Hope everyone made it through our rainy Holiday Season without too many problems. I wasn’t sure any of us would make it! It has been many years since I have the seen the lagoon water so high. Which brings up – again – people dumping oil into the water. When I went out to check on how high it was getting I had many oil puddles between my dock and the shoreline. As I have previously mentioned this, I am repeating myself in the event this is being done by ‘new residents’. Do not pour anything down the drains you see in the streets unless you are positive they go into another drain- not directly into the water. And also, not over your deck railing if you live ‘on the water’. But if you do end up with the oil puddles sprinkle some Dawn dishwashing liquid into them and then watch them literally disappear.
Again most of most of the calls were about the “speeders” – even with the rain! That really surprised me as I thought most would slow down, but evidently it didn’t make any difference. And the number of those driving with their wipers on BUT NO HEADLIGHTS. Most of December it was quite dark by 5 to 5:30 in the evening, and still no headlights on. What really bothers me is that it appears these drivers just don’t care, and this was the feeling the callers had. Also it seems that many had the same problems I did when it came to the dual exit and entry lanes. No one was paying attention to which lane they were in, so when they saw a green light they just went. I was almost hit several times at the exit from Whipple to northbound 101. One car that cut me off turned onto the east bound Holly/Redwood Shores Parkway, and as I was going to Nob Hill I stayed behind him. When he also turned in there and parked I asked him why he went through the red light on his side. His response was that he never paid attention to which side he was on, he just went whenever he saw a green. I told him I hoped he had a good insurance company because he would most likely be needing them if he kept that up.
And lastly, a number of the calls were asking to remind you who walk your dogs to please obey the laws here in Redwood City about taking their “leavings” with you NOT just leaving them where the dog put them. Should a Police Officer observe you ignoring any leavings, he can give you a ticket. With all this rain I am presuming it is not necessary to carry any water with you for your female dog’s piddle. In dry weather the female urine will kill the lawn in the spot she went, which is why the water helps to dilute it.
The balance of the calls were to ask two things: please obey our speed limits and to get in the habit of using your signal lights. Truly, there is nothing more irritating than not knowing if the car coming toward you is going turn in front of you or if the one ahead of you is going to turn. Also the one that got the most calls was about drivers that evidently keep one foot resting on the brake pedal. In the event you are unsure – the slightest touch keeps your brake lights on and anyone behind you has no way of knowing just what you will be doing next!
Have a good one and do drive with care – not only for yourself but all the others also out there!
See you next month and if we continue with this awful weather – please be careful.
— Pat Dixon, the Swan Lady
(Note that Pat’s phone number for calls to contribute to “On My Soapbox” are usually included in The Pilot; the number has been omitted from the website version of this article. You can send a message to Pat by emailing with the words “For Swan Lady” in the subject line. )