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Posted by tommy on 2007-04-30 23:03:42 +0000

Car horns redux

I'm hoping I don't start another giant argument about when use of car horns are appropriate with this. But in any case, here's what happened to me today. Okay, so today we closed on our new house, and the seller's real estate agent is the sweetest lady you'd ever want to meet. Her brother had occupied it until recently, when he died of cancer. The executor of the estate -- who was her other brother -- was a really nice guy. Former Marine. You could tell that they were kinda sorry to see the house go; they had both grown up there, and you could also tell they were still sad about their brother. They said they were glad that the house was going to a "nice couple". The closing was at our lawyer's office in Wellesley, and on our drive back as we were merging onto route 128 from route 9, the ASSHOLE in front of me stops (!!) on the ramp, despite the lack of traffic, and then steers over into the second-from-right lane. Okay, so in one act, this person executes four of my most-hated driving maneuvers: 1) Being in front of me and driving too slow. Okay, this one is selfish and subjective... still, the next three I think are objective and universal. 2) Trying to be "extra safe", but instead obliviously doing something dangerous. I'm guessing the driver came to a stop because they wanted to take a good long glance at the oncoming traffic, you know, to be safe. 3) Refusal to use acceleration/deceleration lanes. If the right lane gets extra wide before an exit ramp, you're supposed to pull over there BEFORE you start to slow down.... not slow down in the travel lane and then swoop in one foot before the exit splits off. 4) Refusal to stay right. Simple rule: slower traffic keeps right. When you get on a highway, you don't move left and THEN accelerate to highway speed. That's backwards. Use the right lane if you're not yet going as fast as everyone else. That's what that lane is for. So, due to this flagrant violation of highway etiquette -- which came close to getting me rear-ended and sandwiched between two cars -- I gave an extended blow on the Corolla's horn (which you may remember was ripped from a Chevy van, and thus gives a loud, manly honk). I also unleashed a furious stream of obscenities. When we passed them (which was immediately, and on the right due to their improper lane positioning), we looked over to see just what kind of a TOTAL ASSHOLE would pull a move like that on our beautiful commonwealth's roadways. And, it was the two nice folks that just sold me their family's house. And, yes, they looked over to see who was honking at them.

Posted by Epoisses on 2007-04-30 23:23:37 +0000
Amazing.

Posted by cdubrocker on 2007-05-01 01:48:22 +0000
Egad!

Posted by MF DU on 2007-05-01 01:54:45 +0000
oops. For the record, when ppl honk at me, I always try to turn around and wave with a smile - pretend I know the person. It's pretty fun. "Keep Reloading - I'm Honking"

Posted by G lib on 2007-05-01 11:53:23 +0000
OH, SNAP!

Posted by MF DU on 2007-05-01 11:56:53 +0000
keep thinking lately that 'Zidane' would be a fantastic name for a Metal / Hardcore act.

Posted by mahatma chani on 2007-05-01 12:42:23 +0000
Very O. Henry, this here story.

Posted by tendiamonds on 2007-05-01 12:54:58 +0000
Out-friggin-standing. I hate nice people, so I'm glad you flipped them off and cursed at them. Congrats on the house!

Posted by MF DU on 2007-05-01 13:07:20 +0000

Posted by tgl on 2007-05-01 13:15:03 +0000
Congrats on the house. When does The Stoves of New England play the basement? ...and thanks for the mid-morning chuckle, I needed it.

Posted by tommy on 2007-05-01 13:21:09 +0000
no reunions/last-show-evers on the horizon for The Stoves. The neighbors may be treated to some Ass Tractor at some point, though.

Posted by Miriam on 2007-05-01 13:35:27 +0000
Yowzah! Congrats on the house...and on making an indelible impression to the sellers.

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