So Tuesday I DID ride the bus, but I didn't get it together in time to ride my bike to the bus stop. The good news is once again it was a great ride. I went in a hour earlier than usual and with that was the benefit of sipping my coffee and watching the sun rise and light up the Santa Monica Mountains. Letting my mind drift for 25 minutes in the morning has done wonders for my morning disposition. Good bye surly Ceal.
Today was a drive day and I would be remiss if I didn't say something about another unanticipated reason for riding the bus: accountability. Being on time isn't my forte. Each review I have at work comes out like this: nearly everything is A1 great BUT there's that one ugly mark, getting to work on time. Let me say a lil sump-sumpthin' about the bus, it forces me to be on time. Makes me accountable for my actions. Not like I'm a delinquent to begin with, but seriously, when I drive I'm like, "It's OK, you can make up time on the road...just hit that snooze button one more time." The bus drives home the point that I believe one of my seventh grade teachers tried to teach me: prior proper planning. The alarm is set for 6 a.m. for a reason, and no it's not to make sure the snooze button has a purpose.
If it does anything in the long haul, the bus will certainly will drive me toward being a little more accountable. Looking forward to tomorrow's reason or perhaps lesson? Life lessons from the bus...hmmmm....we shall see.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Day One: Determination Equals Relaxation
Today, of all days, was NOT the day to wonder about the origin and purpose of that awful noise blaring near my right ear at 6 a.m. At the time of said blaring I was pleased and possibly proud of my efforts in making it stop. Needless to say, I was in a deep sleep when I was supposed to be packing my bag lunch and preparing for the bike ride to the bus stop.
Never fear, wash-and-wear Ceal bounded into action at 7:30 a.m. and was out the door and racing the 2.6 miles to the bus stop in the Honda at 7:50 a.m. with a sack lunch in hand. I was determined to not screw up on day one.
The bus was full of all of one other rider this morning. I sipped my coffee--yes I had time to make coffee before leaving--and zoned for a whole 25 minutes on my first ride to Cal State Channel Islands from Oxnard. I did nothing and it was everything I thought it could be. Granted it is spring break and I'm sure the number of people riding the bus is impacted the break, it really was a pleasant experience. And yes, I was surprised.
This wasn't one of my original reasons for riding the bus, but it has pressed its way into my top 10 without a second thought: relaxation. Had I driven to work after such a boneheaded move of viciously taming the bedside noise and waking up a full hour and a half late it would have been the prelude to an awful day. Instead I got to sip coffee and put things into perspective for 25 minutes. My time. I like it.
I'm going to do it again tomorrow, but this time without the mad rush and with a nice bike ride to the bus stop. Relaxation, who knew?
Never fear, wash-and-wear Ceal bounded into action at 7:30 a.m. and was out the door and racing the 2.6 miles to the bus stop in the Honda at 7:50 a.m. with a sack lunch in hand. I was determined to not screw up on day one.
The bus was full of all of one other rider this morning. I sipped my coffee--yes I had time to make coffee before leaving--and zoned for a whole 25 minutes on my first ride to Cal State Channel Islands from Oxnard. I did nothing and it was everything I thought it could be. Granted it is spring break and I'm sure the number of people riding the bus is impacted the break, it really was a pleasant experience. And yes, I was surprised.
This wasn't one of my original reasons for riding the bus, but it has pressed its way into my top 10 without a second thought: relaxation. Had I driven to work after such a boneheaded move of viciously taming the bedside noise and waking up a full hour and a half late it would have been the prelude to an awful day. Instead I got to sip coffee and put things into perspective for 25 minutes. My time. I like it.
I'm going to do it again tomorrow, but this time without the mad rush and with a nice bike ride to the bus stop. Relaxation, who knew?
Sunday, March 16, 2008
It feels like the first time...the very first time
It's possible I've looked at the bus schedule no less than 17 times today, and after each check and re-check I've gone out to the garage and looked at the Honda.
Bus memories aren't my favorite. In elementary school I spent most of my time wedged next to the window with my knees and shins pressed against the back of the seat in front of me while slouching and contorting my body into a c-shape with a book open on my lap. Being from the frozen Midwest, I knew exactly what seat on the bus had the heater underneath, and I used this knowledge when selecting my morning perch during junior high and high school. Note that I have not mentioned ever sitting in "the back of the bus." The hecklers sat back there, the no goods. Things that I only had seen in movies or heard about in off-color jokes took place in those last two rows of seats in big yellow, and my mother warned me to steer clear of the chiefs of the back of the bus tribe.
Today is Sunday, March 16, and my vow to use the public transportation system in Ventura County becomes a reality in about 12 hours. Like the enchiladas I just finished for dinner, I am chicken. Since my last days on big yellow 10 years ago, it takes fewer than five fingers to count how many times I've used public transportation in this country. My perception of riding the bus and who rides the bus are shallow stereotypes, and my perception of myself doesn't fit that mold.
So why am I riding the bus? There's no single burning reason that drove me to this self-imposed second quarter-and-then-some commitment to public transport. However, it's more like a herd of ant-sized reasons carrying me on this journey. As the days pass I'll elaborate on my reasons, but for now here's a few to start with:
Bus memories aren't my favorite. In elementary school I spent most of my time wedged next to the window with my knees and shins pressed against the back of the seat in front of me while slouching and contorting my body into a c-shape with a book open on my lap. Being from the frozen Midwest, I knew exactly what seat on the bus had the heater underneath, and I used this knowledge when selecting my morning perch during junior high and high school. Note that I have not mentioned ever sitting in "the back of the bus." The hecklers sat back there, the no goods. Things that I only had seen in movies or heard about in off-color jokes took place in those last two rows of seats in big yellow, and my mother warned me to steer clear of the chiefs of the back of the bus tribe.
Today is Sunday, March 16, and my vow to use the public transportation system in Ventura County becomes a reality in about 12 hours. Like the enchiladas I just finished for dinner, I am chicken. Since my last days on big yellow 10 years ago, it takes fewer than five fingers to count how many times I've used public transportation in this country. My perception of riding the bus and who rides the bus are shallow stereotypes, and my perception of myself doesn't fit that mold.
So why am I riding the bus? There's no single burning reason that drove me to this self-imposed second quarter-and-then-some commitment to public transport. However, it's more like a herd of ant-sized reasons carrying me on this journey. As the days pass I'll elaborate on my reasons, but for now here's a few to start with:
- My pocketbook...gas is $3.50 a gallon and my parking permit is $30 a month
- Realization of hypocrisy...I work somewhere that has regularly scheduled bus stops just feet from my office, and one of our campus battle cries is sustainability
- A social experiment...taking myself outside my comfort zone and learning something new
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