commuters inc.

Driving home today, I got this idea for an online store for commuters--everything one would need driving back and forth to work. I was watching this semi in the lane next to mine (hoping he saw me, too!), and I began to wonder if truckers had to stop each time they wanted coffee, or if they brought thermoses, or if they had some way to actually brew coffee in their trucks. (Some of those sleeping areas behind the cockpit are quite sophisticated.) I was a bit caffeine-deprived myself at that point, which is probably why I wondered about coffee and not about bathroom needs or something like that.

My beloved spouse has long carried a small towel in his car to use as a lap bib so he can eat and drive at the same time. I stash all sorts of handy things in a car--antiobiotic hand lotion, eyeglass cleaners, notepad and pen, extra tissue. But then there's never a place to put the used tissue. And it's irritating when the dash compartment is so full you can't find anything in it. Or if you open it, you can't shut it again without extensive rearranging. I've noticed that some tissue makers are starting to make containers shaped like coffee containers so that people can keep tissue in the drink holder. They need to make a similar used-tissue container.

My new car has all sorts of gizmos that weren't standard or even dreamed of in previous years, but every commuter has specific needs that don't come in even the most expensive car. A Commuters store could carry those needs, everything from towelettes to wipe off seats to seat-belt extenders for larger people. If I weren't so tired, I'm sure my mind would be coming up with all sorts of good ideas.

Speaking of commuters: The drive in to work this morning was fine for the first half hour. Then I hit the snow wall. It was dense for the rest of the drive, with visibility only about as far as the car in front of me. I couldn't even read signs or see taillights because of the snow. Then I discovered walking on campus was a hazard--lots of ice. I had my YakTrax (talk about useful products!) in the car, so I slipped them on over my shoes and felt safer. The tail-bounce I suffered last February took forever to heal, and I'm not eager to repeat the fun.

At work the boss lady (who is a delightful Mississipian) mentioned that she might give one of my face-to-face classes to someone else and give me another online class. With a cheerful smile on my face and a giant groan in my heart, I told her that would be fine. It may happen. It may not. Meanwhile, it's kind of hard to think about next semester when there's so much left to do this semester. I think I've got it planned out okay, though.

Just two weeks left, with a tad more for getting grades turned in. Joy to the world. It will be good to approach next semester with a greater sense of mastery of the technology. Let's hope they don't go and do something foolish, like change the technology, over the Christmas break.

Tonight I plan to enjoy a couple of decadent hours of being a spud butt in front of the tv. That is, if I can ever get warm. Winter is here, y'all. And this Southern belle is trying to grin and bear it. It stayed in the 20s all day. I think my hands are somewhere around that temperature right now, too. So are my ears, thanks to the haircut I got yesterday. Brrrr!! Coolly yours--Dr. S.