have foot, will travel

For quite some time (at least a year), I have been contemplating going car-free.

Seriously.

Living on Milwaukee's "fashionable" east side, I've realizing almost everything I need on a daily basis is within a mile - drug store, grocery store, nightlife, entertainment and even volleyball.  My only reservation was commuting 12 miles to work, as MCTS sometimes does not have the greatest routes or schedules.

Then I decided it would be fun to rear-end a car on I-94 a week ago, and my car decided to retaliate by overheating on Tuesday.  Apparently this is what happens when one demolishes the engine cooling fan in said accident.  Since the car is not drivable (and the bf is conveniently with his car in Minnesota), enter the "big green bus" or the scary world of public transit.

The last time I had to commute to work was when I was living in Bay View - the commute took an hour long bus ride and a 3/4 mile walk.  In the rain (ok, it really did rain once).  And that was a straight shot.  I couldn't imagine how hellish an East Side to West Allis commute would be.  Turns out, it's not so bad even with a transfer downtown.  The #44 Freeway Flyer is a wonderful thing that drops/picks up 3 blocks from work.  It's only a couple blocks between the transfer points, it only live a block away from the bus stop (about 10 blocks total, if you're keeping track) and...it only adds 30 minutes to my total commute.  For real.  But the best part?  I can listen to my iPod, play games or facebook while someone else drives - and I get to be "entertained" by the sights, such as crazy bus riders and bubble gum pink Audis.

I got to thinking:  maybe this IS actually possible.

But what about running errands or grocery shopping or dog food?  

Well, I thought about that too.   I work walking distance to a 'big-box" grocery store, so I can stock the work fridge with lunches.   Plus, I tend to lean toward the European way of grocery shopping - stopping by the store daily to get what you need (and guarantee it's fresh - part of the theory, not necessarily me). There are friends I can probably con into driving me to get dog food or to Target, or to Target to get dog food - for a nominal fee (read: lunch at Arby's).  And there is this little thing called ZipCar, where you can reasonably "rent" a car by the hour - conveniently located on UWM's campus.  For longer trips, there's always Enterprise.  But realistically, I've grown fond of the "pedestrian lifestyle" and tend to walk wherever I can.  Plus, most of the time I do things "in da hood" or I persuade someone else to drive.

Yes, I am still thinking this is possible.  And that it still makes sense.

Globally, I'd be leaving my "carbon footprint" and being eco-friendly - but really, I'm viewing that as an added bonus.  Economically, I would save about $380/month ($4500/year) by not having a car.  That's a number one can't argue with - who wouldn't want an extra chunk of money each month?  Emotionally (aka sanity), driving and other drivers piss me off causing me not to enjoy the experience.  Leaving it to someone else helps me maintain (at least some) stability.  And sanity - in any arena - is a good thing.

This isn't to say that living a car-free lifestyle is permanent.   However, right now it seems to be the way to go.

Seriously.

fear this

As of late, I have been "reminded" of some of my peculiar persuasions - or irrational fears - if you will.

What exactly is an "irrational fear"? Well, it's a type of phobia (from the Greek, meaning "fear"), A phobia is a intense and persistent fear of certain situations, activities, things, etc. where the main symptom is the excessive and/or unreasonable desire to avoid the things/situations feared. Usually, it is a learned response brought on by an experience. However, the fear is usually transmitted to other situations while the original experience is repressed or forgotten.

Or in layrpersons terms - the crazy, I’ve-got-a-better-chance-of-winning-the-lottery than being (fill in the blank), kind of fears.

We all have them. Some people are afraid of driving on bridges, others fear historical figures (really, there are people afraid of Abraham Lincoln). And yes, I have some irrational fears of my own.

One of these such fears is commonplace in our society: the drive-thru. I do not like driving through the drive-thru. In fact I will try to avoid doing so at all costs. When I go to the bank, I park the car and walk into the bank to make a deposit, get quarters, etc. I rationalize by saying I want to say "hi" to the people at the bank - who happen to be very nice. And sometimes they have cookies. If I get a "fast food" meal, I go into the establishment to order. Hmmm, maybe that's why I like Subway so much (aside from it being delish) - no drive-thru. In fact I will have someone else drive my vehicle through the damn thing. Now you ask if the fear interferes with your life could it be an anxiety disorder? Perhaps, although I've never heard of a "drive-thru phobia". But is it really wrong to want to talk to folks personally rather than a sliding glass window? However, the weird part is that I am perfectly fine if I am a passenger and not driving the vehicle.

