Interstate 66(6)

I used to drive in Southern California traffic everyday. Unfortunately, this usually meant sweating in the sun, as my car sat idling through a line of cars on the 101 freeway through LA or the 91 through the desert. The threat of running out of gas from pumping air conditioning was a real one.

But, once I moved to Northern Virginia, I naively imagined that those days were behind me. I imagined tree lined highways breezing by as me and my Toyota Corolla gunned it into the sunrise. I was so, so wrong.

As anyone living in the DMV knows, the main veins to get around the city and cross into the three states are the inner and outer loops of the beltway. Yet, anyone who has ever tried to escape for the weekend into the Shenandoah Valley or have friends that live in the dreaded "Boondocks" of Manassas will tell you, the real madness is travelling on Interstate 66 or, as I have come to loving describe it, Interstate 666. Let's be honest, only the devil would have designed such a traffic hell.

Depending on the time of day, you could deal with bumper-to-bumper traffic from Exit 47, Business Route 234 all the way into Rosslyn, or vice-versa. At least, you're not alone. You have thousands of other Northern Virginians to keep you company each in your own tin box of a vehicle. The various attempts by VDOT to relieve the traffic on 66 have proved to be fruitless. The HOV lanes line up with hybrid cars, people attempting to get away from the state troopers by having tinted windows and those who legitimately carpool to work, which leads them to sitting in the same traffic as the rest of us. The schedule "extra" lane between the beltway and Fairfax just fills up with more cars. It's like having additional parking spaces on a highway, which are only available at specific times. I like to speculate that extending the Orange Metro line would ease some of our commute woes, but, let's be honest with ourselves, that wouldn't change a dang thing. Let's not even mention the amount of never-ending road work that seems to never be completed.

So, while twiddling your thumbs in traffic, I've found some things help to keep my sanity.

• Podcasts and AudioBooks- I've downloaded all sorts of podcasts to my iPhone, including a few on fiction writing, exercise and diet tips podcasts, NPR has some great political, pop culture and current event podcasts and even some relaxation podcasts. I mean, what you really need when you're waiting for everyone to stop rubbernecking at a five-car pile up is a sweet voice telling you to take deep breathes while chimes jingle in the background. Also, audiobooks have been fantastic. Again, I download them to my iPhone. It's a great way to safely do two things at a time. 
• People Watch- This is a bit more dangerous to do. I create little games, like how many people can I count that look like military, or how many out of state license plates I can find. My favorite game is to "race" other cars. I know this seems like an odd game to play in bumper-to-bumper traffic, but I'll pick a car in the lane next to me and see which of our lanes goes faster. It can be exhilarating.
• Productivity- I've recently downloaded an app for productivity in the car. Vlingo allows you to write and send emails, Facebook updates and Twitter statuses via voice control. It's great to get some work related stuff done while keeping it hands free.
• Call Home- Since my husband works long hours in Arlington National Cemetery and I work long days doing sales in Tyson's Corner, I don't get a lot of time talking to him. But, on the commute home, I like to check in with him and find out about his day. It's a great way to decompress the day so I can relax when I walk in the door.
• Radio- Oh, the joys of analog radio. I love listening to 98.7 WMZQ on Tuesdays because of their Country Music Commercial Free Tuesdays. At 5:30 p.m. weekdays, DC 101.1 has a Doo-Doo Time , which specializes in playing older rock tunes that used to be played all the time. It's a little taste of nostalgia.

So, what do you do to survive the horrors of Interstate 66 and watching your life waste away while sitting in Northern Virginia traffic?