Mainly, posted for details for my court date....
I got my first ticket tonight. But first:
To rave about today. It was epic. We went "hiking" which meant we drove around to some breath-taking scenic sites, fooled around on cliff tops whilst scaring the hell out of strangers and making a terrible impression on children and inspiring them to do things that no adult should do (ie, playing along the edges of cliffs). But, since we're not totally terrible people, we sternly told them to get away and go back to their parents.
Also, I realized that I really need to watch my mouth around children. When I'm around my teammates, I'm as bad as a sailor.
Then we went to a retreat camp thing that one of my friends works at over the summer. After doing some of the bonding exercises (which didn't originally entail attempting to use their balancing/see-saw-like thing as a catapult), we hiked a few miles to a pool in the creek of freezing water which we jumped into. Such a rush and so refreshing.
To make a very long and ridiculous story short (I seriously love my teammates. I laughed so hard the entire time, there was no drama, and I can be myself around them), I had a great time. Practice had been cancelled on Tuesday and I noticed that I was in a terrible mood and headspace until after Thursday practice. Friday, I was in the best mood ever. Like virtually euphoric. I was stunned.
Then, while driving home I got pulled over. So, for my own future reference, here are the facts:
It was 8:30 pm. The sun was down. It was a short stretch of construction zone. The speed limit in the zone was 45mph and outside it was 70mph. There were no construction workers present, though there were cones up. I was behind another car going 70. I was going frickin' 72mph and a cop pulled me over. I pulled over right away (though in hind site I was told that pulling over so fast my have indicated guilt). The cop asked me if I had seen the 45mph sign, I said no (which was a lie, but I pulled it off convincingly, I think). He then gave me a ticket for $445. It was my first ever offense and the first time I'd been pulled over. I guess I don't do things by half.
And the thing is...we were laughing the entire time. This was my fault. I had two passengers in my car and I didn't want things awkward and I didn't want pity. I'd fucked up (hell, the system is fucked up: there were no workers present and everyone was going through there at about 75mpg. God forbid they pull over an 18-wheeler who could cause serious damage). So what did I do? Make absurd comments. And we were laughing while he was fining me for a pretty hefty sum of money, though we were perfectly serious and sober when he was at our window. I wonder if crying would have changed what he did. But, as terrible of a person as I am, I can't manipulate someone like that. And I didn't want to lower myself: I hate crying and chances are, I would have been fined anyway. I'm going to do a bit of research and hopefully show up to my court date armed and ready and probably totally ineffective. I'm a cynic at the best of time, and I don't believe that the system is remotely fair or reasonable. And the people employed to listen to traffic court cases all day are probably near the bottom of the intellectual/humanitarian food chain.
Fuckers.
Note to self: remember what highway I was on. Note to self II: Learn the highways in SC anyway, you moron.
I called my mom and she was surprisingly calm about it all. I really need to appreciate her more. From what I hear of other parents, I certainly have the best.
But today was still amazing.
Two more notes before I end this (and, dammit, I have so much work that I was planning on doing today. Getting that phone call at 8:45--waking me up, to boot--asking if I wanted to go was a much better way to spend the day).
I posted a status thingy on facebook lamenting how underprepared I was for my immuno exam and several people replied that, being me, there's no way I was going to make lower than an A-. Even my professor, whom I haven't talked to once since I've started his class came up to me several hours after the exam had finished as I waited for the elevator and asked how it was. I mean, I had my headphones on and everything and didn't even see him, so he definitely wasn't socially obligated to partake in any pleasantries. When my response to "how did you do" was ":/" he was like, "I'm sure you did fine." And he knew my name. I mean, he called my "Miss MyLastName". There has always been a correlation between professors who call my by my last name who have no reason to know my name and how much I respect them and enjoy their class. It's weird like that.
Knowing my and my luck lately, with everyone knowing that I'm going to do good, this will be the test that I spectacularly and embarassingly bomb. I just know it. Especially given how hard this exam was. There was one section that I guessed on and a few more that I had to make under-educated guesses on. I don't want to get this one back.
The second note: I discovered two bands on Friday. Erland and the Carnival is spectacular. "My Name is Carnival" is especially good. The second band is not as good as the first, in my opinion (though the people who rode with me today seem to like them better). It's Great Lake Swimmers. "Palmistry" is good, and was the first one of theirs that I heard. "Your Rocky Mountain Spine" is also rather beautiful. Their other stuff is a bit boring.
But still. I love discovering new bands!
And now, I'm exhausted. And...as a delayed response, this ticket fiasco is getting to me. Part of my arrogance was on the fact that I don't get tickets. They happen to other people. I'm not careless. Reckless, maybe, but not careless. I feel like I'm slipping. I know that I'm not...content and perhaps even bored. I'm looking for a challenge. Something new. Which is why I think I like the people I hang out with so much. We're...not the most socially acceptable people. We do crazy shit and say crazy things. Normal standards are not our thing. I fear, however, that I'm slipping. That they're having an effect on me. Not necessarily a bad one, but one that may not be "in my best interest". Secretly, one of my biggest fears is that I will end up breaking my vow of never drinking. I feel my resolve weakening. Not much, but if I were to drink, it'd definitely be with them.
But nevermind that. I'm exhausted, a bit angry, and, as always, emotionally stupid.
