Sunday - 2/12/12 - Continued
Sunday morning celebration at the Yoga Center is about to start and one of my friends hands me an envelope with a heart on it. I didn't think much of it, I thought it was an invitation to something, or yoga center business or something similar. I sat it aside to open later. Celebration was great! Afterward, Mary and I go to an Indian restaurant in Anaheim. It's in the lobby of a hotel near Disneyland. We found it in the Orange County Entertainment book. They have an awesome buffet and we're only paying 1/2 the price because of the entertainment coupon! Better than that, Mary is paying for lunch. ;-)
After lunch, she drops me off across from Disneyland so that I can catch my bus up to Norwalk. I had her drop me off at the "alternate" bus stop. It doesn't have a bench. It isn't as comfortable of a place to wait, but it was a much easier place for her to drop me off. Within a few minutes, the bus comes. What timing! There are only two of us on the whole bus! I'm feeling decadent. They chartered a whole bus for myself and this older gentleman! He says when he got on the bus and there was no one else there, he was sure he had gotten on the wrong bus! At the next stop, a bunch of people piled on. Our private ride is over.
I didn't get much sleep last night and overate at lunch. I'm sitting on the bus tiredly listening to my audio book. The next thing I know, I'm waking to people getting on the bus. I think I didn't sleep very long, I think I just dozed. Then, it strikes me that I don't recognize the outside surroundings and that I might have a memory of hearing my street name announced.
I got up and asked the bus driver. I'm still in a bit of a fog from the sleep. I'm not sure I'm making any sense. Between the two of us, we decide that I have gone too far. I have him let me off at the next stop. Now, getting off the bus, I recognize the surroundings. We are at the old downtown of Norwalk, near my bank, that has to be only one or two bus stops past mine (even though I've never traveled that way by bus.) So, it will be easy to get home.
I use my phone to consult Google maps. It points out the obvious (something I hadn't thought of,) that I could easily take the same bus going the opposite direction and end up back at my regular stop. There is even a bus coming in a few minutes. Somehow I've never thought of this, the fact that if I go one or two stops too far, I can always find a way back, possibly with the exact same bus route that got me there. I'm now encouraged to go North sometime to see what's there.
It's a lovely sunny day. I don't have anything pressing that I have to do, and I'm rested (giggle). So, I decide not to get on the bus, and to use my scooter to get home. It is a lovely trip, fun to see all the things on the way. The one bad point is that the handlebars on the scooter are starting to occasionally slide down, out of the locked position. I don't think it's dangerous, but it is frustrating. Not sure what to do about that, they only slide down a few inches, but there doesn't seem to be a way to fix it. I had tabled the idea of buying a new scooter. Maybe I need to look at that again.
Once home, I remember, find and open the envelope I received before Sunday Celebration. It contains $100 and a supportive note! I'm amazed, thrilled, and overjoyed! I'm overflowing with gratitude! How wonderful of her to do this for me!
It's later now and there are two emails in my "inbox" from my Avalon boss. One of them is titled "bonuses." I'm not sure what I expected this email to be, but it's blown me away! My boss has finally re-worked my bonus plan! I used to get a bonus each month, but haven't been able to since the economy crash in 2009. I've talked to him about it, and about the fact that a bonus isn't an incentive if you know by the 5th of the month that you won't be getting a bonus that month. Nothing ever came of it, then a year ago he changed my hours (to hours I'd requested) and increased my hourly income, and I gave up on the idea of getting him to re-work the bonus plan. I decided to just be grateful for the job and the income I have. The new bonus plan is terrific! I think most months I'll be able to get a bonus, recession or not! This will mean that most month's I'll be able to bring in $200 extra and some month's I'll bring in $300 extra. That's huge! With both this and the $100 gift in my mind, for the first time, I'm truly able to visualize possibility of paying off all of my debt this year! What a wonderful day!
12.2.12
A Day of Wonderful Things! - 2/12/12
Sunday - 2/12/12
I'm leaving a little late for the bus. I think it's OK. I've been traveling the distance faster and there should be low traffic this morning. Then, I realize that I didn't send an important email. I decide to go back and do it. I think that if I miss the first bus, I can catch the next one and still make it to service on time. I'll just have to use the scooter for an extra mile and I'll arrive "just barely" on time.
It's lovely this morning. I like riding the scooter over to the bus stop in the dawn hours. Dawn is such a lovely time! I think I made it to the bus stop right on time. There isn't anyone waiting here, but it's Sunday. I didn't expect anyone to be waiting for the bus with me today.
It's now 10 minutes after the bus should have come. I think it must have come early and I missed it. I consult Google maps and it tells me that I can still get there on time. I need to be there at 10am and Google maps estimates I'll get there at 10:01. I've got the scooter too. I'm sure I'll be able to shave that minute off of the time. ;-)
Now, it's time for the next bus to come and it hasn't. My brain is starting to run all kind of scenarios. Maybe they changed the bus line and aren't running on Sundays... maybe the bus drivers went on strike... maybe there was a state budget cut and my bus got cut out. I didn't check with the news this morning. Heck, there could even be space aliens holding the main bus terminal hostage for all I know (ok, my mind does get away from me sometimes.) I'm OK about it. If the bus doesn't come, then I'll spend a day at home. It's not what I'm planning on doing, but it would be fine.
