My Bubble

I do not have a good sense of direction, and because of that, I really hate going places that I am not familiar with. I really hate driving to downtown Detroit. That maze of one way streets, and a cars that don't stop at lights, freaks me out. So, when a school friend convinced me to take a class in Dearborn with her, I hesitantly said ok. The first night of class, I maneuvered the highways, with the google maps in hand and made it an hour and a half early. I waited patiently in class for said school friend to show, and she didn't. In fact, she wasn't even on the roster.

So, since I needed the class I stuck with it, and managed to get myself there and home again one more time without hassle. That is until today.

I have had the pleasure of listening to the radio and never hearing any of the streets on my route mentioned. That is until today.

Today I actually did hear on the radio that there was a truck that had hit an overpass on I-94, and that it was shut down. And I checked Google maps and it looked as if it was outside of my path. I was wrong. As I neared the I-75 and I-94 interchange, I discovered that it was in fact in my way. So I pull off at the first exit I can, and attempt to look at a map and figure out the next best way to get to Michigan Ave. And thanks to the crack whore that insisted on knocking on my window, not once, but four times asking for change, I was forced to drive away and get on I-75 North and wait for my VZNavigator to download to my phone.

The navigator kept insisting that I get off and the next exit and make the first legal U-turn, and mind the congestion ahead. Obviously. I wanted to avoid the congestion. So I had to keep driving back north until it finally gave me a new route.

Through Downtown, and back to the Davison, eventually to 96, where I took that to the Southfield and on to Michigan Ave. It took me an hour and a half, when it normally only takes a half our best. And I got to tour some of the nicest parts of Michigan. I enjoyed every bottomless pothole and random pieces of car laying in the streets. Ugh! I would like a real Navigation system if anyone is listening.

The Red Minivan

For anyone who has commuted to work in Detroit, or any major city for that matter, you may understand the frustration and road rage that has recently entered my life.

On an average day, you wake up at the same time, shower, dress, maybe even eat a little breakfast, but you typically pull out of the drive at approximately the same time everyday, and arrive to work at approximately the same time so much time later. And you may have started to notice that your drive to work is repetitive, you hit the same lights, you see the same buses and trucks, and even a few of the same cars. You know the ones, that guy who has the vanity plate that says “GOATBOY,” there’s that chick that always cuts in front of you two exits early and on some days you feel frisky and don’t let her in, other days you don’t even realize that you’ve slowed to a crawl and its all her fault.

For me, I see “red minivan” as he’s been nicknamed. The problem with Red, is that he’s one of my neighbors, so I start out behind him any time I am running a bit late. I have no problems with this neighbor outside of his unusual driving habits. I have talked to him casually, we even searched for the owner of a dog that had gotten loose. But the problem with Red, is that at least 3 times, he’s pulled out of his driveway, with a front windshield fogged or iced over, and proceeds to drive with his head out his driver’s side window. I think you can see where I am going with this. He drives slow. He swerves. And for crying out loud, when he sees a string of cars gathering behind him, he doesn’t even pull over!

So the first encounter with Red, he pulled out in front of me and I was thinking to myself, what an idiot, but as he continued to drive down the street, even turning on to the next street that I needed to go down to, that’s when I got annoyed, and I gave a little honk. Nothing. So, I figured out I had enough room to pass and just flew around him. I thought it was a one time only situation.

The second time, it was the same scenario, only he was a street ahead of me and I caught up to him as he turned onto the main road. I thought there was no way, how is this guy turning on to the busy main road with his head sticking out the window? And when he swerved into oncoming traffic, I put my foot to the pedal, and passed him on the shoulder. This guy was now endangering so many lives!

Since these two times, if I see him backing out of his drive, I panic and speed up hoping that I can get in front of him, but the crazy thing is that he doesn’t even see me! We had a close one this morning even. I was considering getting him an ice scraper as a present, but now that the ice is gone, and its just fog, I don’t know if I should just give up hope, or buy him a Sham Wow!©

Peace

I can't say that I am a firm believer in astrology, and sure of the whole thing... I suppose everything in hindsight can be matched up to some daily horoscope or mystic reading... But it has been on my mind an awful lot lately. First, when I wanted to kinda understand my friends better, and to try to get a glimpse at some hope down the road. And after that I was drawn back to the "Birthday Book" again. The book is called "The Secret Language of Birthdays" and has appeared in my life time and time again when I have needed guidance. I finally broke down and bought one for myself, which is now sitting in my desk drawer at work so I have to get that home again. But what really got me, was my grandmothers horoscope on the day she passed. You really couldn't ask for anything better than this:

"Suddenly there is wonderment in your heart, and everything you see will excite
you."

I mean, that right there can only fill your heart with peace and comfort. I have always said that if I had a choice between Heaven and doing this crazy thing called Life again, I would immediately get back in line for Life. I still don't know about this whole church thing, but I will believe that everyone gets what they want in the end, what ever it should be.

Of Recent Events

Well, this time around I don't think I have an amazing story to tell, so I will just wrap up whats been up.

I have been sick, as I noted in "Talk about needing a sick day" , so I haven't been working out, but I haven't been eating much either. I am crazy wanting pop again lately. I should probably go to Meijer later and pick up some more Faygo so I can stop drinking so much. I am a little scared to step on the scale today as I don't do so good after a night of drinking.

Speaking of drinking, I had a blast last night! It's always good to see old friends again, last night was well needed. I'm sorry Ian that the night did not include you. We tried. But I also understand why you choose not to go. I laughed so hard yesterday, in fact we all did. I think if someone had been filming us all night with one of those high-speed cameras, we would have been sickened by the about of spit raining down on the chips and salsa. I know, it sounds disgusting, but when we'd laugh it wasn't just a chuckle, it was a shoot beer out of my nose kind of explosion! My abs are actually a bit sore today.

I got out my button making kit yesterday too. Made some great new buttons. I love when I am feeling creative. I needed something to do now that I have finished my homework for class. Only one more night of Intro to Psych and then I have two classes next semester. I sure hope I haven't gotten myself in deep taking two classes. I'm sure it will be fine. I will be taking Finance, and American Political Thought. I am pretty good at the game of school, so I think I will be ok.

Oh, and I ordered my bike jacket yesterday too! It should be here some time in the next week or so. I wanted to get it early so if it doesn't fit I have a chance to return it. That's still kind of funny any way considering its March in Michigan. I have a ways to go before Mikey and I will be on the bike.