There is a complete cluster at the intersection of Caulk's Hill and 94. Not only did they rebuild the intersection, but they rebuilt it so if you drive via muscle memory you merge directly into a lane of cars at 40-50 miles per hour, with no shoulder to speak of.
When Gary did this today, we had this exchange:
Me: "What was that? What were you thinking? Why didn't you stop? Why didn't you think about what you were doing? I always turn from the center lane now, just because that could happen. Why don't you think when you drive? How do you get yourself to work driving like that? Why -"
Him: "It's not your birthday month anymore, you realize that, don't you?"
That's so funny. Also intriguing - this birthday month indemnity business, I like the sound of that. I suppose it HAS to be reciprocal?
Posted by: Big Dot | September 06, 2009 at 09:05 AM
Nice way to say, STFU. How polite!
Posted by: SurprisingWoman | September 06, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Traffic backs up on Caulk's Hill like crazy now, doesn't it? I can't believe there hasn't been a serious accident there already. I tell anyone who visits me that they must yield now, after years of telling people "JUST GO!"
I hope that when the new section of 364 opens that there will be far less through traffic on the outer road and I'll actually get to turn in less than 2 traffic light cycles.
Posted by: Caroline | September 06, 2009 at 01:15 PM
I hate when they mess with the roads I've been driving on for 20 years. "Muscle memory"- I love that. There's this one place out by the airport where they added a new turnpike entrance, and reshaped the road so it has this weird bank to it, and every time I drive on it I am suddenly completely lost in my own town.
Posted by: gaoo | September 06, 2009 at 02:45 PM
Big Dot - Yes, it does. I busted his hump this last month, I can't imagine what he'll expect when it's March. "This cereal won't pour itself."
Surprising Woman - Yep. He was polite. That's why I devoted a blog post to it.
Caroline - I might have to start taking the back way. They have to change that area back to how it was. Scary.
Gaoo - Oh, there's a major street here like that, also by the airport. I grew up with it, then one day I found out they re-directed it to run into a tunnel. I really panicked the first time I went into the tunnel. Convinced I was lost.
Posted by: TheQueen | September 06, 2009 at 08:21 PM
The back way - good idea! Because the less time I spend idling next to McDonald's, the fewer times I will give in to sausage biscuit temptation.
Posted by: Caroline | September 08, 2009 at 11:50 PM
Caroline - Of course I forgot to do it today. Oh - and here's a recipe for these egg-bacon cheese tarts that taste a lot like the Bread company quiches:
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Bacon-Quiche-Tarts
Posted by: TheQueen | September 09, 2009 at 12:22 AM