Dan Antion

Good Bad and Batsh*t Crazy

I thought that I had run out of unique examples of bad drivers, dumbass drivers and batsh*t crazy drivers, but apparently, there are too many out there. My first story is inspired by a bit of blame-the-victim journalism – that seems to work for other of society’s ills, so why not driving – that hits a little too close to home for my comfort. This was an article on “left-lane lolligaggers,” said to be the problem on our highways today.

Left-lane lolligaggers – are people traveling in the left (passing) lane on the highway. I have to admit, this is sometimes me. However, when it’s me, I’m usually doing at least one of two things: 1) I am passing cars that are in the center of the three lanes of I-91 heading south into Hartford, and / or 2) I am keeping up with the rush hour traffic in front of me, albeit at a safe distance, as I head to a left-hand exit I have to make. If I forget what a safe distance is, Greta (my GPS) reminds me. Using her built-in dashcam, and knowing my speed, she calculates how far I will travel before being able to stop. Greta has no desire to become dislodged from her perch, so she screams like a banshee(1).

The people complaining about LLLs are the people who want to go much faster than anyone on the road. They are the drivers who weave in and out of traffic like a pinball bouncing off bumpers, but now it’s my fault for not moving over and letting them have exclusive use of the left lane during rush hour.

The worst part of my morning commute.

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished – I used to think that was an old expression that had been mis-quoted so many times it had lost its original meaning. Too many times, it has been proven to be true, especially during my morning commute.

I go from I-91 south to I-84 east just as the highway enters Hartford. It’s a left-hand exit. I didn’t design the interchange that was once labeled the worst interchange in the Interstate system – it’s the interchange where then President Gerald Ford’s limo was hit – but I have to drive though it. Until a point 2 miles north of this exit, trucks, buses and trailers are prohibited from the left lane. To make matters worse, within that 2-mile approach to the 90° very short left exit, the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane merges from the left. All of this, combined with traffic bunching up because of numerous exits and the highway narrowing from three to two lanes, makes it very difficult for trucks to get onto the left-hand exit ramp. Here I go again…

I will often let a tractor-trailer merge into the left lane ahead of me. He’s working for a living. He has to make that exit and, what difference does it make? By this time traffic is moving at all of 20 mph (32 kph), one more truck isn’t going to matter.

A few weeks ago, I performed this small generous act, only to me met with a chorus of horns, including an airhorn from a different truck driver. It’s amazing, but horns can signal unmistakable thanks and anger just by the timing and duration of the honk. These weren’t thank-you honks. The guy that I let in flashed his lights to say thank you, but that wasn’t carrying the moment.

This was going to be an easy walk.
Waiting for the walk light, but apparently, that wasn’t going to be enough.
If I was a better artist, you would see her tire running over my foot.

Right-Turn Regardless – Connecticut is a right-turn-on-red state. According to the statute:

“Right-On-Red Rule. Connecticut law allows motorists to make a right turn after stopping at a red light unless there’s a sign indicating the turn is prohibited. However, drivers must use caution and follow the normal right-of-way rules when making a right on red.”

Normal right-of-way rules would include yielding to pedestrians who are in the crosswalk with the permission of the little Walk-Guy signal. Not so for me last Wednesday.

My best friend and I were walking from his condo to Dunkin Donuts Park to watch the Hartford Yardgoats beat the “Fightin Phils” from Reading (Redding), PA. When we came to the rampish street parallel to where I-84 tunnels under the city, we waited for the little walk guy. That’s a dangerous intersection. One lane goes left, two straight and one turns right. We got the light and we started moving. We weren’t the first pedestrians to enter the crosswalk. As I was about mid-bumper of a black BMW, the car started moving. I couldn’t see the driver, because all the windows were tinted (which I think is illegal). I yelled, but the car kept coming. As the left fender came dangerously close to me, I started banging on the hood. The driver’s side tire rolled up onto the side of my shoe – squeezing, but not crushing my left foot.