Finally the bus going North passes. Now I know that the buses are running. Generally, that one goes by just a little bit before the South bound one comes. The bus could be here any time!
The bus comes, and it's packed! I wonder if some of these people missed the first bus too, or if they are all just normally traveling at this time on a Sunday morning. I'm still listening to the "Mystical Kabbalah" audio book. I think I'm going to have to listen to it several times to make sure I didn't miss any of it.
When we get to the Disneyland bus stop, there is a bus stopped right in front of ours. Several of us head off to that bus. There is a 50/50 chance it is the 43, the bus that I need. The bus doors close and it starts moving. Then, I guess the driver noticed us and stopped and waited. That was really nice! This means that I've caught an earlier bus than I would have, and means I'll definitely get to Sunday Celebration on time! Yay!
Going on the scooter from the bus stop to the Yoga Center, I'm noticing all kinds of smells. First, it's donuts... then pancakes... then oil / grease from a tire place. Now, I'm hungry (well, ok for donuts or pancakes, not tires!)
I'm stopped at a stoplight waiting for the light to change so I can cross the street and a lady comes up and asks me about riding the scooter. She's really impressed that I'm using the scooter. I explain to her why I'm riding it and that I came down from Norwalk this morning. I think I now have a fan! She told me that meeting me is going to change how she thinks about transportation. That's cool! I'm thrilled!
I've been meaning to print some business card type sheets with my blog address on them, in case anyone asks. I haven't done it yet. I guess now I'll have to, since I have had someone ask about it!
I'm leaving a little late for the bus. I think it's OK. I've been traveling the distance faster and there should be low traffic this morning. Then, I realize that I didn't send an important email. I decide to go back and do it. I think that if I miss the first bus, I can catch the next one and still make it to service on time. I'll just have to use the scooter for an extra mile and I'll arrive "just barely" on time.
It's lovely this morning. I like riding the scooter over to the bus stop in the dawn hours. Dawn is such a lovely time! I think I made it to the bus stop right on time. There isn't anyone waiting here, but it's Sunday. I didn't expect anyone to be waiting for the bus with me today.
It's now 10 minutes after the bus should have come. I think it must have come early and I missed it. I consult Google maps and it tells me that I can still get there on time. I need to be there at 10am and Google maps estimates I'll get there at 10:01. I've got the scooter too. I'm sure I'll be able to shave that minute off of the time. ;-)
Now, it's time for the next bus to come and it hasn't. My brain is starting to run all kind of scenarios. Maybe they changed the bus line and aren't running on Sundays... maybe the bus drivers went on strike... maybe there was a state budget cut and my bus got cut out. I didn't check with the news this morning. Heck, there could even be space aliens holding the main bus terminal hostage for all I know (ok, my mind does get away from me sometimes.) I'm OK about it. If the bus doesn't come, then I'll spend a day at home. It's not what I'm planning on doing, but it would be fine.
Finally the bus going North passes. Now I know that the buses are running. Generally, that one goes by just a little bit before the South bound one comes. The bus could be here any time!
The bus comes, and it's packed! I wonder if some of these people missed the first bus too, or if they are all just normally traveling at this time on a Sunday morning. I'm still listening to the "Mystical Kabbalah" audio book. I think I'm going to have to listen to it several times to make sure I didn't miss any of it.
When we get to the Disneyland bus stop, there is a bus stopped right in front of ours. Several of us head off to that bus. There is a 50/50 chance it is the 43, the bus that I need. The bus doors close and it starts moving. Then, I guess the driver noticed us and stopped and waited. That was really nice! This means that I've caught an earlier bus than I would have, and means I'll definitely get to Sunday Celebration on time! Yay!
Going on the scooter from the bus stop to the Yoga Center, I'm noticing all kinds of smells. First, it's donuts... then pancakes... then oil / grease from a tire place. Now, I'm hungry (well, ok for donuts or pancakes, not tires!)
I'm stopped at a stoplight waiting for the light to change so I can cross the street and a lady comes up and asks me about riding the scooter. She's really impressed that I'm using the scooter. I explain to her why I'm riding it and that I came down from Norwalk this morning. I think I now have a fan! She told me that meeting me is going to change how she thinks about transportation. That's cool! I'm thrilled!
I've been meaning to print some business card type sheets with my blog address on them, in case anyone asks. I haven't done it yet. I guess now I'll have to, since I have had someone ask about it!
A Quiet Day - 2/11/12
Saturday - 2/11/12
Today I'm staying home.
I love my home and enjoy being here. Nice to occasionally get a chance to spend the day here.
I've emailed my friend Mary and asked her if she wants to come up tonight and she said "yes." So, I'm even going to have some social!
I even took a nap! I slept for hours in the afternoon. It was so nice!
Paying the bills has made me realize a few things. I've been feeling more "comfortable" and "relaxed" about money since I've stopped driving. I haven't spent much more than I would have, but I've just felt more relaxed. I've also had some side jobs recently, which helps quite a bit. However, my Ebay sales are down because I haven't been listing items. Somehow it's all evened out. I was hoping to be able to pay extra on my bills, and I am paying extra, but just a few dollars. It's a bit disappointing. I'm happy that I can pay the bills plus some though! I'm going to have to figure out how to get back to posting items in my Ebay store. I need to get that income back up!
This year without my car is about paying off my bills. Somehow I have to manage working on that!
