I was feeling antsy today so I decided that Evelyn and I should go exploring.
On the bus.
I am somewhat familiar with the bus system around here after using it quite a bit during my first year at NC-State, but I kinda slacked off last year and now that we're in Durham I had a lot to learn about the DATA buses.
Lesson #1: My NC-State ID and free "Go Pass" don't help me at all on DATA buses. (On Raleigh CAT and TTA buses, I ride free). Boo hiss. It's $4 for my day pass.
So Evelyn and I set out. I had her strapped on in the ring sling. I had her diaper bag with all the just-in-case items I could ever want. And for kicks, I was toting a relatively heavy canvas bag containing 8 curtain panels that I needed to exchange. That's a story for another day. But all this felt pretty manageable at about 11 when we set out.
Walking. To the bus stop. So much to learn.
Lesson #2: The bus stop is 1.07 miles away. It felt like a sauna outside. I was carrying 14 pounds of baby and who knows how many pounds of curtains. 1.07 miles never felt so long.
Lesson #3: Much of my hike to the bus stop required me to choose between walking in the street itself (not a busy street, but one on which the few cars going by were going really fast) or trying to walk on a super steep shoulder or the ditch it formed. I really miss the city life perk called sidewalks that I took for granted in Kansas.
So we made it on the bus. Air conditioning never felt so good. We made it to the transfer center and to the next bus. Things were going quite well. We made it to P.F. Chang's, where we hopped off to walk to World Market. Exchanged some curtains, which did not lighten my load any. Sat outside on a bench so Evelyn could have lunch... then began to contemplate the return trip.
Grabbed some lunch. Walked down to Babies R Us to nurse again in the comfy chair in the Mother's room (and air conditioning!).
Started looking for an ATM, because I was going to be $1 short for bus fare home.
Walked to Southpoint. Found ATM and learned that the bus stop is by the movie theater. For anyone familiar with these shopping places, I've now walked way too far. Starting to feel whiny. Stopped at Pottery Barn and got some more curtains on the way to the bus stop.
Caught the bus back to downtown. Bus was packed.
Got downtown to the transfer center and waited for a very very long time outside in the heat for the bus that would take us home.
Lesson #4: I'm capable of carrying a diaper bag, a heavy bag of curtains, drinking a diet coke, and having Evelyn in the ring sling nursing while I'm also covered with the nursing cover. Oh and I'm standing up. In the heat. Waiting for the bus. I'm superwoman.
... Bus arrives! Hallelujah!
... Bus's air conditioning is broken. Bus is very full of grumpy passengers. DATA representative guy comes on to cheer everyone up and let us know that we can take the next bus (in an hour?) or just deal with no air. He is saying all this really ridiculously loud and it scares Evelyn to have this yelling, so she starts to scream. Luckily I calm her down pretty fast.
Ride hot sweaty bus to our stop.
Hike home. I must have looked as bad as I felt at this point, because the kid who got off the bus at the same stop kept looking back at me as if to make sure I was still alive, and a guy driving down the road pulled over to ask if we were okay or if he could call someone to help or give us a ride somewhere.
But alas we made it home. The very coldest setting for the shower wasn't cold enough for me then.
And as I was stepping out of the shower, I understood the miracle that is:
Lesson #5: I need a stroller.
On the bus.
I am somewhat familiar with the bus system around here after using it quite a bit during my first year at NC-State, but I kinda slacked off last year and now that we're in Durham I had a lot to learn about the DATA buses.
Lesson #1: My NC-State ID and free "Go Pass" don't help me at all on DATA buses. (On Raleigh CAT and TTA buses, I ride free). Boo hiss. It's $4 for my day pass.
So Evelyn and I set out. I had her strapped on in the ring sling. I had her diaper bag with all the just-in-case items I could ever want. And for kicks, I was toting a relatively heavy canvas bag containing 8 curtain panels that I needed to exchange. That's a story for another day. But all this felt pretty manageable at about 11 when we set out.
Walking. To the bus stop. So much to learn.
Lesson #2: The bus stop is 1.07 miles away. It felt like a sauna outside. I was carrying 14 pounds of baby and who knows how many pounds of curtains. 1.07 miles never felt so long.
Lesson #3: Much of my hike to the bus stop required me to choose between walking in the street itself (not a busy street, but one on which the few cars going by were going really fast) or trying to walk on a super steep shoulder or the ditch it formed. I really miss the city life perk called sidewalks that I took for granted in Kansas.
So we made it on the bus. Air conditioning never felt so good. We made it to the transfer center and to the next bus. Things were going quite well. We made it to P.F. Chang's, where we hopped off to walk to World Market. Exchanged some curtains, which did not lighten my load any. Sat outside on a bench so Evelyn could have lunch... then began to contemplate the return trip.
Grabbed some lunch. Walked down to Babies R Us to nurse again in the comfy chair in the Mother's room (and air conditioning!).
Started looking for an ATM, because I was going to be $1 short for bus fare home.
Walked to Southpoint. Found ATM and learned that the bus stop is by the movie theater. For anyone familiar with these shopping places, I've now walked way too far. Starting to feel whiny. Stopped at Pottery Barn and got some more curtains on the way to the bus stop.
Caught the bus back to downtown. Bus was packed.
Got downtown to the transfer center and waited for a very very long time outside in the heat for the bus that would take us home.
Lesson #4: I'm capable of carrying a diaper bag, a heavy bag of curtains, drinking a diet coke, and having Evelyn in the ring sling nursing while I'm also covered with the nursing cover. Oh and I'm standing up. In the heat. Waiting for the bus. I'm superwoman.
... Bus arrives! Hallelujah!
... Bus's air conditioning is broken. Bus is very full of grumpy passengers. DATA representative guy comes on to cheer everyone up and let us know that we can take the next bus (in an hour?) or just deal with no air. He is saying all this really ridiculously loud and it scares Evelyn to have this yelling, so she starts to scream. Luckily I calm her down pretty fast.
Ride hot sweaty bus to our stop.
Hike home. I must have looked as bad as I felt at this point, because the kid who got off the bus at the same stop kept looking back at me as if to make sure I was still alive, and a guy driving down the road pulled over to ask if we were okay or if he could call someone to help or give us a ride somewhere.
But alas we made it home. The very coldest setting for the shower wasn't cold enough for me then.
And as I was stepping out of the shower, I understood the miracle that is:
Lesson #5: I need a stroller.
Comments
Maybe one that doesn't weigh much.
I love you.
xomom