Still Snowing...

I think we caught up on our "below normal" snowfall.

SNOW!

"It's not just a commute, it's an adventure!"

Quintessential Cutris

"If I wasn't me, most likely I'd be someone else."
-Cutris

One of "Those Calls"

Yesterday I got one of "those calls." My wife was on her way to the hospital. The scare was that it was a heart attack, which later, thankfully, we found out it wasn't.
Few things can affect us as profoundly as when someone we love is in peril. I was in my office when my cell phone rang with the news. I felt my body go through a series of physical changes as the emotions checked in.
As I stopped a moment after hanging up, I began to assemble a plan of action--resisting the urge to run out to the emergency unprepared.

I made some calls to relatives, bosses (for both my jobs) and cleared my schedule. After things were secured at work, I left for the hospital, armed with a set of directions I printed off of Mapquest.com. When I made my way to the emergency center, I was relieved to find my wife looking pretty good; despite all of the monitor equipment hooked up to her. After she was cleared by the doctor, we were able to leave. As my sense of calm returned, I recalled the feelings I had just experienced.

Throughout my life, I've had many good and bad experiences. Some of those things that hurt the most, I believe, have changed me the most. By and large, I like to think that I've become stronger, wiser and more capable. Without the bad experiences, I would not know how precious the good ones were. It is within those moments of crisis, that we learn most about ourselves--how we react and what we are capable of.

Being married for a little less than two years, I can remember how scary it felt to make the decision to "tie the knot." From my vantage point now, it was the best thing I could have ever done. Yesterday, that realization was reinforced, as I thought briefly about the possibility of losing the person I love the most.

Since my evening was cleared now, I picked up some pork chops on the way home, and made them along with some potatoes while my wife rested. I woke her up to eat, and slipped a homemade banana bread into the oven to bake. She loves banana bread. Today she was feeling much better, and although I'm not a doctor, I'm pretty sure that my banana bread helped. In fact, I think that the recuperative powers of my banana bread may be (almost) legendary!

Thinking about the Toyota Recall

This morning as I was driving to work, I noticed a newer model Toyota car driving past me on the shoulder of the freeway. The car had to be going about 90mph, and didn't seem to be able to stop. How ironic, I thought, that the number one selling car manufacturer in the world, now had problems with the accelerator sticking on numerous models. Initially, the problem was blamed on the floor mats, supposedly sticking to the accelerator pedal. Apparently, this was not the only problem. Now, still driving, I noticed a Toyota truck pass on the other side of my car. Horn blowing, the driver was apparently in a hurry and wanted everyone to get out of his way. Either that or his accelerator was stuck.

I just heard now, that it seems there is a problem with the brakes not working on the popular Prius Hybrid. I'm not sure, but it seems to me that this is a really bad combination. As I watched a new Prius crash through a fence on the edge of the freeway, it occurred to me that a stuck accelerator and a non-working brake could spell disaster. Upon this realization, I moved over a lane, to let a 2009 Camry zoom past. I caught a glimpse of the driver... terrifying sight! Luckily, the car seemed to be speeding up, so it was out of range in a few more seconds. I was just glad I didn't have to see that again!

As a 2010 Toyota RAV4 spun off the road up ahead, I thought about the irony that so many people thought Toyotas were the most reliable vehicles available. Reliable maybe, but I carefully turned my Ford Fusion onto my exit and continued on--as a 2007 Avalon narrowly missed me and ran into a duplex on the corner. Still, despite the fact that Toyota had been slow... no "sloth-like" in their response to the accelerator pedal issues, I was confident that they would... in time... fix the problem the same way that Japanese companies have done for decades. They would copy the way an American company did it. Then, after perfecting the process, they would undercut the competition by reducing prices through cost-cutting measures. Perhaps if they were smart... or lucky, the quality wouldn't suffer too much.

Almost to my destination, I passed the smoking remains of a late model Toyota Sequoia. Apparently it hadn't stopped in time to miss that huge tree. As I pulled into the driveway and parked my car, I couldn't help but feel good. I was optimistic, as I pressed the lock button on my Ford and went inside.

Clones & Carbon Copies

They all look the same.
A group of young men in baggy clothes. One hand on their crotch holds their pants up and the inseam is only 6 inches long. Who has legs that are only 6 inches long???
They wear hoods or sideways caps. They all talk the same, "Know what I'm sayin'?"
The girls all look the same too. They wear low-cut shirts and clothes that are too tight.
They all have the same look--just like the singers of today. Can we call all of them Britney to save time?
I can hardly tell one from the other.
There are very few individuals.
It's too bad.
I'm glad I'm different.

Tough Chick!

This video is pretty funny.