I yelled at the woman behind the wheel, but she sped away. My foot was not injured, but it remained uncomfortable for a couple of hours.

Included in today’s gallery are some of the scenes from a long weekend of work, walks and sitting with Maddie.

(1) A female spirit in Gaelic folklore whose appearance or wailing warns a family that one of them will soon die.

It started raining wile Maddie and I were walking. This is the reflection in my favorite puddle.
I’ve deleted a lot of close-up attempts but I like this one.
I love water drops (but I don’t like being out when they are being formed).
I’m not sure what I did to get the depth of field to narrow, but I like the effect.
The daylily is fading fast, but I still like this petal with the water drops,
“Hi. I know it’s raining, but I’m going to eat my breakfast.”
“Thanks for not poisoning the dandelions in your yard – these are good eatin.”
MiMi – Still here, still bored.
“There’s a storm coming. I’m gonna just lay here next to you.”
Snoopy had been grocery shopping for her babies.
“Yay – Fly!!!!! Thanks Mom!”
The extension roof is sheathed and wrapped with plastic until I start stripping the rest of the shingles. (It may be a while, and tarps leak after a while).
We thought we were in between the showers. About one minute after I took this picture, it started pouring.
So many drops.
I don’t know what this is, but I like it.
Maddie and I were playing with her ball when she decided we had played enough.
“Come on. sit with me. We can play ball again later.”
This isn’t one of the regulars. He’s afraid of Maddie.
The technical name of this flower is “I like this flower.”

94 comments

  2. Timely post for me. Last week, I was driving in my local area and getting onto the turnpike. A driver passed me on the right and charged off like it was the Daytona 500. I understand people have schedules, but it is a bit unnerving to have a driver run over your foot as you legally try to cross the road or pass on the right when I was driving at the standard mph as the other drivers. Then you add alcohol, drugs, and cell phone distractions, and all I can say is that it is dangerous out there. :-) This rain, although welcome because of the drought, is not good for your project. Hope it slows down and the humidity drops by the time your work schedule rolls around. Nice shots of the drops, and, of course, Miss Maddie.

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    • Thanks Judy. That’s crazy, and there’s no need for that type of driving. At best, you save a few minutes, 2 or 3 on a normal commute, and you put yourself and everyone else at risk. It’s not worth it.

      All I can say to the people who are in a hurry, because they are running late is “get you butt out of bed earlier!” On my morning commute, when I’m in the left lane (with lots of other folks), we are either going 70-75 and passing the cars in the center lane, or we’re going 30-35 like everyone else. I seriously don’t know what I’m supposed to do when these people come up behind me and flash their lights or honk.

      The rain looks like it might alter my project schedule, but we’ll see how the forecast shapes up. Right now, it’s all “under wraps” as it were.

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  3. Rain or shine, and everybody still goes about their business. As far as ‘No Good Deed Goes Unpunished” , I just happen to be the poster child (poster senior?) for that!!

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  4. Things I’ve learned as a pedestrian:
    1) I’m invisible – even when I’m wearing clothes with reflective material.
    2) there are a shocking number of drivers who don’t actually stop for stop signs or red lights. Often they don’t even slow down. That also goes for any driveways that access the road. Pedestrian beware if you are on the sidewalk.
    3) it is safer to treat crossing the street as an extreme sport. I’ve begun to sprint across intersections even when I have the happy walkie thing. I like my life.
    4) the heavier the traffic, the worse the driving behaviour, such as drivers refusing to allow others to merge, “ramp runners” who use a ramp or shoulder of the road to force their way into the traffic several car lengths further ahead.

    I’m not sure what’s happened to us, but even normally mild-mannered people somehow become gladiators when they get behind the wheel of a vehicle 😕 I’ve actually been honked at on several occasions for not aggressively trying to get around a pedestrian crossing the road.

    You’re lucky she missed your foot, Dan. As a pedestrian, sometimes I really wish I was carrying an air horn. Maybe then the drivers would get the message.

