Fascist Cop

So I'm driving back to Louisville last Monday. It's some time past 11:00 at night and I'm in Ohio. I pass 3 cop cars all parked right in the breakdown lane. They don't have a single person pulled over - they're just waiting. When I see them, I check my speed. I'm legal. I think about the car I'm driving. Everything about it is legal - registration, inspection; lights are all working.

But there aren't many cars on the road, and as soon as I pass them, they all pull out. One cruises right past me, but another one hangs back just a bit. Though I am totally legal and have done nothing wrong, I know it is just a matter of time before I'm pulled over for something. I don't have long to wait. The blues go on. WTF!!!!

I pull over immediately. I have no idea what excuse this knucklehead will use, but they don't really need one. Rather than come to the driver side window he comes up to the passenger side. Odd I think but I guess he just wants to stay out as far from traffic as possible.

He tells me I was swerving. Yeah sure I was. I always start weaving all about when side by side with a cop. It is something I can't argue. It is pointless to try. He tells me that he just wants to make sure that I am not too tired. I tell him I'm perfectly fine - wide awake - and hold up an empty can of Rock Star as a visual aid to bolster my case. Still he wants my licence, registration, and proof of insurance. It's just procedure I figure.

After about 10 minutes he returns to the drivers side window this time and asks me to get out of the car. I do, but ask him why. He tells me he wants to explain that he is giving me a written warning. I don't know why he can't do that while I'm sitting, but naturally he can do whatever he wants.

I don't understand why I'm even getting a written warning! We have established that I'm not tired. I know I was not swerving. If his job is to serve and protect, I would have been on my way 9 minutes ago. But his job description is apparently to harass and intimidate.

That New Car (freshener) Smell

At last I have been able to see the car I purchased a month or more ago. It was parked here in NH and I have been in Kentucky since November. It has been very well maintained. It has far more bells and whistles than I'd like, and I have to get to know how to operate them. For example, this car has an alarm system and I found out that if I hold the "lock" button on the key-chain too long it sets the alarm off. Who would have thought? Furthermore, it seems safe to assume that if holding the "lock" button too long sets the alarm off that depressing the "unlock" button would turn it off. But the old adage about assuming was not debunked and the alarm continued to blare throughout other attempts such as putting the key in the door and turning it, and putting the key in the ignition and starting the car. Finally I disconnected the battery and that did the trick.

I guess I'm officially old since I prefer the simplicity of my older cars. At least this car has a stereo that works which is a HUGE improvement when it comes to long trips!

Lake Effect Snow in NY

I'm currently back in NH for 2 weeks. It was one hell of a drive up here. I got a good start and everything was going just peachy til I got to New York. Keep in mind that I actually don't (heart) NY. It's quite the opposite. If you take all the other tolls I paid in other states and times that by three you get the the amount of toll for NY alone. In addition, the gas prices are closer to those of California than they are to surrounding states. Then the highway department adds insult to injury by posting signs that say "lower fuel prices in effect". And of course NY goes on forever and ever when driving west to east. I don't (heart) NY. I don't (heart) it one bit.

So as I got to NY the snow started coming down. I didn't mind. However, at times the snow was getting so bad visibility was nil. At it's worst I was unable to leave the interstate even though I wanted to because I was unable to see the exits. One particular gust of wind foiled me by completely blinding me for 4 seconds. I was only going slowly, but didn't dare come to a full and complete stop lest someone come along and collide into the back of me. Just as the snow cleared enough to see, I was heading toward the banking on the right shoulder.

I stuck myself, but not bad. The snow was soft and given time I could have dug out, but I was worried about someone following my hazards and plowing into me. So when I tow truck came along and offered to pull me out, I accepted. Though I was barely off the road and was "towed" all of 6 feet the price tag came to $100. Ouch.

New York continues to be no friend of mine.