Sign of what's to come...?

I decided to do my shopping at the Target in West Hollywood today instead of the closer option of Downtown L.A.. It takes about 45 minutes-1 hour to get to WeHo and two buses but I didn't mind. I could only laugh at how it all played out though.

I would say that LA MTA works smoothly about 80% of the time. Yes, it runs late and yes, lifts break down but its not all that often. Especially the lifts that flip out as ramps. Only that's exactly what broke today. I boarded the bus to take me to the first stop and the operator could get the lift to fold but he couldn't get the "beep beep beep" to stop, which meant the bus was inoperable. So after about 15 minutes, I deboarded with everybody else and boarded the second bus. Things went fairly smooth after that.

Now while this isn't exactly the first time this scenario has happened (nor do I expect it to be the last), I couldn't help but think ahead to what using NYC MTA will be like. I follow the twitter accounts of both the bus and the subway and the problems/delays are not only constant but consistent. I have been warned and read about what public transportation is like in NYC but nothing will prepare me like actually having to go through it.

I think that's what kept me from getting so bent out of shape at one little snafu that was out of my control today.

There was just something about today that felt like a glimpse of the future.

Boston Abilities Expo

The Abilities Expo in Los Angeles is next week and while on the website I noticed the Abilities Expo in Boston is scheduled for the weekend after I'm due to leave NYC and head back to L.A.

I started wondering if I could make it work by moving everything back a week. Still spend a week in NYC but then spend the weekend of the Abilities Expo in Boston and then head back to L.A.

I looked at the Amtrak schedule and I would be able to change the ticket.

Then, I looked at Hotels. There are no ADA rooms available at Yotel Hotel for that week. I looked at other hotels in the Manhattan area and the prices are more than I can spend.

So after a hour of research it all narrows down to where I started...Boston will have to wait. If NYC goes as well as I hope, I hope to plan a trip to Boston next spring.

And now I only have to wait a week before I ascend that indoor rock climbing wall at the Abilities Expo!

Adventures in Downtown L.A.

Haven't written an entry in nearly three weeks for the simple reason that as far as NYC is concerned, there's still not a lot going on. Except trying to familiarize myself with the Metro (buses & subways) as much is possible from a distance. It took me sometime to acclimate to L.A. Metro but I did no research then, I just learned by trial & error.

That aside, today I did what has become one of my favorite things to do: Wheeling it around Downtown L.A. That actually wasn't my intention. I had only planned to go to Target and go to a movie. I can sometimes be a bit of a turtle in the morning but I somehow managed to leave my apartment and catch a bus and get downtown in plenty of time to go to Target first and then go see the movie. That's when spontaneity happened.

The bus stop is on Olive/7th. I go right and I go to Figueroa but I go left and I can go the same distance (1/2 mile) to Spring Street where L.A. Cafe is. I looked at the time and I still had an hour and a half til the movie started. I really wanted a Lobster Grilled Cheese. I was going to wait til my birthday next month when I have lunch with a friend but time was on my side. I wish I could tell all about how great the food at L.A. Cafe is but the truth is...all I have ever had there is the Lobster Grilled Cheese. That is just pure food bliss!

Then it was time to go the mile up to Target on Figueroa. Unfortunately, I committed to the wrong side of the street. In other words, I chose the side where the curb cut-outs are not so pronounced and if I don't watch my "step" it won't turn out well. Anyway, I was committed to that side because it was the side that crosses directly to Target. Target took me all of about 10 minutes for what I was looking for. And then it was time to go another half mile down to the theater. I got to the theater with 20 minutes left on the clock before the movie began.

The movie that I saw was a fantastically, beautifully created story called "Winter's Tale". I highly recommend it.

Now I don't do this kind of day without fully charging my chair. But I love this kind of day where I can do everything "on foot". No buses, no wheelchair lifts...just navigating the downtown L.A. streets.

