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My 3rd Week of Commuting from El Cerrito to Mountain View
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Kenneth M. Lin
Nov 1, 2011, 11:11:40 PM11/1/11
to
I guess everyone using Clippercard on Caltrain must tag on and off because
it's first day of the month and there were at least sixty people waiting in
line to tag off at the Mountain View Station. Luckily the VTA lightrail
waits for everyone to get on so I was in no hurry.
I am getting really sick of the "look" that Caltrain riders give when I
asked for the honor of sitting in the seat next tot hem that they were
previously hogging by placing their bags on them. I don't know whether this
is because most passengers are techie/yuppie that can't related to other
human beings but trains are pretty fully when I get on at Millbrae (after
more than an hour on BART) and I have to ask whether I could sit down
practically every single day.
Yesterday I found a phone on a seat and yelled out to see if it belonged to
anyone before the train stopped. Luckily I was able to locate the owner so
at least I did something good.
Today on Caltrain the conductor caught one guy using a discounted pass that
he was not entitled to and told him to get off at the next stop.
The commute is tough and it's more than two hours each way but after two
weeks of this I am sufficiently exhausted that I could doze off so I am
making the best out of it.
it's first day of the month and there were at least sixty people waiting in
line to tag off at the Mountain View Station. Luckily the VTA lightrail
waits for everyone to get on so I was in no hurry.
I am getting really sick of the "look" that Caltrain riders give when I
asked for the honor of sitting in the seat next tot hem that they were
previously hogging by placing their bags on them. I don't know whether this
is because most passengers are techie/yuppie that can't related to other
human beings but trains are pretty fully when I get on at Millbrae (after
more than an hour on BART) and I have to ask whether I could sit down
practically every single day.
Yesterday I found a phone on a seat and yelled out to see if it belonged to
anyone before the train stopped. Luckily I was able to locate the owner so
at least I did something good.
Today on Caltrain the conductor caught one guy using a discounted pass that
he was not entitled to and told him to get off at the next stop.
The commute is tough and it's more than two hours each way but after two
weeks of this I am sufficiently exhausted that I could doze off so I am
making the best out of it.
Peter Lawrence
Nov 2, 2011, 2:14:10 AM11/2/11
to
On 11/1/11 8:11 PM, Kenneth M. Lin wrote:
>
> I guess everyone using Clippercard on Caltrain must tag on and off because
> it's first day of the month and there were at least sixty people waiting in
> line to tag off at the Mountain View Station.
That's because everyone with a Caltrain monthly pass must tag on and off the
>
> I guess everyone using Clippercard on Caltrain must tag on and off because
> it's first day of the month and there were at least sixty people waiting in
> line to tag off at the Mountain View Station.
first time they use their monthly pass each month.
> I am getting really sick of the "look" that Caltrain riders give when I
> asked for the honor of sitting in the seat next tot hem that they were
> previously hogging by placing their bags on them. I don't know whether this
> is because most passengers are techie/yuppie that can't related to other
> human beings but trains are pretty fully when I get on at Millbrae (after
> more than an hour on BART) and I have to ask whether I could sit down
> practically every single day.
space is important to them, they should just pony up and drive their own
cars to and from work. It's ridiculous the attitude these Caltrain riders cop.
- Peter
David Kaye
Nov 2, 2011, 7:57:08 PM11/2/11
to
"Kenneth M. Lin" <kennet...@sbcglobal.net> wrote
> is because most passengers are techie/yuppie that can't related to other
> human beings but trains are pretty fully when I get on at Millbrae (after
> more than an hour on BART) and I have to ask whether I could sit down
> practically every single day.
When I had a broken arm I had to commute on BART and the Muni. Sometimes I
had my arm in a sling and sometimes not (in order for it to heal properly).
On the Muni, when I asked for a seat people were always gracious, yielding
to me without a problem. BART was another thing. The yuppie scum that
inhabit BART acted as if I were trying to pull a fast one on them, and often
they wouldn't even let me sit, even when I was wearing the sling.
I think that same attitude permeates Caltrain, too. I haven't personally
experienced it because I don't ride Caltrain enough to know, but I do know
that there's a big difference between work-hour commuters and people who
ride public transit all the time. The former can be real asses.
> is because most passengers are techie/yuppie that can't related to other
> human beings but trains are pretty fully when I get on at Millbrae (after
> more than an hour on BART) and I have to ask whether I could sit down
> practically every single day.
had my arm in a sling and sometimes not (in order for it to heal properly).