To rave about today. It was epic. We went "hiking" which meant we drove around to some breath-taking scenic sites, fooled around on cliff tops whilst scaring the hell out of strangers and making a terrible impression on children and inspiring them to do things that no adult should do (ie, playing along the edges of cliffs). But, since we're not totally terrible people, we sternly told them to get away and go back to their parents.
Also, I realized that I really need to watch my mouth around children. When I'm around my teammates, I'm as bad as a sailor.
Then we went to a retreat camp thing that one of my friends works at over the summer. After doing some of the bonding exercises (which didn't originally entail attempting to use their balancing/see-saw-like thing as a catapult), we hiked a few miles to a pool in the creek of freezing water which we jumped into. Such a rush and so refreshing.
To make a very long and ridiculous story short (I seriously love my teammates. I laughed so hard the entire time, there was no drama, and I can be myself around them), I had a great time. Practice had been cancelled on Tuesday and I noticed that I was in a terrible mood and headspace until after Thursday practice. Friday, I was in the best mood ever. Like virtually euphoric. I was stunned.
Then, while driving home I got pulled over. So, for my own future reference, here are the facts:
It was 8:30 pm. The sun was down. It was a short stretch of construction zone. The speed limit in the zone was 45mph and outside it was 70mph. There were no construction workers present, though there were cones up. I was behind another car going 70. I was going frickin' 72mph and a cop pulled me over. I pulled over right away (though in hind site I was told that pulling over so fast my have indicated guilt). The cop asked me if I had seen the 45mph sign, I said no (which was a lie, but I pulled it off convincingly, I think). He then gave me a ticket for $445. It was my first ever offense and the first time I'd been pulled over. I guess I don't do things by half.
And the thing is...we were laughing the entire time. This was my fault. I had two passengers in my car and I didn't want things awkward and I didn't want pity. I'd fucked up (hell, the system is fucked up: there were no workers present and everyone was going through there at about 75mpg. God forbid they pull over an 18-wheeler who could cause serious damage). So what did I do? Make absurd comments. And we were laughing while he was fining me for a pretty hefty sum of money, though we were perfectly serious and sober when he was at our window. I wonder if crying would have changed what he did. But, as terrible of a person as I am, I can't manipulate someone like that. And I didn't want to lower myself: I hate crying and chances are, I would have been fined anyway. I'm going to do a bit of research and hopefully show up to my court date armed and ready and probably totally ineffective. I'm a cynic at the best of time, and I don't believe that the system is remotely fair or reasonable. And the people employed to listen to traffic court cases all day are probably near the bottom of the intellectual/humanitarian food chain.
Fuckers.
Note to self: remember what highway I was on. Note to self II: Learn the highways in SC anyway, you moron.
I called my mom and she was surprisingly calm about it all. I really need to appreciate her more. From what I hear of other parents, I certainly have the best.
But today was still amazing.
Two more notes before I end this (and, dammit, I have so much work that I was planning on doing today. Getting that phone call at 8:45--waking me up, to boot--asking if I wanted to go was a much better way to spend the day).
I posted a status thingy on facebook lamenting how underprepared I was for my immuno exam and several people replied that, being me, there's no way I was going to make lower than an A-. Even my professor, whom I haven't talked to once since I've started his class came up to me several hours after the exam had finished as I waited for the elevator and asked how it was. I mean, I had my headphones on and everything and didn't even see him, so he definitely wasn't socially obligated to partake in any pleasantries. When my response to "how did you do" was ":/" he was like, "I'm sure you did fine." And he knew my name. I mean, he called my "Miss MyLastName". There has always been a correlation between professors who call my by my last name who have no reason to know my name and how much I respect them and enjoy their class. It's weird like that.
Knowing my and my luck lately, with everyone knowing that I'm going to do good, this will be the test that I spectacularly and embarassingly bomb. I just know it. Especially given how hard this exam was. There was one section that I guessed on and a few more that I had to make under-educated guesses on. I don't want to get this one back.
The second note: I discovered two bands on Friday. Erland and the Carnival is spectacular. "My Name is Carnival" is especially good. The second band is not as good as the first, in my opinion (though the people who rode with me today seem to like them better). It's Great Lake Swimmers. "Palmistry" is good, and was the first one of theirs that I heard. "Your Rocky Mountain Spine" is also rather beautiful. Their other stuff is a bit boring.
But still. I love discovering new bands!
And now, I'm exhausted. And...as a delayed response, this ticket fiasco is getting to me. Part of my arrogance was on the fact that I don't get tickets. They happen to other people. I'm not careless. Reckless, maybe, but not careless. I feel like I'm slipping. I know that I'm not...content and perhaps even bored. I'm looking for a challenge. Something new. Which is why I think I like the people I hang out with so much. We're...not the most socially acceptable people. We do crazy shit and say crazy things. Normal standards are not our thing. I fear, however, that I'm slipping. That they're having an effect on me. Not necessarily a bad one, but one that may not be "in my best interest". Secretly, one of my biggest fears is that I will end up breaking my vow of never drinking. I feel my resolve weakening. Not much, but if I were to drink, it'd definitely be with them.
But nevermind that. I'm exhausted, a bit angry, and, as always, emotionally stupid.