What irritates me

What irritates me?

Now that it is time for the “snowbirds” to arrive in Tucson for the winter, I decided to make a list of the stuff that irritates me…..

1. Left footed braking. The geezers keep their left foot resting on the brake pedal…probably because their reaction time is so bad they think they need the foot close. They bop down the road with their brake lights on, wasting gas and wearing out their brakes. I once did a tune up for an elderly lady who said her car was sluggish. After I finished, I rode with her on the test drive. Of course, her left foot was on the brake. I told her she was riding the brake, she said she wasn’t…..when she took her foot off the brake, the car surged forward. I asked if the brakes wore out often, she said yes. Left footed braking is for drag racers ONLY.
2. Key fob door locking. The dimwits honk their horn every time they do a remote locking of their car doors…..don’t they realize that they can program that feature to the OFF state? Are they so dumb that they can’t hear the doors lock? Flashing the headlights is bad enough….don’t need to honk.
3. Turn signals. The blue hairs leave their blinkers on for miles…but that isn’t the real irritation. Those who turn their blinkers on ¼ mile before the turn are the pain. Gee, if you blinker blinks more than five times before you turn, you’ve dropped the ball, grandpa.
4. Left lane turtles. The senile citizens think that, if they are doing the speed limit, there is no reason to move over. So they putt-putt in the left lane and hold up traffic. Eventually, someone has to risk his neck and pass on the right. And the senile citizen has no clue why the other drivers are flipping him the bird.
5. Slow reflexes. Ever see an oldster getting in their car and can barely get behind the wheel? They have to lift their legs into the car because they don’t have the strength to raise their legs…..and they are going to drive? My wife’s grandparents lived in Las Vegas. Grandpa couldn’t see but he could lift his legs. Grandma couldn’t lift her legs but she could see. Together, they tag-team drove. Grandma told grandpa when to stop, when the coast was clear, etc. And they never killed anyone to our best knowledge.
6. Blinders. Here in Tucson, many of the oldsters wear these huge plastic sunglasses over their regular glasses….kinda looks like oversize safety glasses. These dark glasses are cheap so they must have loads of distortion….maybe the distort the image back to a good one. In Phoenix, the oldsters bitched about the tunnel just north of downtown. When they entered the tunnel, they had to remove their blinders….because they couldn’t see in the dim light. Then, as they approached the exit, they had to get their blinders back on because the light was too bright. They wanted the lighting in the tunnel to simulate real sunlight so they didn’t have to take the sunglasses off. Go figure.

They can’t see, they can’t lift their legs but they can drive!!!!

And I'm glad to be rid of'em for a few months!:LOL: It's your turn!:D:3dSMILE::LOL::)

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Originally Posted by robot

What irritates me?

Now that it is time for the “snowbirds” to arrive in Tucson for the winter, I decided to make a list of the stuff that irritates me…..

1. Left footed braking. The geezers keep their left foot resting on the brake pedal…probably because their reaction time is so bad they think they need the foot close. They bop down the road with their brake lights on, wasting gas and wearing out their brakes. I once did a tune up for an elderly lady who said her car was sluggish. After I finished, I rode with her on the test drive. Of course, her left foot was on the brake. I told her she was riding the brake, she said she wasn’t…..when she took her foot off the brake, the car surged forward. I asked if the brakes wore out often, she said yes. Left footed braking is for drag racers ONLY.
2. Key fob door locking. The dimwits honk their horn every time they do a remote locking of their car doors…..don’t they realize that they can program that feature to the OFF state? Are they so dumb that they can’t hear the doors lock? Flashing the headlights is bad enough….don’t need to honk.
3. Turn signals. The blue hairs leave their blinkers on for miles…but that isn’t the real irritation. Those who turn their blinkers on ¼ mile before the turn are the pain. Gee, if you blinker blinks more than five times before you turn, you’ve dropped the ball, grandpa.
4. Left lane turtles. The senile citizens think that, if they are doing the speed limit, there is no reason to move over. So they putt-putt in the left lane and hold up traffic. Eventually, someone has to risk his neck and pass on the right. And the senile citizen has no clue why the other drivers are flipping him the bird.
5. Slow reflexes. Ever see an oldster getting in their car and can barely get behind the wheel? They have to lift their legs into the car because they don’t have the strength to raise their legs…..and they are going to drive? My wife’s grandparents lived in Las Vegas. Grandpa couldn’t see but he could lift his legs. Grandma couldn’t lift her legs but she could see. Together, they tag-team drove. Grandma told grandpa when to stop, when the coast was clear, etc. And they never killed anyone to our best knowledge.
6. Blinders. Here in Tucson, many of the oldsters wear these huge plastic sunglasses over their regular glasses….kinda looks like oversize safety glasses. These dark glasses are cheap so they must have loads of distortion….maybe the distort the image back to a good one. In Phoenix, the oldsters bitched about the tunnel just north of downtown. When they entered the tunnel, they had to remove their blinders….because they couldn’t see in the dim light. Then, as they approached the exit, they had to get their blinders back on because the light was too bright. They wanted the lighting in the tunnel to simulate real sunlight so they didn’t have to take the sunglasses off. Go figure.