Today I'm staying home.
I love my home and enjoy being here. Nice to occasionally get a chance to spend the day here.
I've emailed my friend Mary and asked her if she wants to come up tonight and she said "yes." So, I'm even going to have some social!
I even took a nap! I slept for hours in the afternoon. It was so nice!
Paying the bills has made me realize a few things. I've been feeling more "comfortable" and "relaxed" about money since I've stopped driving. I haven't spent much more than I would have, but I've just felt more relaxed. I've also had some side jobs recently, which helps quite a bit. However, my Ebay sales are down because I haven't been listing items. Somehow it's all evened out. I was hoping to be able to pay extra on my bills, and I am paying extra, but just a few dollars. It's a bit disappointing. I'm happy that I can pay the bills plus some though! I'm going to have to figure out how to get back to posting items in my Ebay store. I need to get that income back up!
This year without my car is about paying off my bills. Somehow I have to manage working on that!
11.2.12
A Day Of Ups And Downs - 2/10/12
Friday - 2/10/12
I'm at the bus stop. I rushed out of the house and all the way here, as normal, worrying about being late. One of these days I'm going to have to try leaving with enough time to mosey all the way to the bus stop. The gentleman that is normally waiting here with me isn't here. Did I miss the bus? Did his car finally get fixed? I know that if I miss this bus, I can catch the next bus and still make it to yoga class in time, but that way gets me there just barely on time, and gives me an extra mile to travel on the scooter. I'd rather catch the "right" bus!
I'm sitting on the bench My backpack and folded up scooter are both sitting next to me. I take up at least 1/2 of the bench with all my stuff! Here he comes, my fellow wait person. He is casually walking across the street with a cup of coffee in his hand. It's possible that I'm making the trip faster now, and could relax a little about it, since I'm obviously on time.
On the bus, I play a little bit of a facebook game, then post some ads for work (nice that I can do some work things from the bus). I've figured out that my phone doesn't always have a signal while I'm riding the bus (which would be why the blog I tried to post from it didn't post). So, I have to wait for the moments when I do have a connection to continue. Other than that, I'm listening to the book "Mystical Kabbalah." I'm really enjoying the book and finding it very nice to be able to sit and get quiet and centered while riding. I couldn't have done that if I was driving.
With an audio book I can listen while I'm riding the scooter too. I enjoy doing that, especially on the trip to and from the stop near my home, where there isn't much to see.
After yoga class (which was wonderful!) I ride my scooter to the library. I want to clear up the last of the issues caused my my having library materials out when my car stopped working. I'm asking them to credit me back about $7 of the fees, since I had called and explained the situation and the lady had renewed everything except one item. It turns out that the people at this library won't deal with this and I will have to call someone who is out for lunch right now. She doesn't even want to take my money for the rest of the balance, because of there still being an issue. How frustrating!
I head off to Avalon on my scooter. I find it curious that some places have sidewalks and some don't and some sidewalks stop part way down the street. I'll have to start researching sidewalks, and keep a list of the streets that have the best ones and the streets that don't have any, or have really bad ones (ones where there is a difference in height between sidewalk squares are really hard to use).
One of the things I'm realizing now is how easy it was for that brief, minor issue at the library to knock me out of my "calm, centered" space. Yes, it was all ridiculousness and frustrating, but why let it knock me for a loop? I had a morning of listening to a spiritual book, then teaching two yoga classes and this one tinsy issue managed to knock me out of the head / heart space that I'd like to live in. How funny!
At work, prospective tenant David showed up and signed a lease! Yay! I have two more units coming vacant this weekend, but I'm pretty sure I have people for at least one of those, if not both. So, I'm not feeling as much pressure about that as I would normally.
Last month, I had one of my friends call and tell me he was dropping me as a friend (on facebook and otherwise), not because of anything I had done (that's what he wanted to stress), but because he had treated me badly (pretty close to his words) and he was trying to move forward with honor and having me around reminded him of not having honor. At least that's what I got from the conversation. I'm still not totally sure how hurting someone by telling them they aren't your friend helps you move forward with honor, but I guess somehow it does. It hurt a lot, I realized that this person obviously didn't value me, what and who I am, and probably never had. It also hurt because he has been an instrumental person in my life and I certainly care for and value him.
Anyway, my phone just rang (while I'm at work) and it says it's him. I'm not at all sure I want to pick it up. After all I've been through, the pain and the hurt, I don't need him to come back into my world and cause more, but I do care. I answer the phone.... and it hung up. Now, I don't know if he was trying to call me and needing to talk and then decided that I didn't answer, or what. I end up sending him an email, just detailing that my phone had rung from him and then hung up.
He calls again. He says his butt accidentally dialed me and that he didn't know it had, until he got the email. I'm tense while we're talking. I don't want to get friendly. He asks how I am, I just say "fine." We hang up. There isn't anything else to say.
A half hour later, I still have internal pain and turmoil about all this. Having that contact, seeing his phone call, it brought a lot of the hurt back from a month ago. I send him an email asking him to take my number out of his phone. After all, if you are going to delete a friend, you should delete them from everywhere.
My friend Rose and I often have Friday nights at her place. She fixes us a salad and a little something else and we sit and watch a couple of movies or tv shows. She is into murder mysteries. So, normally we'll watch light murder mysteries (I won't do anything heavy blood or gore or murder). We haven't been able to do that since I parked my car. I wouldn't want to take the bus home after the movies, it would be too late. She has offered to drive me home tonight. That is SO sweet of her! I've been looking forward to going over to her place all week!
