Whoever triggered this gets shot.

[strredwolf]

To get to work (since I'm still unfortunately living with my parents, furry as they may be), I ride with Dad to the south-most point of Baltimore's Light Rail system: Cromwell.  He works at the LRV shop there on day-shift.  We try to get there on time, because if I miss a train, it's a 30 minute wait for the next one.

(30 minutes?  Well, there's a problem. They found many wheels cracking in the early summer, and one broke on the way back up to the other shop, North Avenue.  The cause of it is flat-spotting of the wheels, which on a train are solid metal.  Flat spotted wheels cause vibrations, which over time cause cracking.  How do you get flat spots?  Brake to hard.  Who's breaking too hard?  While part of the blame is on the operators, the other part is the Automatic Train Protection system that's an electronic speed limit.  Go over it, and it shuts the train down HARD -- enough to toss some folks off their seats.  Especially going Southbound from Nursery Road, where the signal fades in and out, but I'll get into that later).

Anyway, things were going well, but then the organization of Light Rail got changed, supposedly for the better.  Unfortunately, it got worse, as Dad's been ordered to cover overnight shift up at North Avenue... with doubles transit time, and screws with my schedule because when he's coming back home, I should be getting on a train to work!

Add a mother who's getting off the narcotics and is in an unknown state to drive, and me without a drivers license to that mix.

Then to compound things, I'm in an area not covered by Maryland's MTA.  It's covered by a contract from the county to Corridor Transit, called Connect-A-Ride.  The route I have, the K, connects from a hub at Arundel Mills Mall to a MTA MARC train station in Odenton.   Unforunately, it doesn't run often enough -- every hour, and they pushed back the first run to nearly 7am.

I usually arrive early to work, due in at 7:30 am.

I can get a K a few blocks away, go to Odention, catch the MARC to Baltimore Penn Station, and take one of three bus lines to stop outside of work, and be there early for 8:30am.  That's good, but that makes me joke compliant too.

The reverse, I have two options:  Get on a BWI train, take the 17 to Arundel Mills, take the K to home... and get home between 7pm ane 8:30pm;  Get the MARC back to Odenton, and take the K back home... And get home between 7pm and 8pm. 

If I had a ride from Cromwell, I can take that train, be there at 5:50 at the most, and miss only 5 minutes of the news. 

It's time this 31 year old took classes.  There's a local school that has weekend classes for $300 over five weeks.  I'll need to get a learners permit before hand, but that's good for two years.  I'll also have to practice for six months before I can get a provisional, and be clean for another six until I get the full license.  *ARGH* Why didn't I get this done before?!?!?

Comments

[griffinwolf.livejournal.com]

keep in mind, provisional licensing usually works for people 18 years and younger, that usually includes the 6 months.... as an adult, you just need the permit to learn how to drive... then can go in for the test....

Though, keep in mind, I think that's how it is for California, dunno how it is for Maryland or Virginia....

[strredwolf.livejournal.com]

It's provisional no matter what. mva.state.md.us and hit "Rookie Driver".

[bibliophage.livejournal.com]

You didn't do it before because you had other options. Many people in the northeast never learn to drive.

[nelsondemifur.livejournal.com]

Your parents are really furry? I don't hear about that too much if at all. My mom has a clue and well as my dad. As for the whole driving thing, I feel for ya. The whole process from learner's permit to license is hell. I got a letter in the mail from the NY DMV saying it's time to renew my license. Which after reading it means I gotta spend $50 and get an eye examination. And does that class include lessons and a car to drive in? And how long are the lessons?

[strredwolf.livejournal.com]

Dad fursuited for some plays, strangely enough.

As for driving, I have to get the learners permit now, hold that for six months, take the class, rack up a log of miles, then get a provisional license. After three months of that, my license turns into a non-provisional regular -- and I get to speed after that.

[nelsondemifur.livejournal.com]

Wow. That sounds like alot of unneccesaty stuff. But that's only because it's different from what I had to do. I just had to take the learner's permit test and pass it. Then go through a driving school or personal lessons from a family member, schedule a test and pass it and wait for the official license.