My Driving Habits Have Taken Away Valuable Blogging Time

A few weeks ago, I got a speeding ticket while I was in a hurry trying to meet my wife and kids for dinner.  I had finished a longer-than-anticipated appointment writing a contract with some clients, and they had WAY more questions than I had imagined. 

 At any rate, I was going 47 mph in a 35 mph zone.  I actually knew that I was probably speeding around one particular curve, but I thought the speed limit was 40 there (honestly).  I never argue or try to get out of tickets anymore, although I was successfully able to do this a couple of times when I was younger.  A friend of mine back then told me that if you remain in the car and talk with your palms up, it comes across as more innocent somehow.  It worked for me twice, but maybe they just felt sorry for me because I was driving a 1985 Buick Skylark.  But I digress...

 

It has been over a year since my last ticket, so I am allowed to take defensive driving so that the ticket won't remain on my record and affect my insurance rates.  It doesn't really cost any less, but your premiums don't go up.  The defensive driving classes take about six hours and I usually opt to do them online because the "live" classes are stultifyingly dull.  In this case, I started the class and was moving along at a brisk clip until I found Active Rain back in early August.  As you may already know, I spend most of my time online here at AR these days (since I am a true AR addict), and it has paid off already with a contract and a couple of potentially good referrals, along with numerous friendships.

 

However, I realized a couple of days ago that I am fast nearing the deadline to complete the course and get the certificate turned in at the local courthouse.  So, I am attempting to finish this tonight and request the certificate via overnight mail (it is due on Thursday). 

My advice to you, gentle reader, is not to speed if you value your time here.  Just think of the masterpiece blog posts that I could have written with those six hours.  I could have taught my daughter to ride a bike, or learned macrame or taken up some other exciting hobby, like collecting lint. 

Instead, I am forced to weed through pages and pages of material like this (an actual frame from the series at http://www.defensivedriving.com/ - this part is obviously about the dangers of driving while intoxicated):

Frame 10: The officer will test you for a variety of motor and mental skills, including your reflex speed and reaction ability.

So, do yourself a favor and drive the speed limit, so that you won't have my fate.  Here's wishing safe driving for all of you!

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