and in a related story, the earth has broken out of it's orbit and is careening through space; we will be crashing into the sun any day now.
Not to get technical, but I think you mean "careering."
not at all. I am sure I meant "careen". I considered "careering", but it didn't describe the loss of control I had in mind.
Career=to spin out of control
Careen=to tip over
But everyone uses "careen" to run down a winding street with no brakes. It's wrong, but wtf -- I was just teasing.
I am saved by the notoriously unreliable nature of the language.
american heritage dictionary
v. intr.
1. To lurch or swerve while in motion.
2. To rush headlong or carelessly; career: "He careened through foreign territories on a desperate kind of blitz" (Anne Tyler).
3. Nautical
1. To lean to one side, as a ship sailing in the wind.
2. To turn a ship on its side for cleaning, caulking, or repairing.