Fridays I’m in love 1/23/2009

My commute seems to be back to its Pre-Inaugural hysteria level and is taking the usual hour forty minute round trip instead of the two hour ten minutes or two hour forty minute trip. Ridership on the commuter buses is definitely up though. I have to get to the parking lot at least 30 minutes before the last bus to get a parking space in the lot (I usually take an earlier bus anyway but this means I venture forth at my own peril if I dawdle or sleep through my alarm).

Well Groomed is taking an earlier bus in from Jaunty which is why I haven’t seen her the last couple of weeks. She is probably doing so to compensate for the buses running late. I wonder if she’ll go back to her old schedule? Yesterday I was on the same bus as Occupational Therapy Guy coming and going but the bus was so crowded I didn’t get a gander at his latest project. On the ride home last night some idiot cut off the bus and the bus driver slammed on the breaks in an effort to not rear end the car which caused the bus to lurch and I was flown into the back of the seat in front of me. Luckily no one was hurt. You have to wonder what these people are thinking when they cut off buses and trucks. Is it so important they save a few minutes that they put themselves and others in danger? The funny part is that when I see a car weaving and bobbing through traffic to get ahead of me, I usually end up right beside them or behind them at the next light so what time have they really saved?

The reviewing stands are still up along Pennsylvania Avenue and the Capital is still decked out in its Inaugural finery which gives the city a festive air. With the arrival of a new president and administration you can feel the pulse of the city is more charged. Now if they can only get rid of that stupid red school house with “No child left behind” sign ( written in a childish scrawl as if it was on a blackboard which makes it even more annoying) in front of the Dept. of Education building my happiness will be complete!

Yesterday some streets were closed when the new Prez visited the State Dept. to introduce his new madam secretary of awesome but it didn’t wrangle up traffic too much.

 

If this is Tuesday, it must be hell 12/2/2008

Today I took a later bus. I got to the bus stop at about 7:00am and when I got in line I saw Jaunty (she was wearing a dark coat with a perky “Christmassy” pin. She didn’t wear a hat so as to not mar her perfectly coiffed hairdo) so I realized I missed the earlier bus that the “in” crowd won’t take because they don’t like the driver. The bus arrived with the acceptable driver about five minutes later. This bus is usually very crowded but amazingly I got a good seat. We hit traffic so I didn’t get to Metro Center until well after 8:00am. GRRR. My 60 minute bus ride was at least 70-75 minutes today. Almost all the escalators were working except for the MAIN one. There were a bunch of workmen testing it by trying to walk UP the thing. Don’t ask. As I was leaving my Metro stop I heard an announcement that the red line was delayed because of a sick passenger at one of the stations. When that happens they throw everyone off the train and then the now empty train “sits” until the emergency is resolved. They then have to “double track” (use only one side of the track) which clogs the trains and results in delays on both sides. Delays can be anywhere from 10 minutes to hours. I think normally I am a pretty kind person (ok maybe not–depending on who you talk to). But delays on the Metro causes my patience to wear thin and I start to think very un-Christian-like thoughts. When I have these godless pagan reactions to human tragedy I turn to Betty Bowers, America’s Best Christian for spiritual guidance. Whew. Thanks Betty.

So today it was announced on the Internets that we are Officially in a “Recession”. Counting back I realized this was the FOURTH recession in my lifetime. The first one was the recession/matched with inflation and energy crisis in the early ’70s. Then there was the early ’80s recession/inflation/energy crisis, massive unemployment (which happened to be about the time I joined the workforce. FUN!). The next one was in the early ’90s (its the economy stupid). That brings us up to now. This latest recession seems to be on par with the one in the early 80s (that one was severe). I don’t think its near “Great Depression” status—YET. However, this thing hasn’t bottomed out. I think its going to get a lot worse before it starts to get any better. Hopefully I’ll be able to hang onto my job and house. They already put on a hiring freeze where I work.

I have added some links about the Inaugural (look to your right). Be warned! They are expecting up to FOUR million people to descend on DC to attend this thing. There is talk of movie screens being put up in stadiums for people to “view” the Inaugural (Thus, to me, negating the experience) since there is not enough room for them on the streets. They aren’t sure whether they can accommodate parking for buses let alone cars. Lodging will be scarce. Plus you will have to wait hours out of doors even if you have tickets. Its cold here in January. If you plan on attending start making arrangements now and buy some thermal underwear. I plan to watch it at home on the sofa snuggled up with my kitty and a hot cup o’ joe.

In honor of the Inaugural lets take a look at an Inaugural Address that is possibly the best one of the 20th century

Bruce Springsteen is debuting his new single Lucky Day today!

You can see it on his myspace page as well as get information on his new album Working on a Dream