So what's new in this side of the world? Hmm.

I had an encounter with an armed police officer. He wasn't after me, though. I was between him & the northbound lane of Highway 17 which had its 2nd shooting in the past three months. Add this to the shooting (police chasing a murderer/car thief on foot) on the Bay Bridge about two weeks ago and I think things are getting a bit scary around here.

Yesterday, I went to Santa Cruz. It was a beautiful day. I had the roof off the car, stereo up loud (the volume knob still works even if the power on/off button is missing). Surprisingly, 17 was clear travelling...until Scottt's Valley. I could see about 5 cars in a wreck on the side of the road ahead of me. People were standing around. No emergency vehicles in sight. I reached for my cell phone to call and then I saw a police officer pulling up behind me. All traffic stopped as people started running back/forth across the freeway. The cop got out of his car (one car width away from me), pulled his rifle/shotgun whatever it was out of the car, did that 'kaching' thing so I heard that yes, it was loaded & he was getting ready to use this weapon. A couple people ran up to him & said something about three cars and started pointing down at the northbound lanes.

I wanted out of there. However, I was stuck in bumper to bumper traffic with no exit in sight.

In total, I saw 13 police officers from a variety of jurisdictions. I never did find out what happened. Later that evening, they closed the entire freeway. I later heard someone saying that the police had shot someone (again!). Well, that's the exciting news.

Stacey