Have you folks been wondering where I've been? Me too. Part of my absence stems from the fact that my less-than-one-year-old-laptop is a piece of crap. Expensive crap. Matt's 5 year old computer can run the internet faster than this thing. So at certain points in the last two weeks I've sat down to write a blog and never had the time. I'm not sure whether to blame Vista or Dell or Qwest, but it sucks. Big waste of money.
So anyway, how's it going? Still no winner in the Democratic race. I'm kind of ambivalent about it, because even though I'm on Hillary's side, I do think she'll have a hard time in the general election. People hate her. It is silly. Yes she voted for the war, but she's done a lot of other good things. And who didn't vote for the war (who was in national office at the time and isn't Dennis Kucinich). Anyway. I didn't really mean to blog about politics today.
Did everybody hear that Fidel Castro stepped down? Of course Raul might be more of the same and the US doesn't seem to interested in smoothing over relations.
Oh what else. I found a neat blog about this guy who rides the bus in Albuquerque everyday and tells stories about it. I haven't gotten through all his back blogs, but I still think my story about holding that lady's baby in LA is up there at the top.
Also Matt and my New Texico blog is still forthcoming. It will be good, so don't get impatient.
Also I finally got paid for an article I wrote in November. The guy wrote me a check for $93.13. Couldn't he have just rounded it up? I mean seriously. Incidently, I have now been paid twice for taking pictures. Does this make me a professional photographer? Haha.
There was also a scare last week that our landlady had put our house on the market without telling us. We're pretty sure it's not true, but there were surveyors here on Friday. Why does one survey their property at random times? In relation to this incident, Matt and I started thinking about buying a house. Prices are rock bottom right now! So much cheaper than when we were looking last May. So we'll see how it goes. (It would help if either of us had a stable future.)
That's all I can think of right now. Oh except for my other secret future endeavor which apparently has a 50% chance of happening. Which is good because there was a big fiasco at work today that involved people downstairs not liking my sense of humor. Or something. Not sure. And my supervisor telling me that she thought I was fantastic and that the churchy people downstairs can be a little touchy. Weird. And then I left the office for 3 hours. For a doctor's appointment. Bastards. I'll show them! Maybe.
I should just stop writing now.
Showing posts with label bus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bus. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Thursday, January 03, 2008
It's That Time of the Year!
The Iowa caucuses started 14 minutes ago. At last polling, Obama and Huckabee were in the lead of their respective parties, with Edwards and Hillary coming in 2nd and 3rd for the Democrats. I can hardly wait to hear the outcome! Just think, 4 years ago Dean died (not literally of course) in Iowa. What will happen this year? Aren't you on the edge of your seat?
Also I heard a rumor on the radio that Richardson is telling his supporters to caucus for Obama. If that is true, I'm so glad I didn't spend 3 months in Iowa campaigning for him. What a waste. I think he should be the VP.
In other news, I hate cars. The Exploder has broken down. I had to get it jumped to get home last night, and today Matt couldn't jump it. And Matt no longer has AAA. So this could result in a hefty towing bill. Good times. He is hoping to fix it tomorrow by taking the battery and the starter to Auto Zone. Let's hope that works! Not sure how we will get to the snow on Saturday without the 4x4 :(
In protest against cars, I took the bus today.
For dinner: vegetable fondue. Yum.
Also I heard a rumor on the radio that Richardson is telling his supporters to caucus for Obama. If that is true, I'm so glad I didn't spend 3 months in Iowa campaigning for him. What a waste. I think he should be the VP.
In other news, I hate cars. The Exploder has broken down. I had to get it jumped to get home last night, and today Matt couldn't jump it. And Matt no longer has AAA. So this could result in a hefty towing bill. Good times. He is hoping to fix it tomorrow by taking the battery and the starter to Auto Zone. Let's hope that works! Not sure how we will get to the snow on Saturday without the 4x4 :(
In protest against cars, I took the bus today.
For dinner: vegetable fondue. Yum.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Getting Around the ABQ
Matt and I moved to our current location in order to facilitate walking, biking, and mass transportation. Matt rides his bike about 2 miles to the van stop every day. In order to do my part, I set out on my job search by foot today.
