Visualeyes 10

Hey! Lookie at the title....10 in 2K10! A good place to start out the new year.

The past 10 days have been really difficult. My computer, which had the H1N1 of  'puter viruses, has been out of commission. I haven't been able to blog, follow the news on Facebook, Tweet, or work on stories. I  was able to check email on a friend's computer but once a day check-ins are still tough when you're used to checking 4-6 times a day! Besides being computer-less, my digital cable hasn't worked so I've had the 4 networks only. No HGTV????? No NCIS reruns on USA?  Now add all of that to being car-less AND weather in the teens in the "sunny South" with wind chills in the single digits. Let's just say I've been a little crazed :-)

I did have to venture out into the cold one morning to go into town for a demo on assistive technology. Once I  was bundled up like Nanook of the North, I braved the wind, cold, and uphill path to the bus. The usual 10 minute walk took 20 minutes because the cold air left me gasping for breath like an asthmatic. I finally made it to the bus stop, huffing, puffing, and wheezing .I joined the 2 women waiting for the bus. One woman pleasantly cursed the cold weather (I agreed with her) while the second woman took a small dog she was holding and placed it back in the carrier that sat on top of an old-fashioned upright, wire shopping cart. She turned to me and said: "You haf pone?" I replied excuse me because while English is my first language, it wasn't hers.

"Pone!, Pone, make call!"  I figured out she wanted to use my phone. Now I'm not in the habit of handing over my phone to strangers, especially when communication with them is marginal. But my nature is to help people out, so I asked her what number she wanted to call. She pointed to a number written on the top of a notebook and I dialed it for her. I don't have an ear for languages but I did listen to many a student and parent jabbering in Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese during my 30 years of teaching and when this woman began shouting into my cell in a harsh sounding dialect, I guessed it was Vietnamese.

Suddenly the other woman-who had been observing our interactions- called out that the bus had arrived. I didn't plan to miss it and stand in the cold any longer than necessary, so I  told Ms. Vietnam I needed my phone back. She turned away from me and continued to talk. I tried to reach for the cell and she blocked me and kept talking! The bus started to move and I  waved my arms begging for another moment and loudly stated  to Ms. Vietnam that I needed my phone. Again, she ignored me. I think I suddenly channeled The Hulk because a rage came upon me as I tore the phone out of her fingers shouting, "GIVE ME THE PHONE NOW!!" I leaped over to the bus, tapped my card and fell into a seat. The woman who had been observing this "confrontation" laughed and said she thought I wouldn't get the phone back. The bus driver, closed the door and started to drive off. The Vietnamese woman pounded on the door, shouting to get in (I guess that's whatshe was saying because it was in Vietnamese. Of course, she might have just been calling me names!). She dragged the cart and carrier onto the bus, fumbled for her card, then pushes the cart right in front of me and stood there trying to stare a hole through my head with dagger eyes!

I don't know what possessed me, but I actually sat there apologizing for ripping my phone out of her hands and offered to try the call again! ( the cold must have frozen all my working brain cells; either that or I had the feeling  that she might attack me with something-like a dog carrier- if I didn't let her use the phone again.) Just my luck, the battery was running low and the call wouldn't go through. She tried it twice- pushy little woman that she was- before she handed the phone back with a belligerent "it no work!"

Meantime, the bus driver had been shouting at her that it was dangerous to stand and she needed to sit down in a seat. She turned around and told him, "Get off, get off now!" I'm not sure if she meant herself, me, or the bus driver. He gladly stopped to let her off. He drove off mumbling about the crazy woman blocking the aisle. I noticed she was pushing the shopping cart/dog carrier toward the dry cleaners I use. Duh! It dawned on me that I had seen a small dog in the cleaners several times and this woman must work there. Visions of stained and torn clothes whizzed through my brain. Darn, now I have to find a new dry cleaners!

Oh the joys of riding the bus and the subway trains. I think I'll  write a book about my travails, uh, adventures. I think I'll call it "Mass Transit Chronicles." Here are the lessons I learned from chapter one's encounter:
          * Always start out your day with a fully chanrged cell phone. You never know if you'll have to dial
              911 because some crazy person is stealing your phone.
           * Never hand your phone to someone else, especially when you're waiting for a bus or train and
              especially if they don't speak English.
           * Beware of people with animal carriers on top of shopping carts.
Enough said.

