Turn pockets

I’m having issues with turn pockets. Cities have gone to raised road dividers with hardscaped (a center divider with curbs on either side, usually with some sort of landscape in between the curbs). They have their problems.

One problem is maintenance. It seems like for some the bushes are scraping our cars before someone comes to trim them. They are often too small for a standard mower so weedeaters are used instead of mowers. These weedeaters usually toss pebbles and bits of debris at vehicles as they pass. The probability of them being "mowed" as I pass is in direct proportion to my window being in the down position. The maintenance personnel use cones as a buffer to protect themselves from passing vehicles being dangerously close which I understand but they block the turn lane altogether. There is also the types of plants placed in these hardscapes. Some have strongly smelling plant life that cause the allergies to flair up while others have trees that quickly grow too large for the space and require the roots to be trimmed and the curbs to be repaired or replaced over and over.

The second problem is the tendency for these pockets to be really tiny allowing very few vehicles to actually enter the turn pocket before it becomes blocked by vehicles going straight.

Lately I’ve noticed the trend to make the hardscaped dividers narrower along with all of the lanes until there is enough space to make it a two lane turn pocket. The problem with this idea is they are still too short to allow vehicles inside before being blocked by those going straight. Lately it often takes one or more frustrating lights just to enter the two lane turn pocket and one more frustrating light to actually make the left turn.

I’m sure some genius spent a lot of time designing this new two lane turn pocket but they didn’t think it through very well. What were they thinking?

Soul Mate

It bugs me when people say they have met their soul mate. That they have found the one person they are supposed to spend the rest of their life with. I do believe that love can last forever. I do believe that some people fit together well. But only one I’m not so sure.

I believe there are soul mates. People whose souls touch, match, and belong or what have you. I believe that friendships and loves can be soul matches but I also believe people can be blinded by love and jump in too quickly to know if the match is real and lasting.

The problem I have with the idea of a soul mate is in believing there is one person meant for one person and none other in the world. If that were true what are the chances of these two individuals meeting at the right time in the right circumstance. I’d say it is pretty slim or even never. If you never meet your “soul mate” does that mean you remain alone for life? What if you meet the perfect match but are not aware until it’s too late or you meet too late to have the match work. For instance if you were to meet after you or they are married to someone else. That would negate the idea of one and only one true love. What happens when you loose a spouse. Does that mean you will never have love again?

I believe you meet people through your life that you connect with on a level more deep than a casual acquaintance, on a level deep down to your soul. I believe that souls connect. But I also believe that some of those connections are meant to be lasting friendships and not simply the love of our life.

I have a few friends, both male and female who are connected to my soul. People who get me and love me no matter what, and who I get on that same level. Those are the people in my life who know me so well they understand me before I even have to explain myself. The kind of friend I may not see or hear from for long periods of time but can catch up with in a matter of minutes. The kind of friend who I can talk to for hours and never ever run out of topics or things to laugh about. I feel fortunate and blessed to have known and loved these people. I know I am loved and it is a good feeling.

I have been married twice and both times I can say I loved them. However I can also say I understand why it didn’t work and why we aren’t together anymore. Am I looking for the one true love? Nope! For me love will happen when it’s ready. I am old enough to recognize love when I experience it and smart enough to enjoy the opportunity should it arise. May everyone find love at least once in their lives and have as many “soul mates” as they connect with.

Shades of Gray

There are rules that everyone should live by. Like the golden rule; do unto others as you would have them do unto you or the be attitudes of GBH “Be Grateful, Be Smart, Be Involved, Be True, Be Still, Be Humble, Be Clean, Be Positive, Be Prayerful” (not to be confused with the beatitudes Matthew 5:3-12 and Luke 6:20-26 although a very cool Bible passages) and the Moses tablets AKA the ten commandments.

I believe in right and wrong and in following the rules.

There are some rules that are absolutes in this world. It is always right to do your best. It is always wrong to do intentional harm to others. It is always right to love with your whole heart. It is always wrong to murder.

There are some rules that are more of a guideline and up for interpretation. You don’t have to agree with me but I believe everyone should understand intent of the rule. It is important to follow the spirit of the law as opposed to the letter of the law.

You can call these shades of gray if you want. Just remember the darker the gray the darker the offense and the less likely you are to be following the spirit of the law let alone the letter of the law.