The last week I have been running around like crazy, trying to get a million things done. I always say I’m not going to get stressed out, and then I overextend and blame: stressed. Le sigh.
The other day I was – you guessed it – driving all over town running errands. It was coming up in dinner time and I was sooo ready to be done for the day. This being Los Angeles, I couldn’t just drive the five miles in five minutes and be home. No, I had to sit in traffic.
So I’m sitting in my car in West Hollywood, singing along to some Glee songs I downloaded, when all of a sudden my ears started ringing and my mouth started watering and my stomach churned and I knew I was going to throw up. It happens sometimes when I am stressed and HUNGRY. Normally, I would pull over my car and do my thing, but I was stuck in non-moving traffic. So instead, I just opened my car door and leaned out the side.
After I sat back and closed my door, I rubbed my hands over my face and took some deep breaths. When I removed them, my car was illuminated with a flashing red light. A police car. The cars in front of me started moving, so I was able to pull into a spot right in front of the bar Trunks. I wondered if he’d seen me glance down at my iPod to change the song. Crap, if I got a texting violation, Oprah would NEVER be my friend.
I rolled down my window as the officer approached.
him: Hello ma’am. You feeling alright?
me: Oh, ha ha, yeah, I just got a little nauseous there. I’m feeling better now!
him: Have you been drinking, ma’am?
me: NO! It’s only 4:57!
him: Ma’am, please follow my finger with just your eyes.
me: Uh, ok…really, I am OK, (voice getting squeakier) I haven’t been drinking, I just got nauseous!
him: So nauseous that you had to throw up all over the middle of the street? There are a lot of holiday parties this time of year.
me: (realizing that telling a police officer that I just got suddenly nauseous and dizzy probably wasn’t a good idea) Well…I’m pregnant! So it just happened!
The words were out of my mouth before I even knew what I was saying. I pushed my stomach out a little just as the officer’s gaze shifted down.
him: OHHHH. How far along are you?
And then I had to keep making up stuff, since I am very much the opposite of pregnant right now. Luckily, my friend Alli is just pregnant enough that I could basically steal her pregnancy facts and use them as my own. Thanks for getting knocked up, Alli!
The police officer finally let me go after telling me “not to drive when I’m nauseous.” And then he followed me almost the entire way home, which totally freaked me out and made me never want to leave the house again. I also kept my stomach pushed out because I was pretty sure the officer would somehow be able to tell if I relaxed.
So let this be a lesson to all of you: throwing up from your car in the middle of a street, while stopped in traffic in front of a bar, makes you look like a drunk.
And now you (and I) have learned something new today.
Becca_Masters says:
Let’s hope said police officer doesn’t read your blog!!
Elle says:
Oh wow, I would have thrown up again for being stopped by the police for, well, throwing up. I get so nervous just having a cop drive behind me that I actually have to pull off of the road.
High five for saying your pregnant. I have to remember that excuse. I either start dry heaving or get sick when I’m stressed out. It can be a little awkward when it happens in public.
Elle says:
*you’re. Damn grammar ocd. :^)
Alison says:
I would have puked on his shoes. Getting pulled over by the cops = MAJOR nausea (and tears…).
Before I had read that you told him you were pregnant, I just thought, “Tell him you’re pregnant!” Good on you for doing so.
Jen says:
I always thought if I got pulled over while pregnant I woul say I was cramping/having contractions.
Lynn from For Love or Funny says:
LOL! Your adventures never cease to entertain me!
Stephanie Brooks says:
Heather, You and Mike are so much fun. I love the adventures you guys share, and the videos you guys share are priceless.
