Meth is Bad
Had an unusually frustrating day today - and by that I mean above and beyond my usual level of frustration - in and of itself suspect, because by then one begins to wonder if frustration doesn't simply beget more frustration. My rent house is at the far end of an otherwise happy, tree-lined street which begins with brightly colored starter homes with well-manicured lawns and ends in broken down meth houses. Which is why there was no parent watching the small child on a training-wheels equipped bike riding in lazy eights behind my car as I was trying to back out of my driveway. I wait until I get the kids's rhythm down in both side-view mirrors and the backup camera, then start backing out at something like half-a-foot a second all the while keeping eyes on this kid doing lazy eights behind me in the street. Once I'm clear of the kid I turn the wheels and back out a little faster so I will be straight on the road, nearly running over this old guy - also on a bicycle - because he thought getting between me and the kid on the bike was a good idea. Seriously, he appeared genuinely surprised as if a sudden realization came to him that he was not in fact, still drunk at home passed out in his La-Z-Boy. Needless to say, that didn't improve my frustration.
Which makes this next part even more incredible. I'm traveling no more than 31 MPH in a residential 30 MPH zone WHEN I NEARLY REAR-END THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. Like, how does that even happen, right? Was I not paying attention? Was my conscious mind elsewhere? The instant shot of adrenaline makes me wonder if one should *never* drive frustrated because of the potential fall-out in doing so. I cannot believe that almost happened and I'm questioning my ability as a responsible driver. Speaking of responsible drivers, I find out 100-yards later why I almost rear-ended the car in front of me. In short, because this isn't Texas. We don't have annual vehicle inspections here to suss out pesky things like MOTHERFUCKING BRAKES LIGHTS, of which this car had zero working. Motherfucker just...I dunno, stopped and shit without a care in the world. Turns out it's not me. I'm fine. Everyone else however, is just living their best life the best way they know how without a care in the world of personal safety or responsibility. May God have mercy on their souls.