Mr Grumpy Gets to Work

What a horrid commute this morning. I am really getting sick of it.

I waited on this brisk morning, as I always do, for either the X1 or the X9 MTA Express Buses. Either one would have been fine. I'd have preferred to sit, but I'd have taken standing room only.

Instead of seeing any of these buses (the only 2 West Midtown buses that run by my house), I saw no less than 8 East Midtown buses and probably around 15 downtown buses (not to mention about 4 Brooklyn-bound buses).

Now, to be fair, 2 buses did go by that didn't indicate what route they were running. They displayed the "Next Bus Please" message, and it was quite apparent that they didn't even have standing room left on them. I probably would have tried to squeeze on, but they didn't even stop.

After waiting about 30 minutes, an X1 finally arrived. Can someone at the MTA please take note of this situation and rectify it? And while we're at it, the MTA recently raised the Express Bus fare from $4 to $5 (each way) because - get this - it is a "luxury service." Pay per ride subway and local bus fares, of course, were not increased. Once again, Staten Island gets boned for the good of this craphole of a city. My blood absolutely boils to think of it.

Nevermind the fact that a new study show that Staten Island leads the nation in people who commute 90 minutes or more. This should be an embarrassment to the MTA, but still no one seems to care or do anything about it.

I had been commuting for 90 minutes. I needed to make it in by 9 AM for a conference call with a customer. After getting off the bus, it was like people were intentionally blocking my way to the office. By the time I got to the building I was literally yelling at strangers for blocking my path, walking into me, walking too slowly, etc.

Once in the building, the elevator closed on my face (my thanks to ladies who let it close without even pretending to hit the open door button). The next elevator was held up by 2 people running for it (both of whom were getting off on floor lower than mine, increasing my delay). I finally rush in, dial my conference bridge.... and the customer never showed up. Fantastic.

My coworker said I was "Mr. Grumpy" today. She was right on the money.