I got pulled over last year. The cop said I didn’t stop at a stop sign. A- I totally paused and B- There is absolutely, possitively no reason for a stop sign to be at this particular intersection cause there are NEVER any cars there. Anyway, I got some cranky older cop yelling at me that I didn’t stop. I said I did which by the way- cops apparently don’t like it when you contradict what they are saying. So me, realizing that I totally just ticked off this cop by saying the opposite of what he was saying, did something dispicable. I started breathing irregular, pulled my puffer out of my pocket and took two puffs. lol. Shamefull I know but guess what- IT WORKED! The cop totally calmed down, and told me to be carefull next time and to stop for the full three seconds. Now comming from a family of cops (My grandfather was the Sheriff back in the day, and my mom still works for the Toronto Police) my grandmother was completely ashamed of what I did, lol. Sorry grandma! Anyway, I would have totally did what you did and said I was pregnant. Heck- what’s he going to do- make you take a test??
Thanks again for sharing all your fun adventures!
Stephanie
Marcia says:
I got pulled over for the same thing a couple years ago. But it was memorial day and I decked out in patriotic gear and he let me go because of the way I was dressed.
Laura says:
I LOVE that you told him you’re pregnant. I mean love.
We had to drive back from Anaheim to San Diego in awful traffic tonight. I told my husband to drive on the left shoulder, next to the carpool lane that was. not. moving. I suggested we just tell the officer that I was in labor if we got pulled over. (I’m a little worried that I might be able to pull it off. I’m pretty much carrying a holiday food baby at this point.)
catherine lucas says:
O the fibbing we do… Guess you have to be female to pull this one off…
neena says:
Weird – this was the first blog I woke up and read this morning and last night I had a dream you were pregnant with a boy! Funny that bloggers dream about other bloggers :o)
J from Ireland says:
Hahaha that is so funny. Very quick thinking there, fair play!!
Melanie says:
When I was 16 and newly licensed, I got pulled over for doing 37 on a street that was 25. (In my defense it is a little street with businesses all down it and two roads with 45/35 speed limits at each end…) My mom was with me and she was pregnant with my youngest brother. She had recently burnt her chest pretty badly with boiling water. When the officer came up to the car she had tears in her eyes and said, “Officer, will this take very long? My daughter was just taking me to get some medicine. I burned my chest with boiling water… see?” She started to pull down the collar of her shirt. The officer said, “Please keep your shirt on, ma’am… this won’t take long.” My mom said, “But it really hurts… look…” “Ma’am, I don’t need to see it, thank you. I will try to take care of this quickly.”
I got off with a warning. My mom said if that didn’t work she was going to fake labor… Hah. What a lesson to be taught that day!
Melanie says:
BTW – loved your quick thinking. It wasn’t like you actually did something wrong, so that seems like the easiest explanation… even if it wasn’t true.
Heather says:
On a long drive into Toronto last year, I had to pee so badly that when I pulled in to the rest stop and found an incredibly full parking lot… I swung in to the ‘expectant mothers’ parking space, puffed out my belly, held my bladder as tight as I could and made a slow dash for the bathroom.
I just really hope that there were no pregnant women there in need of a spot.
Meredith says:
I hate it when I get pulled over they think I am pregnant when I am drunk. And then I’m all, “I’m not pregnant! I just look like it!” and they are like, “Maam, drinking is bad for your baby.” And blah, blah, blah.
So then I flash them my boobs and they let me go. So next time, just flash.
Claire says:
Haha oh my poor you! Ain’t a girl allowed to puke her guts out for no reason anymore?!
Mary Ann says:
I can’t believe you were pulled over for puking. Once while driving through an ATM machine the car in front of me was taking forever finally they pulled up a little so it was my turn – I tried the machine but it wasn’t working so I drove to another bank and then drove home. A half hour later a policeman rang my doorbell and said he had to aske me some questions. I was totally freaked out thinking what did I do? Apparently the genius in front of me that was taking forever wrote down my license plate number, drove to the police department and filed a complaint against me saying I took their money from the ATM – I said no the machine wasn’t working – I showed him my receipt and money from the other bank and he said I HOPE NOT – and he left to check the surveillance at the bank – and he left. So thank God they realized I didn’t rob anyone – I would never do that anyway. Now whenever I see a police car I get a pit in my stomach – Sorry that happened to you.
