Monday, January 21, 2008

Trucks will STILL slide in a Blizzard

Today it has been snowing and snowing and snowing. Happy Human Rights Day! Honestly, I love the snow, just not driving in it. And really, driving in it isn't too bad, just slow going, it's the driving in it with other people! NAMELY other SUV or Truck drivers who scoff at the weather and still speed on their way to work, the store, the mall...the Subway! They try and beat the elements and seriously, SERIOUSLY folks, when it's you vs the elements - the Elements ALWAYS win! And usually, you've taken some involuntary fool to play in your game down with you. I, my friends, was almost that involuntary fool today!

I went to work, not knowing if I really had to, and found out I, in fact, didn't have to. My work is about 20 min from my home, but about 1o from the gym. Taking the "do I work today?" gamble is still worth it because if I don't (which I didn't) I got up at a reasonable time (7:50am), and well, I'm already out so might as well go to the gym. This was the plan. So, I slowly and cautiously start driving in the blizzard away from work and towards the gym. Now, I'd done a little slipping and sliding, a little fishy tailing, but at 15mph it's not too bad, nor incredibly dangerous even if you do happen to slid into another sensible 15mph driver. Luckily, I'd only slid into a curb so far, nothing too horrible. As I approach an intersection and pre-prepare to slow into the left turning lane, I notice some idiot "snow will not stop me! Ha ha!" truck turning right on the road that I will be shortly turning left on. Does that make sense? He's turning right onto my road, to go the opposite direction. I wish I could draw it - but I believe most of you are smart, so I'll assume you understand. So, moron truck man is going mighty fast in such conditions to be whipping around a corner. As I'm slowing up to the left turn lane, Mr. Beat the Elements jacked up truck starts to jack-knife and swing it's huge back end directly at my face! DAH! I did one of those "brace yourself faces" and said "oh no oh no oh no" as the back end is coming at me faster and faster - visions of my little Saturn underneath the truck, while the bed of said truck smashes into my windsheild. Now, something to know about me, at intense times like this I clam up, I don't over-correct, I don't scream or even swear (usually -sometimes I do), but this time I applied pressure to my brakes in reaction and started to slide even more towards the swinging trucks arrogant back end. I turned my head, and held my breath. Well, luckily, the butt-face pulled out of it and I slowed up to the left turn lane without a scratch. BARELY. IDIOT! I started to heave a huge sigh of relief and had to gather myself for a moment - my heart was in my throat and beating about a million miles and hour. I felt like I'd just sprinted a mile. The elements almost won! And usually I'm on the elements side when it comes to jackasses on the road - but not when the jackass is speeding towards me at an alarmingly out of control rate.

I drove home with no other major snow-induced incidences. There was some gabby dumb blonde on her phone riding my arse halfway home, and then finally swerved around to pass me...I hope she meets Mr. Right Turn Truck sometime. Nothing severe of course, just a little lesson a la elements containing some large dents and scratches on their highly polished, daddy purchased, 2009 vehicles.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yikes! I was so sure Mr. Butt-Face Truck Man was going to pummel you! Am glad to know you, and your car, are safe!

xox

Crowther said...

Awesome! I recall a similar story about a truck that was speeding and then a few minutes later was found upside down in a ditch. Weird...

The Sevy's said...

As a truck driver myself I have to admit driving such a big vechile does tend to make you feel a little invinceable, sorry, our bad. Just glad your ok. Oh and congrats on the new job friend!