Early again

As I have mentioned before, having an appointment at the SFVA gives me several travel options:

1) I can park @ BART – (and pay for parking), then take BART followed by either the free shuttle if my timing is good or the #38/38R to the VA. This option takes somewhere between 90-120 minutes depending on schedules. It also means catching BART NLT 0530 to make sure that I can catch the shuttle (free) or if later-  then it is pay for the BUS. Of note – senior fares are reasonable.

2) I can drive via Peet’s for coffee followed by driving. Parking at the VA is free. But there is a toll (now $8) on the Bay Bridge. If I leave at 0530, the drive takes 45 minutes.  Then I sit in the car and read/knit till appointment time

3) I can drive at a later time and spend 90-120 minutes in traffic and might not find free parking.

Prior to the pandemic, I always used option #1.  Since then, it has been option #2 almost exclusively. I don’t mind being up early, Either option #1 or #2 give me reading/knitting time. Option #3 just makes me crazy.

Of course, if I got my act together, I could claim travel. I don’t get reimbursed for tolls unless I can provide a receipt. Now, there is no way to drive into SF from the East Bay that doesn’t involve a toll. But the FastPass is in George’s name. So receipts aren’t going to happen. Unlike prior to the Pandemic when I could just pay cash and get a receipt, there aren’t toll both workers anymore.

Hear me whining?

The one advantage to driving in? I can make stops on the way home. If I am not too tire or the traffic isn’t at the “slit your wrists” level.

Today wasn’t much of an exception. I drove, got lab done, got my infusion and headed home at a reasonable time. But I am really really tired. Enough that neither clean up or stitching are really happening today….