Model Citizenship

At least that’s what SHOULD have happened today on the 241 Southern California Toll Road. In keeping with this week’s vehicle etiquette theme, I could not pass up on reporting today’s incident. While driving on the 2 lane (average speed of 80mph) toll road, I came across another vehicle that caught my attention. It was a fellow Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. He pulled up next to me and gave the standard wave/thumbsup which most car enthusiasts do when they see a fellow driver with the same car. He then proceeded to pass me and I pulled up behind him at cruising speeds. We were in the left lane of the two lane highway, and slowly creeping up on an SUV which was on the right hand side. At that moment I see the SUV swerve dangerously into the Evo’s lane, nearly running him off the road before violently swerving back into the right lane. As it was my turn to pull up next to the SUV, I glance over and what do I see? A woman putting on eye makeup, COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS to what had just happened! Now I must admit, we are all guilty at times of not being 100% focused while driving, but this is ridiculous. I mean, what’s next? Cutting your toenails while at a stoplight? At least then the car wouldn’t be traveling 80+mph if you did that..hmm.. cruise control anyone?

Well anyways, as I pull up next to her, I honk and give her the requisite thumbsdown. She looks at me confused (as I would expect from somebody who probably ate copious amounts of Elmers glue as a child) and continues about her business. I pull up next to the Evo and we both shake our heads. At times like this I wish I had a modelcitizenship bumper sticker or something to refer them to this site (or maybe some James Bond gadgets in my car, like the rocket launcher and tacks).

So what do you think? Do you guys out there have any outrageous distracted driver stories? Are you guilty of this? Don’t be afraid to post!

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So, let’s get this out front so it is not said that I am being unjustifibly judgemental - I ride a motorcycle. With that said, I now want to voice my “distaste” for an incident that occurred in the carpool lane of the northbound 405 freeway in Orange County, CA. Motorcycles in the carpool lane are quite common - passing to the right of traffic in the carpool lane just as common…Passing with patience (giving the driver of the vehicle in front of you time to spot you) is tolerable - expecting an open entitlement to pass at will - not so much.

Time: Approximately 8:00 AM - Rush hour traffic

So, the incident involved a guy on a sportbike and myself in a pick-up truck. I was doing about 60 mph with about a 3-second interval between me and the car in front of me. There was a car behind me with a little less space…Suddenly, doing approximately 80 mph, a motorcycle passed me using the space betwen the pair of double yellow lines that separates the carpool lane from the rest of the lanes.

At the precise moment he passed (I never saw him until he was at my front fender) - I was more toward the right side of the carpool lane.

As he passed, he proceeded to salute me with the standard middle finger display of his IQ. I guess he was unhappy I did not yield the entire lane, eh? So, if I had the chance to talk to this brainiac, I would ask why he feels it is my job to watch for motorcylces passing to my right over the double yellow? Maybe he figures I have nothing else to do during my commute??? Let’s list the things I am “NOT” doing while in the carpool lane:

1. Watching for brake lights in the carpool lane in front of me (sudden stops in car pool lanes never happen, right?)
2. Watching for debris in the lane ahead of me (because freeway crap never gravitates toward the shoulders, eh?)
3. Watching for cars to dart into the carpool lane across the double yellow from a dead stand still (cause they Never do that, right?)
4. Checking the rearview mirror to ensure that the car behind me is allowing for enough space in the event of a sudden stop (see #1)

So, now I have been assigned the task of watching for motorcyclists who decide that they are entitled to use the carpool lane in whatever fashion they like….Motorcyclists often complain that motorists do not look for motorcylces - that they don’t see motorcycles…

I want to give this motorcyclist some advice:

1. Drop the hot-dogging on the freeway - dead motorcyclists are never impressive!
2. If you want people to see you, you have to make yourself seen!
3. Keep the rubber side down!

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15 pc Drink Set

Sushi Set

Martini Set

Quesadilla Maker…

All gifts that my friends and I brought to an optional $20 dollar gift exchange for a work party. What did I end up getting?……a 1999 cd-rom edition of the World Book Encyclopedia for Kids with the box falling apart from years of moving from bargain bin to bargain bin of various Kmarts. What compels this model citizen to bring such a crap gift to an OPTIONAL gift exchange? This is worst than last year’s bottle of Preferred Stock cologne that I received from the gift exchange. At least that one was a $5-10$ gift exchange, so such a gift is expected.

Not only that, as I was opening the gift, I overheard somebody saying “that’s a gift for kids”. Gift for kids?!! Why did you bring this to an adult Christmas party? What are you thinking?! Not only is it a cheap crappy gift, it’s a gift for kids that you brought to an adult function, AND it’s also 7 years outdated!

So there you go, the first of many holiday model citizens to come. Check back for next years gift, maybe I’ll get Beaches special edition DVD or something…

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