Julie the Journey vs. The Semi...

As you've probably already guessed, Julie (my 2009 Dodge Journey) did not win after taking on a Semi Truck.

But, Tara, you ask, why would you take on a Semi?

Well, I wouldn't.  At least, not intentionally.

This week, you see, I am on vacation.  I didn't go anywhere, but needed to use the time before the end of the year, lest I lose the time.  This tends to happen every year to me, and I happily take a stay-cation by myself for a week.

Today, the big plan was to catch up on my school reading - I did.  I'm only half a week behind now.

I also was able to finally beat Tom Morello in Guitar Hero - on Medium (not easy!).

Feeling good, I made plans to meet up with a friend to have lunch and do some Christmas shopping.

I was almost to her house, when I got off the express way.  I was on a 6 lane road (3 northbound lanes, and 3 southbound) that is highly traveled by truckers.  I was in the far right lane, and there was a trucker in front of me.  He had his turn signal on to turn right, but had just turned onto the road.

He was partially in my lane, so I stayed behind him. Then, he pulled completely into the middle lane and was stopping.  I wasn't sure if he was lost, trying to change lanes, or what he was doing, so, having a free lane ahead of me, decided to get around him to give him the space he needed.

That's when he turned right.  From the middle lane.

I slammed on my brakes, but was not able to stop in time to avoid his trailer.  It hit me, pushed my side mirror into the window, shattering my window.  Also, it pushed me into a curb, blowing out my passenger side front tire.

I'm ok.  He's ok.  There were no passengers.  The truck had little to no damage.  It may have a green paint chip.  However, mine is at the shop. Non-driveable. 

The truck in the background is not the truck that caused this damage.

That's one blown out tire!  Crap!  We just bought new tires, too.  :-(

The mirror apparently decided it was too cold outsid and jumped into the car.  Like the glass pieces all over?

Man!  That glass got EVERYWHERE!

NOW there's a dent - stupid Chevy dealer!

So, I guess we're not trading it in anytime soon.  Oh, and yes, I did have my camera with me today.  The friend I was meeting with gives me good blog stories, and I thought I may need to have my camera in case a good story happened and I needed pictures.  Hmmm....I guess it did.

This just gives me that much more to be thankful for.  For not being hurt in this crash.  For not hurting anyone else.  For nice witnesses providing phone numbers and making sure I was ok.  For good friends forgoing Christmas shopping to traipse around waiting for cops, getting some lunch, getting a rental car and helping me clean the crap out of my car.

I am thankful because it could have been worse.  But it wasn't and we are alive and well, and sooner or later I will get all of this glass out of my hair.