RANT HERE thread

[psilovethomas]

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Ok, HUGE pet peeve getting released here: People who fly up behind you on the highway and then flash their headlights to get you to move out of there way. This is incredibly selfish, rude and something I have been watching develop more and more. Granted this could be rude jersey drivers, but just today I was driving on the turnpike, not slow mind you, about 80 mph, and some girl comes flying up on to my ass flashing her lights to have me move (there was plenty of room for her to fly around after two seconds, but there was a car I was currently passing). When I didn't move she had the nerve to flick ME off as she passed me.😡 I'm sorry the world and other drivers on the highway don't revolve around you getting your way all the freaking time, and no, I'm not going to move just because you flashed your bloody lights at me. If someone is going slower than you prefer in the left lane, don't be an *******, don't tailgate, or flick your lights at them. Just go around, or sit behind them until you can . The world is not going to come to an end cause you cant be flying down the highway.
Other motorist peeves: driving down the shoulder when traffic is dead stopped. Unless you are getting off at the exit that is with in a reasonable distance (aka not a mile). Wait in line like the rest of the world. I will be the person that is blocking you half in my lane and half in the shoulder. Moral of the story, if your an ******* on the road, I'll be an ******* right back. If you peacefully drive along, and I see you coming up quick behind me, I *might* move, as long as you don't flash your lights. 😎

Sorry, but I totally disagree with all of this. The left lane is for passing ONLY. If you are in the left lane and someone comes up behind you, you need to get over to the right lane if you don't want to speed up. You can be ticketed (at least in MI) if you don't get over or if you drive in the left lane. I find it rude when people drive the speed of traffic in the left lane and refuse to get over when I want to pass someone in the right lane. I DO flash my lights at people that don't get over, because how else will I tell them to speed up or get the eff over? It is illegal and DANGEROUS to pass someone in the left lane, so I don't recommend passing on the right. If you want to avoid this situation in the future, use the left lane for passing only. And aggravating other drivers will only lead to hazardous driving and accidents. So don't do it. Don't hog the road.
End Rant. 🙂

 

[that redhead]

If you want to avoid this situation in the future, use the left lane for passing only.

She said she was passing someone at the time, which was why she was in the left lane 🙂

 

[psilovethomas]

She said she was passing someone at the time, which was why she was in the left lane 🙂

Ah, I see. But, this:

If you peacefully drive along, and I see you coming up quick behind me, I *might* move, as long as you don't flash your lights. 😎

 

[EllieGirl89]

She said she was passing someone at the time, which was why she was in the left lane 🙂

Yeah, this is true, but if you're going to pass them, then PASS THEM and then get back over into the right lane ASAP. If you can't go fast enough to pass them within a decent amount of time, then you probably don't need to be passing them in the first place.

I'm with psilovethomas on this one. I can't STAND when I'm trying to move it along and people are in the left lane and won't step on it to pass whoever is in the right lane. Or worse, people who drive like they're out for a Sunday stroll in the left lane and expect me to pass on the right, which, as mentioned, is illegal and dangerous. My dad taught me how to drive and drilled my head that unless you're immediately passing someone and are doing it with some hustle, get the heck out of the left lane. I realize though, that some people were never taught this, so I try to have patience. But I don't think it's rude to flash your lights at someone who's dawdling in the left lane.

 

[scb44f]

I realize though, that some people were never taught this, so I try to have patience.

Yeah, somehow, my best friend in high school didn't learn that the left lane is the passing lane until a year and a half after she got her car. Another friend of mine got ticketed for driving over a mile in the left lane without passing anyone. It usually doesn't bother me if people move over when they notice I'm behind them, but I'd rather just avoid trouble and move over immediately after passing someone.

 

[LMMS]

First, Jamr0ckin, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your Nana. 🙁

My rant: I feel like death warmed over... I have a fortress of an immune system and it takes one hell of a germ to scale it. Whatever this is got me good. I hate being sick... Yuck...

And now to provide a little clarity on NJ driving habits...

I hear everyone's gripes; and would normally agree, but this is a clear case of Jersey driving - at least to me. Needless to say, we have a different roadway culture. Case in point, SJB was going well above the speed limit on a two lane road...

Granted this could be rude jersey drivers, but just today I was driving on the turnpike, not slow mind you, about 80 mph...

I'm willing to bet that she was in the middle of her pass and then the a-hole in the right lane decided that he/she wasn't about to be one upped and hit the accelerator just to make a point (happens all too often). Then, because the pass was going to take an extra two seconds and SJB couldn't simply slam into the vehicle in the right lane to make space, the bimbet behind her opted to get overly antsy. So, SJB gets rightfully annoyed and decides to let said bimbet cool her heels for a couple of seconds (no doubt still going well above the posted limit). Not being enough for bimbet, she became more heated and around she went - in the right lane, with flair! Ah, NJ roadways... 😛

 

[EllieGirl89]

bimbet

 

[Whyevernot55]

And now to provide a little clarity on NJ driving habits...

