I’m going to do it. I’m going to badmouth bicycles. I’d like to first say that I do own a bike, and I ride it for fun (non commuter), and I have fond memories of riding my bike as a child. I also am amazed at people who can ride ridiculously long rides because I don’t think that’s something I could ever do, or would want to try.
BUT, here's the thing bicycles. You are a vehicle. You must obey the laws of the road. This includes, but is not limited to, stopping at stop signs. Taking turns (ie waiting) at said stop signs. Riding on the correct side of the road so cars aren’t startled by you suddenly appearing coming towards them. Staying in your lane, if you have a bike lane then that goes double for you.
Also, you are not a pedestrian, you cannot ride your bike through a crosswalk- get off and walk your bike like you’re supposed to. I’m not expecting to see pedestrians moving at speeds of 25 miles per hour giving me no time to stop for them at said crosswalks.
I’m pretty sure I covered some of this in my last post, when I was complaining about pedestrians not looking out for their own good. I will do my very best not to hit you with my car- believe me I don’t want to hurt anyone, but you have to be responsible for your own life and safety. Bicycles, that goes for you too. You can’t just pop up in unexpected places and expect that I will see you in time. I am looking twice, and looking around, but with so many cars, people, traffic, motorcycles, scooters and such I won’t always see what I need to see.
SO, besides me being annoyed at everyone apparent lack of self preservation- I also think bicycles are a bad idea for other reasons. One, it’s great that you have low emissions (hey, you still breath so you have some emotions no matter what) but bicycles use the roads too, and they don’t pay a gas tax so there isn’t enough money to keep the roads in good repair. Two, bike lanes are great. But if you have to change the layout of a city, making it harder for cars to get around that's not cool. Our modern cities, for better or for worse, were designed with cars in mind- all the bike boulevards and street blockades and redirected traffic flows make traffic worse- which also makes it unsafe for bikes. (And traffic adds commute time which means cars are out there longer -emitting various gases that are purportedly bad for the environment and are the “reason” for bikes to be used in the first place).
Putting bikes first is not the answer to a sustainable mobile society who also values the environment. Safety of all people is paramount, but I don’t think bikes are really safe in the current set up anyway, and it isn’t good for cars either. It’s a lose-lose and there needs to be a better answer. I just don’t know what that is yet.
But in the mean time Mr. Bicycle, stop at the stop sign like you’re supposed to.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Wanted: Soul Mate Career
I’m insecure. I think everyone is insecure about something. I have my moments where I’m not sure of myself in every situation, but the one where I am consistently insecure about myself is in my career/job hunting. It’s just something that I haven’t ever been good at. And yes, I’m sure part of the reason I seem to fail is due to my lack of faith in myself- but that knowledge can’t break the cycle in it’s self.
It starts the way these things usually do- I need to get a job. I start looking online, usually Craig’s list or specific places I can think of, and I read about the qualifications I need to even apply for the job. That's where I start to get stuck. Two to three years of experience? I don’t have any experience in this job or field, but I want to try. How can I get experience without starving to death? (okay I would never starve, my parents are very supportive and wouldn’t let me be homeless or hungry, but you know what I mean). How can I get the experience I need if they won’t hire me until I have the experience? The answer is get a part time job for money and an internship for experience- but that doesn’t seem to happen for me.
So I don’t apply for those jobs or if I do, I’m already plagued with self doubt. Then I apply to lower level jobs- usually retail or something where they don’t care about your resume, they just want to make sure you can get to work and aren’t a criminal. I’m a college educated graduate who looks clean cut and seems nice, so I always get these jobs.
I work hard, I try to get along with my co-workers and boss(es). But I start to get bored and/or burnt out on they type of job I’m doing. Eventually I don’t care about my job- the money isn’t enough to motivate me past a certain point. That point usually comes a few months into the job and I start to not care. When I don’t care, I show up late to work sometimes, I get sloppy in my performance, I slack off. One of two things happens- I get so fed up that I quit or my employer doesn’t like people to be late and not try so I get fired. I haven’t been fired often, only 2 or 3 times, but it’s happened. It’s like getting a speeding ticket, you probably know it’s coming but it’s still kind of hard to swallow.
And that leads me back to the beginning of me needing to get a job and looking on Craig’s list. But this time I have another failure of a job on my mental resume. It weighs on me and makes me feel bad about myself. The failure makes me feel stupid for not trying harder at the beginning or lame for not being able to keep a lame job that anyone could get. So when I see that a job that sounds interesting needs certain qualifications I don’t have, I don’t even try, I just find something that I know I can get. I settle. And that never ends well.
I’m looking for a job right now. Am I brave enough to break the cycle?
It starts the way these things usually do- I need to get a job. I start looking online, usually Craig’s list or specific places I can think of, and I read about the qualifications I need to even apply for the job. That's where I start to get stuck. Two to three years of experience? I don’t have any experience in this job or field, but I want to try. How can I get experience without starving to death? (okay I would never starve, my parents are very supportive and wouldn’t let me be homeless or hungry, but you know what I mean). How can I get the experience I need if they won’t hire me until I have the experience? The answer is get a part time job for money and an internship for experience- but that doesn’t seem to happen for me.
So I don’t apply for those jobs or if I do, I’m already plagued with self doubt. Then I apply to lower level jobs- usually retail or something where they don’t care about your resume, they just want to make sure you can get to work and aren’t a criminal. I’m a college educated graduate who looks clean cut and seems nice, so I always get these jobs.
