SusanLC's Blog

OK - so assuming you don't work on the weekends, this QUESTION OF THE DAY is for you!

Every Friday I get home from work (and if I didn't take the bus), and park my car.  My goal:  NOT TO MOVE IT UNTIL MONDAY when I have to go back to work.  My husband and I walk everywhere, and will ride bikes (I've even "valeted" my bike at Shutters at the Beach!)

The question:  OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEKEND, WHAT DO YOU USE FOR TRANSPORTATION THE MOST?

• Your feet... you walk walk walk everywhere!
• Your wheels... a bike that is!
• The city's wheels... a bus of course!
• Your accelorator... the car, of course.
• Other... You skateboard, roller blade, use a golf cart or a Segwey! 

Let me know... I'm always interested on how others get around on their days off.  And if someone's using a Segwey - THAT'S AWESOME! 

SC

QUESTION OF THE DAY...

When you go shopping at the grocery store, do you:

1. bring your own bags (either reused paper and plastic, or cloth?)
2. let them bag it any way they want
3. are picky about paper vs. plastic

I ask becuase whenever I go to the grocery store and I don't bring my bags, I feel guilty.  BUT, when I bring them, it's as if the baggers are irritated becuase they're cloth and they don't stay open!  And, other than the fact that I'm helping with the environment (which I'm happy to do), there's no incentive to bring them (a little cash back would be great!). 

Just curious about what others think and are doing. 

SC

Here's what I learned on the bus today...

The Big Blue Bus is the new dating scene.  No more do you need to go to bars, laundry mats, grocery stores or libraries (do people do that?) to meet singles, just take the bus to work!

I've been experimenting with the Big Blue Bus in from Santa Monica to Century City to help cut back on gas prices (check out my Big Blue Blog for more), and today was the day that I discovered that good looking, young people take the bus, and those good looking, young people aren't afraid to ask the other good looking, young people... "So, where you headind"?  Seriously, it's the NEW dating scene...

Now, for the record, I can't speak for the Metro or other lines, but the #5 Big Blue is one I would recommedn you take!

Thoughts?

SC

MY BIG BLUE BLOG

Day 4...

Good morning to all!  Day 4 of my new journey on the bus today.  Originally I was supposed to carpool with my husband, but he's home sick today, so the bus I took!  And can I tell you, I secretly was wanting to take it!  Rode it today by myself and have absolutely come to realilze I DIG IT!  Met a new driver today and told him I just started taking Big Blue.  He was thrilled and said that it was the smartest thing to do!  He actually said he was surpised more people don't take it - AND I AGREE!  I saw some of the same folks (and I think some recognized me, too... or it could have been my cute dress today - who knows!).   Now be warned - you will PERIODICALLY get the freaky folks, but they are sooooo few and far between - totally SAFE, CLEAN, INEXPENSIVE, AND FUN!! 

Can't wait to see Ted tonight (though I'm thinking of leaving a little early... the benefits of the bus is that it runs just about every 20 minutes!).

More to come - and probably next week with pictures... we'll have to see about that!

GO GREEN (and the Big Blue of course!)

- Susan

PS - don't forget to check out the Metro (http://www.metro.net/default.asp ) AND the Big Blue link, too (http://www.bigbluebus.com/home/index.asp)>

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MY BIG BLUE BLOG

Day 3...

OK - so it's weird to start a blog on day three, so let me give you some background...

Last week I posted a blog here about the disgusting price of gas and the fact that I wasn't going to take it any more (ok - so I wasn't as stern, but you get the picture)...  I ask for some recommendations on what to do to help alleviate the pain, and got some great ideas.  Riding my bike was one (considering I live 6 miles from work), but if you saw my bike you'd laugh.  It's perfect for getting me to the 3rd Street Promenade, but I don't think it could handle Olympic Blvd during rush hour!  Another was a scooter, and then someone mentioned something about a hydrogen converter (forgive me - the idea was wonderful, but more than I can handle!).  And the of course, there's the bus... the Big Blue Bus!  Having never taken the bus in my entire life (and I've lived her for 95% of those many years), I've never ever taken the bus.  Honestly, I'm a chicken... and I love my car.  But I don't love my car now that it costs almost $60.00 to fill it up... I love my checkbook more (and let's face it - I like cleaner air, too!).  So I took the bus... and I LOVED IT!  I've decided to blog about it and share with all my journey, so now that you have the background, here we go!

