So, some of you may be thinking... why Dill Pickle and Peanut Butter Sandwich (DPPBS)... that's a good question... when I thought "Hey, I should start a blog" my next thought was "but it has to have some sort of original title" right?
For quite a long time now, one of my favorite kinds of sandwiches is the DPPBS. It sounds weird, I can TOTALLY relate to that... but to all you doubters out there, I simply ask... have you ever tried it?
The DPPBS is really more than an awkwardly good snack, it's an effigy of my life. I've always been a "beat of my own drum" or a "pave my own way" kind of girl. The DPPBS however, slightly changed my life. It gave me the realization that sandwiches, first of all, could go outside the norm. Second, a normal think like a sandwich, could be sweet, salty and full of texture, just like my life. It could also become only appealing the daring and truly adventurous or dedicated, which was also a perk. I've not seen myself as a "normal" girl since about 1995, so the idea of this sandwich, at this time of life, representing my life, really just seemed... welll... NORMAL....
The DPPBS is, in a sense, very similar to the chocolate covered pretzel... it is salty and it is sweet and it is absolutely delicious.
In a greater sense, I have realized that the PB part of the sandwich can be mixed in just about ANY sandwich that involves a protein and still have delicious results... which only adds to my conclusion that if you never try something? You're probably wrong.
I LOVE the DPPBS and many other variations on the sandwich, and hope that others will also try it someday.
But more importantly? I hope that others will eventually read this and know that life happens, but keep trying. Even if something seems weird or wrong, maybe it's worth a second look and maybe it's a chance to try something out of the norm.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The (*unofficial*) Rules of Driving in the Rural Northwest
In order for you to truly appreciate this blog, it is necessary that you understand a little about me. I grew up in Montana.... daughter of a man who races cars for fun, and acquired my driver's license in the prime of "Reasonable and Prudent," so please understand, my view on driving tends to be a bit skewed to the side of "lead-footed."
However impatient I may be with the stupidity of drivers everywhere, I truly do not believe that my observations are unreasonable, and after putting 7,000 miles on my truck in the last two months, I have finally found it necessary to share my thoughts with the world.
So for all the overly "cautious" drivers out there, as you continue, please do not take anything personally, just take it in as some "constructive feedback" on how we can all share the road a little better.
And for those out there who are a little more like myself? Have a chuckle or two and enjoy!
1. I realize that the sign says "Speed Limit" however, when driving in the rural Northwest, this should be taken as more of a guideline. Speed of traffic trumps all (which, on average, is usually 7-10 miles per hour faster than the so-called "limit")
2. In Montana, Idaho, and eastern Washington we have Interstates, NOT Freeways, because they are built to travel from state-to-state, so please, PLEASE respect those of us who have high-powered radar detectors and are willing to gamble the speeding ticket and follow the etiquette: DRIVE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE F***ING ROAD UNLESS PASSING.
3. Montana is notorious for high speed limits and fast drivers, EXCEPT for Missoula and Lake counties (denoted by a "4" and a "7" at the beginning of the license plates). These drivers are NOT to be trusted to understand the speed limit. Usually, their internal speed limit maxes out about 45 miles per hour, so if you are driving anywhere in the vicinity of Flathead Lake: BEWARE of these drivers. Also, it is prudent to be on the lookout for Subarus, especially those manufactured pre-2001, as these drivers are also notorious for being "cautious." (Hey, it's hard to concentrate on the road with 3 black labs in the back seat)
4. Although it seems to be ok in Eastern Washington, it is actually NOT proper etiquette to pass someone on the Interstate going approximately 1 mile per hour faster than the car you are trying to pass. If you're going to bother to pass, DO IT already.
5. When driving on a two-lane highway, you will occasionally come across a set of "Passing Lanes" where the highway widens to four lanes. This is NOT an opportunity to floor it to 10 miles per hour faster than you were going, and 10 miles per hour faster than you PLAN to go AFTER the passing lane, but rather an opportunity to truly pass the cars who are going SLOWER than you plan to drive. Nothing is more aggravating than a vehicle driving 5 miles per hour slower than the speed "limit" only to have them speed up to 9 miles per hour OVER the limit the minute you hit the 4-lane, making it impossible to pass them without risking a VERY pricey ticket, only to have them slow back down to 5 miles under the "limit" as soon as the Passing Lane ends...