On the Muni, when I asked for a seat people were always gracious, yielding
to me without a problem. BART was another thing. The yuppie scum that
inhabit BART acted as if I were trying to pull a fast one on them, and often
they wouldn't even let me sit, even when I was wearing the sling.
I think that same attitude permeates Caltrain, too. I haven't personally
experienced it because I don't ride Caltrain enough to know, but I do know
that there's a big difference between work-hour commuters and people who
ride public transit all the time. The former can be real asses.
Kenneth M. Lin
Nov 2, 2011, 11:10:02 PM11/2/11
to
"David Kaye" wrote in message news:j8slbm$l1i$1...@dont-email.me...
homeless person on BART with a wheeled trash bin once. Caltrain riders, at
least when I am on it, are all commuters. Yesterday as I was waiting to get
off, I saw one seat where someone spilled his coffee. He even elft the cup
ON the seat. BART seats are dirty, it's given but Caltrain seats are even
more disgusting with the watermark on every one of them. Caltrain doesn't
ban food an drink on their train so those seats soak up a lot of food
matters.
Today was another story. I left a minute earlier than usual but while I was
walking along the VTA track, I heard the train coming and I had to run to
catch it. It was four minutes earlier than usual but I couldn't afford to
miss it because it connects to Caltrain. However, all Caltrain trains were
delayed ten to fifteen minutes this afternoon so it wouldn't have mattered
if I caught the next light rail. I don't know what the deal was but I got
home fifteen minutes later than usual.
Kenneth M. Lin
Nov 4, 2011, 3:19:02 AM11/4/11
to
Today (Thursday, 11/03) the light rail once again departed five minutes
before the scheduled time and I wasn't fast enough to catch it because it
was pouring rain. Suffice to say, I had to wait for the next one so I
missed my Caltrain connection. I think I am coming down with something
because I was out in the rain too long.
"Kenneth M. Lin" wrote in message
news:_7adnSOZ0veJmy_T...@giganews.com...
before the scheduled time and I wasn't fast enough to catch it because it
was pouring rain. Suffice to say, I had to wait for the next one so I
missed my Caltrain connection. I think I am coming down with something
because I was out in the rain too long.
"Kenneth M. Lin" wrote in message
news:_7adnSOZ0veJmy_T...@giganews.com...
SMS
Nov 4, 2011, 10:42:39 AM11/4/11
to
Peter Lawrence
Nov 5, 2011, 3:55:04 PM11/5/11
to
On 11/4/11 12:19 AM, Kenneth M. Lin wrote:
>
> I think I am coming down with something because I
> was out in the rain too long.
People don't catch colds or flu's because they were out in the cold or rain
>
> I think I am coming down with something because I
> was out in the rain too long.
too long. They catch colds or flu's because they ingested some germ either
through their mouth, nose, eyes, or cuts in the skin, by coming into contact
with someone or something that had the living germs.
If you are getting sick, it is probably the result of standing or seating
next to someone who was already sick, or touching something that had living
germs present then rubbing your eyes or eating something with your
contaminated hand.
- Peter
David Kaye
Nov 5, 2011, 6:49:15 PM11/5/11
to
"Peter Lawrence" <humm...@aol.com> wrote
> People don't catch colds or flu's because they were out in the cold or
> rain too long.
Indeed, otherwise people who live on the streets and people who work outside
in the cold (utility workers, road repair workers, etc) would constantly be
coughing and sneezing.
> They catch colds or flu's because they ingested some germ either through
> their mouth, nose, eyes, or cuts in the skin, by coming into contact with
> someone or something that had the living germs.
Yeah, it's more likely to catch a cold in the winter because in many/most
offices they cut back on the fresh air intake in order to save energy for
heating, and instead they tend to recycle the inside air more. This results
in people's colds being spread very efficiently.
I once worked at the HQ of Pacific Power in Portland, which had a policy of
recycling all their air when the temperature dropped below 40 degrees.
Because of this it was not unusual to have 50 or 60 workers out with colds.
> If you are getting sick, it is probably the result of standing or seating
> next to someone who was already sick, or touching something that had
> living germs present then rubbing your eyes or eating something with your
> contaminated hand.
The easiest way to avoid catching colds is to never touch your face unless
your hands have just been washed.
