I would like to apologize first off to all of my loyal fans for allowing my social life to devour the majority of my time.
Today I am back at bus life. The last several weeks I have been using peoples cars. Watching cats and then my mother’s surgery allowed me to use her car. At first it was a shock filling a car with gas since I had not done it in a few months. I did not realize until I was at the pump what it actually cost to fill a car with gas now. I am sure the people around me thought I was a true blond as I sat there and said "Holy God, it is that expensive to drive now".
Some exciting news is that we have preliminarily booked our venue. Greysolon in Duluth for Saturday, May 18th, 2013. We tried for September 2012 however August, September and October are all booked. We are both very excited about the wedding. It is going to be an amazing event, custom designed gowns, suits and all of the little extra's. I think when I looked last night the guest list was up to 350 people. I am so happy to have found my love, my life, my soul mate!
Last week my fiancée and I moved into a new apartment on Oak Grove next to Loring Park. It is an amazing area and full of life. We have the most amazing neighbors Alex and her boyfriend Mark. I jokingly refer to us as Mark & Rae squared. Sitting out on the balcony watching the action on the block is fun. A lot more activity after 5pm than there was in St Paul. It is an amazing one bedroom apartment. But it has a full dining room which is a big deal for me since I spent a lot on my 8 person table when I had my loft downtown. I was home not feeling well yesterday, so in between working on some emails and napping I was able to get some unpacking and organizing done. The living room and kitchen has French windows which I love. It almost makes it feel like we are living in Paris. Even with the neighbors on the balconies drinking wine... Sometimes from a box! Haha.
I am still trying to perfect my new route in the mornings. This morning is used my Google map app on my android (which I will no longer trust) and thought there was a bus at 6:30. Well the bus arrived at 6:45am and I needed to get to Southdale by 7pm to catch the 684 to Eden Prairie. We were about 3 minutes away from Southdale when I noticed the 684 passing us. So I will have to work on the timing aspect of my daily commute.
Tonight should be rather easy to get home. I will just take the 684 all the way downtown and walk a couple blocks to the house. I am looking forward to getting back into the routine. Although I am hoping that the weather will hold out for a few more weeks so I can get some biking in. I need to drop a few pounds and the 13 mile ride to and from my office is just the thing to do it.
I promise now to be more faithful in my posting of the adventures yet to come.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Minneapolis & St Paul Streets....
As I mentioned previously not too many new adventures... However the new bids for drivers were just completed so now is the time when the drivers start their new respective routes.
I was blessed in that the route for the 16 and 94 have now been changed due to the actions of my friend Antonio Banks... and rather than coming down Cedar they now come down Robert Street. I now am dropped off basically at my front door. Although I did not mind walking the two blocks to get home, rain and snow days were not as much fun. Saturday I ran up to Target (Pronounced Tar-ga) on University and Hamlin. On the way back the bus driver announced that the permanent change had taken effect and that we would now be going down 11th to Robert Street and on into downtown St Paul. As we neared the Rossmor I was standing up front preparing to debark when I asked the driver if she stopped at 10th as well as 9th Street. She said "I don't know"... I couldn't help but laugh and I told her that I was not laughing at her I just was not expecting that response. She said that she had not been formally trained on the route and she could stop either if I wanted. 9th street is the easiest for me as my loft faces 9th and Robert streets. As was pointed out by a friend maybe it is making me lazier however with the amount of biking I have done lately, I think that it counter balances itself.
