Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Thinking time.

As I sit waiting to hear from the Chrysler dealer that my keyless remote has arrived I have time to reflect on the mysteries of life. There was one mystery I continued to run across during my travels this summer and have just not been able to get my head around it. This is the result of many hours behind the wheel in the wide open spaces of the west where not a lot of concentration is required to keep Mel on the road and one has time to attempt to solve such mysteries. Since I haven't come up with a suitable answer I'm passing the question on to you, my readers, hopefully together we can solve this enigma.. And the question is, what is with the sign "caution guardrail damage ahead". Why is it important that I need to know this? Is this to alert me that if I'm planning to crash into a guardrail that I should find another one because this one has already been used? How come when they sent the crew out to spend half a day erecting signs, didn't they just have them go on and fix the guardrail while they were there. Seems like this approach could save the cost of the sign and a second trip out to the location for a crew to repair the damage. I'm thinking the same might apply to the sign that says "bump" or at least they could rate the bump from 1 to 10 so I would have some idea of how many dishes will come flying out of the cabinet if I don't slam on the brakes. 

Well, now you know why it's dangerous for me to have time on my hands, but at least you have something to ponder while we are all trying to enjoy the good life.

29 comments:

  1. I have often wondered the same thing about the damaged guardrail sign. As for the bump sign, I'd like to know where the bump is so I don't slow down to a snail's pace for five miles. :P It is a heavy burden to ponder these mysteries alone, so I'll try to squeeze in some time to think more about them. :)

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    1. Judy, thanks for joining in the effort to unravel this mystery. I think we need all the help we can get.

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  2. The Bump sign that is after the curve you just rounded while recovering from a bump that wasn't marked and you couldn't see but you sure felt it. (Maybe someone's idea of a bad joke!) Be Safe and Enjoy!

    It's about time.

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  3. Well, you see, the guardrail signing crew is in a different union than the guardrail repair crew and since there are separate federal highway funds allocated to each endeavor, both crews must be utilized. It's kinda like the guy who is a specialist is shovel leaning. You certainly have to respect each person's assignment.

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  4. It's the bump sign, or specifically the lack thereof, that gets me the most. I appreciate the signs warning me of the bumps, I have no problem slowing down to a crawl so things in my rig won't bounce around.

    But there's a bump, a big, tall one, on a highway I took north that either wasn't signed or the sign was waaaay too close to the bump. It was on a good smooth road in the middle of nowhere with almost no traffic that has a 75 mph speed limit, and I was going the limit. It about scared me to death the first time I hit it full speed. I couldn't see it until I was past it, in fact I'm not sure I've ever seen it.

    Then, coming south - get ready - totally in the middle of nowhere on the same road I completely forgot about it and I hit it again. Whew. I was pissed that time. There didn't seem to be any reason for a bump, but it got me again.

    I can't remember which road it was - does this ring a bell with anyone? I'd love to write it down - the road number and the mile marker - so I'd remember it's coming the next time.

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    1. As I said, bumps are tricky and a rating would be helpful, maybe the Richter scale could be used.

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  5. Paul and I have discussed that same sign. I think this is just one of those mysteries of life that no one can answer.

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    1. Don't you think there must be a guru in a cave on a mountain top somewhere that must know why?

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  6. You got my blog of the day award!!! With the election coming up, all the tradgedy from the hurricane, and all the other "stuff" we see and hear on the news..... Thank you for your blog and all of our friends that respond with their thoughts regarding the sign and bumps today. It lightens the day and made me smile.

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    1. Thanks BJ, it's hard to enjoy the good life if we don't laugh a bit.

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  7. Did you by any chance, grow up in a neighborhood that had "Slow Children" signs? That one always makes me wonder.

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    1. I grew up with some slow children, but we didn't have a sign.

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    2. I always imagine that kids who grow up in neighborhoods that have those signs don't usually become professional athletes.

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    3. I don't know Russ, watching some of the athletes being interviewed on TV I think a lot of them qualify as slow.

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  8. How about those "Traffic Calming Area" signs? I still can't figure that one out.

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    1. I've not seen that one before, thanks for the heads up. I'll try to figure out how to react when I encounter one.

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  9. Thanks for the laugh of the day! After locking myself out of my rv without a jacket in this chill wind, I needed that laugh to warm me up again!!

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    1. My pleasure, you must need a reminder to take you keys sign. LOL

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  10. Well reading all the comments I had a hard time coming up with and answer because I was laughing so much.
    Oh and they would have to come back out 2 more times. Once to fix the guard rail and then another crew to return to take down the sign. And maybe they should just paint the stinkin bump so you can at least see it. Who has time to read all this stuff when your driving anyway?

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    1. I agree, think how nice the highways could be if they didn't spend all the money on signs.

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  11. how about the one "slow construction zone, workers ahead" and all you ever see are the orange cones....

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    1. The slow construction workers probably haven't arrived yet.

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  12. Years ago when you would travel through PA. they would have these huge signs with a picture of a Trooper pointing a Radar gun at you and it said, "Radar for your protection". They were as big as the exit signs probably $500. they were there for about ten years . but I noticed last time I made a trip east they were gone. My wife Donna's pet peeve it right here in MO on I-70, Mile markers every two tenths of a mile.Is that really necessary, most people who have an accident have no clue where they are anyway. When I was the Chief of a small town we were paying $75 for a small street sign.Imagine the cost for 400 miles of one interstate alone.
    I ike you assessment of the bump signs too. Be safe out there Sam & Donna.

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    1. I was still living in Missouri when they started that two tenths of a mile project and thought at that time what a huge waste of money.

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  13. We can't have it all, but at least the deer know where to cross because they have signs too!

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    1. Yeah, but they can't read and keep crossing at the wrong place.

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  14. I had somewhat the same mystery with "Watch for Animal" signs. Some of them tell you for how many miles you need to watch but others do not, I never knew when I could quit. The same problem with "Watch for Rocks".
    The biggest mystery for me was what do I do if I see an "Animal" or a "Rock"? Is there someone or someplace that I should report to?
    I think I have now solved this mystery to my satisfaction however. I got a dog that rides with me as navigator and when I see said signs I tell her that is her responsibility. So far so good!

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