How would you characterize the DASH shuttle? (It certainly doesn’t match your broad-brush, hysterical description of L.A. buses.) I walk to the Sunset/Vermont subway station (about 9 mins), take it to 7th and Fig, and then the DASH to 333 Beaudry. All told 30-40 minutes.
Well, fuck me running. And I just looked at some places around there on Redfin, and they don’t look too shabby.
If you move out there, you my find my white ass close behind (winters are starting to wear on me just a bit, which seems weird given that this one is very mild so far).
As a bus.
Look, I just don’t do busses. Fine with me if you do, but I don’t. Not sure why, I’m fine with trains. I don’t like raw tomatoes or oranges with alcohol or sex with men or riding busses–it’s just how I roll.
MOL - it’s January 1st. Now, at 6pm, it’s 65F. Earlier today it topped out at 86F. I had to turn on the A/C.
We have been having an awesomely mild winter. Last night I went out in a sweater and a very light jacket, and it felt great. No scarf, no gloves. Thanks, weather gods! I owe you one.
I feel the same way about buses and trains. Buses are the worst form of transportation there is. Unlike trains, which are arguably better than cars as they circumvent traffic, buses rot in traffic just like cars do, and stop every couple of blocks. They are just the worst. The DASH isn’t so bad though, as it barely even counts as a bus. They’re little neighborhood shuttles and are pretty quick.
But anyway, if you live on Red or Purple there, getting to downtown on the subway is quick and easy. If/when I return to LA, I’ll be sure to live by the subway. Taking the train to work kicked so much ass. I once had a friend drive me home, and it took about three times as long as the train would have. Fucking absurd. I didn’t mind as I took the ride for the chit chat and not efficiency, but it seemed pretty fucking ridiculous rotting on the freeway knowing I would have been home 20 min ago had I just hopped on the Red Line.
Edit: @ Maggie, I never thought I’d say this, but that’s too fucking hot for winter. I don’t need ass-cold Midwestern winters, but pushing 90 degrees in January ain’t right.
I know I can’t prove anything, but I lived in Chicago 10 years ago, I’m white, and I didn’t realize how bad the racial tension was until I moved to NJ/NYC in 2002. It was something I noticed in its absence. When I went back to visit earlier this year, I definitely noticed how awkward it was to talk to black people. Jersey City seems downright colorblind in comparison. Again, I can’t point to any overt acts of racism, but I definitely felt racial tension.
(FWIW, I grew up in Northwest Indiana, where I can personally vouch for the existence of many racist white people.)
Mean Old Lady: Jersey City has a subway to Manhattan, and is very nice. Most people I know here don’t have a car.
Racism in Chicago isn’t news to anyone who lives here. Everyone talks about it, knows about it, and at times jokes about it. Randall is being silly; don’t engage him.
As much as Jersey is the butt of jokes, I have nothing against it, but it’s not home. I’m too old and cranky to start a new life in a new town yet again. I’m either staying where I am, or am making my triumphant return to the old country.
There is nobody in Chicago who in their soul wouldn’t rather live in LA. Don’t fight it!
:rolleyes:
This is exactly the type of thing I’ve discussed in a thousand threads about racism. Certain types of people are willing to believe that there is widespread racism based on the flimsiest of evidence (i.e., a feeling of “racial tension,” or, in MOL’s case, just the bare knowledge that racism exists without even an attempt to provide examples or prove it in any way whatsoever). They then believe that we need government programs to combat this racism. Sure seems like they are just justifying their belief in the need for government programs–they are making up a problem because they believe their favorite solution will fix it.
This is also why racism will never ever go away–even if there is not a single white person left in America who believes that people of any other race are inherently and irredeemably inferior to white people, some people will still believe that racism exists (perhaps of the “institutional” variety :rolleyes:).
Why exactly don’t you want to move back? If it’s based on “shoulds” then I would say who made that rule, and why the hell are you following it?
If, in your heart, you feel like you haven’t given Chicago a real chance and you’re not done there yet then I would say stay, if only for another year. A year is nothing.
I would trick myself. (I know that sounds funny, but I do this when I need to and if works for me :D) Make the decision to move back. Seriously. Then see how it feels. Are you excited and the mundane details are minor; or is that voice in your head getting louder and louder asking wtf have you done?
This isn’t about you and your butt hurt. It’s about MOL finding the best place to spend her Old Lady-hood.
The voice is getting louder. First a tiny little voice asked, innocently, “How would you feel about moving back home?” I responded to the voice, “That’s silly. I just got here. Now leave me alone while I go to work and behave.” The voice didn’t like being brushed aside and persisted, “Hey, lady, if you’re not going to move back please tell me why not.” I dunno, it just feels like it’s impulsive and silly. And now the voice is nagging and harassing me everyday, and every time I go outside and see snow on the ground (like just now, grumble grumble) it arrogantly looks at me with one eyebrow raised, and when I say, “What?” it looks away all innocently and says “I didn’t say anything.”
That fucking voice thinks it knows everything.
It’s Jan. 2nd and it’s 75 degrees outside and sunny. What more reason do you need?
Well, it seems like wherever you go, you’re doing admirable things. If you don’t come, it’s L.A.'s loss and to Chicago’s benefit.
That is 100% flattery, but I’ll take it. Thanks so much.
At least wait until August. Take your little voice for a stroll down an LA street when it’s umpty-ump degrees out and just make sure it doesn’t dry up and crumble away. . .
The heat and humidity of a Chicago summer has to be more unpleasant than LA’s dry heat, no?
Chicago summers don’t fuck around. In the olden times, whenever people would respond to my laments about the heat with “But it’s a dry heat,” I’d grow annoyed and hostile. “Look, bitch, 100 degrees is hot, wet or dry.” But now I know. Oh, how I know.
THE LAX SHUTTLE STOPS UNDER THE BLUE SIGN! HOTEL AND PARKING SHUTTLES STOP UNDER THE RED SIGN! BUSES AND LONG DISTANCE VANS STOP UNDER THE GREEN SIGN! SHARED RIDE VANS STOP UNDER THE ORANGE SIGN! TAXIS STOP UNDER THE YELLOW SIGN!
If that makes you homesick, you should move back. LA is the Devil’s ashtray.
We’re trying to discourage the Lady from moving. I thought our sky today was not quite the right shade of blue, and the San Gabriels seemed somehow smaller when shot from the rose bowl today…
Also, there is apparently something about being in Pasadena on a Monday that is hard on your knees, esp if you are from Oregon…