The Starlight Coast train LA to Seattle was an hour late, so the station stayed open until 1:15am. I hoped that they would, as the majority of people were families with young children and the elderly. We aren't the only ones waiting for the early morning train, but we are the only ones not complaining about waiting outside for a few hours. It is very pleasant out, with a nice breeze, and a beautiful full moon. A few raindrops fell, and the gentleman sitting across from us was worried about a "down pour." There weren't even enough drops to dot the brick patio our benches are placed on. There are plenty of areas to get underneath, if really necessary.
We didn't have to wait out front, for which I am thankful for. We are in the outside waiting area for the buses and trains. I took a picture to post when I can. It is in a fenced in area, with a lot of lighting, and there are Amtrak police, security, and workers about. They checked for tickets, and those who were homeless and didn't have them were asked to leave. Although, honestly, I don't think that they are hurting anyone. Meth and addiction is obviously a factor for these poor people; I feel sympathy for them. I have seen it make some people look like skin over their skeleton, the mind so far gone it makes the idea of zombies more of a reality, it seems. J and I both helped such people, who asked very nicely, for help with the vending machines since they are shaking so hard they can't put money into the machine for food, and cannot see well enough to know what to chose. I know that to some people this makes me a "bleeding heart liberal" but how can anyone not see another human being and not feel empathy for their suffering? It brings to mind the song by Everlast. If a homeless addict can be polite and respectful, how can anyone not respond in kind? If a person who is homeless like that can still manage to speak to us kindly, politely, and respectfully...isn't it possible for anyone, even everyone, to do the same? We all should be allowed to make mistakes and bad choices to learn from, and to be allowed a bad day to be cranky and snappish now and again. After all, we are only human.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Monday, July 22, 2013
Amtrak's Sacramento Station
To add to my customer complaints: one of the Amtrak workers here came over to ask where we were going and when. Explaining to her that we were waiting, she said we needed to take another train to LA since this station will be closed from midnight until 4am and the LA station is opened 24 hours. However, that train goes through the Valley to transfer at Bakersfield onto a bus.The point of doing our trip this way is to go down the Coastline, which J. has not seen yet. We could have left tomorrow otherwise from where we started.
In addition, the 24 hour Denny's that used to be across the street is closed. When I asked her about it, she said ALL the Denny's were closed in Sacramento.
I called Amtrak's customer service to see if we could at least wait outside. They said we could, as we were customers with tickets waiting for a train. I checked online for other 24 hour restaurants and the hours/cost of the light rails just outside of the door here.
Josh is very easy-going about it. We played an hour and thirty minute card game. These games usually only last about 20 minutes. He has a red and blue Izzit deck; mine pure white angelic deck. We start the game off with 20 health. Throughout the game, J. was getting up to 36+ health points, and I stayed around 10. The game is over when one person has zero life or runs out of cards termed the "library." We kept at it like this for most of the game, and it looked like J. had me beat. Then the tables turned a little bit, and I had him down to 4 life and he had me down to 5. It was a toss up now. It was at this point the Amtrak worker came over and said something to us. J. won.
6 hours or so has passed by quickly so far.
J. has discovered he doesn't like baked beans. He has started writing a story, and then worked on drawing until the fans here blew his pages too much. Now he is reading a novel. Perhaps I am the only one who appreciates how forced boredom will trigger the right-brain activity. This is one of my complaints about education now. Adults want kids to stay busy as much as possible, thinking this will keep them out of trouble. Staying busy like that also interferes with the ability to think, contemplate, and use the creative mind. I think there needs to be a balance. J. was telling me about a teacher he had who was a video game tester before he decided to teach. I remember him being very focused on mathematics, and he taught his class to appreciate country music as a form of poetry. He had said that by teaching them to memorize the lyrics, it helped to give the students confidence that they would be capable to memorize and recite text in the future, if necessary.
As we played the game, several people needed help with figuring out how to use the electronic vending machines. One man dropped his $1 coin, which was miraculously caught before disappearing under one of the machines. Josh retrieved it for the gentleman, who called him an "angel." I told him that if he receives a third message like that it is considered to be a message from God. I tease him about such things. I tend to be very spiritual...in probably a weird way...and he finds it all illogical and boring. I am totally okay with that, because he has a good heart, he helps people, and he is very tolerant of others not like himself. He will automatically help a mother with small children, or help the elderly with assistance. He opens the door for strangers before he enters a building. I think he tries to convince people he isn't such a good kid, since his tone may seem disrespectful at times. I know people listening to us do not understand why I find it humorous, and that it may bother them, how we fuss at one another, yet there is no malice or anger between us in our banter. He has always tended to be moody and a little mischievous, even as an infant. And he may be just a wee bit spoiled...
A subconscious part of myself hears the calls for buses and trains going north. My brain tells me to "pick up your things and hurry outside!" automatically, even when I am not paying attention to the announcements.
