Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Anthony vs. GoTransit...

Usually I dig deep, and pull out a blog. But I honestly can't right now. I'm HELLA bored right now at school. So I guess I'll create my most boring blog to date and I'll talk about my morning a la first-person narrative because all this Engineering stuff has me missing English to a point where I'm considering English as an elective, ew. Maybe this will satisfy my yearning for English...

[...]

I woke up early this morning and--as a premeditated act--I went to downtown Toronto to my UofT campus (where I currently am). The reason for this trip is because the flood gates for elective registration for my program open tomorrow morning. I had some inquiries and what not to get out of the way before I made elective decisions...

Due to family bickering, I do not have access to a car, but I was lucky enough to get a ride to the GoTrain station this morning. As I boarded the train, I noticed a couple police officers aboard the train. I immediately checked my pocket for my unpunched ticket and I glanced out the window. I then gave up any attempts of running out of the train and back up the stairs to punch my ticket. So I painfully took my seat knowing they would check tickets some time during the ride and I would get a fine that I cannot afford. All that went through my head was that I'm screwed because I already have one warning from last summer. The time I forgot to punch my 10-ride on my way downtown for a concert...

Now in my seat, I spent the whole time giving the illusion that I was sleeping while I contemplated what I would say to the officer that would approach me. As the officer walked up to my seating area repeating the words 'we're checking tickets', I pretended to slowly gain attentiveness as if I was just interrupted from a good nap...

After the woman officer saw me, she demanded to see my ticket. I took my time and eventually pulled out my ticket
after checking two pockets without success; although I already knew where it was. In my hand was the double-sided 2-ride ticket. It was very fresh and it was indeed unpunched...

As I looked a the ticket, I gave an expression of confusion and pretended to read the ticket and said 'I didn't punch it, I thought I got a day pass because they were the same price'. She looked and me with a little empathy and told me to just punch the ticket when I get off the train. I was overcame with a little relief...

Then she said, 'as procedure, I need some ID to check if this has happened before'. In a bit of defeat I handed her my driver's license and confessed to my past warning before she could speak into her walkie-talkie...

Over some interference, the voice of the device said, in code, that I got a warning in May of 2008 for not punching my ticket. Had it been August 2008 I would've received a fine of $110-$500. Which is a serious economic blow to a second year student...

In desperation, I continued with my not-very-thought-out excuse, 'I usually get 10-rides and monthlys, so I'm unfamiliar with the system of 2-rides and day passes'...

With curiosity the lady officer said ,'well you must be familiar with the system if you know the difference between a day pass and a 2-ride.' [damn you!] 'Next time, know what you are asking for at the ticket booth' [I did know I wanted a 2-ride] 'I'm going to be nice again and write you your second warning' [you bastard]... efffff emmmm elllll...

[...]

I'm out like my clean GoTransit record...

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