After the movie was over, it was time to get back on the bus to head back to the apartment. And this is where my day took a tiny bauble. I am boarding the bus as I do. I back up to get in. No big deal. The bus driver starts to talk to me like I'm a child (being in my mid-30s...that wasn't setting well to start) that I should board the bus facing front so I don't have to back up getting in. Here's the problem, when a person in a wheelchair boards a bus facing front they still have to do a 180 to turn around to park in the designated spot. Now, I don't drive a car but I don't know that I have ever seen a car that is parallel parking make a 180 out into traffic before they back up! I wanted to say all this but it was neither time or place. I just said, "I'm not new. Thank you though." I knew he was trying to help. And also if people don't really spend time with disabled people, those people seem to think that every disabled person is like the other. So I try to have understanding.

Advice for any wheelchair user that may read this or if you may have a friend/family member who uses a wheelchair and also uses public transportation. If you see the bus is near crowded, use the backing up method if you can. I have seen many wheelchair users through out my time here that think because they are in a chair the seas should part for them and they go front ways just because they are lazy. Some wheelchair uses are not able to drive backward. This isn't a safety issue, it is a courtesy and convenience one, and no one knows better than you how to drive the chair you operate every day.

This metro issue is probably one of the bigger things I worry about with going to NYC in 6 months. I'm comfortable with L.A. and completely ignorant to the ways of NYC. I just hope I can figure it out so I can feel comfortable leaving Manhattan and visiting other boroughs when the time comes.

Operation Saving Money (January Update)

I'm going to toot my own horn here...

With this being the last day of January and February funds being deposited on Monday, I took a look at my bank account and I impressed myself with how much I managed to save this month. I didn't buy a whole lot of what I "wanted" this month but more of what I needed. And it paid off!

Buying only what I need for the next 6 months is going to get difficult at times but as long as I keep focused and the big picture in front of me then it will all be worth it. Just like I also call this Operation Soup & Salad.

That will go into full effect when I go grocery shopping. I'm already planning salads, sandwiches, and soups for next month. Making sure to rotate and have variety so that I don't get bored. Again, in keeping with the keeping the eye on the big picture motto.

And...

Operation Travel Light(er) is already showing results just from the last two weeks.

So...so far so good.

The Waiting...

I haven't written anything in a few days because now that the date has been set, the train ticket bought, and the hotel room booked...there isn't a whole lot to do for a month or two but wait. I need to remember these moments when I am feeling antsy because there's not a doubt in my mind as the day to leave comes closer, it will feel as though there is not enough time in the day. No matter how prepared I am.

I considered for a moment planning a trip up to Boston while I was "in the area" but logistically, it's not going to work. The train to get to Boston from NYC is 7 hours each way so I'd spend more time on the train than the city. So after I see how NYC goes, I guess I will plan the same kind of trip for Boston. NYC is the dream but its also the guinea pig in a lot of ways.

As a closing thought I have been thinking a lot about the support that I have received from family and friends and it has astounded me. It shouldn't but it does. And I am thankful to and for each and every one of them.

206 days!

Timing is Everything?

I am trying to watch the Australian Open Women's Final but during a commercial break (and probably because I'm a little hungry), I decide to see if Amtrak post their dining menus. Because I am in strictly saving money mode, just want to get an approximate idea of what it will cost me. The food offered on the menus looks to be a nice variety and at a pretty reasonable price.

Now the reason for the question...

I haven't always been the best when it comes to timing but I got this one right!

I couldn't remember the name of the train that I am taking from Chicago so I went to the reservations page. I was shocked to see that the train that goes from L.A. to Chicago is sold out of Reserved Wheelchair Coach seats. Already! Now, I don't imagine that there are a lot of spots for wheelchairs as the commuter train I've been on makes room for four. But to see that in January the seats are SOLD OUT. I wonder if I bought the last one.

And here I thought I was making reservations too soon.

Blessed is maybe the only word I can think of right now as to how I feel in this moment.

Booked!

After my night of 2.a.m. research and still no word back from this travel agency that I was trying to touch base with, I ended up right back in my thought process where I had begun. Since I had read the review of Yotel Hotel by a person in a wheelchair who stayed there and saw the photos, I knew I had wanted to stay there. But the Hotel wasn't in Brooklyn and I knew I could find a cheaper place to stay. So I kept Yotel in the back of my mind but kept looking.

What clenched it for me was really two things.

