*plunks on the DUNCE cap and perches on the stool with no argument whatsoever*
For quite some time, I've wanted to try walking all the way to my library, a distance of 3 miles. Which isn't too long, except that it's all uphill. It's the return trip that always gave me pause, for 6 miles is 1.5 longer than my usual ventures, and I'd be a zombie from fatigue the next day.
But with my current work level being so light, I could afford to lose a day and a half...and there's this convenient thing in Portland known as Trimet. Yes, it has the light rail trains, and the streetcar downtown, and it also has...BUSES. Hmmm!
I have ridden the city bus twice before, both times under the guidance of Neeka and Chiz as we went out someplace distant together. I knew it wasn't that difficult, and it seems most of the drivers are friendly, so why not?? I used Trimet's web site to find the bus info I needed: stop numbers, bus numbers, estimated arrival times. And with my smart phone, I can look up the same wherever I go!
I decided to walk to the library and take the relevant bus information with me in case I needed to ride home instead of walking back. I had a hearty breakfast for fuel, then grabbed my big sturdy cloth bag, tossed my purse, phone, book to be returned, bottle of water, and paper with my bus info inside, and walked out the door.
An hour later, I arrived at the library. A triffle winded, as 3 miles up a gentle incline does wear on a body, but feeling pretty good. I grabbed the two books on hold for me, then checked out the book sales shelf.
And here, my dear friends, I committed my first act of stupidity. For they had 11 manga volumes in okay to great condition for $1 each. And if there's one thing I can never pass up, it's a cheap book. Not only manga, but they had an amazing selection of fantasy hardbacks, the most expensive of which was only $3! Several of them were brand-new books! Of course, I had to buy those, too. And here I had my dependable big cloth bag, perfect for taking my new precious-es home. Of course, this meant I had to take the bus! For I have weighed my new precious-es, and they tip the scale at 15 pounds. 15 pounds isn't really that heavy, but 15 pounds carried for an hour IS, ergo...bus.
I checked the arrival time for my first of two buses home, made my way to the appropriate stop only a couple blocks from the library, and readied my Trimet ticket. The bus came, I hopped on board, the driver was indeed quite friendly, and everything's golden. ^^
After about 20 minutes, we neared the stop I needed to take so I could transfer to the 2nd bus to get home. I accidentally pulled the stop-request signal cord one stop early, as I wasn't sure how many stops in a row there were on that street, but no big deal, right? I hopped off the bus, walked across the road, parked myself on the matching bus stop on that side, and pulled out my phone to check the 2nd bus's arrival time.
This stop did not have the same number as the stop I'd intended to use--one stop east of my location--but I'd just add 30 seconds onto the arrival time, and it would be fine. *shrug* So I looked at the arrival time, and it's in...1 hour? Buh?? It was only supposed to be 5 minutes or so...
I stared in confusion at the info, which also stated the wrong direction for my upcoming bus. I wanted westbound, not eastbound! What did I do wrong?? Then I started to become uneasy, because this wasn't the best neighborhood, and the bus stop was right in front of some rather dodgy apartments, and I did NOT want to hang out there for an hour. :|
Then it was time for my second act of stupidity. Rather than look up the arrival time for my current stop, in my stressed state I decided to walk to my original intended stop 3 blocks east, and verify the stop number I wrote down at home was indeed correct, and then recheck the next bus's arrival time. I began my walk, puzzled and staring at my phone. Half-way there, I look up and see--an approaching bus! MY approaching bus!! And there I was, over a block away from the stop I HAD JUST LEFT. Which didn't have anyone else waiting for the bus, so of course, it sailed on by. If I had bothered to look up the stop info there, in front of the questionable apartments, that bus would have arrived while I was still punching buttons, and thus answered my question. Oh, the irony!
With much in the way of self-depreciating vocabulary, I continued to my original intended stop, which was located in a slightly better area. I reached it, pulled out my phone and looked up the stop number. I HAD written down the wrong stop before I left on my adventure, which is why the arrival time of one hour had me so confused at my previous stop. You know, the one where I could have caught the bus if I'd just waited for 2 more minutes.
I checked the arrival times for this stop--with the correct stop ID number--and the next bus was in....*drumroll* TWO HOURS!!! Dun dun duuuun!!
And here, gentle reader, I committed my third act of stupidity. I didn't want to wait two hours for the next bus. I didn't think to walk to the shopping mall, find a bench, and sit down to read in safety before heading back to the stop. Nope. In my single-track mind, I went, "Well, FINE. I'll just walk home!" And off I went.
I started out with no problem, but by halfway, my pace had slowed, and by the time I made it to my complex, I was wobbling like I was tipsy. Yes, I did made it home. It could have been much worse, I admit.
In summation:
Total distance walked: 7 miles, including my breakfast trip. 2.5 miles carrying 15 pounds of books. 1 mile more than if I'd just walked home from the library in the first place. *headdesk*
Price: Tomorrow and likely Monday too, I will be in agony. Not just my legs, but my upper body from carrying all those books. It's gonna be horrible. I'm already on painkillers.