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    • That’s a very good list, Joanne.

      I normally wait until I make eye contact before crossing. Drivers are so concerned about making that right on red, they rarely look for pedestrians. This lady’s windows were all tinted, so I couldn’t see.

      I have gradually adapted my routes to and from work, to avoid the highway hot spots (as in hot mess of traffic). I’ve had so many close calls. I’ll give up a few minutes in favor of a less stressful ride.

      Very often, in cities, I don’t even cross at intersections. I walk down the block and cross in the middle. When it’s a one-way street, I feel it’s safer. A friend in Boston taught me to do that when walking there.

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      • I agree about the single lane roads. I often do the same thing. It’s horrifying though when I see people attempting that on multi-lane roads – especially when there is no median in the middle!

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  6. LOVED your gallery, Dan. And I happen to agree with you regarding who is driving on the roads, hence the reason I seek out quiet back roads to ride my bike on. Just the other day I was stopped at a red light (in my car). Approaching from the left was a construction truck entering the intersection from the cross-road. As that truck turned left onto the road I was driving on, a huge ladder and bucket fell out from out of the back of this truck into the exact lane I was in. The back door had been “accidentally” left open. Thank goodness I was stopped at the red light! I really tried to get an opportunity to alert the driver of this truck as to his missing ladder but no luck. I just hope there were no accidents and someone got the chance to get that ladder out of the road. I couldn’t believe my eyes! Why is everyone in such a hurry these days???? 😬

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    • You’re very lucky you weren’t hit with that stuff! I rode my bike on the road for over 50 years, but I am very reluctant to do so these days. Today’s drivers just aren’t paying attention, and a bike helmet is no match for a car.

      Glad you liked the gallery. I’m still experimenting with this camera (I’ve had it for three years) but some things are working.

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      • I do not like to admit this, but I am actually nervous about riding my bike. I have not done so in many weeks. What I am seeing on the roads today even on The quiet ones scare me. And you are right in that a bike helmet is no protection against a car. People just are not paying attention at all! And good luck with your camera because I seem to be on a very similar journey. I am stepping into Wildlife photography and it is not easy for me at all. I find myself on a huge learning curve!

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        • Unfortunately, Amy, I think we are right to be nervous. It’s hard to admit, but it just isn’t safe on most roads. As much as I don’t want to, I think I’ll be driving my bike to a bike path more and more often in the future.

          Good luck with the wildlife photos. Learning is frustrating, but it’s fun when it works :-)

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  7. Great photos, Dan. The raindrops are so pretty. Florida is a right-on-red state, except for when it’s not. And darn if people don’t start leaning on the horn when the traffic light is lit up saying, “NO right on red.” Everyone’s in a hurry…..

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  8. I had a headache by about halfway through this post as I tried to translate everything for someone who drives on the left. I still don’t understand half of it.

    I like your technical name for the yellow flower. Weird. I have lots of flowers here called the same. Although, sometimes I can specify the actual species as in “I like this yellow flower”.

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    • Sorry about the left-right translation. I realize we are probably the only country driving on the right. In any case, the woman drove when she shouldn’t have and ran over my foot. How she did it doesn’t matter. Why she did it is simple – she’s an idiot.

      Good to know what I was looking at was a ‘yellow’ flower. I like learning these things.

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  9. Dan, I am with you on the pedestrian thing – the woman did actually run over your foot. And, letting the truck driver merge in front of you was a “do-gooder” move that we need a lot more of today. You did not deserve to be gang hated for that one. But, we go our separate ways on blocking the left lane. I live in FLORIDA, the land of grey hair drivers! Imagine traveling down I95, going with the flow, when you encounter grandma hanging out in the left lane creating havoc. It is the law here that unless you are passing, you must move to the right as soon as possible. Even if you are driving the speed limit,(which my husband contends should count for something), you cannot block the flow of traffic.That rude dude behind you flashing his lights and blowing his horn has a right to use the left lane to pass and we don’t get a say in how he does it. Why risk a ticket by blocking the lane, let him get one for speeding instead. The photo of the rain drops on the green leaf is my favorite.