Monday, June 9th

Pickup - 8:00am Santa Monica, Drop Off - 8:30am Century City

First day on the Big Blue Bus from Santa Monica to Century City... My friend Sally (her name has been changed, of course!) told me she takes the bus to work (and we're in adjacent buildings) every once in a while.  She swore it was easy, clean, inexpensive, and a nice ride... so I said I'm coming!  I walked the mile from my house to her stop and 3 quarters later, I was on my way to the office.  I was a little nervous (you see some interesting people at 8:00am on a Monday morning around bus stops in Santa Monica... and smell some interesting smells!), but once I got on the bus, picked up some brochures on the system, the lines, the stops, I was hooked!  Because as soon as I was done reading, we were at work!  Seriously... I blinked and we were there!  Interesting thing - there was another "rookie" on the bus and she noticed I was reading a brochure and asked if I was "new."  Sure enough, she was taking the bus because of, yup - you guessed it, GAS PRICES!  And then I noticed something else... an entire subculture of riders who know each other and the driver!  Heard a lot of "good morning - missed you last week," and "So, how was the party?" type conversations!  My friend Sally said that the riders during rush-hour are pretty normal, but that some of the off-hours riders can be a little sketchy... I'll have to take the bus in those off-hours to see what she means...  Anyway, hopped off, walked the last block to work, and told EVERYONE I rode the bus! 

On the way home, I left at 6pm - got dropped off at 6:30... Met Ted (his real name), our WONDERFUL driver who filled me in on random bits of bus trivia...  I hopped off at my final destination in Santa Monica for the walk home and told Ted I'd see him tomorrow!  LOVED IT!

Tuesday, June 10th

Pickup - 8:00am Santa Monica, Drop Off - 8:30am Century City

I was so excited about the bus the day earlier, I decided to DO IT AGAIN!  For $1.50 roundtrip, with NO stress on me, my car, or my wallet, I got my HUSBAND to join in!  We happen to work by each other, and while we can carpool, WHY NOT THE BUS!  So we did the walk to the stop (I even found a stop closer to our place) and away we went!  I read, he listened to Howard Stern on his Sirius, and in 30 minutes we were at work.  Another clean bus, with a not too crowded group (though I did recognize some folks from the previous day)... same drivers, and I have to tell you, Ted almost fell out of his chair when he saw me hop on for the ride home!  I love the bus because you can listen to others conversations (you know you do it too!)... I've heard (on all of the two times I've been on the bus) a lot of conversations about gas prices.  Suppose I need to keep riding to see if the numbers increase (though I hear they are) for riders on the bus.  Also, since everyone is surprised that I'm taking the bus (if you know me you'd know it's a little out of the norm for me), I've gone ahead and figured out routes for them from their homes!  Check out the link below... it's great!  You put in your address and destination and it will tell you HOW LONG IT TAKES, HOW MUCH YOU WILL PAY, HOW MUCH IT WILL SAVE YOU, and all the details!

Wednesday, June 11th

Drove to work.  Have somewhere I have to be tonight right after work that doesn't allow for me to take the bus... and I have to admit, I MISSED IT!  Wonder if Ted will miss me tonight.

So, I'll continue to keep you posted... I'm carpooling tomorrow, BUT will be BACK ON THE BUS on Friday with more stories.  Check out this link for bus information... there are OPTIONS people to this gas price issue!  And if you take the Big Blue Bus, be sure to ask the driver if his name is Ted - if so, tell him SUSAN says hi!

http://www.metro.net/default.asp

GO GREEN!

I'm a HUGE fan of scary movies...  the real kind - the kind that could happen.  Now, don't get me wrong - I'll go see any scary movie... even if it involves someone crawling out of a TV set after they've been dead for years, BUT get me to a real-life scary movie, and I'm hooked.

This past weekend, when everyone was waiting in line to see SATC, I went and saw THE STRANGERS.  OMG - it was soooooo good!  Scary, suspenseful, edge-of-your seat stuff.  I'd seen the original version, but I was not expecting to love this movie like I did! 

