Things Not To Do

I was watching "Oprah" this past week on what's considered normal and one of the questions they polled the audience on was if they sing in the car while driving. I do. Occasionally I'll feel self-conscious if I'm really singing with gusto at a traffic light, but I usually don't care what anyone else thinks, especially if I'm enjoying myself.

The last time I got a ticket was a few years ago on one of those gorgeous Spring mornings in Phoenix when the air temperature is still fresh and cool. I was on my way to work, window down, silk neck scarf fluttering in the breeze. I was feeling so good, so happy. I wish I could remember what was on the radio, but I do remember that it was blasting out of the speakers and I was singing at the top of my lungs. I'm pretty sure my mouth was wide open in song when I spotted the motorcycle cop who radar gunned me and pulled me over. Fortunately, it was not photo radar.

There was very little traffic and I was rolling along at a good clip. As it turns out, it was a really good clip. Yep, turns out I was going 61 in a 40 mph zone. Officer Buzzkill did not care that I was the only one on the street and having a wonderful morning.

I ended up going to traffic school for this ticket where I was instructed to use my cruise control and always set it for 5 miles over the speed limit (unless you're in a school zone). This has helped me rein in my natural tendency to lead foot the gas pedal. Speaking of school zones, I am truly amazed at how many people illegally pass in school zones. The definition of passing is the front of your vehicle passing the front of another vehicle so if someone in the lane next to you is going say 12 mph and you decide to go 15 and the front of your car moves ahead of the front of their car, that's illegal!

Anyway, Hubby was commuting to New York from Phoenix around the time I was ticketed and I picked him up at the airport when he came back from one trip. I kept to the speed limit on the freeway all the way home and it just about killed him. He was gritting his teeth and asking me if I could go a little faster because it felt like we were standing still. I just smiled and said "No" and turned up the radio because I wasn't even going to chance getting another ticket.

Here's a funny thing that happened recently. I was on a list with Alice Cooper. I donated a knitted shawl for a local charity fundraiser and one of the other donations for the silent auction was a guitar to be personally signed by Alice Cooper who also lives in Phoenix. When I received the list of donors, I realized this is probably the only time in my life I'll be on the same page as Alice Cooper.

Thinking of things I wish I hadn't done (the speeding ticket) and Alice Cooper (guitars), brings me to

wishing our sweet nephew a 

Very Happy 19th Birthday today! 

A few years ago, this talented musician also did something I'm betting he wished he hadn't done. According to my sister, he decided to pitch a firecracker into their toilet, slam the lid shut and see what happened. Well, what happened was the side of the toilet blew out, ruining the toilet and soaking the bathroom. He ended up having to spend his savings replacing said exploded toilet.

Boys will be boys. And if you don't believe me, pop on over and check out this post by Shell at Things I Can't Say. I'm thinking she may never blow dry her hair again. Be sure to tell her I said "Hi!"

Happy Birthday, Daughter!

Happy 34th Birthday

to our

Oldest Daughter!

(I know this isn't supposed to be about me,

but, WOW, that makes me feel old!)

We love you bunches,

Mom and Dad

In honor of your special day, I will relive one of the many entertaining stories of your youth ...

Our Oldest Daughter was one of the first amongst her friends to get her driver's license so she did all of the taxiing when they went out. On weekend nights, they would get all dressed up and go to a dance club in Scottsdale. This was an underage club, so no alcohol, just dancing.

She had an 11 pm curfew on weekends, but had been getting in later and later. I finally put my foot down and told her the next time she came in after curfew, I was taking the car keys away. So on this particular Saturday night, I was in bed reading while Hubby snoozed away, waiting for her to walk in the door.

Just about 11:00, the phone rang and I figured it was OD with some lame excuse about why she was going to be late again. Instead, I hear this deep male voice say, "Mrs. Cee?"

I had that Uh Oh feeling ... "Yes?"

"This is Officer So-and-So with the Scottsdale Police Department and I have your daughter here."

Our bedroom phone is on Hubby's nightstand, so when I answered it, I jumped out of bed and ran around to his side. The minute I heard Police, I grabbed Hubby's arm and apparently sank my nails in. I think he stood straight up in bed from a dead sleep.

Officer So-and-So continued, "I was in a marked patrol car, going north on Scottsdale Road when your daughter and her friends passed me going over the speed limit. I couldn't believe this car was speeding past a patrol car, so I pulled them over. When I asked her why she would do something so dumb, she said that if she was late for curfew again, her Mom was going to kill her. Well, Mrs. Cee, I just wanted to tell you that you must be doing something right if your kid is more afraid of you than the police."

Whew, a compliment? This must be a first!

As it turned out, he did not give her a ticket, just a warning. She was definitely lucky, even though she had hell to pay when she finally got home!