They can’t see, they can’t lift their legs but they can drive!!!!

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Have we met before??.:rolleyes::LOL::LOL:

Well, as my Grandfather used to say to me when I was a kid giving him a hard time, "Some day you get old too!" :eek: Life has a strange way of teaching us lessons and none more humbling than getting older.

I fit into most of the scenarios you listed and actually for the first time in my life see the end of my driving days approaching rapidly..........maybe not for a few years, but it is coming.

The one thing I have learned is that our necks and backs don't swivel like they once did so we have a hard time turning around to check behind us. I use my rearview mirrors more and more all the time. Reflexes also diminish and I take it slower and more cautiously than I used to, and let's not even talk about eyesight ! :(

So, before we get too cocky about how older people drive we better think twice because MUCH faster than you realize it will be YOU that someone is bitching about. :D

Don

Oh, and yes, I do drive with my left foot on the brake, but that is so I can pull a holeshot on the guy in the lane next to me.:cool:

Don, I am old too BUT I realize what my limitations are and act accordingly. I DO NOT do things that infringe on others on the road. When I hit the shoulder occasionally (because of not paying attention), it bothers me...big time. At some time in the future, I will have to lay down my keys...I hope I have the mental clarity to realize when it is time.

mike in tucson

Statistics are, you will fight to the end about giving up your driving privilages. I know it will be a fight for me. It signals the end of your life pretty much and your independance, sort of like when you have to talk your parents into going into a retirement community. To them it spells "God's waiting room." :(

I get frustrated too about some of the drivers we get here in sunny Florida in the winter, but everyday I kinda get closer to understanding the reasons behind their behavior. Like I said, "Life has a funny way of teaching us lessons." :)

Don

Chris Karamesines is my hero. :D

You forgot.... always run 10MPH below the limit!

I always run 5 over... and the people around me are trying to do 10 over! ...or more!

Last night, finished up a sign job in the dark. On the way home a kid (early 20's I would guess) pulls out in front of me, only slowing down not stopping for a stop sign. Me in the 4x4 truck with a loaded tandem trailer. used my lightning fast reflexes to get stopped just in time. 1st time I've had the opportunity to try out the anti-lock brakes on the new ride. :LOL::LOL: Score old man 1, kid 0.


That's my story and I'm sticking to it. ..............................kids.......:eek:

Peoples driving habits since the advent of the cell phone has gone in the toilet. they get on the phone and there speed drops 10 mph. they text and there all over the road. .I have seen a woman driving 70+ mph while reading a book. It was sitting on her steering wheel. Semi truck drivers going off the road while texting when you pass them they wave with the phone in there hand.Now you hear that the people that drive the SMALL cars are at a disadvantage while driving with the big bad pickups and SUV's. they should give the little cars a lane like they do bikes. Catch some one on the phone talking or texting 6 mo. no driver licence. Speed limits are that not speed sugestions, Now where was I before I got pi$$ed off at phones

How about people not slowing down for construction zones. :toocool: I put it on 55 & feel like I'm going to get run over by most, not all, but most. The $375.00 MINIMUM FINE signs don't seem to have much effect, neither do the MANDATORY JAIL TIME signs for hitting a construction worker. And yes, more times than not they are on the phone when they blow by me. :mad:

I partly grew up in south Florida..................... So I know what you mean.............. Only! 10 mph under the limit, try 25.
And why is it that if she is over 80 and 5 foot nothing, she's driving a Lincoln town car or a big caddie, from the front all you can see is white hair and eyeballs stretching to see over the dashboard............................

