I Felt Like My Mom Today

I have been driving since I was 15 years old. That means that I have been driving for about 30 years! YIKES!

I couldn't wait to learn to drive, unlike my mother who didn't learn how until she was 51 years old! The only reason that she learned to drive at that time, was because my dad had passed away and she new that she had to. This was in 1983.

When I was little, anytime my mom wanted to go anywhere, my dad would have to take her. I was an only child, so this meant that I had to go along, too.

I can still remember sitting in the car with my Daddy, listening to the radio, while my mom went grocery shopping at the "Big Star".

If my mom wanted to go to the mall, I would sit with my dad on a bench and wait for her. My daddy liked to "people watch", so I don't think he minded too much.

My mom's "not knowing how to drive" seemed to only be a problem when my dad was at work and wasn't able to drive her somewhere. This was usually during the week, when she would need to take me to the doctor. (Seems like I was always needing to go to the doctor!) She would have to call a neighbor or a friend and ask them if they could take us.

Today, I realized how my mom must have felt having to ask someone to drive her somewhere that she need to go. Because of my recent surgery, I am unable to drive for one week. I had to ask Dtr. #2 to drive me to "Wally World" (Walmart) so that I could get some things that I needed. Luckily, like my very patient dad... she didn't seem to mind.

Bucket List #13-15

#13 --- Raft down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon --- This would of course be done during my visit to the Grand Canyon - (#12 on my list).

#14 --- Spend a week (or more) in Washington D.C., exploring and learning --- I've been to Washington D.C. a couple of times, but both times were just DAY trips. There is just WAY too much to see and do in D.C. to try and do it all in one day! I would love to have the time to take it slow and really see everything. I have never been to the Capital or The White House, so those are two things that I would want to do for sure. I also really want to go to the Holocaust musuem.

#15 --- Take a road trip to the west coast with no time limit and make stops along the way at

interesting places. --- Of course, this kinda' goes along with my wish to drive Route 66 - (#10 on my list). But, if I were to do this... I would leave from home to do it, so that is a bit different. So, I would drive from Georgia to California (I guess). A convertible for this trip would be fun, too!

Bucket List #10-12

#10 --- Drive (or ride) Route 66 and stop at all the unique places along the way --- I think this would be SO much fun!! Of course, I see myself doing this in a convertible... but, hey... if I ever get to do it... then, it won't really matter what kind of vehicle I am in! I need to research what towns and sites are along the way. Doing this would help me to complete #3 on my Bucket List -- Visiting all 50 states!

#11 --- Visit Castle Hollenzollern in Germany --- By researching my family history, I found out that my Brandenburg ancestors (my mother's maternal side) were Prussian royalty back in early 1500's. The Hohenzollern family ruled Prussia & Brandenburg until the end of World War I. There is even a castle that belonged to them. The castle is located 30 miles south of Stuttgart, Germany and is open for touring. It looks so beautiful!

#12 --- Visit the Grand Canyon --- I find it amazing that Dtr. #2 has seen this Wonder of the World and I haven't yet! But, I plan to someday! Maybe I will get to on my Route 66 trip!

Pet Peeves #5-8

In an earlier post (4/9/10), I blogged about starting a list of my pet peeves. I vowed to add to this list as I thought of more. So, here it goes....

5. DOG OWNERS WHO LET THEIR DOGS RUN FREE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD - On my way home today, just as I was exiting the hwy to where I live, I noticed a dead dog... (I know. It's sad!)... right there on the side of the hwy. It looked very much like one that lives in my neighborhood, which isn't far from this hwy & exit ramp. My immediate thought was to think how this could have been avoided IF it's owners had just kept it in their yard, or on a leash.
 Unfortunately, the county that I live in does not have a leash law. This is due to the fact that it is still considered a "rural" county. Yes, there is still plenty of undeveloped land here, but.... the county is growing fast with more and more neighborhoods being developed.
 What I don't understand is that if the dog owner's LOVED their "pets", then they wouldn't let their "pet" run free and risk the chance of it getting run over by a car!! DUH!!!!! It's not hard to comprehend! We have lived in this same neighborhood for over 10 years and have had a dog the whole time we have lived here. One of the first things that we did when we moved in, was to put up a FENCE so that our beloved "pet" would be safe and also wouldn't disturb our neighbors by going into their yards.

That's another problem.... I do not feel SAFE walking in my own neighborhood because of these so-called "pets" that are running loose! Once, while I was walking my dog ON A LEASH, another big dog ran out of it's yard and attacked my dog!!! Then... the owner had the guts to think that my dog provoked her dog!! UNREAL!! The nerve of some people!


