My First Bus Trip

Well, I can't say that my first weekend "on my own" was particularly eventful. That Friday night, I decided that I didn't really want to do anything, so I started putting together the bookshelf that I bought, which is the last piece of furniture I needed to set up. I built it (except for nailing in the back piece since it was late and I didn't want to disturb the neighbors) and then proceeded to try and figure out where to put it.

Having very limited space, I had only a few options of what to do with it. I tried putting it next to the bed, but as it turns out, I don't have that much space along that wall. So right now, it is temporarily sitting at the end of my bed, awaiting a permanent spot. Mostly it's just awaiting me getting rid of the empty boxes which line the wall where I'm planning on putting it. Over the weekend I emptied these boxes of most of their contents and set things up like my printer and my desktop computer. There are still a few odds and ends that need to be placed (like most of my "sentimental crap" as I deemed it). The sentimental stuff is going to be hard to find a place for, especially if it needs to hang up because I'm not allowed to use thumbtacks. So, it will be an interesting endeavor.

On Saturday though, I went on my first PA adventure. Armed with my new phone (T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide) with Google Maps, my bus number and my CMU ID card, I set off to find Island Inkjet, which is on the way downtown. I discovered that I needed to get printer ink in order for any of the functionality on my printer to work (like the scanner!) so I was off to hopefully spend less money than buying a new Canon cartridge. I walk down the street toward the main intersection where I would be catching the bus. Now mind you, this intersection is quite convoluted. Where my road ends, there is a 5-way intersection with no crosswalk lights, so I have to use my common sense to guess when to go. I guessed wrong the first time and ended up running across in order to avoid the cars turning left. Two hundred feet down the road is another hugely busy intersection, fortunately this one is only 4-way. This is where I was supposed to catch the bus. I crossed the street one way, thinking it would be across the street. Then I looked back and saw the bus stop covered area and had to cross back...and of course, as I am doing this, I see my bus coming so I book it.

Now, boarding the buses in Pittsburgh is a little tricky as you have to be aware of which way the bus is going in order to know when you have to pay for your ride. All buses inbound toward downtown you pay when you get on. Buses that are outbound you pay when you get off the bus, unless it's after 7 PM in which case you pay when you get on. Seems simple enough, but I was still worried. I flashed my ID card and got a nod and was on my way. I pulled out my phone to figure out where I was going and what stop I had to get off at. Fortunately I didn't have to request my stop, someone else did it for me.

I squeezed past and got off and then walked to where Island Inkjet was supposed to be, and I find an empty building. They're out of business. So, as a consolation gift to myself, I stop in at Caribou Coffee (which was ironically across the street from Starbucks) and get myself a 16oz iced dark chocolate mocha. When they asked me what kind of chocolate, I was a little confused. Apparently they have milk, dark and white. Crazy! Anyways, I planned my next move. I discovered that there was another "office supplies" store two blocks away. So I made for that store. This one road that I ended up walking down turned out to be an alley and it was super sketch, even in the day time. There was a homeless guy and some other sketchy businesses. I walked fast. Anyways, I find the place and it is also out of business. So after consulting my phone again, I make for the bus stop and I board the bus toward Staples.

This bus trip was kind of interesting. I have never seen anything like this back at home, but the road we were traveling on was a one-way street, four lanes. However the far left lane was a transit only lane going in the opposite direction. It kinda tripped me out, but it's smart. Anyways, I went to Staples, got my Canon-brand expensive ink and decided that I would stop in at the pet store and look at the creatures. I saw dogs and fish and guinea pigs and some birds. The birds made me miss mine at home. One of the cockatiels was very vocal (definitely a boy).

I hopped on the bus back home and proceeded to sit in front of my air conditioner. It's so warm here.

So that was my first adventure.