just started turning.  I assumed it's because their light had just turned red and they thought they had time.  But come on.  Check your lanes people.  I'd rather live to enjoy my next birthday. And I'd rather not have to repair my car.

I almost hit a dog the other day too.  Another idiot, the owner, wasn't paying attention and didn't even notice their dog was going across the street.  Naturally, I didn't expect it either and was just coming up over a hill and around the corner.  The road to my house is really twisty and hilly.  So anyway, I'm coming over the hill and I see the dog.  But then it's like in slow motion.  It takes me a second to notice it's not stopping.  Another second to start hitting the brakes.  And another to swerve out of the way while trying to not over correct and run off the road. 

The dog made it.  I'm not sure how I avoided him, honestly.  But I guess I've just gotten good at swerving away form cars when they start trying to go through me to get to my lane.  All in all, I had a heart attack and was tempted to start yelling at the owner for not paying attention to her dog with an unfenced yard and no leash.

Moral of this post?  Pay attention people.  Things happen around you that you can't control.  Check your blind spot again.  Watch your animals.  If you live in the country, watch for deer or pets trying to cross the road.  If you live in the city, pets may be a problem too but watch out for other people.  I don't know how some people even get their license. So be careful.  And drive safe.  Seat belts!!!