I'm not a good drive in any means. I speed, box people in, tailgate...and I'm sure there is more. I have come to realize though, there are many worse people. Here are some learnings from a month and a half of driving in traffic. I am going to stereotype here. It fits the bill, hate me for it, but it's the observations.

Women:
1. Applying makeup is for home...not the car.
I get behind a woman almost daily putting on makeup. I've come close to slamming on the brakes just so I can get a new paint job.

2. Pull right out there and cut that person off doing 40+.
I see so many women just pull out in front of people. No care in the world.

3. Yeah, that 2 inches in front of me is enough to fit your small bus SUV.
This is usually the same women putting on makeup.

4. Yup, I let you merge in traffic...so make sure you do 10 mph less than the speed limit.
You try and be nice and let people into traffic, yet you find out that they are going to drive under the speed limit.

Men:
1. Work is important, writing notes while driving is not.
This applies to mostly landscaping crews. They are on the phone and writing notes.

2. Yeah, were in traffic...why not read the paper.
This has got to be my favorite. I see guys drinking coffee, reading a paper that takes up half their view, and think they can drive.

3. Yeah, that 2 inches in front of me is enough to fit your small bus SUV, and while your at it, slam on your brakes.
Like the women do, but often followed up by a quick brake slamming.

4. Hey, you knew you had to be in that lane 4 lanes over, feel free to cut everyone off to get there.
My favorite is when the guy with the trailer does this.

Like I said, I am far from a great driver. Keep in mind that this is off the interstate as well. When I first started this commute I listened to traffic reports and head of a lot of accidents. I can understand why. The sad part is there is a fatality almost weekly.

Is it any wonder so many people are stressed out?

I have added a link to the side. It is a bike forum I read on a daily basis. I'm shooting for 60 miles on Saturday. More to follow on that.

Yesterday the House approved the Senate’s changes to House Bill 5. The House also approved the conference committee report on House Bill 2 (which the Senate approved on Friday). Thus, all five school-finance bills now await only Gov. Perry’s signature. (I expect a bill signing ceremony complete with the usual fanfare.) The Lege has adjourned sine die.

Meanwhile, the Center for Public Policy Priorities has reviewed the fiscal notes accompanying these bills. The conclusion:
Combining the estimated costs of HB 1 with the estimated revenue from HB 3, 4, and 5 reveals a potentially disastrous gap in future budgets. . . . This deficit will place tremendous pressure on the next state budget, which could cause severe budget cutbacks, an increase in the state sales tax or other state taxes, an expansion of gambling as a source of revenue, or all of the above.Oh my! What will happen when the 80th Legislature convenes?

Throughout the years, and many mistakes; I have found that it's near impossible to fully trust anyone. I have been personally lied to by practically all of my authority figures, yes all of them; and have been led down paths of which I had no right to be going or would even want to go. In my experience there is a "feeling", a "natural law" that governs over each and every one of us. I learned the hard way that it is this "feeling" that I should be trusting first and foremost, and then be looking to my teachers for education and guidance. Go with the flow, and trust your "instincts". Trust in yourself. Trust your heart, because it will never lie to you. It's really quite hard to trust someone that lies. Nobody likes being called a liar, either. You know how they say the truth will set you free... it will.

A new trend in metals that is poised to equal platinum is the growing use of titanium in conventional jewelry settings. Studies show that a large number of men and women have developed allergic reactions to the common precious metals, so they are starting to opt for titanium-set jewelry. Titanium is also a very good investment because it is actually a stronger metal than gold and silver and so far has also proved to be the most "bio-compatible" and hypoallergenic. It is also lighter than platinum and looks very similar to white gold. It also supports any precious stone as well as other conventional precious metals. jewelry stores on-line