come alive on the driver's side

I had a scary experience Saturday night when I was driving back to Kent. I should preface this by saying that since I moved up here a couple of months ago, I've seen more drunk drivers on the road at night than I ever did in Columbus or Dayton. Just add that to list of reasons why I'm not a fan of northeast Ohio (along with the lack of Timmy Ho's!). Anyway, I was driving back on some two lane country road that I can never remember the numbers of, and as I was driving down a hill, a drunken idiot going the opposite direction veered into my lane. Have you ever gone head to head with another car? It's terrifying! I felt like I was moving in slow motion. I could see him coming at me, and all I could think of was, "Get out of his way!" So I did what any sane person would do: I got out of the way. I wound up driving on the opposite side of the road myself, and luckily the car that was behind Mr. (or Ms.) Drunk Driver saw what I was doing and slowed down so they wouldn't hit me. I thought about honking or flashing my brights, but considering how unpredictable this guy's behavior was already, I didn't want to take the chance that he'd jerk the wheel and wind up hitting me. I drew a picture in Paint to demonstrate what happened.

I have skills, I know.

I realize I got super lucky in this situation. If I hadn't reacted the way I had, who knows what could have happened. I might not even be writing this right now! I just don't want to take the chance of putting myself in that situation again, especially since this isn't the first time I've encountered a drunk driver on the roads up here. If I'm smart enough to know when I'm not sober and I can't drive home, I stay where I am. After Jackie's dad died, I take drunk driving VERY seriously. It's easy enough to die in a car accident when alcohol isn't involved; why risk it when things are even more dangerous when alcohol is involved? I don't know what it is about this area that causes so many people to drink and drive. Maybe the bartenders don't cut people off early enough. Maybe there aren't enough cab companies around to shuttle home the drunk people. Maybe people don't have the type of friends who won't let their friends drive home when they've been drinking. I don't really care what the reasons are. None of them are good enough, and after this heart-pounding experience, I'm probably going to end up spending the night at Hannah and Alex's (or wherever I am) more often, even if I'm sober. I value my own life too much to put it in the hands of some drunk idiot who can't tell what side of the road he should be driving on.

~ Christine

NaNo NoMo

I feel super sad about this, but I'm taking myself out of NaNo. I simply don't have the time or energy to give to writing 50,000 words this month. I really wish NaNo was another month that wasn't so busy, like September. September I was bored out of my skull. November's a very busy month for me, and has been every year since I've been in school. Finals are in early December, and I have one written exam, which I've moved to a week earlier so that I can chaperon the Rotary Disney trip. Everything else is papers, projects, and usual homework. For someone who is essentially unemployed, this should be simple to do. But there's another issue. I've been sleeping like crap, and when I'm awake, I'm either running sinus headaches again, or I'm exhausted, or both. Basically, my goal right now is to just survive, and anything extra is being cut out of my life. Unfortunately, this means NaNo. When things calm down, I'll attempt to finish my novel on my own. I don't like leaving things unfinished, and not receiving the NaNo winner title doesn't bug me. I'm not quitting, I'm just putting a pause button on my novel.

~ Christine

it's only fear after all

Them Bones

There's been a slew of bitches in my life lately, and even though I should be asleep so I can go to office hours tomorrow morning, I know I won't be able to sleep until I get this off of my chest.

Bitches I Have Bones to Pick With:

Bitch Number One:
I fail to understand the importance of keeping your whereabouts under wraps in a private message, only to announce to all of Facebook that you're enjoying your last night in Akron "with her". Stop being such a drama king. Say her fucking name, we all know the "her" you're talking about. And while you're at it, bragging about your conquests on Facebook isn't cool. I've kept my dating life private to this blog and a few close friends because I know you don't read this. So either be a mature adult and keep things under wraps (which I recommend doing anyway so you don't get the herpoly-erpolies from an undisclosed orifice on "her" body) or be entirely forthcoming with what/who/where you're doing it.

Bitch Number Two:
Look, I am all for people having lives outside of their romantic relationships. Believe me, I hate the girls who drown themselves in their boyfriends a là Twilight just as much as you do. But when the girl is your boyfriend's ex-girlfriend, you've lost the right to judge. Especially when you're bashing her on Facebook on your boyfriend's wall! Seriously, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out your not-so-subtle jab at her Public Displays of Affection on Facebook. She's moved on past your boyfriend. So just be happy that she's out of your hair. And if you hate what she's doing to her current boyfriend (which really isn't any of your business in the first place) save for a private conversation with your boyfriend where she and the rest of your mutual friends won't see it.

Bitch Number Three:
Just go away. Seriously. We were never that close, and considering the only times we've spoken in the last five years have been you attacking me for anything from my political views, to a casual comment I made about relationships that wasn't even about you, I think it's overdue that I unfriend you. Please stop harassing me about why I unfriended you. If you have to ask, you don't deserve to know. I've been unfriended by people several times, but unlike you, I don't pester them about it a mere four days after they did it. In face, I don't pester them at all. If they don't want to be my friend, then they don't deserve my friendship. Grow a spine and get some self-esteem and some real friends. And this time, treat them with respect and care. Maybe they won't all abandon you this time.

*whew* I feel so much better!

Since you read my bitching (or I assume you did), I have a special treat: The (temporary) return of Naughty Haiku!

~ Christine