Month: July 2018

Traffic Nightmare

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If you are at all familiar with city living, then you know that traffic is an issue. Here in the metropolitan DC area, traffic is a nightmare. And we’re talking horror movie nightmares not “I had a scary dream” nightmare.

I’ve come across many people who are surprised to find out how awful traffic can be. One client told me that she moved here from southern Georgia. For the first year of her assignment, she was late. She told me that when you live down south, if your destination is 30 miles away, it will take you 30 minutes. That is not the case in our Northern Virginia area. Out here, traffic issues can make a 3-mile trip take 30 minutes.

Such was the case for me on Friday. My youngest needed a ride to the airport. Reagan National is 13 miles away from my house. It took me about 35 minutes to get out there. On a Friday evening, that’s not bad. I was able to get her to ticketing by 5:00pm. When I was ready to leave, I checked my driving app to see which was the best way to go home. Sure enough, it was to reverse my drive. So I set off.

Traffic on the Inner Loop of the Beltway (I-395 for those not in the know) was congested but moving. “All right, app” I thought, “you are correct.” I got off on my exit and proceeded to the main road that would take me home. As I turned the corner, I found myself in a dead stop.

My first thought was “accident”. Just last month my husband had taken the same route and was stuck because of a horrible incident. So I waited. I listened to various local radio shows so I could hear the traffic report. Nothing. I tuned into a station that only does “Weather, Traffic and News”. Still nothing. I was confused.

A half an hour later, I still hadn’t moved much farther than 400 feet.

As I finally was able to progress through an intersection, I noticed that cars were blocking the box. People were going into on-coming traffic lanes just to get across the intersection. Amazing.

An hour later, I had inched my way to the problem area. Construction crews had reduced three lanes down to one over a bridge. Of course, no one was working-it was 6:30 in the evening! Incredible!

My husband always laughs at me when I say how much I love living in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia). I remind him that I love the culture, the music and the experiences available while living here. I HATE traffic. Friday just reinforced my belief. I need to be rich enough to have my own personal helicopter.

 

I Need a Massage!

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I have worked for a massage corporation for almost a year and a half. And let me tell you, if there’s one job where you need massages, it’s working the morning shift at the front desk of a massage corporation!

 

I know many of you have already heard me gripe about my work situation. It has frustrated me so much, I wrote an article about what to do if you hate your job. Part of the problem is that I need the income. Writing only brings in so much, you see. Another problem is that I care too much. And the final issue is that changing jobs would be a pain in the butt.

 

First Issue

Hubby would laugh at me and say that we would be fine without my measly salary. He’s right but we are nearing retirement from the military and that money would help make our retirement dreams come true. We’d like to take our 60 days and spend it split between Greece and Italy. More recently, he wants to add the Southern Caribbean for an additional month.

Second Issue

I really do care too much. I don’t understand why a person can’t just do their job and do it properly. Is it really that difficult to fold the laundry after you take it out of the dryer? Whatever happened to “on time means your late?” It’s the little things but they add up. I get frustrated when I walk into work every morning and the closing shift fails to complete their checklist. I mean, there’s a checklist for a reason! It’s not that difficult! (You can tell that my shoulders are scrunching up into my ears right about now.)

 

Last Issue

Because I do my job, the management loves me. That equates to all my requests for time off being honored. It means that I dictate what hours I want to work and there is never a conversation about me adding or changing my shifts. Where else am I going to find that? That is the one saving grace to me staying. I know that I get what I want.

 

So do you understand why I need massages? I had one yesterday. And once again, I was reminded that my body is getting worse. Sitting at a computer all day for this job as well as typing my assignments has forced my shoulders to maintain the “Hunchback of Notre Dame” position. The sad thing is that I used to take advantage of my free massage a month. I thought that it would be enough. About three months ago, I started booking myself for two a month. Apparently, that isn’t enough either. I’m going to try 90-minute massages and see if that helps. But you know you’re in trouble when you first get on the table and your therapist is already telling you that you need more sessions.

 

I’m not ready to give up on my job yet but I think I may need to ask for a raise. Or at least a stipend for stretch sessions!