While I have complained about my commute in the past, I am trying to find the serenity in it. The time that is my own with my thoughts. As long as I can give myself the time, I can to girls in time. And the Bluetooth feature helps immensely so I can listen to my own music off my phone.
The commute on Friday started like this. Even with the bottleneck getting to get on the Pike that sucked up some time, I gave myself an extra 30 minutes so I wasn't panicked. I said a little prayer, reminded myself to be kind (new thing--it kind of works), and settled into the commute very aware that it may take me 90 minutes to get both girls. The same commute that on some nights takes 25 minutes.
But after the tollbooth, things went amok. There was a car very, very close to my back bumper--so close that I couldn't see his headlights. (That's right, I assumed right then and there that it was a guy.) It was scaring the crap out of me. Dude, this car is new--I cannot be the first Wang to put a ding in it. I couldn't even relax to my Kenny Loggins play list. What the hell was this guy doing? I couldn't get over to another lane--the traffic was quite thick and it was a very slow stop and go. Even if he did get by me, there were several cars just like me just crawling along.
He finally passed me and gave me this look that clearly said "Dumb Bitch." I will have none of that, serenity was tossed out of the window, and I flicked him off. Then, "Oh no he did not" (Who am I kidding? I am too white and uptight to swirl my head and say, "Oh no, he did'n'" with sass.), this mo'fo spit on my car.
Who does that? Immediately, I start judging him...his crap car that is probably uninsured. His three baby mamas and the assumption that he is a deadbeat father. Maybe he is late for his job at Taco Bell. I, then, kind of chuckle about how many other cars will have grossness spat at them too because traffic isn't good. Perhaps if he is going to a food service job, it is probably a good thing that he is getting all his phlegm out now.
I use my wiper fluid to get some of the guck off my windshield. It's dark so I don't have to see any of it on the side. I let it go. I am not sure why or where it came from, but I let it go. Maybe it's Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers....again, not sure. It would be nice to think it was maturity.
Well, I didn't totally let it go because I am telling you now. Also it snow/rained the next day--my car is now completely clean.
Showing posts with label Mass Pike. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mass Pike. Show all posts
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Monday, March 12, 2012
So it's 5:02, and I am armed with a small baggie of Goldfish and a half a snack bag of Cheetos
So it's 5:02, I am in my CRV armed with a small baggie of Goldfish and a half a snack bag of Cheetos. (I know, I probably shouldn't give my girls anything that spells cheese as "cheez" but these things are good!) It's Monday and I have to pick up both girls by 6:00. Usually this happens once a week and I hate it. I have to sprint out of work at about 4:57 and the anxiety of getting them both in time makes my hair frizz. Technically it sounds easy but I have to maneuver through Pike West traffic and figure out if I should get off at the further exit and pick up Rachel first, then double back through three sections of Newton to get Laurel. Or should I choose the closer exit, go through the shittiest rotary known to man, get Laurel and then sprint through the three sections of Newton to get Rachel.
The two arguments banter back and forth through my head like Prude and Rude and holy shit..the car next to me just saw me actively talk out loud in the car. The way I argue with myself and grip the wheel, they know it ain't Bluetooth. If I get Rachel first, I have to put her in her car seat twice--once at her school and once at Laurel's school. Freakin' daylight savings--it's now light out during the pick up and there is no way I could leave her in a locked car while I sprint in to get Laurel. (Yeah, I know..judge if you must..) I also don't know what type of mood she will be in..she might want to go right away or be very "difficult". This is where the Goldfish and Cheetos come in to play. These mere morsels are supposed to lure her in the seat. While I am absolutely not afraid of her I do think I should mention that this weekend, she pounced on Laurel and knocked two teeth (albeit all ready loose) out. Practically, I think I make better time getting Rachel and then Laurel..but I also like my teeth.
Getting Laurel first..the traffic is an absolute nightmare off of the closer exit. While Laurel knows that we have to hustle to get her sister, she has the CCW pokey gene. It takes her forever to get her stuff and then she has to say to goodbye to everyone..especially that Paul. Then on to the drive over to Rachel, Laurel is complaining that she is so hungry there is absolutely no way she will make it home. (I thank God everyday that there are no McD's between both schools.) Again, this is where the Goldfish and Cheetos come in play (along with her daily fruit snacks). While I have all ready admitted to wanting to leave Rachel in a locked car for just a few minutes, I might as well admit this. Laurel peppers me with the most unanswerable questions in the shortest about of time. Rachel is quieter..lets me navigate in peace.
So I decide to get Rachel first. Luckily she is in a great mood, playing outside and runs to me with glee. (Rachel runs with this chubbiness that just makes me melt. Her body twists as she runs, one arm to her side and the other swinging in the breeze.) We get her stuff and immediately, I drop the fishy reference..like butter in the seat (and my teeth are safe.)
We get Laurel at 5:35 and true to form she wants to get her stuff out of her locker on her own while I wait in the main entrance. While it takes her a short four minutes to get her stuff, she says goodbye to three girls in her path. (Avoid the boy, Laurel..avoid the boy. She doesn't avoid boy.... Oh my God, he is as gay as the 1920's. Laurel, take your time.) I lure her with the Cheetos..but I do explain that she needs to give a few to Rachel.
And we get home by 5:52. What I didn't count on was Rachel not crunching into the Cheetos. She was sucking them..Cheeto goo all over. And that suit is going to the cleaners.
