7:30 a.m.: The beginning of the process of backing the Jetta out of the driveway. The house is on a busy street and it’s as if all the other drivers took a blood oath that I can go fuck myself. When I finally do seize a gap, I drive the five miles to work via side streets. I-5 would be faster, but I need the extra minutes and the enforced pauses at traffic lights to gear up for the maelstrom.