I saw this bus in DC today-
Archive for the ‘Driving/Traffic’ Category
New metro buses
Monday, January 5th, 2009Traffic!!!!
Monday, June 26th, 2006I spent 2 hours in my car this morning for what should’ve been a 30 minute commute. Take a look for yourself …
Those who are familiar with the area will understand the severity of this traffic statistic. Rt. 29 is the lifeline of the area and having it shut down is just painful. I heard on 1500AM that this will be shut down for a few days … and no, I turned on 1500AM just for the traffic report!
2 years and I still made a mistake
Saturday, March 18th, 2006For 2 years while working at GSI, I took the green line train to Gallery Place Metro station and back to College Park Metro station. 2 years.
I’ve streamlined my whole process of getting into the station by efficiently touching my smarttrip card embedded in one of the slots in my wallet to the touchpads at the entry gates.
I have become so efficient that I can retrieve my wallet, touch the smarttrip pad and put my wallet back in my pocket all in under 2 seconds and without slowing down the speed of my walk.
Today, feeling confident as ever, I entered the metro station at Gallery Pl. at 3:50pm, blasting the music on my iRiver. I am new to the whole listening to music on the go scene.
I take my escalators going downstairs, run for the train already boarding at the platform but am unable to reach it before the doors close. Then it takes me a minute to realize that the train was a yellow line train and I feel good about myself again for avoiding the wrong train.
Then next green line train was in 2 minutes. I patiently wait while listening to the loud music in my ears and tapping my foot to it. The train comes, I board it and I decide to stand for a while in the semi-crowded car.
I pull out my Palm to play some solitaire. Again, something that I never did in the past. I go through 4 unsuccessful games while I felt the train move and stop at numerous stations.
I must take this moment to point out that my visual and auditory senses were preoccupied to notice anything else that a normal passenger would notice.
When I did notice my surroundings was when everybody got off the train at once. My heart sank, my eyes glared and a sense of fear overcame my mind as I stared at the system map.
I had reached Branch Avenue – then end of the Green line in the opposite direction! I now had 19 stops to go in the opposite direction. Long story short, I made it back to College Park at 4:55pm instead of 4:15pm as I had planned.
Up until this moment, I do not know how, why or what happened. All I know is that I made it (somehow).
Back in Town
Sunday, November 27th, 2005We arrived in MD this morning around 8am. After much debate, we decided to leave South Carolina last night at 11:30 pm. We drove through the entire night. It was definitely a good idea because we would’ve hit lots of traffic coming home today. In either case, I relieved my brother from driving between 2-5 in the morning while he took a power nap. It is really easy to doze off behind the wheel at night when everybody else in the car is sleeping. So as a prevention mechanism, I decided to play some upbeat songs. That worked … for 2 songs. Then, I decided to sing along with the songs and I probably sang ‘Breathless’ at least 4 times. That didn’t last long either. Then I decided to take my mind off the fact that I might fall asleep and decided to concentrate on something else that would keep me engaged.
Surprisingly, the only thing I could concentrate on and that kept me engrossed for more than an hour was thinking about Sears. My thoughts revolved around Black Friday – the most important day in retail. I thought about everything from planning the merchandise to training my team to be the most efficient during that day. I know that to many this might be a sad admission and I am glad I am phasing out this chapter of my life. However, it led me back to a question – ‘What am I really happy doing?’ Some of you are out in the working world and get up every Monday to go to work. Are you really psyched by the prospect of going to your monotonous job everyday?
Whatever I end up doing in life, I know that working at Sears was one of the best things I could have done with my life. It taught me a lot about life and I will cherish my experiencese for the rest of my life. I think all of us should ask ourselves what it is that we are happy doing. It gives us a destination to aim for in life and makes it easier for us to choose the path we will take there.
How are your skills at Parallel Parking?
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2003Toyota engineers in Japan have developed the technology that enables their car to automatically park itself!
