Houston, TX Christmas traffic SUCKS. It can easily leave one suicidal.
Wednesday evening I decided to head out and take care of a few errands since I was starting to feel a tiny bit better and I knew I'd feel better getting some of the stuff done that I needed to. I was going to head to the Container Store and Marshall's by the Galleria, and then wherever else.
I live 3.0 miles from Marshall's. Yes, I measured it...only after it took me FORTY FREAKIN' MINUTES to get there. I live in Greenway. I went straight down Richmond towards 610. The light at Richmond and 610 took 20 minutes alone to get through. RIDICULOUS. There were no wrecks, no construction, no obvious issues, other than the fact that it is Christmas shopping season. After some retail therapy at those stores and Target, I got home in no time because it was then 8:30.
So that was one thing, heading towards the Galleria. Last night though, was a whole 'nother awful experience. This time I headed the exact opposite direction - towards Luke's Locker for a run at 6pm. It took me over 30 minutes to go the 2.5 miles that way. I cut through River Oaks, like I always do, but apparently the rest of the city has now decided to do the same. Then, of course, when I got there, there were no parking spaces. UUUUUUGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH.
It is a good thing I'm not working out much this month because I'd be spending an extra hour at least a day in the car if I were. I have to go somewhere near the Galleria for me to get to the YMCA or to Memorial Park. By my estimates, either of those drives will now take me over 45 minutes based on traffic Wednesday night. I could also take the "back way" around to the park or to Tri On The Run, but that takes me the way I went to Luke's last night and it is just as bad.
Simple solution? Run from my house. Oh, but not in Houston. Apparently even River Oaks is no longer safe and I have to go through 1-2 shady blocks to even get to River Oaks and it just is not safe for me to go alone after dark (which is conveniently at 5:30 these days). Rice is in a better direction, but their lovely 3 mile jogging trail is not lit at night, so again unsafe for me to go.
Ok, I may be done venting. Just for a second. Just call me Scrooge!
Wednesday evening I decided to head out and take care of a few errands since I was starting to feel a tiny bit better and I knew I'd feel better getting some of the stuff done that I needed to. I was going to head to the Container Store and Marshall's by the Galleria, and then wherever else.
I live 3.0 miles from Marshall's. Yes, I measured it...only after it took me FORTY FREAKIN' MINUTES to get there. I live in Greenway. I went straight down Richmond towards 610. The light at Richmond and 610 took 20 minutes alone to get through. RIDICULOUS. There were no wrecks, no construction, no obvious issues, other than the fact that it is Christmas shopping season. After some retail therapy at those stores and Target, I got home in no time because it was then 8:30.
So that was one thing, heading towards the Galleria. Last night though, was a whole 'nother awful experience. This time I headed the exact opposite direction - towards Luke's Locker for a run at 6pm. It took me over 30 minutes to go the 2.5 miles that way. I cut through River Oaks, like I always do, but apparently the rest of the city has now decided to do the same. Then, of course, when I got there, there were no parking spaces. UUUUUUGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH.
It is a good thing I'm not working out much this month because I'd be spending an extra hour at least a day in the car if I were. I have to go somewhere near the Galleria for me to get to the YMCA or to Memorial Park. By my estimates, either of those drives will now take me over 45 minutes based on traffic Wednesday night. I could also take the "back way" around to the park or to Tri On The Run, but that takes me the way I went to Luke's last night and it is just as bad.
Simple solution? Run from my house. Oh, but not in Houston. Apparently even River Oaks is no longer safe and I have to go through 1-2 shady blocks to even get to River Oaks and it just is not safe for me to go alone after dark (which is conveniently at 5:30 these days). Rice is in a better direction, but their lovely 3 mile jogging trail is not lit at night, so again unsafe for me to go.
Ok, I may be done venting. Just for a second. Just call me Scrooge!
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