As I started to complain about people's driving last week, I started thinking about the topic more. I sometimes feel like there should be some way to get people's attention turned toward their crazy driving habits. For instance, it seems that a number of drivers don't know what that little stick on the left side of the steering wheel is for. I was trying to turn left the other day, waiting patiently for the driver across the road who wasn't displaying a signal. After a lengthy wait in the assumption the driver was going straight, she turned left. I could have gotten out at least twice, but waited for fear the other drive might try to cross at the same time. But it's not a woman or man thing. It's pretty widespread.

I'm sure there may have been times when I didn't use mine either, but I usually don't complain about myself. It's those other people....

Sometimes I turn my signals left and right and blink my lights in an attempt to get another driver to declare his or her intentions. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

It really doesn't matter if someone turns right with no signal off while driving down a main road. But whenever at a stop sign, it definitely matters to the other drivers whether you are going left, right or straight ahead. Maybe folks don't know what right-of-way means.

Maybe I'm just complaining too much. Either way, I'm sure it won't make much of a difference in the long run. So if you're one of those inconsiderate drivers who doesn't signal while parked at a stop sign, or anywhere else for that matter, please stop it. You're driving me nuts.

Mixed Reviews

I talked to a friend and local business owner the other day who told me that his wife reads the column to him sometimes. Apparently, she thinks it is funny and entertaining, while he has trouble agreeing with that. Anyway, he said his wife was amused by the opening about the groundhog, while he was somewhat less amused. In fact, as she read about the groundhog coming out of the hole here, he said he made the mental note, "and somebody shot it," just as she said, "17 times." That might have been punctuated with a sarcastic "ha, ha" in his mind. While it seems apparent that he's not my biggest fan; I will just be satisfied with amusing part of the family. After all, nothing's really good for everyone.

All kidding aside, I'd have to admit that I don't find myself terribly amusing either. In fact, I never read this column and find I often get bored when hanging out with just me.

The column has become an extension of myself, like an extra toe. Only not so gross. I don't really know why I do it: singers sing, writers write and athletes...athlete? Anyway, think of it as the mental yard sale that I have weekly to let go of some of the ideas that I have collected in my mind like junk in the attic. All the really great ideas, like the best items at the yard sale, were gone earlier this morning.

Good Planning

I tend to get caught up in analyzing details and ideas, going overboard in the process. I recently sold a piece of property and spent three weeks planning exactly how I would spend every cent of the money in order to maximize the benefit and minimize the taxes. All I ended up was realizing that there was nothing I could do. Uncle Sam has his hand in my pocket and I might as well get used to it. But he's not the only one. When one owes money to others, how the proceeds will be spent is pretty much pre-decided. Maybe I'm short-sighted or something, but my goal right now is to be able to continue my climb out of debt. I dream not of great wealth, but of the day when I have no debts. I've came a long way from being nearly overwhelmed about 15 years ago to where I am now, but I still have a ways to go.

I've also been working on my contingency plans. I had been living on a contingency basis for many years, expending everything just to get by and keep the bills paid on time. Now I've finally gotten in a position to restart my stalled savings account and once again contribute a small weekly deposit. I might could have done it sooner, but I just didn't. I understand that a good plan involves having enough money to pay all the bills for at least three months. My earlier plan involved capturing a leprechaun and forcing it to lead me to its black cauldron filled with gold at the end of the rainbow. I decided that plan might need to be filed in the same place as "What to do when I win the lottery."

There's an old saying here that goes something like, "I'll be set when my rich uncle gets out of the poor house." Since I'm the uncle now, I don't want to go to the poor house to start with. If you were the uncle, you'd feel the same way. I'm glad to say I have a better plan than I've had in the past. Then again, the past plans have turned out well enough, since we're still staying warm and we're not eating snowballs for supper. Even so, with trying economic times at hand for so many, it's wise to be ready for the future, whatever it may hold.
 

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