I’m in super psycho bitch mode, please forgive me. Today, it seems EVERYTHING is pissing me off. If only I had a punching bag or something.
It all started this morning when my boyfriend and I drove to pick up his son. His son lives in Woburn, MA, probably about 20 minutes away on Rt. 128. Wouldn’t ya know it, MassHighway installed a fancy road sign which backed up traffic for miles. The sign rotated through messages like, “Drive Safely,” and “Buckle Up.” Nonetheless, everyone seemed to be mystified by the sign as if it contained detailed instructions on how to win the lottery or something. It reminded me of that Simpsons episode when Homer causes a 20 car pileup because he stops to read all the new billboards. If a car flips 50 times and lands on a bus filled with nuns - okay, I understand the delay. When a new sign backs up traffic, you have the makings of an epic Angela bad mood.
We finally arrive in Woburn, pull down the kiddo’s street and some girl, I’m guesstimating 14 years old, runs into the street. I vividly remember the lessons I learned as a child. One was Stop, Drop and Roll. Don’t take candy from strangers was another huge lesson. And we can’t forget look both ways before you cross the street.
Luckily, Darwinism wasn’t in effect and I didn’t hit the little idiot but you’d think differently if you saw her dad come running out ready to pull me from the car. Hey, Asshole, maybe you should instruct your practically-an-adult child on how to cross the freakin street before you get into me on driving.
Number One - I think this guy was drunk. He was in no condition to lecture me on safe driving procedures.
Number Two - I was driving WELL BELOW THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 20 MPH, which was conveniently posted directly in front of the incident.
Number Three - Your “child” is hardly a child. If she can’t handle walking near a roadway, then I think you have much more on your plate than my driving abilities.
He made it sound like I was racing down the street “Fast and Furious”-style, and then accused my boyfriend and I of flipping his daughter off after.
Worsening matters, we then had some douche on a skateboard (older brother, maybe?) come running over yelling. Dear guy, those Hot Topic pants you are wearing went out of style in 1998. And I won’t even get into the grown man on a skateboard thing.
I felt like we were getting swarmed by some irate Woburnites.
My boyfriend diffused situation but in hindsight, I wish he had let me say something because now, instead of venting on said asshole, I’m stuck with this incident stewing in my belly. The more I think of it, the more angry I get. If I looked in the mirror right now, I might see steam coming from my ears. GRRRRR
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until I visit the Patriots Hall of Fame!
I'm Angela - I'm staring down the barrel of my 30s (gah) working as a production editor
(office bitch) for a small newspaper. I'm consumed by my endless devotion to
the New England Patriots and have recenty taken up knitting to keep busy until September. Oh yeah, and I have a really whacky boyfriend to keep me amused.
I hate it when they fire up the signage around here too. It seems to just underscore the point that most of the people on the road can’t read. If the board starts out with “Amber Alert” or “Accident at…”, fine, slow down and take notes. If all it says is “Don’t drink and drive” it shouldn’t take 30 seconds to get through. My favorite sign though? “Testing” - slows traffic almost to a halt every time.
It’s something the billboard advertisers should learn from…if the drivers can’t read four six-foot-tall words on a sign directly over the road, there’s no way they’re going to see and retain some of the paragraphs on these ads.
Well here in SC instead of spending money on police officers they have signs up that say “DUI CRACKDOWN IN PROGRESS” every friday and saturday night. What I find funny is I never see any police or anyone pulled over.
Poor Angela
Have a Guinness and it’ll be okay!
I was on vacation last week (5 MLB games in 5 ballparks! woo!), driving down the ever-so-scenic Jersey Turnpike. it was backed up from Perth Amboy (near New Brunswick/lower tip of Staten Island) to just past Trenton. why? a series of cars on the side of the road, all of which were WAY pulled off the road. one was a tire change. one was just a couple of dudes taking a break and getting some shit from the cooler in their trunk while enjoying a cold beverage. another had no people in it or nearby.
WTF PEOPLE.
honestly, I don’t care even if there’s something legitimately interesting to look at (like an accident) that’s off the actual roadway. if something is blocking a lane, there is reason to slow down/stop. if there is nothing blocking the highway, then people should not be slowing down on the highway to look at something. you can still see it while you’re going 65. there’s a minimum speed limit on the highway for a reason.
Tape, you went on a MLB road trip?!?! How freakin’ awesome!
I will never understand traffic or rubbernecking.
yeah, it was pretty bleepin’ awesome. I totally got the bug; I want to go to every single park now. I’ve never taken drugs, but I think this is what being addicted to crack is like.
there should be a lane on the highway, sort of like the carpool lane, where you promise under penalty of life imprisonment not to rubberneck. exceptions might be granted only for things like the apocalypse, or a truly gruesome pileup of at least 10 cars, and even then you can’t go slower than 40.
also, if you rubberneck in the no-rubbernecking lane, anyone behind you has the right and privilege to utterly destroy your car demo-derby style, and you have to pay for the damage to their car.
He was able to be calm and rational and diffuse the situation because he watches Lifetime Network instead of sports
Now, I never said he was calm and rational. I just said he diffused the situation.
I drive by the Woburn area couple of times a week. I have been out of MA for a week, but after reading your post, I think I should be more careful on 128 because of this “new” sign.
I swear, Michael, we thought there was a car accident or something. I mean, how often does 128 back up on a Saturday morning? No accident, just a bunch of idiots and a new sign.
So reduced down to a bite sized chunk, people suck. Gotta agree.
Everyone has a bad day now and then. Hopefully you are feeling better now.