Day 14: Early Morning Passengers

Getting Lost

Rock bottom is pretty sharp and painful.  As my bank accounts slowly reach dangerously low levels, my anxiety is getting higher.

Now, I'm nervous that it's starting to affect my job search endeavors.

Last Monday, I had an interview in a suburb of Boston, one that I would need a car to get to.  I ended up asking a friend first if he could just drive me, but he offered that I take the car myself.  Naturally, since I couldn't afford a Zipcar at the moment, I took the opportunity.

I put in $20 worth of gas the night before since the level was quite low.  In the morning, as I was working out, I saw that a tow truck pulled up on the block where I parked the car.  Just as I sprinted down the hill, I managed to get a $40 ticket.  At that point, I might as well have gotten a Zipcar.

Later that morning, I was ready to go to the job interview.  I plugged in my GPS and went on my merry way.  Unfortunately, when I got there, I found myself in front of a residence.  This didn't seem right.

I tried calling the women who was interviewing me, but she wouldn't pick up.  I realized I was in a neighboring town, so I checked my email and the woman said it was by "Cochichuit" street.  My GoogleMaps couldn't find that street.  After Googling it instead, I found it.  It was "Cochituate Rd."

As I proceeded in that direction, I was already fairly late.  I had left several messages, and the woman still had not picked up or called back.

I circled in a mall area, in another business' parking lot, and almost got back on the highway before finally finding the building.  As I pulled into the lot, the woman finally called me and wondered where I was.  I told her that I had tried calling and left multiple messages, but that I had gotten lost.

Not as dire...but just as disappointing...
and still keeping hope alive...

At this point, I was already 25 minutes late.  But I told her that I'd still like to go through the interview.

Goodness, if I was the person trying to hire someone, there's no way that I would hire the late person unless they were extremely amazing.  I felt like a hot mess.

Suffice it to say, I did not get the job.  Part of me is irritated since I had asked for directions from her and didn't get them until I was on the road.  Though, it really worked out for the best since I would have to make it to the office every day and go further west into Central Massachusetts to do some of my work.

Honestly, I feel like it just proved to me to stick within areas that I could easily reach via public transportation or even bicycling.

But it really made me think about all the jobs I've applied to.  Some I knew I was qualified for, some I knew I was over qualified for, some were definitely a reach.  But some were a reach because I knew it would be difficult for me to get there.

Still, I had to apply.  I definitely haven't been able to do 15 jobs a week since the first time.  But I'm still pushing through.  Hopefully, there will not be anymore getting lost.

Simple Pleasures Sundays - $15 Bus Rides

I'm heading off to New York City to see my best friend today!  We're going to attend the final gala event for the New York International Children's Film Festival, an event we try to attend every year.

Though we both managed to make it to the East Coast and we're only about 4 hours drive away from each other, we unfortunately don't see each other as often as we'd like.

But, it is almost comforting to know that we could easily see each other for a mere $15 one-way bus ride on the Fung Wah Bus.

When I first moved to Boston, that bus used to be only $10!!! But, I guess prices had to increase just a bit.

Also, the Fung Wah Bus has some notoriety for having crazy drivers, lots of break-downs, and other general problems.  Believe me, my friends and I have had a variety of crazy experiences on the bus!  From one girl being bitchy to her seat mate leading to us stopping just to have the police interview folks on the bus about the incident, to a friend of mine experiencing a side-view mirror swiping with a big-rig truck.

But I don't care.  I figure that statistically, accidents can't happen all the time, and you just have to plan a trip either right after an incident or after a long time without an incident.  It's definitely better to go early in the morning so that the buses are "fresh."

Either way, it's pretty awesome to travel to another state to see my best friend just for $15!  The second $15, however, is not as satisfying because of the eventual separation from her.

Holiday Rush

I don't know what it is about the holidays that makes the days just completely blur by.

Whenever the first of the month hits, I'm never ever prepared for it.  The sad part is that I usually never remember that it's the first of the month until I'm waiting for the T and realize I don't have an updated pass.

T-pass! Git yer T-pass here!

This December 1st seemed to start off in a similar fashion.  I'm lucky that I have an extra T-pass that has some cash on it for when friends have visited.  But I was nearly in a panic as the bus showed up, and I wasn't sure if I would have enough to get me where I needed to go and back.

