Compass & Coffee Spoons

Could This Help Transit?

I got a lot of enjoyment out of this articlefrom the Miami Herald, via Planetizen. Here's a snippet:

"James Harris loves public buses so much, he stole one from a Miami-Dade depot last month and, wearing a genuine uniform, chauffeured unsuspecting fare-paying passengers around South Beach for hours, police and government officials said Thursday.

When Harris, 18, was arrested a few days later, he posted bail -- and promptly stole a second bus.

''He's a real transit freak,'' said Derrick Gordon, assistant director for bus operations..."

Photo from nycsubway.org--their 2001 Best Non-NYC Metro Area Bus Photo contest winner BusProwler, depicting "bus 9910, a Miami-Dade Transit 1999 NABI 40-LFW is parked outside a trailer park in Liberty City assisting in evacuating a flooded trailer park following the infamous No Name Storm of October 2000."

 

Cool Tool

Ask.com has this cool feature where you can calculate walking directions and distance. It's pretty spot on too. I just did my route to work and was going to show it until I realized that, um, I shouldn't post my home and work addresses online. I did do that walk today, though, and it takes about an hour. The estimate was 57 minutes, which I could definitely do if I stepped it up a bit.

So, here's a hypothetical walk from Pittsburgh to New York:

You can get there in 185 hours if you want! Pretty cool, huh?

Safeway Versus Harris Teeter; Or, Evil Versus Sanity

I've blogged before about how much I hate the shopping experience at Safeway (here and here). Yesterday, I was able to experience the juxtaposition between shopping there and at Harris Teeter. I've shopped at HT a lot recently. I haven't shopped at Safeway at all. Lest I forget how annoying it is, I went yesterday. It was actually to get baking chocolate for the cupcakes I was making. Safeway was closer...that's about all it is. Here's how it went.

Harris Teeter. I parked my car in the underground lot at the Pentagon Row HT and walked up and into the store. I sanitized the handle of my cart and walked to the freezer section. I leisurely strolled around, picking out my food. I reached the soda aisle and was disappointed to find out that there was no HT brand diet ginger ale. I asked the guy stocking wine if they had any in the back. Even though he didn't work in the soda section, he looked me in the eye sympathetically, and said he would go and check if there was any in the back. He was sincerely apologetic that they were all out, and suggested I check back the next day when a shipment would be coming in. I went to the deli and got freshly sliced chicken breast, where the deli worker asked me if the thickness was okay. I waited about 2 seconds in line before being checked out by a friendly cashier.

Safeway: I parked in the lot and dashed through to avoid getting hit. Mind you, I only had one item to get, so the shopping part of it was pretty painless. If I had to buy a whole order as at HT, I can tell you how the situations I encountered would have gone:

• Soda aisle--I wouldn't have been able to find anyone. If I had, they would have taken about 2 seconds to pretend to listen to what I was asking before they summarily dismissed me by shrugging and saying they didn't know.
• Deli--I would have been given presliced meat and given attitude if I asked for it fresh. I probably wouldn't even have had a choice of chicken. They would have had one flavor and it would have been Safeway's "primo taglio" (which I'm pretty sure is Italian for "tasteless") brand.

As for my actual experience yesterday, I stood in the "express" lane for an inordinately long period of time during which it appeared the checkout woman wasn't doing anything. Also, a dog ran through my aisle. Better than what I thought it was at first (a rat), but still--a dog! Followed by a girl.

It goes without saying that I can't wait until the HT opens in my 'hood.

Life is Just a Bowl of Cherry Blossoms

Like the nuts we are, Erin and I decided to brave the crowds and visit Japan's greatest gift to the U.S. other than the Wii and sushi, the beautiful Cherry trees around the Tidal Basin. Thanks, Japan!

We joined about a trillion other people in the same idea. The past few days were sort of like basic training for dealing with what I affectionately term the "tourons." Working a few blocks from the White House and next to the Mayflower Hotel does not do much for isolating you from the craziness. Did I mention there was also the Smithsonian Kite Festival, the opening of the Nationals new stadium, and the National Marathon was also this weekend? Anyway, we survived.

