Sunday Sip 🚙

Navigational Nonsense: Adventures with Maggie

Welcome, dear readers. We appreciate you. This week is a short sip, but it's quality. Chuck had a lot to say last week, so I feel like this is a breather between laps. I’d like to introduce you to Maggie, share some news, and maybe a few recommendations. 

Maggie was eerily silent. She’d been super chatty up until that point, her soothing voice filling the car with driving instructions. “Stay in the right lane. Go past these lights. Turn left.”

“I’d be quiet too,” I thought if I’d suggested taking I-94 through Detroit. I-94 was a parking lot. Apple’s estimated time of arrival kept getting later and later, with red taillights stretching for miles.

We call her Maggie because our Apple Maps voice is set to “Irish.” The joke is on us because Maggie isn’t even an Irish name. I looked it up. “The name Maggie is of English origin, commonly used as a diminutive form of the name Margaret.” How or why we decided it was Irish is a mystery that is better left alone.

Now that I know this, all I can see is Bart Simpson’s youngest sister, Maggie, when the voice starts spouting driving instructions from the dash.

The Name Game: Maggie and Larry

Changing her name now would be like changing your dog’s name after they’ve lived with you for 5, 6, 7 years. Oh, wait. We’ve done that. Chuck decided “Charlie the dog” was really a “Larry.” So, when Charlie the dog was well into his prime, we started calling him Larry.

Larry, in his twilight years. I still miss him.

He didn’t seem to mind, and to be honest, Larry was a better fit.

Karma on the Highway

Back to the parking lot on I-94, I considered the cars that kept lane-switching. It does no good. I wanted to send them a text suggesting they read my June 2 Sunday Sip about Karma and lane-switching!

Speaking of Karma, earlier that day, while driving towards Lake Orion on I-75, a powder blue Rivian passed me like I was standing still. I’d slowed down as Maggie had mentioned there were cops ahead. (My words, not hers. And I thanked her for the tip.)

A few minutes later, I passed the powder blue Rivian, sitting on the roadside with a cop behind them. “You should use Apple Maps,” I wanted to shout at the driver. I didn’t, as I figured they wouldn’t appreciate driving advice from a woman with gray hair who was not getting a speeding ticket.

Driving Miss Daisy and Navigational Woes

I don’t mind driving, but I’d rather be in the passenger seat. My son Avery says I’m like Miss Daisy in the movie “Driving Miss Daisy.” I’m not exactly sure how I feel about that. There is a lot to unpack in that comparison. No, the person driving the powder blue Rivian would definitely not appreciate driving instructions from Miss Daisy.

Lately, I’ve been in the driver’s seat more and noticed that it requires practice. Not so much how to operate the car or knowing if or when you can turn on a red. Small digression: have you seen the jokers who turn right from the far left lane? Or left from the far right lane? Yes, that is confusing, and I’ve only seen this in Ann Arbor, but they cross several lanes of traffic to make the turn.

Where I need practice is with swearing. To be more specific, swearing at “things” like they can hear you. Just the other day, Chuck said to Maggie, “What the actual fuck?” He didn’t like her directions. “This is dingus!” he added.

What Chuck didn’t know was that an accident had closed I-94, so Maggie actually knew more than he did at the moment. I wonder when Maggie will learn how to respond and say, “The actual fuck is an accident on I-94, you dingus! Turn your ass around.”

Final Thoughts on Navigational Nonsense

So, I’m curious: do you talk to your navigation app? Have you given it a name? What do you think of apps talking back?

As we navigate life, sometimes it’s the small, humorous moments that make the journey worthwhile. Whether it’s renaming a digital voice or swearing at inanimate objects, these quirks are what make our travels uniquely ours. So, next time you’re stuck in traffic, remember a bit of humor can make all the difference. That, and some good tunes, of course.

But the fun doesn’t stop with Maggie. This week, we’ve got exciting updates and recommendations to keep you entertained. 

In Other News! 

Fans with Bands: A new episode featuring Sonic Smut dropped on Wednesday. In this episode, we talk with Mike and Alison from Sonic Smut. Their debut self-titled album is spectacular. Their music is heavy, groovy, funky, inventive and infectious. During our time together, we talked about origins, inspirations, and more. We wrapped it up with our favorite topic: Pizza. 

Oh, you didn’t know Chuck has a podcast? It is his pandemic baby. During the show, he brings together a band and some fans to talk about music, life, and whatever the hell else he wants to talk about. It can be difficult to have a conversation with your favorite band at a show or online.

Life In Michigan: Chuck’s article on the Jackson Road Cruise was so loved by the Sun Times News that they’re running it too. 

Jackson Road Cruise, photo by Chuck Marshall

Plus, don’t miss his review of Matt Carlson’s sold-out show at the Robin Theatre. Then check out Matt’s substack. 

Matt Carlson at the Robin Theatre, photo by Chuck Marshall

Finally, while Chuck is podcasting and writing, I’ve been engrossed in research, thinking, and bird-watching. Our family of wrens in the yard has been my latest obsession.

Lurking outside the wren house, photo by trail cam!

Life In Michigan Update

If you haven’t visited the LifeInMichigan site in a while, you should! Kate, our talented web designer, worked her magic. You can find Kate at Pleasantly Progressive Design!

Substack Restacked

As Chuck says, “Substack is where it is at!” Dive into the works of Darin, the horse-loving radio veteran, and Shital Morjaria’s “Living Pictures” for a blend of photography and musings.

Reading Nook

I recently finished “The Searcher” by Tana French, the first in her Cal Hooper Series. It’s set in Ireland, with relatable characters and solid writing. Despite a few slow moments, I give it a thumbs up. I’m eager for the next installment.

Upcoming Events 

From the Ann Arbor Summer Festival to Chelsea’s Sounds and Sights on Thursday Nights, your calendar should be FULL.  Please add the early Fireworks Event on June 29th in Chelsea, Michigan.  

Final Thoughts

Thank you for joining us on this short but sweet Sunday Sip. We appreciate you and look forward to sharing more adventures next week. Until then, safe travels, and remember to enjoy the ride.