My plan has been to take the bus to work every day, but in order to do so I need to leave the house 20 minutes earlier than when I ride my bike. I've been having a lot of trouble sleeping and as a result have really struggled with getting up in the morning. Even once I've had coffee it's been taking me a long time to be able to think clearly and get organized.
Monday I got off to a late start and Robert gave me a ride to work. After work we went to the gym, which is near my office, together, so I caught a ride home with him, too.
Tuesday I barely caught my bus and was so tired that I left some things I needed at home. After checking in with my boss I had to walk back to the bus stop, catch a bus back home and then another back to work, which took an hour! Later in the day they sent me back to the east side for a drug screening (required for all new employees). I took the 20 to MLK and then took the 6 north. By the time I got back to work after the screening I'd been gone for two hours. Having my bike would have saved me a lot of time! After work I had a meeting and then had to figure out how to get home with no money left for bus fare. I was too tired to walk all the way home, but as I was walking by the MAX tracks remembered that I was in the free rail zone (formerly fareless sqaure). I hopped on the blue line and took it to Lloyd Center. I was only about a mile from home, but was too exhausted to walk all the way, so Robert picked me up halfway.
This morning I missed the 12 and Robert took me to work again. I at least took the bus home after work.
Every day I get home from work thinking that I'm going to go to sleep early, but it never seems to happen. I've been in bed by 11 most nights, sometimes earlier, but I haven't fallen asleep before midnight, and usually not until after one. I don't think my transportation track record is going to improve until I start getting more rest and my knee heals.
Now that I've gotten pretty comfortable riding my bike, I much prefer it to commuting by bus (as long as I don't have much to carry). I hope I can start riding again soon.
Food has been another struggle since I started working full time. It's been tough to adjust to not having lots of free time for things like grocery shopping, planning meals, and cooking. For about the first week at my job I was eating out a lot. Robert bought groceries the other night, including a bunch of Higher Taste Breakfast Buzzitos, which I became obsessed with while I was in school. They're pricey, but cheaper than buying a meal at a restaurant, and they're pretty healthy and quite filling, not to mention locally made. Upon my request, he also bought a bunch of fresh fruit. I've been taking some to work with me every day for an afternoon snack. It really helps to keep me from feeling the need to buy food while I'm out.
I've been too tired to cook after work most days, which is really frustrating. Tonight I made smoothies, last night I ate a couple veggie dogs at the Kerns picnic, and Monday I ate leftover fish from the night before. I may end up having cereal for dinner tomorrow, because I think I've eaten just about all the quick and easy to prepare food in the house.
