Pet Peeves and Other Things

1. PEOPLE WHO DON'T TAKE THEIR TURNS AT STOP SIGNS. It doesn't bother me as much if they go before they should, but the ones who haven't paid attention, or just want to be a nice guy, who don't go when they should drive me up the wall.

2. NO TURN SIGNALS OR SIGNALING WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU IS TURNING AND YOU ARE NOT. There is a little lever on the left side of your steering column. It goes up and down. When you use it, little arrows on your instrument panel flash showing which way you are turning. And, there are lights on the outside of your car that flash along with those inside. They tell other drivers that you are going to turn. You know you're turning, but other drivers can't read your mind! Also, you putting on your brakes lets the drivers behind you know that you are slowing down. By signaling that the car in front is turning is only confusing. The other drivers may think YOU are turning and decide to go around you, about the time you start to go again.

3. NOT DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT. I don't mind speeding much, unless it is in a residential area, because I tend to speed at times myself. But, if you can't drive the speed limit, you shouldn't be driving. That's just as dangerous as excessive speed.

Those are my top 3 pet peeves. As you can see they pertain to driving. I'm sure I have more things that drive me up the wall, but right now this is all I can think of.

People are always being reminded to check on elderly neighbors during stormy or dangerous weather. But, when do you become the elderly neighbor that needs to be checked on? Is there a magic age? And, who decides if someone is now the elderly one? Does that person decide they are elderly and tell their neighbors that they need to be checking on you? Or do the neighbors decide and send you an anonymous letter that you now fall into the elderly category and they will be taking turns checking on you?

If someone knows the answer to this question, please tell me before I lose anymore sleep!

The Time Changes...Every Day

Usually it is the spring time change that messes with everyone's internal clock. Not me...this time change has me upside down. Or at least that's what it seems like. Every morning since the change, I've been waking up at exactly 5:45. Of course, that's my old 6:45. Intellectually I know that. But, I don't want to get up at 5:45, or do I?

I had been thinking about this even before the time change. I LIKE getting up before dawn. It's like the day and I wake up together. I also get some quiet "me" time to read or check email or whatever I want to do. I also really only like getting up before dawn in the winter. I think it's the combination of dark and robe and slippers and heat blowing. It's just not the same in the summer, probably because I don't have a lightweight robe. Summer means slipping out with a cup of coffee to the front porch, or the patio. Winter means curling up with the coffee, all snuggly and warm.

My 9 year old granddaughter has been confused by the time change. Sunday morning she barreled out of bed to check the time on her daddy's phone because she thought she was late for church. She wasn't used to it being light when she got up. Her mom was explaining that the time changed and it would now be getting dark earlier. Her dad went into the technical explanation of earth's relation to the sun. She finally looked at both of them and said "The time changes every day, second by second"!

I have been more inclined to get started with whatever the days activity will be, even if it is just laundry day. But, if I'm all snuggly warm in my robe and slippers, curled up with my coffee, why am I ready to get moving earlier? As I said, this time change has me upside down!