But Bec, the drive-thru? Yes, really. Maybe it's because when I was learning to drive many of the roads had cement barriers and each time I got too close, my dad would comment (read: yell). Or it could be that I have visions of hitting the accelerator instead of the brake - which I did on my learner's permit, causing an accident - and find myself on the news because I literally "drove-through" the fast food establishment. Realistically, the chances of the latter happening are slim...yet there is that possibility.

The other one may fall into that Abe Lincoln category: clawfooted tubs. At least I know how this fear manifested.

I was seven and my family was visiting relatives in North Dakota in the dead of winter...and it was f*in cold. We stayed in a hotel with a clawfooted tub, which I actually bathed in. Then I went to bed and had this dream: I was taking a bath and the bathtub decided to use its feet to walk outside. In the middle of the night. With snow and -40 wind chills. And it left me in the middle of an intersection. Using infinite seven-year-old wisdom, I determined that if it could happen in a dream it could actually happen. Needless to say, I never got into the hotel tub - or any other clawfooted tub - since.

Well, that's a bit nutty, right? I'll even admit that. It's not like I have an issue with other tubs or I'm afraid of water (especially if I swam competitively for ten years and have done the swimming portion of triathalons). So two years ago, at Camp Wawbeek, I tried to overcome this fear. The shower I usually used was being fixed in the house where Kiwanians stayed; the only other in-house option was a clawfooted tub. After a ten-minute stare down, the damn tub won. I still couldn't do it. I walked across the way to the dorms (where the college kids were) and showered there. Apparently I'm still not over my issue of clawfooted tubs. I guess would also be a prime example of fear interfering with life. Yet I ask, how often will I really encounter a clawfooted tub?

Personally, I think by acknowledging the the irrationality (but not necessarily rationalizing it) makes it less abnormal, or I'll say it, crazy.

In the meantime, please keep me away from drive-thrus and clawfooted tubs - then everything will be just fine.

cayenne(s)

Driving home from work yesterday, I saw a Porsche Cayenne on the road - a sight that is rare is these parts (or any parts for that matter). This is Porsche's foray into the SUV market. Critics say that while this SUV indeed handles like a Porsche, the acceleration is weak and there's limited cargo space. It is also not as capable for off-roading.

When I got home, I was greeted Cayenne the AmStaff terrier - a sight that always puts a smile on my face. This is my first foray into dog ownership. Friends agree that Cayenne indeed has the exuberance of a terrier, his acceleration is full-force and he takes up a lot of couch space. However, he is game for off-roading (read: hiking) and is one of the sweetest dogs ever.

I think I have the better Cayenne model.

M to the D

I have officially (meaning not including my days at Marquette) lived in Wisconsin for over a decade, yet I continue to maintain Maryland plates on my vehicle. Apparently, I harbor some sentimental attachment to my home state.

However, on my way to work this morning I realized that I was not alone. At exit 308C (the US 41 north exit by Miller Park), there it was.

Another Maryland license plate in all its glory.

Not a common occurance in these parts, especially during the morning rush. Thus, I was compelled to take a picture (note: I usually don't take pictures while operating a motor vehicle). I don't care why they were buzzing along I-94 at 7:24 am; the point is there are more Marylanders in Wisconsin.

Perhaps this means that someone else in Wisco says "coke" the same way I do....

ah...the Pinecone

While driving back from a facility visit on Wednesday, I stopped by to see an old friend: the Pinecone. For those of you unfamilar with this magical place, it is a gas station off I-94 (WI-26/Johnson Creek exit). But it by far is not just any gas station (or "travel plaza", if you will)...

It is the home of the place where elephant ears are as big as one's head and as a result, one could find crumbs from said delicious delight in the backseat of a car for months after the indulgence; where cookies rival the size of manhole covers (ok, maybe not that big, but they are impressive); where eclairs are so gimorous that it can potentially take three days to finish, speaking from experience (note to self: do not try to drive while eating a gimorous eclair ever again).

However, it's much more than the baked goodness...

I first stumbled upon the Pinecone years ago, but was re-aquianted with this icon in April 2006 en route to Camp Wawbeek in the Dells...thanks Danny and Andrew! The Pinecone is a, dare I say "mandatory", stop when travelling to/from camp (or any other destination). It's "the" place:

• to get just the right amount of sugar/caffeine needed for a weekend of no sleep and to get than last "rush" to actually make it back to Milwaukee (and then catch up on sleep)
• to discover how many things you really can decorate with a Packers logo
• to find a greeting card with a Badger picture
• to laugh at the above "findings" (and more) with like-minded, fun-loving people
• to begin and/or end yet another fabulous adventure

It's about good friends and good memories...yes, all that from a little 'ol gas station in Johnson Creek.