• About Maida Winter

Traversing Lines

~ Finding humour and expressing crazy in (and out) this mundane, everyday Cajon Pass life

Traversing Lines

Tag Archives: I-15

Breakfast Y’All Day

29 Friday Jun 2018

Posted by M.Winter in Commute

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cajon crawl, cajon pass accident, cajon pass commute, cajon pass traffic, fog, I-15, I-15 traffic, news, postaday, sig alert, up and down the hill

If I were to get asked today (by Cracker Barrel’s resto) …

Q : What do you like to eat for breakfast?

Start your day fresh with some low-fat vanilla yogurt and some seasonal fruit topped with oats and and crunchy granola?

A : I had the non-smoothie, very rocky road.

Q : Some people like theirs smoky. Like the smoky sausage, smoked sausage patty or smoky brisket.

A : Today, I had mine smoky too. Smoky and smoggy.

Q : Perhaps some turkey sausage, one or two (or three) thick-sliced bacon?

A : That sounds mouth-watering compared to the I-like-to-spit-at-them incident I saw today with cars getting on the shoulder just so they could avoid the traffic that is delaying. I’d say they got some really thick-skinned faces and arses I like to kick.

Q : How about sampling some of Grandpa’s Hash brown casserole? How about some chicken or fried steak? Pork chops? Sirloin steak for some class? How about doubling up on meat for real-protein power?

A : Oh yes! I did have some hash today! It was a total mess. And yes on that double meat because I really need some power to helicopter my way out of this jam.

Q : Oh, did you say jam? Do you like bread or buttermilk biscuits with that?

A : I really don’t like this kind of jam. This traffic jam. I had it last night and many nights before. But certainly not in the morning, either. Best to avoid jams, really. Though, I felt squished and sandwiched between these two big trucks!

Q : I didn’t know you’re watching your diet! Maybe have some fried catfish fillet (it’s still fish!)

A : I really prefer that! Being catty and all. Meowroar!

Q : Can’t forget to have eggs with grits!

A : No, you’re right. It always help if you got eggs (and balls) coupled with grit!

It would get you a loonngg way.

– – –

So, I ask you. What do you have for breakfast?

Traffic jam. What I had for breakfast.

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Ah, Longest Post I’ve Probably Written

11 Friday May 2018

Posted by M.Winter in Commute

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

cajon pass, cajon pass commute, cajon pass traffic, I-15, I-15 traffic, up and down the hill, work commute

I know I have been quiet this past couple of months.

Life has been the same for me but mostly, I did not have any good things to say. I couldn’t bring myself to write something funny and comical, or inspirational – which I aspire to do in this blog.

I need to vent and I need to express myself and this anger and tiredness. So, bear with me.

I find it that no matter how trying this commute is and no matter how many times people tell me to quit, find another job or move to a new place, or people telling me many times how crazy I am for still doing this journey, I put my blinders on (metaphorically, of course) and forge ahead.

I am stubborn as a mule. I stand by my decisions. I wait. It may look like I don’t plan (given of number of years I have been doing this commute), but inside, I do. I really do.

There’s this person H who lives in Victorville or Hesperia and also takes the Metrolink train to work. After many years of seeing this person and then suddenly days turned to months of not seeing his car there in the parking lot, I figured he must’ve quit this journey. Though, once, I saw him on the freeway. He probably found another job closer to home. I wish that same fate for me too or if my work would allow me to work from home on some days, that would be ideal.

I get tired of saying the same things to people of why I am late (mostly at work). I can feel they get tired of hearing me say them, too. Most times, probably not believing me anymore, I fear.

People in LA compare their commute times to mine and always easily, without giving it a thought, say, “Just leave earlier next time.”

Why can’t they see that when I almost always arrive earlier than they do when they themselves live a mere five miles away? I don’t hear people say, “Oh, just leave earlier next time.”

An understanding among them exists. I know that pain. I used to live in LA too.