She drives the linclon or caddy because her husband was overinsured:LOL: :LOL:

Charlie nailed it, re; cell phones. Between yakking on the phone and texting while driving I think the younger generation are far worse driver than a lot of us "seasoned citizens". Yup - I drive a bit slower than I used to - typically a few miles over as I hate to be an impediment - but I believe that I'm better than most on the road under 40 as they seem to have lost all concept of defensive driving and certainly lack the respect and courtesy that I hope I always display. Sure I get a bit impatient when I follow a blue haired gal going 38 in a 40 zone but as Don has pointed out - we'll all be there and sooner that we want to admit. I try and be nice and pass when safe and appropriate. And let's be honest here - does it really hurt us if it takes an extra few minuted to run an errand?

In my younger days, my buddy Darrel and I were in a hurry when a station wagon filled with boxes turned right in front of us. Darrel hit the horn and I yelled an obscenity while flippin' the bird as we passed and looked over at a car full on Nuns.. Boy was I embarrassed when that same station wagon pulled in next to us at the store a few miles down the road.. Rather than holler at me as I stammered an apology, the sister (an older Nun) smiled and said, this is between you and God young man as she smiled and patted me on the head... Wow - a lesson I never forgot.

Regards All,
Glenn

I'm with Glenn on how the younger drivers are worse than the old timers. I just drove over to my shop to feed the stray cats and I was paying attention to traffic around me because of this thread. What I saw was everyone in a huge rush, tailgating, no signals, cutting in an out of traffic, and a ninja type crotch rocket bike doing about 70 in a 45 zone, weaving in and out of lanes like he was at some mc race.

Give me a bunch of blue haired drivers around me any day.:D


Don

I don't even really care to drive on a public road anymore!!! What with cell phones, drunk driver's, road rage, and other idiots it just isn't fun anymore. Everybody is in so big of a hurry to go ????? If you're destination is 40 miles away, the speed limit is 70 and you drive 80, how much time did you really save??? Plus the risk of getting a ticket or getting wrecked! Heck, slow down, cruise, enjoy the ride and shut the dang phone off and concentrate on your driving! My guess is still that 90% of the dummies yakking on their cell phone on the hiway or street is only doing it to try to impress everyone else with how important they are!!!

Speed limit on the interstate in SD is 75.... The Bonneville gets the best fuel mileage at 2100 rpm which comes out to 72 mph so that's what I drive. Most who go around me are doing 80+mph in a 4 wheel drive pickup or a Suburban type truck. They're either on the phone and not paying attention to anything on the road, or they're becoming a nervous wreck looking around to see if the cops are gonna get them. Meanwhile, I just mosey along concentrating on being a defensive and courteous driver and having a private little laugh at all the dummies who think every time they pass a car they just picked up another position in the Indy 500!!! Slow down, enjoy the drive---remember back to the days driving on the highway was fun and not a competitive event or an opportunity to prove your manliness!!!!

I feel a whole lot safer on the track at 140+ mph then I do on the highway at 70 mph. Life's too short anyway, slow down and enjoy the time you've got left!!!! If you really think you're fast, I'll meet ya at the track on most any Sunday!!!!

My Brother lives in Parker Arizona and dislikes them too. The revenue they bring is
very large and helps the City and the Store owners a lot.

Right on Don -

I went out for an errand yesterday afternoon and the traffic was stopped in front of me for no apparent reason. A young women (on her phone) started honking and obviously was upset. As the traffic began moving we all saw what the hold up was - a procession of geese leisurely crossing the street in a crosswalk no less! I laughed out loud as it really put things into perspective.

Regards All,
Glenn

Now that I'm in my "Golden Age" years find myself doing things that I never did before.
1 - I don't flip off folks any longer - heck, some carry huge pistols or have a Rottweiler or both(for self defense :whacked:).
2 - I don't (not often, anyhow) ride up on their back bumper when they pull out of a side street and don't accelerate. See 1 above. Also, if they were to look up and see my headlights and the 13 other lights facing forward on my F350, might panic them to slamming on their brakes.
3 - I don't drive more then the speed limit in construction zones - 2x the "normal" fine. Normal is set by the local judge
4 - I don't drive 20-30 or more over the speed limit. See 3 above. I do keep up with traffic speeds though
5 - As far as Arizona/Florida or other winter time 'Garden Spot', my hearty thanks for putting up with my 80+ neighbors that seem to go at 15 in a 30 through my 'hood, not stopping at the stop signs.
6 - I DO NOT use a cell phone, Blackberry, read the paper or even fuss much with the radio while driving.

