As I said goodbye to the number 44 bus last week, I couldn't help but think about how my experiences on the bus reflected my overall work experience for the last four years...
....rushing every day, only to realize that no matter how much I rushed, I couldn't control things and my day was in the hands of someone else
....dealing with lots of obstacles in my path to getting done what I want to do
...and most importantly, often feeling like I was in the twilight zone because of the craziness of the people around me
But, more importantly, I recognized that I dealt with my frustration with both situations- the bus and the job- by knowing that ultimately, and eventually, they would be just temporary vehicles to get me to where I needed to go.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Binkie police
This morning, my bus pulled up to the bus stop to see a grown woman, dressed in a business suit, sucking on a pacifier. Not one of the early 90's TLC in style pacifiers, just a regular ol' binkie. No baby in sight, just her, her briefcase, her binkie, and her business suit.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Borrowed From a Friend Part II
Apparently, Boston wants to join in with Philly and New York....
Today after work I was waiting for my bus, saw the right one coming, and flagged it down. I see the driver put on the turn signal and start to pull over towards the stop, so I turn to walk to where the actual stop is (I was maybe 20 ft away), and joined another girl who was also waiting right at the stop for the same bus. As the driver approaches the stop, it becomes apparent she intends to drive right by, so I flag her down again. When the bus finally stops a short distance from the stop, the driver proceeds to yell at me that "I'm not a mind reader you know" and "how am I supposed to know if I should stop if you walk away from the bus." To which I replied, "well, I saw you put on your signal and start pulling over, so to me that means you knew to stop." Her reply was a dirty look and a mumbled string of words I didn't bother to listen to as I walked to my seat.
Note to self: always stare directly at the driver until you actually set foot on the bus.
Nice to know that driver grumpiness is universal!
Today after work I was waiting for my bus, saw the right one coming, and flagged it down. I see the driver put on the turn signal and start to pull over towards the stop, so I turn to walk to where the actual stop is (I was maybe 20 ft away), and joined another girl who was also waiting right at the stop for the same bus. As the driver approaches the stop, it becomes apparent she intends to drive right by, so I flag her down again. When the bus finally stops a short distance from the stop, the driver proceeds to yell at me that "I'm not a mind reader you know" and "how am I supposed to know if I should stop if you walk away from the bus." To which I replied, "well, I saw you put on your signal and start pulling over, so to me that means you knew to stop." Her reply was a dirty look and a mumbled string of words I didn't bother to listen to as I walked to my seat.
Note to self: always stare directly at the driver until you actually set foot on the bus.
Nice to know that driver grumpiness is universal!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Borrowed from a friend...
I asked permission to borrow this from a friend's facebook status. Apparently, NYC busdrivers are just as nice as those in Philly:
jump on the bus from 8th ave to lex the BLIND lady in front of me is having trouble putting her metro card in she says to the driver "sorry I'm from out of town, guess that makes me a moron" bus driver laughs and say that's exactly what it makes u glad u can admit it, then he looked at me and said I've been doing this ...for 25 yrs I don't give a fuck how wrong that was. LMAO
Courtesy of Danielle
jump on the bus from 8th ave to lex the BLIND lady in front of me is having trouble putting her metro card in she says to the driver "sorry I'm from out of town, guess that makes me a moron" bus driver laughs and say that's exactly what it makes u glad u can admit it, then he looked at me and said I've been doing this ...for 25 yrs I don't give a fuck how wrong that was. LMAO
Courtesy of Danielle
Busdrivers' Playas Club
So, this is one of those posts that I'm not sure how to exactly describe in words the funniness of this situation. But trust me, it was hysterical.
This past Friday, I boarded the bus of one of my least favorite but most entertaining busdrivers. He usually yells at traffic and is generally disagreeable, and I'm preeetty sure you could find his picture next to curmudgeon in the dictionary. My busdriver nickname for him is Mr. Grumbles. He's about 60 years old, a normal looking older man, with a generally negative attitude about traffic, other drivers, and everyone who boards the bus.
Except this past Friday.
This Friday, two girls around my age sat in the front of the bus. They were cute, much too cute and two young for Mr. Grumbles. As we drove towards Center City, I picked up bits and pieces of their conversations. Mr. Grumbles asked them if they knew what the building was in front of us (City Hall) and joked with them about being from from Camden (They pointed North as the direction when Camden is East of where we were headed in the city). Mr. Grumbles found this hysterical. He flirted, joked, and limited his grumbling at other cars (with the exception of one outburst).
Now, I have seen Mr. Grumbles have a strict "That's not a stop policy". If someone tries to board at a corner that is not a stop, he'll waive them off and say things like "Fool, I'm not stopping there for you" or "Man, get the hell out of here, that's not a stop". But not for his ladies from Camden. When it was down to just me, and the two ladies on the bus, Mr. Grumbles made a special stop for them. He stopped at a corner two blocks before the last stop, let them off the bus, and proceeded to talk to them with the bus doors open while I sat there through two green lights! Finally, the girls walked away and he slowly drove past, waving until they were out of sight.
What I missed in this transaction, despite my incessant noseyness, was that apparently the two girls slipped him their business cards (maybe in lieu of a buspass?). I could hear Mr. Grumbles grumbling something (or so I thought) under his breath as we approached the next stop light. At the light, he quickly spun around to look at his passengers, with a wide grin on his face (it was only me left onboard at this point). He lifted the business cards in the air like trophies, did a little victory dance, and said "I got the digits, I got the digits"....he looked around, realized it was just me and said "Of course when I'm a playa, ain't no males on this bus to show off to".....As I held in my giggles, Mr. Grumbles continued to pat himself on the back .....his grumbles changed into song, something along the lines of "Play on, playa, got the digits, playa...."