First, during my night of research I had come across an Accessible Taxi dispatch company that originates out of Manhattan. They will take you to any burough but your trip must begin in Manhattan. Because of my ignorance in the geography of NYC, I didn't realize where Penn Station is. The company (www.accessibledispatch.com) replied to my email the next day and said that "yes" they could take me from the train station to the hotel. One of the reasons that I was going to utilize the travel agency was because they claimed that they could make transportation arrangements to and from. Well, I just took care of that myself.

Second, the proximity of the hotel to the train station. That is pretty much what did it. Though, I really wanted to stay in Brooklyn, being near Times Square might work out for the best. I can go to Central Park, Times Square (obviously), go to the US Open, go to a NYM game, and I can still venture into Brooklyn if time allows.

So I booked the Yotel Hotel! That was yesterday.

This morning I got my train ticket! I was going to book online but I needed to ask a couple of questions first and I'm glad that I called.

First, I needed to ask about boarding access as I know how Union Station (Los Angeles) works but not Chicago. I was assured that while Chicago does not have an on board ramp as L.A. does, I will not have problems boarding. Lets's hope so!

Second, I asked about the dining car. 40 hours to Chicago and then another 19 to NYC, a woman is going to need to eat. Again, I was assured that though the aisles are too narrow for me to get to the dining car, I would have food brought to me. (Taking mental note to have money to tip, if needed).

Then began the process of booking and the agent asked if I would like an accessible seat to transfer to. Not knowing how comfortable I will be to transfer out of my chair I didn't know. But then the agent informed me that there would be no extra cost to have a space for my chair and an accessible seat to transfer to. And thinking on it, it'll probably be a lot more comfortable to try to catch some Z's in a Amtrak seat then it will my wheelchair. So I now have that option.

So that's that! I have the Hotel booked and the train ticket bought. Now begins buying a few things I still need and saving money.

Saving! Saving! Saving!

My countdown clock on my phone says 210 days. I can not wait! I don't think it will all truly sink in til I'm on that train.

Research at 2am...

I should be sleeping but I'm sitting here researching hotels, then public transportation, then hotels again...then looking at Google maps.

I'm coming to the conclusion that I might not need to utilize the services of a travel agent at all. My hesitation with travel agents has always been that I don't like leaving my fate in somebody else's hands. I've heard positive stories about travel agents but I've also heard nightmarish stories.

I'm not ruling out using a travel agency especially one skilled in booking for disabled travelers. But on my own, I have come across a taxi service that specializes in dispatching accessible taxis. I have emailed them to inquire if they would be able to pick me up from the train station. And while researching that, I went back to look at Yotel to see if they had an ADA room available for the dates that I need. Not only do they but I won't have to pay til I arrive.

And then I checked Google maps to see that the Hotel is basically a stone's throw away from the train station. Now this puts me a bit of a distance away from Brooklyn but nothing a train ride can't fix. And I won't be too far from Central Park (one of my must see places).

Ever since I saw another person in a wheelchair post photos and a blog about his stay at Yotel Hotel, I felt like that was the place I should stay. I'd be in Times Square, not too far from Central Park, a distance from Brooklyn but workable...same with the US Open. And again...fairly close to the train station. That's a definite plus.

I think I know what I'm going to do and I feel excited and ill just thinking about it. I know I can find a hotel cheaper but I'm looking at a hotel that I already know has the amenities that I need and better than that...there are photos from somebody who knows what a wheelchair person needs to see...its all about the bathroom and the height of the bed.

So that's that. Nearly 3am and I actually moved a little more forward in the planning.

The date has been set!

After a lot of back and forth and I mean a lot, I have finally reached a decision.

Although it was suggested to me by a couple of people whose opinions that I trust that I not go to NYC in August because the weather is less than ideal, I have ultimately gone back to where I started and decided to go to NYC in late August.

While coming to the decision was difficult, the reason is simple. I am a Tennis fan and I want to give myself the choice of going to the US Open. By going in September, I would remove that choice from the list. I can't say for sure that I will go to the Open, only that I want that option. I might end up just wanting to explore whatever burough I end up in (as that is still up in the air) but I would like to spend, at least, one day at the Open. Especially in the early rounds with so many matches going on.

