Momma, I ain't goin to work no more

The only way I know how to get to work is via the highway. The main highway here stresses me out, though! First there was the bird incident. Now this.

But before I get to that, let me tell you a little something something about drivers here. For some reason the HOV lane is a free for all where drivers come into and leave the lane at their leisure. In less than a minute, I saw 5 cars cross the double-white lane of the HOV lane--I don't get it!

In Texas, when you see a sign that reads "Road Work Ahead; Speed limit 55; Fines Double," you usually slow down to 55. Here you drive on your merry way like the signs, crane, big concrete cylinders, and freshly painted lane lines aren't there! Can someone explain this to me?

Anyway, I'll get to the point. This morning a highway patrolman pulled in front of me on the highway, and I drove up next to a semi. Next thing I knew, I heard a POW! or BANG! or POP! and I was instantly freaked out. The first time I ever drove on the highway alone my tire blew out, so I knew that it didn't happen this morning because it wasn't the same. I think I saw metal fly this morning, and I definitely saw the rubber. The semi's tire blew out RIGHT next to me, and I drive a tiny tinker toy where the top of the car probably doesn't even reach the top of the semi's tire. My heart started racing. The highway patrolman pulled over, so I followed suit, and the semi pulled behind me. We assessed the damage, and nothing had happened to my car that we could see--doesn't hurt to check. He said something about how it always sounds like a gunshot when that happens, and I couldn't describe it better. A gunshot right outside my window!

I'm fine and I got to work okay. The most damage I could see was the CD I broke on my way out the passenger side of my car when I pulled over to the shoulder.

Dang you, highway.