October 10, 2002
Did you know that...
...the City of London once had an alley favored by prostitutes called Gropecuntlane? I love that. I'm reading an enchanting story of my native language called Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Way by Bill Bryson. It's a good read for anyone who is interested in the origins of modern day English.
This morning, I started a new adventure, although I'm not too sure how long it will last. I have been commuting from Oakland to Palo Alto (about 110 miles round trip) every day now since I've been back at home. OK. One month. I had forgotten how horrible it is. Forget the number of miles. I'm talking the other drivers on the road: rude, inconsiderate, arrogant people who think their journey is of greater importance than any other driver's journey. Whatever. I know, I know, there's no arguing with anyone about commuting. We all share similar, hateful stories about the road. Some people can handle it better than others. I would fall into the latter...being absolutely unable to support this type of activity any longer. The other day, as I was driving home, I had finally made it to 580, which is pretty much the home stretch for me, and I was finally in fifth gear again, when this person pulls in front of me and slows down to where I have to brake as well. This always irritates me, but it gets worse. They were on their mobile, chatting away, bouncing from lane to lane as if no one else were around. Every time I would attempt to pass this person, they would change lanes ahead of me. It was all I could do not to flip my fucking lid. I was so angry that when I finally pulled in front of my apartment I was shaking. That kinda signalled that I should find an alternative method of transportation for my commute considering that my boss won't allow me to telecommute two days a week like he does...and he lives only fifteen miles away. Whatever. Different story.
So, I went to the beloved Internet and found a route. At first I thought I would have to travel via San Francisco, hopping off BART to MUNI to CalTrain, but instead I found a more direct route from BART to Union City and then a bus across the Dumbarton Bridge to Palo Alto. Hurrah! I thought it would be splendid. It's a little cheaper, and it takes almost as long as driving, but it's without the hassle of actually driving.
So today was a trial run. I woke up at 6 a.m., an un-Godly hour, I must say—and so much earlier than my usual 7 a.m.—and left home at 6:30 a.m. to walk to BART. It was still dark out. I was really pissy because I was still half-asleep. I instantly thought this would turn out to be a $45 mistake (the cost of the monthly bus pass on the bus to Palo Alto). We'll see how it works out. I got here at 9 a.m....about an hour earlier than usual. I got some early morning exercise as well as some good reading out of it. And, I spared the air. I'm just glad that it's starting to cool down a little.
That's all.
