The Day and Driving...

Yesterday was harder than I thought it would be.  I had some intense pain in my side by the time I went to bed and while I do have pain meds, I really hate to use them.  I don’t like feeling slobbery and out-of-it, so I generally tend to gut out pain. Waking up this morning, the pain wasn’t bad but I feel like I have a hangover, and I rarely get that feeling…even when I drink myself stupid (that’s what drinking lots of water does for you) so I’m caffeine dependent until the feeling goes away.

I thought it was interesting that while in the Starbucks Drive thru, the Barista (I wish I knew her name because we chat all the time) leans forward and says “Did I tell you I bought a new truck?”  I told her she hadn’t and asked her what she bought.  She purchased a Toyota Tacoma and was extremely proud.  I told her it was a great choice and asked her how she liked sitting high off the ground and the feel of the truck.  She loves it and it makes her feel like she can do anything.  She said “Now I don’t need a man for anything!” to which I replied…”Well, maybe sex” and she laughed. I do not feel this is a laughing matter.  I need men for sex...I can do it by myself, but it doesn't hold a candle to how a man can make me feel! 

She is at least 20 years of age, and I like that she’s thinking independently.  A woman should absolutely know how to take care of herself. This includes the simple things like your car maintenance (checking the oil, tire pressure, fluids and being able to change a flat tire), household budget, yard work, etc.  This way, when loser men come around, you can kick them to the curb because you’re not dependent upon them (a lesson I learned from my mother…the hard way).  But I hate to think the next generation of women are going to be militant man-haters like me (although I’m working really hard at changing that, and I think I’m doing brilliantly!). There is a role for all of us in this world.  I want to believe that the right man will complete the half of me that isn’t so great…the right man could be my better half and bring out the best of me. And I would like to think that I could do the same for the right man.  I will say this…I might not be the best woman, but he’ll be laughing and having fun.

Having been in a long term marriage that was half joyless, I have to say that’s probably one of the most important things I’m looking for in a relationship. Joy! Fun! Laughter! I’m not foolish or naïve enough to believe that it will be like that 100% of the time, but 75% would be great! 85% would be fantastic!

In the SacBee today was an article about a couple that died within days of each other…both succumbed to cancer (his was bladder and hers was breast).  They had found their love later in life, both had been previously married and divorced. Both were educators and devoted to the community. She put off chemo to care for her husband and be with him. She made a choice for love…one that cost her life, but she had no regrets.  When faced with real life examples, I guess I may have to concede that kind of love may actually exist. But I’m going to go with extremely rare.

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On a completely different track, I had an idiot woman driver do one of my pet peeves.  We were both making a right turn at a double lane turn with a green arrow.  She’s in the right, I’m in the left. We make our turns at the same time and she comes over into my lane without even looking to see if I’m there, assuming that the lane is empty. REALLY??? My Durango is twice the size of her little car, but fortunately for me, twice as agile too. So I brake and swerve and she misses me by an inch.  Now she’s in my lane, in front of me and I lay on the horn.  She doesn’t even acknowledge her mistake, and I’m pissed!  I lay on the horn again and then (after checking the right lane beside me) go around her and flip her off…even though I’m aware that she is a co-worker in my facility.  I basically stopped flipping people off after I started carrying a CCW 16 years ago.  So for me to do it now, is pretty rare and I’m pretty mad!  Skanks like her give good women drivers a bad name!  I’m not saying I haven’t made mistakes, but when I do, I acknowledge it and at the very least do an apologetic wave or something. UGH! 

My last big mistake was when I was driving a friend’s truck in Cabo.  Thank God that thing was lifted! He was inebriated and tossed me the keys (shhhh, I don't think he remembers this episode, so keep it on the DL)…I was excited because this is a big beast of a Tundra.  We’re talking power baby…and when you’re in the driver’s seat, you’re God!  So I’m driving very slowly out of the parking lot, west, into the setting sun.  I see the Guard to my left and he’s waving nonchalantly, so I continue my course forward.  What I couldn’t see, due to the height of the truck and the setting sun, was the chain stretched across the road.  Like I said before, Thank God the Tundra was lifted because the chain came across at the tires, I bent the hook on the chain and dropped it. I stop the truck, throw it in park and get out thinking that this chain probably went across the grille and damaged it. Not to mention the possible damage to the headlights, etc.  After letting out a huge sigh of relief, I then tackled the problem of bringing down the chain in the first place. 

That’s all I need is to be incarcerated in a Mexican jail. I don’t speak Spanish (yet..working on it), I look Hispanic (especially after hanging out in the sun), and I’ve damaged property.  It’s moments like these when you’re really happy you’re not drunk, but you wish you were! Fortunately for me, the Guard was a sweetheart and accepted a kiss on his cheek and a profuse apology. See??? A sincere apology gets you everything and I got to drive off into the sunset (only under duress will I admit that going braless and wearing a sarong around your waist with as much exposed leg as possible probably helped matters)….Only to go speeding down the Cabo corridor at outrageous speeds and feeling like nothing could touch me behind the wheel of that Tundra!  Thank God I didn’t have to talk my way out of a ticket…”Gee Officer, I was really trying to make this Tundra my bitch, and am therefore justified in my use of excessive speed and general weaving in and out of traffic”…(Now, how do you say all of that in Spanish???)

Before I call it an evening, I've got one more piece of news! I got a new sofa set! It's got an extra large recliner chaise on it so the Beanster and I can recline and watch movies together!  She will so love this (I bought it with her in mind)! The middle section folds down with cup holders and the far right section reclines also.  It's electric, which worries me a little and it was a little bit more than I was looking to spend, but I've been looking for a damned year and finally found something comfortable, that will work.  This chaise is so sweet, that a bigger man could sleep on it comfortably. So, it buys me a little time for the spare room. Let the visiting commence!!!

G'nite my friends!