Copper Theft Disrupts My Morning Commute
As if this week could not get any worse?! On may way to work this morning, the operator announced that Duboce/Church would be the last stop for the train. What? Why?
As we all deboarded the train, an MUNI operator was standing by the door, and told us that “some idiot stole the copper wiring from the Sunset Tunnel late last night, and therefore, trains could not go through the tunnels until it was repaired.” Luckily, two uber sweet girls were taking a cab over to my stop and offered to take me with them.
So two things here:
1) Why would someone steel copper wires?
2) How long is this going to take to repair and will it affect my evening commute home? I absolutely despise the MUNI shuttles, being jammed on a bus with a gazillion people at the end of my workday, is not my cup of tea. Taxi, please?
If anyone knows the answers to these questions, please let me know.
If this isn’t Perseverance, I don’t know what is.
A couple nights ago, I had the amazing opportunity to meet with Chris Martin and Martin Dawson. Don’t know who I am talking about? Then read their story here: Golden Gate Endeavor.
On Friday, November 13th, Chris and Mick stepped onto land after 189 days, 10 hours, and 55 minutes of rowing across the North Pacific Ocean. And when asked what their first meal was when they reached San Francisco, “Steak and Eggs,” they said.
Chris and Mick are two Brit guys who decided to do the impossible, to row, in their specially designed rowboat, from Choshi, Japan to San Francisco, USA. And hearing them speak about their adventures was enticing on its own.
I mean to think about two guys, out in the middle of the ocean, rowing every two hours, while the other prepares meals, catches some shut eye, or even blogs, is just incredible! At some points along their journey, they encountered sharks, a pack of 50 dolphins on a mission to get somewhere, and even 60 foot waves, all to fulfill their mission of doing what was thought impossible.
So…how has hearing their story changed my life? Well, it’s not like I am going to spend hours on the rowing maching at the gym and start practicing for my ocean rowing adventure, but what I am going to do is this. I am going to follow my dreams. No matter what it takes. I am not going to let fear inhibit me from anything. I am going to live my life to the fullest and take life as it comes. That’s what I am going to do. How about you?
My Life on the N-Judah
With all that has been in the news about people getting mugged and stabbed on various MUNI bus lines and street cars, I have to be honest, my daily commute hasn’t been the same. I am more cautious when I walk on, always finding a seat as far away from suspicious people. My purse is now always sitting on my lap, as I hold tightly onto it.
Why does it have to be so darn scary to ride the bus these days? Why can’t there be some kind of security or feeling of safety when a rider walks onto a bus?
The other night, after making a quick stop in Union Square from work, I got into the N-Judah at Powell Street. Now, the N-Judah is generally suspicious-people free, but that wasn’t the case that evening. A group of four guys who were VERY suspicious got on the train at the same time I did. It was a little later in the evening so there weren’t that many commuters riding the train to begin with. I sat down, and these guys sat in the seats in front of me. Once the doors closed, after about a minute since we had all gotten on the train, one of the guys looked at another guy, got up, and sat in the seat right behind me. For no apparent reason!
You can imagine what I was feeling when that happened. I immediately held my purse even tighter, and tried to avoid any eye contact. The entire ride home, my heart was racing as I envisioned the worst possible things that could happen on that ride.
As soon as I got off the train, I called my fiance who was equally concerned about what I had just told him. I was scared shitless and I felt if something were to have happened to me, then what? I would then be a real life example of the kind of bodies that Benson and Stabler come across on Law and Order: SVU. And that is not the way I want my life to end.
Bay Area’s Bike to Work Day
I had every intention to bike to work today, but ended up taking my usual N-Judah instead. Why? I blame the weather. (I know it is sunny and beautiful right now, but I promise, it was crappola this morning!)
Thousands of Bay Area residents, however, had no excuses. An estimated 150,000 commuters and students hopped on their bikes today for the 15th Annual Bike to Work Day.
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has been holding this event for the last 15 years in May (May is National Bike Month) to encourage Bay Area residents to get healthy and fit, protect the environment, all by promoting bicycling as a viable method of transportation. Did you know that more than one million Bay Area residents live within five miles of their workplace? So why drive when you could bike? That’s the SFBC motto.