About a week ago I was on my way home from work. After getting off the 684 express from Eden Prairie I made my way up to 6th and Nicollet to catch the 94C back to St Paul. It was a packed bus, as I stepped onto the bus I scanned the crowd for someone to sit next to. Before starting to ride the bus I never appreciated people's personal hygiene as much as I do now. One day in particular I was forced to sit behind a gentleman who I don’t think had seen a shower or water for that matter since the late 90's. Luckily my seasonal allergies were flared so I was unable to smell all of his musk. On this most recent evening I located a larger lady toward the front of the bus that I had seen multiple times previously. I had interacted with her previously and she was very pleasant and well put together. (as my Gram would say) As the bus steamed down 6th street toward Hwy 94, we made our last stop at 11th street and the driver hit the gas, we were on our way. After my experience on the 21 I am all for the drivers that "feel the need, the need for speed". Well this driver had switched on the after burners and we were off the races. I felt not unlike Dale Earnhardt Jr must feel during a Nascar bout. If you are familiar with 6th street in any way just before you enter the ramp to 94 East it is the worst stretch I feel within 20 blocks. There are giant potholes all over. As the driver enter this massive mine field of potholes within seconds we were airborne. Knowing the road and having other drivers unknowingly enter this mine field I was prepared. As we hit a couple the lady next to me was airborne. All I remember were legs flying in the air and people yelling. I may be sadistic but I could help but find it funny and I did my best to hold in the laughter. There were screams coming from the back of the bus where I am sure the worst was felt. I remember thinking so this is what a massive amount of turbulent in a commercial aircraft feels like.
I do respect the driver for not doing what any other Minnesota driver would which is to stomp on the brakes, I could foresee not only people airborne but launching forward into others. The words "Ohh the humanity" came to mind. The driver kept on the gas as his instinct told him that if he kept on it we would get thru them quicker.
Last Friday evening I was running to my friend’s apartment in uptown to go grab a couple drinks. I jumped on the 94B and headed to Minneapolis. I jumped off at Nicollet and immediately jumped on the 17 heading to his place at 15th. As I and a few others boarded the bus I quickly found a seat half way back. As the door started closing I noticed an older gentleman standing near the front putting his gloves back on. As I turned to look out the side window we starting moving forward, as soon as the driver hit the gas I heard a loud bang. My first instinct was that we had struck a pedestrian or that we had blown a tire. As I peered to the front of the bus I saw a group of people staring at the floor. If you haven't guessed it the gentleman didn’t hold on and went a** over tea kettle to the floor. As all of the people around him started to help him back up the man was visible shaken. Although he was not hurt he was a brave man. Had it been me I would have pulled the stop requested cable the second I stood up and jumped off that bus. Luckily nothing happened to the man and he was ok to continue his journey.
I did have my first embarrassing bike moment last week though. On nice days I have been taking the 94B in the mornings to 4th and Nicollet and then biking to uptown to take the Midtown Greenway to my office in Eden Prairie. As I was biking down Hennepin Ave one Friday morning. I came to the Uptown Transit Station. Being the macho biker that I am I figured "get off my bike and lift it up the curb, HA, I can just pop the front wheel up onto the curb and get going".... Now if only the reality were that I was a macho biker... quite to the contrary... As I stopped up to get some leverage on the bike I made a fatal mistake to lean forward and move my center of gravity more to the front of the bike. As you can suffice as I pulled back on the handlebars to lift them onto the curb nothing happened. Now imagine me falling sideways onto the curb. As the loud crash of me, my bike and my backpack slam into the sidewalk just as the 4 is loading it passengers to bring them south. Enter a nice Latino man who rushed over to make sure I was ok and to help me up. I did not have a mirror on me however had I am sure I could beat a bushel boy tomato for being more red in the face. I quickly jumped up swung my leg over my bike and began to pedal away as quick as possible. However as my feet began to move quicker and quick the bike did not... my chain had fallen off... adrenalin quickly took over as I thought "I have to get out of here quickly", so like any skilled biker I started kicking my feet wildly on the sidewalk to move myself and in turn the bike to the hill leading down to the Midtown Greenway. I coasted down the hill and onto the path as far as I could before surrendering to my embarrassment and stopping to reset my chain on the bike.
Luckily my laptop inside my pack as unharmed and the water bottle was also intact. Talk about the ultimate in embarrassment if not only had I fallen but my water bottle opened up and soaked the back of my coat and pants. Just pondering walking into my office with a wet backside would be cause to turn around and biked back home to sit on the couch in solitary the rest of the day.
With my embarrassing bike moment behind me and the rough rapids scaled I am ready for anything mass transit has to throw at me.