First I walked over to the Post Office near Old Town and near the Old Town Rapid Ride Station. This is about a mile walk according to MapQuest and .7 mile walk according to the USPS. I then took the Rapid Ride to the end of the line at the Uptown Transportation Center, where I would have about a 1 mile walk to the temporary staffing agency that was my goal. Folks, this Ride was not Rapid. It took well over 40 minutes to get there. No idea why. So over an hour including my walking. And I have a big, honking blister on my toe from walking in dress shoes. Meanwhile, my walk involved a bridge over the Interstate, where apparently it is cumbersome to place pedestrian buttons close to the actual crosswalk. By the time you press the button, the walk man comes on with 17 seconds, and you have to walk back to the crosswalk and across several lanes of traffic before time runs out. Its like a game. An annoying game. There are four of these crosswalks across the interstate, and they all go on for the same 17 seconds. There is no way you can get across more than one walking, and more than two running. This city is not set up for pedestrians.
Oh also on the bus, there were a bunch of homeless guys who all knew each other and were talking about what parks let you sleep in them, which is apparently now none. It was tragic and depressing. In LA, people that rode my bus were going to work. Although I generally didn't ride in the middle of the day.
I will spare you the details of my visit to the temp agency except to say that it was pathetic, humbling, and I got 73% on an Access test when I have possibly never used it in my life.
The return bus trip took only 30 minutes for some reason. Not that I'm complaining. It was much more Rapid of a Ride. And to my surprise, it was fairly busy, especially around UNM. Then I walked my mile home.
Later on I decided to go back to Old Town to drop off an application at a hotel, and then take the Rapid Ride downtown to go check out this Cafe that was looking for help. Upon reaching said cafe, I discovered that the owner goes home at 1pm. Couldn't you put this in your ad? I was planning to walk back home, just over a mile, but I decided to take a slight detour to Bank of America to get my accounts and my pin number taken care of. All set. Then I walked home. I finally stopped at a 7-11 to get a Gatorade. I am tired. And I smell. But at least I got exercise. And I only got yelled at a couple times.
Maybe, just maybe, alternative transportation will catch on in this town.
First I walked over to the Post Office near Old Town and near the Old Town Rapid Ride Station. This is about a mile walk according to MapQuest and .7 mile walk according to the USPS. I then took the Rapid Ride to the end of the line at the Uptown Transportation Center, where I would have about a 1 mile walk to the temporary staffing agency that was my goal. Folks, this Ride was not Rapid. It took well over 40 minutes to get there. No idea why. So over an hour including my walking. And I have a big, honking blister on my toe from walking in dress shoes. Meanwhile, my walk involved a bridge over the Interstate, where apparently it is cumbersome to place pedestrian buttons close to the actual crosswalk. By the time you press the button, the walk man comes on with 17 seconds, and you have to walk back to the crosswalk and across several lanes of traffic before time runs out. Its like a game. An annoying game. There are four of these crosswalks across the interstate, and they all go on for the same 17 seconds. There is no way you can get across more than one walking, and more than two running. This city is not set up for pedestrians.
Oh also on the bus, there were a bunch of homeless guys who all knew each other and were talking about what parks let you sleep in them, which is apparently now none. It was tragic and depressing. In LA, people that rode my bus were going to work. Although I generally didn't ride in the middle of the day.
I will spare you the details of my visit to the temp agency except to say that it was pathetic, humbling, and I got 73% on an Access test when I have possibly never used it in my life.
The return bus trip took only 30 minutes for some reason. Not that I'm complaining. It was much more Rapid of a Ride. And to my surprise, it was fairly busy, especially around UNM. Then I walked my mile home.
Later on I decided to go back to Old Town to drop off an application at a hotel, and then take the Rapid Ride downtown to go check out this Cafe that was looking for help. Upon reaching said cafe, I discovered that the owner goes home at 1pm. Couldn't you put this in your ad? I was planning to walk back home, just over a mile, but I decided to take a slight detour to Bank of America to get my accounts and my pin number taken care of. All set. Then I walked home. I finally stopped at a 7-11 to get a Gatorade. I am tired. And I smell. But at least I got exercise. And I only got yelled at a couple times.
Maybe, just maybe, alternative transportation will catch on in this town.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Bus Stories Part 2
Most mornings I try to catch the bus that comes to Figueroa and Burwood at 7:52 a.m., putting me at work around 8:30. I used to get up early enough to get a bus that got me to work around 8, but then I never got to eat my landlady's breakfast. Sometimes I take an even later bus if I am lazy or breakfast is slow.