I hear everyone's gripes; and would normally agree, but this is a clear case of Jersey driving - at least to me. Needless to say, we have a different roadway culture. Case in point, SJB was going well above the speed limit on a two lane road...

I'm willing to bet that she was in the middle of her pass and then the a-hole in the right lane decided that he/she wasn't about to be one upped and hit the accelerator just to make a point (happens all too often). Then, because the pass was going to take an extra two seconds and SJB couldn't simply slam into the vehicle in the right lane to make space, the bimbet behind her opted to get overly antsy. So, SJB gets rightfully annoyed and decides to let said bimbet cool her heels for a couple of seconds (no doubt still going well above the posted limit). Not being enough for bimbet, she became more heated and around she went - in the right lane, with flair! Ah, NJ roadways... 😛

The problem is that if you're not from Jersey, you don't understand what it's like.

One thing I DON'T miss now that I live in the midwest! Two friends from Indiana had to drive to Philly for a wedding. They were TERRIFIED and almost died several times. It's just so different

 

[GellaBella]

add me to the group that thinks that flashing your lights at someone in the left hand lane is a huge, rude, sh*tty thing to do. I dont care where you think you need to rush to at 90 miles an hour. Flashing lights at people doesn't make people get out of your way faster (obviously the person SEES you in their rearview mirror careening up to them and then riding like 10 inches from their bumper) it only aggravates people and leads to road rage.

I only drive in the left to pass people and am consious to get over asap, but there are times when traffic is heavy-ish and I'm still passing a group of cars with some ass behind me flashing their lights.

I've seen plenty of people brake-checked for that sort of thing and I admit, I'm more likely to take my foot off the gas and just coast along in front of you than move over once you flash your lights at me. I'm also going to smile and wave as you then drive past me at 100 miles an hour once I move over.

why are you more important than anyone else?! i've got places to be too and we're all trying to get there without getting killed thank you very much so slow the f*ck down and don't flash and tailgate me.

 

[scb44f]

why are you more important than anyone else?! i've got places to be too and we're all trying to get there without getting killed thank you very much so slow the f*ck down and don't flash and tailgate me.

Seriously! 👍

 

[light10]

People who fly up behind you on the highway and then flash their headlights to get you to move out of there way.

I have to confess, I'm from the midwest and I didn't even know that flashing lights to get someone to move over on the interstate was something people did?!! 😳 Where I'm from, you flash your lights to let someone who's towing a trailer know they have enough space to move back over in front of you (kinda the opposite of this case). I have a bunch of family in DC and I have to say I was in my 20s before I'd even drive to the grocery store around there! East Coast drivers are scary!

Iowa=nicest drivers ever. And the lowest car insurance rates in the country! Win for everyone.

 

[LMMS]

The problem is that if you're not from Jersey, you don't understand what it's like.

👍 That's the God's honest truth! Takes one to know one, right?! 😉

One thing I DON'T miss now that I live in the midwest! Two friends from Indiana had to drive to Philly for a wedding. They were TERRIFIED and almost died several times. It's just so different

Yeah, I have to say living out there chilled my driving right out! However, I did turn into the DD for all trips to Chicago... We drove down once for a concert and everyone with me was AMAZED at how I handled the city traffic. I will never forget my friend Jenn (good Wisconsinite that she is) saying 'Holy crap! You know how to weave?!?'.

 

[psilovethomas]

add me to the group that thinks that flashing your lights at someone in the left hand lane is a huge, rude, sh*tty thing to do. I dont care where you think you need to rush to at 90 miles an hour. Flashing lights at people doesn't make people get out of your way faster (obviously the person SEES you in their rearview mirror careening up to them and then riding like 10 inches from their bumper) it only aggravates people and leads to road rage.

I only drive in the left to pass people and am consious to get over asap, but there are times when traffic is heavy-ish and I'm still passing a group of cars with some ass behind me flashing their lights.

I've seen plenty of people brake-checked for that sort of thing and I admit, I'm more likely to take my foot off the gas and just coast along in front of you than move over once you flash your lights at me. I'm also going to smile and wave as you then drive past me at 100 miles an hour once I move over.

why are you more important than anyone else?! i've got places to be too and we're all trying to get there without getting killed thank you very much so slow the f*ck down and don't flash and tailgate me.

