After a swig of Propel to wash down my vitamins and meds I dial up the morning conference call and listen to the guys from here to Sacramento give their job briefings and explain any overtime calls from the previous night. That is always followed by an avalanche of calls from my guys letting me know what they need from me in terms of help, material and a compassionate ear, which I do not possess when they start whining about this that and the other. My irritability begins to show itself about this time.

Then I put on my boots, grab the paper, jump in my pickup and hit Rosedale Hiway at about ten of eight. Yeah..THAT road at THAT time! It doesn't help my grumbling any. I try and keep a moderate pace as I head into town from Riverlakes, but I am rarely successful. Then, as I am starting to snap at my windshield about all the lousy drivers and the states inability to get a freeway built to alleviate this mess, my boss calls and wants me to change my plans for the day and get on some project for which I really haven't the time or resources..or desire! GGGRRRR...

Then, as I pass under 99 and notice the traffic backed up into the 99 offramp/Buck Owens Blvd. intersection and every dipstick from the southwest driving like a scared teenager trying to merge onto 24th St into town and as many yo-yos from the northwest(except ME of course!) trying to merge from 24th into the right turn lane to turn right onto Oak St., my blood is just below the boiling point. I am aggrivated and grumbling. I am hungry and in need of coffee, water, tea or another propel and I need, at the very least, an English Muffin and all these bozo's are in my way. I click my turn indicator(something most of these drivers don't seem to realize is a standard feature on their vehicle) on to get into the right turn lane. I force my way between a guy in a Camry wearing a tie and a gal in an Aveo wearing scrubs then slam on the brakes to avoid rear ending a soccer Mom in an Escalade who is texting while sitting 200 feet from the intersection with nobody in front of her because the light is green! Just as she realizes what she is doing and takes off the light turns yellow and she stops and starts texting again instead of turning right as the traffic from Oak turns left onto 24th. I honk, I curse, I flail my arms wildly about and she finally jumps out onto Oak as those turning left onto Oak off 24th get their light keeping me from doing anything but snorting and grunting.

BALLS!!! What is wrong with these people! They are driving me nuts! I am going to have a stroke! My light finally turns green and I get onto Oak behind a gal in a business suit putting on makeup and some octanigarian next to her with no clue as to where he is, both going 25mph which causes me to miss the left turn light at 21st st.

21st you may ask. Why not just go all the way downtown on 24th since I am headed for Tina Marie's on 20th and Chester anyway? 24th?..Naw..Both lanes packed with everyone in town running late, cutting each other off, gassing it up to 60 then slamming on the brakes to avoid the backup from the left lane all the way through town. Naw..As I sit at the light at 21st and Oak my pulse slows, my blood pressure drops and my breathing stabilizes.

My light turns green and I calmly and easily start the cruise down one of Bakersfields lovliest streets. I don't know if it is the trees, the cool old mansions and beautiful landscaping, the easy to hold 35 mph speed limit. I just don't know, but by the time I hit 'F' St. I am a different man. I am calm and relaxed and realize that Tina's will be there even if it takes me a few more minutes to get there. I love 21st St.

How about anyone else? Any streets or places in your morning ritual drive(or ride)that has that effect on you? Lemme know!