I can't remember if I noticed this character the first time I got on the 7:52 bus or if he started riding the bus after I did. At any rate, one stop down the road from me, every time I ride the 7:52 bus, an older man wearing a baseball cap, Hawaiian shirt (different most days), and slacks gets on the bus. Every morning he shows his pass to the bus driver and asks him or her to call out Temple Street. Every morning, if available, he sits in the same seat - the first one on the opposite side from the driver. If that seat is not available, he keeps moving as people get off until he gets that seat. Every morning when the bus passes the stop before his, he stands up, holds on to the rail as close to the driver as possible, and asks something to the extent of, Is Temple street next, is this temple street, or can you call out Temple street please. Every day. Obviously, folks, since he stands up at the same place every day, he knows where Temple Street is. So why does the bus driver always need to tell him? I'm not sure.
Keep in mind that most of the time buses have automated systems that call out streets. I will grant that these are not always in operation. And I will grant that the first few times I rode the bus I was nervous about where to get off. But folks, it's been at least a month. I think he knows.
On Thursday I discovered something about him that I did not know because I had never sat very close to him. He talks. I'm not sure if it's to himself or if he wants other passengers to listen, but he makes comments. Often about what's going on on the TV (yes, the bus has it's own TV channel).
His stop is only one before mine. I wonder what he does each day in downtown L.A. I have never seen him on a bus ride home, so I suspect he does not work a full day, if he has a job. Maybe one day I will ask him. But I doubt it. I never talk to people on the bus.
***
On a side note, today I tried reading on the bus because I'm trying to get through the book of a guy I'm going to interview next week. But I felt disconnected. I felt like I needed to look out the window and to people-watch my fellow passengers. I felt like I was missing something with my nose in the book. Am I odd?
I can't remember if I noticed this character the first time I got on the 7:52 bus or if he started riding the bus after I did. At any rate, one stop down the road from me, every time I ride the 7:52 bus, an older man wearing a baseball cap, Hawaiian shirt (different most days), and slacks gets on the bus. Every morning he shows his pass to the bus driver and asks him or her to call out Temple Street. Every morning, if available, he sits in the same seat - the first one on the opposite side from the driver. If that seat is not available, he keeps moving as people get off until he gets that seat. Every morning when the bus passes the stop before his, he stands up, holds on to the rail as close to the driver as possible, and asks something to the extent of, Is Temple street next, is this temple street, or can you call out Temple street please. Every day. Obviously, folks, since he stands up at the same place every day, he knows where Temple Street is. So why does the bus driver always need to tell him? I'm not sure.
Keep in mind that most of the time buses have automated systems that call out streets. I will grant that these are not always in operation. And I will grant that the first few times I rode the bus I was nervous about where to get off. But folks, it's been at least a month. I think he knows.
On Thursday I discovered something about him that I did not know because I had never sat very close to him. He talks. I'm not sure if it's to himself or if he wants other passengers to listen, but he makes comments. Often about what's going on on the TV (yes, the bus has it's own TV channel).
His stop is only one before mine. I wonder what he does each day in downtown L.A. I have never seen him on a bus ride home, so I suspect he does not work a full day, if he has a job. Maybe one day I will ask him. But I doubt it. I never talk to people on the bus.
***
On a side note, today I tried reading on the bus because I'm trying to get through the book of a guy I'm going to interview next week. But I felt disconnected. I felt like I needed to look out the window and to people-watch my fellow passengers. I felt like I was missing something with my nose in the book. Am I odd?
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Bus Stories
Sometimes I really enjoy riding the bus, just to watch human dynamics. Sometimes it's really quite amazing.
Yesterday on my way home, I was sitting near a young lady with a baby and another small child. The baby was in her lap and the little girl was in the seat next to her, screaming away. Obviously the lady had no real way to hold both of them at the same time. First an older lady in the seat behind started talking to the little girl and pointing things out to her, calming her down for the most part, but not for long. Later, another lady got on the bus and sat right in front of the lady with the kids. They started talking and before long, she had offered to hold the baby so the mother could comfort the little girl. She eventually even got off the bus with the mother so that she could help her with the baby and the stroller. Now all this was going on in Spanish, but I am absolutely sure that none of these women knew each other before the bus ride. At one point, one of the ladies actually called the baby a boy instead of a girl, but she apologized and was obviously forgiven.
When I had first gotten on the bus, I felt as if I should offer to help the mother, but as in aforementioned blogs, I am not so good with the babies and I am still shocked that mothers let strangers hold their babies. Folks, it is a completely different culture out here in L.A., but it really impresses me. Where would you see this kind of thing except on a bus?
