Someone once told me that if you do something for three days in a row it becomes habit.

I guess I need to do a better job of changing my driving habits when it comes to Highway 40. I live in the city of St. Louis and have a straight shot into KMOV to come to work so that part doesn't affect me.

But the other day I had to do a live-shot at the Target store in Brentwood at 5pm. In the "old days" (the pre-shutdown days) the photographer and I would have left downtown and made it out there in about 12 minutes. No problem. But I didn't take into consideration the eastern half shutdown. The photographer and I had to snake our way from downtown, over all sorts of sideroads, to get to the live-shot. We made it in plenty of time but it made me realize that it's tough to break old habits.

I know MODOT and Gateway Constructors have told people again and again and again that they need to leave earlier, find alternate routes and plan their trip. Sometimes it takes awhile to sink in. Of course, all it takes is one time for you to miss an important meeting or event because of the shutdown and it'll sink in pretty quick.

---