elionwyr: (bonk)
elionwyr ([personal profile] elionwyr) wrote2009-08-09 10:25 am

Well, hell.

Didn't sleep much because apparently I was hit by several invisible trucks yesterday, the effects of which were only apparent as the night progressed.

So sore and achey! And my back has loudly expressed its displeasure at whatever the hell I did to it. And if I knew, I swear I would avoid doing it again. :(

And of course the painkillers are all hiding.

I need a scapegoat. I think I'll use Felix.

And the neighbor's new puppy whimpered for a few hours until well after 1AM - I ended up over there looking through their window. Puppy was fine, mom was ignoring him, I was saying, "Come ON Dolly - go get him!" And she of course just really wanted me to come inside and pet her, so..what puppy, exactly?

And then Lurk yowled for too many of the wee hours.

So. I'm...not at work yet. :/

However, THANKS folks for suggesting alternative plane transport! Both train and bus look doable - I've never taken a non-public-transportation train. My next challenge is getting to the station. Not that I've purchased a ticket yet, but - ya know. This looks promising.

I am SO tired. I was going to try to work tomorrow instead of taking off, but..I think I need the day off. Oy.

[identity profile] h3salthea.livejournal.com 2009-08-09 02:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Amtrak *used* to run out of the central facility in Downtown, near Duquesne Univ(I know only because I went to Duquesne, and it seemed smartest to take the damned train than beg for freakin rides to the Airport, in fact I *walked* to the bloody train station from The Bluff)...and really, the Amtrak trains are *clean*...and comfy..and roomy..and...well, really all kinds of convenient. And I was able to plug my laptop into the power outlet next to my seat.

The bus terminal in Pgh is not far from that..convenient also..but I would recommend the train more..as long as you can get a ride to Downtown, then you are good to go..
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[identity profile] elionwyr.livejournal.com 2009-08-09 02:38 pm (UTC)(link)
The ride part is what I need to work out.
Thank you, though! I am so damned bad at Pittsburgh geography.

[identity profile] norda.livejournal.com 2009-08-09 02:47 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't know your geography terribly well either, but I adore trains. I understand, though, it's still a seven-hour ride if you take the 7:20AM train from Pittsburgh, but [livejournal.com profile] dr_p_venkman led me to believe that was due to terrain. [Last year, my Michael had an interview in PA, and we started looking into commuter-y things, which are vastly different in PA than what I've gotten used to in NYS and in MA.]

But the rate for one-way for the 7:20AM Amtrak train, no transfers, is $47.00.

[identity profile] h3salthea.livejournal.com 2009-08-09 02:51 pm (UTC)(link)
...ride to Downtown wise..have you checked out public transport? Granted, I was only at Duquesne for two years(Grad program), but one of the things that I loved about Pgh was the really freakin convenient public transport system there.

Coming back to LI after that...where the nearest public transport stop was over 3mi from where I lived..was really difficult.

Damn...admit I miss wandering South Side..(and Laser Floyd at the Buhl!!) I was quite the wanderer...tho I went to Duquesne on the Bluff, my church at the time was in Squirrel Hill...(I remember my best friends Landlady being horrified I was taking the bus back to my Dorms at 11:00 on a Saturday night, because Duquesne is in the Hill Street section of Pgh! Of course, after driving thru the worst sections of Hempsted/Nassau on LI and the Bronx with friends...the infamous Hill Street section of Pgh isn't as bad as some think it..)

[identity profile] norda.livejournal.com 2009-08-09 02:52 pm (UTC)(link)
I hear you on the exhaustion and the achey. As I mentioned in my last update, my plans for a quiet, "normal", relaxing evening went up in smoke, and I was awake until 4AM scanning, copying and collating, which play hell on my back and legs due to the cramped quarters in our office. Spines and hips are not meant to move like that, and even my sweet Shakira would think twice about pulling some of the gyrations I did last night.

I hope you feel better soon.

[identity profile] norda.livejournal.com 2009-08-09 02:56 pm (UTC)(link)
:::nods:::

I escaped Long Island in large part because of the transportation issue. As a "permanent pedestrian", I've always needed to be in reach of some kind of urban travel system.

[identity profile] cypherindigo.livejournal.com 2009-08-09 03:01 pm (UTC)(link)
I am taking the train from HArrisburg to Mass. I am leaving on Thursday. 7 hours on a train beats 5 and a half driving, and getting lost for some part on the time in CT. and Mass.

[identity profile] eustaciavye.livejournal.com 2009-08-09 03:02 pm (UTC)(link)
I love train travel. It's kind of slow because of all the stops but:
1) it causes the least motion sickness of any form of travel (my experience anyway).
2) It has the most comfortable seats; they actually recline to a useful angle and are way wider than bus or plane so you're not having to be ulltra friendly with the guy next to you.
3) There is food available on the train which tastes like food.
4) The bathrooms on the train are less scary than plane or bus bathrooms.

[identity profile] h3salthea.livejournal.com 2009-08-09 03:04 pm (UTC)(link)
..it really is amazing how on the one hand the politicians are often bemoaning the amt of cars on the Island...but on the other hand do nothing to pump up/improve Public Transport so there would be less cars..

Glad am I to be back in PA..

[identity profile] norda.livejournal.com 2009-08-09 05:40 pm (UTC)(link)
I need to check that out for the reverse journey, someday.

[identity profile] cypherindigo.livejournal.com 2009-08-09 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Sounds good. The reverse trip is longer, but I don't care.
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[identity profile] elionwyr.livejournal.com 2009-08-10 02:06 am (UTC)(link)
That's the one I'm looking at. It kinda looks like fun! I had lumped it into the hell that is Greyhound, but it truly looks much much nicer.
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[identity profile] elionwyr.livejournal.com 2009-08-10 02:07 am (UTC)(link)
There really isn't any out where I am. I'm about an hour south of Pittsburgh. *sigh*
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[identity profile] elionwyr.livejournal.com 2009-08-10 02:07 am (UTC)(link)
Whuf!
And right back at ya. **hug**
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[identity profile] elionwyr.livejournal.com 2009-08-10 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
Looks to be $80 from Pittsburgh to Boston, and a 13 hour trip. But considering I've done that kind of travel on Greyhound and it was horrible horrible horrible, I will keep this in mind for the future. If there's no time constraint, it might not be such a bad thing..
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[identity profile] elionwyr.livejournal.com 2009-08-10 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
Good to know!
I've only done bus travel and I am absolutely not a fan.
The lack of motion sickness alone makes me all yay. I've had to literally stumble off more buses to vomit than I care to consider.

[identity profile] regalpewter.livejournal.com 2009-08-10 01:20 pm (UTC)(link)
If this trip is going where I think it is, make damned sure that you are awake for Horseshoe Curve. Amazing view.
YIS,
WRI