Night and day

[spacealien_vamp]

My neighbors ended up locating the original owner of the dog they found...though I use the term "owner" very loosely. (Some people just shouldn't be allowed to keep animals, ugh.) Anyway, she's now back with her family.

I had a meeting with the union representatives on Tuesday. We turned all our concerns over to their lawyer. Hopefully some good will come of it.

In the meantime, until/unless the lawyer can make some progress, it's highly likely that I'll be working the new graveyard shift the chief designed, starting next weekend. The biggest problem for me (other than the terrible hours) is that I will have to take the Night Owl bus home. The Night Owl bus has a different route from my normal commuter bus; the nearest stop is about a half hour walk from my house. I don't particularly fancy walking a half hour in the middle of the night after working a full shift, and I also don't especially want to pay $25/day to take a taxi home either.

What I'm planning right now is to buy a collapsible bicycle, so I can carry it on the bus with me and lock it in the trunk of my government vehicle while I'm working. Then I can at least bike home instead of walking, which should be safer and faster. It's also cheaper than the taxi option.

I spent most of Thursday working out in the garden. I planted over 30 varieties (or potential varieties) of beans. Some of them should be very exciting. If things go as well as last year, I should be able to start harvesting the earliest ones the last week of July.

Speaking of harvesting, blueberry season is now in full swing, and I picked a good handful of rhubarb stalks on Friday. I'm also starting to get mulberries. The cherries, apples, crabapples, pomegranates, and blackberries are in various stages of flowering, as are the strawberries that I transplanted back in February. I've got a bunch of volunteer ground cherries popping up in the front yard, so I might actually get enough fruit this year to bake a pie with them. I'm definitely going to have to clean out my freezer before the summer fruit starts rolling in.

Comments

[mangaroo.livejournal.com]

Gah. I'm sorry about the potential graveyard schedule. The collapsible bike sounds like a good plan, though. Let us know how it works out (the bike AND the union lawyer).

How much yield are you getting from the blueberries?

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

Let us know how it works out (the bike AND the union lawyer).

I'll do that. Hopefully I'll have more information next week.

How much yield are you getting from the blueberries?

A little over a cup so far. Only one bush is doing well. I think the other is suffering from the drought; its berries are very small.

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you didn't get to keep the pretty dog, but more sorry it turns out her owners are bums. Totally agree that some people shouldn't be allowed to keep pets.

The collapsible bike sounds like a good way to make the best out of a sucky situation. Are you looking at any specific brands? I've heard Bromptons are awesome, but pricey.

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

Are you looking at any specific brands?

The one I was thinking of getting was this Tern model (http://talbotscyclery.com/product/tern-link-c7-w-fbl-2.0-hinge-2124.htm). I'm hoping not to go too far overboard with the cost.

[wednesday-10-00.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping not to go too far overboard with the cost.

That makes sense, especially considering you're hoping to not need it long. I watched the video and it looks so easy to fold up! Collapsible bikes are cool.

[jojobruin.livejournal.com]

Graveyard shifts are tough. I did some months of "nightfloat" when I was an intern. Nightfloat for doctors is the equivalent of graveyard shifts. I remember the toughest part was getting my circadian rhythm messed up. I never fully adjusted to the work at night and sleep in the day schedule. How long do you think you might have to do the graveyard shift if you ended up with it?

The bicycle idea sounds good. I'm not sure what part of San Mateo you are in. It's certainly better than walking. Would it be cheaper to rent a car temporarily than to take a taxi?

Your garden sounds amazing. Pictures if and when you have them? I wish mine was doing half as well as yours. =( Good luck with the varieties of beans and berries. You give me hope I could do better with mine this year.

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

How long do you think you might have to do the graveyard shift if you ended up with it?

It would be several weeks at a time, on and off throughout the year.

Would it be cheaper to rent a car temporarily than to take a taxi?

I highly doubt it, particularly if you consider the cost of parking at the airport.

[jojobruin.livejournal.com]

Several weeks at a time... I hope several means 2 here. Throughout the year can't be good. Is there a seniority thing that can get you out of it? How often do other people have to take these shifts? =(

I forgot you work at the airport. Of course parking is expensive. That collapsible bike you linked here is quite good. I've seen a friend use it. She really likes it. Be sure to get a helmet too. =)

[sara-tanaquil.livejournal.com]

Ugh, so sorry to hear about the potential graveyard shift. My younger sister was on irregular shifts for years and it was hell. I hope they at least give you time to adjust between switches. (As a fill in, my sister regularly had shifts like 11am-7pm followed the next day by 8pm-4am, and so on ad infinitum. You can imagine the effect. Thank the good lord, she is now on a regular 12-8 weekday shift.)

I don't say this often, but: go lawyer! I hope he/she can help.

[spacealien-vamp.livejournal.com]

I don't say this often, but: go lawyer! I hope he/she can help.

Thanks. I had a looong meeting with both union reps and management today. We'll see how the rest of the week goes.