Visualeyes 9

Here it is.... not an extraordinary car, but a good one none the less.
Last Sunday I went out to brunch with my friends, then we came back, signed the papers, took the pictures, and took me to the grocery store for one last ride with "my baby!" Then it was goodbye car, and I watched as it drove out of sight. (Very heavy sigh...) The rest of the day, I didn't quite know what to do with myself. Normally on a weekend, I'd head over to the bookstore and find something calling my name. But, oops!
No  car. Monday morning, as is my habit, I checked outside to see what the weather was like, and there was a space, a parking space, where my car used to sit. No car.   By Tuesday, I HAD to get out of the house and bring some normalcy back into my life. So I made a list of errands I could do in the same general area- mail holiday cards and take small package to mail at UPS Store, pick up RX, drop off jewelry order at gift shop carrying my line. My determination was set and off I trekked, up- and I do mean UP- the street to wait for the bus. After the huffing and puffing and wheezing slowed down (and a hit off the old inhaler), I noticed that the weather was chillier than I thought. Did I have gloves with me? No. Did I have earmuffs or a scarf with me? No. Was my backpack checked for necessary things before I left? No. "The Planner" is going to have to plan better.

Got to the gift shop with jewelry-check- and then an uphill 3 minute walk to get the prescription. Two errands done. Now the steep, uphill "climb" to get to UPS for mailings-huff, puff, check- but I needed a stop to breathe. Saw the bus I needed at the stop about 200 yds. away so I took off at a slow run (remember I have a pack on my back) and made it there before he took off. Of course it turned out he wasn't leaving yet because this bus changes numbers mid route and it sits and waits at this particular stop for 15 minutes before it leaves with the new number on it! (Don't ask me why it changes, I don't get it.) This bus was , of course, going in the opposite direction from where I lived but it was chilly out, I was cold and the bus was warm, and I was tired from uphill walking. (I'm not in shape for all this mandatory exercise!)  I said to myself:  "Gail just go where the bus is going. You've never been to the end of this route; you'll learn where it goes for future reference. It's an adventure!!!" This adventure led me to one of the subway stations where I needed to take the subway to the next stop in order to pick up the bus that doesn't change it's number mid route. Note to self; wear thicker pants if you're going to be waiting for a train in the cold. The marble bench practically gave my bottom freezer burn! At the next stop, I had just missed the bus, so I had another outdoor wait, this time on a wrought iron bench. Hmmm... colder or warmer than the marble one? It's a TIE!!! The wind was whipping around and I was pretending to distract myself from a cold butt, frozen ears, and a runny nose by doing a sudoku puzzle. Might be good for the brain pathways and neurons, but every pathway I had was screaming GET ME ON A WARM BUS NOW!!!! Geez, it's amazing how long 20 minutes take when you're waiting for a bus in chilly weather! Yeah, yeah, I know it wasn't Michigan weather but it was about 39 and I was dressed for 65! I don't know where my internal heat went, but it must have been taking a coffee break someplace else.

Finally the bus arrived; I made it back to my street, walked the downhill (thank goodness) trek home. Still no car there. I guess I was kind of wishing it would magically be there. Up the flight of 14 stairs to my condo. Dumped the pack, threw off the shoes, and collapsed on the couch. Woke up 2 hours later. This no-car-take-bus-and-train routine is going to take some adjustment!

Here are my dear friends with their "new" car.

Write From the Soul 7

My day started waaaay too early . I got up, showered, dressed, out the door to go to a hair appointment. The day was gray, cold, and rainy so there was a feeling that it was the kind of day to stay at home and hibernate. I got to the shop and it hit; I don't think the appointment is today. Guess what? I was right!!! It's tomorrow morning! I've been a step behind all day.

Then tonight I got an email from a friend titled "Randon Thoughts." I just howled as I read them because I have thought these same things...really! Enjoy some humor.

Random Thoughts for the Day:

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately
clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you
realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I
was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm
pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how
the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I
don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

12."Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this
-- ever. 

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks
me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I
swear I did not make any changes to.

14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not
to answer when they call.

15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello?
Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and
goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone
and run away?

16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not
seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

17. I think the freezer deserves a light as well..
 

Visualeyes 5

To make myself feel better about giving up the car I'm making a list of the positive side of this decision. Many thanks to my creative friends, family, and bloggers who answered my call for help finding the perfect ideas..  :-) I'm so thrilled with these, I have to publish it before Friday!!!

