Ramblings of a Brit abroad

I have a problem with the way people drive here in the USA and after much thought, I have come to a conclusion.

It is the NASCAR effect. More to the point, it is something called drafting, which is the process of placing ones car in the hole in the air punched by the car or truck in front. It can be seen every Sunday at raceways across America, performed by highly skilled and very well paid daredevils in machines designed to do exactly this. And yes, every now and again, they get it ever so slightly wrong and end up smacking a concrete barrier at close to 200 mph. This, as they say, is part of racing and with roll cages, fire retardant suits, crash helmets and medical people only seconds away, drafting is an acceptable part of racing.

Where I do not find it acceptable, however, is on the I4 Interstate between Orlando and Tampa, in the rain on a Saturday afternoon. I would like to thank the complete moron in the Hummer H2 for placing several people in mortal peril this afternoon by his antics of trying to drive about 6 feet behind me at 70 mph. I wasn’t even in the outside lane. He had plenty of room to go around me, but left it to the very last minute to not signal and then overtake on the inside. Thanks Buddy !!!

And as for the guy weaving between lanes in the stretch Lincoln Limo… there’s just never a cop around when you need one.

Driving in the US is all still a bit strange to me. Much like the UK, people have no concept of thinking ahead when it comes to lanes merging and therefore always cause tailbacks, where if everyone just gave it a tiny bit of thought, slowed slightly and signaled early, we’d all get there much quicker.

So why do i find it strange? Because at 4 way stop signs, Americans are the politest people on earth, with a friendly “after you” attitude.

Go Figure !!!

Now I am no doctor but I would like to point out something that a large majority of the attendees of rock concerts seem to be unable to grasp.

If you consume a copious quantity of Bud Light or other such liquid before taking your seat for the gig, you may be in for a surprise.

When seated, you will find that there is a very large sound system which produces sound waves large enough to disintegrate a good size kidney stone. Now imagine what this is likely to do to your bladder.

That’s right, it will make you want to pee quite a bit. We found this out last night when the 2 guys next to us must have shuffled along the line to get out ( we were at the end of the row ) at least 9 times. Now the concerning thing was that the 2 in question seemed to have matching bladders as they always went together making it a double pain in the butt to have to get up and let them out and then in again.

So this is a public service announcement to all those who like a few beers before a gig, from those who get a good workout standing up and sitting down so many times it got kind of annoying. Either have fewer beers or learn to hold it!!!!