November and Time

I don’t know where the month of November has gone.  I know they say that time seems to go faster as you get older, and then you throw a child into the mix and it really seems to fly.  I really hate being a cliche.

So, let’s catch up … late last month I was the recipient of a speeding ticket.  It wasn’t an intentional thing on my part, it was more along the lines of me getting stuck in the middle of a huge group of cars who were doing 15 MPH under the speed limit, then, somehow, at the traffic light, the 5 cars ahead of me decided to turn left, leaving me the first in line and when the light turned green, my mind was on something else. Tony was right behind me and when the light turned green I must have reveled in my freedom.  There wasn’t a real reason for me to speed, the lights are synched at that point all the way to the freeway, so no matter what speed I went, it wouldn’t have made a difference.  There I was, way ahead of everyone, and I saw that motorcycle cop.  Pretty sure it was the same guy who gave me my bicycle lane infringement ticket 5 years ago.  I wonder if, when he saw me, in his head he chanted, “Winner, winner, Chicken Dinner!”  I should have asked him that, huh?  In fact, I’m gonna write a list of questions I want to ask an officer sometime… like, “Is it illegal for a motorcycle to use the double yellow lines between the carpool lane and the fast lane as a motorcycle lane, basically “splitting” lanes there?”  and “Why does no one ever ticket the guy doing 40 MPH on the freeway?”  You know, that sort of thing.  I really am making a list, you know, because it’s these types of things I always forget to ask but really want to know when I’m faced with the officer who stands just behind your shoulder so you can’t really see him, while he’s asking to see your proof of registration and insurance and your hands are shaking because you’ve gotten caught breaking the law.

In other automotive news, a month ago, I backed out of my garage, shifted out of reverse into 1st, and my neighbor backed into my car.  It took me  a couple seconds to figure out what happened… because how does one hit something if I was moving forward and there was nothing in front of me?  Then I realized I hadn’t hit anything, someone had hit me.  So weird.  I’ve lived in this house for 8 years and never even come close to this happening.  Proof, once again, that little cars are invisible to big SUVs.   He said he’d replace the broken tail light, but I’m still waiting on it.  Not without many updates on his part, because I told him I was OK with a used part because Mazda plastics have a reputation of fading.  Plus, he has a couple small children, so if he’s anything like me, money is tight and every penny counts and used parts are generally less expensive.  The thing is, I’m finding, I really just don’t care… it’s not like I ever look at my own tail light.  I guess if it’s not replaced in another couple weeks, I’ll have to ask him about it.

Thanksgiving is this week… even though we celebrated Thanksgiving early with Tony’s family this past weekend, since Steve and Marigold are moving eastward, we’ll be hosting a small “crockpot” Thanksgiving at our house on the real day this week.  I’m looking forward to it.  A three day work week is what I’m facing this week, and the first day of it (today) is almost over.

Happy Thanskgiving, then, if I don’t get on here before then.