Traffic rant...

I HATE traffic. Not that anyone loves it, persay, but I get irrationally mad when on the freeway we are at a dead stop. I don't get it?? If everyone goes the speed limit and follows behind one another what is the hold up?

Each day, I envision some dumbass driver in the passing lane tootling along going 10 mph below the speed limit more than 3 car lengths away from the car in front of them. And another yahoo in the right hand lane doing the exact same thing. That has GOT to be what it is. Because WTF? I just don't understand how traffic can be that backed up ESPECIALLY when there are 3 lanes. I know that there are a lot of morning and afternoon commuters all over the metro. I can definitely see traveling at speeds of about 25-30 mph...but dead stops?!!?!?!? Everyday, I swear my jaw drops and my horn blares (more times than I'd like to admit) due to alot of people in Minnesota SUCKY ability at driving. I've found there are 4 kinds of drivers that piss me off most. They are as follows:

1) The constant braker. This is the person in front of you that brakes every 20-25 seconds. It's not that they are necessarily tailgating the person in front of them which is causing them to brake; it's because they are so terrified of hitting the car in front of them which is 4 car lengths ahead of them anyway that they hit the brakes just to make sure or when they see brake lights 1 mile up the road. They don't just tap the brakes but full on hard brake hitting that causes them and those in the car with them to go forward a little bit. If you are brake happy like this....go to the slow lane. Be brake happy there and let people go around you.

2) The slow driver in the passing lane. Yes, we the people understand that the speed limit is 60 mph. BUT guess what if you go 65 mph it's still safe under most circumstances from getting pulled over. Furthermore, because you want to drive the exact speed limit doesn't mean that people want to follow your law abiding citizen ways. Some people don't mind speeding a little now and again. Get over. Now. So the rest of us can go around you. A-hole.

3) The speed changer. So here is the scenerio: you are going down the freeway going the speed limit (okay a few mph over) in either the left or right hand lane and come upon a person going slower. So you turn your signal on, check your blind spot (you're welcome Mr. Schultz) and go into (insert lane here) to pass them. That person speeds up and passes you. You say "okay, fine" and get back behind them. They tootle along and all of a sudden go slow again. So you follow all of the safe road rules and attempt to pass him/her/asshole and they speed up again. At this point, I usually go unnaturally fast and pull in front of them pissing them off. It's sort of satisfying.

4) The tailgater. There are two versions of this person. One is this is the person who gets thisclose to your bumper in the right hand lane but doesn't pass you. They speed right up to you and continue to ride your butt, you tap your brakes a little, it doesn't phase them. You tap a little more, still nothing. This is when I slam on my brakes causing them to get pissed and eventually pass me. This too is gratifying. The second version is you are going in the right hand lane and need to pass someone or a few slow cars...you do all of the safe stuff (blinker, b.s., etc..) are in the middle of passing one of the cars and this person gets right on your butt..their stupid impatient headlights in your mirror saying "hurry up, I want to go at ungodly speeds". You look to your right and see that you can't get over there are too many cars so you continue to pass while this asshole rides your butt the entire way. THEN you finally get over and they zoom super fast ahead of you and then have to slam on their brakes because someone else is not going 500 mph on the freeway and get stuck behind them riding their ass.

I know there are more obnoxious driving situations that frustrate me but these are just a few....stupid traffic.

Picnick

If you click on the picture it enlarges (best quality)

If you haven't heard of this webstie (picnick.com), go to it, but make sure you have a gazillion of your favorite pictures and a couple hours of time. I had a blast...here are some of my edited photos....

Comfortable weight gain?

I always thought that people who gained weight after saying "I do" was just the comfortable factor. The idea that this person legally has to love you for the rest of your life regardless of gaining weight, losing a tooth, stopping shaving ,etc sort of comfortableness couples get to...I always thought that was the reason. I now know that is NOT the truth. I think the reason behind it has to do with having (in my case) almost an entire year of watching every single calorie and pound while being completely stressed out about planning the wedding and getting into a wedding dress that is "thisbig" and being in front of everyone you know and love and some you don't know that well (husband side of things). I managed to lose 10 lbs and withstand that weightloss through the wedding. I told my friends that the first thing I was going to do after our wedding day was eat a giant CHEESEBURGER. I usually don't order cheeseburgers or have them that often but because I couldn't have one I wanted one sooooo badly. Well...let's just say I haven't stopped at the cheeseburger.

I have eaten without guilt, shame or worry. I have made the calorie ridden pastas, meatloaves, pizza, burgers, etc. Now don't get me wrong, I haven't gone overboard by eating crappy for every meal. I have just not, unlike the last year, counted the calories or worried. I also have loved having the freedom to cook anything. For as long as I can remember, I have tried to make healthy versions of whatever I made. I took a break from it. I won't lie, it's been a nice change. BUT the reality set in this morning: My pants were TOO FRIGGN TIGHT. My thighs were chanting "neener neener we are fat!" And it's a noticeable weight gain there....I mean they jiggle and even sometimes touch. GROSS!! My arms are waving even though I am not. I feel jiggly ALL over. I haven't weighed myself at all and regardless of what the scale says, I KNOW I gained. At least that is what my pants say...

Today is day one of operation:  stop gaining weight. I will start to work out more at the gym and eating 2 super healthy meals a day (bfast and lunch). I won't snack on chips, Triscuits or other super fatty snacks. I won't sneak candy at work all day long. I will just make better choices. I know I feel better when I do that. AND if I do end up eating gross for a meal at least I am working it off. :)