I was blessed in that the route for the 16 and 94 have now been changed due to the actions of my friend Antonio Banks... and rather than coming down Cedar they now come down Robert Street. I now am dropped off basically at my front door. Although I did not mind walking the two blocks to get home, rain and snow days were not as much fun. Saturday I ran up to Target (Pronounced Tar-ga) on University and Hamlin. On the way back the bus driver announced that the permanent change had taken effect and that we would now be going down 11th to Robert Street and on into downtown St Paul. As we neared the Rossmor I was standing up front preparing to debark when I asked the driver if she stopped at 10th as well as 9th Street. She said "I don't know"... I couldn't help but laugh and I told her that I was not laughing at her I just was not expecting that response. She said that she had not been formally trained on the route and she could stop either if I wanted. 9th street is the easiest for me as my loft faces 9th and Robert streets. As was pointed out by a friend maybe it is making me lazier however with the amount of biking I have done lately, I think that it counter balances itself.
About a week ago I was on my way home from work. After getting off the 684 express from Eden Prairie I made my way up to 6th and Nicollet to catch the 94C back to St Paul. It was a packed bus, as I stepped onto the bus I scanned the crowd for someone to sit next to. Before starting to ride the bus I never appreciated people's personal hygiene as much as I do now. One day in particular I was forced to sit behind a gentleman who I don’t think had seen a shower or water for that matter since the late 90's. Luckily my seasonal allergies were flared so I was unable to smell all of his musk. On this most recent evening I located a larger lady toward the front of the bus that I had seen multiple times previously. I had interacted with her previously and she was very pleasant and well put together. (as my Gram would say) As the bus steamed down 6th street toward Hwy 94, we made our last stop at 11th street and the driver hit the gas, we were on our way. After my experience on the 21 I am all for the drivers that "feel the need, the need for speed". Well this driver had switched on the after burners and we were off the races. I felt not unlike Dale Earnhardt Jr must feel during a Nascar bout. If you are familiar with 6th street in any way just before you enter the ramp to 94 East it is the worst stretch I feel within 20 blocks. There are giant potholes all over. As the driver enter this massive mine field of potholes within seconds we were airborne. Knowing the road and having other drivers unknowingly enter this mine field I was prepared. As we hit a couple the lady next to me was airborne. All I remember were legs flying in the air and people yelling. I may be sadistic but I could help but find it funny and I did my best to hold in the laughter. There were screams coming from the back of the bus where I am sure the worst was felt. I remember thinking so this is what a massive amount of turbulent in a commercial aircraft feels like.
I do respect the driver for not doing what any other Minnesota driver would which is to stomp on the brakes, I could foresee not only people airborne but launching forward into others. The words "Ohh the humanity" came to mind. The driver kept on the gas as his instinct told him that if he kept on it we would get thru them quicker.
Last Friday evening I was running to my friend’s apartment in uptown to go grab a couple drinks. I jumped on the 94B and headed to Minneapolis. I jumped off at Nicollet and immediately jumped on the 17 heading to his place at 15th. As I and a few others boarded the bus I quickly found a seat half way back. As the door started closing I noticed an older gentleman standing near the front putting his gloves back on. As I turned to look out the side window we starting moving forward, as soon as the driver hit the gas I heard a loud bang. My first instinct was that we had struck a pedestrian or that we had blown a tire. As I peered to the front of the bus I saw a group of people staring at the floor. If you haven't guessed it the gentleman didn’t hold on and went a** over tea kettle to the floor. As all of the people around him started to help him back up the man was visible shaken. Although he was not hurt he was a brave man. Had it been me I would have pulled the stop requested cable the second I stood up and jumped off that bus. Luckily nothing happened to the man and he was ok to continue his journey.