Erin and I ended our day with dinner at Cafe Mozart--in my opinion, a hidden DC gem. Nothing too fancy, but it is kind of like stepping off of gross NY Avenue and into Europe.  It was exactly what we needed at that moment.

Public Service Announcement...I'd like to take a moment to rail at people who feel their photo opp is more important than the tree. People, don't climb in the trees, sit in the trees, hit the trees, pick the blossoms (which opens the tree to infection...I heard this on WTOP), trample all over them. They're a treasure; respect them so others may enjoy them. Sheesh.

I'm hoping to hit the blossoms (figuratively not literally) with Leslie, my blossom-crazy friend! I'm also thinking of doing some pre-work walks.

Never seen so many people at the WWII Memorial! This doesn't even begin to get at the vast quantity of people.

"Blossoms, I love you!"

More crowds.

Loud Neighbor Sentenced to Prison

NPR reports that a woman in Osaka was sentenced to 20 months in prison for blasting her stereo at her neighbor. I don't know WHY in the world this story would interest me. Probably because I'm listening to my neighbor's TV as I write this. When I got home, I turned on the vacuum directly above his TV. Childish? Yes. Not as childish as taking up clog dancing for the express purpose of annoying him. It's driving me nuts. I'm thinking of writing another note such as this:

"Dear Charles, Would you mind giving me your TV schedule so that I could listen to the same program in stereo and not have to turn up my TV to hear it over yours? Thanks."

(By the way, this actually happened last night with The Biggest Loser.)

or

"Dear Charles" [Real name used to NOT protect the guilty] "Would you like me to take up clog dancing or vacuum for hours every night?"

Seriously, dude, get a clue!

Image from Wikipedia, who got it from ibibilio web museum.

Relief!

So, New Years Day, I decided was the day to inform my neighbor about his TV. Now, I am a very cowardly lion, so I didn't do it in person. I mean, you just never know, right? I decided a note was in order, an anonymous note. Oh, and did I mention, I was too chicken to even DELIVER it? I don't know what it is, but I am VERY adverse to confrontation of any sort. I guess I need to work on my assertiveness skills. Anyway, Erin delivered the note for me, and in the past 2 days, the TV, though still somewhat audible at a low level, is much quieter. Like, I still know he's watching a comedy, because I can kind of hear the laugh track, but I don't know which one. Quite a difference from New Year's Day when Ted and Erin were like "Is that Law & Order?" And, indeed, it doesn't tke a detective (har har) to realize that when you can hear the characters talking about Hudson University and the characteristic "dum-dum." I'm still going to get a new set of thicker carpets. I need to feel a little more insulated. But, hey, if the note helps a little, I'll take it!

Commuter Sentences: Love Thy Neighbor

On the way to work this morning (okay, I'm blogging at work, but give me a break, it's lunchtime), I decided to walk to the metro, given that I skipped the gym. So, I walked past my homeless friend near Union Station who said "2 more days to the weekend--think positive!" I love him. I have the feeling many people do, because yesterday he had a pot of hot coffee there with him.

Well, on the metro, I went to sit down and had this guy rushing from the other end of the train to sit where I was sitting (2 seats available). I mean, he REALLY wanted that seat. As I watched him write a list on his daily planner pad, I was formulating ideas about what he was about. I was confidant that if he were a character in a made-for-TV feature-length film, he'd be either a.) a serial killer b.) the bumbling office eccentric who everyone makes fun of for being uptight and anal or c.) spy in the manner of Robert Hanssen (i.e. guy from Breach...the fedora helped in this regard).

He threw me for a loop when he pulled out Washington Hispanic. I didn't peg him as Hispanic. But then I thought maybe he just picked it up near the station for something to read, lest he have a moment with nothing to do.

Well, just shy of our stop, Farragut North, the train stops because--and I quote--"a wheelchair person is laid out on the edge of the track so trains are traveling at a reduced rate of speed." So, he says to me "What do you suppose that means?" Each announcement over the next 10 minutes clarified the situation a bit. It seems someone fell out of their wheelchair. No one really explained to us, however, why no one just helped them up and away from the edge. So, we had a bit of interaction over the whole ordeal--he felt it could be an attempted suicide. I felt it was Metro trying to get more creative with their excuses.