> People don't catch colds or flu's because they were out in the cold or
> rain too long.
in the cold (utility workers, road repair workers, etc) would constantly be
coughing and sneezing.
> They catch colds or flu's because they ingested some germ either through
> their mouth, nose, eyes, or cuts in the skin, by coming into contact with
> someone or something that had the living germs.
offices they cut back on the fresh air intake in order to save energy for
heating, and instead they tend to recycle the inside air more. This results
in people's colds being spread very efficiently.
I once worked at the HQ of Pacific Power in Portland, which had a policy of
recycling all their air when the temperature dropped below 40 degrees.
Because of this it was not unusual to have 50 or 60 workers out with colds.
> If you are getting sick, it is probably the result of standing or seating
> next to someone who was already sick, or touching something that had
> living germs present then rubbing your eyes or eating something with your
> contaminated hand.
your hands have just been washed.
Kenneth M. Lin
Nov 5, 2011, 6:54:29 PM11/5/11
to
"Peter Lawrence" wrote in message news:j944am$2m6$1...@dont-email.me...
public transportations each way and be exposed to all the germs. The cold
and wet weather merely weakens my immune system so I am susceptible to
illness.
- Peter
Peter Lawrence
Nov 5, 2011, 9:03:06 PM11/5/11
to
On 11/5/11 3:54 PM, Kenneth M. Lin wrote:
> "Peter Lawrence" wrote in message news:j944am$2m6$1...@dont-email.me...
> On 11/4/11 12:19 AM, Kenneth M. Lin wrote:
>>
>> I think I am coming down with something because I
>> was out in the rain too long.
>>
>> People don't catch colds or flu's because they were out in the cold or
>> rain too long. They catch colds or flu's because they ingested some germ
>> either through their mouth, nose, eyes, or cuts in the skin, by coming
>> into contact with someone or something that had the living germs.
>
>> If you are getting sick, it is probably the result of standing or seating
>> next to someone who was already sick, or touching something that had
>> living germs present then rubbing your eyes or eating something with your
>> contaminated hand.
>
> I agree with what you say. However, it doesn't help that I am riding three
> public transportation each way and be exposed to all the germs. The cold
> "Peter Lawrence" wrote in message news:j944am$2m6$1...@dont-email.me...
> On 11/4/11 12:19 AM, Kenneth M. Lin wrote:
>>
>> I think I am coming down with something because I
>> was out in the rain too long.
>>
>> People don't catch colds or flu's because they were out in the cold or
>> rain too long. They catch colds or flu's because they ingested some germ
>> either through their mouth, nose, eyes, or cuts in the skin, by coming
>> into contact with someone or something that had the living germs.
>
>> If you are getting sick, it is probably the result of standing or seating
>> next to someone who was already sick, or touching something that had
>> living germs present then rubbing your eyes or eating something with your
>> contaminated hand.
>
> I agree with what you say. However, it doesn't help that I am riding three
> and wet weather merely weakens my immune system so I am susceptible to illness.
True, cold and wet weather can add stress to your body and weaken your
body's ability to fight off a sickness.
To minimize my exposure to germs, on Caltrain I prefer riding on the top
level of the old-style "galley cars" where you have a single seat to
yourself. On BART and the VTA there's not much you can really do except to
hope to find a seat not near anyone who is sick.
In either case, I always carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer and apply it
to my hands once I disembark from my last transit vehicle (train, bus, etc.).
- Peter
David Kaye
Nov 6, 2011, 12:29:55 AM11/6/11
to
"David Kaye" <sfdavi...@yahoo.com> wrote
> The easiest way to avoid catching colds is to never touch your face unless
> your hands have just been washed.
I fix computers for a living. I have hand sanitizer with me so that I can
quickly sterilize my hands after touching a customer's keyboard. After all,
who knows where their hands have been. I used to get colds all the time;
now I get a cold maybe once a year since utilizing the hand sanitizer.
> The easiest way to avoid catching colds is to never touch your face unless
> your hands have just been washed.
quickly sterilize my hands after touching a customer's keyboard. After all,
who knows where their hands have been. I used to get colds all the time;
now I get a cold maybe once a year since utilizing the hand sanitizer.
David Kaye
Nov 6, 2011, 12:29:55 AM11/6/11
to
"David Kaye" <sfdavi...@yahoo.com> wrote
> The easiest way to avoid catching colds is to never touch your face unless
> your hands have just been washed.