I did have my first embarrassing bike moment last week though. On nice days I have been taking the 94B in the mornings to 4th and Nicollet and then biking to uptown to take the Midtown Greenway to my office in Eden Prairie. As I was biking down Hennepin Ave one Friday morning. I came to the Uptown Transit Station. Being the macho biker that I am I figured "get off my bike and lift it up the curb, HA, I can just pop the front wheel up onto the curb and get going".... Now if only the reality were that I was a macho biker... quite to the contrary... As I stopped up to get some leverage on the bike I made a fatal mistake to lean forward and move my center of gravity more to the front of the bike. As you can suffice as I pulled back on the handlebars to lift them onto the curb nothing happened. Now imagine me falling sideways onto the curb. As the loud crash of me, my bike and my backpack slam into the sidewalk just as the 4 is loading it passengers to bring them south. Enter a nice Latino man who rushed over to make sure I was ok and to help me up. I did not have a mirror on me however had I am sure I could beat a bushel boy tomato for being more red in the face. I quickly jumped up swung my leg over my bike and began to pedal away as quick as possible. However as my feet began to move quicker and quick the bike did not... my chain had fallen off... adrenalin quickly took over as I thought "I have to get out of here quickly", so like any skilled biker I started kicking my feet wildly on the sidewalk to move myself and in turn the bike to the hill leading down to the Midtown Greenway. I coasted down the hill and onto the path as far as I could before surrendering to my embarrassment and stopping to reset my chain on the bike.
Luckily my laptop inside my pack as unharmed and the water bottle was also intact. Talk about the ultimate in embarrassment if not only had I fallen but my water bottle opened up and soaked the back of my coat and pants. Just pondering walking into my office with a wet backside would be cause to turn around and biked back home to sit on the couch in solitary the rest of the day.
With my embarrassing bike moment behind me and the rough rapids scaled I am ready for anything mass transit has to throw at me.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Lack Luster Bus trips...
Well, it has been a few months since my intial adventures riding the bus and it is still an adventure. As the summer finally descends upon Minnesota I start to venture our more. I recently purchased a road bike and have been using that on the nice days. I am averaging 30 miles a day. I ride the 94D from St Paul to Minneapolis and bike from there using the Greenway. It is an amazing investment to create the Greenway, I see many people commuting to and from work using the path.
Not too much has happened on the buses lately. Last Friday night I went out with a friend of mine Downtown Minneapolis and had a lot of fun... I decided that since the last time I rode the bus a little intoxicated and got into a fight that I better stay away from the bus so I jumped in a cab and rode home.
I was in New York a week ago and was able to ride the Subway for the first time. Granted it was later in the evening on a Saturday so there were not that many people on it in Brooklyn. However it seemed very similar to riding the bus in Minnesota. I realize that one ride is not sufficient evidence that they are similar and the real test is probably later at night or on a week day.
Until next time my faithful readers!
Not too much has happened on the buses lately. Last Friday night I went out with a friend of mine Downtown Minneapolis and had a lot of fun... I decided that since the last time I rode the bus a little intoxicated and got into a fight that I better stay away from the bus so I jumped in a cab and rode home.
I was in New York a week ago and was able to ride the Subway for the first time. Granted it was later in the evening on a Saturday so there were not that many people on it in Brooklyn. However it seemed very similar to riding the bus in Minnesota. I realize that one ride is not sufficient evidence that they are similar and the real test is probably later at night or on a week day.
Until next time my faithful readers!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday night on the 21....
Thursday's tend to be a busy day for me. At the office all day and then my weekly Toastmasters meeting at Chatterbox Pub in Highland Park
Well he lives in uptown and me downtownSt Paul Minneapolis
We proceeded thru Downtown St Paul stopping at EVERY bus stop regardless of people present or not. I thought to myself "self, he probably only does this downtown and will speed up soon"... As we wound up thru the Summit Hill neighborhood I found the bus slowly losing it momentum and almost coasting thru the streets. My first thought was to run up front and offer the driver a red bull at the next stop or to ensure that the bus was full of gas and due to the high gas prices we were not coasting to reserve fuel. As we came to each stop and I kept an eye up front it was almost as if the driver was scared of the other cars on the road, as if he were the one driving the 2,000 lb vehicle and they were driving the 28,000 lb buses. As I watched every car behind us drive past as he waiting for the perfect moment to pull out. One thing I do always remember Minnesota Statute 169.20 sub 7 which says that all buses have the right of way and any vehicle must yield when a bus is pulling out. They post the darn thing on the back of the bus.