It's not your responsibility to police the roads. I'm not saying 'it's all about me', I'm saying it's not all about you! We need to share the road.
Yes, tapping on your breaks is a good idea when you want the person behind you to get off your tail, but there are people out there that will get po'ed and get you into trouble (cutting you off and putting on the breaks to make you ram into them, then guess who's fault it is! seen it!) Usually people respond positively when I flash my lights, so I will continue to do it.🙂
I am from the DC metro area, so I have dealt with my fair share of terrible drivers. I've been in a number of accidents because people don't share the road. None of the accidents were my fault. Now I have a compilation of accidents on my carfax report. My car will be worth squat when I trade it in.

 

[vetme]

Well, I reactivated my old Droid with the cracked screen... only to get a call almost immediately that my Nana died... 🙁

Oh man, so sorry to hear that you lost your Nana. 🙁

On the topic of driving I am going to have to agree with SouthJerseyBell and LMMS. I am not from the eastern part of U.S. and would have a heart attack if someone did that to me, especially if I was speeding a little. Ppl should also remember when country folk like me are in an unfamiliar area, it might take us time to adjust to the new area. Yes we also know about only passing in the left lane. Keep in mind other drivers are not always in a hurry like some. IMO I think you should always be conscientious of all the drivers on the road, and try to understand what/why they are doing what they are doing.

 

[Whyevernot55]

I have to confess, I'm from the midwest and I didn't even know that flashing lights to get someone to move over on the interstate was something people did?!! 😳 Where I'm from, you flash your lights to let someone who's towing a trailer know they have enough space to move back over in front of you (kinda the opposite of this case). I have a bunch of family in DC and I have to say I was in my 20s before I'd even drive to the grocery store around there! East Coast drivers are scary!

Iowa=nicest drivers ever. And the lowest car insurance rates in the country! Win for everyone.

Same thing applies everywhere - the difference is when. If you're behind someone in the same lane, and flash your lights, it's a "get out of the way" request. If you're being passed by a trailer/truck in the lane to your left, flashing your lights means "you have space." Jersey drivers tend not to use the second method, however. 🙄 It's a kill or be killed kinda attitude.

Overall best idea: don't drive like a d*ckhead.

 

[GellaBella]

Yes, tapping on your breaks is a good idea when you want the person behind you to get off your tail, but there are people out there that will get po'ed and get you into trouble (cutting you off and putting on the breaks to make you ram into them, then guess who's fault it is! seen it!) Usually people respond positively when I flash my lights, so I will continue to do it.🙂

see the problem is, tapping your brakes to get someone off your tail is NOT a good idea. it's passive aggressive and like you said...dangerous. believe me, I know that.

people should drive safely and respectfully. cars are weapons and people forget or refuse to believe that something bad will actually happen to them... problem is, everyone thinks that - yet people die all the time in roadrage, or driving like an ass, or driving under the influence related accidents.

sure, everyone gets frustrated sometimes and wishes they could get somewhere faster but the potential price to pay is not worth it. would you rather be half an hour late or be potentially seriously injured...or perhaps worse seriously injure someone else due to your impatience?!

i dunno. i've never been an aggressive driver. I've also never (knock on wood) been in an accident while I was driving. it just doesn't seem worth the aggravation.

and I agree with others...the light flashing thing was something I only encountered in a negative way in Jersey.

 

[psilovethomas]

see the problem is, tapping your brakes to get someone off your tail is NOT a good idea. it's passive aggressive and like you said...dangerous. believe me, I know that.

people should drive safely and respectfully. cars are weapons and people forget or refuse to believe that something bad will actually happen to them... problem is, everyone thinks that - yet people die all the time in roadrage, or driving like an ass, or driving under the influence related accidents.

sure, everyone gets frustrated sometimes and wishes they could get somewhere faster but the potential price to pay is not worth it. would you rather be half an hour late or be potentially seriously injured...or perhaps worse seriously injure someone else due to your impatience?!

i dunno. i've never been an aggressive driver. I've also never (knock on wood) been in an accident while I was driving. it just doesn't seem worth the aggravation.

and I agree with others...the light flashing thing was something I only encountered in a negative way in Jersey.

I agree. Driving too fast is not worth it. I will usually never go more than 20 over the posted speed limit. And I do give people time before I flash my lights! I don't just swoop into the left lane and start directing traffic😛. It's the folks that drive in the left lane for 5+ miles at the posted limit that get the lights🙄.
I have been to NJ, and I must say it is quite difficult to navigate. I remember having to drive 20 miles down a community road before I could make any kind of turn! WTH!?

 

[BlacKAT33]

It's not your responsibility to police the roads. I'm not saying 'it's all about me', I'm saying it's not all about you! We need to share the road.
Yes, tapping on your breaks is a good idea when you want the person behind you to get off your tail, but there are people out there that will get po'ed and get you into trouble (cutting you off and putting on the breaks to make you ram into them, then guess who's fault it is! seen it!) Usually people respond positively when I flash my lights, so I will continue to do it.🙂
I am from the DC metro area, so I have dealt with my fair share of terrible drivers. I've been in a number of accidents because people don't share the road. None of the accidents were my fault. Now I have a compilation of accidents on my carfax report. My car will be worth squat when I trade it in.

