Friday, June 16, 2006

A Case of "The Mondays"

Yeah, I know it’s Friday - so sue me.

This last Monday was my first day at the new job. I’m now working at a computer shop called H Power Computing, where I manage our small network and build and repair custom computers. So far things have gone smoothly, with the exception of Monday after work.

It started with me checking The Bus schedule to see when the first bus was suppose to arrive after 5pm. Upon further inspection, I realized there was an express bus that traverses around Kaneohe instead of traveling through the residential area (which saves a considerable amount of time). What I didn’t know and what I discovered too late was the fact that it doesn't stop at every bus stop along its path. So after watching the 88A (North Shore Express) zoom by me, I had to wait another 50 minutes before the next bus arrived. It was filled to the brim to the point where there wasn't a seat for me until we got down Pali Highway, which didn't exactly put me in any better a mood. By the time we made it to Kamehameha Highway, our bus had completely discharged (I assume the bus driver was referring to the battery), which forced us to get off The Bus and wait for the next one to arrive.

Could the situation get any worse? Yes. Did it? You betcha.

As it turned out, there was some sort of accident further up the road and the traffic was just beginning to back up where we had jumped off. At that point I figured "What the hell - I might as well just start walking!"

After trecking it down the road a few miles I found out what was causing the dead stop. I later found out that a tour bus driver had fallen asleep at the wheel and careened into an H2 Hummer in oncoming traffic. The Hummer looked like an accordion and the driver died, sadly. The collision also sent the Hummer into the side of a house, destroying the part closest to the highway. What a horrible mess.

At that point I thought I wouldn't get home until at least 10pm, considering there wasn't any traffic traveling either direction and Hauula was at least another 10 to 12 miles down the road.

I was fortunate enough to notice a couple that was on The Bus with me and had the same idea of hiking home. They called a cousin to pick them up and offered me a ride to Kahana, which would shave off about half the distance home. I graciously accepted, and about halfway back they said they would just give me a ride all the way home; they did. It's the little things like that which remind me why I moved back to Hawaii, and I am glad I did.

Since then, things have been going great, and I only went one more day before I figured out where that express bus stops. The job has been going great since then and I'm really enjoying it.

Coming Soon: College Graduation