As we travel alongSelby Ave I am starting to get a little tired and then come Lexington Ave and Selby...As we approached the intersection there was a car in the middle lane that was continuing on Selby Ave and we were planning to turn right down to Marshall Lake Street across the river and again regardless of people being in the shelters or not he would slow to a crawl and peer into the shelter. Now I know I have only been riding the bus for a few weeks but the number one rule of using mass transit is that when you see a bus coming regardless of number or time you make yourself known by coming out of the shelter in the off chance that it is your bus. Am I missing that some people do not know that and cower in the shelter?
Upon reaching Hiawatha and Lake it felt as if we sat at the stop for 10 minutes as people slowly took their time searching thru purses to find some change, talking in the door... or my favorite the kids who insist that their pants should be worn at their ankles as to leave nothing hidden or private and prevent them from walking properly so that it takes them 5 extra minutes to walk 5 feet as they have to hold the pants up and waddle...really am I missing something and that is attractive now?
Upon reaching the uptown station one hour and 25 minutes after leaving the 6th andJackson station in St Paul
The night ended amazingly as I arrived battered and bruised from my venture on the 21 to the home of Dante and my buddy Mingus!
More exciting adventures to follow!
Well he lives in uptown and me downtown
We proceeded thru Downtown St Paul stopping at EVERY bus stop regardless of people present or not. I thought to myself "self, he probably only does this downtown and will speed up soon"... As we wound up thru the Summit Hill neighborhood I found the bus slowly losing it momentum and almost coasting thru the streets. My first thought was to run up front and offer the driver a red bull at the next stop or to ensure that the bus was full of gas and due to the high gas prices we were not coasting to reserve fuel. As we came to each stop and I kept an eye up front it was almost as if the driver was scared of the other cars on the road, as if he were the one driving the 2,000 lb vehicle and they were driving the 28,000 lb buses. As I watched every car behind us drive past as he waiting for the perfect moment to pull out. One thing I do always remember Minnesota Statute 169.20 sub 7 which says that all buses have the right of way and any vehicle must yield when a bus is pulling out. They post the darn thing on the back of the bus.
As we travel along
Upon reaching Hiawatha and Lake it felt as if we sat at the stop for 10 minutes as people slowly took their time searching thru purses to find some change, talking in the door... or my favorite the kids who insist that their pants should be worn at their ankles as to leave nothing hidden or private and prevent them from walking properly so that it takes them 5 extra minutes to walk 5 feet as they have to hold the pants up and waddle...really am I missing something and that is attractive now?
Upon reaching the uptown station one hour and 25 minutes after leaving the 6th and
The night ended amazingly as I arrived battered and bruised from my venture on the 21 to the home of Dante and my buddy Mingus!
More exciting adventures to follow!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Friday Morning
This morning I woke up on time. After reading part of a book that a friend sent to me last night "The morning is yours, make it count, get ready for the day and embrace it". I decided that he was right. So i jumped out of bed feeling great. Today was the first day of the rest of my life after all we are all going to die. We must make every day count. I decided that it is time for me to get back on track, get healthy, live a life I want to live and not what someone else wants me to live.
I got ready, dressed and put the running tights under my jeans since the temperature had dropped so much over night. I set my phone on the counter to charge a bit and thought "do not forget this" running out the door I forget the daily check as I walk to the elevator. I am sure we all do it, running your hands thru the pockets to make sure you grabbed everything. As I am walking to the 94D I have 10 minutes to spare and realize...The phone...is on the counter plugged in...NOOOO. I run back upstairs, run down and sprint the block to the stop... I made it just as the bus was pulling up. Saved!
I ended up talking to this nice guy who we will call D. Very interesting conversation about the weather and jobs and school. As the 94 pulled up I saw the 684 go by...NOOO again. I sprint 3 blocks. On the bright side I have been trying to get healthier and would like to run in the mornings I have not been able to pull myself out of bed early enough to do it. But this was my chance and I have tell you I HAVE to start running again. As I ran downMarquette Ave dodging the other commuters on the side walk I prayed for a red light. I get my chance at 9th Street as people are getting on the bus. I try and catch my breath but I felt like I was going to die. The women in front of me asked me if I was going to make it and I said I will let you know in ten minutes.