Today's bus ride home was a completely different story. The bus driver spent the whole time talking to a young woman near the front. There was also a pretty old woman at the very front who kept trying to talk to them in Spanish, which obviously neither of them spoke very well. I ascertained that somehow this lady had gotten lost on the wrong bus and that this bus driver was delivering her to the correct stop after a long day. I'm not sure who the young woman was - apparently a friend. At any rate, at one point she claimed to be barely over 21, but she also has a 9 year-old son. I'll let you do the math on that one. Well through the whole thing I couldn't quite decide if they were being nice or mean to the old lady, but I guess she got where she needed to go. For a large portion of the ride until both the women got off the bus, I am fairly sure the driver never got out of 1st gear. It was the longest ride ever and by the time I got off there was only one other person on the bus. My suspicion is that those people with passes might have gotten off and waited for another. I sure would have. There is only so much you can take of a young mother flirting with a married bus driver, when it is actually illegal to talk unnecessarily with one.
Just some more afternoon entertainment. Speaking of which, there was actually a line at the Highland Theater when we passed it today - presumably to see Harry Potter. That's right, world. Here in L.A. we get the movies early. Take that.
Yesterday on my way home, I was sitting near a young lady with a baby and another small child. The baby was in her lap and the little girl was in the seat next to her, screaming away. Obviously the lady had no real way to hold both of them at the same time. First an older lady in the seat behind started talking to the little girl and pointing things out to her, calming her down for the most part, but not for long. Later, another lady got on the bus and sat right in front of the lady with the kids. They started talking and before long, she had offered to hold the baby so the mother could comfort the little girl. She eventually even got off the bus with the mother so that she could help her with the baby and the stroller. Now all this was going on in Spanish, but I am absolutely sure that none of these women knew each other before the bus ride. At one point, one of the ladies actually called the baby a boy instead of a girl, but she apologized and was obviously forgiven.
When I had first gotten on the bus, I felt as if I should offer to help the mother, but as in aforementioned blogs, I am not so good with the babies and I am still shocked that mothers let strangers hold their babies. Folks, it is a completely different culture out here in L.A., but it really impresses me. Where would you see this kind of thing except on a bus?
Today's bus ride home was a completely different story. The bus driver spent the whole time talking to a young woman near the front. There was also a pretty old woman at the very front who kept trying to talk to them in Spanish, which obviously neither of them spoke very well. I ascertained that somehow this lady had gotten lost on the wrong bus and that this bus driver was delivering her to the correct stop after a long day. I'm not sure who the young woman was - apparently a friend. At any rate, at one point she claimed to be barely over 21, but she also has a 9 year-old son. I'll let you do the math on that one. Well through the whole thing I couldn't quite decide if they were being nice or mean to the old lady, but I guess she got where she needed to go. For a large portion of the ride until both the women got off the bus, I am fairly sure the driver never got out of 1st gear. It was the longest ride ever and by the time I got off there was only one other person on the bus. My suspicion is that those people with passes might have gotten off and waited for another. I sure would have. There is only so much you can take of a young mother flirting with a married bus driver, when it is actually illegal to talk unnecessarily with one.
Just some more afternoon entertainment. Speaking of which, there was actually a line at the Highland Theater when we passed it today - presumably to see Harry Potter. That's right, world. Here in L.A. we get the movies early. Take that.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
In the News Part II
Well, my longer more controversial piece got cut drastically. I think I need to work for an advocacy magazine.
However, on the bus ride home some interesting things happened.
1) I had to speak Spanish and it just came rolling off my tongue without me thinking. Who knew?
2) I had to hold someone's very small child. Ya'll, I am not a baby person. At all. But when I got off at my bus stop, this lady was struggling with the child and opening the stroller so I offered to help. For some reason, she thought the most appropriate thing would be for me to take her baby. And then put the baby in the stroller. Ya'll. Have I mentioned I don't do babies? Seriously do not hold them. Seriously don't put them in strollers. Not for babies I know. But apparently for strangers. Oh well.
Then Natalie's mom took us out to dinner so that was fun.
Unfortunately, Natalie is running away to Mexico. So much for having a friend in LA. I hope she has lots of fun.
However, on the bus ride home some interesting things happened.
1) I had to speak Spanish and it just came rolling off my tongue without me thinking. Who knew?
2) I had to hold someone's very small child. Ya'll, I am not a baby person. At all. But when I got off at my bus stop, this lady was struggling with the child and opening the stroller so I offered to help. For some reason, she thought the most appropriate thing would be for me to take her baby. And then put the baby in the stroller. Ya'll. Have I mentioned I don't do babies? Seriously do not hold them. Seriously don't put them in strollers. Not for babies I know. But apparently for strangers. Oh well.
Then Natalie's mom took us out to dinner so that was fun.
Unfortunately, Natalie is running away to Mexico. So much for having a friend in LA. I hope she has lots of fun.
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