Lisa says:
Now that’s one way to get out of a ticket! Nothing like a fake pregnancy to make a police officer feel the need to do a good deed and let a poor pregnant woman off
Penny says:
I actually laughed out loud here at work.
“I also kept my stomach pushed out because I was pretty sure the officer would somehow be able to tell if I relaxed.”
This really struck me as hilarious! I don’t think I have ever commented before. Just had to tell you that was really funny.
Neeroc says:
Hahaha. I probably would have ended up throwing up again. Hubby has always been mr. ‘oh just be honest with the police and you won’t have a problem’ and the first (and ONLY) time we get pulled over for having a radar detector, he’s busy cramming it in my purse and saying it must have been his CD changer! Good times.
Marcia says:
This happens to me often, because I have a dairy allergy and no matter how hard I try to avoid it, there are social occasions when it just happens. I try to always carry some sort of plastic bag near me, but am always afraid someone will see me. I also carry a bag of those small carrots. Often nibbling the carrots will settle my stomach enough to allow me to make it home.
Deborah says:
Wow. I can see him MAYBE pulling you over after you vomited, but to follow you home is insane!
eliza says:
This is funniest thing I’ve read in awhile! Quick thinking!
J+1 says:
Too funny! Whatever works, I say. And at least you didn’t barf again and do it on the cop…
audra says:
oh my god that’s hilarious! one of my best friends had a baby three days ago. her water broke at home and within minutes contractions started. while they were on their way to the hospital (her husband driving a modest 53 in a 45) , they got pulled over. once she was able to prove that she was IN FACT in labor and leaking all over the car, he followed them to the hospital, waited until she was admitted, and then wrote her husband a warning. some cops are jerks!
Wallydraigle says:
Not to drive while you’re nauseous? Does he realize that would leave a lot of women just about housebound for three months straight?
Brandy says:
I had a cop turn his lights on right behind me at a stop sign last night. Then he whipped around me down the road. I’m pretty sure I had a mild heart attack. Sorry you had to deal with that after the nausea!
Amy says:
Ha… I would’ve told him I was pregnant, as well. Probably would’ve ended up puking, just because he pulled me over!
Kelly says:
For a second there, I thought this was going to be your creative way of telling us all something! Way to get out of a ticket.
Laura says:
Me tooooooo!!!
Jenny says:
I was thinking the same thing!!!
Elizabath says:
This is hilarious!! Glad you got off of a ticket though!
Tami says:
That is so stupid that the first thing he thinks is your drinking. The flu bug could hit you at any time. Why do they have to always think someone is drinking!! May the flu bug fly up his nose and when he is on duty throw up in his car! Sorry it just burns my throat!!
Hope you feel better Heather.. And good come back with being PG its hard telling what he would of done next, hauled you in!!
Snickrsnack Katie says:
Quick thinking!!!
toastgal/Susan says:
You really did make me lol! That was priceless!
Skye says:
haha, I think I would have done the same thing, but then gotten really nervous about my lie and messed it up! Good job.
Angie M. says:
omg! hahahah.
but good thinking under pressure! also…good thing he didn’t ask to see an ultrasound
Trisha Vargas says:
Very quick thinking! I would have totally tried to explain my stress and life and everything else and been rambling so badly that a sobriety test would have been ordered for sure and wouldn’t have thought of that at all. Nice Work!!
(((HUGS))) from Florida
Kristin says:
Thanks so much for letting us laugh at your expense. Loved this. I so would have gone with the pregnancy story. Only, I could have probably pulled it off way better, physically.
Jenn says:
Noted….Lesson Learned! ha ha Glad you got home all in one piece…well, minus the vomit parts.
Jewl says:
that is freaking hilarious!! way to go with the creativity. Ive actually thrown up in traffic before with morning sickness and the guy behind me got out to help.. how sweet, but stay back! Too funny, thanks for the laugh!