Sometimes Google Maps laughs at me. I tried to look at taking transit to her place and it just told me to walk, that she is too close for it to make sense to use transit.
Have you ever noticed how often the physical world mimics your mental world? Well, mine does anyway. I was riding my scooter over to Rose's place, still hurting from the "butt dial" incident.... and I didn't notice a difference in height in the sidewalk. Bang! I'm down on the sidewalk, on my knee. Now I have a skinned knee to go with my skinned up ego. How funny! Fortunately, it isn't too bad and I get to lick my mental wounds in quiet while sharing a nice evening with a friend.
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I'm at the bus stop. I rushed out of the house and all the way here, as normal, worrying about being late. One of these days I'm going to have to try leaving with enough time to mosey all the way to the bus stop. The gentleman that is normally waiting here with me isn't here. Did I miss the bus? Did his car finally get fixed? I know that if I miss this bus, I can catch the next bus and still make it to yoga class in time, but that way gets me there just barely on time, and gives me an extra mile to travel on the scooter. I'd rather catch the "right" bus!
I'm sitting on the bench My backpack and folded up scooter are both sitting next to me. I take up at least 1/2 of the bench with all my stuff! Here he comes, my fellow wait person. He is casually walking across the street with a cup of coffee in his hand. It's possible that I'm making the trip faster now, and could relax a little about it, since I'm obviously on time.
On the bus, I play a little bit of a facebook game, then post some ads for work (nice that I can do some work things from the bus). I've figured out that my phone doesn't always have a signal while I'm riding the bus (which would be why the blog I tried to post from it didn't post). So, I have to wait for the moments when I do have a connection to continue. Other than that, I'm listening to the book "Mystical Kabbalah." I'm really enjoying the book and finding it very nice to be able to sit and get quiet and centered while riding. I couldn't have done that if I was driving.
With an audio book I can listen while I'm riding the scooter too. I enjoy doing that, especially on the trip to and from the stop near my home, where there isn't much to see.
After yoga class (which was wonderful!) I ride my scooter to the library. I want to clear up the last of the issues caused my my having library materials out when my car stopped working. I'm asking them to credit me back about $7 of the fees, since I had called and explained the situation and the lady had renewed everything except one item. It turns out that the people at this library won't deal with this and I will have to call someone who is out for lunch right now. She doesn't even want to take my money for the rest of the balance, because of there still being an issue. How frustrating!
I head off to Avalon on my scooter. I find it curious that some places have sidewalks and some don't and some sidewalks stop part way down the street. I'll have to start researching sidewalks, and keep a list of the streets that have the best ones and the streets that don't have any, or have really bad ones (ones where there is a difference in height between sidewalk squares are really hard to use).
One of the things I'm realizing now is how easy it was for that brief, minor issue at the library to knock me out of my "calm, centered" space. Yes, it was all ridiculousness and frustrating, but why let it knock me for a loop? I had a morning of listening to a spiritual book, then teaching two yoga classes and this one tinsy issue managed to knock me out of the head / heart space that I'd like to live in. How funny!
At work, prospective tenant David showed up and signed a lease! Yay! I have two more units coming vacant this weekend, but I'm pretty sure I have people for at least one of those, if not both. So, I'm not feeling as much pressure about that as I would normally.
Last month, I had one of my friends call and tell me he was dropping me as a friend (on facebook and otherwise), not because of anything I had done (that's what he wanted to stress), but because he had treated me badly (pretty close to his words) and he was trying to move forward with honor and having me around reminded him of not having honor. At least that's what I got from the conversation. I'm still not totally sure how hurting someone by telling them they aren't your friend helps you move forward with honor, but I guess somehow it does. It hurt a lot, I realized that this person obviously didn't value me, what and who I am, and probably never had. It also hurt because he has been an instrumental person in my life and I certainly care for and value him.
Anyway, my phone just rang (while I'm at work) and it says it's him. I'm not at all sure I want to pick it up. After all I've been through, the pain and the hurt, I don't need him to come back into my world and cause more, but I do care. I answer the phone.... and it hung up. Now, I don't know if he was trying to call me and needing to talk and then decided that I didn't answer, or what. I end up sending him an email, just detailing that my phone had rung from him and then hung up.
He calls again. He says his butt accidentally dialed me and that he didn't know it had, until he got the email. I'm tense while we're talking. I don't want to get friendly. He asks how I am, I just say "fine." We hang up. There isn't anything else to say.
A half hour later, I still have internal pain and turmoil about all this. Having that contact, seeing his phone call, it brought a lot of the hurt back from a month ago. I send him an email asking him to take my number out of his phone. After all, if you are going to delete a friend, you should delete them from everywhere.
My friend Rose and I often have Friday nights at her place. She fixes us a salad and a little something else and we sit and watch a couple of movies or tv shows. She is into murder mysteries. So, normally we'll watch light murder mysteries (I won't do anything heavy blood or gore or murder). We haven't been able to do that since I parked my car. I wouldn't want to take the bus home after the movies, it would be too late. She has offered to drive me home tonight. That is SO sweet of her! I've been looking forward to going over to her place all week!
