Just Why – Politics?

Why to people feel the need to post political statements on social media? I’m not talking about political blogs or discussion groups. Enjoy your debates there. I am talking about general Facebook or Twitter accounts.

Feel what you feel….just don’t spout off. I’m not going to change your mind, you’re not going to change mine….and when you call me an idiot for what I think or believe (without me engaging at all), all you do is make me angry and less likely to even consider your point of view. Besides, my Mom always said, “don’t talk religion or politics.”

Driving Me Crazy

I’m not the greatest driver in the world.  I’m not the worst. To give you some idea about my driving ability, I drive slightly slower than average and I generally stay in the right hand lane. I have been driving for over thirty-five years and have had two accidents. One was on an untreated icy road. In the second accident, I was rear-ended. Thankfully no one was hurt in either.  Given the amount I have driven, I have been very blessed on the roadways.

Today I want to talk about seven road behaviors that “drive” me crazy. Please note that I don’t mention driving under the influence or texting, since I think most folks agree those are dangerous and sincerely try to avoid them.

1. Merging. Does anyone know the meaning of the word “yield”? When I went through driver’s education, it meant that merging traffic waited until there was a safe gap in the through traffic before entering the highway. I swear some folks think, “I am coming onto the highway, so everyone get out of my way. I’ll just close my eyes, yell “yee-haw” and get in safely.” Equally scary is the driver already on the highway who will force his way over into the left lane because there is someone on the entrance ramp. Once, I had a woman literally stop on a busy interstate highway and try to wave me into the lane. Thanks, but no thanks. I really would prefer to wait my turn. I’ll do my best to wait for a gap and merge safely.

2. Left hand turns. Now this one may be local, since I don’t recall seeing it before moving. Drivers making a left hand turn onto a divided highway and pull onto the road blocking the traffic in the opposite direction from that which they want to go. They then wait until traffic is clear to finish the turn.  I have see traffic forced to stop until they completed the turn. I am dreading the time when someone gets rammed because of this move.

3. Using turn signals. There are a few interesting types of turn signals use. Some people don’t use them. I don’t know if they are trying to save the light bulb or just want to be stealthy. There are those who put the turn signal on and change lanes. They don’t check for traffic, they don’t look around, they assume other drivers will get out of the way. Hey, they signaled didn’t they. Then there are the drivers that forgot they have the signal on and drive for mile, after mile, after mile signalling.

4. Blind spots. I know that every vehicle has them. Drivers use mirrors and check twice and three times to compensate for them. Having a bumper sticker that says you have blind spots does not absolve you of responsibility. Don’t think it’s only the big rigs that seem to have an issue. On a clear day, on a straight piece of highway, we were forced off the road by a motor home driver that apparently did not see our sedan. Yikes!

5. Special needs. Have you seen the trucks that say, “This vehicle makes wide turns”. Well great, as long as you can make the turn from your own lane and without mowing over an roadside sign or tree, we won’t have a conflict. Don’t make a left from the center lane and just assume that there is no one in the actual left lane. If your vehicle is so big that you can’t safely maneuver it. Get it off the road. Yes, I know, it is cheaper to transport freight in a larger truck and I am as frugal as the next guy. The two cents that I saved on toilet paper really won’t mean a whole lot when I am dead.

6. Roadside Parking. At one time or another, everyone has had to pull off the road onto the shoulder. It is not a fun experience. The recent law that states that a traveling vehicle should move to another lane to give a better safety zone for the emergency situation is a good one. One thing though, the law says you should move into another lane if it can be done SAFELY, otherwise reduce speed and proceed cautiously. Check traffic before changing lanes. I might be right there beside you.

7. Bicycles. Ride your bicycles where you can be safe. I really don’t want to hit you. You have a right to be on the roadway. If you want the rights, you follow the rules. Stop at lights and stop signs. Go the right way on one-way streets. Don’t dart in and out of traffic. Stay off of sidewalks.

I’ve given you seven behaviors that scare me when I am driving. There are many more. You can all laugh at me for being scared. A woman of a certain age, who can’t deal with driving anymore. I really don’t think that is it. Folks seem to be in their own world, busy rushing here or there and doing their own thing. Accidents happen so quickly and with the things that I’ve seen, I am surprised that there aren’t more of them.

What are your pet peeves concerning drivers? I hope that I don’t “drive you crazy”.

Advice for Entrepreneurs

 

It was an average kind of day. My hubby and I had a number of errands to run so we were going to do the 25-mile drive into town. We generally try to do a number of things in a trip. It saves gas and it saves time.

 

First on the agenda was my trip to the doctor. The office is on the large campus of one of the major hospitals in town. It was my first visit to this particular physician and while they did provide a street address and a room number on the appointment card, there are about twelve buildings at the hospital. It is a bit of a crapshoot to pick the right building. Since I did some fairly convoluted searching on the Internet, we did find the place. The doctor was nice and competent and other than having to schedule some normal follow-up tests all went well with the visit.

