State of shock

Well, I got my laptop working with my mom’s wireless network, but more on that later (and more on what the title of this entry means later as well)… let’s go back to yesterday…

Linda didn’t end up going down with me, so I was able to do my normal “laptop on the passenger seat” setup. About 5 minutes into the drive, I realized I forgot to bring bracers or a belt for my suit. I figured I could just buy a new pair when I was down there. Right after that, I realized I also forgot dress socks. I figured I could also buy those. I was thinking about how I could go shopping at the Brea Mall, and I might run into someone I knew, what t-shirt would I wear when I was… wait a minute… did I pack t-shirts? I tried to remember, but I couldn’t actually remember taking any off the rack and packing them.

Okay, that made me turn around. So, for the first time, I’ve made a false start going down to LA.

The drive itself was uneventful, except for the stupid accident on the 5 at the 605 that was holding up traffic from downtown. I got to janeypoox2‘s just as she and danpa were pulling in (I was almost an hour early). People gradually arrived, and we drove over to KBBQ. On our way out, there was a sobriety checkpoint on Beach Blvd., so we had to go the other way.

Back at Jane’s, Chico and Jane opened their presents, which involved a lot of Chico wearing various things. I suppose I could put my pictures up, but… oh heck, I’m in the couch. (Okay, I’m in my mom’s couch, but it amounts to the same thing.) Anyway thndr took photos, as well as the other Joe. I’ll get mine up eventually. After that and cake, most of us drove to Torrance for karaoke box. The place we went to had a really decent selection, too. At about 1:30, we broke up and I had to drive back to Yorba Linda.

This is where it gets shocking. I was driving up 110, just before the 91 intersection, when I see a car zooming up from behind. As he passes me, I notice it’s actually a CHP car, and he turns on his yellow “I’m going to form a traffic break” lights, but he doesn’t. Instead, he drives into the 91 east ramp and turns sideways, blocking the ramp. The car in front of me, a station wagon full of people, didn’t get the hint, even when the troopers got out and started waving their flashlights to move to the left. They finally started moving, so I could actually move as well, and as I started moving forward, I glanced to the right. I saw the two officers running for the shoulder, and I started to wonder why when *SLAM* a car ran right into the trooper car.

Ten feet outside my passenger side window.

Let’s just say I was very alert for the rest of that drive. I’m surprised that I managed to fall asleep when I got home, I was still wired with adrenaline.

I, of course, tried to boot up my laptop when I got home (after trying to make as little noise as possible coming in), and I saw the network, but couldn’t connect. After I woke up this morning, and my mom woke up not to much later, we called my brother to get the password to the WAP. It turns out he set it to 802.11g only, not g/b mixed. With that switch, my laptop worked, and here I am.

We’re heading off to breakfast, and Finding Nemo, eventually… and who knows what else.