Lesson learned: TRIPLE-CHECK YOUR BUS STOP INFO. And don't be so quick to panic and lose the ability to THINK, silly!
Conclusion: They were selling stupid cheap today, at $1 a book. *splat*
But with my current work level being so light, I could afford to lose a day and a half...and there's this convenient thing in Portland known as Trimet. Yes, it has the light rail trains, and the streetcar downtown, and it also has...BUSES. Hmmm!
I have ridden the city bus twice before, both times under the guidance of Neeka and Chiz as we went out someplace distant together. I knew it wasn't that difficult, and it seems most of the drivers are friendly, so why not?? I used Trimet's web site to find the bus info I needed: stop numbers, bus numbers, estimated arrival times. And with my smart phone, I can look up the same wherever I go!
I decided to walk to the library and take the relevant bus information with me in case I needed to ride home instead of walking back. I had a hearty breakfast for fuel, then grabbed my big sturdy cloth bag, tossed my purse, phone, book to be returned, bottle of water, and paper with my bus info inside, and walked out the door.
An hour later, I arrived at the library. A triffle winded, as 3 miles up a gentle incline does wear on a body, but feeling pretty good. I grabbed the two books on hold for me, then checked out the book sales shelf.
And here, my dear friends, I committed my first act of stupidity. For they had 11 manga volumes in okay to great condition for $1 each. And if there's one thing I can never pass up, it's a cheap book. Not only manga, but they had an amazing selection of fantasy hardbacks, the most expensive of which was only $3! Several of them were brand-new books! Of course, I had to buy those, too. And here I had my dependable big cloth bag, perfect for taking my new precious-es home. Of course, this meant I had to take the bus! For I have weighed my new precious-es, and they tip the scale at 15 pounds. 15 pounds isn't really that heavy, but 15 pounds carried for an hour IS, ergo...bus.
I checked the arrival time for my first of two buses home, made my way to the appropriate stop only a couple blocks from the library, and readied my Trimet ticket. The bus came, I hopped on board, the driver was indeed quite friendly, and everything's golden. ^^
After about 20 minutes, we neared the stop I needed to take so I could transfer to the 2nd bus to get home. I accidentally pulled the stop-request signal cord one stop early, as I wasn't sure how many stops in a row there were on that street, but no big deal, right? I hopped off the bus, walked across the road, parked myself on the matching bus stop on that side, and pulled out my phone to check the 2nd bus's arrival time.
This stop did not have the same number as the stop I'd intended to use--one stop east of my location--but I'd just add 30 seconds onto the arrival time, and it would be fine. *shrug* So I looked at the arrival time, and it's in...1 hour? Buh?? It was only supposed to be 5 minutes or so...
I stared in confusion at the info, which also stated the wrong direction for my upcoming bus. I wanted westbound, not eastbound! What did I do wrong?? Then I started to become uneasy, because this wasn't the best neighborhood, and the bus stop was right in front of some rather dodgy apartments, and I did NOT want to hang out there for an hour. :|
Then it was time for my second act of stupidity. Rather than look up the arrival time for my current stop, in my stressed state I decided to walk to my original intended stop 3 blocks east, and verify the stop number I wrote down at home was indeed correct, and then recheck the next bus's arrival time. I began my walk, puzzled and staring at my phone. Half-way there, I look up and see--an approaching bus! MY approaching bus!! And there I was, over a block away from the stop I HAD JUST LEFT. Which didn't have anyone else waiting for the bus, so of course, it sailed on by. If I had bothered to look up the stop info there, in front of the questionable apartments, that bus would have arrived while I was still punching buttons, and thus answered my question. Oh, the irony!
With much in the way of self-depreciating vocabulary, I continued to my original intended stop, which was located in a slightly better area. I reached it, pulled out my phone and looked up the stop number. I HAD written down the wrong stop before I left on my adventure, which is why the arrival time of one hour had me so confused at my previous stop. You know, the one where I could have caught the bus if I'd just waited for 2 more minutes.
I checked the arrival times for this stop--with the correct stop ID number--and the next bus was in....*drumroll* TWO HOURS!!! Dun dun duuuun!!
And here, gentle reader, I committed my third act of stupidity. I didn't want to wait two hours for the next bus. I didn't think to walk to the shopping mall, find a bench, and sit down to read in safety before heading back to the stop. Nope. In my single-track mind, I went, "Well, FINE. I'll just walk home!" And off I went.
I started out with no problem, but by halfway, my pace had slowed, and by the time I made it to my complex, I was wobbling like I was tipsy. Yes, I did made it home. It could have been much worse, I admit.
In summation:
Total distance walked: 7 miles, including my breakfast trip. 2.5 miles carrying 15 pounds of books. 1 mile more than if I'd just walked home from the library in the first place. *headdesk*
Price: Tomorrow and likely Monday too, I will be in agony. Not just my legs, but my upper body from carrying all those books. It's gonna be horrible. I'm already on painkillers.
Lesson learned: TRIPLE-CHECK YOUR BUS STOP INFO. And don't be so quick to panic and lose the ability to THINK, silly!
Conclusion: They were selling stupid cheap today, at $1 a book. *splat*