But, in the end, I don't think he's a serial killer or spy, though he may be a bit anal, who isn't. It just goes to show how jumping to conclusions about other people can cause irrational thoughts and behaviors--from road rage to simple snapping of a checkout person at a customer...in the end, we just need to be more sympathetic and have more interaction.

Okay, this kumbaya moment is officially OVER.

Multifamily Living Out Loud

The neighbor thing hasn't really improved. I typed up a letter last night and intended to slip it on his door today. It was friendly, but I was still afraid of making things worse. My brother is of the opinion I should learn to put up with noise, but that if it bothers me, leave a post it signed "concerned neighbor." My friend Leslie thinks I should just knock. I did this evening discover an activty other than sleeping that keeps his TV quiet. I'm not quite sure how to put this in a family-friendly way. Getting some. Alone. Yes, I have to hear "that," but "that" is in some ways better--easier to avoid and drown out. So, I'm thinking a gift subscription to Hustler is in order... :) I'll sign the card "a concerned neighbor."

Image from http://www.motherfools.com

New Neighbor, New Annoyances

I guess I got a new neighbor downstairs sometime in the last week or so. The nice couple who lived there moved back to Austin. I have not seen him but I've heard him. But, more than hearing him, I've heard his TV. All day. I am far from critiquing ample TV viewing, being one to watch the TV myself. But, it is LOUD. Right now, it's tolerable, but barely. Yesterday, it was several notches louder and really out of control. I wanted to have quiet in the apartment, but even in my bedroom, I could hear the TV. I could hear actual conversations from the TV show...that loud. So, I had to turn on my stereo. This just ends up turning into a loudness competition. Oh, and did I mention he also has a TV in the bedroom? So, there have been some nights I have been awoken by a laugh track. Even with ear plugs. I have had to drag out my sound relaxer again.

I'm reasonable with noise, I think. I chalk some of the noise up to apartment living. I heard my other neighbors' televisions--just not this loudly. I tolerate occasional heavy bass stereo playing. I think part of the problem here is not just its volume but its consistency--there's rarely a break unless he's sleeping--and maybe not even then because I feel like it's 24 hours.

I don't exactly know how to handle these situations. Do I knock, introduce myself and mention the TV? Do you even approach neighbors in the city when they move in? I WANT to do this, but then I think "what if they're crazy?" Or, "maybe they want to be anonymous and will think that it's ME who's crazy."  I've always seen people in the hall and introduced myself...to this day I have not met my neighbor across the hall who moved in when the first guy moved out. It's been almost 2 years. Do I ask the first floor neighbor if she's similarly bothered?  I don't want it to turn into a situation like it was with the smoky neighbor...that turned ugly.

Advice?

Carless Update

Just a little update. I've now been without a car a little over a week. I have definitely been feeling the absence. A few times I considered going shopping somewhere, but decided against it (this is probably a good thing). I got groceries for the first time on Sunday evening.  I strained my back a bit carrying them home...definitely would bring a backpack next time! On the upside, I have gotten a lot more walking in!  The weekend bus service stinks...I waited over 40 minutes for one on Saturday. That's a major deterrent when you don't feel like walking 20 min to the metro.

I won't be deciding for now whether this will be permanent. My dad took my car to a local guy in Western PA who works on specifically electrical issue. The problem Curtis Chevrolet on GA Avenue in DC assessed to be a $2035 repair was...$279 to fix! I can understand a little geographic discrepancy as well as a dealer versus independent difference, but that's RIDICULOUS! The same guy is going to fix the other minor issues with my car (air conditioning and a flickering odometer) for $700 or under. I'd like to also point out I spent $372 for Curtis to tell me that it would take $2035 to fix it. Oh, and the wiring specialist said that whoever worked on the car really screwed it up and actually did a different fix to the car than the dealer had prescribed. Personally, I don't trust the dealer. I feel as if they thought "hey, here's a girl, under the gun with the inspection" and thought they could dupe me. Either that, or they're incompetent. Either way, it's not good. But, I'm happy to be getting the car back...for now. It should be good for another 2 years at least when this is done, if not longer. Phew.