I work hard, I try to get along with my co-workers and boss(es). But I start to get bored and/or burnt out on they type of job I’m doing. Eventually I don’t care about my job- the money isn’t enough to motivate me past a certain point. That point usually comes a few months into the job and I start to not care. When I don’t care, I show up late to work sometimes, I get sloppy in my performance, I slack off. One of two things happens- I get so fed up that I quit or my employer doesn’t like people to be late and not try so I get fired. I haven’t been fired often, only 2 or 3 times, but it’s happened. It’s like getting a speeding ticket, you probably know it’s coming but it’s still kind of hard to swallow.
And that leads me back to the beginning of me needing to get a job and looking on Craig’s list. But this time I have another failure of a job on my mental resume. It weighs on me and makes me feel bad about myself. The failure makes me feel stupid for not trying harder at the beginning or lame for not being able to keep a lame job that anyone could get. So when I see that a job that sounds interesting needs certain qualifications I don’t have, I don’t even try, I just find something that I know I can get. I settle. And that never ends well.
I’m looking for a job right now. Am I brave enough to break the cycle?
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Happy Birthmas!
Maybe I’m just a child at heart, but some of my favorite holidays are traditionally “kid holidays” (if that’s even a thing). I love dressing up in costumes and eating (too much) candy for Halloween. I love decorating for Christmas and picking out gifts to give to my friends and family. I love hunting for Easter eggs (and yes, getting an Easter basket) and having our big get-together with loved ones for a paella (a Spanish rice dish). But one of my favorite things is my birthday. Maybe because it’s in August and not much happens holiday-wise before or after that. I love making a cake and decorating it. And having an excuse to buy things for myself.
My Mom has always gone all out for holidays and parties. I’m not saying we had a lot of money, we didn’t, but she would plan and decorate and have fun things for my brother or my guests to do. I think a lot of it was Mom trying to make it up to us that we lived so far away from any of our family. The only family that visited us consistently were my grandparents, I would love it when they would come stay with us. It made it feel more like home, our four person family suddenly felt complete with six people and even dinner felt like a special occasion.
The other thing was my brother and I never had tons of friends. We had a few close friends, and some friends from clubs and soccer teams, but not the big circle of friends I assume everyone else had- so birthdays have always been a little more family oriented.
Which leads me to right now. It’s August, I’m turning 28 and I’m trying to plan my birthday party. I still have a few close friends from my hometown and college years, but they are spread across the country. I came up with a brilliant plan, and I’m having an online birthday party with them. *keeping my fingers crossed my bandwidth is good enough*. But what about here? Here, in the real, present time and place.
My new husband and I moved to California to be close to my parents, grandfather, and West coast family. We aren’t the most extroverted people and have only met a few people since we moved here. Before that we lived overseas in South Korea (where we also only had two sets of close couple friends). And before that, I didn’t even know my husband and was mostly hanging out with my good friend Allie, and guys who were trying to date me. And before that I did have a full and fun circle of friends, but I lost them all in my divorce because my ex husband is a lying, cheating, emotionally manipulative person. Before that was college, where I gained two close friends. And before that was High School and all the friends and drama that come with it.
When Holidays happen, you don’t have to know anyone really. There is hustle and bustle, and consumer based marketing telling you that THIS HOLIDAY IS NOW, and maybe even holiday themed movies being shown on TV. But Birthdays are special, and personal, and the only people making a big deal out of them are you and the people who know and love you. Maybe that’s why they are harder to have without other people involved.
I hope I don’t sound pathetic. I don’t Feel pathetic. I just want to share my birthday cake with friends, I haven’t met yet, so I don’t eat all of the cake by myself...for breakfast.
My Mom has always gone all out for holidays and parties. I’m not saying we had a lot of money, we didn’t, but she would plan and decorate and have fun things for my brother or my guests to do. I think a lot of it was Mom trying to make it up to us that we lived so far away from any of our family. The only family that visited us consistently were my grandparents, I would love it when they would come stay with us. It made it feel more like home, our four person family suddenly felt complete with six people and even dinner felt like a special occasion.
The other thing was my brother and I never had tons of friends. We had a few close friends, and some friends from clubs and soccer teams, but not the big circle of friends I assume everyone else had- so birthdays have always been a little more family oriented.
Which leads me to right now. It’s August, I’m turning 28 and I’m trying to plan my birthday party. I still have a few close friends from my hometown and college years, but they are spread across the country. I came up with a brilliant plan, and I’m having an online birthday party with them. *keeping my fingers crossed my bandwidth is good enough*. But what about here? Here, in the real, present time and place.
My new husband and I moved to California to be close to my parents, grandfather, and West coast family. We aren’t the most extroverted people and have only met a few people since we moved here. Before that we lived overseas in South Korea (where we also only had two sets of close couple friends). And before that, I didn’t even know my husband and was mostly hanging out with my good friend Allie, and guys who were trying to date me. And before that I did have a full and fun circle of friends, but I lost them all in my divorce because my ex husband is a lying, cheating, emotionally manipulative person. Before that was college, where I gained two close friends. And before that was High School and all the friends and drama that come with it.
When Holidays happen, you don’t have to know anyone really. There is hustle and bustle, and consumer based marketing telling you that THIS HOLIDAY IS NOW, and maybe even holiday themed movies being shown on TV. But Birthdays are special, and personal, and the only people making a big deal out of them are you and the people who know and love you. Maybe that’s why they are harder to have without other people involved.
I hope I don’t sound pathetic. I don’t Feel pathetic. I just want to share my birthday cake with friends, I haven’t met yet, so I don’t eat all of the cake by myself...for breakfast.
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