6. If I'm riding your ass on an interstate or highway, it's probably because you are: A. hanging out needlessly in the left-hand lane, so I'm ever-so-patiently waiting for you to get the hint and move back over to the right lane so I can pass you without pissing you off (which, of course, if I pass you on the right, you no doubtedly will be), B. You are passing the car in the right-hand lane at 1 miles per hour faster (see #4), C. See #7, or D. See # 9.
7. Going back to the discussion about Interstates versus Freeways, there are 2 very important things you need to know: A. Using your blinker in order to move to the left-hand lane is not a guarantee I, the driver coming up on your left, is going to let you in. It means you have just given me a choice to "slow down and let you in" or "speed up and pass you faster." I love the phrase "Failure to plan on your part does NOT constitute an emergency on mine" and this definitely applies to Interstate driving when you realize the car in the right-hand lane that is now merely seconds in front if you is travelling significantly slower than you wish to, when I, as an observant, seasoned, rural Intestate driver spotted them half a mile ago, so, thus, I am going to conitnue to go fast, pass both of you, and you're just going to have to tap your breaks and jump in behind me, and B. When I am entering onto the Interstate, trying to speed up to 75 mph and you are coming up in the right-hand lane, if there is no one in the left-hand lane, scoot on over so I don't have to try to manage getting up to speed AND merging into the "traffic" which consists of you and... well, you. This is not possible in bumper-to-bumper, but in country driving, it's just "courtesy."
8. On the flipside of #6, if you are riding my ass, and I "tap" my breaks (usually two short taps), this means that for whatever reason, I believe that you are in the wrong about riding my ass, or, I have been left no other choice than to do what I'm doing. Also, if you are doing this and you happen to drive a BMW, please know that one of these days I'm just going to flat-out SLAM on my breaks and let you rear end me, you inconsiderate prick, because I am fairly confident that in a battle between the back of my truck and the front of your pretty little Beamer, my truck is going to win EVERY time. ("Sorry, Officer, I thought I saw a dog run in the road!")
9. When travelling on a two-lane highway with a long line of traffic, you always have a couple options. You can go the speed of traffic, no matter what that is or you can pass people, one or more cars at a time. If you are part of the previous, then PLEASE leave a couple car lengths between you and the car in front of you so that I can pass you, and NOT have to pass a whole line of cars! Again, if I'm riding your ass, it's not your time to think "That driver is such a road-raging asshole!" It's time to think "What am I doing for this driver to be sending me a message, and how can I remedy the situation to best appease all parties involved. And if you do NOT take a hint, and I DO decide to pass you, DO NOT for WHATEVER reason speed up to send me a message that I should not have passed. First, I would not be passing if I was not perfectly confidant in my abilities, and second, you speeding up only makes my point even more solid, plus it is MUCH more dangerous than me passing in the first place, Stupid.
AND
10. If you have a license plate from the state of California... good luck... no matter how good of a driver you are trying to be in our beautiful rural paradise... we're probably judging you.
Thank you for all of you that stuck in until the end... hopefully some value knowledge has been imparted onto drivers everywhere.
However impatient I may be with the stupidity of drivers everywhere, I truly do not believe that my observations are unreasonable, and after putting 7,000 miles on my truck in the last two months, I have finally found it necessary to share my thoughts with the world.
So for all the overly "cautious" drivers out there, as you continue, please do not take anything personally, just take it in as some "constructive feedback" on how we can all share the road a little better.
And for those out there who are a little more like myself? Have a chuckle or two and enjoy!
1. I realize that the sign says "Speed Limit" however, when driving in the rural Northwest, this should be taken as more of a guideline. Speed of traffic trumps all (which, on average, is usually 7-10 miles per hour faster than the so-called "limit")
2. In Montana, Idaho, and eastern Washington we have Interstates, NOT Freeways, because they are built to travel from state-to-state, so please, PLEASE respect those of us who have high-powered radar detectors and are willing to gamble the speeding ticket and follow the etiquette: DRIVE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE F***ING ROAD UNLESS PASSING.