> The easiest way to avoid catching colds is to never touch your face unless
> your hands have just been washed.
Steve Fenwick
Nov 6, 2011, 1:05:19 PM11/6/11
to
In article <j94mcb$l8o$1...@dont-email.me>,
BTW, how's ol'Caltrain's financial situation? Is it off life support?
Steve
--
steve <at> w0x0f <dot> com
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of
arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to
skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, sidecar in the other, body thoroughly
used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
Peter Lawrence <humm...@aol.com> wrote:
> To minimize my exposure to germs, on Caltrain I prefer riding on the top
> level of the old-style "galley cars" where you have a single seat to
> yourself. On BART and the VTA there's not much you can really do except to
"Gallery", not "galley", cars.
> To minimize my exposure to germs, on Caltrain I prefer riding on the top
> level of the old-style "galley cars" where you have a single seat to
> yourself. On BART and the VTA there's not much you can really do except to
BTW, how's ol'Caltrain's financial situation? Is it off life support?
Steve
--
steve <at> w0x0f <dot> com
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of
arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to
skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, sidecar in the other, body thoroughly
used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"
Kenneth M. Lin
Nov 11, 2011, 11:45:04 PM11/11/11
to
I survived my fourth week of crazy commute but the weather is getting
"wintery" and I wished I had taken the flu shot.
Last week VTA light rail left five minutes before the scheduled/usual time
twice and this week they arrived six minutes late once. I think Caltrain
was fifteen minutes once but I have been so sick that I cannot remember
whether this took place this week or the last.
Furthermore, BART becomes extremely reliable after six. There's always
another train ahead of us or something and quite often the trip from
Millbrae to El Cerrito ends up taking fifteen minutes longer than promised.
Suffice to say I am not doing well at this contract gig. I don't have time
to eat breakfast and I can't afford to take lunch break because I want to
get out of there in eight hours so I could rush home. Ironically, I don't
feel the hunger pang because of the recurring cold or flu. I get better
during the weekend (away from the unwashed) but like a clockwork come down
with something by the time I get home on Monday. The work is quite
demanding without any time to learn the ropes and I get home so late that I
don't have much time to research and learn things aftet work.
"wintery" and I wished I had taken the flu shot.
Last week VTA light rail left five minutes before the scheduled/usual time
twice and this week they arrived six minutes late once. I think Caltrain
was fifteen minutes once but I have been so sick that I cannot remember
whether this took place this week or the last.
Furthermore, BART becomes extremely reliable after six. There's always
another train ahead of us or something and quite often the trip from
Millbrae to El Cerrito ends up taking fifteen minutes longer than promised.
Suffice to say I am not doing well at this contract gig. I don't have time
to eat breakfast and I can't afford to take lunch break because I want to
get out of there in eight hours so I could rush home. Ironically, I don't
feel the hunger pang because of the recurring cold or flu. I get better
during the weekend (away from the unwashed) but like a clockwork come down
with something by the time I get home on Monday. The work is quite
demanding without any time to learn the ropes and I get home so late that I
don't have much time to research and learn things aftet work.
Peter Lawrence
Nov 13, 2011, 12:53:41 AM11/13/11
to
On 11/11/11 8:45 PM, Kenneth M. Lin wrote:
>
> I don't have time
> to eat breakfast and I can't afford to take lunch break because I want to
> get out of there in eight hours so I could rush home.
Can't you purchase something at the Millbrae Caltrain station and eat it
>
> I don't have time
> to eat breakfast and I can't afford to take lunch break because I want to
> get out of there in eight hours so I could rush home.
on-board Caltrain? (I thought there was a food/coffee vendor at the
Millbrae Caltrain station during weekday mornings.)
- Peter
David Kaye
Nov 13, 2011, 7:30:07 AM11/13/11
to
> Suffice to say I am not doing well at this contract gig.
I'm a longtime advocate of mass transit, but in your case I'd suggest that
you buy a cheap used car for the duration of this gig and then sell it when
it's over. Mass transit wasn't made for situations like yours, I'm sorry to
say.
Kenneth M. Lin
Nov 15, 2011, 1:15:14 AM11/15/11
to
"David Kaye" wrote in message news:j9od8l$tnp$1...@dont-email.me...
take longer than public transportation because of congestion. I will also
be in no shape to work after enduring stop-and-go traffic for at least two
hours.
