I'm around; I've just been really busy with work and family. Not to mention, Christmas time is upon us; and you know what that means I'm sure. Yep, it's that time of year again where we're all hustling and bustling, in a hurry to get here and there in the smallest amount of time possible. I sometimes wonder why we as a society have turned Christmas time into the abomination it now is. I think the name "Christmas" should be changed to "GreedFest" if you ask me. "Why?" you ask. Every year, I hear the horror stories of those people who take it upon themselves to venture out on "Black Friday" to get the best Christmas deals. Stores opening on Black Friday at midnight, while other stores open their doors at 4 and 5 AM. And with that, come swarms of people pushing, shoving, and fighting as they fall all over each other in Wal Marts and Best Buys all over the country. It's such a sore sight to watch people falling all over themselves for god damn electronics. It's downright sickening, really. And if that's not a sign of true greed, then I don't know what else is. How pathetic. People ought to be ashamed for conducting themselves in the aforementioned manner.
Speaking of horror, I gotta tell you, Winter time driving in Pittsburgh leaves a lot to be desired. Yeah, I know you guys in places like Buffalo are laughing at what I just said, but trust me, you have *no* idea. Even the smallest amount of snowfall will render the roads around here in a state of clogged chaos. Pittsburgh drivers cannot drive in the smallest of rain, or snowfall. Wait! Allow me to change that. Pittsburgh drivers just cannot drive...period. It's almost like a Pittsburgh driver will pop a "dumb pill" before stepping into his/her car. Am I being too harsh? Like I said before, you just don't have *any* idea. I swear.
Why is it that during the first few snow falls, it takes the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation time to get their act together? Take this morning for instance; I did not see a single salt truck anywhere during my entire two hour and fifteen minute commute into work.
Hey, it's not like the folks in charge of Pittsburgh roadway snow removal didn't know this snow was coming. It was announced all over the news, and radio. You know the announcements, don't you? Sure you do!
The announcements which make me think like this:
"It's snowing! Oh no! What do I do? Do I listen to the radio? Should I shovel out my car? Is it safe to shovel out my car? Are the windows frozen? What if the windows are frozen? How do I get the ice off of them? Should I check the windshield washer fluid level? Oh no! It's snowing! Should I go to the store? Do we need toilet paper, bread, and soup? Will we have enough? What if we get snowed in? What if my neighbor falls on my icy sidewalk? Will he or she sue me? What if everything freezes and a tree falls down on my house? What do I do? Oh no! It's snowing! Should I drive my car slow? Should I drive my car fast? Should I drive at all? Should I think about talking on the cellular phone while driving? Should I think at all? Is it safe to think? Should I buy some salt for my sidewalk? Should I buy some salt to keep in my car? Should I buy a shovel, too? Should I pack an emergency kit in my car, just in case? What if I get stranded somewhere? Can I eat the snow if there is no water around? Will I get sick and die? What about black ice? Should I be worried about black ice? Should I be worried about the road conditions? Am I capable of driving in treacherous weather conditions? Am I capable of driving on treacherous road conditions? Should I be worried about that? Should I watch the news and see what they have to say? Oh no! It's snowing again! What do I do? Should I be in a state of panic? If not, why aren't I? Should I rake off my roof if there's too much snow on it? Should I go sled riding? Is that too dangerous? What if my son hits someone on his sled going down a steep snowy hill? Isn't that dangerous? Should I check with the news on that? Should I invest in extra light bulbs because it's snowing? What do I do? I'm helpless! Is it safe to bake bread if it is snowing outside? Will that contribute to global warming? Please, tell me. Should I pour boiling water on my sidewalk to melt the ice? I'd better check to see what they say about that on the news and radio. Is it safe to watch "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" if it's snowing? What about "Frosty The Snowman?" Is it safe? Are you sure? What do I do? I know, I'll check the news, they can tell me! Oh no! It's snowing again! Dear God, what do I do? I'm helpless! Should I fill up the gas tank in my car since it's cold out? Will my gas tank freeze if I don't fill it up? Should I winterize my car? What about the windshield wipers? Are they safe? I'd better watch the news! Wait! I think I hear sleet hitting the windows! Oh no! Should I stay off the roads? Can I go out driving? I don't know what to do! Help me, please! Where's that damn remote when I need it! After all, God knows if it's snowing, I'm a helpless human being who cannot think on his own."
Do the people running modern day news media sources really think we're all that incredibly stupid?
Just damn!