Actually, since I came up with this title, the traffic has actually gotten better on my current route to work. I will be on this current project for at least another month, and now that I have a more permanent home, the reality of my commute has set in. I have to admit that commuting through the fabulous Chicago traffic was scaring me more than my job itself prior to starting work in September. Now, almost two months later, I am equally scared of my commute and my job.

I watched a movie over the weekend which pretty much summed up what I have been thinking about. The movie's title: Traffic Jam (translated from the Japanese title of juutai, of course). The plot revolved around one Japanese "salary-man" and his attempt to take his young family home to visit his old parents. Of course, the parents live on this paradise of an island far far away from Tokyo. However, due to the hordes of people trying to get out of Tokyo and return "home" for the New Years holiday, most of the time is spent on the road.

In the end, the man only gets to spend about an hour with his parents before having to head back to Tokyo for work. Exaggerated as it may be, why do we all spend fifty hours a week at work, and an additional ten hours on the road, only to spend a couple hours with the things we really love?

Another Example:
An executive at my current client took a four day weekend to escape to the woods in the north. Upon returning to the problems at stress of work, he declared that life in the cabin was better, but that was some kind of unattainable "alternative" lifestyle that just wouldn't work. Interesting conclusion.

I guess I really need to quit whining and become more realistic about these things. At least today was a good day at work and now I am home. Created some new QTVRs over the weekend. Why can't I get paid for something fun like that? Okay, no more whining. This will be a good week.