October 14, 2002
Seventy-five cents, please.
This morning, I get to Union City, and the driver says, "Seventy-five cents, please." I say, "No, I have a flash pass." He says, "Where are you going? Palo Alto?" I say, "Yes." He says, "Seventy-five cents, please." I said, "But no. I have a flash pass." I was getting angry. He says, "It's for local use only. You must pay to get there." Fine, fuck you. So I paid him. It was one of those instances where I knew it would have gotten ugly unless I did what the fuck-in-charge told me to do.
Then I get off the bus and call customer service. Friendly funny Leo helps me out. He says that the flash pass is only good on the Peninsula side. It does actually cost me $2.75 in one direction to get over here from the East Bay, and the same on the return to Union City, although the bus cuts me a deal charging me only $2 westbound and $0.75 eastbound. "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. You dig?" And the fact that I rode free last week, and was only charged $0.75 this morning led Leo to believe that because I had a flash pass, the drivers were being a little friendly. "Ride and smile." So my arrogance and ignorance pays off, yet again.
So I don't know if it's worth it after all. One of the conveniences of this bus pass thing was not to have to carry cash around for the fares. It's still going to cost extra, and since this is an added fare, it will end up costing more for the commute than driving will. What a deal.
Damn I was a bitch when I woke up this morning. It was another instance where I could have thrown my alarm clock against the wall just to shut it up. I would have if not for the fact that I can't find another one like it to replace it. It's a cheapo $10 clock from Target, but it's got a big digital face, and a nice blue glow when I hit the light button. I want to keep it. So I spare its noisy ass in the morning.
That's all. I hope this day will get better as it drags on.
