Yesterday I drove to Camarillo, CA for a meeting. On the way back I decided to forego the freeway and try the scenic route down highway 1. I figured it would be good for my brain to see the ocean for a few and drive through Malibu.

The first hour was simply glorious. There is truly no time more beautiful in California than in the winter and early spring. The air is crisp and the sun is bright. (and there are fewer people) I stopped and got a coffee and cruised at a nice speed through all of Malibu and into Santa Monica. I got some good clear thinking time in and was feeling refreshed and ready to dive into the rest of my day.

Then the second hour. I hit the 10 freeway at about 4pm. It quickly became a total disaster. Stop-and-go for the next 1:15. Looking around, it is hard to believe I could so quickly be in a place that was so drastically different. Rude people looking pissed off and not letting me change lanes. The dirt and grime of LA in full force. My mood rapidly changed. The joyful refreshed feeling I had at the coast was swept away. I began to get physically uncomfortable. My feet ached. I was getting downright angry. Towards the end I started talking to myself and yelling at other cars to “move!”. It was not pretty.

In the words of Jon Stewart… “Damn you Los Angeles!!!!!”