Saturday evening I fell asleep on the bus.
Let me rephrase that. I P.O.O.F.'d on the bus. (P.O.O.F. is my acronym for "Passed out on floor". Much nicer than the often used P.T.F.O. - passed the F*ck out. But I am a grandma and a Christian. I should not say "P.T.F.O". Even though that is essentially what I did! Except I was not on the floor. Still in my seat. Thank God!)
It has been way too hot in Portland. We are just not acclimated to this weather. And we say it every year. But I think hot summers are here to stay. Unfortunately, not all buildings have suitable A/C. T
Take for instance the church I teach piano in on Saturdays. No A/C. Just a fan. I have trouble keeping my eyes open in the early afternoon anyway. Much more so when it is 85 degrees + indoors. So there I was. Pinching myself to stay awake during my piano lessons. On breaks I would go into the bathroom and splash cold water on my face and neck.
I was so happy when my last student left. But I really wanted to practice piano a bit. I am subbing for a church service this coming Sunday. So, I sat and practiced for about half an hour. Then I headed out grab a bite to eat before hopping on the bus to Vancouver. I had packed my gym clothes in my Oregon Clinic bag I got from the sleep lab. It was a nice, big sturdy plastic bags with handles. I am a collector of sturdy bags.
Call me the bag lady.
But the handles on this bag were not long enough to sling over my shoulders. I should have known better.
After a quick bite, I hopped on the #72. This bus goes north and south on 82nd. It is a long ride, but from where I was on SE Holgate, to the Max stop on N Killingsworth would be one trip. No need to transfer. I could read, knit or play Words with Friends and enjoy the nice cool bus A/C.
Only, the bus I hopped on was quite full. And the A/C was barely putting out any coveted coolness.
I read a bit. But then I started getting motion sickness. I took out my phone to play Words with Friends. But my battery was getting low. I sighed and rested my head against the window. The warm window.
Finally the bus started emptying out. We were in North Portland. In about 4 stops, I could get out and board the Max. The Max always had icy cold A/C.
I don't even remember closing my eyes. But suddenly I woke with a start. I was the only one on the bus. And the next stop was University of Portland! My heart started to thud wildly. I walked to the front of the bus and told the driver I must have dozed off. I asked her how far back the Max stop was.
She chuckled and told me it was only about four stops. She pulled over to let me out. I thanked her and stumbled out.
But then, I noticed I didn't have my white plastic bag!
"Wait!" I shrieked.
The driver looked at my skeptically. The door was still wide open.
"I forgot my bag", I mumbled.
"Good thing I was still here!" she smiled good naturedly.
I grabbed my bag and walked back a block and waited for the next bus. It was so hot. And I felt so disoriented. How could I have passed out and missed my stop? I thought I had been getting enough sleep. I purposely do not watch television before bed. I usually fall asleep about 10:30 p.m.
There are those 2:00 to 3:00 a.m. awakenings though. And there was that night of horror at the sleep lab.
Sigh.
So, I told myself to work on staying conscious. I made it to Vancouver. Was about to board the Vine, when I looked down.
No white plastic bag!
OY!
I left it on the last bus.
Granted, it was only an old, ratty, black one-piece bathing suit, small towel, cheap flip flops and some toiletries. But my lock was in there too! I worry about forgetting things. One thing I do is recite my lock combination before going to the gym. Now I will have to learn a new one!
Yes, I have it written down too. I am sleepy and absent-minded. But not a fool!
I really hope I qualify for a CPAP machine. But until I find out, I will only travel with wearable bags.
I do believe the heat is worsening my narcolepsy. So I was overjoyed to hear rain early this morning. The air was cool and fresh as I walked to the Vine. I have called C-Tran lost and found, but no one has turned in a white plastic bag with handles and old gym clothes.
Someone obviously them more than I.
Today I bought a new lock. I am currently submitting it to memory.
Tomorrow I will go to the gym after Gracie duty. I am looking forward to a day in an air conditioned apartment with my granddaughter. She is crawling like a pro now. And she still loves watching Little House on the Prairie on her Zma's lap.
Gracie, my daughter and I have been going to the park early in the morning with Honey Dawg. We walk and talk. And then I hoop. But it's hard to hoop with a baby and a daughter watching me. I always end up cracking up.
My revenge is that I make my daughter hoop too. She only lasts about 30 seconds before complaining. She says the hoop hurts.
Ah how sweet it is to be able to do something better than my amazing 28 year-old daughter.
If only I could sleep like her! Gracie and I have something in common. We both wake up several times a night.
That is all I have to report for now.
I am in the lovely air conditioned library. But they are closing soon. And I need to catch a long bus home. I hope I can remain conscious. But at least I will be wearing my bag today.
Talk to you tomorrow!
Love,
Zita
P.S. Here is my latest hooping video. Complete with laughing baby and daughter in background!