Kenneth M. Lin
Nov 15, 2011, 1:16:13 AM11/15/11
to
"Peter Lawrence" wrote in message news:j9nm17$hdn$1...@dont-email.me...
so there goes half the customers.
spamtrap1888
Nov 15, 2011, 6:22:49 PM11/15/11
to
On Nov 14, 10:16 pm, "Kenneth M. Lin" <kenneth_m_...@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:
> "Peter Lawrence" wrote in messagenews:j9nm17$hdn$1...@dont-email.me...
You could always take a thermos and some sort of prefab breakfast.
Friends have a coffeemaker with a timer -- they wake up, shower,
dress, fill their thermoses, grab something to eat, and go.
wrote:
> "Peter Lawrence" wrote in messagenews:j9nm17$hdn$1...@dont-email.me...
Friends have a coffeemaker with a timer -- they wake up, shower,
dress, fill their thermoses, grab something to eat, and go.
David Kaye
Nov 15, 2011, 8:59:41 PM11/15/11
to
> I do have a car. However, driving from El Cerrito to Mountain View might
> take longer than public transportation because of congestion. I will also
> be in no shape to work after enduring stop-and-go traffic for at least two
> hours.
I'd take the Eastshore to the Nimitz to the J. Arthur Younger to the
> take longer than public transportation because of congestion. I will also
> be in no shape to work after enduring stop-and-go traffic for at least two
> hours.
Bayshore. That's what I'd do. Translation: I'd take I-80 to Hayward and
the San Mateo Bridge (or the Dumbarton) to 101. As far as I know, the only
congested part would be between 16th and 23rd Avenues in Oakland, and maybe
a little bit around Union City if you decide to do the Dumbarton.
If you don't mind surface streets in Hayward or Fremont, I-580 (the
MacArthur) would be faster, but there is no convenient connection to reach
one of the bridges without going on surface streets.
Or in other words, do not use the Bay Bridge under any circumstances. I
never thought I'd ever wish for the Southern Crossing, but in retrospect it
does seem like a good idea...
David Kaye
Nov 15, 2011, 9:02:14 PM11/15/11
to
"David Kaye" <sfdavi...@yahoo.com> wrote
> Translation: I'd take I-80 to Hayward and the San Mateo Bridge (or the
> Dumbarton) to 101.
Yipes, I got that wrong. I-80 to I-880. These numbers...sheesh...
> Translation: I'd take I-80 to Hayward and the San Mateo Bridge (or the
> Dumbarton) to 101.
Peter Lawrence
Nov 16, 2011, 1:03:59 AM11/16/11
to
route you suggested, Mr. Lin would would face heavy stop & go traffic from
Hwy 92 past Oracle and then again from Menlo Park through Mountain View (if
not the entire length of his travels on the Bayshore Freeway).
But what he could try as a test, is to commute via his car via the Nimitz
Freeway (I-880) to Hwy 92 and over the San Mateo Bridge to US-101 but then
get off at Hillsdale Avenue exit and take Caltrain (either a limited or a
baby bullet) from the Hillsdale Station to Mountain View.
Note by doing so, he would either arrive at his work about 30 minutes
earlier or 15 minutes later than he does now, since the current Baby Bullet
train he takes from Millbrae doesn't stop at the Hillsdale station.
Still he could get his eight hours of work at his customer's site, and
either leave work 30 minutes earlier or 15 minutes later than he does now.
(And the Caltrain Hillsdale station DOES have a great little food store
[Luke's Local, http://www.yelp.com/biz/lukes-local-san-mateo] where one can
purchase bagels, breakfast burritos, and coffee (Blue Bottle) while waiting
for the next train.)
The question would be: is driving a car from El Cerrito to San Mateo faster
than taking BART from El Cerrito to Millbrae and then transferring to
Caltrain at Millbrae versus Hillsdale?
- Peter
David Kaye
Nov 16, 2011, 4:05:31 AM11/16/11
to
"Peter Lawrence" <humm...@aol.com> wrote
> The question would be: is driving a car from El Cerrito to San Mateo
> faster than taking BART from El Cerrito to Millbrae and then transferring
> to Caltrain at Millbrae versus Hillsdale?
Okay, Kenneth, we've decided that you should ditch the job. You can't get
there in a reasonable amount of time without lots of frustration and
built-up anger, etc.