As December 1st closed, I realized that the month has basically gone by in a flash just from booking and planning different events throughout the month.

This first weekend is going to be crazy busy!

Friday:  Dress Rehearsal for Raks Nativity
Saturday:  Raks Nativity show, then a dance gig at a friend's birthday party
Sunday:  Bizarre Bazaar, then an Athena's party

I have to admit that I started feeling nervous about how well this upcoming weekend is going to go, especially when I realized that I ran and got on the wrong bus.

But on the other hand, it's extremely exciting that things feel like they're busy and productive.

There are days when I wake up, and just lay in bed for a couple minutes almost dreading all the free time.  Though I know I have a lot of different things to do (like work on my nonprofit idea, or apply for jobs, or work on my Athena's stuff, or practice dance, or work out), it just feels difficult working without a schedule.

I'm still trying to write my own schedule, but it feels so strange.  I know most people would kill for a chance like this.  I'm really quite appreciative that I actually have time to actually fill up, as opposed to being so busy that I don't even have time to hang with my boyfriend.

But it still doesn't necessarily fix my lack of financials.

Still, and I know I'm starting to ramble a bit here, I'm quite excited to have such a busy weekend - one in which I will be making money.

My Big Fat Greek Adventure - Back to Athens and Back to Reality

July 14th was the day we left Santorini.  It was actually really quite a sad day for us, as we had both fallen in love with the island.

At some point in our stay, Jenny clued me in to the fact that we had been staying up pretty late, and usually end up back at the hostel at around 3am.  I cannot even begin to tell you how surprised I was! Well, suffice it to say, we had been getting up later than usual.  So, on our last day, we wanted to make sure we were in the ocean for one last time.

Last time in the Santorini ocean

But we only really got to spend about 20 minutes in the water due to us having had another late night that last night with the Albanians from Fusion Bar.  We had to pack, and be really creative about it since we managed to buy a couple of souvenirs for folks back home.

At around 10am, Tony brought these 2 German dudes, Jenny, and I back to the Athinios Port.  And in true Greek fashion, he stopped at a waiting area and said, "Okay! Thank you for staying with us! Goodbye!"

We hopped out of the car, not having a single clue where our ferry was going to be and what to look for.  "Okay. Now you jump."

Planes, Trains, and Automo-buses

Remember when I said that "movement" was my word for the year?

Well, I really didn't know how true that was going to be at the time.

Here's what I've done in the past weekend:
February 5th - Chinatown Bus to New York City
February 6th - Chinatown Bus to Boston
February 7th - Flight to Los Angeles (til the 17th, when the boyfriend and I fly back to Boston on a red eye)

I know you're thinking, "Where's the train in all of that?"

I'd like you  to consider Boston's MBTA system, the T.  As the first active subway system in the U.S, I'd say it counts as the "train."

Seeing that it's really been one stressful couple of months, and with all the traveling I've been doing, I've really lacked a lot of sleeping in.  But, luckily, I'm one of those people who can easily knock out in a moving vehicle.  So, I've counted a lot on falling asleep during my travels just to keep my energy levels up.

Maybe it's from long drives around Los Angeles and California.  When my brother was a baby, we used to all get into a car just to lull my brother to sleep.  Apparently, it stuck with me as well.

I asked my psychiatrist auntie about whether there was a name for that phenomenon, and she told me it was motion sickness!  Not the worst version of motion sickness, considering that I could be throwing up all the time instead.

Even as I write this post, I'm feeling like I need to take a serious nap - which, after all the stress I've been encountering and all the traveling I've been doing, I'm gifting myself for all my hard work.  Napping is not something that I can do as easily for some reason.  Maybe I'll ask my sister to drive me around the block.  Maybe I'll just get cozy in the blanket my grandmother used.

So, I will leave you with some sights I've captured during my travels thus far.

Sunrise Over Logan

Clouds Over California

Live Music and Drugged Out College Kids at Park St. Station

City Sights - Strange Choices

I realized that people make some strange choices. And some of those choices need to be explored a little.  So I take pictures, and it's high time I shared them with others.

Going along the first post of City Sights, these folks made some interesting decisions about how to get around the city.  Mainly, it's a question of their style...but it does make me question the function as well.

Oktoberfest 2007

She's taking "going green" to a whole new level!

I would be worried about getting the fur stuck in the gears, stopping the pedals, and flipping the bike over.