Sometimes Google Maps laughs at me. I tried to look at taking transit to her place and it just told me to walk, that she is too close for it to make sense to use transit.
Have you ever noticed how often the physical world mimics your mental world? Well, mine does anyway. I was riding my scooter over to Rose's place, still hurting from the "butt dial" incident.... and I didn't notice a difference in height in the sidewalk. Bang! I'm down on the sidewalk, on my knee. Now I have a skinned knee to go with my skinned up ego. How funny! Fortunately, it isn't too bad and I get to lick my mental wounds in quiet while sharing a nice evening with a friend.
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How Do You Decide? - 2/9/12
Thursday 2/9/12
In the past year, I've made Thursdays a non-driving day, unless I'm going to spend time watching my Grandkids, or something else awesome is happening. This means that doing "the bus" on Thursdays should be easy. Not so.
I haven't told either of my bosses that I'm doing this (the year without my car.) I know I can do it and still do a good job for both companies, but I don't want them to question that. Yesterday, my Avalon boss emailed and asked me to make a deposit on the way home. I couldn't do that. I miss the first bus on the trip going home if I leave even a tinsy bit late and that bank isn't anywhere near the route I take to the bus. I emailed him back that I took the bus to work and so couldn't make a deposit that night, but would make the deposit the next day (which gets counted the same as far as the bank goes.)
Now, I'm trying to figure out how to do that. It's easy to make the Avalon deposits on Monday and Friday mornings. There's a bank close to the Yoga Center. Heck the bus even stops close to the bank so I only have to use my razor scooter one way. Making them from here, my home, is a different story.
Charles' truck is still sitting here. I could easily hop in the truck, drive to the bank, make the deposit and be done with it, which would give me the rest of the day for me. I don't want to do that. This is about me going forward and doing something different. If I'm always relying on someone's car, then maybe I'm not truly doing something different. On the other hand, as I figured out Tuesday, it might be cheaper to put gas into Charles' truck than to pay the bus fees to get to the bank and back, and it's about finances too.
I thought there was a Union bank close to my bank over on Pioneer, but I tried looking it up and there isn't. The closest Union bank is 2 1/2 miles away. I'm not going to do the scooter for that! That means I'd have to either take a bus or take the truck and my bus pass doesn't work for these buses. So, it's an expense either way. I either pay the bus fees there and back, or put gas in the truck. I guess I'm giving up for now and taking the truck out to do errands. I'm sitting here figuring out anything and everything I can do while I'm out.
I stop at a couple grocery stores. I'm still trying to find a local grocery that will work for me. Around where I live there are large Asian, Indian and Hispanic communities. Apparently none of those communities are interested in organic food. I haven't been able to find a grocery that carries organics. Neither of these did.
I spend time at the 99 cent store (it's near the bank.) They have some organic salsa this time. I find it incredibly weird that I can get some organics from the 99 cent store, but not from the local grocery. This store often has one or two items that are organic (and 99 cents too!) I've found a couple little things for my Grandkids for Valentines' day. I refuse to give them candy. So, a stuffed valentine dog and lion (dog and lion are white with little red hearts all over them) and a couple little toys will do. I found this LARGE card for Tracye. I'm going to babysit the kids on Valentines' day. It will be a good project for them, decorating the card for her. I'm hoping it will brighten her day when she gets home from work too. The question now is: how the heck am I going to get the card undamaged through all the bus rides on Monday! That should be interesting! It's too big to fit in my backpack.
My brain has been having a debate for awhile. I know the razor scooter works for me and is a great option for getting to and from the bus. I've been wondering a bit about learning to skateboard, but I don't think I'm ready to make that a travel option, yet. The razor scooter I have is wonderful. I couldn't have tried to do this year without it. However, it was used when I got it, and has a couple small issues. So, I keep wondering if it's time to buy one. That way, also, if anything happened to one of the wheels (which I'm slightly paranoid about), I would have a back-up scooter while I figured out how to get a wheel replaced. I've done the research. There is a scooter that would be "better" for me. The razor A3 has bigger wheels, can possibly travel a little bit faster and supposedly gives a much smoother ride. I'm all about the smoother ride. When there are large cracks between the sidewalk pieces, the ride is definitely not smooth! I've found the A3 in an on-line only sale from Wal-mart for $40.
I'm trying to decide if this is my brain justifying spending money, or something that would really help. I've been having that debate about the scooter and a set of ear-buds (the headset I use hurts my ears when I use it for a prolonged time with my cap on) for awhile now.
I just found a razor AW125 on the Wal-Mart on-line site. They say it's an "improved" version of the A3. I can't find anything about it on the internet, which makes me skeptical. However, I did find reference that Wal-Mart had it's own version of the original razor scooter and I'm realizing that's what this is, Wal-Mart's version of the A3. The original scooter and Wal-Mart's version only had one difference (aside from color and decoration). The Wal-Mart version had a wheelie-bar and the original version didn't. So, the AW125 should be very similar to the A3. It only comes in bright red, but I'm ok with that. Red is a power color anyway!
I'm going for it! The AW125 sells for $10 less (so $30) and that's enough to kick me into action. Wal-Mart offers free delivery to the store. I just have to figure out which store I want it delivered to! During the ordering process the screen said it was "in stock" at the store, which is cool. I'm ok with waiting a week for it, but sooner is better! An hour later, I've gotten a text from the store saying they've canceled my order because they don't have it in stock! How funny! All I wanted was for it to be delivered to the store! I guess I'll have to try calling them. It's too late in the day to do now. So, for now I'm back to debating buying a scooter and earbuds.