> The question would be: is driving a car from El Cerrito to San Mateo
> faster than taking BART from El Cerrito to Millbrae and then transferring
> to Caltrain at Millbrae versus Hillsdale?
there in a reasonable amount of time without lots of frustration and
built-up anger, etc.
spamtrap1888
Nov 16, 2011, 9:47:16 AM11/16/11
to
On Nov 16, 1:05 am, "David Kaye" <sfdavidka...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> "Peter Lawrence" <hummb...@aol.com> wrote
During the dot-com boom, I knew many a homeowner who rented a room in
the valley from Monday to Thursday. One guy owned a Chinese restaurant
in Ukiah or Willits; somewhere like that. His wife ran it while he
earned a respectable engineering salary.
> "Peter Lawrence" <hummb...@aol.com> wrote
the valley from Monday to Thursday. One guy owned a Chinese restaurant
in Ukiah or Willits; somewhere like that. His wife ran it while he
earned a respectable engineering salary.
van...@vsta.org
Nov 16, 2011, 1:30:05 PM11/16/11
to
Peter Lawrence <humm...@aol.com> wrote:
> But what he could try as a test, is to commute via his car via the Nimitz
> Freeway (I-880) to Hwy 92 and over the San Mateo Bridge to US-101 but then
> get off at Hillsdale Avenue exit and take Caltrain (either a limited or a
> baby bullet) from the Hillsdale Station to Mountain View.
The parking plus connection would eat up time like crazy. I'd say stay in
> But what he could try as a test, is to commute via his car via the Nimitz
> Freeway (I-880) to Hwy 92 and over the San Mateo Bridge to US-101 but then
> get off at Hillsdale Avenue exit and take Caltrain (either a limited or a
> baby bullet) from the Hillsdale Station to Mountain View.
your car and use 101, and when 101's having a bad day, take El Camino until
you can branch onto Alma (which then turns into Central Expressway).
But, having commuted from San Mateo to San Jose during all the years of the
Internet boom, I would say that the only real solution is to choose a place
to live which is near your job, or vice versa.
--
Andy Valencia
Home page: http://www.vsta.org/andy/
To contact me: http://www.vsta.org/contact/andy.html
David Kaye
Nov 16, 2011, 2:47:50 PM11/16/11
to
"spamtrap1888" <spamtr...@gmail.com> wrote
> During the dot-com boom, I knew many a homeowner who rented a room in
> the valley from Monday to Thursday. One guy owned a Chinese restaurant
> in Ukiah or Willits; somewhere like that. His wife ran it while he
> earned a respectable engineering salary.
I know a guy who is a grunt worker on the new eastern span of the Bay
Bridge. He has a wife and two kids and comes in from Clear Lake. He
sometimes takes a cheap motel in West Oakland or sleeps in his car, and a
couple times a week makes the 3 hour drive back home. He's making far
better money than he could make in Clear Lake.
> During the dot-com boom, I knew many a homeowner who rented a room in
> the valley from Monday to Thursday. One guy owned a Chinese restaurant
> in Ukiah or Willits; somewhere like that. His wife ran it while he
> earned a respectable engineering salary.
Bridge. He has a wife and two kids and comes in from Clear Lake. He
sometimes takes a cheap motel in West Oakland or sleeps in his car, and a
couple times a week makes the 3 hour drive back home. He's making far
better money than he could make in Clear Lake.
Patrick Scheible
Nov 16, 2011, 4:46:35 PM11/16/11
to
-- Patrick
David Kaye
Nov 16, 2011, 5:45:22 PM11/16/11
to
"Patrick Scheible" <k...@zipcon.net> wrote
>
> Better money, sure, but what a way to live.
Oh, it's horrible and I think it's really bad that he's doing it. He has a
2-year old kid and a newborn. Why the hell isn't he near home to be with
them and to support his wife? Surely there's some kind of job he could get
around Clear Lake. Trimming stems, whatever...
>
> Better money, sure, but what a way to live.
2-year old kid and a newborn. Why the hell isn't he near home to be with
them and to support his wife? Surely there's some kind of job he could get
around Clear Lake. Trimming stems, whatever...
Peter Lawrence
Nov 16, 2011, 8:46:37 PM11/16/11
to
wants to be able to afford the college tuition for his children at the
better universities, he and his wife need to have enough money to save and
not just to live month to month.