If you're from the DC metro area then you know that at peak times which can last about 3 hrs morning and night, so about 6 hrs of day time...there are so many cars you can't pass anyone lol. There is no road to share LOL Usually when you first merge in you have to squeeze into a tiny area that is only big enough for your car and if you're +/- 10 inches you'll hit a car in front or in back haha
I hate when people weave in and out of lanes when it is obviously backed up. what is the point of weaving?!?! I'm so glad I don't have to drive in DC anymore. But that reminds me that I sold my car this yr 🙁

 

[Dsmoody23]

And that's why I drive:

 

[psilovethomas]

If you're from the DC metro area then you know that at peak times which can last about 3 hrs morning and night, so about 6 hrs of day time...there are so many cars you can't pass anyone lol. There is no road to share LOL Usually when you first merge in you have to squeeze into a tiny area that is only big enough for your car and if you're +/- 10 inches you'll hit a car in front or in back haha
I hate when people weave in and out of lanes when it is obviously backed up. what is the point of weaving?!?! I'm so glad I don't have to drive in DC anymore. But that reminds me that I sold my car this yr 🙁

Yeah, I don't miss NOVA traffic one bit!🙂

 

[cowgirla]

I've come to the conclusion that years that end in 1 SUCK. 2011 is turning out to be as bad as 2001, and it's not even halfway over yet.

Grandma passed away this afternoon and I couldn't even make it home to say goodbye. A flight for the funeral is going to cost me over 1000 dollars, plus a rental car will another 400. Stupid underage fees, and the airport is like 2 hours from my parents house. And both my parents are telling me "You don't need to come, you'll miss too much school, and Grandma will understand." I feel so crappy about everything and all I want to do is cry and see my favorite cousin. I honestly don't know how much more bad news I can take this semester. It's been rough and my grades really reflect that. I'm in serious trouble in at least one class.

 

[LMMS]

I've come to the conclusion that years that end in 1 SUCK. 2011 is turning out to be as bad as 2001, and it's not even halfway over yet.

Grandma passed away this afternoon and I couldn't even make it home to say goodbye. A flight for the funeral is going to cost me over 1000 dollars, plus a rental car will another 400. Stupid underage fees, and the airport is like 2 hours from my parents house. And both my parents are telling me "You don't need to come, you'll miss too much school, and Grandma will understand." I feel so crappy about everything and all I want to do is cry and see my favorite cousin. I honestly don't know how much more bad news I can take this semester. It's been rough and my grades really reflect that. I'm in serious trouble in at least one class.

I'm so sorry sorry to hear of your grandmother's passing. 🙁 I hope that she was in peace.

As for your travel dilemma, talk to the airline and request a bereavement flight. You status as a 'poor student' should be more than sufficient. I don't know who you'll be flying but here's a link to Delta with their bereavement information...

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/special_travel_needs/bereavement/index.jsp

Also, have you mentioned your grandmother's passing to the car rental place? Can't hurt to ask... They might cut you a break given the circumstances.

Hang in there best you can. **hugs**

PS - Will also send this via PM given that you probably have your hands full right now.

 

[NStarz]

My kitty hasn't been eating his awesome pet food that we've been buying for him. It's really expensive, so we've started to seek alternatives (darn cat doesn't know what's good for him). We switched him back to the canned food he had as a kitten till he was about 1 year old (gradual mixing--we were only at 75% old and 25% new) and he's been throwing up for the past two days. First day we thought was a coincidence, now there's no question. Gotta find the kitty another wet food now 🙁 Annnnd he just threw up on my light blue carpet. Boooooo...

 

[Jamr0ckin]

I've come to the conclusion that years that end in 1 SUCK. 2011 is turning out to be as bad as 2001, and it's not even halfway over yet.

Grandma passed away this afternoon and I couldn't even make it home to say goodbye. A flight for the funeral is going to cost me over 1000 dollars, plus a rental car will another 400. Stupid underage fees, and the airport is like 2 hours from my parents house. And both my parents are telling me "You don't need to come, you'll miss too much school, and Grandma will understand." I feel so crappy about everything and all I want to do is cry and see my favorite cousin. I honestly don't know how much more bad news I can take this semester. It's been rough and my grades really reflect that. I'm in serious trouble in at least one class.

Having just lost my Nana, I am feeling your pain. I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[RadRadTerp]

As someone also from the DC area, I will be the first to admit that we drive like the biggest jerks in the U.S. and since moving out to the country for school, I've had nothing but the calmest driving change. The only thing I wish people would stop doing is ride your butt in the middle lane when you're already 15 mph over the speed limit. This year Virginia has started giving out tickets to people going 5 mph over because they need more funds for the roads and they're not getting more money from the state. On the opposite side of ranting, I've had the biggest smiles when the person flashing and waving middle fingers gets pulled over 2 miles down the road for that big, fat $200 ticket.