In the past year, I've made Thursdays a non-driving day, unless I'm going to spend time watching my Grandkids, or something else awesome is happening. This means that doing "the bus" on Thursdays should be easy. Not so.
I haven't told either of my bosses that I'm doing this (the year without my car.) I know I can do it and still do a good job for both companies, but I don't want them to question that. Yesterday, my Avalon boss emailed and asked me to make a deposit on the way home. I couldn't do that. I miss the first bus on the trip going home if I leave even a tinsy bit late and that bank isn't anywhere near the route I take to the bus. I emailed him back that I took the bus to work and so couldn't make a deposit that night, but would make the deposit the next day (which gets counted the same as far as the bank goes.)
Now, I'm trying to figure out how to do that. It's easy to make the Avalon deposits on Monday and Friday mornings. There's a bank close to the Yoga Center. Heck the bus even stops close to the bank so I only have to use my razor scooter one way. Making them from here, my home, is a different story.
Charles' truck is still sitting here. I could easily hop in the truck, drive to the bank, make the deposit and be done with it, which would give me the rest of the day for me. I don't want to do that. This is about me going forward and doing something different. If I'm always relying on someone's car, then maybe I'm not truly doing something different. On the other hand, as I figured out Tuesday, it might be cheaper to put gas into Charles' truck than to pay the bus fees to get to the bank and back, and it's about finances too.
I thought there was a Union bank close to my bank over on Pioneer, but I tried looking it up and there isn't. The closest Union bank is 2 1/2 miles away. I'm not going to do the scooter for that! That means I'd have to either take a bus or take the truck and my bus pass doesn't work for these buses. So, it's an expense either way. I either pay the bus fees there and back, or put gas in the truck. I guess I'm giving up for now and taking the truck out to do errands. I'm sitting here figuring out anything and everything I can do while I'm out.
I stop at a couple grocery stores. I'm still trying to find a local grocery that will work for me. Around where I live there are large Asian, Indian and Hispanic communities. Apparently none of those communities are interested in organic food. I haven't been able to find a grocery that carries organics. Neither of these did.
I spend time at the 99 cent store (it's near the bank.) They have some organic salsa this time. I find it incredibly weird that I can get some organics from the 99 cent store, but not from the local grocery. This store often has one or two items that are organic (and 99 cents too!) I've found a couple little things for my Grandkids for Valentines' day. I refuse to give them candy. So, a stuffed valentine dog and lion (dog and lion are white with little red hearts all over them) and a couple little toys will do. I found this LARGE card for Tracye. I'm going to babysit the kids on Valentines' day. It will be a good project for them, decorating the card for her. I'm hoping it will brighten her day when she gets home from work too. The question now is: how the heck am I going to get the card undamaged through all the bus rides on Monday! That should be interesting! It's too big to fit in my backpack.
My brain has been having a debate for awhile. I know the razor scooter works for me and is a great option for getting to and from the bus. I've been wondering a bit about learning to skateboard, but I don't think I'm ready to make that a travel option, yet. The razor scooter I have is wonderful. I couldn't have tried to do this year without it. However, it was used when I got it, and has a couple small issues. So, I keep wondering if it's time to buy one. That way, also, if anything happened to one of the wheels (which I'm slightly paranoid about), I would have a back-up scooter while I figured out how to get a wheel replaced. I've done the research. There is a scooter that would be "better" for me. The razor A3 has bigger wheels, can possibly travel a little bit faster and supposedly gives a much smoother ride. I'm all about the smoother ride. When there are large cracks between the sidewalk pieces, the ride is definitely not smooth! I've found the A3 in an on-line only sale from Wal-mart for $40.
I'm trying to decide if this is my brain justifying spending money, or something that would really help. I've been having that debate about the scooter and a set of ear-buds (the headset I use hurts my ears when I use it for a prolonged time with my cap on) for awhile now.
I just found a razor AW125 on the Wal-Mart on-line site. They say it's an "improved" version of the A3. I can't find anything about it on the internet, which makes me skeptical. However, I did find reference that Wal-Mart had it's own version of the original razor scooter and I'm realizing that's what this is, Wal-Mart's version of the A3. The original scooter and Wal-Mart's version only had one difference (aside from color and decoration). The Wal-Mart version had a wheelie-bar and the original version didn't. So, the AW125 should be very similar to the A3. It only comes in bright red, but I'm ok with that. Red is a power color anyway!
I'm going for it! The AW125 sells for $10 less (so $30) and that's enough to kick me into action. Wal-Mart offers free delivery to the store. I just have to figure out which store I want it delivered to! During the ordering process the screen said it was "in stock" at the store, which is cool. I'm ok with waiting a week for it, but sooner is better! An hour later, I've gotten a text from the store saying they've canceled my order because they don't have it in stock! How funny! All I wanted was for it to be delivered to the store! I guess I'll have to try calling them. It's too late in the day to do now. So, for now I'm back to debating buying a scooter and earbuds.