OTOH, I know people who commute from Tracy and even Sacramento because they
wanted to live in a brand new (never lived in) home. They could have
afforded a nice older (previously lived in) home a lot closer to their jobs,
but they choose to endure a hellish commute just so they could purchase a
brand new home. To me, that's silly.
- Peter
spamtrap1888
Nov 16, 2011, 9:37:38 PM11/16/11
to
short. His life is no different from a long distance trucker's, on the
road for days before heading home.
Members of my extended family lived like that guy up through the
1980s. They grew up in farm country, learned construction skills, and
worked in the big city hours away. When they married the girl next
door, rather than try to raise kids in a city apartment, they left
their wives and kids out in the country from Monday AM till Friday
night.
Pooling their skills, they built houses for each new family -- houses
they never could have hoped to have in the big city. The new moms
supported each other, with the benefit of their moms and grandmas who
lived nearby. The kids played in their yards instead of in the street.
And, construction being seasonal, the dads ended up spending a lot of
time with the family every year.
David Kaye
Nov 17, 2011, 8:50:44 PM11/17/11
to
"spamtrap1888" <spamtr...@gmail.com> wrote
> Members of my extended family lived like that guy up through the
> 1980s.
Well, more power to you and your family. I'm just relating what I know from
my own life.
What I know from my personal experience was that both my parents were there
for me. I learned skills from them (cooking, ceramics, woodworking,
plumbing, electrical), but most of all I felt part of a family. In fact,
when my parents were invited out as a couple my mom would tell them that we
were a packaged deal -- all 3 of us or none of us. It's been a number of
years since both have died, and I still miss them greatly, but I think I've
been blessed at having had them around as much as I did. I think I came out
pretty good, and I also notice that when I am alone I'm not lonely. I don't
long for companionship when I don't have it. I don't pine for a family,
probably because I had a family.
> Members of my extended family lived like that guy up through the
> 1980s.
my own life.
What I know from my personal experience was that both my parents were there
for me. I learned skills from them (cooking, ceramics, woodworking,
plumbing, electrical), but most of all I felt part of a family. In fact,
when my parents were invited out as a couple my mom would tell them that we
were a packaged deal -- all 3 of us or none of us. It's been a number of
years since both have died, and I still miss them greatly, but I think I've
been blessed at having had them around as much as I did. I think I came out
pretty good, and I also notice that when I am alone I'm not lonely. I don't
long for companionship when I don't have it. I don't pine for a family,
probably because I had a family.
Tak Nakamoto
Nov 18, 2011, 6:03:59 PM11/18/11
to
"Kenneth M. Lin" wrote
long overtime hours to finish year end projects, I stayed in a motel one
night a week. Just one night and one morning off from commuting saved a lot
of physical and psychic wear and tear.
I was lucky. My job was considered an essential position and my employer
picked up the tab for my motel stay.
Finding a place to stay just one night a week might save your sanity.
Tak Nakamoto
Mark Mellin
Nov 29, 2011, 7:27:33 PM11/29/11
to
In article <ja1ech$t94$1...@dont-email.me>, "David Kaye" wrote:
> "Patrick Scheible" wrote
of 16.2%, from the October EDD preliminary data,
<http://www.calmis.ca.gov/file/lfmonth/countyur-400c.pdf>
- Mark
--
Mark Mellin ULmar 9 - 5470
Mailstop 408-85 Menlo Park, CA 94025-3493 USA
> "Patrick Scheible" wrote
> >
> > Better money, sure, but what a way to live.
>
> Oh, it's horrible and I think it's really bad that he's doing it. He has a
> 2-year old kid and a newborn. Why the hell isn't he near home to be with
> them and to support his wife? Surely there's some kind of job he could get
> around Clear Lake.
Lake County's employment ranking is 53/58, with an unemployment rate
> > Better money, sure, but what a way to live.
>
> Oh, it's horrible and I think it's really bad that he's doing it. He has a
> 2-year old kid and a newborn. Why the hell isn't he near home to be with
> them and to support his wife? Surely there's some kind of job he could get
> around Clear Lake.
of 16.2%, from the October EDD preliminary data,
<http://www.calmis.ca.gov/file/lfmonth/countyur-400c.pdf>
- Mark
--
Mark Mellin ULmar 9 - 5470
Mailstop 408-85 Menlo Park, CA 94025-3493 USA
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