 25  Reasons to be Positive About Being Car-less

1)   I can talk on my cell phone in a moving car without worrying that I might hit someone or something.
2)  I can check out the neighborhood, the  colorful leaves, look at the accident I just passed, check out a magazine, or actually read a complete road sign.
3)  I have unfettered access to someone's car radio. (as the passenger, you see)
4)  I don't have to worry about spilling hot coffee all over my clear shirt or in my lap because the guy in front of me stopped suddenly. (This is because I can see that the guy is stopping and warn the driver which means I'm talking, not drinking!)
5)  I can lean my seat back as far as I want, even take a short nap, since I don't have to worry about looking out the rear view and side mirrors.
6)  OK, the obvious one about saving money on gas and not getting ticked off every time the price goes up.
7)  Also I can reduce my carbon footprint (yeah, yeah, that's me the eco-friendly kid.)
8)  The other obvious one is not having to pay the auto insurance premiums.
9)  Then there's no car maintenance to worry about, or for that matter trying to figure out what the service rep means when he explains why the bill is so costly.
10) How about not having to wait at the DMV or Tax Commissioners office to ask questions that they can't or won't answer only to be told I don't have the correct form and need to come back with it!
11) No more ad valorem tax to pay on the car or emissions test to do.
12) A chance to clean up my language because I won't be swearing at rude, crazy or stupid drivers! (Yeah, this one still needs work.)
13) I am a supporter of the community as I use mass transit. (I sound so wonderful.)
14) Buses and trains will probably provide a wealth of interesting people for blog posts and/or book characters.
15) I won't have to worry about being carjacked.
16) I can learn to appreciate birds because they will no longer be pooping on my hood or windshield!
17) No more concern over assisting European or Middle Eastern economies rather than the US or A.
18) All the walking I am doing will improve my fitness. (I guess I could learn to enjoy being buff, it certainly would be different!)
19) I can indulge in favorite foods without guilt due to an exercise induced higher metabolism. (Okay, so maybe not pizza and chocolate EVERY day.)
20) I will have more "direct face time" with friends since my schedule will now coincide with their schedule for shopping.
21)  No more grumbling over scraping car windows in winter due to snow or ice. (Yeah, I know that's not a huge issue in Atlanta but I won't have to deal with it the once a winter it happens!)
22) Never have to change another flat tire again. Come to think of it, I never HAVE changed a tire in the 40+ years I've been driving cars.
23) I had 3 friends suggest that I can now put on make-up without worrying about an accident. Great idea but since I usually don't wear much make-up, which one of you wants to teach me how to apply it correctly????
24) I will no longer have to worry about cats and dogs peeing on my tires to mark their territory.
25) I will no longer have to listen to that annoying recording at the grocery store gas pumps trying to sell me something.

Hey, maybe being car-less isn't such a bad idea after all! I think I'm starting to feel better about this. :-) If you have any other great reasons it's good to be car-less, send them to me in a comment!

Visualeyes 2

If you had the choice between pouring over a bus schedule for departure times to coordinate your errands for the day or jumping into a car and driving to do the errands, which would you pick? That's a no-brainer, right? I've got to say that even though I know I need to perfect my bus/train skills, I still find myself jumping into the car. There's a voice in my head that says, "Hey what are you doing? You shouldn't be driving!" but another voice, the one that likes to rationalize things and make excuses for why it's okay to do something, says: "But you can't carry this furniture and all this other stuff to Goodwill by going on the bus. So just make this quick trip, using side streets, not the expressway, and it will be alright." It makes sense to me. Yeah, right.

The problem is I could rationalize just about anything as a way to use the car because letting go of it is really hard. Harder than I imagined and I was imagining it to be pretty awful. I realized I wasn't handling this transition well after I bought 2 bags of Halloween candy [no kids in my complex and never had a treater in 15 years living here] and ate it all.  Not in one day of course, but it sure didn't help the blood sugar any.)  Hmmm... sounds like a touch of depression to me. Funny how that can creep up on you.

So what should I do about this? I can't change the fact that the driving needs to stop. But I can change the temptation of having the car calling to me. I have to get rid of my car. Geez, the idea of that makes me shudder yet I know myself well enough that eliminating temptation isn't a gradual thing. I just have to make a complete break. Oh-oh, there goes that voice in my head pleading, "No, you haven't been without a car of your own for over 30 years!" [Now before you start calculating and thinking I can't add correctly you should know that I got my first car at age 21.]  I have a nephew going off to college next year and I thought I could give him my car. My sister and I planned to drive the car up to Massachusetts in June when her kids were out of school. That means the temptation sits in front of me for 8 months. I now know that I can't face it that long. Since my sister can't come get the car now and there is always the possibility of driving through snow once you pass October and head to the North, I started exploring auto carriers. That's worth a blog post of its own! Then to add temptation of a different sort, a friend told me that she and her husband would like to buy my car because it is newerthan hers and has less miles. That would solve the problem of transporting the car and get it out of my sight. But I did offer to family first. A dilemma that I have to mull over. Care to share your thoughts with me on what you would do?