I tried to bus to work today even though it was wet and miserable outside. I got as far as 9 blocks away, on foot, and the 99 bus never showed up, so I walked back home and drove to work.

I’ll give it one more try next week, but I am not impressed with Translink. The busses are either early or delayed, and this is making it impossible to plan ahead and be on time. People are hours late to work, bringing productivity down to and the city just stalls. How are we going to grow if people can’t get to their jobs? This is so inefficient; it’s a waste of my life to stand around waiting for a bus that never shows up and makes me late for appointments and meetings. Translink, please put our tax dollars to good use and get your shit together.

Good thing today was a soup day at work and at home:

I just want to go back to this…

Might as well just eat.

Look at all that butter. @Happy Date Bakery & Restaurant. Maybe I don’t exercise enough to have this, but we’re all going to die one day, and I’d rather eat this and be happy than deprive myself of all that fluffy bread with butter.

Reasons why I cannot sleep:

1. SimCity BuildIt is keeping me awake.
2. I dread transiting to work, but how else am I going to save some money?
3. Too much coffee today to stay awake.
4. Just not ready to sleep yet.

Waking up at 6AM tomorrow to bus to work when I could be riding comfortably in my Veloster. (Maybe not that comfortably, I get pretty nervous when I’m driving these days, probably because of all the previous accidents). It’ll be my first time using the monthly pass on the Compass card. I’ll let you know how it goes.

This email came today:

Then, I found this waiting for me at home:

The Beta Test Compass Card and Welcome Kit.  It includes an Adult 1 Zone Monthly Pass and Stored Value of $100.  I don’t have high hopes for this project.  Translink never fails to disappoint.

Front of the card:

Back of the card:

Instructions were included.  More about this soon…

I’ve been selected as a beta tester for the Compass! How exciting. Look forward to lots of complaining.

 

Translink really sucks, and I’m not just talking about how busses are never on time.

I walked onto the #27 bus at Rupert Station around 4:30pm, and flashed my new August monthly 2 zone bus pass. Since there were still quite a few people behind me waiting to get on, I walked quickly to the back of the bus and plopped down on a seat to read Game of Thrones #3 (which is really good btw).

Right when I open up my book (bookmark = July bus pass for convenience), the bus driver makes this announcement:

“TO THE LADY WHO JUST TRIED TO GET ON THE BUS WITH A JULY BUS PASS, IT WAS REALLY OBVIOUS.”

I spent an honest, hard-earned $110 on this piece of useless plastic/paper.  I do not need to be accused of being a thief.  I suppose a lot of people try to sneak onto busses with old bus passes or even with Upasses that aren’t theirs, but there’s no need to assume everybody will do it. Anyways, why make such a big deal about it, Mr. Bus Driver? Translink is making exorbitant amounts of money, and you’re not profiting from any of it, so might as well work together to beat the system.

Maybe the driver wasn’t talking about me, but about another lady. Maybe I’m just too sensitive. Maybe Translink should’ve made August bus passes more distinct from July bus passes. Maybe the bus driver should’ve stopped me right after I walked by him so that I could’ve properly shown him my bus pass instead of making assumptions and announcing lies over the bus intercom.  I JUST WANT TO DEFEND MY HONOR.

It could’ve been worse, like the case in Hong Kong years ago:

http://youtu.be/EsYRQkmVifg

If the bus wasn’t so packed, I would’ve walked right back up to the front and shoved it in his face.  There’s always tomorrow; I take the same bus and see the same bus driver everyday.  Tomorrow, I’m going to hold it right in front of his face, and point to the AUG 2012 at the top of the pass. And smile politely.