Of Toyotas, Tea and Tantrums

Well yes...it's been a while...I've tried to tell you I'm not good with the updates...why don't you believe me? I don't make this stuff up...okay, sometimes I do, but this is for real. Now, on to what's going on in the life that is me...

I've long thought about blogging about Toyotas...about how every time a lane of traffic slows or goes haywire, the inevitable culprit is a Toyota. Seriously. It's 98 times out of a 100, maybe 99. The exceptions seem to be 4-Runners and Land Cruisers, but even they have their moments. I know others who have noticed this phenomenon, so I know I'm not crazy (at least not about this). What is the deal here? I know some of you drive Toyotas...can you enlighten me? Is there something about owning a Toyota that naturally makes you a slower, less-interested-in-what's-going-on-around-you driver? Is there something that happens when you take the wheel? And don't even get me started about Toyota drivers on cell phones...we'll save that for another day.

Earlier this evening I was in Panera having dinner with a lovely friend...drinking tea (of the iced variety) and listening to the beginning of a child's tantrum. At one point, we actually thought the child might leap across the table at the other child. And then, the mother laughed. Um, what??? What exactly was going on there that caused this child to screech in agony and several seconds later caused the mother to laugh? Believe me, there was nothing funny for the rest of us hearing the screeching.

This reminded me of another experience a few weeks ago at Chili's (yes, I eat out a lot...get over it) when a young girl (beyond old enough to know better!) threw a little tantrum. This is not out of the ordinary...as many of you are painfully aware, the restaurant tantrum is a highly popular activity among the young. However, what was interesting about this was that we actually watched the girl prepare for the tantrum. Oh yeah. She started with the pouting and then some heavy breathing and then came the tears. Un-be-lievable. And as it neared its end? Oh yeah, the mother laughed! What is up with that???? Seriously. I have no words.

So, there it is for today. Apologies to those of you that drive Toyotas. Maybe you are the exception to the rule. Now it's time for cake...