Ever since moving to Atlanta in 2004, I've noticed a peculiar habit the local drivers have. They pass you on the right, not the left. Since there is no requirement to take another driving test to get a Georgia license when you have a current out-of-state license, I can only assume that Georgia rules dictate this. Logic only permits as I observe this 90% of the time.
And it REALLY gets on my nerves.
If you don't live under a rock, you are well aware that gas prices are getting ridiculous. The QT station down the street from us is up to $3.72 a gallon for regular. WOW! I can actually remember the days before I drove when it was less than a dollar. I guess I'm getting old. Anyway, to fight this, I've been doing my best to drive more conservatively on the highway by keeping it between 65-70mph. Those of you in Atlanta reading this know very well that going that speed on the perimeter can sometimes be challenging.
For those of you not familiar with Atlanta, the 285 loop that circles the greater Atlanta area (aka "the perimeter") is often referred to as the Atlanta Motor Speedway, a reference to the Nascar race track south of town. The posted speed limit is 55, however, I'd imagine many drivers wouldn't even be able to tell you that. Depending on the time of day, on the west side of Atlanta, you can easily drive 90mph and "blend in" with traffic.
Okay Dave, sure, it's like that in a lot of major cities. Yes, while this is true, there is one major gotcha with 285 in Atlanta.
It is often clogged with big rig tractor trailers.
The reason is because big rigs are prohibited from using I-75/85 interstates that run through downtown Atlanta unless they are local traffic. On 285, which is 4 lanes wide on each side in most places, there are signs posted that require big rigs to use the right 2 lanes.
When there are a lot of big rigs in the right 2 lanes, you are pretty much forced to drive around 80mph in the 2nd from the left lane, which becomes the "slow" lane for cars, or you will be run over.
So when there aren't a lot of big rigs, you can drive in the right 2 lanes but still need to go 10-15mph over the speed limit if you enjoy your life. When these conditions exist, I usually drive in the 2nd right lane, as in, 2nd from the right. This is to avoid the merge traffic coming on the freeway. Okay, easy cheesy, right?
Wrong.
This brings me to my point of severe annoyance. Despite being over in the right hand lanes, a car will come flying up behind you at 90mph, wait until the last possible second, and then proceed to pass you on the RIGHT with 2 EMPTY lanes to the left. May I say again, 2 EMPTY left lanes. Said person is nearly always talking on a cell phone along with most other drivers in Atlanta. I'll save that for another blog.
In Atlanta, this happens ALL THE TIME. AHHHAHHGHAHHGHA!! Never have I seen it on such a regular basis anywhere else I've driven, such as Houston, Austin, Dallas, Phoenix or Los Angeles. What the heck, Atlanta?
Basic driving rules say that the left lane is for passing or faster traffic, the right lane is for normal flow or slower traffic. Pass someone on the left, move back over to the right afterwards.
As an example, let's say I'm driving in the left lane on a 2-lane road. I see a faster car approaching in my mirror. I should yield and move to the right lane so they may pass me in the PASSING LANE on the left.
Okay, we all know this right?
Apply this to a 4-lane road and you have the same dynamic on a bigger scale. 3 years ago, I would do what I described above, move over. After living here for a while, I've essentially given up on other drivers actually following any rules.
So referring back to my original complaint, yes, I'm being partially hypocritical by not moving over to the far right lane. But it's hard not to when you observe other people's awful driving habits. It's the 'everyone else is doing it so I might as well too' mentality. Plus, I've observed this so many times I assume the car will pass me on the right anyway. If I DO move over, the car will likely run into me thus causing an accident. Technically I'm not at fault because I have the right of way being ahead of said driver.
And the best part is that a lot of times, the passing car gets stuck behind a slower moving car after passing me, which, to their amazement, is going the slowest of all the cars WHICH IS WHY IT IS IN THE RIGHT LANE TO BEGIN WITH!!! Whenever this happens, had the moron passed me on the left like they should have, they would have cruised right on by.
I rest my case.
P.S. The best part of all this to me, a lot of these vehicles flying by me are larger sport-utility types, whom, at 90mph, are getting gas mileage likely in the lower teens per mile. You go tough guy. Get there.
**Note** I do acknowledge the fact that some of you could care less about how much you spend on gas and that is fine with me. That is not my beef, but merely ironic to this author.
It's fun to get messy with primer. (o:
I am peeling away a the paint.
Here is what we ended up with in that spot... so Dave thought he would dress the spot up a bit. (o;
I am impressed with all of our hard work... look a lialac stripe around our room! :-P
There it is... now can we sand stuff down, spackle, and prime... then paint.... hmm might be awhile.
The backyard. There is a stone landscaped terrace.
Looking into the kitchen and the stairs from the family room.
The master bathroom.
Here is the family room right after the move.
Here is the new fridge and the moving mess in the kitchen.
Here is Vincent's favorite spot in the whole house. 
On May 22, 2008 at 7:20 am I ran into Candid at the door of the Tuner studios where we waited to be let in. She is a Third grade teacher in Grant Park and she was another one of the models.
