Do It At Home....

I've blogged about this before - over at MySpace - and it just annoyed the crap out of Me and so... well, now Blogger.com/blogspot gets a taste, too....

What is it that I am going to vent and rant about...?

....DRIVERS that DO OTHER THINGS besides DRIVING....

It never ceases to amaze Me.... OK... a bit of background... I commute a little over 20 miles EACH WAY, per day, to and from work.... From Long Beach to just south of LAX.... And I drive along the 405 freeway pretty much every day.... the 405, for those that don't know, is one of the BUSIEST ROADS in the country.... When they say that Interstate 80 (or is it 50?) is the "loneliest highway", they can say that the 405 is probably the least lonely!!! Honestly, no matter what time of the day or night (or even early morning), you can usually find yourself surrounded by at least a dozen cars.... during rush hour, though, the numbers multiply exponentially.....

So, anyway, when I'm commuting to and from work - I'm with quite a few other hundred cars and drivers... and buses and trucks and so on.... And it never ceases to amaze Me all of the things I see people doing BESIDES DRIVING their car!!!

• Make up - I'm always a bit on guard when I see the lights of the visor mirror from the back window.... That means that some ditzy dame is up there applying her make up - from eyeliner to lipstick to mascara - all while trying to control 2 tons of rolling steel, plastic and rubber.... for cryin' out loud! Beat your mug at home!!!! or get to the office early and do it at your desk!!!!
• Shaving - guys are also guilty of getting ready for work - on the drive!!!! I've seen lots of guys with electric razors, shaving, buzzing and trimming up their facial hair - again, while trying to pilot 2 tons of metal.... while surrounded by other people piloting 2 tons of metal....
• Reading - Yep, I've seen this, too... and fairly regularly, too... Somebody has the Wall Street Journal or USA Today or the LA Times or some book or magazine or something like that spread out on the steering wheel, reading the news or sports or their stock market reports.... Can't you just do that at home....?!?
• Cell phones - this is an oldie, but still a baddie.... And something I can admit to being somewhat guilty for - but not nearly to the extent that I see on a regular basis.... But yes, somebody is cruising down the road (or stopping and going and stopping again!) while holding a few ounces of plastic to their ear - and paying more attention to the person they're talking to and far less attention to the road and the other cars around them.... And what makes it even worse is when they're trying to TAKE NOTES or write something down while on the phone....
• Text Messaging - OK, now this is nearly the WORST one.... using that same cell phone, these dolts are chatting with friends while cruising along.... holding the phone with one hand and punching up words and letters with the finger(s) of the other hand.... But, then.... Well which hand is on the wheel....?!? At least if they're actually TALKING to the person on the phone, at least they still have a "free hand" to keep on the wheel... but if they're texting - well, then there are NO hands on the wheel....

It's just STUPID!!!!

I get it, though... I understand being bored and wanting to do SOMETHING to alleviate the boredom and monotony of the commute.... but listen to some music... maybe listen to the news... buy that book "on tape" or on CD and listen to it.... Something... ANYTHING...! Just pay attention to what you're doing behind the wheel and while piloting that massive block of material down the road...

Please...?