 

[psilovethomas]

As someone also from the DC area, I will be the first to admit that we drive like the biggest jerks in the U.S. and since moving out to the country for school, I've had nothing but the calmest driving change. The only thing I wish people would stop doing is ride your butt in the middle lane when you're already 15 mph over the speed limit. This year Virginia has started giving out tickets to people going 5 mph over because they need more funds for the roads and they're not getting more money from the state. On the opposite side of ranting, I've had the biggest smiles when the person flashing and waving middle fingers gets pulled over 2 miles down the road for that big, fat $200 ticket.

I drove down to Bburg to vist tech when I was in HS, and cars and trucks were FLYING down 81. So scary, especially since there is a huge elevation difference between your lane and the opposing lane. So, if you get pushed off the road, you basically fall off the side of the road. Scary!😱

Cowgirla, I am so sorry for your loss. Is there a counselor at the CVM that you could talk to? Have you talked to your prof's about what is going on? They may be willing to help raise your grade if they know what is going on. I know you feel guilty about not being able to say goodbye, but I am sure your Grandmother knows you love her very much and that you would have been there if you could have been.

 

[psilovethomas]

I have a huge biochem exam tomorrow. It is 80 degrees and sunny outside. There is a frickin' carnival going on outside of my room. WHY BIOCHEM WHY?!!?!?!?

 

[phaedraeos]

I hate bridal showers. Pastels, fancy expensive bite-sized food, and ladies' parlor games are totally not my thing. I just spent way too much money on gifts and transportation on the hope that this one would be different. I am henceforth swearing them off for good. 🙁

 

[psilovethomas]

As I was walking to my car after shopping, I noticed that the woman in the car parked next to mine almost slammed her door into mine. Whiling looking over my door to make sure she didn't ding it, she said to me 'yeah, those are dogs.' For a moment, I was like 😕 and then looked into her car. Two shelties sitting in the back of her small sedan panting very hard. I said 'I don't think it's a good idea to leave them in there (it's getting close to 90 degrees outside)." "Oh, yes it is!" "No, actually, it's not." "Well, excuse you, but I've been a foster..." "Oh, yeah? I've been accepted to vet school and have worked in vet med for 6 years and have seen dogs like yours go into DIC and die from heat stress." "The windows are open!..." More BS talk but I didn't hear her because I rolled up my windows. She went into the mall and I hovered in the parking lot to make sure she came back quickly. 30 minutes later, right before I was about to call animal control, she came waddling out of the store.
So what if the windows are open? It is hotter inside the car than it is outside! Your dogs could jump out of the car and into the parking lot! I could give a rat's a** if you have been a foster parent for so many years. Why does that make you qualified to leave your dogs in the car in hot weather?
ARGHHH.

 

[RadRadTerp]

I drove down to Bburg to vist tech when I was in HS, and cars and trucks were FLYING down 81. So scary, especially since there is a huge elevation difference between your lane and the opposing lane. So, if you get pushed off the road, you basically fall off the side of the road. Scary!😱

Yep, those trucks are intimidating, but a piece of cake compared to 495 and 95.

 

[psilovethomas]

Yep, those trucks are intimidating, but a piece of cake compared to 495 and 95.

495... that about sums it up.

 

[Armymutt25A]

I have three lab partners in my microbio lab. They all knew each other before the semester started, so naturally they are more talky with each other than me. I don't really mind this but today it interfered with what I need to get done. Usually we all work great as a team, but today was a great big funk. So last lab we had inoculated a bunch of different medias with different bacteria, and then some unknowns. Today was supposed to be an analytical day where were record and find what the unknowns could possibly be. Well tubes were all layed out and my three lab partners kind of huddled around them and were talking about the results. We work at a long straight bench so it is hard to all gather at the same time. At first I was trying to see and squeeze my way in there ,but it was just too crowded. I was fine, I thought, " I'll just record my findings when they are done." So, I finally get my chance, and I'm looking through everything. Since they are done they assume I am done. So they start ripping all the labels off for cleanup. I asked, "What are you doing?" they said, "we are cleaning up" all sarcastic like. and then I told them to stop because I still needed to record some results. But they kept on.... so I said it all stern like, "please stop! I still need to look at those!" Then they were acting all *****hurt because I talked to them that way! If they didn't want to stay, they could have left and I would have cleaned up...I don't mind doing the work. Instead they were all like, " well we guess we'll let you look at our data pages.😕 I WOULDN'T HAVE TO IF YOU HADN'T DESTROYED ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT I COULD DO IT MYSELF!! RRRRAAAARRRR

You really need lessons in the proper way to get your point across quickly. For example, the moment they began tearing off a single label, you should have opened with something like, "Hey *****, what the f*** are you doing? I haven't finished recording my f***ing data. Just because you're done, doesn't mean every motherf***er in the lab is done. You'd think by the f***ing time you reached f***ing adulthood, you'd have learned some f***ing manners and would ask if everyone was finished so that you could f***ing clean s*** up. No wonder the f***ing world is going to s***. It's self-centered a**holes like you that keep f***ing s*** up."