 

Tip Number 1: Provide complete address information for all places of business or recreation.

 

I get positively cranky when an event is advertised and it says, “The fabulous mart is held at Saint Sam’s Church.” I would love to go to your event. I might even buy something and add to your profits. I am new to town or I am a tourist or I am directionally challenged. How in the heck am I supposed to find your location? Your 4-color full-page ad was wonderful and it caught my interest, but if you don’t tell me where you are, I’m not getting there. Unless I really, really want to go, I am not going to do the additional research needed to find out your location.

 

Back to our day trip, next on the agenda was a stop at the drugstore to pick up some gosh awful expensive medicine for hubby. The drug store is a bit out of the way for us, but since it is where we can get the drug for a reasonable price through our insurance, that’s where we go. We pick up the bag at the pharmacy and scoot out of the drugstore. What wonderful service. Right?

 

Next stop…the craft store. You have seen the comic strips with the older couple in the store and the woman spending an hour picking out the right skein of yarn and the husband rolling his eyeballs. We are those people. But this time I was prepared. I had a particular target in mind and a fine coupon for 40% off. I found the item, didn’t loiter and headed for the register. Price was $15. Now let see, 40% off is $6, leaving me with a $9 item plus a bit for tax. The lady at the register asks me for $17. Say what? Okay, she just misread the register, so all was well. I pay my $9 and leave.

 

Tip Number 2: Make sure employees have some basic knowledge of grade school arithmetic.

 

I know, you have electronic registers that scan UPC codes, manage inventory and do all the calculations for you, but a bit of knowledge about addition, subtractions and dare I demand percentages, really would help. I just feel like bashing my head against the counter, when a clerk can’t deduct 10% from a sales item without using a computer. Yes, I went to school a few years ago and yes we did have calculators, but we learned the basics without relying on those calculators.

 

Stop number four on our itinerary was a local “variety” store. Hubby likes to go there for the weird sodas and I like their cheap plunk. We had about 20 minutes kill before the restaurant that we were planning to have dinner in opened. We did our browsing, bought our wine and soda and all went well. So now we are off to dinner.

 

We pull into the restaurant at 5:05 PM. I had wanted to try this place since they reviewed it in the local newspaper. The journalist raved about the food and the prices seemed reasonable. I had my eye on a nice seafood dinner. Hubby and I had tried to get in the place a few weeks ago for lunch, but they were closed. The review had said that the restaurant was open for lunch, but sometimes in a new place traffic doesn’t support the original hours and things change. I understand that, not a problem. So we are here for dinner. We walk in the hostess looks at us and asks, “What can I do for you?” I say, “Two for dinner”. She says, “We are not open yet”. I ask, “What time do you open?” “5:00 PM.” I did mention it was 5:05 PM didn’t I? She sees my face and says, “You can have a seat but the cooks are out in the parking lot and we aren’t ready yet.” I say, “Thanks but maybe not.” As we leave we see a bunch of guys in the parking lot staring in a cooler, chatting and laughing. I guess they were comparing the size of their fish. At least the catch of the day was fresh.

 

Tip Number 3: Post your hours and open on time.

 

Guess what? We are not going back to that restaurant. Hubby and I now have an ongoing bet on when this place will go out of business. My guess is by the end of the year. Hubby said at the end of the tourist season.

 

Back to our day trip, all is not lost for supper. I had a fall back plan for one of our local haunts. It is a bar and serves food. They have great burgers and buffalo chicken. It is quirky, so I fit right in. There is a boar’s head displayed prominently over the bar with a bevy of bras adding to the festive décor. Gosh, I love that place. Hubby and I have a nice dinner and head home. Looking forward to some mindless TV viewing for the evening. We unpack the car.

 

As I was getting a drink, I notice the bag from the pharmacy. I get the prescription out to put it away and look at the bottle. “Dang, Dang and Double Dang”, I yell. Hubby comes running into the kitchen saying, “What’s wrong.” (For full disclosure, maybe those are not the exact expletives that I used.) The pharmacy gave you the wrong prescription I rant. Hubby now has Mr. Smith’s bottle of Oxycodone and we don’t have his drug.

 

Tip Number 4: Put the right item in the bag that you are handing your customer, especially if you are dealing with items that can kill you.

 

Yes, we should have checked the bag. But really, shouldn’t we be able to rely on something that basic being done right. Hubby calls the pharmacy and explains the issue. Then it is the 50-mile round trip to town again. Frankly hubby was a lot nicer, when he returned the drugs, than I would have been. He only gently pointed out that they gave him a heavy-duty narcotic and that the results could have been like in the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life” if George had never been born and the druggist, killed the patient.

 

We returned home to the cat and the TV. We got our stuff and nobody died. The trip was a success. Hopefully if you follow my tips, your business will be too.