The trip won't be truly exciting until we start to head east. I know Sacramento's station like it was home to me. I even know many of those who work here by name. I am a little familiar with LA's Union Station; we traveled there last year. The station there is a lot larger than this one.
In addition, the 24 hour Denny's that used to be across the street is closed. When I asked her about it, she said ALL the Denny's were closed in Sacramento.
I called Amtrak's customer service to see if we could at least wait outside. They said we could, as we were customers with tickets waiting for a train. I checked online for other 24 hour restaurants and the hours/cost of the light rails just outside of the door here.
Josh is very easy-going about it. We played an hour and thirty minute card game. These games usually only last about 20 minutes. He has a red and blue Izzit deck; mine pure white angelic deck. We start the game off with 20 health. Throughout the game, J. was getting up to 36+ health points, and I stayed around 10. The game is over when one person has zero life or runs out of cards termed the "library." We kept at it like this for most of the game, and it looked like J. had me beat. Then the tables turned a little bit, and I had him down to 4 life and he had me down to 5. It was a toss up now. It was at this point the Amtrak worker came over and said something to us. J. won.
6 hours or so has passed by quickly so far.
J. has discovered he doesn't like baked beans. He has started writing a story, and then worked on drawing until the fans here blew his pages too much. Now he is reading a novel. Perhaps I am the only one who appreciates how forced boredom will trigger the right-brain activity. This is one of my complaints about education now. Adults want kids to stay busy as much as possible, thinking this will keep them out of trouble. Staying busy like that also interferes with the ability to think, contemplate, and use the creative mind. I think there needs to be a balance. J. was telling me about a teacher he had who was a video game tester before he decided to teach. I remember him being very focused on mathematics, and he taught his class to appreciate country music as a form of poetry. He had said that by teaching them to memorize the lyrics, it helped to give the students confidence that they would be capable to memorize and recite text in the future, if necessary.
As we played the game, several people needed help with figuring out how to use the electronic vending machines. One man dropped his $1 coin, which was miraculously caught before disappearing under one of the machines. Josh retrieved it for the gentleman, who called him an "angel." I told him that if he receives a third message like that it is considered to be a message from God. I tease him about such things. I tend to be very spiritual...in probably a weird way...and he finds it all illogical and boring. I am totally okay with that, because he has a good heart, he helps people, and he is very tolerant of others not like himself. He will automatically help a mother with small children, or help the elderly with assistance. He opens the door for strangers before he enters a building. I think he tries to convince people he isn't such a good kid, since his tone may seem disrespectful at times. I know people listening to us do not understand why I find it humorous, and that it may bother them, how we fuss at one another, yet there is no malice or anger between us in our banter. He has always tended to be moody and a little mischievous, even as an infant. And he may be just a wee bit spoiled...
A subconscious part of myself hears the calls for buses and trains going north. My brain tells me to "pick up your things and hurry outside!" automatically, even when I am not paying attention to the announcements.
The trip won't be truly exciting until we start to head east. I know Sacramento's station like it was home to me. I even know many of those who work here by name. I am a little familiar with LA's Union Station; we traveled there last year. The station there is a lot larger than this one.
Sack of Tomatoes
I had considered being nice and not give the capital of our fair California my usual moniker, to call it the Golden Capital or something Golden related. However, since my plan to see the Capital has failed, it is now a Sack of Tomatoes again.
We arrived in Sacramento on time. Joshua was already having issues with boredom only 20 minutes into the trip. LOL I met a new friend sitting across the table from us, and we bored everyone talking about spiritual things like Astrology, Tarot, and reincarnation. She is an Aries, like myself, so we were delighted with excitement of discovering someone else who tends to bother other people without meaning to, and having people never speak to us again for speaking honestly...things that only Aries seem to understand with one another....like how we are actually really shy, which we know no one understands how we say we are shy and introverted when we are here making friends with a complete stranger and talking about personal things. Perhaps we are shy because we unintentionally offend people so easily. Although, I tend to talk and smile a lot when I am the most nervous. It takes an Aries to understand another, I am sure. I think everyone else just tolerate us with a sigh and a rolling of the eyes, but love us anyway.
The two block walk from the train to the station was a reality check for Joshua and I. Oww! Joshua has a very kind heart and helped this poor man on oxygen whose battery in his scooter died halfway up the hill to the station. Joshua dropped the bags he was carrying and push him the rest of the way, making sure his scooter would go once he was on level ground.
My first complaint with the Amtrak station in Sac: no place to put our luggage unless we pay $4 per piece. Josh and I decided to nix the two block walk to the Capital due to the painful reality check.
My second complaint with the station: no electrical outlets to charge our electronics. I am at Starbucks two doors down to do an update. I will probably do another post later on this evening.
I know I shouldn't be too hard on Amtrak, as they are remodeling the station, and we would have to be stuck here until tomorrow morning either way, but it doesn't seem very customer service focused to me.