Hopefully they would be so in shock that they'd leave the room in tears, and you'd have a peaceful time collecting your data.

 

[Whyevernot55]

You really need lessons in the proper way to get your point across quickly. For example, the moment they began tearing off a single label, you should have opened with something like, "Hey *****, what the f*** are you doing? I haven't finished recording my f***ing data. Just because you're done, doesn't mean every motherf***er in the lab is done. You'd think by the f***ing time you reached f***ing adulthood, you'd have learned some f***ing manners and would ask if everyone was finished so that you could f***ing clean s*** up. No wonder the f***ing world is going to s***. It's self-centered a**holes like you that keep f***ing s*** up."

Hopefully they would be so in shock that they'd leave the room in tears, and you'd have a peaceful time collecting your data.

👍

 

[twelvetigers]

Yeah! That's how I would have done it, anyway.

 

[WannaBeVet]

Ah, NJ roadways... 😛

👍 NJ drivers are a whole different species...

 

[that redhead]

I'm with psilovethomas on this one. I can't STAND when I'm trying to move it along and people are in the left lane and won't step on it to pass whoever is in the right lane. Or worse, people who drive like they're out for a Sunday stroll in the left lane and expect me to pass on the right, which, as mentioned, is illegal and dangerous.

I agree with you both on that 100% I just wanted to point out that she had said she was passing at the time.

 

[Chinola]

I've lived in NJ and Miami. In NJ it's normal to drive in the left lane. As long as you're going faster than the cars in the lane next to you you're fine. My high school (in NJ) had mandatory driver's ed in 10th grade and we were never once told that the left lane is only for passing. In fact, there's usually so much traffic that the left lane is completely backed up too. It's silly to think that people won't use the left lane when all of the other lanes are full of traffic.

In Miami people would laugh at you if you told them the left lane was only for passing. The driving down here is way worse than NJ ever was. We also have regular exits from the left lane on highways and other multi-lane roads. The left lane is used for regular driving. Oftentimes the middle lane is the fastest because people are exiting on the right and left lanes. If you're driving at 3am I guess you should use the lanes to the right so the left lane can be used for those doing 100 mph but during normal hours the left lane is used for the heavy traffic we always have down here.

Flashing your brights at someone to tell them to move over is rude in both places that I have lived. Flashing your brights should be used to tell people to turn on their headlights or to warn oncoming traffic that there's a cop ahead. (Or for the trailer thing but that doesn't happen in NJ or South Florida!)

 

[SouthJerseyBell]

Yes, tapping on your breaks is a good idea when you want the person behind you to get off your tail, but there are people out there that will get po'ed and get you into trouble (cutting you off and putting on the breaks to make you ram into them, then guess who's fault it is! seen it!)

Actually, in NJ, there is a law to protect people from that situation, its the person who hit the brake's fault here. It stemmed from a whole insurance scam when people would cut people off and slam on the breaks purposefully to collect. Anyways, just to add, you said you give the person some time, yes I usually move over when someone is flying up behind me. But this time this driver was flashing lights as they approached me, didn't even want to wait for me to pass and get over.
Also other times I have experienced this behavior is during heavy traffic where we simply drive in the left lane cause its so crowded. People still flashed their lights to get me to move, when they obviously wouldn't go anywhere but simply in front of me in full traffic. I just think its an impatience thing, the only reason people don't move over is if they have no room, don't be impatient and flash your lights, just wait and they will move. If not, go around, and yeah, passing on the right is just as common as passing on the left here. Cops don't care and if you have half a brain its fine. I envy those who live out west and somewhat south and the driving is slow and peaceful. My road rage stems from rude drivers. The nicer the drivers, the nicer I am as a driver too.

 

[EllieGirl89]

So my girlfriend told me today that she's been applying for jobs in her field (she graduates undergrad this June) and the only place that has called her back is a place back near our hometown, about 2 hours away from Columbus, vet school, and me.

1.) We are currently in the process of looking for a place to live next year. It will make a HUGE difference where we're looking and what we're looking at if she's not going to be living with me and our other roommate.

2.) As I sit here in my bedroom and I can STILL hear my roommate's disgusting eatig noises from here (she's in the living room with the TV on, and I left the living room because I couldn't stand hearing her eat), and think about how she ate my Lean Pockets this morning and my alfredo sauce tonight, I realize I cannot live with her by myself. I just can't deal with it.

