Randomness of a Random Nature

[awanderingbard]

I have a scooter! Of the electric bike sort. Dad found it at a yard sale last week and I had mentioned wanting one, and it was a really great deal. He made me go and try it out and then we bought it and I had a mild meltdown because I always do that when I make large purchases. And today I worked up the courage to try it out properly. I made it all the way around the block twice without dying! My wrist hurts from grabbing the handlebars so tightly, but I think I could get the hang of it. It should allow me to motor down to the shops in the neighbourhood, instead of asking someone to drive me, which will be nice. And I felt kind of badass on it.

In other news, I have added my daemons AU launch page to the sidebar, with a link to the portrait gallery (which now has Alec and Sarah added, because when I do something, I do it thoroughly damnit).

Also, Photobucket, just stop changing, okay? The more you try to make things 'easier to use' the harder it is to accomplish anything.

Comments

[aelfgyfu_mead]

You use a HELMET on your scooter, right? I was hit by a car a number of years ago when I was on a bike. I had a mild to moderate concussion; it would surely have been worse if I hadn't been wearing my helmet. It doesn't matter who is at fault when a car or truck hits a bicycle, scooter, or motorcycle: the person with the smaller vehicle is going to get hurt, but a helmet can make a huge difference. [/sermon]

[awanderingbard.livejournal.com]

Yes ma'am! The scooter came with two helmets. My mum is a nurse. She will not let us ride motorcycles period, no matter what safety equipment we might have on. I grew up on horror stories from the PACU.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Excellent! I'd forgotten that your mother is a nurse. Helmets aren't required by law in my state, and so many people don't wear them—on motorcycles on the highway, on scooters, on bicycles—that I never assume that anyone uses a helmet, no matter how smart or sensible I know the person to be. (When I was in grad school, I convinced a faculty member that I quite respect to wear a helmet on his bike. I never told him how utterly horrified I was that he hadn't previously done so, but it may have been evident in my face.)

[awanderingbard.livejournal.com]

Not sure what provincial laws there are about helmets, but I think you can get ticketed for not having one while skateboarding, rollerblading or biking. But apparently lifejackets only have to be present in boats, you don't have to wear them. Which horrifies my mother.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

As well it should. I just read about a case here in Florida where a grandfather took off a boy's lifejacket to clean off the sand that was bothering him. He washed the sand off, handed it back to the boy, went back up front to drive the boat, turned within a minute—and found the lifejacket on the floor of the boat and the boy gone. The boy is now presumed dead, though they started a search immediately. He was four years old.

[awanderingbard.livejournal.com]

Our cottage is right on a lake, and there are constantly people roaring around without lifejackets on. I just don't know why you would be that stupid. It doesn't matter if you're a strong swimmer, you don't know how long you'll be out there until someone helps, or if you'll be unconscious or have a broken leg or arm. Lifejackets were invented for a reason.

That's an awful story about that boy.