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    • Thanks Suzanne. I understand you’re point, and it’s a valid one. I’ve actually experienced that on the few times I’ve driven in FL.

      I should have been more specific about the left-lane thing. I agree with you, and I will run into those drivers when I travel, and you’re right, they should (and I do) move over.

      In this post, I’m talking about when I’m in rush hour traffic. If I’m going 75 (in a 65 mph zone) and I’m passing the people in the center lane, I’m not going to move over so the guy who wants to go 85 can pass me.

      Because it’s Connecticut, it’s more likely that I’m going 63 in a 65 mph zone, but still passing the people in the center lane and the guy behind me still wants to go 85. As I approach Hartford, the speed limit on I-91 drops to 55 and then to 50mph. Now, nobody slows down to that speed (except school buses – don’t get me started).but I still have to recognize the fact that at 75, I’m 25 mph over the speed limit. I have a left-hand exit in 2 miles, and I know the line of traffic won’t let me back in, if I move over to let some of them pass me.

      I do my best to get out of the way whenever possible, but some people just need to adapt.

      I’m glad you like the leaf. It’s one of my favorite close-ups yet.

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    • MiMi is the true nocturnal kitty, Peter. She likes to play early am and in the evening. She also likes to prowl during the night. This morning, at 4:00 am, she started banging the vacuum hose against the door it’s hanging on, in order for us to wake up and play with her.

      The stepdown transformers in our neighborhood usually serve 3-4 houses. 220, single phase, 100 – 200 amps. At least that’s what I think. I’ll take note and let you know.

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    • Exactly. This interchange is awful. Until the mid-90s. if you were going from I-84 east to I-91 north, you actually had to exit the highway and drive two blocks through downtown Hartford. That’s how President Ford’s limo got smacked.

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  12. I’m so grateful I live in the middle of nowhere. I know how bad drivers are here, where all the highways are only two-lane, and the maximum speed limit of the major highway is 90 km/h (56 mph), and just THINKING about interstates and off ramps, and dealing with these speed-hound idiot lunatics in an even greater number honestly makes my skin crawl. I’m very much a “drive at the limit and not a smidge over” kinda gal (because who needs to get slapped with a speeding ticket, or die in an accident for that extra 0.3344 seconds you gained driving like an imbecile?) and would not do well in such conditions. If I lived in the city, I fear I might just be that person who you shouldn’t flip off or try to rush on the road, because I might just have a baseball bat in the back of my car, and a zero tolerance policy for dangerous drivers and idiots…

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    • Ha ha – I love this comment, and I know it’s going to make my wife smile.

      There are days I wish I had a bat in the back. That’s why, as often as possible, I find myself taking a route that includes less time on the highway and more on comfortable back roads. I still run into idiot drivers, but at least they are going slower.

      You are right about how little time all the crazy driving actually saves. My commute is 18 miles. I can’t make much of a difference by going above the speed limit.

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    • HA! That’s how I keep collecting these. I do usually have a dashcam running. I’ve showed some stuff to my wife that reconfirms her decision to avoid the highways.

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  15. Enjoyed your layered post Dan. Must confess, I am a left lane driver but no lollygagger! I get to where I’m going fast and don’t like weaving thru lanes to do it. I will move over for those traveling faster than I, and assume they will be ticketed. Husband hates my driving but I’ve yet to be ticketed! Happy Monday driving to all, see you in the left lane!

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  17. I’m so sorry about the close encounter your foot had with the tire on a moving vehicle! Good grief. Bats*it Crazy definitely describes drivers today. I’ve been driving for 60 years without an accident and I’ve never gotten a ticket. I follow the rules of the road and stick to the speed limit. I’m gonna die some day, but I really don’t want to go because of one of these idiotic morons.

