TheFlyingMan, the pain body continually asserts itself -- why prod it out deliberately? I suspect it may be your pain body itself asking this question. Maybe you're thinking that you can bring it out, be present and observe it, and then you're kind of "done"? or maybe you're thinking it might be just good practice for when it comes on you unawares? Either way, it sounds like the pain body looking for pain food. If that is so, your ego is a brilliant strategist, I must say!
When traffic thwarts you and your pain body starts growling, have you noticed that traffic actually gets worse? Stalled traffic and bad drivers are a big trigger for me, too ("you are so WRONG!" "get out of my WAY!" although usually I don't say it out loud!) and I've noticed that if I remember to be present and not identify with my thoughts about what's going on, the whole traffic scenario suddenly becomes more manageable. Other people start merging well and flowing smoothly. What is that all about?! I don't know, but it seems to me that I can depend on it.
As far as "just sorta watching yourself (scream obscenities)" ... I have done that in other situations. It's like I'm not really committing to being present, but halfway trying. At those times, part of me is still giving in to my pain body and identifying with the pain (often righteous indignation for me), while convincing me that I'm indeed being present (not!). It looks like this: "I am being present, why can't that other stupid person be present, too!" Yikes. The little trickster.