“Never use a big word when a little filthy one will do.”
November 13, 2003, 12:22 PM
Johnny Carson once said, “Never use a big word when a little filthy one will do.”
Thus today on the way to JMU and then on the way to and from classes, in the wind. And goodness, what a bunch of wind we’re getting, too. Supposedly, it’s supposed to get up to almost 50 today. With this wind, it feels like winter coming to visit with a vengeance. And let’s not forget my car, which is a tall, large vehicle. (Recall that it’s a Toyota Previa) Blown around like a leaf on the freeway.
Now a driver seeing me get blown all over Interstate 81 could say, “I am lacking a conception of what the operator of the conveyance ahead of me is attempting to accomplish.” Big words. Compare, though…
This is what we say when we use the little filthy ones instead: “D—! What in the f— does this a—— f—ing think he’s doing?” That gets the point across just as well.
Fixed!
November 3, 2003, 12:22 PM
Well, my car’s exhaust problem is fixed. Basically, my car was running very loudly for the last few months, since, as we found out, the “flex pipe” was shot. I have no idea what that is, but I need one in good condition to pass my inspection.
It was very strange to drive the car after it was fixed, since now there’s no roar when I accelerate. It’s quiet!
Categories: Toyota Previa
Let’s drink a big soda and ride the Yellow Line!
October 9, 2003, 12:42 PM
Metro finally got a public restroom in a station! A self-cleaning restroom has been installed at Huntington. What this means is that every 30 minutes, the restroom closes up and cleans itself. Interesting idea… I wonder if it catches on. I also hope that it’s really totally clean after the guy before you has done his business. Hmmm…
And they installed it at Huntington, too. Huntington Station shows up in some of my “Urban Comparison” pictures way off in the distance. Finally, this will give me reason to go to Huntington and ride the inclinator there.
But not before first having a BIG soda…
What part of “crosswalk” do you not understand?
October 9, 2003, 12:33 PM
The joys of driving through campus in the middle of the day… JMU students walking, JMU students running, JMU students mingling… all just fine by me. Then we have the problem:
JMU students crossing the street.
First of all, they’re totally obnoxious when they have the stop signs, and thus the right of way. You can find yourself sitting at these random stop signs throughout campus for minutes on end while everyone crosses the street. You really have to duck and dodge to get through, let me tell you, all the while trying not to run someone over.
Then there’s the painted crosswalks without stop signs or traffic lights. Crosswalk means we know to expect pedestrian traffic through that area. That still doesn’t mean that you can dart out in front of cars. And the pedestians think we have to stop for these things. I overheard one girl on the sidewalk say, “Thank you for stopping!” as I drove past without stopping. I’m sorry, but if there is no stop sign or traffic light, I don’t have to stop unless it would be unsafe to keep going (i.e. if some idiot is in the street already).
Continue reading…Rear-ended!
September 4, 2003, 11:27 AM
What a way to start the day… I’m sitting at a light on Route 608 on my way up to JMU, when all of a sudden, I’m hit! Nothing major – just a minor fender-bender, and no one was hurt, and it wasn’t my fault. But my rear bumper now sags a little on the passenger side due to being knocked loose by the collision. That will probably end up having to be reattached or replaced. And that was the only damage, too. And I still made it to Harrisonburg, though I ended up getting there considerably late.
I also think it’s somewhat ironic… I have that “I need a car” quote up on the site beyond when I intended to change it, and I end up having an accident. Even more ironic is the fact that in 1997 I did my site up with a whole “Great American Road” theme, and the week of its debut, I got into a real doozie of an accident. No injuries, but the car was out of service for a month. I don’t know… maybe automotive features on my site are bad luck.
Categories: Toyota Previa
Flat!
August 15, 2003, 8:26 PM
Flat tire… loads of fun, indeed. I still made it to the office on time, though, since I did it two blocks away from the Office on Youth. What happened is I took a right turn off of Johnson Street onto New Street too sharply, and ran the back right tire into the curb in such a way to make it split. The car was able to limp the two blocks to the parking lot, and then I changed the tire during my lunch, and so I’ve got the (filthy) spare tire on there right now. Tomorrow, Dad and I are going out to get a replacement tire at Eavers Tire in Stuarts Draft.
This should teach me not to overcompensate when making right turns. I’ve occasionally ridden up on curbs before while making right turns, but never to the extent of destroying the tire.
This also ought to learn me (excuse the poor grammar) to occasionally clean the wheels, because I got years’ worth of track dust on my hands. Even though I didn’t get any on my clothes, still, good thing I was wearing all-black today, because it wouldn’t have shown.
Categories: Toyota Previa
And I did it all from memory…
August 2, 2003, 11:25 PM
Categories: WMATA
All a matter of interaction between the maniacs and the idiots…
July 24, 2003, 6:54 PM
On the way back from my internship today, I was taking US 250 back from Staunton, I was thinking about the quote, and it’s interesting how the road works. I hit a speed change (55 to 45), and slowed down. All of a sudden, I became an idiot to about six motorists, who quickly passed me. Meanwhile, they become maniacs to me as they blew past me. Anything to get home in one piece, though…
Also was at a conference today in a building with the exact same fire alarm signals as my middle school…
Categories: Driving