The ride home...

...was not nearly as smooth as the ride in. In fact, I felt a bit traumatized. I get to my bus stop and I see my 61 C, so I jump on it. It's great, not crowded, I have my own seat again. I'm just chilling, listening to my iPod telling myself how easy this was! Then, I notice the bus driver telling us something, so I take one ear piece out and hear him saying something about getting off in Homestead. I think "well, I don't get off there" and back in went my ear bud. Then, he turns off of the road he should be taking and EVERYONE gets off. So I start to worry...I go up and we have this conversation:
ME: Is there a reason everyone is getting off of the bus?
DRIVER: Yeah, this is my last stop.
ME: (with deer in headlights look): WHA?!? What do I do? How do I get to my car? I'm parked at....at....(I blanked out)....the Duquesne Park and Ride....WHAT DO I DO???
DRIVER: There's another bus, he should be at the corner shortly, if you head up now you can catch it.
ME: It's a 61C, right?
DRIVER: Yep!

So, I step off of the bus, and honestly, if I didn't have to dart through traffic like Frogger, I know that I would have just stood on the street corner in Homestead and cried. I know it was broad daylight and there was tons of traffic, but I was overwhelmingly frightened that I was alone on the street in Homestead. I catch the REAL 61C (perhaps Pat should call the other one, something else...like 61C and a half!) and it's jam packed with all kinds of scaries. I have to stand. And I'm totally paranoid that this bus is also going to bypass my stop. Eventually, we got close enough to my stop that I was scared not to get out, knowing that at least from there I could walk a block or so to my car. I may have to reevaluate where I park and ride. Saving the $13 a month on parking and whatever it is I save in gas, is not worth feeling the way I felt on that bus ride home.

The good news is because of Walt's surgery, I'm off this coming week, so I get a 2 week reprieve from any more bus traumas. :)

I survived the 61C

This has nothing to do with Noah...but today was a big day for me. I had to take the bus to work. I signed up for a 3 day a week parking pass. I work 4, so that leaves one day to take the bus. So, I drive to the park and ride, and first, I'm freaking out because 61 C is not listed on the little bus sign. But, I decide to wait anyway. I sit in my car because I didn't want to sit at the little bus house by myself. I can see the road, and figured I'd hop out when I saw the bus turning. Of course, as soon as the bus turns towards the bus house, a guy is backing in right next to me, so I can't throw open my door and jump out. CRAP! I was relieved that it was my bus...but it just drove by! Now, I did what any out of shape girl (who's also carrying around 30 extra pounds) would do. I ran after it! I thought maybe I could catch it on the way back down from around the block. Not so much. I saw it drop someone off about a block or so down and away he went.
So I had to walk back to that little bus house, where there were now a few people, and I couldn't help but think they were laughing at this girl who must be new to the bus system. Anyway, their bus shows up, so I'm left alone again. But, just then, another 61C comes around the corner, and I jump on. The rest was smooth sailing. I had a seat all to myself (and as we got closer to Oakland and more people got on I'd think "PLEASE don't sit with me...." I know this isn't a huge deal - but yet, to me it was. I was so scared this morning! I hope soon I look like the girl across from me who was just chilling with her coffee and looked like she enjoyed the ride. My iPod knew exactly what to play this morning, I think she felt my vibe.
Now to survive the ride home...we'll see how that goes!