Physics hurts my brain

I think I'm a reasonably well educated person. I know a little bit about a lot of things and I tend to really enjoy learning about mechanical, engineering, physics, building stuff sort of concepts. I genuinely find it fascinating and most people know I could spend a whole evening on the couch, with my boys, watching the Discovery channel. But there is one concept that has haunted me my whole life. It is perhaps the bane of my existence (although I don't know what that expression means).

Geography.

First of all - why does geography keep me away from all the people I love? If geography had any heart at all then the GTA would be right beside cottage country, Vancouver would not be several provinces away, and the oil fields would definitely not be across an ocean and in the middle of countries too dangerous for me to travel to alone!

Next there is this whole north south east west business. What kind of garbage is that for giving directions? I think it is perfectly reasonable to remember directions based on important things you pass. For example: turn left at the lights that used to be in the middle of nowhere but now there's a subdivision, and go past the street where we once almost got a speeding ticket. Makes sense to me. I think the textbook types are just being fuddy-duddies.

Finally we get to the real reason for this post. Potholes. I don't actually know if this falls under the category of geography, or if its more of a geology thing... I guess I have a distaste all the geo's. In any case - how do potholes work? I mean, isn't the earth kind of a solid thing? So how the heck do chunks of it just fall out, or is it down? And what difference does freezing and thawing make?! Kingston must be situated on some sort of black hole or maybe a glacier that is very slowly melting away because we don't just have potholes, we have potcraters. Potcanyons if you will. I heard that city council had to increase their budget for spelunkers to explore these canyons and rescue the people and cars that have fallen into them.

Ok seriously - what is the physics behind a pothole? Just trying to figure it out is giving me a headache.

Lots of love
Pamela

Currently listening to: honduras mix CD from Malika
Currently reading: A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore (hey Mandy - it doesn't suck! I may have to buy his whole series)