a $1.25 tour of san francisco
It's always interesting to see the array of neighborhoods in San Francisco each day as I commute to work. It's only a distance of a couple of miles, but I get to pass through 7 separate neighborhoods (maybe more if you count the micro neighborhoods). In a seemingly paradoxical fashion, the ride can be inspiring, fantastic, and uplifting or it can be frustrating, tedious, and deplorable depending on the day and my mood.
First, I get the #24 in Bernal Heights. The majority of passengers are not white people, so I get a brief experience of being a minority. It's usually crowded with kids on their way to school, often screaming into their cell phones with other kids who are on the way to school. I hate when they stand on the stairs in front of the exit. I once missed my stop because they wouldn't move. I usually try to sit next to the fat white kid because he always gets off the bus before the intersection of Cortland & Mission, so I'm guaranteed his seat within a few blocks of where I board the bus. Then I have a seat for the next 5 minutes of the ride. I usually read the Examiner during this leg of the commute, because it's a brief and shitty paper that provides tidbits about San Francisco politics and Gavin Newsom's daily agenda. These are often helpful for me at work because we work closely with the Mayor's office and our District Supervisor, Fiona Ma.
I get off the #24 at Church Street right in front of Pierre's house, where I board the Muni J line. Stepping off that bus is like stepping into another world. I leave behind the multi-racial multi-generational masses of bus commuters and touch down on the sparkling white streets of Noe Valley. They probably actually bleach the steets here. Sometimes, if i have to urgently pee, I will step into the coffee shop, which consistently has one of the cleanest, best-smelling bathrooms I've ever used. Inside caffinated patrons are glued to their laptops. I guess they work from home or don't work at all. The vibe is suspiciously soccermomish. Where I stand and wait for the J, there are a bunch of outdoor tables & chairs, all psuedo European cafe-like. There's always a gaggle of people sitting outside, leisurely drinking coffee and eating croissants and discussing their babies and/or vacation travel, dogs or investments or something stomach-turning like that. I actually once heard a woman say, "They are paying me $120,000 to contract with them and I don't even have to show up for work!" I wanted to punch her in the face.
Once I'm on the J, I'm safely seated for about 20-30 minutes. The train's empty when I get on, so i can spread out and hog a seat, whip out my laptop and make myself appear like an unwelcoming seatmate for all those will will board along Church Street. Comfort is commodity. The majority of this train is headed downtown, the J's final destination. So you get a lot of the Financial District types. I would estimate a good 65% have white cords coming out of their ears that attach to some secret iGadget in their coat pockets. Others are talking loudly on cell phones about business-related topics. I try to tune out and look forward to 20th Street, where I get a crush on San Francisco every day when we pass that view, at the top of Dolores Park. Ahhh, swoon!
Once time I observed the most interesting conversation between two men headed to a conference downtown. The conversation started with computers and the conference and somehow lead to marriage, which was fascinating. The older guy was schooling the younger guy who's apparently single. He was saying things like, "We've just learned that she's has her things and I have my things. Marriage is like that. When you first get together, you're really in love with each other, but soon you discover that you both have habits and things about you that drive each other crazy. She doesn't really mind that I work as much as I do, because she can do all her stuff when I'm not around." It went on and on, but basically he was announcing to the entire J train that he's stuck in a loveless marriage. I was so absorbed, I didn't want to get off at Church & Duboce.
At Church & Duboce, I wait for the N Judah. Here there's a nice blend of students, homeless and/or schizophrenic people, working professionals, punks, and Castro people (who are among the best dressers in San Francisco). I peek into Out of the Closet, one of my favorite thrift stores, then hop on the N. We pass by all the cute dogs playing in Duboce Park and I'm jealous of their owners who stand by happily watching, clutching coffee mugs and socializing. There are two major destinations for N riders. One is UCSF Medical Center, which is the fourth stop, where about 80% of the train exits. This is my cue to sprawl out, open my laptop back up again for the remaining 30 minutes. For a glimpse, I get wireless connection so i can receive the day's emails. Magical! The second major point of interest is the commercial strip of 9th & Irving, where about 25% of the riders exit. I try not to look at Yumma's becuase I know i'll go AWOL for a falafel deluxe if I do. On the other side of the street is Crepevine, which is another favorite. The only other riders after that point are Asians heading for home in the outer Sunset and me. When i finally exit the train, I focus on the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean while I walk a block or two until I get to the frong door of my office, where I am usually jingling my keys like a victim in a murder movie because i have to pee so bad.