The two arguments banter back and forth through my head like Prude and Rude and holy shit..the car next to me just saw me actively talk out loud in the car. The way I argue with myself and grip the wheel, they know it ain't Bluetooth. If I get Rachel first, I have to put her in her car seat twice--once at her school and once at Laurel's school. Freakin' daylight savings--it's now light out during the pick up and there is no way I could leave her in a locked car while I sprint in to get Laurel. (Yeah, I know..judge if you must..) I also don't know what type of mood she will be in..she might want to go right away or be very "difficult". This is where the Goldfish and Cheetos come in to play. These mere morsels are supposed to lure her in the seat. While I am absolutely not afraid of her I do think I should mention that this weekend, she pounced on Laurel and knocked two teeth (albeit all ready loose) out. Practically, I think I make better time getting Rachel and then Laurel..but I also like my teeth.
Getting Laurel first..the traffic is an absolute nightmare off of the closer exit. While Laurel knows that we have to hustle to get her sister, she has the CCW pokey gene. It takes her forever to get her stuff and then she has to say to goodbye to everyone..especially that Paul. Then on to the drive over to Rachel, Laurel is complaining that she is so hungry there is absolutely no way she will make it home. (I thank God everyday that there are no McD's between both schools.) Again, this is where the Goldfish and Cheetos come in play (along with her daily fruit snacks). While I have all ready admitted to wanting to leave Rachel in a locked car for just a few minutes, I might as well admit this. Laurel peppers me with the most unanswerable questions in the shortest about of time. Rachel is quieter..lets me navigate in peace.
So I decide to get Rachel first. Luckily she is in a great mood, playing outside and runs to me with glee. (Rachel runs with this chubbiness that just makes me melt. Her body twists as she runs, one arm to her side and the other swinging in the breeze.) We get her stuff and immediately, I drop the fishy reference..like butter in the seat (and my teeth are safe.)
We get Laurel at 5:35 and true to form she wants to get her stuff out of her locker on her own while I wait in the main entrance. While it takes her a short four minutes to get her stuff, she says goodbye to three girls in her path. (Avoid the boy, Laurel..avoid the boy. She doesn't avoid boy.... Oh my God, he is as gay as the 1920's. Laurel, take your time.) I lure her with the Cheetos..but I do explain that she needs to give a few to Rachel.
And we get home by 5:52. What I didn't count on was Rachel not crunching into the Cheetos. She was sucking them..Cheeto goo all over. And that suit is going to the cleaners.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Clean Undies Just Like My Mom Taught Me
This was not the way I wanted to start 2012--this morning I was rear-ended on the Pike. Whomever designed this roadway was a freakin' idiot--it is a major highway but parts are only three lanes wide. Merging traffic crawls in the morning. Also there are miles that pass without a breakdown lane. I was in the right-hand lane and all of sudden that right-hand lane was now my breakdown lane. Truly out of character, I started to look at the nuggets of optimism in this situation.
1. I am glad the weather was nice--no snow or rain this morning. That would have pissed me off and made my smoothed hair..not smooth.
2. Thankfully the girls were not with me. While the obvious was that they were never in harm's way, Laurel would have peppered me with questions and Rachel would have given me that look of disdain and perhaps an eye roll.
3. I had a pen in my bag to take down the information. How much of an asshole would I had been if I had to borrow the other driver's pen?
4. I didn't cry. I tend to cry when I am startled or frustrated. I am also an ugly crier with a rubber face and a lot of snot. (I only had one tissue on me.)
5. The other driver wasn't a teenager or a douche bag. He seemed generally sincere and fessed up that it was his fault. (He was trying to clean up coffee that he had spilled on himself.) His 530i Sedan took a beating compared to my CRV.
6. I had clean underwear on..even though I didn't have to go to the hospital, I had good, clean undies just like my mom taught me.
7. I remained polite. While I talk a big game, I was taught to be polite. I looked him in the eye, said please and thank you (even after he smacked me in the ass...) To be rude, would have shown a lack of intelligence.
My shiny, unfettered navy blue CRV..is now dinged But in the 12 years that I have known Ching, he has gotten in 3 accidents and this is my first one. (CCW-3, JCW-1) You really didn't think that my joyous disposition was going to last throught this whole post, did you?
1. I am glad the weather was nice--no snow or rain this morning. That would have pissed me off and made my smoothed hair..not smooth.
2. Thankfully the girls were not with me. While the obvious was that they were never in harm's way, Laurel would have peppered me with questions and Rachel would have given me that look of disdain and perhaps an eye roll.
3. I had a pen in my bag to take down the information. How much of an asshole would I had been if I had to borrow the other driver's pen?
4. I didn't cry. I tend to cry when I am startled or frustrated. I am also an ugly crier with a rubber face and a lot of snot. (I only had one tissue on me.)
5. The other driver wasn't a teenager or a douche bag. He seemed generally sincere and fessed up that it was his fault. (He was trying to clean up coffee that he had spilled on himself.) His 530i Sedan took a beating compared to my CRV.
6. I had clean underwear on..even though I didn't have to go to the hospital, I had good, clean undies just like my mom taught me.
7. I remained polite. While I talk a big game, I was taught to be polite. I looked him in the eye, said please and thank you (even after he smacked me in the ass...) To be rude, would have shown a lack of intelligence.
My shiny, unfettered navy blue CRV..is now dinged But in the 12 years that I have known Ching, he has gotten in 3 accidents and this is my first one. (CCW-3, JCW-1) You really didn't think that my joyous disposition was going to last throught this whole post, did you?
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