Picasso, Or the Art of Panhandling

While I waited for the bus (and scoped out this really cute hounds tooth suit that another rider was wearing), a fellow approached.  He carried a small American flag and a piece of cardboard.  "Picasso" was written on the cardboard.  He politely asked all those waiting for the bus for spare change.  No one gave him any.  I'm not sure that his unique use of props was effective.

Carpooling Confession

I have to admit something...I've been carpooling with my hubs in the morning.  It's so great!  We get a little extra time together (without dogs barking or other distractions).  We drive along the lake, so we enjoy the scenery.  I'm right on his way, he drops me off downtown, and heads a little further west to get to his job.  It's grand.  But, I have slightly fewer blog worthy observations as a result.

PS--it is ok to be barked at by our cuties most of the time.

And the Beat Goes On...

I have a cold, complete with congestion, cough, runny nose, and sleepiness.  This makes me cranky. So, I was not my usual jolly self when I boarded the bus to come home from work today (by the by, I have a new fancy Commuter Value Pass that I use instead of the M-Card, which is pretty great--it reduces my taxable income--the cost is deducted once per month from my paycheck--and I get to use it as much as I want). And there was this dude, with actual drum sticks...loudly, drumming on his seat.  And I wanted to drum him. Yes, it seemed like he knew what he was doing, but it was very ANNOYING.  Thankfully, he wasn't on too long.  Still love the bus, though.

Musings on the Express Bus

I too have started taking the bus.  Peterson sisters on the bus, yay!  I am taking the express bus from Eagan, MN to the University of Minnesota dental school.  I love this bus because it gets to drive on the shoulders on the freeway and fly past all the traffic sitting on 35W.  I look at those cars and think, that could be me, but it's not!

My bus is very quiet.  The riders consist of professional commuters and college students.  Lots of the people I see in the morning going to the U are the same ones I see at night coming home.

My favorite lady so far comes home on the 5:05 return trip.  She is an older lady, a larger lady.  She always has a medium sized red roller suitcase (and it really rolls nice!) and two empty cardboard boxes nested in each other.  These boxes are labels has having at one time contained some sort of syringes.  I'm not quite sure what the purpose of the suitcase or the boxes are.  It fascinates me.  But she is nice and will talk to you if you show interest in conversing, but doesn't force you to go on and on if you'd rather sit and be quiet.

There is another guy, a young guy.  He reminds me of Shaggy from Scooby Doo if he were a person that might do some kind of IT support type job.  He usually has a lunch in a plastic grocery bag and a book.  He is currently reading "Flowers in the Attic" which is an odd choice for an adult man to read.  He used it as a pillow on Friday when we were coming home.  It didn't look very comfortable.

Tomorrow I have to drive my car to the U in the afternoon for training, there isn't a bus that comes back late enough.  I'm sad to have to drive.  But glad that I at least have free parking!

What are the Odds?

After I left work and crossed the street to get to the bus stop, I heard a flurry of shouts and a honking horn.  I looked up and in the car at the intersection were two of my former students--one even worked for me.  What are the odds that this would happen?  What timing!

My afternoon bus driver was very cheerful.  I believe that she was my first female bus driver as well.
One passenger had a very loud phone conversation.  It seemed to consist mostly of "You know what I'm sayin?"  No one else on the bus made a peep.

Mascara, Davy Crockett, and Denim Park

When I got on the bus this morning, it was almost empty.  I was the fourth person on--true story.

Shortly after I boarded, a young woman got on and I watched in amazement as she put on her make up.  If I tried to put mascara on while riding the bus, I'd end up jabbing myself in the eye or smearing it over about half of my face.

While this fellow was not on on the bus--just walking down the street, I spotted him while riding, so I think it counts...he was wearing a Davy Crockett style cap (with raccoon tail and all), with camouflage shorts, paired with black leggings underneath.  What a look!

And, I'm not sure who came up with the name Denim Park, but I think it's really bad.  What does that mean, Denim Park?  

Pondering a Big Question

Why do some people walk all of the way from the very back of the bus to the front to exit the bus, rather than exiting out the rear door?  I don't get it.

Chatty Cathy

The wind downtown this afternoon was comically strong.  I felt like a poorly skilled mime while walking down the block.  When I got to the bus stop, a little lady was having an animated conversation with someone who was also waiting for a bus.  She caught my eye as she was wearing a baseball cap, tied to her head with a bandanna, knotted kerchief style under her chin.  I was intrigued by this look, but after a moment, I realized she was smarter than most others who were wearing hats today.  The bandanna kept her hat in place!  It was in danger of flying off her head due to the comically strong wind!

At any rate, this little lady chatted up the bus driver as she got on the bus and her seat mate as well. And I just kept to myself.

Waiting For the Bus

Waiting for the bus this morning was a delight.  The sun was shining and the gentlest breeze was blowing.  I was so impressed by how close the bus driver pulled up to the curb without hitting it or driving over it.  I would be a disaster as a bus driver.

I'm perplexed by bus riders who like to start up conversations with anyone and everyone around them.  When I'm on the bus, I don't really want to talk to anyone.  I just want to be alone with my thoughts or read a book.  That's all.

Two little boys get on together near Humboldt.  I suppose that they are taking the bus to school. They are pretty cute.  The older one takes good care of his little brother.

All About Flowers

On this morning's bus ride, the young woman who sat next to me smelled like flowers.

During my evening commute, two older gentlemen had a loud conversation about the train wreck, Canada, fishing, and then traded jokes.

A: If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?

B: Bees?

A: Pilgrims!

The bus driver liked this one and asked if he could use it.

A: What is the only kind of bee that makes milk?

B: I dunno.

A; Boobees!