Wow, this post is really long. It still took you less time to read it then it took me to get here today. All in all it's about an hour to an hour and a half process. When there are malfunctions, it can take up to two hours, and I always work at home the following day so that I don't go postal. Luckily, I can work from home pretty much any time I want. This keeps me sane.
And i get to do it all over again tonight!
First, I get the #24 in Bernal Heights. The majority of passengers are not white people, so I get a brief experience of being a minority. It's usually crowded with kids on their way to school, often screaming into their cell phones with other kids who are on the way to school. I hate when they stand on the stairs in front of the exit. I once missed my stop because they wouldn't move. I usually try to sit next to the fat white kid because he always gets off the bus before the intersection of Cortland & Mission, so I'm guaranteed his seat within a few blocks of where I board the bus. Then I have a seat for the next 5 minutes of the ride. I usually read the Examiner during this leg of the commute, because it's a brief and shitty paper that provides tidbits about San Francisco politics and Gavin Newsom's daily agenda. These are often helpful for me at work because we work closely with the Mayor's office and our District Supervisor, Fiona Ma.
I get off the #24 at Church Street right in front of Pierre's house, where I board the Muni J line. Stepping off that bus is like stepping into another world. I leave behind the multi-racial multi-generational masses of bus commuters and touch down on the sparkling white streets of Noe Valley. They probably actually bleach the steets here. Sometimes, if i have to urgently pee, I will step into the coffee shop, which consistently has one of the cleanest, best-smelling bathrooms I've ever used. Inside caffinated patrons are glued to their laptops. I guess they work from home or don't work at all. The vibe is suspiciously soccermomish. Where I stand and wait for the J, there are a bunch of outdoor tables & chairs, all psuedo European cafe-like. There's always a gaggle of people sitting outside, leisurely drinking coffee and eating croissants and discussing their babies and/or vacation travel, dogs or investments or something stomach-turning like that. I actually once heard a woman say, "They are paying me $120,000 to contract with them and I don't even have to show up for work!" I wanted to punch her in the face.
Once I'm on the J, I'm safely seated for about 20-30 minutes. The train's empty when I get on, so i can spread out and hog a seat, whip out my laptop and make myself appear like an unwelcoming seatmate for all those will will board along Church Street. Comfort is commodity. The majority of this train is headed downtown, the J's final destination. So you get a lot of the Financial District types. I would estimate a good 65% have white cords coming out of their ears that attach to some secret iGadget in their coat pockets. Others are talking loudly on cell phones about business-related topics. I try to tune out and look forward to 20th Street, where I get a crush on San Francisco every day when we pass that view, at the top of Dolores Park. Ahhh, swoon!
Once time I observed the most interesting conversation between two men headed to a conference downtown. The conversation started with computers and the conference and somehow lead to marriage, which was fascinating. The older guy was schooling the younger guy who's apparently single. He was saying things like, "We've just learned that she's has her things and I have my things. Marriage is like that. When you first get together, you're really in love with each other, but soon you discover that you both have habits and things about you that drive each other crazy. She doesn't really mind that I work as much as I do, because she can do all her stuff when I'm not around." It went on and on, but basically he was announcing to the entire J train that he's stuck in a loveless marriage. I was so absorbed, I didn't want to get off at Church & Duboce.
At Church & Duboce, I wait for the N Judah. Here there's a nice blend of students, homeless and/or schizophrenic people, working professionals, punks, and Castro people (who are among the best dressers in San Francisco). I peek into Out of the Closet, one of my favorite thrift stores, then hop on the N. We pass by all the cute dogs playing in Duboce Park and I'm jealous of their owners who stand by happily watching, clutching coffee mugs and socializing. There are two major destinations for N riders. One is UCSF Medical Center, which is the fourth stop, where about 80% of the train exits. This is my cue to sprawl out, open my laptop back up again for the remaining 30 minutes. For a glimpse, I get wireless connection so i can receive the day's emails. Magical! The second major point of interest is the commercial strip of 9th & Irving, where about 25% of the riders exit. I try not to look at Yumma's becuase I know i'll go AWOL for a falafel deluxe if I do. On the other side of the street is Crepevine, which is another favorite. The only other riders after that point are Asians heading for home in the outer Sunset and me. When i finally exit the train, I focus on the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean while I walk a block or two until I get to the frong door of my office, where I am usually jingling my keys like a victim in a murder movie because i have to pee so bad.
Wow, this post is really long. It still took you less time to read it then it took me to get here today. All in all it's about an hour to an hour and a half process. When there are malfunctions, it can take up to two hours, and I always work at home the following day so that I don't go postal. Luckily, I can work from home pretty much any time I want. This keeps me sane.
And i get to do it all over again tonight!
posted by Freewendy @ 12:55 PM
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