In answer to the title (if you were sucked into reading this with the slight hopes of being enlightened), I'm really not sure. As more than a few others do (I'm sure), this place is never used or perhaps only for ranting and raving about this and that.

I seem to fall into the categroy of the latter, so I'm just going to do what I do best, without inducing too much vomiting from any poor readers (or standbyers.)

I was in a car accident this weekend. I take weekly trips from the desert that I live in to visit my girlfriend who resides in the Los Angeles/Santa Monica area, so the drive was at best boring and typical. Unfortunately, thanks to my current job, I work graveyards and manage little sleep at best during the week; this combination can be quite deadly, and has proven so in the past with nigh over a bajillion times that I've wrecked.

I was only fortunate enough to be close to home, and to have survived with absolutely no damage. At the moment I hit, I could think of only a small handful of things. *ticks off on his fingers* "Already lost a few friends to auto accidents; is it my time as well?" -- "Can't leave yet! Haven't seen my g/f yet!" -- "Damn, this guy has some extremely resilient tires."

Yes, those were all legit thoughts. Fabrications are nothing compared to the grim reality of one's thoughts during situations such as those (as I'm sure many of DA's members and perhaps, even yourself, are aware.)

In a feeble attempt to make the story more succinct, the Hootey-mobile is not so mobile anymore. I have full insurance, so I will eventually get my car back or some sort of reimbursement. I didn't ruin my mother's special day (because I didn't, y'know, die.) The family still has the beater Nissan, which I'll be using for the time being.

All of this just means I need to sleep more. To anyone that actually reads this, please get as much rest as you can, especially before driving or operating anything mechanical. This is probably the silliest thing I've said in awhile, but studies show that we are a nation full of insomniacs, night owls, and generally exhausted zombies.

Learn from my mistake. Be safe.

When I was no more than 8-10 years old, I used to ride all over town with my grandmother in her car, especially during the summer. Her eyesight wasn't perfect and she was an aging woman, so I inquired one day as to why she loved to drive so much.

She told me that a car is freedom; the ability to go where one needs to go, whenever and wherever. These words have endlessly echoed in my head ever since, and resound with painful volume after the fatal wound my car has received.

Keep your freedom. Get the sleep you need. Be safe.

That's all I ask.