Driving: Me Crazy!

Categories: Main

You know what I hate most about my new life in Orange County?

No, not that. That either.

What I hate is that if I stay out any time later than, say, 10 p.m., the odds seem to be about 50/50 that the freeway exit I need will be randomly closed. Or even that the entire freeway will be randomly closed. Is this some kind of cruel initiation ceremony being perpetrated upon me? Because if I'm forced off the road at, say, Knott's Berry Farm, I don't yet know how one gets back to Santa Ana using surface streets. Even the detour signs seem to give up at a certain point, as if to say, "Fuck it, dude, you're on your own."

Yet when I Mapquest pretty much any destination in OC, it tells me — of course — to use the freeways. So I'm supposed to depend upon them, even though I obviously can't.

In Los Angeles, I always knew that if I drove far enough in one direction, I'd hit either Santa Monica, Wilshire, a numbered street, or Olympic, and I could easily orient from there.

This being an interactive blog, I thought I'd ask for some pointers. What are, say, the four most important surface streets I should learn for times like these?

Comments (4)

johnny says:

Definitely Harbor Boulevard and Bristol St. for north/south, and La Palma Avenue and Bolsa/1st St. for east/west.

Posted On: Wednesday, Jun. 13 2007 @ 10:29PM
Dick Miller says:

Your piece on getting lost on the freeway was written in pussy style. If your mug shot didn't appear next to the story I would have thought you were a broad and dining at the Baca Hilton with Paris. First person journalism is reserved for newbie and untalented females who won't go far in a respected discipline.

Check Janine's writing style. Not going to be nominated for Rookie of the Year.

BTW, spent 26 years with dailies, wrote on the side for most of the major magazines and the AP. Don't miss Commie Girl, another first person writer, but the other writers who left have left a void that doesn't seem like it will be filled.

DICK MILLER

Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 14 2007 @ 1:53PM
LYT says:

"BTW, spent 26 years with dailies, wrote on the side for most of the major magazines and the AP. Don't miss Commie Girl, another first person writer, but the other writers who left have left a void that doesn't seem like it will be filled."

Yes Dick, I remember, because you've posted nearly that exact same comment before. And yet you're still reading. You might want to stop, or at least skip over my posts, if you hate them so.

Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 14 2007 @ 2:00PM
Tom Schula says:

Hey, congratulations, Mr. Miller. Your first name is appropriate.

Mr. Thompson's piece isn't the only one written in first-person this week, so you seemingly have a bone to pick with the guy and should at least come right out and say it. Furthermore, your comment about female writers reeks of a lack of class, ignorance, unprofessionalism, and chauvinism. All would seem to belie someone who so readily places himself - and supposed writing credits - atop such a high pedestal, as an example of respectable journalism. 26 years, my ass. You're still an amateur. In both your "profession" and life, itself.

Posted On: Saturday, Jun. 16 2007 @ 1:23AM

Write Comment


Comments may not show up immediately after submission. Please wait a minute after posting a comment for it to appear.

All reader comments are subject to our Terms of Use. By clicking "Post," you acknowledge that you have reviewed and agree to these Terms.

Sign up for free stuff, news info & more!

Tools

Links