Month: February 2005

that’s exactly what it felt like as I got a bit daring this morning and got on the on beltway for an excursion to IKEA. since I’m still without a car as the accident has tied up everything, this deathtrap, I mean, car I’ve been driving only solidified my fears. The washington DC beltway (aka 495) is a pretty fast paced loop around the city, and normally, I’d keep up with the flow of traffic, usually a bit above speed limit, and let the idiots zip in and out of lanes.

The last two weeks, I’ve basically been driving cautiously, and understandably so. However, today’s drive, at first liberating to be on the open road, my soundtrack a throw back to my college days: Archers of Loaf-Icky Mettle, turned into fear and stress. why? While driving on the beltway, I remained either of the right two lanes of 4+ lanes, since I was driving on the slower side compared to others. I fluctuated between 55-60mph. That wasn’t much of an issue for me. Neither were the cars changing lanes on a busy Sunday morning in DC metro area. That’s all rather standard fare. What got me back on the fear and stress of driving, was the fact that typically in this driving environment with cars quickly changing lanes to get to their exits, which can either be on the left OR the right side of the highway, you have to tap the brakes or occasionally brake hard. Fair enough. What I had a problem with is the fact that the car shook so much when trying to brake at any speed above 40mph.

I think I’ll be going to the rental company on tuesday and taking the deathtrap back.

car accidents suck big time. I’ve become a strong supporter of wearing seat belts. not that I didn’t wear ’em before, but now I think I will plan to make others wear ’em too, if they’re riding in my car.

I’ve spent the last week recovering from injuries that I liken to having a cinder block dropped on my chest. I even have some bruises that aren’t very sexy to be having on my chest either. The only decent thing to come out of this mess is that my doctor has set me up with prescriptions to help me deal with the weird pains that keep cropping up.

what sucks most is that my independent nature has been squashed and forced to rely on others at times and the nervousness I have in getting behind the wheel to drive again. I HATE that the most. It’s not only because it’s painful to drive with the seat belt right where the one in my car restrained me so much that it hurts so, but I fear it might just happen all over again. I don’t trust anyone to actually stop at a stop sign. and to top it off, driving has been my saving grace the past few months as I’ve been visiting old stomping grounds in NJ and Philly, mostly to escape what’s lacking for me here in Arlington: friends to hang with, people I know and can have fun with. very rarely does anyone make it down here to see me, so I must go see them, but I can’t. I only have a rental car for the time being.

lastly, I’m thankful for the percocet and flexiril to help me deal with the mushy-ness of this hallmark holiday, when those that truly love one another should say so every moment they are together instead of one silly day.