Hatrack River Forum: Where is my Bridges article Wednesday fix?

This is topic Where is my Bridges article Wednesday fix? in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :

*twitches

Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :

Rumor is, he's sitting on his stash to jack up the price.

Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :

We want Chris! We want Chris!

Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :

Yeah, what's the delay??? !!

In the meantime, let me point you to my film review. [Big Grin]

Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :

Oh -- I thought the Anansi Boys review was it. I guess not -- it's just his blog entry......

Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :

Driving really, really defensively

We watched "Transporter 2" last weekend, and, as we do after every impossible action driving movie with cartoon physics, we talked about our own driving habits. I am constantly surprised at how many intelligent people fail to share my unshakeable belief: every other person on the road is purposely out to kill you.

Well, maybe not every person. I'm pretty sure the Road Ranger folks don't want to make any more work for themselves, and there are probably a few new drivers who haven't checked their glove compartments yet for my dossier and their nefarious orders.

But there's simply no other excuse for why my whole entire car seems to be invisible and tractor trailers race each other for the chance to cut me off. Maniacs ride my bumper and playfully nudge me towards the bridge railing. People race their engines at stoplights, anxious for their chance to T-bone me. Even squirrels wait motionless for hours before they leap out to make me swerve.

It wasn't always like this. When I got my first car I didn't drive defensively. Or offensively, or in any manner that indicated I was aware of exterior stimuli whatsoever.

=======================

Sorry for the delay, been fighting with the FOX music site to buy the Firefly soundtrack this morning...

[ September 21, 2005, 10:31 AM: Message edited by: Chris Bridges ]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

[ROFL]

I generally aim for Teres' attitude as well. But sometimes it's hard . . . Yesterday I had to brake hard when I should've been making a left turn (the light was changing to red) because some driver going way too fast couldn't/wouldn't stop when she should have. She gave a courtesy wave and she zipped by. [Roll Eyes]

Lady, I'm not trying to do you a favor, I just don't want you to smash into my car!

My general theory is that most other drivers are friendly, but it's the occasional idiot or malicious moron you have to watch out for (and every once in a while I catch myself being one of the idiots. [Blushing]

)

Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :

That was a really good one, Chris. I won't quote specific parts since I laughed too many times. Thanks. [Smile]

Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :

quote:
I'm thwarting their evil plans.

Ooh, I like this. I'll start using that whenever I'm going the speed limit and everyone else is passing me...

Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :

quote:
Instead I treated my car as an auxiliary bedroom. I had my music, I had books stashed here and there, I had food and drink and usually at least two of my friends with me at all times.

At least two friends with you at all times? And this was how you treated your bedroom, too? Wow, Chris, we had no idea you were that kind of guy! [Wink]

--Enigmatic

Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :

quote:
Maniacs ride my bumper and playfully nudge me towards the bridge railing.

Oops. Was that you? Sorry!

<courtesy wave>

Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :

When did you marry my sister and change my name to Rodger?

Posted by Goo Boy (Member # 7752) on :

Hey, what happened to your picture on the column?

Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :

Good article, Chris. One editorial nitpick: in the third-to-last paragraph, it should be "adopt this mental viewpoint," not "adapt."

Posted by Stan the man (Member # 6249) on :

[ROFL]

The day is better now.

Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :

*satisfied sigh

Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :

When I can get that satisfied sigh from CT, I know I've done good.

Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :

You know it, baby.

Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :

"When I can get that satisfied sigh from CT, I know I've done good.

ClaudiaTherese:

You know it, baby."

I had no idea! [Wink]

Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :

Wow, Chris, we had no idea you were that kind of guy!

Really? How'd you miss it?

Posted by Astaril (Member # 7440) on :

People here drive like that all the time. It's one of the first things I noticed when I moved here. Every car stops for every person at every crosswalk, and cars are always stopping to wave bikes or other cars out at corners and lots, stop sign or no. It doesn't seem to be defensiveness though, just simple politeness. And you know, I can now understand why Ontario won't let East Coasters trade in their licenses for Ontario ones without taking the Ontario test when they move. They would never last a second trying to get around in Toronto driving the way they do here.

I really like living in a town that's not in a perpetual hurry. [Smile]