Road Trips

Road trips are fun, but extremely tiring. Driving, driving, driving and then driving some more is taxing on a guy. I would tend to think it's taxing on anyone. I'm amazed at how truckers can do it. But truly it is not all about the long hours. If you are driving with friends or a buddy, sleep, even when you can and want to is near impossible and hardly ever restful. And, you feel guilty sleeping while your friend is spending hours behind the wheel. Then of course there are precarious portions of the drive where you wonder if your friend is drunk, tired, or just a bad driver.

I like road trips. Again. I like them. They are fun. But, when your friend is driving with one hand on the wheel and another hand and head turned to take pictures at 75 mph you can get a little antsy. That and there's not much you can do when it's not your car. But, the biggest negative to a road trip is a scheduled, go-go-go road trip. That's the one where you don't spend any more than a night in each place and are traveling thousands of miles. Shoot me. It's okay to take a breather. I believe in breathers. It rejuvenates you. On a road trip that's a must. At any rate, it can be cheaper and much more fun than airfare, but just make sure you do it at a leisurely pace. And if you don't, get some good sleep when you get back home. Ah, home sweet home.

Driving in Utah

Driving is fun. Especially in Utah. People courteously slow down before hills, curves, and slam on their brakes a full 1/2 mile ahead of time if they see anything even remotely resembling the redness of a brake light in front of them. They merrily barrell into on-coming traffic with a comfy, affable wave, and they generally like to wait for those turning left when they are crossing an intersection. It just makes me so giddy to see them all do it with smiles on their faces, cute little poof hair-dos that look like hampster nests, and enough makeup to put Queen Elizabeth I to shame. I mean, I've seen such behavior on both coasts, but middle America seems to do it naturally, with no ulterior motives. On the east, they're in a big hurry, on the west, they just like to see how fast they can go, but here, in precious Utah they just have this amazing, innate driving ability. Where I am from, we hone and cultivate our quirky driving. I guess I'm just jealous.

Stress

Stress. The beautiful word, so maligned and so absurd, raises our blood pressure and pumps adrenaline. It can make us panic, and even make us manic whacks.

Stress. Believe it or not can be necessary and even therapeutic. Without it, people would be apathetic and would have no drive to complete all the necessary tasks at work, at home or elsewhere.

Stress. It is present in everyone's life, whether they admit it or not. Now, just because it exists, doesn't mean you need to let it get to you. You can always maintain a calm front, but don't tell me you're never stressed.

Stress. It is the friend of vacation planners, and relatives you never see, as it plagues you until you take that break.

Stress. The word rhymes with mess, less, chess, dress, confess, caress, bless, and redress.

Stress. Makes your heart beat faster, makes you nervous, not unlike someone you have a crush on. Maybe you have a crush on stress.