mandolin | Thank you, stupid drivers, for reminding me why I don't want the Beltway as a work route.

Re: the subject - the outer loop of the Baltimore Beltway in the morning is a NIGHTMARE if you hit it after 6:30. Which is the only reason I moved out of my parents' house when I got a new job, because every morning and evening of that route would have made me homicidal.

And the logjam this morning reminded me just how true that was...

So I got out the door a little before 7, turned on the radio and heard that 29 southbound was clogged due to an accident. Well, no problem, I usually take 29 north.

But as soon as I got off the ramp, 29 North was dead-stopped! I promptly got back on the ramp, got back on 40 and made a U-turn. By the time I was again pointed in the right direction, the traffic report ran again with an "oops, we meant NORTHBOUND 29!" Gee, thanks a lot, guys. The report also said that Frederick Road was slow due to construction - and since that's a one-lane road, I decided not to touch it and stayed on Route 40.

Just as I was passing Patapsco State Park, the radio informed me there was an accident at Nuwood Drive... and all the traffic ground to a halt.

Apparently, some dumbass hit a school bus, and the accident was blocking ALL THREE LANES of 40 West - and trapped in the Patapsco State Park corridor, there was no escape.

I swear, when I finally inched around the accident with the cops directing traffic, I was screaming. (My windows were closed, of course.)

It normally takes me 15-25 minutes to get to work in the morning.

Today, it took me a whopping hour and 15 minutes to get there. I'm taking leave to get out of here before 4.

I'd have had better luck on the Beltway.