If there are no cars in the left turn lane, the signal doesn't come on.

A little late, but since I wasn't around yesterday:

Happy Birthday, Robin!

There are some left turn lanes here. They are for the cars who can go faster than the other cars to slide into in order to zip by the cars in the go-straight lanes and get through the intersection first. Except when they are used to get around all the traffic that's in the straight lanes but stupidly stopped at a red light; then you use the left turn lane to get around those idiots and run the red. Occasionally they are used for turning right.

But on the big major street, the one that had the final leg of the marathon, they got rid of all the left turn lanes before the Olympics, so now you fly out to the right onto an access road which loops you over the main road. Works pretty well if you know where you are going.

Apropos of nothing, here's an excerpt from the instructions from my DH's Master's program. Keep in mind that it's only open to students of Lt. Colonel rank and higher.

As part of the lesson, you are given reading instructions whether to study, read, or scan the material. Let us review these definitions:

Study – read all the words, striving for maximum understanding. This is a slow and thorough process. You may want to read some sentences or paragraphs more than once, such as twice or three times, to ensure you comprehend the author's meaning.

Read – read all the words, pushing yourself to read as fast as you can.

Scan – move rapidly through the text; consider reading only the first sentence in each paragraph. You are looking for the main thought or the topic sentence, or perhaps for specific material to support a point. Scanning is done to gain a general overview of the material and to identify content. It can also familiarize you with resources that may be useful as references in the future.

My favorite bit:You may want to read some sentences or paragraphs more than once, such as twice or three times, (emphasis added) to ensure you comprehend the author's meaning.

Or to ensure that they actually wrote what you think they wrote.

As long as everyone agrees that drivers in the left turn lane will pull forward into the intersection to wait for an opening in traffic (meaning at least two cars get to turn left every light), I'm okay with the lack of a specific signal.

I thought I was too. After four months here, I have been spoiled, and it seems wrong.

ita didn't make me pancakes last weekend (I did get a nice smoothie). I think she might be bogarting the syrup.

Yeah, I could be bogarting. What you gonna do about it?

Most of my left turns have signals if the intersection has lights. The duration is so damned short, though, three or four cars only can get through.

What you gonna do about it?

Pout?

NO! NOT POUTING! ANYTHING BUT!!

If the Turbo Bath Bar from Lush is supposed to be like the Fairy Jasmine Bath Bomb, why isn't there glitter inside? I'm so returning the half I have left. That's dumb.

NO! NOT POUTING! ANYTHING BUT!!

Show up at your house on 9/18 and demand pancakes?

I wasn't here yesterday, and didn't get to wish Robin a Happy Birthday, so I'm doing it a day late. None the less heartfelt for the late, Robin. I hear there was cake?

You know, if someone zombified me right now, it would probably increase my activity level.

I hope that doesn't happen.