Yes you heard right: the damn car can park itself. The park-assist system uses electrical steering control and sensors to guide the car when it reverses. The car can sense the white lines on the road as well as gutters and the curb and most importantly, it can see other cars around itself. This means that all you have to do when you find that you don’t want to embarass yourself by trying to parallel park, you can flip a switch and look like a pro. The system was developed on a Toyota Prius and it’s not for certain if it’ll be available on other toyota models anytime soon. However, the Prius will be out next month on the Japanese market with the park-assist system as an optional package. Man, does that thing go on my wishlist or what?
Catch me if you can
Friday, June 27th, 2003Some of my friends that are ‘GOOD’ drivers would know what I am talking about when I say that during rush hour, some people illegaly drive on the ’shoulder’ or the ‘turn-only’ lanes and then cut in front of you as if they own the road and don’t have to wait in the long traffic lines because they are special. Isn’t that really annoying? I mean you are sitting there behind about 50 cars and then suddenly the guy behind you pulls out, drives into the ‘turn-only’ lane which is empty, and then cuts back into the line after about cutting 50 cars. It just pisses me off.
Well, fortunately, I’m one of the drivers who cuts people off by driving in the ‘turn-only’ lanes and I don’t wait in line like some ‘nice’ people. So the other day, I was going in the turn only lane and was about to cut into the mainstream of traffic, when I saw a cop standing at the end of the turn-only lane. Fortunately, and oh so fortunately, there was a car in front of me that was doing the same thing. So guess who the cop pull over? The other guy! phew. I just cut right back into the normal lane and went to school and for the first time, had a good time in my class. My heart just stopped when the cop pulled that guy over.
That whole day, whenever I would see a car that even closely resembled a cop-car, I would be on the verge of having a heart-attack. Of course this incident won’t stop me from cutting people again. I mean there is no other way that I would make it to school on time. It’s just that I’ll be smarter when I break the law. Catch me if you can.
DON’T Drink & Drive
Sunday, June 15th, 2003Here’s something that Vidya forwarded to me and I think it deserved a read by everybody. Please please please, get a designated driver. It is NOT COOL to drive drunk. Get a cab if need be – it is much cheaper than the price of a life.
PROM NIGHT
Prom night I went to a party, Mom,
I remembered what you said.
You told me not to drink, Mom,
So I drank soda instead.
I really felt proud inside, Mom,
The way you said I would.
I didn’t drink and drive, Mom
Even though the others said I should.
I know I did the right thing, Mom,
I know you are always right.
Now the party is finally ending, Mom,
As everyone is driving out of sight.
As I got into my car, Mom,
I knew I’d get home in one piece
Because of the way you raised me,
So reasonable and sweet.
I started to drive away, Mom,
But as I pulled out into the road,
The other car didn’t see, Mom,
And hit me like a load.
As I lay there on the pavement, Mom,
I hear the policeman say,
The other guy is drunk, Mom,
And now I’m the one who will pay.
I’m lying here dying, Mom,
I wish you’d get here soon.
How could this happen to me, Mom?
My life just burst like a balloon.
There is blood all around me, Mom,
And most of it is mine.
I hear the medic say, Mom,
I’ll die in a short time.
I just wanted to tell you, Mom,
I swear I didn’t drink.
It was the others, Mom,
The others didn’t think.
He was probably at the same party as I.
The only difference is, he drank and I will die.
Why do people drink, Mom?
It can ruin your whole life.
I’m feeling sharp pains now.
Pains just like a knife.
The guy who hit me is walking, Mom,
And I don’t think it’s fair.
I’m lying here dying and all he can do is stare.
Tell my brother not to cry, Mom,
Tell Daddy to be brave.
And when I go to Heaven, Mom,
Put “Daddy’s Girl” on my grave.
Someone should have told him, Mom,
Not to drink and drive.
If only they had told him, Mom,
I would still be alive.
My breath is getting shorter, Mom,
I’m becoming very scared.
Please don’t cry for me, Mom,
When I needed you, you were always there.
I have one last question, Mom,
Before I say good bye
I didn’t drink and drive,
So why am I the one to die?
-UNKNOWN AUTHOR