Major system delays

So this morning I woke up to text messages from BART as early as 4:57, notifying me of major system delays due to mechanical issues. As the morning went on, my phone was in a constant of  alarm with updates from BART texts regarding the delays increasing.  To add to the fury, ABC news got in on the action and alerted subscribers (me) about BART delays. So, in order to learn more information about how my morning commute would unfold,  I logged into my Twitter account and all hell broke loose in my brain. Tweets from SFGate, BART ABC among many others notifying anyone viewing there was a major BART delay AND a fatal crash on Highway 24 that was "snarling" the morning commute.  Is it helpful to know about these types of issues ahead of time or does it just better to be blissfully ignorant and live in the moment?

I was in full panic mode at this point.  Should I drive to SF,  have someone drive me, get up and not shower or put makeup on and just rush to the BART station now in hopes I could catch the last train in existence? Anything short of renting a helicopter were on the table as options. One would think that a relatively intelligent and sane woman would not panic,  no such luck. Besides, if you ask my husband,  I possess neither of those qualities as of late.  Nonetheless,  I drafted a text to the new boss, explaining my fear that BART was so delayed that I was going to be late, but that I was doing my best to get to work today. Thank god I drafted it but did not send it. My second error was to call the family. I tried my sister first because I figured she had to go to work and she would be awake. No answer. I contemplated calling my retired parents to get much needed advice from my dad. I figured he was a subject matter expert since he commuted into SF for 35+ years. Thankfully I waited on this call too. My sister eventually called back and after I explained the situation with BART,  she said,
"Don't go into work,  this isn't your fault, you can make it, oh well". All during this time, I continued to get updates from and about BART delays.

Ok, decision time, I reflected,  what's the worst that can happen? I am just stuck on a train. I am just going to go for it and see what happens. I hopped on a train at N. Concord Station and we cruised through to Rockridge with no issues. Then, the train stopped. People were packed in the train like sardines, the windows were dripping with condensation or whatever nastiness was in the air.

 

The Operator came on and indicated we were going to be slow moving from here on out to Embarcadero. Then we sat between MacArthur and 19th for about 20 minutes. We were finally told by the operator that the issues were cleared up and we would move through to SF without any further delays. At full-speed he said. Then...there was a medical issue at 19th Street and we were stopped before we reached that station. When it rains it pours. We waited and waited and waited. Some knucklehead had the nerve to say, "Doesn't that sick dude know how much he is inconveniencing hundreds of thousands of people by having a heart attack.". Uh, he said it out loud and I'm pretty sure he's just an asshole. The whole train when quiet after that. Bad karma dude.

 

For the most part, it was no problem for me. I eventually sent a text to my boss, who rides BART from Walnut Creek. She was stuck on a train behind me still in between Walnut Creek and Lafayette.  Taking the train was soo much better than having to drive. I wouldn't even know where to start between the 680/24 traffic to the tunnel and them merging onto the Bay Bridge.

 

Finally the trains moved out and as each station passed by, I was hopeful I would make it to SF by lunchtime. And I needed to go to the restroom.

 

I made it to SF 1 hour and 50 minutes after I stepped onto the train at N. Concord. I ask myself again, is it helpful to know about these types of issues ahead of time or does it just better to be blissfully ignorant and live in the moment. I still would have gotten on BART this morning and I still needed to get to work, whether I knew about the problems or not, it would not have changed anything.  I guess the only thing I can think of at this point is because I knew ahead of time that BART was having issues, I made sure ot use the restroom before I left the house. Then being stuck on the train would have actually been miserable.

Okay, time to get to work for a few hours and prepare for the evening commute home!

 

 

What to do in this type of situation??

Proceed to the nearest mall ( I went here:
http://m.westfield.com/sanfrancisco)
and shop until drama is over. One new Umbrella from Nordstrom,  a cup of coffee, a cupcake from Cako and tons of people-watching later, I am on my way home.

BART service resumes after S.F. chase http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/BART-service-resumes-after-S-F-chase-5271239.php

So this happened

UPDATE: Crews Removing Derailed BART Train From Concord Tracks « KRON4
http://news.kron4.com/news/bart-train-derails-near-concord-station/

Enough said...

Who knew I was being greeted by a local celebrity every morning?

Every morning as I walk up out of the Powell Street BART station, I walk up a few stairs and there is Steve. He says "Good Morning Pretty Lady".

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/nevius/article/Homeless-ex-bank-robber-has-a-shot-at-redemption-5249868.php#photo-5910833

When I first started working in the city in December, I too thought he was just another homeless person looking for handouts. Really, all he wants is a smile or hello. I made the mistake of ignoring him and he repeated his greeting and said 'I hope you have a better day'. Ever since they, I say hello.  And now, I just ran across this article. Good luck to him.

Happiness is....

...finding a new route to work and when I am almost to my office, I found this place:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/happy-donuts-san-francisco-3

Before I even read any reviews, I walked inside and liked what I saw. The shop is kitty corner from Glide Memorial; I think it's divine intervention! Praise the Lord!  It was like a breathe of fresh doughy air in the TL. And the coffee and donut holes were just what I needed to start my morning right.  The only thing that would have made this better was to be able to take a few moments in the shop and enjoy all the selection of sugary treats. I guess there's always tomorrow!

