I got off to a late start today, but only by a few minutes. I'm thinking this isn't a problem. I can still make it to work by 9:00 if I don't dawdle.

So The Kid and I get into the car and back to the end of the driveway. And then we wait there. Traffic was unusually heavy on my street this morning so I was stuck there longer than I'd hoped.

This still isn't a problem. I can make it on time. So I'm about a quarter of the way to the daycare, when I come across a utility truck blocking half the street. They're trimming tree branches away from power lines and they've got my side of the street closed off. I had to stop and wait while about a dozen oncoming cars cleared the other side of the street so I could go around. And this on a street where I often see no cars at all.

This might not be a problem. I'll probably still make it on time. So now I'm half way to the daycare. I round a corner… and end up behind a street sweeper. Traffic is heavy enough that it's a few minutes before I can change lanes and get around him.

But maybe this won't be a problem. I might still be able to make it on time. I made it the rest of the way to the daycare without incident. I even get in and out of the daycare faster than usual. Bonus! I think I've picked up a few minutes. I might be on time after all.

So I walk out of the daycare and there's a dump truck parked sideways behind my car. The city's clearing high snow banks and they just happened to start this neighborhood at the exact moment it's the least convenient for me. Had they started five minutes earlier, I could have parked somewhere else.

So I'm stuck behind the slowest moving construction equipment in the history of mankind for just under 78 hours. Ok, it was probably only five or six minutes but it sure as hell felt like a long time.

Finally, the dump truck moves enough for me to get out. I squeak between the yellow painted behemoths and I'm back on my way. I make it the rest of the way to work quickly and without a traffic light falling on me.

I park, grab my lunch, and hustle inside. I get to my desk and glance at the clock. 9:08, it displays accusingly.

I'm telling you, everyone was conspiring against me this morning.