It would have been my PB, except.....
 

I got pulled over by the cops.

On the way home last night, I was rushing home to my sick doggie who we haven't been able to get meds (to provide relief from cancer and seizures) since Thursday night. I have to cross a couple busy streets and rather than stop at a sign like I should, I saw a break in the traffic and timed my approach to merge in.

I knew I was in for a ticket as soon as I saw the cop's eyes. 40 year old poser, fancy bike, kitted up, blowing a stop sign -- if such a person doesn't have a ticket coming, who does? He lectures me on how bikes should follow the same laws as cars and says that in most of the cases he's seen where cyclists got hit, it's because the cyclist failed to do that. I told him I felt kind of dumb for my mistake because I normally harp on following the law myself, all I want is to be treated like a car, and that my experience is that's much more likely if I act like one.

I give him my ID and he has his ticket book out and pen at the ready. He asks me if the address on my license is correct. I say yes. His serious look changes to a smile (address is in another town more than 20 miles away) and he lifts the pen. I got a verbal warning.

Even getting pulled over, I still had a very respectable commute time.

Doggie acts like herself, but still won't eat and is very sick so I slept on the floor with her last night.

Best thoughts to the doggie. Mine is getting middle aged and some white around her mouth, and I don't like to think about when I'll have to face her mortality. I'm closer to her than any dog I've ever had.

So he didn't give you a ticket because of how far you were going? That's very cool.

I hope your dog is feeling better...it's so hard to watch them go downhill!

That must've been worth a laugh, at least. He certainly realized that you know better.

Aww... :(

There were two things that seemed to put me over the top. One is that while he talking to me, I suddenly became aware that taking off the wraparound mirrors, relaxing, and setting the helmet on the ground might not be a bad move if you don't want to look like you have an attitude. I picked up mild positive vibes when I did that.

I am certain that the distance put me over the top because his demeanor changed completely. I'm actually glad he pulled me over because getting stopped made me realize there's a better route home that doesn't involve left turns onto busy roads from side streets. It's a little longer, but I can turn at lights and ride faster roads with longer straightaways. That's more fun than puttering about on surface streets with careless drivers who are constantly pulling in front of you. Besides, an occasional reminder to ride by the rules of the road isn't a bad thing if you want to be treated like a car.

Doggie seems to be doing slightly better. She still won't generally eat, but I got her to take a tiny chip of bacon and somehow she even took a cancer pill -- the most important of her meds. I couldn't get her to eat or take anything else except for some water. She acts happy even if she's tired.

Ohh, poor baby... The dog, I mean. I wish her happy pain-free days, however many are left for her on this earth. It sounds like she lives with some great people!

Fun story with the policeman. :)