Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Who doesn't love riding the bus?

Public transit is a fickle creature. Seriously, sometimes it's the best thing ever, and sometimes it makes you wish you could click your heels and get spirited back to Kansas (not that I've had the pleasure of visiting Kansas...yet). This morning was no exception. Having decided to work out of the SF office today, as opposed to making the trek to the East Bay, I merrily skip out my front door just in time to see a loaded express bus go flying past my stop because, it being 8:05 am, we are smack dab in the middle of morning rush hour. Well, not being one to take rejection sitting down, I throw my computer and gym bag over my shoulder, and start powerwalking to a bus stop a bit earlier down the bus line...this is when the eccentricities of the SF bus really started to manifest themselves.

1) After hiking 4 block with two large bags over my shoulders (luckily I wore my cowboy boots today. I would not have tried this is heels), I see another express bus coming and think "YES!" only to watch it fly by just as the previous one did. At this point (1o min behind schedule), I start thinking "WTF? I've hiked a half a mile in work clothes carry at least 40 lbs (my laptop is from 1982). What does a girl have to do to catch a bus?"
2) I walk one more block and see another express coming. Luckily, this one was pretty much tailing the last bus, so it's not to full..and guess what?!?! I get on and GET A SEAT!!! Getting a seat on during rush hour is kind of like winning the lottery...but without the taxes.
3) My whole morning was significantly improved by this seat because it gave me a place (i.e. my lap) to put my two large bags. I mean, what do you do if you have to carry your laptop, gym bag, tupperware, AND purse to work everyday (like me). Fancy, dressed-up, corporate chicks do NOT like my dirty running shoes in their face. Seriously, what if I had to bring a cake into work or something? Things could get ug-ly.
4) Another aspect of bus-riding baffles me...the heat/stuffiness of the bus vs. the cold of outside. If I board the bus in outside gear (sweater and jacket), I am sweating withing 4.2 seconds. Like, unattractively and socially unacceptably sweating...but I look around and everyone in wool coats seems to be cool, happy, and sweat-free. What am I doing wrong here?!? Teach me your secret, large suit-wearing man!
5) I watched a girl get kicked off the bus this morning because she didn't have $1.50...only $1.25. That was simply mean of the bus driver.

So there you go...a typical weekday morning bus experience. Stay tuned for the next installment "Saturday morning bus rides through Chinatown." Believe me, you don't want to miss it.

PS Apologies to those who noticed this is an alternate version of my YBG post today. I liked it too much to only use it once :)
PPS I'm wearing high waisted trouser-jeans at work today...without a lepoard belt. Take THAT, Jessica Simpson.

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