Frustrated at Traffic? or Just Frustrated?
Move Over!
The answer is yes. I am frustrated. For me, my level of frustration at traffic is a good barometer of my overall mood.
I just got back from a trip to Phoenix. Interstate 10 most of the way and that’s where my frustration begins. Or is it? I have to say that there isn’t a stretch of Interstate anywhere that I know of where that many people purposefully camp out in the left lane. The speed limit is 75 through most of that stretch and most of the folks going 65 or 70 do hang out in the right lane. However there are exceptions. There are also a surplus of folk who go 74 and refuse to move into the right lane when faster cars approach them from the rear. What is going on there? Did their folks teach them wrong or not at all? Are they too lazy to actually engage in the driving process? Too lazy to actually change lanes as road conditions and traffic warrant? It not only annoys me, but it’s dangerous!
EVERY time I drive to Phoenix I get annoyed with this bad driving behavior. However, there is more going on here. Many times, I am able to set aside my disgust and/or anger and cut the obviously bad drives some slack. Maybe they weren’t taught by good driving parents like I was. My Dad is a fantastic example of how to drive correctly, especially on cross country drives on the interstate. Perhaps they don’t know any better. (of course the signs that read, “Slow Traffic Keep Right” could be a helpful hint, but I digress)
In the Bible Paul talks about helping out our brothers with weaker faith. Romans 14:1-3
1Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. 2One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.
Driving and eating meat aren’t exactly the same, but hopefully I am drawing the connection for you. In Christianity, we accept our brothers and sisters who might have weaker faith and don’t pass judgment. On the highway, when I am in the proper mood, I don’t pass judgment on poorer drivers because I figure they are just clueless and it’s not really their fault.
When I am in a bad mood, for whatever reason, I have a much harder time cutting slack. It’s a good barometer for me. Good mood, my gift of mercy is fully functional. Bad mood, I struggle.
The solution lies in me. These other drivers aren’t likely to change. (I may still launch a Public Service Announcement campaign) The answer lies within. I gotta maintain the attitude of mercy. Just because you (not you. the proverbial you) can’t drive doesn’t mean I’m gonna let it ruin my night! I will pray that God helps you because obviously you don’t have good driving examples in your life. That shouldn’t make me mad. It should, and does, make me sad :-(
Yikes! County Supervisor not quite sure where Arizona is but she is sure they should boycott us.
I have no words to add. The eloquence of County Supervisor Peggy West speaks volumes.
Sorta reminds me of…
Yes, I do feel sorry for both of them. At least the teenager was very nervous. The other is actually voting on whether her county in Wisconsin should boycott Arizona. Yikes!
Smart Girl Politics Border Clean-up
This past Saturday I spent an amazing day in Bisbee, near Naco, Arizona. Smart Girl Politics sponsored a border clean-up in remembrance of Rancher Robert Krentz who was killed most likely by an illegal entrant into our country.
Our group ended up exploring a trail known as an alien “Super Highway” and we found all kinds of things on the trail as well as some surprises at the Border Fence itself.
Fun at the Yuma Fun Factory
Rain in the Desert on CBS
The Accenture Match Play World Championships is played here every February. The weather has been terrific all week, that is until today. I love telling my friends from around the country to watch Match Play to see how beautiful it is here in Tucson. Here’s a snippet of what it was like to play championship golf in a chilly rain:
Snowman Mike on Staying Cool
Coyote Crossing!
It’s all here on my Hummingbird Feeder Cam site. Coyotes crossing the empty lot below the apartment in broad daylight! Meanwhile, a hummingbird flies up for some breakfast.
Coyote Crossing
Winter Storm Warning, 3pm – 11am
Rain and snow moving in from a vigorous storm that is tapping some tropical moisture. How low will snow levels go? 3,500 feet, maybe lower. Yuma getting soaked and rain and snow is likely for southeast Arizona this afternoon through tomorrow morning:
Winter Storm Watch Tomorrow Afternoon – Thursday AM
A Fresh Coat
Let it snow...
Another storm system approacheth Arizona as El Nino continues to flex. This storm is much weaker than the last two, but we should still get a fresh coat of snow above 6,000 feet. From the National Weather Service:
A STORM SYSTEM OFF THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST WILL TRACK THROUGH NORTHERN MEXICO WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING A CHANCE OF VALLEY RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW TO SOUTHEAST ARIZONA LATE WEDNESDAY INTO EARLY FRIDAY. STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES ABOVE 6000 FEET…WITH LOCALLY HEAVIER AMOUNTS ABOVE 7500 FEET CAN BE EXPECTED.
The road to Mt. Lemmon FINALLY opened today after a couple three feet of snow from the last two storms. Maybe another shut down after tonight/tomorrow’s storm but the skiing at Ski Valley probably hasn’t been this good in years, maybe decades!
Meanwhile, I hear that because of the recent power outages on the mountain, no credit or debit cards can be accepted. Kinda crazy. If you go, have fun! Maybe I can join you, but I doubt it any time soon. The good news is it will take a LONG time for this snow to melt, and with El Nino still going strong, it’s more likely we will add more before this Winter is done.
