I drove in to work today because there are supposed to be showers later and I have had to run home with my scooter once during lunch and swap it for the car and really didn't want to do that again. And it left me thinking about the differences.

One of the big ones is that I'm tired and sluggish today. Riding in wakes me up. The cold. The alertness required to ride. The gearing up. The attention to detail.

And that made me think about all the things I notice. The smells are big--every restaurant you pass. The diesel fumes. The ocean.

But one comes to mind from spending a lot of time looking at people's faces trying to figure out if they've seen me or not and that's the vast number of drivers who have a phone welded to their ear. I never really noticed it before and it's just shocking. I don't really like the phone and maybe this has given me a particular view of the notion of "using a cellphone while driving." To me, using a cell while driving is fine. You pick it up, say ok twice to Janna who's telling me that I need to stop for something or something like that. And then hang up. Less effort and attention than changing a CD on the stereo. And of course, not doing any of that while at an intersection, rotary, etc. And making a call after finishing up at the shops means making it before I put the car in gear and drive off.

I think the parking lot thing is what really gets to me the most. It's one thing to pick it up because someone's calling you, but if you're babbling in a parking lot you're making a very conscious choice that you're going to babble while driving. I just can't fathom that. Make your call and then go. So easy. And honestly, navigating parking lots is one of the more two hands and attention intensive places I can think of driving. People get bugged about mobils on the interstate, but seriously, how much driving skill is required to stomp your foot on the floor and drive straight.