I should not be witnessing the sunrise, people. Really. I would be quite happy to never see it. This one was nice, however.
I begin this post with a pretty picture, but I now move on to whining. My last contract with that large software company in Redmond, I got to work from home most days. Now, I have to go in Every. Day. This means I am spending 3-4 hours in the car Every. Day.
I’m not grumpy while I’m doing it. I’ve got lots of podcasts to listen to, I’m super caught up on current events and can name the presidents of most middle eastern countries, and I make lots of phone calls. It’s after I get home and it’s too late to go to yoga, I haven’t eaten dinner yet, and I have to go to bed in 2 hours that I get mad about the whole thing.
The other day on NPR, I heard that Americans have an average of a TWENTY-FIVE MINUTE commute each day which equals EIGHT DAYS in the car annually. That’s how Steve Innskeep said it, “TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES!” ”EIGHT DAYS!” I heard that and first I laughed. Poor dears with their twenty-five minute commute. Then, even though I knew I shouldn’t, I decided to do the math on my commute.
On a good day, it’s an hour and a half each way, so we’ll just go with that:
3 hrs a day x 5 days a week = 15 hrs a week
15 hrs a week x 4 weeks in a month = 60 hrs a month
60 hrs a month x 12 months = 720 hrs a year
720hrs ÷ 24hrs in a day = 30
THIRTY.
DAYS.
A YEAR.
Oh my god. That’s right, folks. I’m now spending a month of my life each year in the car.
All of that being said, I like my job. I’d rather be sitting here whining about my commute than whining about being unemployed. I realize I may not be making the best quality of life decision with this contract, but I’m gonna stick it out. I’m getting great experience and hopefully after it’s over, I can find something that’s either in Tacoma or more flexible.
Well, since I now spend such a significant amount of my life behind the wheel, I decided it should be a NICE wheel.
CHECK! ME! OUT!
Fuck yeah, dude.
It’s a 2007 Prius. I love it more than anyone should ever love an inanimate object. It’s my first ever new car, and a welcome and needed replacement for my twice wrecked, damp, cracked wind shield, 95 Ford Escort.
And I get to be at least a little Green Team about my commute! It averages 48mpg, but during rolling slowdowns, otherwise know as “my life”, it gets 99mpg.
Stay tuned for further reports on it’s various bells and whistles.
YAY!
Sweet wheels! I bet you look really hot in it – which is the point, right? Awesome. And BTW, welcome to the world at sunrise! Isn’t it beautiful?
I love being up early and seeing the sunrise. . .it’s like you have a little secret that all those lazy sleepers can’t ever know about!
AWE! SOME! Congratulations on your new car…now your commute will be a little more fun, right?
xo
Whoo-hoooo! This is so, so awesome. Your car is suitably fabulous. You deserve to enjoy it (its luxury and its green-ness). I will always remember your old car carrying me to the Emergency Room. Let’s just assume we don’t have any memories like that in the Prius. I. Love. It.
Excellent car! And it’s even more hours than you think: 15 hours a week times 50 weeks per year (I’m assuming 2 weeks vacation) is 750 hours (your error came from estimating 4 weeks per month, which would end up with 48 weeks in a year). 750 hours divided by 24 hours/day = 31.25 days in the car. If you don’t get any vacation, then it’s 32.5 days a year in the car. You’re welcome!
no toyota kick? cool car. and podcasts do make long car rides better. any faves you could recommend?
You so RULE!
I love the new wheel and am at the same time a little “green” with envy because our car is not eco-friendly. That T-town/R-town commute is tough. I did Puyallup to Seattle for awhile and then came the train…woohoo!
I hope driving is a little easier on you now!
Tacoma Friend: Umm… no thanks. I’d rather be one of the lazy sleepers, thank you very much!
dahli: Yes! I am actually enjoying it!
Noreen: No! I wouldn’t let your sheet wrapped bloody mess in my Prius anyway. (Just kidding!)
Swistle: ***plugs ears**** LA LA LA LA LA! I CAN’T HEAR YOU!
tia: I totally should have done the leaping thing. I wonder if anyone does that anymore?
My favorite podcasts at the moment are NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me and PRI’s This American Life, both available on iTunes.
Camille: Oh to have a train from Tacoma to Redmond! Well, if Prop 1 passes, it’s a possibility.
I used to think driving to Seattle was SO FAR. Ha! Now Seattle seems like a breeze. You only have to negotiate one highway to get to Seattle. I have to take THREE. That’s three times the potential for suckage.
Hey Jen – so glad I found your blog – I’ll check you and Jess out together. Your new car is very, very cool. Good for you.
love,
D-
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