Here are a few highlights that contributed to the variety of my day:

• Upon exiting I-95 North onto US 58 East at Emporia, VA, drivers today were presented with the following road construction sign which read: “Asphalt may buckle under extreme heat.” That was it. No further instruction provided as to how one should safely respond to a driving condition where buckled asphalt becomes part of the driving experience. I’ve driven US 58 many times, and if you’ve not had the pleasure, I can tell you I was not surprised in the least to find this sign on that road. It’s an awful, awful road to drive for so many reasons.
• My brother had shoulder surgery today, so I thought about him a lot throughout the day. He did great and the surgery went well.
• For my listening enjoyment during the drive from Raleigh, NC to Virginia Beach, VA, then to downtown Norfolk: Guster’s Ganging up on the Sun album in its entirety, The Roots, How I Got Over in its entirety, and TWiT episode 309.
• I ate dinner at this cool burger joint on Virginia Beach. Todd Jurich’s Burger Bar. The menu overall is unique for a beach burger joint, and the hamburgers are grass feed beef that is ground daily on site. I was disappointed by the lack of craft beer on the drink menu though. Burger bar…craft beer. Come on guys…natural fit.
• I saw several fighter jets circle and land at the Norfolk Naval Station. That’s always cool to me, because I don’t get to see fighter jets in the air every day.
• I learned that a voice over gig I had volunteered to do for a promo video for a non-profit fell through.
• Arriving at the Marriott hotel in downtown Norfolk to check in, I gave the girl at the front desk my last name.  She said: “Like the Scoville Unit for Peppers?” “No!” I responded. “But you made my day by asking.” No one has ever asked me about that before, so I was excited to encounter someone familiar with the unit of measure bearing my surname, at least in pronunciation.

What I enjoy most about days like these is the texture and depth. Even the mundane – like driving 3 1/2 hours, ironing a shirt, getting gas, and responding to work e-mails – become enjoyable.