Did anyone else see it?  If so, did you love it?  And... let me know what else you'd recommend. 

Also, I saw a trailer for a new movie coming out in October - "Quarantine".  Looks good - a little "28 Weeks Later" but scary!

Thanks!

I'm a HUGE fan of scary movies...  the real kind - the kind that could happen.  Now, don't get me wrong - I'll go see any scary movie... even if it involves someone crawling out of a TV set after they've been dead for years, BUT get me to a real-life scary movie, and I'm hooked.

This past weekend, when everyone was waiting in line to see SATC, I went and saw THE STRANGERS.  OMG - it was soooooo good!  Scary, suspenseful, edge-of-your seat stuff.  I'd seen the original version, but I was not expecting to love this movie like I did! 

Did anyone else see it?  If so, did you love it?  And... let me know what else you'd recommend. 

Also, I saw a trailer for a new movie coming out in October - "Quarantine".  Looks good - a little "28 Weeks Later" but scary!

Thanks!

OMG - these gas prices are killing me... and I only have to go 6 miles to work!  I really don't know how people with SUVs, or have long commutes are doing it, because my little old Volkswagen only has 13 gallons in it and it's costing me over 50$ to fill up!  I'd love to ride my bike to work, but those 6 miles are along very busy streets... I can carpool a couple of days a week, but it's still out of control.  And... I live on the westside, so public transportation (other than the bus) is hard to come by, and lately I've been having to pass on going down to HB to visit my family becuase that 100 mile round trip is getting costly!

Does anyone have any ideas on what to do here?  I can't believe how much gas is and it's just killing me to fill up my tank!!!!

How much higher can we go here???? 

I just have to share my frustration with everyone regarding my car...  on November 13th, I was in a car accident in West LA on Olympic Blvd. (thanks to EVERYONE who offered to stop and help or offer their assistnace - which was no one!) and my one month old VW Eos was smashed up.  Well, my car has been in the auto body shop since - not becuase the body shop is backed up, but becuase VW doesn't have the parts... what part you ask?  Some obscure part that is rarely ever needed?  NOPE - the front left headlamp. 

Well, ironically after I made my second car payment WITHOUT MY CAR, I also received a new car survey (we all know how important customer satisfaction surveys are to the car dealers) and I couldn't bring myself to actually take the time to fill out the survey - I was just too mad.  So instead, I wrote and attached the following letter and sent it off. 

Please enjoy my frustration... and I'd love to know if anyone else has had this issue with Volkswagen.  Two months for a HEADLAMP seems so wrong!

:)

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December 21, 2007

To whom it may concern:

I will not be filling out this survey, as I realize it’s ridiculous for me to spend time and energy filling out a survey for a car I can’t drive (nor will I be driving for several more weeks).

November 13, 2007 I was in a minor car accident in my brand new 2008 Volkswagen Eos.  The front left fender and bumper area were damaged.  The auto body requested parts from a dealer and on November 19, 2007, those parts were ordered.  One part in particular (a front left headlamp) needed to be ordered from overseas, because apparently it was on “national backorder” (makes sense not to have enough parts in the US since it’s ONLY the headlamp… how many fender benders might need a replacement???)  On December 3, 2007, the part was again ordered… Well, it’s December 21, 2007 and the part has not shipped, NOR will it be shipping from Germany until AFTER (no date) the “holidays”.

 I’ve spoken to a dealer in LA (the wholesale parts contact) who was no help.  I’ve spoken to two people at Volkswagen Customer Care who were both very nice and attentive (and let me vent) but basically had no exact information for me either (because they are not given that information). 

 So here I am left with a date that’s UP IN THE AIR for shipping, and then approximately 5 – 7 BUSINESS days (approximately give or take with customs) for a part that seems to me, should be readily available (after all, we are not talking about an obscure part that rarely needs to be replaced.)

As I told the very nice gentleman I spoke with today at VW Customer Care, this is my fourth Volkswagen – and most likely, my last.  I can tell you for sure my husband (who currently owns a Passat) will NOT be buying another VW.  Had I known three months ago that I’d be sitting without my car that I love for over two months because of a PART, I NEVER EVER would have bought it. 