    Photo gallery is great, especially those closeups of raindrops and the “I don’t know what it is, but I like it” flower. Great shots of Snoopy and the soaking wet bunny.

    Maddie is too cute with her ball and MiMi really needs a hobby. Can’t you bring home some mice for her to chase??

    Torrential rain here every 30 minutes or so. Trying to coordinate Murphy’s bladder with the non-rain moments! Not so successful.

    🔹 Ginger 🔹

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    • “Trying to coordinate Murphy’s bladder” made me laugh. We try so hard to get Maddie to just go outside, do her business and come back in. We end up walking the perimeter, sniffing everything in sight and her pulling for the door. “You have to pee!” can be heard by anybody listening to us from space.

      MiMi has her play time, but it’s usually early am of late pm. We had mice at one point last winter. Neither MiMi nor MuMu could be bothered. We trapped the little buggers and set them free. Finally, I repaired the barricade that was designed to keep them out of a crawl space.

      I gave Maddie that ball, because, sometimes, running with the ball will encourage her to pee. You can see how well that worked.

      Thanks Ginger!

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  18. Hi Dan – sadly we just need to keep our eyes open for poor drivers, shut our ears for unnecessary honkings … and worse for me – I struggle sometimes with what I’m doing (driving different cars adds a little to my challenges) … but I do give myself plenty of time, and double take to get across or turn corners etc … walking too – electric cars don’t help – often I can’t hear them. That series of junctions sounds really difficult – take care and am glad you had some rain … many will be wishing for a little of the wet stuff. Cheers Hilary

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    • I remember being taught to “Drive Defensively” – now I have to walk defensively and drive like I’m paranoid. Since we live near the airport, I’m always on the look out for visitors, driving while trying to figure out where the controls are. Those guys are truly scary.

      Crossing the street is hard. Even where there’s no right turn on red, people still look left and bug out when they can.

      Thanks for the comment, Hilary.

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  19. Don’t get me started on left lane lolligaggers…ugh…drives me crazy whenever we drive from Phoenix to LA or visa versa…Interstate 10 connects the two large population areas with just two lanes on either side the minute you get out of “population” and hit the barren desert. Unfortunately it is also one of the heaviest traveled freeways for trucks, trucks and trucks….port of LA goods moving east to not only Arizona, but New Mexico and Texas…and visa versa. So you end up with these string of trucks traveling slower and then the “Left Lane Lolligaggers” go into the left lane and leisurely pass them creating a long line of cars behind them. Speed limit through the desert is 75…most drivers do 80, but the LLL like 60……I feel better….thanks!! Love your pics!!

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    • Feel free to vent Kirt. Those guys are a problem. I am often in the left lane, but never lolligagging. I’m there to pass. What bothers me are the people behind me who think I’m not passing fast enough (no, not a leisurely pace), especially when I have no where to go, because the people in front of me are going the same speed as me.

      I know the trucks-on-a-2-lane-highway experience. It’s not fun.

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  20. OMG!! I’m glad you didn’t get your foot completely smashed and run over!

    Last week must have been the week of unruly, rude, just plain bad drivers. I had 2 near misses —idiots cutting right in front of me as if I wasn’t there, causing me to slam on brakes, and a complete asshole who laid on his horn and shook his fist as me because he was behind me and I was yielding to a pedestrian. I always do, and we’re supposed to let them get completely across the street, and out of the crosswalk before starting into the crosswalk to complete our journey! He saw the pedestrian and still laid on his horn! Once I entered the street after letting the woman cross the street I went ever so slow just to piss him off more. What a jerk! I wished him all sorts of slow traffic and good drivers in front of him for the rest of the day just out of spite.

    I loved the reflection in your favorite puddle, and the shallow depth of field flower. Hope you figure out what you did there since you like the effect. I do too.

    Here’s hoping it’s an uneventful driving week for us all!

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    • Thanks Deborah. I was honked at a few weeks ago for not turning red across a crosswalk that had a person in it. Technically, I could have made the turn, but like you, I thought the law said “until they exit the crosswalk.” This person was coming toward my side of the street, so even more reason to wait.