...but that would probably only ever happen to me...

Summer 2009

Okay...I don't know if you can really see it...

But this car has this strange holographic purpley-pinky-rainbowy glaze over it!!!
I first noticed the car maybe 2 years ago, and I literally stopped walking and took off my sunglasses just to make sure I wasn't hallucinating.

I don't know how this person didn't get made fun of...

They're clearly trying to be all hardcore and tough....but the color choice just isn't helping...
But I must say that it's a show-stopper of some sort or another.

Travels: New Years

As 2009 turned into 2010, I was feeling hopeful, but I also knew that my vacation was nearing its end.

But I couldn't think of a better way to spend the transition than with my friends and family...in Los Angeles.

Here's two sights that would be part of my Los Angeles friends tour:

I know it's not the best quality....but yes, that's a tree that's been cut to look like a dog's head!

The famous Youngwood Court (aka The House of Davids)

You gotta love the Black Power Santa!

Celebrating
It's been at least 2 years since I've spent New Years with my family, but I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Happy New Year in my parents back yard

Lighting sparklers

Crazy lights

Mermaid tail?

C and V!

Starting 2010 at The Happiest Place on Earth
It's been years since I've been to Disneyland.  My boyfriend has only been to Tokyo Disney, which I've also been to and it completely pales in comparison.  This was also the first time for the both of us to go to California Adventure.

We arrived when Disneyland opened at 8am, and left the park at 11:30pm, a half hour before closing.

Walt and Mickey copycats

Aurora's/Sleeping Beauty's Castle

We were soaked! Thank goodness for a beautiful 70 degree day!

I kicked his butt...

 

Screaming...and laughing...and screaming...and laughing...

 

Cream cheese pretzels and Churros!!!

 

Jedi Training Academy is Ageist...My boyfriend so wanted to be chosen!

This kid was HILARIOUS!  He was so not listening to directions...

At California Adventure, on a "Hollywood Set"...I kept getting dizzy looking at the back drop!

 

Resting our feet on King Triton's Carousel 

 

Beautiful! But the ride was way too short!

Our footsies were exhausted!

Goodbye West Coast
We were so exhausted after Disneyland, but we still needed to pack.  Our flight was at 9:50am, but we knew that we needed to prepare for whatever LAX would be throwing our way.

Now, I'm sitting back in our living room, while the final Pats game is on.  The snow delayed our flight getting back, and there's still snow clouds hanging over the city.

It was great to sleep in our own bed.  But it's hard for me to not wish this was out my window instead.

Sunrise Over Downtown

Travels: West Coast Christmas 2009

Just thought I would log the travels thus far for this bloggie.

December 23rd Departure
Though we were slightly delayed in our travels, we were very happy to leave this:

Stop-over in Denver...completely re-routed!

We had a lot of open space on the flight, however.  The boyfriend and I got an isle all to ourselves for the entire flight, and slept most of the way.  But I got some really neat views of clouds and icy terrain.

Cloud landscape

Icy landscape

Overall, we were very impressed by the way Southwest handled the weather problems.  The staff were fabulous, even if they weren't scheduled to be there!  Our bags made it to LA safe and sound.  Yay, Southwest!

Loves!

Doggies!
The majority of my vacation pictures will be of doggies.  I miss being around them so much, and I will just have to keep waiting since they aren't allowed in our apartment.

But at least there's these cuties in L.A.

My Tita Agnes' Menagerie

Sitka - Tita Ame's Big Baby

Garrison and Charlie - My parents' really hairy child and my sister's new love

Christmas Eve
We celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve.  Food is abundant.  Family is present.  Presents are distributed at midnight.

Family and Filipino Food - what more could I ask for?

Up Next on the Itinerary:  Coastal Driving and Wining

City Sights - Modes of Transportation

Just wanting to share random sights around Boston.

Here's two that I've been excited about sharing:

Going down Commonwealth Ave. towards Boston University.  April 25, 2009.
Goodness knows where they were going, but the poor guy was pedaling so hard, 

probably because her shoes were so freakin' heavy!

At one point, they reached a stop light.  She proceeded to get off the bike and cross the street, while the bike waited for the light.  The light turned green, he caught up to her, and she hopped right back on.  

Why, yes...that is a minivan with spinners.

Parked in the Allston Stop & Shop lot.  November 25, 2009.

I really don't have anything to say about this one...