Josh only wants to play Magic: The Gathering, and he is happy. So once I am off of here, I will play with him. MTG is a card game that Josh has grown up playing. It is popular to the point that if we pull out cards on the train, there is usually someone who will pull out their deck and play with us, or borrow an extra deck from us if they don't have theirs with them. Last time we rode the train, both of the conductors were interested in watching our game...they play when off duty, as well! It is a strategy game similar to chess, played with cards in a deck of 60+ cards. Last summer Joshua begged me: "Please, Mom! Play with me!" Not something that you usually hear from a fourteen year old, so how I can resist? He is doing that now, "Please, Mom! Let's play MTG!" We have all night, so I am updating first.
Joshua just found his squished birthday cake in his backpack! LOL
Thanks for reading! I'll post again later.
We arrived in Sacramento on time. Joshua was already having issues with boredom only 20 minutes into the trip. LOL I met a new friend sitting across the table from us, and we bored everyone talking about spiritual things like Astrology, Tarot, and reincarnation. She is an Aries, like myself, so we were delighted with excitement of discovering someone else who tends to bother other people without meaning to, and having people never speak to us again for speaking honestly...things that only Aries seem to understand with one another....like how we are actually really shy, which we know no one understands how we say we are shy and introverted when we are here making friends with a complete stranger and talking about personal things. Perhaps we are shy because we unintentionally offend people so easily. Although, I tend to talk and smile a lot when I am the most nervous. It takes an Aries to understand another, I am sure. I think everyone else just tolerate us with a sigh and a rolling of the eyes, but love us anyway.
The two block walk from the train to the station was a reality check for Joshua and I. Oww! Joshua has a very kind heart and helped this poor man on oxygen whose battery in his scooter died halfway up the hill to the station. Joshua dropped the bags he was carrying and push him the rest of the way, making sure his scooter would go once he was on level ground.
My first complaint with the Amtrak station in Sac: no place to put our luggage unless we pay $4 per piece. Josh and I decided to nix the two block walk to the Capital due to the painful reality check.
My second complaint with the station: no electrical outlets to charge our electronics. I am at Starbucks two doors down to do an update. I will probably do another post later on this evening.
I know I shouldn't be too hard on Amtrak, as they are remodeling the station, and we would have to be stuck here until tomorrow morning either way, but it doesn't seem very customer service focused to me.
Josh only wants to play Magic: The Gathering, and he is happy. So once I am off of here, I will play with him. MTG is a card game that Josh has grown up playing. It is popular to the point that if we pull out cards on the train, there is usually someone who will pull out their deck and play with us, or borrow an extra deck from us if they don't have theirs with them. Last time we rode the train, both of the conductors were interested in watching our game...they play when off duty, as well! It is a strategy game similar to chess, played with cards in a deck of 60+ cards. Last summer Joshua begged me: "Please, Mom! Play with me!" Not something that you usually hear from a fourteen year old, so how I can resist? He is doing that now, "Please, Mom! Let's play MTG!" We have all night, so I am updating first.
Joshua just found his squished birthday cake in his backpack! LOL
Thanks for reading! I'll post again later.
On our way!
Hello, everyone! Josh and I are on the train heading north (to go south!) towards Sacramento. We have done well with packing, more than the two backpacks I had planned, but still less than when I visit Tiffiny for a weekend. :P If my dad can remember what it was like when I used to visit him each weekend...I think I filled up his vehicle with everything for a two night stay! LOL Dad, I haven't changed much where that is concerned. Chad wondered if I packed the kitchen sink...well...I think so...it's in a ziplock baggie somewhere!
So far the only essential item I managed to forgot to pack was, unfortunately, the USB cord I needed to transfer photos from my MP3 player's camera to the blog. (It also means I cannot charge my MP3 player.) I have no idea how it escaped my scrutiny, so unless I find it hiding somewhere among the hidden pockets (as my pink jump drive with my novel on it was) no pictures until maybe we get home.
In the meantime, I will keep up with the writing! Nothing exciting to report so far. We got to the station on time, the train came in on time, it's not too busy and we have really good seats. There is this very cute 2 year old girl with A LOT of hair everyone is just going "aww!" over. She is the size of a five year old! So sweet! She is even bigger than a special little two year old little girl I am thinking of. ;)
So far the only essential item I managed to forgot to pack was, unfortunately, the USB cord I needed to transfer photos from my MP3 player's camera to the blog. (It also means I cannot charge my MP3 player.) I have no idea how it escaped my scrutiny, so unless I find it hiding somewhere among the hidden pockets (as my pink jump drive with my novel on it was) no pictures until maybe we get home.
In the meantime, I will keep up with the writing! Nothing exciting to report so far. We got to the station on time, the train came in on time, it's not too busy and we have really good seats. There is this very cute 2 year old girl with A LOT of hair everyone is just going "aww!" over. She is the size of a five year old! So sweet! She is even bigger than a special little two year old little girl I am thinking of. ;)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)