I know that travelling five miles in forty minutes is painful. That is everyday for them. But leaving 8 o’clock in the morning to get to work at nine is not bad at all.

Try leaving 6 o’clock in the morning – everyday. And see how far you’ll get.

Sleeplessness from thinking and planning. Fatigue from commute and sleeplessness. Depression sets in from lack of energy to meet up with friends because they live far away and I am tired of always travelling to their place or even meeting halfway which is still not halfway for me. And then there’s lack of time to do things I love to do.

For example, one thing I used to be able to do is scrapbook. Plentiful pictures (especially now that it’s so easy to take pictures and print them) await and one more important thing gets in the way and the project gets pushed further and further back.

So, I found an easier, faster alternative. Digital scrapbooking. This process, though, does not give me the sheer satisfaction of actually making (paper cutting, scribbling words) it. But it does the job, at least, especially when it comes to making the annual family album.

Chores, I love them too. I love doing laundry with washing machines of course. I love ironing. I love folding. I love grocery shopping. I love sorting and put things back in order. I love cleaning. I dislike washing dishes that’s why I think the dishwasher is the greatest invention ever. With so little time to do these within the week and as much as possible, spend weekends with family instead of doing these, I begin to dislike them (chores) too.

But then this morning I woke up with a fierce, renewed commitment to life. It must be because of the special program for moms my child’s class had and the pure joy I saw in my child’s eyes when she finally spotted me in the crowd. I did get teary seeing that.

And I had saved that renewed power and energy into my power bank. These past few months I have been breaking into that bank for the many breaking-down emergencies.

That’s why today I promised myself that I would do everything in my power for my children to give the best I got.

But life has a way of bringing you down.

Down and trodden to the ground.

Today was commute in hell. I will spare you the hellish details. Ninety-nine degrees Fahrenheit (approx 37°C) was yesterday’s temps. This morning was a chilly fifty-five degrees (12°C).

Thus, a heavy fog. From my house, I could see the mountains had some clouds halfway. Nothing serious looking. However, I read on CHP web site of an eight-vehicle pile up brought mostly by the heavy fog that had set in along the Cajon Pass.

Freeway overhead signs said that it would take approximately 90 minutes to I-210 which is about 35miles. I said to myself that’s okay, I’ll take the next train.

That freeway sign is wrong.

It took me almost three hours to get to the station! And I broke down in tears. So much for this fortified, renewed commitment. I did a no-holds barred crying. Even when I thought I had cried it out (I called my husband first for I needed some consoling) before calling work that I will be very late, I couldn’t help but cry to my poor co-worker who was very sympathetic but probably uncomfortable with the sudden outburst.

Now, as I am writing this post while in the train, I had used the restroom (yes, these Metrolink trains have them) and checked the mirror to make sure no trace of eye swelling can be seen. I had drunk almost all my water to calm myself and I plan to eat my orange after this writing to feel refreshed.

We are almost at the Los Angeles Union Station, I must put on my mask and put on a brave, brighter face again.

I wonder what the title of this post should be…

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The Road Bled, Skies Cried And All Got Obscured

23 Friday Mar 2018

Posted by M.Winter in Cajon Pass, Commute

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

cajon crawl, cajon pass accident, cajon pass commute, cajon pass traffic, I-15, rain, work commute

Yesterday on my commute, I was on the edge with emotions, anger mostly, when traffic slowed down (actually stopped) because they wanted to check out crash on the other side of the freeway! Ugh!

When I missed the train by shorter than a minute, I say less because I had just parked and I just saw the half end tail of it as it rolled away. By this time, I was in tears. My knees were shaking from driving trying to make it. I guess you could say adrenaline was pumping.

The toxic kind.

Helplessness settled in.

Listened to some music, Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” to calm me down while looking at photos of my loved ones on my phone.

I calmed down.