3. Montana is notorious for high speed limits and fast drivers, EXCEPT for Missoula and Lake counties (denoted by a "4" and a "7" at the beginning of the license plates). These drivers are NOT to be trusted to understand the speed limit. Usually, their internal speed limit maxes out about 45 miles per hour, so if you are driving anywhere in the vicinity of Flathead Lake: BEWARE of these drivers. Also, it is prudent to be on the lookout for Subarus, especially those manufactured pre-2001, as these drivers are also notorious for being "cautious." (Hey, it's hard to concentrate on the road with 3 black labs in the back seat)
4. Although it seems to be ok in Eastern Washington, it is actually NOT proper etiquette to pass someone on the Interstate going approximately 1 mile per hour faster than the car you are trying to pass. If you're going to bother to pass, DO IT already.
5. When driving on a two-lane highway, you will occasionally come across a set of "Passing Lanes" where the highway widens to four lanes. This is NOT an opportunity to floor it to 10 miles per hour faster than you were going, and 10 miles per hour faster than you PLAN to go AFTER the passing lane, but rather an opportunity to truly pass the cars who are going SLOWER than you plan to drive. Nothing is more aggravating than a vehicle driving 5 miles per hour slower than the speed "limit" only to have them speed up to 9 miles per hour OVER the limit the minute you hit the 4-lane, making it impossible to pass them without risking a VERY pricey ticket, only to have them slow back down to 5 miles under the "limit" as soon as the Passing Lane ends...
6. If I'm riding your ass on an interstate or highway, it's probably because you are: A. hanging out needlessly in the left-hand lane, so I'm ever-so-patiently waiting for you to get the hint and move back over to the right lane so I can pass you without pissing you off (which, of course, if I pass you on the right, you no doubtedly will be), B. You are passing the car in the right-hand lane at 1 miles per hour faster (see #4), C. See #7, or D. See # 9.
7. Going back to the discussion about Interstates versus Freeways, there are 2 very important things you need to know: A. Using your blinker in order to move to the left-hand lane is not a guarantee I, the driver coming up on your left, is going to let you in. It means you have just given me a choice to "slow down and let you in" or "speed up and pass you faster." I love the phrase "Failure to plan on your part does NOT constitute an emergency on mine" and this definitely applies to Interstate driving when you realize the car in the right-hand lane that is now merely seconds in front if you is travelling significantly slower than you wish to, when I, as an observant, seasoned, rural Intestate driver spotted them half a mile ago, so, thus, I am going to conitnue to go fast, pass both of you, and you're just going to have to tap your breaks and jump in behind me, and B. When I am entering onto the Interstate, trying to speed up to 75 mph and you are coming up in the right-hand lane, if there is no one in the left-hand lane, scoot on over so I don't have to try to manage getting up to speed AND merging into the "traffic" which consists of you and... well, you. This is not possible in bumper-to-bumper, but in country driving, it's just "courtesy."
8. On the flipside of #6, if you are riding my ass, and I "tap" my breaks (usually two short taps), this means that for whatever reason, I believe that you are in the wrong about riding my ass, or, I have been left no other choice than to do what I'm doing. Also, if you are doing this and you happen to drive a BMW, please know that one of these days I'm just going to flat-out SLAM on my breaks and let you rear end me, you inconsiderate prick, because I am fairly confident that in a battle between the back of my truck and the front of your pretty little Beamer, my truck is going to win EVERY time. ("Sorry, Officer, I thought I saw a dog run in the road!")
9. When travelling on a two-lane highway with a long line of traffic, you always have a couple options. You can go the speed of traffic, no matter what that is or you can pass people, one or more cars at a time. If you are part of the previous, then PLEASE leave a couple car lengths between you and the car in front of you so that I can pass you, and NOT have to pass a whole line of cars! Again, if I'm riding your ass, it's not your time to think "That driver is such a road-raging asshole!" It's time to think "What am I doing for this driver to be sending me a message, and how can I remedy the situation to best appease all parties involved. And if you do NOT take a hint, and I DO decide to pass you, DO NOT for WHATEVER reason speed up to send me a message that I should not have passed. First, I would not be passing if I was not perfectly confidant in my abilities, and second, you speeding up only makes my point even more solid, plus it is MUCH more dangerous than me passing in the first place, Stupid.
AND
10. If you have a license plate from the state of California... good luck... no matter how good of a driver you are trying to be in our beautiful rural paradise... we're probably judging you.
Thank you for all of you that stuck in until the end... hopefully some value knowledge has been imparted onto drivers everywhere.
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