My daily driver Charles is usually very prompt as soon as I step off the 94 he is waiting there for me where I am able to just jump on. However today he was on fire and hitting each stop a couple minutes early.
There have been a couple days that I feel like a dog chasing a car although I am usually waving my arms and not barking at the bus. You are all picturing me barking aren’t you...? I guess I should ask the dog owners in the office if they have any biscuits for me.
Stay tuned for more exciting adventures.
I got ready, dressed and put the running tights under my jeans since the temperature had dropped so much over night. I set my phone on the counter to charge a bit and thought "do not forget this" running out the door I forget the daily check as I walk to the elevator. I am sure we all do it, running your hands thru the pockets to make sure you grabbed everything. As I am walking to the 94D I have 10 minutes to spare and realize...The phone...is on the counter plugged in...NOOOO. I run back upstairs, run down and sprint the block to the stop... I made it just as the bus was pulling up. Saved!
I ended up talking to this nice guy who we will call D. Very interesting conversation about the weather and jobs and school. As the 94 pulled up I saw the 684 go by...NOOO again. I sprint 3 blocks. On the bright side I have been trying to get healthier and would like to run in the mornings I have not been able to pull myself out of bed early enough to do it. But this was my chance and I have tell you I HAVE to start running again. As I ran down
My daily driver Charles is usually very prompt as soon as I step off the 94 he is waiting there for me where I am able to just jump on. However today he was on fire and hitting each stop a couple minutes early.
There have been a couple days that I feel like a dog chasing a car although I am usually waving my arms and not barking at the bus. You are all picturing me barking aren’t you...? I guess I should ask the dog owners in the office if they have any biscuits for me.
Stay tuned for more exciting adventures.
My new life..on the bus
It has been two weeks since my inception into the life of a mass transit commuter. And it has been interesting.
The first Monday I got on the bus I realized that maybe I should have take a day off the previous week and done a test run. Or maybe had a trailer car follow me in case i got stranded or got on the wrong bus. The first Monday morning was a breeze, I hopped on the 94D and headed toMinneapolis , jumped off walked a crossed the street and jumped on the 684 Express to Eden Prairie
Then Monday evening rolled around and was I in for a shock. After being dropped off at the stop I waited for 25 minutes. I have a new appreciation for winter inMinnesota
Every day I ride the bus it is a new experience. The conversations that take place are always entertaining. I have found it is a way to unwind from the day and get a little bit of comedy in my day.
Last Saturday I rode the 16 bus that runs a longUniversity Avenue and saw a totally different side of St Paul than I had seen in my 2 years of living on the Eastern side of the Mississippi
I couldn't help but overhearing the two gentleman's conversation. It quickly turned to the 80's and how wonderful they were. "Morning inAmerica
Then without skipping a beast the man with the glasses mentions that he needs to stop by the Cathedral as he has a turtle that has Stigmata and is bleeding out of its flippers. And that is when I lost it.
As crazy as it may sound once you give up your our vanity and allow yourself to be viewed in a different light you are able to see all of the amazing things going on around you.
Stay tuned for more episodes...
The first Monday I got on the bus I realized that maybe I should have take a day off the previous week and done a test run. Or maybe had a trailer car follow me in case i got stranded or got on the wrong bus. The first Monday morning was a breeze, I hopped on the 94D and headed to
Then Monday evening rolled around and was I in for a shock. After being dropped off at the stop I waited for 25 minutes. I have a new appreciation for winter in
Every day I ride the bus it is a new experience. The conversations that take place are always entertaining. I have found it is a way to unwind from the day and get a little bit of comedy in my day.
Last Saturday I rode the 16 bus that runs a long
I couldn't help but overhearing the two gentleman's conversation. It quickly turned to the 80's and how wonderful they were. "Morning in
Then without skipping a beast the man with the glasses mentions that he needs to stop by the Cathedral as he has a turtle that has Stigmata and is bleeding out of its flippers. And that is when I lost it.
As crazy as it may sound once you give up your our vanity and allow yourself to be viewed in a different light you are able to see all of the amazing things going on around you.
Stay tuned for more episodes...
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