Heather says:
lol! I actually had that happen to me when I WAS pregnant. It was right after a long weekend and I had just heard on the radio that the cops were out in force looking for people who were still drunk from partying too hard the night before. And of course… juuuust as I see a cop pull out to pass me I suddenly feel the URGE!!!
Thankfully mine was a lady cop who had three bouncing babies at home. lol *phew*
Rachel says:
Ohhh, that is SO something that would happen to me…you see, when I get sick, I get REALLY sick…barf city! The last time this happened, my fiancé and I were on our way home from the movies…I knew I was going to hurl, so I grabbed a bag and threw up in it….I then realized that the bag was not going to contain all the…unpleasantness, and made frantic “pull over!” motions at my fiancé…which he did…at the bottom of this really nice driveway. I threw up all over those poor people’s driveway…and then my fiancé left the…unpleasantness bag there to boot!!!! I protested, but he said the smell was making him sick and we didn’t have another bag. I am SOOO sorry, nice driveway people!!!!
jeannine says:
omg.. well…good thinking!!
Rebecca says:
There is a stomach virus going around too. You could have used that one.
Maile says:
Luckily ive only been in the passenger seat when vomiting out of a car! Also, there are usually at least 3 empty star bucks cups in my car for any sudden episodes of nausea. And just for fun I once threw up into a cup, while eating dinner, in a restaurant… I was trapped in the booth by a highchair.
Tamara says:
OMG. You are totally one of my idols!!!
Kristi F says:
It is unfortunate that he didn’t just take a little time and figure out you were not drunk then you would not have had to explain your vomiting with a lie. That being said, good for you for thinking quick and coming up with a reason for being ill in the middle of the road.
Issa says:
I’ve never heard that one. I’m rather impressed.
In front of a bar….hehehe
Might be time to keep a granola bar in your purse and car at all times though?
Lori says:
umm, is it bad that I got excited for a second and thought you might really be pregnant and this was your silly way of announcing it? That would be awesome!
punkinmama says:
That is awesome. Can’t stop laughing. Wondering if that will get me out of a speeding ticket instead…
Heather Marie says:
thats savage!
i was driving to school one day and the guy in front of me did the same thing, but i think that was hangover related. apparently this is something else thats lovely and i get to look forward to whilst pregnant.
Holly says:
This happened to me!!! Only it was morning rush hour in Las Vegas traffic….& I really was pregnant. The cop was a lady & totally understood, but it was still horrifying & embarassing.
Amanda M. says:
…
Ahahahahaha! Nice save.
KT says:
Best. Story. Ever.
monica says:
That is completely ridic. I cannot stand cops! He probably followed you home just hoping that you would swerve or not stop at a light/stop sign. I have very little respect for cops like that that think they are all high and mighty. Do you sense I have an issue with cops?
Dee Dee says:
Hope you are feeling better now. And thanks for another great laugh!
Kristin says:
Hehehehe, at least you’ve got one hell of a story to tell.
Kari says:
Funny story…I don’t know if I could think that fast. XOXO
amourningmom says:
Good thinking & hope that you are feeling better.
Abby says:
This is probably one of my favorite blog posts ever. And not just one of my favorites of YOUR blog, but of ALL blogs. EVER. Thanks for the laughs, and I’ll tuck it away as some good advice!!
Sher says:
Gosh…he could have at least offered you a mint!
Veronika says:
Don’t drive while you’re nauseous. Wait… what? Does he even know how that works?? It’s not like you get in your car hoping, praying (please God!), let today be the day I have to throw open my car door and puke in the street. BTDT while actually pg, btw. I stopped at the light to turn into a parking garage and there was just no way NOT to puke, so I opened the door, did my thang and drove into the parking garage. Parked my little car, did my thang again and moved to the next row. Then I looked up and saw the person behind me scraping puke off her shoes. Sorry lady.
Bethany says:
Oh my gosh, this is hilarious! I’m going to keep that in mind in case I ever get pulled over for driving strangely…lol!