The PRIUS Got Me Good!

October 10, 2002
      I typed all day long Monday, actually drew, computer operation diagrams. Software - hardware actions. Registers. Bits. Labels. Six illustrations in 9 hours.
      So I was a bit crashy last night, which disturbs my younger son who wants Mommy up and active. I just kept dozing off while trying vainly to read my book.
      I did stagger up to the family room and watch CSI Miami and then, we change over on the wrestling network where they are running the first season of CSI. Two hours of forensic stuff. My son loves it. He and I sit on the couch (or flop as the case may be) and indulge.
      I told him to read People magazine today for some real forensic stories.
      And I do have a new Scarpetta novel to read, when I finish "The Blue Last" by Martha Grimes (Richard Jury). (It seems to be better than the last one, which just rehashed and rehashed stuff.)
      This morning, I was s-l-o-w to get out of the house, preferring to get my tired head to stop ringing first, sip coffee while watching Ground Force on BBC America. The American versions of these shows are nothing in comparison. It's the wacky British humor that is fun to watch. That, and the camera angles on Charlie, who is into tank tops and tight jeans with long red hair, and is decidedly female.
      I had my breakfast (Raisin Bran), set out his with his pills, made his sandwich, put the dog out, put out more pills for him and also for me, and made a note that garbage and dishes would await my attention this evening.
      I showered, dressed and left for work.
      I am driving the Prius since the van is still not back from its stint in the garage, since they have had a hard time finding the right transmission. This is a passenger van, not the cargo van. Seems most of them have automatic transmissions.
      I do not drive a "mush". I drive a "stick" or "5 on the floor".
      So there I am, tooling down the freeway in the Prius in rush hour madness, punching the radio buttons. Well, not exactly punching them since they are on the GPS screen. You hit the "Audio" button and touch the button on the touch screen.
      Tricky when wearing long acrylic nails.
      Tricky when sleepy.
      Cruising along in my automobile, seat belt on, listening to rock and roll, I suddenly glanced at the heads-up-display for the speedometer reading.
      114!!!!
      Egads!
      It doesn't FEEL like 114mph!
      The car is floating. No shaking.
      I am braking. Slowly. I can't handle a car at that speed!
      In the number three lane of the 101 in the morning!
      No noise! I know it's a hybrid but shouldn't I hear something????
      I am panicked!
      Something is very, very wrong!
      My heart is racing.
      If I roll over, will the air bags save me?
      And then I looked again.
      "kph" is the reading after the speed numbers.
      I look at the audio button and the screen.
      (While remaining panicked and not losing control of the car.)
      There is a "kph" button.
      I push it.
      I am actually driving 63mph.
      I put my foot back on the "gas pedal" - which now truly is an "accelerator" (73 is normal for the 101 at this hour in this direction) and resume my trip to the office.
      Seems I had turned my hand to allow the pad of my fingers to reach the screen to change the radio station and in doing so had "bumped" the kph button.
      I am laughing all the rest of the way to work.
      That little scare woke me right up!
      Time to get my nails done.
     

      ps: The guy at the garage laughed himself silly when I told him ---said he "Would have loved to have seen your face".
      I'll bet.