      Maybe there was a full moon, or an astrological event I wasn’t aware of. Of maybe there was a nationwide shortage of the meds that normally keep these people calm.

      I love that reflections (except for the fact that I was getting wet). I don’t know what is up with my camera. I’ve taken pictures like that before, but the focus has been much more even throughout the image.

      I haven’t done an update, but I’m getting a different message when I set up these features, and the settings are not “sticking” – I’m having to reset for each shot. I may have to ask the minister of finance for permission to upgrade :-)

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        • I don’t know. I like this Nikon, I think it’s just having issues. It’s been repaired once under warranty but the warranty period has passed.

          My wife has the smaller model, and she liked it. I’ve been burned before by buying the new model of a camera I liked. I will do much more research before upgrading if I go that route.

          I agree about the crazies.

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  21. I b’lieve that there flahr is a snapdragon. Pinch its cheeks and see if it opens its mouth. I’M NOT KIDDING. That lady who ran over your foot must have thought you were trying to carjack her or something. Next time, key her paint; I’ll bet she stops then. I witnessed a bat**it crazy guy zoom almost straight perpendicular across two lanes of expressway traffic to reach an exit. Kids, don’t try this at home.

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    • I pounded on her hood pretty hard. I hope it left a dent. I said some things I’m not proud of, but I’d say them again if someone put a car on my foot. We were going to a ballgame! There were tons of pedestrians. This woman picked up her keys, but left her brain on the kitchen table.

      Snapdragons, you say. I might give them a squeeze. Thanks!

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  22. Hiya – I have to admit I’m glad I’m in relaxed Canada … where people 99% of the time have time and are friendly … I still make mistakes, but fortunately I’m still quite quick witted to adjust and I don’t have an earpiece blocking out noise!! Crossing roads can be lethal … and I still operate the English way … c’est la vie – cheers Hilary

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  23. After just returning from a 7-week trip where we were pedestrians 99.9% of the time (except when we visited outside villages and had to take a cab or hire a driver), it was really hard to get behind the wheel again. It seems that (in this country, anyway) people lose their minds once they get in the driver’s seat. It’s like they are competing against each other in a giant video game. Add to that all the distractions now available, I’m surprised there aren’t more accidents. I hope you put a good-sized dent in that idiot’s hood.

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    • “It’s like they are competing against each other in a giant video game” Thats the exact comment my wife makes.

      I was in an accident once about 35 years ago. I couldn’t drive fir about two months. Driving again was a challenge.

      The woman sped off, but I do hope I left a mark.

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  24. I like that flower too! I love all your photos, especially that ‘starbge’ black squirrel. They are so exotic for me. Man, Lee would have hopped on that car and rode it all the way home just so he could have apiece of her. How is your foot? People are getting worse. 😤

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  25. I know that 91/84 intersection and don’t miss it at all. I don’t miss CT driving a bit, for that matter. That’s pretty rude that the woman actually drove on your foot! I’m glad you didn’t get too hurt. :-)

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  26. You already know I’m in your corner in the aggravating driver discussion. I spent too much time on the interstate this morning on my way to my favorite tea shop and I saw all sorts of irritating drivers. I really needed the tea and down time by the time I arrived!! Also saw lots of little rabbits this morning during my peaceful walk in the part before hitting the highway. Much more relaxing there. :-)

    janet

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    • I cn imagine you thinking about being on a horse with nothing but open country ahead of you. That would be the way to commute.

      I much prefer the park to my morning commute. I leave an hour early, to miss as much traffic as I can, and I come home via an old road that goes up the other side of the river from the highway, again, to miss the traffic. I don’t know what makes people so angry or aggravated on the road, we all know what to expect during rush hour or when there’s construction.

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        • Ugh – just too many cars. My problem is that I work on the opposite side of the river from where I live. I only have three bridges I can use before I’m driving well north of where I live, so I run out of options pretty quick.

