That is true! But I am uncoupled and un-childed, so I actually don't say that too often! But I do say "Regards, Nadine" a lot in email!

Who wouldn't want your regards?

I always feel awkward ending a voicemail message. We as a culture need to standardize that somehow. Okthxbye, or whatever.

When I leave voice mails for work, I do a variant on the closing I do for troubleshooting calls, "Thanks for working with X Company, Bye."

I just left a voice message, and ended it like it was an email-- like I used a closing and said my name.

This reminds me of Sleepy Hollow and Ichabod's voicemail message to Abbie.

Aw.

And you should totally claim you were making a reference, Sophia.

The last time I was pulled over, I knew it was for the expired plate, but my reaction was "Where the hell did you come from!" when I saw the lights in my mirror.

That's usually my reaction, but it could be because I'm never really paying attention for cops. Which is just another variant on driving while white, really. The last time I was pulled over, it was for an expired registration - over a year expired, and I had to go out of my own county before a cop noticed it. Middle-aged white woman in a blue hatchback? Invisible, apparently.

By the way, adjust your side mirrors. Swing them out so you can't see your own car in them. Then you don't have a blind spot.

I end work voicemails with "Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions! Good-bye." I feel that engineers especially are subconsciously relieved to have the definite ending marker of "good-bye".

That's usually my reaction, but it could be because I'm never really paying attention for cops. Which is just another variant on driving while white, really.

My sole reaction when I see a cop while I'm driving is "Shit, did they get me???" because I am generally driving over the speed limit. And I am very aware that is the definition of being privileged as hell.

Cops like to slide in behind people to try and frighten them into doing something dumb. When a cop pulls up behind me, I double check my speed and confirm in my head that the registration is current, then I keep motoring. I've had more than one cop visibly pout and pull out from behind me and speed off ahead.

My sole reaction when I see a cop while I'm driving is "Shit, did they get me???" because I am generally driving over the speed limit.

Last week on the way to Wisconsin I was going, um, let's call it 85. Definitely, mostly, not 90. In a 55.

Right next to the State Trooper, and all the other traffic. He was just cruising along with everybody else. It was really bizarre.

I've told you about my encounter with SHIELA on the way back using that route, haven't I?