10.2.12
Trying A Different Path - 2/8/12
Wednesday - 2/8/12
I leave the house later on Wednesdays. I'm used to leaving early afternoon. Heck, I was never good at leaving at the right time for work even then. I'm lounging around, moving slowly, wearing my comfy red PJs. Then, I catch a glimpse of the time! I'm not sure, but I might need to leave for the bus soon! I look it up on Google Maps and I need to leave in a half hour, which is very soon!
I rushed to get myself together and rushed out the door, just in time. At least I got to pack lighter today. I don't need to have much in my backpack since I'm just going down to Costa Mesa for work and not spending more time there.
I don't remember what time the bus is supposed to come. So I'm relieved to see a nice Hispanic lady sitting at the bus stop. Nice to know that I haven't missed the bus! I told her that, but she responded saying she doesn't speak English. We smile at each other while I rearrange my things and fold up the scooter.
The bus comes and picks me up and she stays sitting on the bench! It turns out she wasn't waiting for this bus! I guess it's good I didn't know that!
On the bus, there is a middle-aged Asian woman with her two teen daughters. She had shortish curled hair. They both had long straight hair. The younger girl is sitting with her mother on one bench. She is dozing with her head on Mom's shoulder. The older girl is sitting on the seat in front of them. That seat sits parallel to the bus. So, they can all see each other and interact. Both the Mother and the older daughter are wearing the cheap surgical type face masks. I keep wondering why it is just those two who are wearing the masks, why not the younger girl too? Is she sick and they are protecting themselves from her? Are they sick and protecting her and us from them? Is it wrong in their culture for people of a certain age and older to show their faces? My brain can make up a lot of reasons for things!
The other parallel bench seat opens up and they all move over there so they can sit together. Now Mother is sitting in the middle with one girl on each side. Both girls spend the rest of the trip, each having her head laying on one of Mom's shoulders. We are almost to the end of the route, Disneyland. I realize they must be going to Disneyland. Though, they don't have the excitement I would expect from that. Maybe they had to travel a long way. They were already on the bus when I got on.
There are two stops I can get off at to go to work. I've been taking the one because it makes the most sense in my mind. It's the first stop and should be the closest to my destination. Google maps always directs me to the other one though. So, I decided to try it today, to see if it is shorter. This way isn't as "comfortable." It has more traffic along the road. Google maps may be right though. It does seem like it could be shorter from the bus stop to work. I'm not ready to declare it yet. Part of the scooter time I've been coasting. That means there is a small hill and coming back this way might be more work than I want to put out.
Here I am taking the same "new" way back. I passed my oldest tenant on the way. I think I'm boggling his mind by riding the scooter and taking the bus. I almost went across the street to the wrong bus stop! I've been at that stop before, so I guess it's an easy mistake to make. I'm glad I caught myself in time! I would have been going the wrong direction!
This is SO funny! The same Asian woman and her two daughters are waiting to get on the bus at Disneyland. What are the chances of us all going back at the same time, on the same bus?! Neither daughter has a mask on now, but the Mother does. They don't look like they spent the day at Disneyland. No trinkets of any kind. Maybe they did something else in the area? Maybe they have learned to do the day without getting any trinkets. After they get on the bus, the older daughter puts her mask on. I'm tempted to ask them about the masks, but I hold back and don't ask.
We haven't been on the bus for long when the bus driver announces that there is NO eating on the bus. I hadn't known that you couldn't eat on the bus and had some bread on the morning trip. I'm feeling grateful that no one got mad at me for it! I glance back and notice the woman in the seat behind me scarfing down some kind of food. His announcement didn't phase her at all and now the bus smells like oranges. He makes the announcement again, this time louder, and adding in the fact that you would be arrested and that there is a fine and community service that would need to be done. I don't turn around, but I don't think she has stopped eating. Finally the bus driver stops the bus, walks down the aisle and tells her that when he says NO ONE can eat on the bus he means her. She throws the last bit of a sandwich into a bag and then sits there without answering. No more eating for this trip!
I leave the house later on Wednesdays. I'm used to leaving early afternoon. Heck, I was never good at leaving at the right time for work even then. I'm lounging around, moving slowly, wearing my comfy red PJs. Then, I catch a glimpse of the time! I'm not sure, but I might need to leave for the bus soon! I look it up on Google Maps and I need to leave in a half hour, which is very soon!
I rushed to get myself together and rushed out the door, just in time. At least I got to pack lighter today. I don't need to have much in my backpack since I'm just going down to Costa Mesa for work and not spending more time there.
I don't remember what time the bus is supposed to come. So I'm relieved to see a nice Hispanic lady sitting at the bus stop. Nice to know that I haven't missed the bus! I told her that, but she responded saying she doesn't speak English. We smile at each other while I rearrange my things and fold up the scooter.
The bus comes and picks me up and she stays sitting on the bench! It turns out she wasn't waiting for this bus! I guess it's good I didn't know that!
On the bus, there is a middle-aged Asian woman with her two teen daughters. She had shortish curled hair. They both had long straight hair. The younger girl is sitting with her mother on one bench. She is dozing with her head on Mom's shoulder. The older girl is sitting on the seat in front of them. That seat sits parallel to the bus. So, they can all see each other and interact. Both the Mother and the older daughter are wearing the cheap surgical type face masks. I keep wondering why it is just those two who are wearing the masks, why not the younger girl too? Is she sick and they are protecting themselves from her? Are they sick and protecting her and us from them? Is it wrong in their culture for people of a certain age and older to show their faces? My brain can make up a lot of reasons for things!
