If there's anything this pandemic has taught us, it's that going forward the perk most requested by job applicants may not be a robust salary and benefits package (which remains crucial, of course), but the flexibility to telecommute. Gone are the days where employees were perfectly content sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic to make it to a pointless 9 a.m. meeting that could have just as easily been handled via Microsoft Teams or Zoom.  If there's anyone who can attest to the misery of an agonizingly long commute, it's yours truly.  I work a mere 8.2 miles away from home, but my morning and evening commute during the school year runs anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour! (And if there's an accident, I flirt with an hour and a half.) Blame it on antiquated infrastructure and a city population bursting at the seams.  You can imagine what a wonderful respite working from home has been for people like myself who have to contend with clogged streets and jam-packed highw...

What's something we can expect to see when we go see a movie at the theater?  Beside popcorn, children, and "coming soon" movie banners, we have to sit through a couple of previews for movies slated to be released in the coming months, otherwise known as trailers . I've always wondered why they're called "trailers" if they precede the show for which we've paid.  As it turns out, the term “trailer” comes from their original placement within the movie screening -- “trailing” at the end of the film. When marketers realized a large portion of the audience left immediately after the feature ended, they moved them to run before the movie began.  A smart move, to say the least. I've observed that at the conclusion of nearly every movie I watch at the theater -- particularly the longer ones -- there are always a few people running for the exits.  Movies absorb one's attention and can very easily wear you out, especially if you s...

According to a survey discussed on a local radio station this morning, some people would rather schedule dates for the week than the weekend. At first blush, this made little sense to me. But the commentator went on to say that doing so serves as a failsafe in case the date goes awry; you can always bail early by saying you have to get up early for work, have stuff to do at home, etc. While that may be so, what happens if the date goes well? You would have far less time to get to know the other person than if the date were scheduled for the weekend. Personally, I am not a fan of dates taking place in the week. I like to be relaxed and feel like I have ample time to get ready. That's hard to do after you've worked a full day and may have to spend considerable time in traffic to get home and then leave to wherever it is you're meeting up. I understand arranging a meeting in the week if scheduling conflicts prevent one or both of you from doing it on the weekend. B...

It's a topic I broached in an earlier post this week regarding kids returning to school: TRAFFIC. The time spent stuck in traffic is time you'll never get back -- ever. Whether you drive through a school zone on the way to work or are delayed by an accident or two, traffic congestion can be anathema to even the most patient drivers. Once our commute approaches or exceeds an hour, it really starts to grate on us, especially if it's something we grapple with several times a week. It makes us more irritable and tired, often leaving us feeling awfully achy. For example, many people who spend inordinate amounts of time behind the wheel complain of chronic back pain, headaches, and other health issues. Worst of all is the fact that long commutes cut into the time we can be spending doing other things -- hanging out with friends or family, putting in a workout at the gym, sleeping, watching TV, etc. As I noted in my post on back-to-school traffic, I read while waiting ...

It's that time of the year again -- kids across the nation are commencing what they -- and their teachers and parents alike -- hope will be a fabulous school year. Now that school is back in session, we can certainly count on two things happening, especially in the next couple of weeks: 1. Traffic will get worse: If you happen to live and work near school zones -- as I do -- your commute most definitely will get longer.  In my case, during the school year it takes me roughly 10-15 minutes longer to get to work in the morning and home in the evening.  I try to leave extra early in the morning to beat the traffic, which often results in my getting to work an hour early. That's when I recline my chair in the chair and pull out a book -- or, I get a few extra Zzs.  As for the evening, if I see traffic slowing to a crawl, I stop by a nearby Starbucks or library -- book in hand -- and wait it out. If I leave an hour or two later, I usually get home in abou...

On this day in 1901, Connecticut becomes the first state in the U.S. to enact a law regulating motor vehicles. It limited their speed to 12 mph in cities and 15 mph on country roads. Speed limits had been established earlier in the United States, but only for non-motorized vehicles. In 1652, the colony of New Amsterdam (presently New York) issued an order stating that “No wagons, carts or sleighs shall be run, rode or driven at a gallop,” or else the driver would incur a fine of no less than “two pounds Flemish.” In 1899, the New York City cabdriver Jacob German was arrested for driving his electric taxi at 12 mph. The path to the law begin enacted in 1901 began when Representative Robert Woodruff submitted a bill to the State General Assembly proposing a motor-vehicles speed limit of 8 mph within city limits and 12 mph outside of the limits. The law passed in May 1901 specified higher speed limits but required drivers to slow down when approaching or passing horse-drawn vehicles...

I took a trip to Walt Disney World with my wife in December. While we certainly had fun seeing shows and going on rides -- and the fact the parks were decorated for Christmas added to the excitement -- I did complain about certain things. We got heavy traffic on the way there and coming back. The parks were so crowded that we felt like sardines packed in a tin. And despite getting Fast Passes, the wait times for many of the rides were longer than expected. It's been over two months since the trip, and I find myself fondly reminiscing about it. Isn't it funny how we tend to reflect on things through rose-colored glasses? It's as if the mind shuts out the negative bits (e.g., traffic and heavy crowds) and focuses only on the positive aspects (e.g., rides, fireworks, and Mickey Mouse). I suppose it's our way of trying to see the glass as half full. Generally, we make a conscious effort to block out all negative thoughts, feelings, and experiences that may in turn l...

Life is hard. No one disputes that. Some of us go through moments in our lives that greatly test our patience, resolve, and even our faith. But for all the challenges we face, there are people in the world who have it a lot worse. I always try to keep this in mind whenever I feel the urge to issue a complaint. Below I've written a series of unfavorable scenarios we often find ourselves in and the kind of thoughts that should come to mind to help us appreciate our blessings. When you feel tempted to complain about horrible traffic (which I often have since moving, as my commute has grown considerably longer and more frustrating), consider this: There are people who don't have enough money to buy a car, so they have to brave the elements and do all their traveling by foot, via bus, or a combination thereof. Walking from place to place isn't always safe, especially if done at night, and buses can be full of shady characters.  When you feel tempted to complain about s...

Some of us live in small towns. Others reside in big cities. I live in Florida, where traffic seems to be getting worse by the day. Last year, my wife and I bought our condo in an area known for being highly congested. We knew this ahead of time, but proceeded nonetheless because we got a great deal on the condo. Life is all about tradeoffs, right? Thankfully, we catch a bit of a break when kids go on summer vacation. Over that two month span, the drive to and from work is roughly 35 minutes. During the school year, though, I have a considerably longer commute: 45-60 minutes both ways, and that's assuming there are no accidents. We've been living in the condo for over 6 months now, and already the commute is starting to wear on me. It's gotten so bad that I decided to go to a Starbucks after work today (instead of driving straight home like I normally do) to wait out the traffic. I think I would rather have a shorter drive at the expense of getting home a bit la...