I am approaching this trip to NYC as my first, only, and last and if I don't make the US Open as an option to experience than I'll always have that regret. So I hope that there won't be any torrential summer rainstorms while I'm there but if there are...so be it.

Now comes booking the train ticket and a hotel room. I'm still debating on using a travel agency but the agency that I'm considering hiring works specifically with disabled/wheelchair bound travelers so after I have touched base with them, I will decide. When looking into hotel rooms myself, it got overwhelming...booking a weekend trip to Las Vegas was a hell of a lot easier.

Then again, NYC isn't Las Vegas.

Operation Soup & Salad!

Operation Soup & Salad aka Operation Save Money aka Operation Travel Light(er).

That's what I'm calling it. Now that I have enough for the travel & hotel, I am paying attention to how much money I can save. I still need to set aside spending money for eating and public transportation that I can stretch over four or five days (seven if I include buying food on the train). And I still need to live in present day and pay my rent, bills, etc so this gets tricky.

It occurred to me, at my local grocery store, I can buy 15 cans of soup for around $15 and because each average size soup can contains two meals...that makes 30 dinners. I can also buy fixings for a salad for around the same cost as two cans of soup. The amount of money that I can hold back between now and when I board the train will start to add up and allow me to relax a little while I'm living in NYC for a few days.

I'm also referring to this as Operation Travel Light(er) because I will inevitably lose weight. And that's not a bad thing. I am approximately 50-60lbs overweight so I could afford to lose. Also, I plan on travelling with what is classified as a travel walker and all reviews that I read of this walker say that it is fairly light weight. The lighter I am, the easier it will be to manage the walker when I have to use it.

I might get sick & tired of soup & salad but it will be worth it when I arrive in New York City.

Why not travel by airplane?

When I shared my plans with my family on Christmas Eve about what I'm going to do, it was my Sister-in-Law who asked the question. I expected it because its a perfectly logical question. A five hour flight vs. a two and a half day train ride.

I then explained my dream of wanting to travel cross country. Due to the degree of Cerebral Palsy that I have, its not likely that I will ever be able to drive a car so driving cross country at this time isn't much of an option. I may never get to travel the world but what I can do is travel the country to some degree so why not? As someone who has never traveled farther than Las Vegas, there is still much more I need to see.

After I explained my reasons, my brother said something that I won't forget. He said, "I think its a great idea." I thought he was being sarcastic but he was, in fact, offering encouragement and that has inspired me even more.

This idea of traveling cross country via train was only born a couple of years ago not knowing how wheelchair accessible Amtrak might be. I have taken the Metrolink down to my brother's house on the holidays and it has always been a pleasant ride.

When the time comes to book a ticket with Amtrak, I will have a list of questions prepared. I have learned that you can't always prepare for everything as people's definitions of "wheelchair accessible" can vary but I can still prepare.

And so it begins...

Not long ago, I was sitting down at The Farmer's Market in Los Angeles with a good friend and we started talking about how I should start a blog about my perspective as a person in a wheelchair living in Los Angeles. The accessibility of venues and restrauants. The ease and/or difficulty of travelling around this city. It was a great idea and I felt inspired. Then I sat down and listed the venues and experiences that I could write about. But my mind was somewhere else...

Since I was 11, I have wanted to go to New York City. It has always been a pipe dream. I didn't think it was possible to ever be able to save enough money to make the trip work but then came a day in early December 2013. I looked at my finances and I had a little more than half of what was needed for the travel expenses. I was surprised. I had been saving but not paying attention to what and how much. I didn't want to think about it every month and how much farther I had to go. The dream of NYC has never been this close to reality in 25 years since the dream was born. And in this getting to NYC, I am also achieving another dream of travelling cross country via train.

This blog will be about realizing this dream that I have and making it a reality. And the hurdles that I will probably encounter as a wheelchair user that the average person may not.  The date is not yet set in stone but it will be late Summer/early Fall. I am more interested in getting as much living out of the city as I can in four to five days than being a tourist.

I look forward to sharing this journey with readers and I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I will.