Let me rephrase that. I P.O.O.F.'d on the bus. (P.O.O.F. is my acronym for "Passed out on floor". Much nicer than the often used P.T.F.O. - passed the F*ck out. But I am a grandma and a Christian. I should not say "P.T.F.O". Even though that is essentially what I did! Except I was not on the floor. Still in my seat. Thank God!)
It has been way too hot in Portland. We are just not acclimated to this weather. And we say it every year. But I think hot summers are here to stay. Unfortunately, not all buildings have suitable A/C. T
Take for instance the church I teach piano in on Saturdays. No A/C. Just a fan. I have trouble keeping my eyes open in the early afternoon anyway. Much more so when it is 85 degrees + indoors. So there I was. Pinching myself to stay awake during my piano lessons. On breaks I would go into the bathroom and splash cold water on my face and neck.
I was so happy when my last student left. But I really wanted to practice piano a bit. I am subbing for a church service this coming Sunday. So, I sat and practiced for about half an hour. Then I headed out grab a bite to eat before hopping on the bus to Vancouver. I had packed my gym clothes in my Oregon Clinic bag I got from the sleep lab. It was a nice, big sturdy plastic bags with handles. I am a collector of sturdy bags.
Call me the bag lady.
But the handles on this bag were not long enough to sling over my shoulders. I should have known better.
After a quick bite, I hopped on the #72. This bus goes north and south on 82nd. It is a long ride, but from where I was on SE Holgate, to the Max stop on N Killingsworth would be one trip. No need to transfer. I could read, knit or play Words with Friends and enjoy the nice cool bus A/C.
Only, the bus I hopped on was quite full. And the A/C was barely putting out any coveted coolness.
I read a bit. But then I started getting motion sickness. I took out my phone to play Words with Friends. But my battery was getting low. I sighed and rested my head against the window. The warm window.
Finally the bus started emptying out. We were in North Portland. In about 4 stops, I could get out and board the Max. The Max always had icy cold A/C.
I don't even remember closing my eyes. But suddenly I woke with a start. I was the only one on the bus. And the next stop was University of Portland! My heart started to thud wildly. I walked to the front of the bus and told the driver I must have dozed off. I asked her how far back the Max stop was.
She chuckled and told me it was only about four stops. She pulled over to let me out. I thanked her and stumbled out.
But then, I noticed I didn't have my white plastic bag!
"Wait!" I shrieked.
The driver looked at my skeptically. The door was still wide open.
"I forgot my bag", I mumbled.
"Good thing I was still here!" she smiled good naturedly.
I grabbed my bag and walked back a block and waited for the next bus. It was so hot. And I felt so disoriented. How could I have passed out and missed my stop? I thought I had been getting enough sleep. I purposely do not watch television before bed. I usually fall asleep about 10:30 p.m.
There are those 2:00 to 3:00 a.m. awakenings though. And there was that night of horror at the sleep lab.
Sigh.
So, I told myself to work on staying conscious. I made it to Vancouver. Was about to board the Vine, when I looked down.
No white plastic bag!
OY!
I left it on the last bus.
Granted, it was only an old, ratty, black one-piece bathing suit, small towel, cheap flip flops and some toiletries. But my lock was in there too! I worry about forgetting things. One thing I do is recite my lock combination before going to the gym. Now I will have to learn a new one!
Yes, I have it written down too. I am sleepy and absent-minded. But not a fool!
I really hope I qualify for a CPAP machine. But until I find out, I will only travel with wearable bags.
I do believe the heat is worsening my narcolepsy. So I was overjoyed to hear rain early this morning. The air was cool and fresh as I walked to the Vine. I have called C-Tran lost and found, but no one has turned in a white plastic bag with handles and old gym clothes.
Someone obviously them more than I.
Today I bought a new lock. I am currently submitting it to memory.
Tomorrow I will go to the gym after Gracie duty. I am looking forward to a day in an air conditioned apartment with my granddaughter. She is crawling like a pro now. And she still loves watching Little House on the Prairie on her Zma's lap.
Gracie, my daughter and I have been going to the park early in the morning with Honey Dawg. We walk and talk. And then I hoop. But it's hard to hoop with a baby and a daughter watching me. I always end up cracking up.
My revenge is that I make my daughter hoop too. She only lasts about 30 seconds before complaining. She says the hoop hurts.
Ah how sweet it is to be able to do something better than my amazing 28 year-old daughter.
If only I could sleep like her! Gracie and I have something in common. We both wake up several times a night.
That is all I have to report for now.
I am in the lovely air conditioned library. But they are closing soon. And I need to catch a long bus home. I hope I can remain conscious. But at least I will be wearing my bag today.
Talk to you tomorrow!
Love,
Zita
P.S. Here is my latest hooping video. Complete with laughing baby and daughter in background!
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