Pondering Important Questions

My sister joined us for our holiday at la beach so we had a lot of time to ponder on our 8-hour trip to Pacific Beach. Questions we had included:

1. Can cars drive on truck routes on the LA freeway system to avoid car traffic? We didn’t find an answer to this online, but I experimented when caught in an accident snarl at Roxford Dr. just outside of LA on I-5 on the return trip. Yes, you can, but it’s really stupid to try it. Then you are in a traffic jam with drivers who can’t see you who threaten to roll over your pitiful little Ford as it sits lost in the midst of a sea of trucks when what you should have done is just deal with the 9,000,000 other cars at a dead stop on the main route. Same theory applies to checkout stands. The one you are in is always the slowest. If you change lines everyone in front of you will need a price-check.

1. Why is the Grapevine called the Grapevine? I have no idea. But it’s just another name for the Tejon Pass between Bakersfield and LA on I-5. Also, there are many, many crazy drivers on this stretch of road—mostly tourists—you know, the ones that race up past you and then slow down so you can’t pass anyone—then you speed up and finally do get past them and they then speed up and slow down next to you again as they watch Sponge Bob on their on-board television while traversing the treacherous mountain curves, oblivious to the fact anyone else is on the road with them. Or the ones who have no freakin’ clue what it means to check their blind spot when changing lanes at 95 mph. “Blind spot? What’s that?” Bastards. And, no, that would not include me.

 

1. Mezzo Soprano. What the hell is it? I think it must be Italian for Tony’s long-lost, long-thought-to-be-dead notorious Mafioso Uncle, who will be introduced and whacked by Christopher as he tries vainly to keep Tony from finding out about his descent back into drug addiction in the new season starting in January. Or, maybe it’s a richer, deeper singing voice—likened to a 2^nd Soprano. Range somewhere between Contralto and Soprano.

 

And now, I get to play with my new toy, the iPod Mini. The gift giver should probably remain anonymous, but it really is a cool gift, and very thoughtful based on my current music-less state. Thank God the insurance claim was just approved and life and music will get back to normal! Anyone need a 300-CD holder?

Conversation should touch everything, but should concentrate itself on nothing.
~ Oscar Wilde

Published on: Jan 1, 2007