Evening commute home was the same slooow one. But I was in no hurry. Of course, I’d love to get home sooner but I have no train to catch this time.

Just the thought I’d be home is enough.

And all is well again.

Especially it’s Friiiiidaaaayyyyy today! Can you hear me screammm?

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Another one.
Now arriving Union Station. #shotoniphone7plus #shotoniphone #traversinglines
Snow fell. Glad for the snow plow trucks. They’ve been working since last night to keep Cajon Pass open. #highdesertdistricts #cajonpasscommute #sunriseoncajonpass #traversinglines #mybeerandskittles #shotoniphone7plus #shotoniphone
Photo taken aboard the Metrolink SB train. After a few days of rain, this dam is already almost full. #traversinglines #mybeerandskittles #shotoniphone7plus #shotoniphone
Tuesday morning drive. Clearer. But the train was delayed. #cajonpasscommute #traversinglines #mybeerandskittles #shotoniphone7plus #shotoniphone
Monday morning drive. Uh-oh it was a treacherous one! #cajonpasscommute #traversinglines #mybeerandskittles #shotoniphone7plus #shotoniphone
Pic taken Sunday. Even in the dreariest places you could think of, a rainbow still shows itself once in a while. #highdesertdistricts #mybeerandskittles #traversinglines #shotoniphone7plus #shotoniphone
This blimp is unusually early. It’s the Carnival #choosefun ! #highdesertdistricts #sunriseoncajonpass #traversinglines #shotoniphone Pic taken on iPhone7Plus
Good Monday morning! We’re back on the Cajon Pass today. Traffic was flowing today. #sunriseoncajonpass #traversinglines #mybeerandskittles #shotoniphone Pic taken on iPhone7 Plus
Ah a bit clearer! #highdesertdistricts #traversinglines #mybeerandskittles #shotoniphone
Yipes! What is that up ahead?! Something misty-rious! Foggy conditions this morning and crazy shapes form and materialise out of nowhere. #highdesertdistricts #traversinglines #mybeerandskittles #shotoniphone
Streaks of pink this morning. Of course, this verse my hubby always says when he sees this (and with a pirate’s accent!): Red sky at night, shepherd's delight. Red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning” According to Google, it says it first appeared in the Bible in the book of Matthew. Hubby was never the religious type. I bet he didn’t know that. And I didn’t know that either. Thought it was just an old saying. And I thought I’d know more about the Bible! Anywho, Happy Fridayyy! #sunriseoncajonpass #cajonpasscommute #traversinglines #mybeerandskittles
Two old beans. Chaps chat. #mybeerandskittles #dtla #angelsflight #angelsflightrailway
A place to picture yourself in when anxiety gets you. #mybeerandskittles
This photo was taken during one of my morning walks (to work). On the front, it used to be a parking lot with about 3 floors, and it has forever been there for as long as I remember. Until now. So, as you walk along Olive St, you can now get a view of the Walt Disney Concert Hall where it actually is along Grand. For now, I have no clue what they plan to build on it. #dtla #dtlaconstruction #waltdisneyconcerthall #shotoniphone
Born of the one light Eden saw play. #sunriseoncajonpass #cajonpasscommute
Halo Friday morning! #highdesertdistricts #cajonpasscommute
This morning’s commute with the first fall of snow. Read my blog post : https://traversinglines.wordpress.com/2018/12/05/promise-of-snow/
Fluffy clouds on a happy Monday! #cajonpasscommute #traversinglines #mybeerandskittles #whateverweimaginecloudstobe
After being captive for a couple of days for observation, little Manty has been set free. So, what did we observe about this praying mantis? Well, for one, after we had put some leaves inside its “cage” it started to “groom” one of its antennae. Then, over the two days, leaves had holes on them. Manty had been munching! We, then, had put in a couple of roly-pollies but Manty didn’t touch them. We read that female mantis eat their mate after copulation. That’s cannibalism. Just like female black widow spiders.

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