aha! so this explains it all...

Yes, it's time for another Mercury Retrograde! This one, which occurs in Taurus, is a bit longer than usual -- 25 days instead of the usual 21-22 days. During this Mercury Retrograde period, which lasts until May 20, we're cautioned to plan ahead even for simple travel, to watch our words carefully, to listen closely to what others say and to pay careful attention to subtleties like body language and gesture. Without this caution and attention, we're bound to get tied up -- both in traffic and with our tongues. Still, slowing down and really paying attention is hardly a bad thing; we all can benefit from a less frantic pace.