To work, that is.

Problem 1: As I head across the lake the radio reports that there is a "slowdown" on the interstate. Two cars tried to occupy the same space at the same time. The result is two out of three lanes are blocked. And the mess has to be cleared up.

So for several miles it was beyond "stop and slow" and came close to "time for a nap?"

When an accident takes place most of the people trapped on the interstate simply accept the inevitable.

And that was the case today.

Eventually the vehicles involved got untangled and towed off.

And I made it off the interstate and into Problem 2.

The surface street that I take is undergoing repaving and general beautification. Until this morning the slowdowns involved were relatively minor.

But today they closed two out of three lanes. During morning commuting hours.

I didn't think I would ever get where I wanted to be.

After that, however, things went well and uneventfully. I got a good parking spot and went on to the building where I work.

My delays took so long that the librarian had already arrived and was busy working. She probably figured that I wouldn't be in today, as I generally beat her to work by almost an hour.

My "reward" for the morning hassles was clear sailing all the way home.

The cats greeted me effusively--they know that once I get home it's generally about five minutes till the supper food appears.

I haven't caught the latest news on all that yankee water coming down our way, but the diversions seem to be helping keep the levees intact by spreading the water out among lesser rivers etc. People and places are still getting flooded, but the major levees are (hopefully) remaining intact.

Other than the massive traffic tie-ups on the way in, today has been another IUD.

And I shall now go watch the news rerun.