Latest Adventues

On Thursday morning a man got on the 8:12 am bus and couldn't pay his fare because he didn't have any cash. (Hello, buses don't take credit cards.) So this cashless man thought he would just laugh it off and slip on by. But not so fast. Mr. 8:12 am Bus Driver told him that if he wanted to ride the bus, he needed to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in full. At first I think cashless man thought it was a joke, but Mr. 8:12 am Bus Driver does not kid around. Once cashless man realized this was no joke, he refused to say the Pledge on grounds that it would be "embarrassing." To which Mr. 8:12 responded (in his scuzzy Boston accent) "you're embarrassin' me by not sayin' it!" Cashless man was taken aback, and proceeded to start mumbling the first few words. Then he evidently decided it was not worth it, so he gave up and got off the bus.

I think today was the earliest I have woken up on a Saturday in a very long time. Ran a 5K this morning for Breast Cancer. (Okay. Ran/jogged/walked the last 1.5 k.) Note to self: Before the next 5K, do NOT drink beer the night before. Do NOT forget to bring deodorant (don't worry, I borrowed some from a friend), and definitely do NOT forget to pee before the race. All in all, I'm glad I went. The race was held in South Boston next to the Harbor, with a view of the skyline. Couldn't ask for a much better setting. And several thousand people participated.

Also went to my second annual "Faire of the Square" this afternoon - my little town's fall festival. All I bought this year was a key hook contraption. I know some people who would find this very funny.

Also took a little walk through town today. In SHORTS and a T-SHIRT. It was so summery and fantastic.

Tonight is for relaxing. (Considering the last two weekends have involved grown up drinks and parties and slumber parties and 5K's.) I have a date with my DVR. I even made dinner. In the oven! I won't lie to you... this is the second time I've used my oven since I moved in almost 13 months ago. The first time was about two weeks ago. Don't judge me.

Dear 8:12 am Bus Driver

When we first met a few weeks ago, I didn't care for you too much. I decided that you are one of those big burly Boston men who isn't particularly friendly. Plus you smoke more than a chimney. (I'm pretty certain that you smoke on the bus, too, right before I get on it - causing me to show up to work every day feeling like I've just put away a pack of Marlboros.) Also, I decided that your driving is a little bit out of control, and I've wondered on more than one occasion if I would make it off the bus alive.

However, I think my feelings have begun to change. Your reckless driving is sort of an impressive feat to watch when we speed past three other buses on the MassPike, almost in a mocking fashion. I can't believe I actually made it to work by 8:25 last week. Also, you didn't mind too much when I gave you an attitude because you thought I was a dumb blonde girl who didn't know how to add cash to my Charlie Card (which I pretty much have down to a science by now, thank you very much). And this morning, the way you pulled right in front of that other bus because it was running late and holding us back - thus cutting it off completely and making it even later - was downright hardcore. I have never seen such a thing in all my time as a passenger! (By the way, you very nearly hit that bus while you were pulling around it. How did you even get a license?)

Sorry to say that you are not my FAVORITE bus driver of all time -- that still belongs to Mr. 6:40 who I met last fall, even though he no longer drives my route. He always waited very patiently while I fumbled for my Charlie card, and he asked me about my weekend, and while his driving was fast, it usually didn't cause me to wonder on a regular basis whether I would end up as roadkill.

But hey, you are growing on me. I mean, if nothing else, I have decided hold off on calling the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority to report you for causing me to inhale a busload of poisonous secondhand smoke every morning.

I'm glad we can be friends.

Cheers,

Your 8:12 am Passenger

Hanging on for Dear Life

I heard that on the radio today. You know what they were talking about? Summer. Which made me very very sad. I have been pretty deeply in denial this year about the end of my favorite season. I have even been turning up my nose at the pretty colors that are starting to creep into the trees and wishing they would go away. I think I will get over it. But I'm going to keep pouting for at least another week. And a half. (I think once it becomes October, you're not allowed to call it summer anymore.)

I just saw a commercial suggesting that kids are getting "buzzed" (think alcohol) from certain songs which they are downloading on the internet. It's called "i-buzzing." Wow. I don't even know what to say about that.

I can't decide if I should officially have a boyfriend or not. It occurred to me recently that I haven't really wanted to be called someone's "girlfriend" since I was about 17. After you get hurt once or twice, the title starts to lose its splendor. Since then I've kind of had to be talked into it. Or have just avoided it altogether for something nameless and casual. Or more recently, traded it in for my status as an independent lady. Not sure if I'm quite ready to give that up. But then again, sometimes I am.

I have a bug bite on my elbow that I got while I was scraping tree sap off of my car yesterday. Tree sap is a terrible thing. Avoid it at all costs.

I am planning to do something a little bit sophisticated in the near future and go to the theater in Boston. I want to see Wicked. I don't think I can say that I've officially been "to the theater." Call me a nerd, but I'm excited.

Post-Vacation

I am having a little bit of an existential crisis this week. After one glorious week of vacation, I am having a hard time checking back into reality. It would be really terrific if I could have a job that allows me to sleep in til 10 am every day. And still get home by dinnertime. And maybe take Fridays off. And doesn't require me to think extremely hard. But still pays me as if I did.