3.) I'll really, really, really miss my GF. I've gotten so used to having her around in this first year we've lived together. It's comfortable, it's comforting, and I love it. I don't want to go back to living without her again.

All this happening while trying to transition into vet school will NOT play out well. I just pray that she is able to find a job in Columbus, or that she decides to take a different job to give herself some more time to find one in Columbus.

 

[Evie1923]

So my girlfriend told me today that she's been applying for jobs in her field (she graduates undergrad this June) and the only place that has called her back is a place back near our hometown, about 2 hours away from Columbus, vet school, and me.

I'm so sorry!!! Hopefully, she stays.

::hug::

 

[nuevaburra]

Yeah, I have to say living out there chilled my driving right out! However, I did turn into the DD for all trips to Chicago... We drove down once for a concert and everyone with me was AMAZED at how I handled the city traffic. I will never forget my friend Jenn (good Wisconsinite that she is) saying 'Holy crap! You know how to weave?!?'.

LOL. Whenever my driving gets a wee bit aggressive, my BF says "honey your Massachusetts is showing" and I remember to chill out. I do NOT miss Boston driving!

also, rant: I hate my lazy goddam boss. check your frickin e-mail, you lazy overpaid POS. when the people I supervise don't get paid for work they have done, because you can't be bothered to pay attention to e-mails from HR, it kinda bugs me. /end rant.

 

[vetme]

You really need lessons in the proper way to get your point across quickly. For example, the moment they began tearing off a single label, you should have opened with something like, "Hey *****, what the f*** are you doing? I haven't finished recording my f***ing data. Just because you're done, doesn't mean every motherf***er in the lab is done. You'd think by the f***ing time you reached f***ing adulthood, you'd have learned some f***ing manners and would ask if everyone was finished so that you could f***ing clean s*** up. No wonder the f***ing world is going to s***. It's self-centered a**holes like you that keep f***ing s*** up."

Hopefully they would be so in shock that they'd leave the room in tears, and you'd have a peaceful time collecting your data.

ppppffffftttt HAHAHAHAH I like this suggestion, Armymutt, and it sounds like you have some exerience is this! My hubby wants to know if you have had a CO teach you this method?

 

[teatime]

3.) I'll really, really, really miss my GF. I've gotten so used to having her around in this first year we've lived together. It's comfortable, it's comforting, and I love it. I don't want to go back to living without her again.

That's so sweet. I hope things end up working out somehow. It is SO much harder to embark on a new journey with these unknowns flying around.

 

[heylodeb]

SO. I have worked as a vet tech for 2-3 years now and I have NEVER been around when a c-section happened. Not that I would wish a c-section on a dog but I have this undeniable urge to rub a puppy. Anyway, cue backyard breeders with hugely ginormous preggo pit bull. Dead puppy can be seen on x-ray. Doctor recommends c-section (heylodeb is heard cheering from the x-ray room) but owners decline due to financial reasons and want to take dog home to see if she births puppies overnight. (heylodeb heard sobbing from x-ray room)

4pm - owners call - want c-section on dog scheduled for tomorrow morning. Everyone cheers - except heylodeb WHO HAS JURY DUTY TOMORROW. 😡

FML.

The ONE freaking thing I have been WAITING TO DO and I have to go BE A GOOD CITIZEN. grrr......

 

[cowgirla]

SO. I have worked as a vet tech for 2-3 years now and I have NEVER been around when a c-section happened. Not that I would wish a c-section on a dog but I have this undeniable urge to rub a puppy. Anyway, cue backyard breeders with hugely ginormous preggo pit bull. Dead puppy can be seen on x-ray. Doctor recommends c-section (heylodeb is heard cheering from the x-ray room) but owners decline due to financial reasons and want to take dog home to see if she births puppies overnight. (heylodeb heard sobbing from x-ray room)

4pm - owners call - want c-section on dog scheduled for tomorrow morning. Everyone cheers - except heylodeb WHO HAS JURY DUTY TOMORROW. 😡

FML.

The ONE freaking thing I have been WAITING TO DO and I have to go BE A GOOD CITIZEN. grrr......

Dead puppy = not as much fun as live wiggly squeaky toys popping out of the uterus.
Dead puppy thats been dead for who knows how long = yucky smelly rotting mess. Been there, done that. 👎
You might end up doing a happy dance that you missed out on this one too.

 

[heylodeb]

lol - they aren't all dead. Looks like 8 are alive and probably 1-2 are dead. I actually was getting nudged by a couple of them as I was sitting with mama with my hand on her belly. 😍

whatever. me and my kindle will be tight buddies tomorrow.