My rant, driving while using a cell phone or texting is not for a family friendly forum. Needless to say, I heartily dislike seeing the soccer moms driving vans, SUV or family sedans giggling with their husband/boyfriend/neighbor, none of which they've seen for .... 10 minutes or less. Sad:(

My grandfather drove using the seniority system......he was one of the oldest drivers in his town so he assumed he had the right of way at a stop sign based upon his age.....so he didnt stop. Fortunately, most folks recognized his car and gave way.

He also drove a 54 Chey 3 speed without using the clutch (except for starting from a dead stop). When he died, the car was pristine except for the clutch and transmission.

Heck Mike and all the others, you all visited down here in New Zealand and didn't give Robin (Lamin8r) or me a call??? We have those type of drivers here also and I would think that every developed country in the world have the same issues.

We would love to visit NZ......need to find a big coupon for the trip.....I have lots of free air fare on American Airlines but need a sponsor for the other stuff......maybe a few months in NZ would be just right......it is getting cold here in Arizona so we can use a break. It hit 49 degrees for the low (9.5C).....had to turn on a couple of the fireplaces.

Thanks Mike for the conversion on the temps as I'm completely lost when you folk quote your temps and I don't know what it is in our temps. That is starting to chill down nicely and one thing is it is too damn cold for all those flying bugs to survive.

But the rattlesnakes still come out on the warm days.....I only killed 3 this year (two on the back porch)....a low for me. The word must be out among the rattlers.

There's only two kinds of snakes I really don't like - live ones and dead ones.... Keep exterminating them..

After you shoot the snake, he lays in the hot sun for a few days......when the smell gets bad, the Javelina eat what's left. Ugh.

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Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

Thanks Mike for the conversion on the temps as I'm completely lost when you folk quote your temps and I don't know what it is in our temps. That is starting to chill down nicely and one thing is it is too damn cold for all those flying bugs to survive.

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Whip,,if you want to convert 35 deg.Celsius to fahrenheit,,double it(70)and add 30(100deg.F) Easiest way to remember,,reasonably accurate..
9.5 C??hmm..nice cool temp..not much good for resin though,,well, not without the ''additives''hehe...

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Originally Posted by robot

We would love to visit NZ......need to find a big coupon for the trip.....I have lots of free air fare on American Airlines but need a sponsor for the other stuff......maybe a few months in NZ would be just right......it is getting cold here in Arizona so we can use a break. It hit 49 degrees for the low (9.5C).....had to turn on a couple of the fireplaces.

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Yeah,robot,,its getting nice and warm down here now(between the windy bits) and the hotrod events are happening all over the coubtry,weekly,,and the Kumeu Festival is happening on the 21/22 January..Will be full on for six months now..

F = 9/5 C + 32 and C = 5/9 (F-32) at -40, both are the same
It was -41 in Fairbanks earlier this week....and in North Pole, AK
Someone on this board lives in North Pole AK but he may have a frozen
computer right now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by robot

F = 9/5 C + 32 and C = 5/9 (F-32) at -40, both are the same
It was -41 in Fairbanks earlier this week....and in North Pole, AK
Someone on this board lives in North Pole AK but he may have a frozen
computer right now.

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Kool,,thanx for that..-41??no thanks...I hope people take care of their dogs up in Fairbanks...It wold be a hassle going out to unstick ya dog from a pole there in those temps,wouldnt it??:D:rolleyes:

Fairbanks is the only airport that I have noticed that every parking spot had an electrical outlet so you could plug in your engine heater. Most of the dogs up there are aclimated and, as long as they are inside a dog house, can survive in pretty low temps. When I lived at 9000 ft in Colorado, the dogs would lay outside in a snow storm and get completely covered....and didnt care.....but it only got to -27 while I lived there (-33C).

all the parking spots in town have plug ins along with the parking meters--all cars and trucks(including rental cars) have a long extension cord on a reel in front of the grill

one of the most used dog house is the wooden drum reels for electrical wire or hoses--they take out one or two boards and the dogs curl up inside--the big sides give shelter from the sun other parts of the year