The other parallel bench seat opens up and they all move over there so they can sit together. Now Mother is sitting in the middle with one girl on each side. Both girls spend the rest of the trip, each having her head laying on one of Mom's shoulders. We are almost to the end of the route, Disneyland. I realize they must be going to Disneyland. Though, they don't have the excitement I would expect from that. Maybe they had to travel a long way. They were already on the bus when I got on.
There are two stops I can get off at to go to work. I've been taking the one because it makes the most sense in my mind. It's the first stop and should be the closest to my destination. Google maps always directs me to the other one though. So, I decided to try it today, to see if it is shorter. This way isn't as "comfortable." It has more traffic along the road. Google maps may be right though. It does seem like it could be shorter from the bus stop to work. I'm not ready to declare it yet. Part of the scooter time I've been coasting. That means there is a small hill and coming back this way might be more work than I want to put out.
Here I am taking the same "new" way back. I passed my oldest tenant on the way. I think I'm boggling his mind by riding the scooter and taking the bus. I almost went across the street to the wrong bus stop! I've been at that stop before, so I guess it's an easy mistake to make. I'm glad I caught myself in time! I would have been going the wrong direction!
This is SO funny! The same Asian woman and her two daughters are waiting to get on the bus at Disneyland. What are the chances of us all going back at the same time, on the same bus?! Neither daughter has a mask on now, but the Mother does. They don't look like they spent the day at Disneyland. No trinkets of any kind. Maybe they did something else in the area? Maybe they have learned to do the day without getting any trinkets. After they get on the bus, the older daughter puts her mask on. I'm tempted to ask them about the masks, but I hold back and don't ask.
We haven't been on the bus for long when the bus driver announces that there is NO eating on the bus. I hadn't known that you couldn't eat on the bus and had some bread on the morning trip. I'm feeling grateful that no one got mad at me for it! I glance back and notice the woman in the seat behind me scarfing down some kind of food. His announcement didn't phase her at all and now the bus smells like oranges. He makes the announcement again, this time louder, and adding in the fact that you would be arrested and that there is a fine and community service that would need to be done. I don't turn around, but I don't think she has stopped eating. Finally the bus driver stops the bus, walks down the aisle and tells her that when he says NO ONE can eat on the bus he means her. She throws the last bit of a sandwich into a bag and then sits there without answering. No more eating for this trip!
8.2.12
Can't Seem To Get Rid Of The Truck! - 2/7/12
Tuesday - 2/7/12
I slept over at my Daughter's house last night. I needed to be here to babysit this morning at 6am and that's the easiest way without a car!
It's fun having the extra night here. Both Christina and I end up feeling extra special because we had a sleep-over. She just gave me a BIG hug and said that was for me doing a sleepover with her. That was SO nice!
She has started mentioning that we haven't had a Grandma - Granddaughter "date" in quite awhile. I've been wondering how I'm going to arrange that without a car. I guess I'm going to figure it out soon! A year is way too long to wait for more of those!
Today, Christina not only had school, but also dance class. That gave Logan and I extra time alone together. We had a "date" and went to the Lyons Air Museum, looking at airplanes and motorcycles. Logan is so cute! The museum is right next to the runway of John Wayne airport. You can watch the jets land and take off from there. Every time we hear a jet engine, he rushes over to the window and climbs up the stairs so he can watch the plane take off!
Tracye wanted to take me home. I talked her out of it. I know it's cold and thinking about rain, but it isn't raining and I don't want my choices to impinge too much on other people. To be truthful, I'm kind of having a blast doing this too. Since it's early in the afternoon, and I don't have anything else scheduled, I decide today would be a good time to return the truck to Charles. I really want to get that done. I say my goodbyes and head out to catch a bus back to Avalon where the truck is.... and I miss the bus, by about 3 minutes. I really have to get my timing down better! The next bus isn't for 40 more minutes. I'm not feeling like sitting in one place for that amount of time. So, I head down the road on my razor scooter to see what's there. I pass one bus stop and keep going. Now, it's closer to the time for the bus and I'm worried about it coming while I'm in-between bus stops and I'm not sure where the next bus stop is. I decided to go back to the last bus stop and now I'm sitting here waiting, listening to my audio book. The audio book for this week is: "Connected - a day in the life of the global economy." It's trying to teach me economics.
It's 5pm and I'm finally at Charles'! I've called him to come down and park the truck. It turns out that he was asleep, taking a nap. He doesn't want me to leave the truck. He says it's too cold and rainy for me to be taking the bus. Arrrrgggghhh! I decide it would be nice to stay and be social for awhile, maybe even go to taco night with their household and it's easier to do that if I take the truck. So, I gave in, and arranged to take the truck home. I guess it can sit at my place just as easily as it can sit here.
It's good that I'm getting to know the people in Charles' household. He has a place for me to work on my oil painting in the garage here (he is trying to create a community of artists and be supportive of that). I haven't gone there yet to paint, but it is in the plans. Charles worked on my scooter a bit to get it folding again (yay!) For that he went into the garage. I got to scope out the painting space while he was working on the scooter. It will do nicely! I'm getting excited about painting with oils again!
Most of the household (plus me) went for tacos (it's $1 taco night.) Now, I think everyone who lives here has met me. So, at least I know, no one will question my being there when I show up to paint.
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