These "pets" also get into our trash if we put it out too early!! So.... I have to remember to take the trash cans to the street right before I leave for work. Any earlier, and the trash cans are dumped over, and trash is dragged from one end of the yard to the other!!


Ok... I'll "shut up" on this one now! Sorry! It gets my blood boiling!!

*** 4/23/10 -- Just wanted to add that... yesterday, I saw the dog that I "thought" was hit by the car. He is fine, and I am glad :)

6. BAD DRIVERS - This fits a wide range of drivers, but I felt it needed to be added to the list. For this category, I would like to include the following:

• Those drivers who drive faster than those of us that are already going slightly over the speed limit.
• Those same "fast drivers" who weave in and out of traffic.
• Those same "fast drivers" who, as YOU are passing a "slow driver" (aka: one who is actually going the speed limit), drive up fast and get on your BUTT until you move out of THEIR WAY!
• Those drivers who do not know how to MERGE!!!
• Those drivers who refuse to let YOU merge!!
• Those drivers who do not use their blinker!

I may have to add to this particular list at a later time. I am sure that I am leaving out something!

7. RUDE PEOPLE - There is no reason for one person to be rude to another. There just aren't any excuses AT ALL! (If you think of one, please let me know! I'd be curious to hear!) I don't care how bad of a day that you are having, please do not take it out on innocent people around you!

8. PEOPLE IN AUTHORITY THAT ENJOY TELLING OTHERS WHAT TO DO - I would also call these people... "People that are on a POWER TRIP". Just because you are someone's boss or you have any kind of authority over someone else, does not give you the right to flaunt your authority, or belittle those that are under you. Now, that I think about it... this would fit nicely under #7 - RUDE PEOPLE, as well.

Pet Peeves

Original date written -- 4/8/10

As I was driving to visit my mom today, and as the rain came pouring down... the thought of this blog entry came to my mind. WHY?... You ask. Because one of my biggest pet peeves is people who do not have the courtesy to turn their lights on when they are driving in the rain!!!

It is about a 20 minute drive to my mom's and as I drove, I began to think of other "pet peeves" that I could add to this first one. (I won't mention that I was writing these down as I drove .... in the pouring down rain! ...OOPS! Already did!)

This list below is just the beginning of a list that I am sure that I will add to. So be on the lookout for updates! This list is also NOT in any particular order. They are only in the order of how they popped into my mind! The first 4 are the ones that I thought of as I drove to see my mom.... in the rain.

First of all.... WHY are they called PET PEEVES?? ... Hmmm.... that might deserve some research at a later time!

1. PEOPLE WHO DON'T DRIVE WITH THEIR LIGHTS ON IN THE RAIN --- I am not sure why this bothers me so much! Obviously, I CAN see them! But, it just "erks" (not sure if that's a word or not, but it's one that I use!) me to no end!! But... for one thing... it is a Georgia State Law that you MUST drive with your lights on in the rain. And... for a second thing... it's just the polite thing to do so that other drivers can see you. It's NOT that hard to remember to turn them on! The rain should be a reminder!

2. PEOPLE WHO SHOW TOO MUCH "P.D.A." --- Don't get me wrong... I love to see people that are in love. But... there is limit as to how much of that stuff you need to do in public! A quick peck on the lips is fine. A hug or embrace is fine. Holding hands is fine. But, any more than that requires a BEDROOM!

3. PEOPLE THAT CLAIM THAT THEY KNOW GOD, BUT DON'T GO TO CHURCH --- I understand that a person can believe in God and live a Godly life, and not go to church. But... really???... How well can they really KNOW GOD?? Trust me! I am no expert! But, from everything that I have been taught... in church... you can not grow in your faith and truly know God without taking part in and participating in church. I truly believe that it takes worshiping with other believers and also fellowshiping with other believers to truly be a follower of God.

4. PEOPLE THAT LITTER (AKA: LITTERBUGS) --- I have to admit that I haven't actually "seen" anyone do this in quite a while, but it must be still happening because where else is all the "litter" on the road coming from?? Of course, I do realize that some of it may come from the back of pick-up trucks as the result of the trash flying out of the back as the truck drives down the highway. --- Now, that I'm thinking about it... could this be the pick-up driver's way of getting rid of his trash, but not "actually" littering?? Haahaa... I think I'm on to something!!

TO BE CONTINUTED....