 

[SouthJerseyBell]

So my girlfriend told me today that she's been applying for jobs in her field (she graduates undergrad this June) and the only place that has called her back is a place back near our hometown, about 2 hours away from Columbus, vet school, and me.

1.) We are currently in the process of looking for a place to live next year. It will make a HUGE difference where we're looking and what we're looking at if she's not going to be living with me and our other roommate.

2.) As I sit here in my bedroom and I can STILL hear my roommate's disgusting eatig noises from here (she's in the living room with the TV on, and I left the living room because I couldn't stand hearing her eat), and think about how she ate my Lean Pockets this morning and my alfredo sauce tonight, I realize I cannot live with her by myself. I just can't deal with it.

3.) I'll really, really, really miss my GF. I've gotten so used to having her around in this first year we've lived together. It's comfortable, it's comforting, and I love it. I don't want to go back to living without her again.

All this happening while trying to transition into vet school will NOT play out well. I just pray that she is able to find a job in Columbus, or that she decides to take a different job to give herself some more time to find one in Columbus.

I feel your pain. After living with my boyfriend for all 4 years of undergrad, living about 14hrs away from him is going to be super hard once vet school starts. (he is staying in NJ while i go to IN) During the summers we are 2 hours apart and I get to see him every other weekend at the least. I am praying that I get called off the Tufts waitlist to be closer to NJ, or he finds a med school out here to go to. 🙁 Either way, He will still be 2 hours away at the least and we still won't be able to live together for the next 4/5 years.

Best of Luck to you and your GF, 2 hours is doable and I hope everything settles out in the best way possible for you. 🙄

 

[withoutane]

RAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

*sob*

 

[Cautionary Tail]

It's emo time!

1) My laptop is dead. (Hence the absence.)

2) Tyler has figured out how to worm his way into every single "secure" spot and container I've ever stashed food in in this house. He can climb, scale, and open just about anything. The cat is scary smart. And becoming scary fat. I am going to have to get creative here. (I'm envisioning having to find some way to stuff 35 lbs. of food partitioned into mass quantities of little storage containers into the tiny cabinets above the stove, because that's pretty much the only spot he can't access.) I'm hoping the fact that he's fed Thomas twice while I've been out the past three days hasn't contributed to #3.

3) Thomas is on a hunger strike. He's refused food twice in his life- once when we first trapped him and he was diagnosed with DKA, and again when he went into congestive heart failure back in 2008. He's been on a medication contraindicated for use in animals with heart conditions for 6 or 7 months now (we avoided it as long as we could, but he's reached the point where he can't function without it)... and I am kind of petrified right now. And hoping this can be explained by the ear issues he's been having. Or pretty much anything else that doesn't scream "there's a decent chance your cat is not going to survive this".

4) I love hand-rearing kittens. But I miss sleep.

5) I stayed up all night baking stuff for a charity event my mom volunteered me for. (I was happy to do it, however...) She had the date wrong. So I got to stay up all night AGAIN two days later and do it all over. They sent me home from said event with the aforementioned kittens. I'm dying here. Of cuteness and sleep deprivation. And kind of dreading having to do this regularly for cramming purposes in another few months... which won't be nearly as fun. Or adorable.

🙁

 

[Cautionary Tail]

👍 NJ drivers are a whole different species...

I spent about two years living in PA just outside of NJ.

Back in 2001, my father and I were driving on some highway in the middle of nowhere in Nebraska, when an obnoxiously aggressive driver came up behind us in a massive black SUV. This was a two-lane highway. We were the only cars on the road. We were in the right-hand lane. The guy could easily have passed us... but he didn't. He rode our bumper for at least fifteen minutes. There may have been contact at some points. I'd never seen anything like it... and joked that it kind of felt like we were back in NJ. Lo and behold, when he finally did get around to passing us (complete with the obligatory glare, flip of the bird, and flash of the headlights)... Jersey plates! I just about died laughing. NJ drivers truly are a species all their own. (I should also mention that my father, unlike me, does not drive like a little old lady, and was probably going about 20 mph over the speed limit at the time.)

Regarding brake tapping, I'm a tapper. I don't do it to be passive aggressive, obnoxious, or scam somebody into rear-ending me. I do it to remind overly aggressive drivers that I may have to hit the brakes at some point, and, if so, I'd rather not die. (I was once forced to hit a fawn that jumped out in front of me- it was either him or his mom- because some jerk in a Mack truck was riding my bumper, and if I'd slammed on the brakes as hard as I needed to, he'd have flattened me. I now have zero tolerance for tailgating.) I only tap enough to flicker the brake lights a couple of times. It almost always works.

The one thing I will do that is passive-aggressive and obnoxious? If you're tailgating me with your brights on, I will slow down and you will have the pleasure of going the speed limit as long as you're stuck behind me and feel like being an asshat. If it's 25, you're not going to see 26 until you back off and behave yourself.