Diet coke and date

I went to the liquor store to grab some essentials (diet coke, chocolate doughnuts, Funions or whatever other snack attack I may have at the moment).  I grabbed my soda and decided on chips.  I stood in line. There was an eclectic mix of patrons; one included a three-legged dog, another was a man dressed like a woman and there were a few others but I can't even go into the details, they are beyond words. 

Someone tapped on my shoulder and asked me if they could borrow a dollar. I told them I only had exact change for my snacks and turned around.  Another tap on the shoulder and I was asked if I wanted to go on a date.

"Sorry, I'm married, I don't think my husband would like that very much."  My suitor responded with "Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find me." Uhhh, I'm pretty sure I won't change my mind on this one.

Mechanical issue

Lol (not really). The smell I mentioned in the earlier post? That is on my train. Nice, we are in the Transbay Tube now. There is a supervisor making his way to trouble shoot. Good times.

The operator just mentioned the second car is filling up with smoke (burning odor) and we should make way for those passengers to move to other cars. Uhhh, I can smell it too.

I've never been so eager to get to the TL with its unique aroma...

Smell of something burning

It's not a good sign when the BART train smells like something is burning, like rubber, huh?

This is why I don't read the news

I don't want or need my mind filled with worse case scenarios, ugh:

http://sfappeal.com/2014/01/concerns-over-contact-between-ships-anchor-and-transbay-tube-briefly-halts-bart-service/

Smell

Someone sitting next to me or around me on BART smells like pee.

Or it could be already in the seat I am currently sitting on. Gross.

Hmmm, my mom always told me "check your upper lip" in these types of situations.

Excuse me, I know you f*#@ing heard me!

Oh god, it happened.  I am finally not shaking anymore.  I was walking to work, on my usual path. It was drizzling and I figured the streets of the TL would be deserted. No such luck. As I walked from one block to another, I looked up from under my rain jacket hood and saw a larger than usual amount of locals hanging outside the liquor store.  I just marched on my path, trying to disappear, but angry at myself for wearing my stupid bright green raincoat. I know I stick out like a sore thumb in the TL anyways, but to wear a bright color when most all locals wear some type of black or dark colors is foolish.

I walked past the group of people and in order to avoid tripping, I looked up for an instant. My eyes caught the gaze of one of the folks standing on the corner.  I am not sure if it was a man or woman, but they smiled, so I smiled back.  Ok, nothing to worry about.

As I passed the crowd (of about 25 people), I suddenly heard a "Hey, you"! I ignored it. Surely it wasn't for me. I don't know anyone here and no one would address me like that (I think).  Suddenly, I heard a more insistent and closer voice say "Excuse me, I know you f*#@ing heard me, b*tch." Okay, keep walking, I chanted to myself.  And that's when it happened. I got pushed on the back. I was holding my coffee, which spilled down my hand and arm. I gripped it so tightly, as if my life depended on it. My 'friend' came up next to me and pulled my jacket to make me stop. I looked over and she had a crooked wig and 1 tooth left. She was holding an empty small bottle of Bacardi.  Was she going to hit me over the head with it (duh, it's plastic) and drag me down the street? She said "Hi, I know you effin heard me back there, oh wait, I thought you were my friend from up the street. You don't live here, off Van Ness? Do you have .35 cents I can borrow."

I could see my final destination, a mere 25 feet away. I looked up and only saw locals. I wanted someone to be behind me or in front of me who could help me out of this situation. I had visions of the pack of people coming at me from behind and stripping me of my worldly possessions. Ugh, I just had to remember what my dad keeps saying, "Don't worry about them, they aren't going to bother you, just ignore them and keep on walking." Errr, I'am not sure if that is entirely correct advice, but we'll just go with it.

I replied to my 'friend' that I didn't have any cash and I didn't live around here and for her to have a nice day.  She said "you too, have a nice day" and walked off...

Good grief, by the time I got into the office, I was shaking like crazy.....

Bed bugs you say

Yeah, can I get a nasty up in here?! WTF! I've already been told I could be exposed to some pretty unsightly things working in TL. Hookers, drug deals, fecal matter on sidewalk, hepatitis,  and now this?  If you read my earlier post about the trip in today, you get the idea it wasn't the greatest morning. I felt like I needed to be committed in a straight jacket after that commute. I got off the train and was never so happy to walk through the city's roughest neighborhood to my office.  As soon as I entered my code and walked in the door, one of the director's stopped me and told me to not let anyone else through that door. Stupid me, I asked why.  "Oh, we had the exterminator here for an unscheduled visit and the spray needs to sit for an hour and not get wet."
Hmmm, roaches are old news to me. I didn't care. See a few weeks into this gig and I am not even fazed my the little buggers.
Flash forward a few minutes later when I opened my email.  Shit....
"The exterminator just left. He sprayed for bed bugs since we had a sighting last night." @$!#/&&($

Say hello to my little friends:

Molasses

As in slow as molasses. This morning so train ride was was/is stupid. Train operator said we need to go slower due to rain. I don't want to curse or be angry at it. We need it desperately.  But but but...we are packed in this bitch ass train: windows are steamy, it smells like no one showered or brush their teeth or cleaned their clothes. And the guy in front of me wants to body slam me while he does his best impression of " Look Ma, no hands"! Really, I am wedged so deep in this train I wonder if I will be wrinkled when I get out!

Hooka?

This is happening right now.  This outfit. I want to take a full body shot, but I am afraid her pimp will bitch slap me for publishing his merchandise. Are you kidding me? How awesome, only on Bart and in in SF!