 Basically this is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard of, OR experienced.

 Please share this with EVERYONE at Volkswagen. 

 Susan L. C

Yesterday I was in Lubbock Texas for work and was very much looking forward to coming home to Santa Monica after a longggggg day.  Upon arrival at the airport, I was infromed (after being extra-special searched!) that my flight was cancelled to Dallas (and therefore, wouldn't be making my connection through to LA).  The woman at the counter (and I won't say what airline... I AM a frequent flyer) just looked at me and said, "We have you booked on a flight tomorrow morning at 5:50am!) - as if that would make me happy.   You see, there were issues yesterday due to a ground stop in Memphis, and apparently our plane (and others) were cancelled nationwide... that's fine, I just would have liked to have known my flight was cancelled BEFORE getting to the airport - but I digress.

So after numerous calls to my companie's travel department and a lot of "hmmmmm, I'm not sure I'm seeing anything," coupled wiht the blank stares from my previous airlines attendants, the VERY nice and EXTREMELY helpful SOUTHWEST airlines attendent comes to my help.  He recommended I book a later Southwest flight and then he was able to get me on an earlier one (one that my travel agent couldn't due to the close time of departure) which ultimately allowed me to make a connection in Dallas that I otherwise wouldn't have made!

The reason for this rant?  I simply wanted to say THANK YOU to this person in Lubbock at the Southwest counter - I didn't get his name, but the man could not have been nicer, more helpful, and just WILLING to jump in when he didn't have to. 

Think of how great this world would be if more people offered their help and assistance JUST BECUASE THEY WERE ABLE TO and not becuase they had to! 

So THANK YOU Southwest for hiring such a great employee!

OK - so last night Kiefer Sutherland was busted for drunk driving...  before that it was Lindsey Lohan - prior to that Nicole Richie - and even before that Paris Hilton.  And heck, the reality is that a BUNCH of famous actors and actresses have been busted for driving under the influence.  I guess my question is...

DON'T THESE PEOPLE HAVE DRIVERS?

They make enough money - call a car!  Call a cab!  Call a friend or a "yes' person!  Just call someone BEFORE you only get "one call" in jail!

Or better yet - if you know you're going out - don't drink...  It's not worth it.

I watched the new Gordon Ramsey show "KITCHEN NIGHMARES" last night and I'm on the fence... I love his BBC show, but in classic American Television fashion, this US version is a little too "produced" for me. BUT, just like I still watch US version of THE OFFICE, you can bet I'll keep watching this one, too!  I love Gordon Ramsey and I think any place that gets his help for a week is a very lucky place - one I would go too (assuming I lived close by).

Did anyone else catch KITCHEN NIGHTMARES?  Would love to know what everyone thought!

So I just read that Southwest Airlines asked ANOTHER female passenger to COVER UP on a flight... 

http://www.myfoxsanangelo.com/myfox/pages/News/Deta
il?contentId=4354495&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=
TSTY&pageId=3.7.1

Ummmm... isn't this the SAME airline that the E! show GIRLS NEXT DOOR is always flying on from LA to Las Vegas while wearing next-to-nothing?  And if there are items that women shouldn't wear, there absolutely (as far as I can tell) be a written policy in place that outlines it for everyone so there's no question and less room for embarresment for all.

Just seems weird to pick and choose who should cover up and who shouldn't.

Anyone else agree? 

Hi everyone!

I just saw SUPERBAD the other day and I laughed so hard! I can't wait to buy it on DVD... Has anyone else seen it? It reminded me of Wedding Crashers!

Would love to know what everyone thought - let me know!

PS - and if anyone saw HALLOWEEN, let me know! I bet it's BITCHEN!

Some things that bother me and make me mad. while driving (and other times)...

-> People who don't use their turn signals but turn anyway

-> People who go super slow getting into a turn lane and block the main lane

-> People who eat with their mouth open

-> People who sneeze into their hands and then offer to shake yours

-> People who bump into you as they walk by and totally don't say sorry

That's it for today...  I'm sure there will be more.  Thanks for listening!