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          • It’s like that trying to get around Naperville. There are only a certain number of streets that go through very far running north and south, so those get crowded. Thankfully, my little job is just a short distance, even during rush hours, which is only coming home.

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    • Thank you so much. The rain ended our walk early, but it did give me a chance to see the drops on those pine needles. I think that was worth having to dry off a wet dog.

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    • Thanks Jennie. We call the bird Snoopy because she always sits on top of the birdhouse. They work so hard to feed those babies. She flies out 50-100′ and comes back with some tasty morsel. I get tired watching her.

      Drivers…ugh. There are so many bad, nasty, selfish drivers out there. I do my best to avoid the times when they are concentrated, but it’s hard.

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  29. Please don’t stop being the good Samaritan. The ones on the highway with bad attitudes will get theirs in the end. Sure, it’s an old saying just like the one you quoted but I believe it is true.

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    • Don’t worry, I won’t. It feels good to give someone a break. I can’t even imagine what it must be like to have to merge a tractor-trailer into a long line of traffic at rush hour. If everybody says “he can go after me” he’s never getting over. Sooner or later, I do think things catch up with people.

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  31. I don’t enjoy driving like I once did. It has less to do with my age, more to do with crazy people on the roads. I adore the photo of MiMi. Now there’s a creature with her priorities in the right place.

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  32. You get such GOOD bunny shots! Love the water droplets, too :)
    I, too, must make a batsh*t crazy exit in the course of my morning commute. I have about 20 seconds, about an eighth of a mile, to go from the far left lane (4) to the second to the rightest lane (2) in a merge scenario. Merge on, merge off. I hate it. When I take the girls to school, I don’t go that way, and sometimes I think I should just leave earlier and go the windy way. Sigh.
    TODAY, on the way home, I stopped with a gap so that people who wanted to turn in and out of a street could. Some jerkface drove around me on the shoulder so he could be in front of me and block the intersection. He stopped opposing traffic. They really appreciated him. Mmhm. Lots of honking and waving #1. But, then, up a bit farther, same path, there’s a firehouse. And it has a big sign, “Do Not Block Intersection” and that same jerkface blocked it, and guess what? Out came the fire engine! A fireman leapt off the truck, yelled at the jerkface, “Pull into the grass!” and took a picture of his license plate. After the fire truck passed, the light changed, we all proceeded, and passed jerkface.
    I dunno why people wanna be like jerkface.

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  35. I love your drop-rich gallery, especially that technical term for a flower. :D Not so much the traffic stories. :( The BMW tale is ugly and the closest I could come in sensation to an encounter in a dark alley after which you knew it was close and that those guys also could let you walk with more than just a few unfortunate remarks. Other than that, every time I read your traffic examples I’m spurred to write about driving in Rome. One of these days I will.

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    • From what I’ve heard, my traffic and perhaps my Batsh*t Crazy drivers can’t compare to those in Rome. I’d enjoy reading that. If you use the waterfall as a guide, you have a year to write that ;-)

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      • Hihihhi, you’re counting! :D I’m quite sure I’ve told you yet that you spur my Rome- driving memories with your examples. But it’s opposite to what one would think: driving in Rome might look insane, but it’s the most organic and efficient driving pattern developed (well… haven’t been to Asia yet). There are so many cars that they need to drive fast, start all at the same time, and cover all street surface no matter how many lines are drawn. The only problems are with people who come from elsewhere and don’t get it. Besides, you are allowed to do everything: stop (because you need both hands to talk – I witnessed that), turn any which way, go out and hop into a shop… The only honking you’ll receive is for driving too slow and for slow reflexes. There’s more… One day. Need to go back to Italy to be triggered.

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  36. I thoroughly enjoy your posts like this one. So, whenever I see a map with all those arrows and markers, I am like, Oh! this one must have some funny weird traffic story. I keep seeing all this here, but I never knew that the USA has some freaking drivers and riders.

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