For the sake of Mr. Grumbles and all of the passengers involved, I hope those girls decide to ride the bus everyday.
This past Friday, I boarded the bus of one of my least favorite but most entertaining busdrivers. He usually yells at traffic and is generally disagreeable, and I'm preeetty sure you could find his picture next to curmudgeon in the dictionary. My busdriver nickname for him is Mr. Grumbles. He's about 60 years old, a normal looking older man, with a generally negative attitude about traffic, other drivers, and everyone who boards the bus.
Except this past Friday.
This Friday, two girls around my age sat in the front of the bus. They were cute, much too cute and two young for Mr. Grumbles. As we drove towards Center City, I picked up bits and pieces of their conversations. Mr. Grumbles asked them if they knew what the building was in front of us (City Hall) and joked with them about being from from Camden (They pointed North as the direction when Camden is East of where we were headed in the city). Mr. Grumbles found this hysterical. He flirted, joked, and limited his grumbling at other cars (with the exception of one outburst).
Now, I have seen Mr. Grumbles have a strict "That's not a stop policy". If someone tries to board at a corner that is not a stop, he'll waive them off and say things like "Fool, I'm not stopping there for you" or "Man, get the hell out of here, that's not a stop". But not for his ladies from Camden. When it was down to just me, and the two ladies on the bus, Mr. Grumbles made a special stop for them. He stopped at a corner two blocks before the last stop, let them off the bus, and proceeded to talk to them with the bus doors open while I sat there through two green lights! Finally, the girls walked away and he slowly drove past, waving until they were out of sight.
What I missed in this transaction, despite my incessant noseyness, was that apparently the two girls slipped him their business cards (maybe in lieu of a buspass?). I could hear Mr. Grumbles grumbling something (or so I thought) under his breath as we approached the next stop light. At the light, he quickly spun around to look at his passengers, with a wide grin on his face (it was only me left onboard at this point). He lifted the business cards in the air like trophies, did a little victory dance, and said "I got the digits, I got the digits"....he looked around, realized it was just me and said "Of course when I'm a playa, ain't no males on this bus to show off to".....As I held in my giggles, Mr. Grumbles continued to pat himself on the back .....his grumbles changed into song, something along the lines of "Play on, playa, got the digits, playa...."
For the sake of Mr. Grumbles and all of the passengers involved, I hope those girls decide to ride the bus everyday.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The Smells of SEPTA
SEPTA is a smelly place. Yesterday, for example, the entire bus smelled like spoiled milk. I am forgiving of these mystery smells - I assume that most people with odor disorders don't do it on purpose. They either don't realize that they smell, or can't help it. However, its the offenders who can control it that really get under my skin (Take note, smokers who put out their cigarettes as they board the bus!!!!!)
Now, I know that I am more sensitive than most to perfumes and floral smells. However, my sensitivity aside, I still don't think an enclosed, poorly ventilated public transportation vehicle is the place for applying these scents. Which brings me to Miss Stinky Sanitizer. On several occasions, I have seen these woman, probably in her late 50's, spray hairpspray on the bus, with not so much as turning around to see if someone is behind her. She also uses a heavily scented old lady lotion from time to time. But the worst is her daily hygiene regime of hand sanitizer. Every day, without fail, she boards the bus three stops after me, sits down,usually a seat or two away, and applies the strongest smelling hand sanitizer ever. It smells like a cross between Aussie shampoo or hair spray (you know the purple bottle, no offense to anyone who uses it, but it should definitely not be the scent of a hand sanitizer) and rubbing alcohol.
Having dealt with really bad smelling fellow passengers, maybe I shouldn't complain - particularly in the 90 degree weather. I guess for now, with the fear of worse smells to come throughout the summer, I'll cut Miss SS some slack.
Now, I know that I am more sensitive than most to perfumes and floral smells. However, my sensitivity aside, I still don't think an enclosed, poorly ventilated public transportation vehicle is the place for applying these scents. Which brings me to Miss Stinky Sanitizer. On several occasions, I have seen these woman, probably in her late 50's, spray hairpspray on the bus, with not so much as turning around to see if someone is behind her. She also uses a heavily scented old lady lotion from time to time. But the worst is her daily hygiene regime of hand sanitizer. Every day, without fail, she boards the bus three stops after me, sits down,usually a seat or two away, and applies the strongest smelling hand sanitizer ever. It smells like a cross between Aussie shampoo or hair spray (you know the purple bottle, no offense to anyone who uses it, but it should definitely not be the scent of a hand sanitizer) and rubbing alcohol.
Having dealt with really bad smelling fellow passengers, maybe I shouldn't complain - particularly in the 90 degree weather. I guess for now, with the fear of worse smells to come throughout the summer, I'll cut Miss SS some slack.
Catcalls, Episode 1
Sweaty man crammed into the front of a UHaul truck with three friends: "Hey Shorty, lookin good....lookin real good shorty"
Me: Slight eye roll, disapproving head shake
Sweaty man: "Well F U you fat, ugly b$*&%!"
......Dude, make up your mind...hot or not?
Me: Slight eye roll, disapproving head shake
Sweaty man: "Well F U you fat, ugly b$*&%!"
......Dude, make up your mind...hot or not?
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