Getting Tired

The shift in my daily activities is getting to me. I was unemployed for a full month. Living a "life of leisure" as they say, they being yours truly. I got up at around 11a or so and went to bed around 2a or 3a or so. In between those hours, I had me some grub, blogged, read blogs and newspapers and explored Philly on foot with my camera. It was an incredibly fun month for me. It was like being born anew, a fresh start. It was my time off from work in a year.

But then at the end of the month off, I knew I had to get a job, I couldn't ride the gravy train that was eleven months of savings forever. So I hoofed it to the temp agency on Market St and took their stupid software tests. I temped previously back in NY after my ass got laid off from Spring Street Networks, part of the 20% that got the shaft that day from the firm. I did well on the stupid tests and the agency lady said how I was proficient in this and that. And then I went home and waited. About ten days passed before I called them and got a gig. I was to report to a construction site the next day at 8a.

Gone was my schedule of leisure. No time to get my ass back on some kind of "normal" schedule. I downed a sleeping pill that night to make sure I wouldn't end up staying awake until 4a doing who the fuck knows what. At the end of the first day, they told me that I had the choice of either working 7a to 4p with a one hour lunch or 7.30a to 4p with a thirty-minute lunch. I opted, hurriedly, for the latter. I'm not a morning person in the least.

I was just fine for the first ten days or so, but for the last two days, I've been zonking out after work on my bed. On Tuesday afternoon, I was doing something and then I just put my head on my pillow for a sec and then all of a sudden I wake up an hour-and-a-half later. Same thing Wednesday night. Midday naps are all good, but I'd rather take them becasue I want to and not because I need to.

I'm gonna have to start getting up even earlier in the coming weeks. Lady is giving her car back next month at some point. We're planning on taking a little roadtrip somewhere before that. Who knows where, any suggestions? I'll be taking the trolley or riding my bike the 30+ blocks to work. I'm not sure which. If I could wear shorts to work I'd definitely bike it, but I'm supposed to wear pants, but not stupid slacks and a button down - those days are OVER! When the day comes, it'll be my first ride on the trolley/subway system here in Illy. I've been here for over a year and haven't had the need to do so, lucky me. I guess I'll have to get me a pass as well. Where do I have to go to get one?

I'm sure I'll be taking photos during my commute. Perhaps something along the lines of Travis Ruse's efforts photographing his commute up in NYC. I've been looking at his wonderful shots of his commute for the past few months.

Well, it's after midnight again and I should be getting to bed. But I don't want to. But I do have to. Ugh. Goodnight moon.

Comments

[Dave]

When I lived outside of philly and worked in the city -- I took the Market Street el back and forth from 69th street. It was crowded sometimes, but otherwise not a bad ride at all from city hall.

I think all you need to ride is a zone 1 monthly pass, which is the cheapest. They sell them in the regional rail stations (30th Street, Market East, & Suburban). They are based on calendar months though, not 30 days from when you buy.

If you just want to try it out, most stores in the area sell tokens. 1 token = 1 ride & free transfer between subway lines, all two of them that exist. I usually buy them at Rite Aide.

[Albert]

Thanks Dave! You've saved me some research time on Septa's not so hot site.

[yoko]

You can also buy them online, and have Septa mail the pass/tokens to you.

Monthly transpass: http://www.buyphilly.com/Shop/Product.Asp?ProdID=2005&CatID=247&GroupID=72

Tokens:
http://www.buyphilly.com/Shop/Product.Asp?ProdID=2109&CatID=247&GroupID=72

You may also want to look into whether your employer offers a public transit reimbursement program. They may or may not; but it wouldn't hurt to ask, since many employers in the city take part in it.

[addie]

if you're going to be totally car-free, then i highly suggest getting a monthly pass. makes things MUCH easier, especially if you need to stop off anywhere on your way. that way you won't have to use another token to get back on. keep in mind you can only buy passes with credit/debit cards at certain locations. you have to pay cash at others.

[Albert]

thank you yoko and addie for the info/advice. i'll probably end up getting the monthly pass. oh man, i haven't had one of those in quite a while. since november of 2004 when i bought my last metrocard in nyc.

[PLD]

Moved here from NYC and insisted on staying car free. Thus far I've survived a 4-hour breakdown on SEPTA and a job change that now lets me walk to work. Now if I can just get them to add a deli in the bottom of my apartment building.

[agustín]

road trip to Memphis. Seriously, Memphis - where almost everyone is considered a minority!