Bicyclists ranged from CEO’s and VPs in dress shirts and ties to school kids wearing jeans and backpacks to hard core riders in their spandex and biking gear, pedaling along bike paths and city streets. “Energizer Stations” were set up all throughout the Bay Area, where bicyclists could stop for refreshments, free giveaways, or simply to be “pumped up” by fellow participants.
As for me, I am kicking myself for not sucking it up and biking to work today, but, it’s not like I can’t bike to work tomorrow or the next day. People should bike to work as often as they can for the reasons stated above. Here’s to continuous healthy living in San Francisco. Never a dull moment!
BART Embarks on a $3.4 Billion Makeover
Since I live and work in the city, I rarely depend on the needs of Bay Area Rapid Transit. Every now and then, however, when I don’t have a ride to SFO or want to venture out to Oakland for a Warriors game, BART is all I have. And, honestly, it has gotten me from point A to point B without any difficulty.
Even though I am content with its current state, BART officials aren’t. They want better. It was announced today that BART is replacing its 669 current cars with 700 brand new, state of the art cars. The current 669 cars have been used since 1972, when BART first opened. The 700 brand new cars are scheduled to be piloted in 2014, and to be fully complete by 2024.
What are the designers and officials aiming to address?
1. Increase capacity (BART now carries 350,000 riders/day. By 2035, that number is expected to increase to 500,000/day.)
2. Reduce station stop time to meet the anticipated demands by adding a third door to the car.
3. Types of seats? Hard or Cushioned? How wide? What color? How much leg room? How many? Seating vs standing room?
4. Improvement of communication with passengers, with automated voice messages and and electronic signs.
5. And of course, being the Green city that we are, officials are looking to make these new cars more eco-friendly with ways to reuse propulsion energy and install more energy efficient heating, lighting, and cooling systems.
Hmmm..so maybe with all these anticipated changes, living and getting around in the East Bay may not be so bad??
SF MUNI to Face Major Budget Deficit – Your Commute Could Change!
For all you MUNI riders out there, be sure to check out the SFMTA website for crucial information about budget cuts and possible changes to your everyday commute. They are taking comments and suggestions as they decide between the various options presented to them.
Proposed Changes Include:
-Increase in adult fare from $1.50 to $2
-Increase in monthly MUNI pass from $45 to $55
-Cancellation of various MUNI bus routes
-Differences in MUNI bus routes on weekends vs. weekdays
-And many more.
Sunday Brunch at Circa
I gotta say, there is something about having my best girlfriends and I reminsce about the antics from the nights before during a nice Sunday Brunch in the City. My friends and I have defintiely experienced our share of nightlife over the years, however, it wasnt until recently that we started making it out to popular Brunch places the next day. And it has now become my most favorite part of the weekend.
This afternoon, we went to Circa in the Marina, and it was absolutely fabulous. They had a DJ spinning music, bottomless Mimosas, and incredible dishes that are prepared to its finest. My girlfriends and I spent 4 and a half hours there: enjoying our Mimosas, reminiscing about the night before, and talking about the good, the bad, and the ugly about life.
Dishes, amongst the 6 of us, we ordered the following: (1) Egg White Scrambled Eggs with Ham, Mushroom, and Cheddar Cheese ; (2) Sourdough French Toast with bananas, strawberries, and cream; (3) Huevos Rancheros; (4) Sliders; and (5) Lobster and White Truffle Mac and Cheese. All were absolutely exquisite, although my favorite would have to be the Huevos Rancheros.
Mimosas: Our lovely host always kept the Carafe’s coming. However, the Mimosa’s werent always consistent. Sometimes they would look so diluted (aka super strong) and other times it would look like straight OJ. Regardless, you can never go wrong with bottomless Mimosa’s.
Music: I absolutely love that Circa has their resident DJ spinning music during their Sunday Brunch. It is by no means obnoxious and overbearing, just at a perfect enough volume to hear the beats yet not feel like youre talking over the music. It brings this amazing energy and awesome vibe into the restaurant that you can’t find at other brunch places in the city.
I will definitely be bringing myself over to Circa for their Sunday Brunch again!