Bicycle, Bicycle...

Why are people fascinated with my bicycle? It's not particularly stunning, or loud, or eye-catching in any way. Except for the seat. I'll get to that in a moment. I ride my bike up to the bus stop and then catch the bus from there. It's simply a matter of lifting the bike that is the hardest part. Sometimes the drivers are kind enough to lower the front of the bus to help me out; sometimes not. But all of them, and a few passengers too, just LOVE the fact that I ride my bike, and think it's just the greatest thing since sliced bread.

And the seat. Well, the bike came with that standard, pelvic bone-breaking shape that just does not fit my anatomy. I have a big bum, and, while I'm not proud of it, it is there, and it needs support, darn it! It's a well padded gel seat, and I just love it. Makes the trip a heck of a lot more pleasurable. But everyone wants to know where I got it, and for the record, I got it at Fraser Bike Shop for around $50. Well worth it!

Exciting Wait

Last night after work the folks at the bus stop got quite a show. There were a large number of city workers picketing in front of and around the city-county building. They were exuberantly exercising their right to assemble. After several minutes of the picketers walking around Woodward and Larned among the people waiting for buses, a fight broke out between two guys. People were jeering them on and it spilled out into the street and across the street and after a couple brief lulls it started up again. The one guy was on a bike and came back for more and the other guy knocked him off the bike. They again proceeded into the street and at this time the one guy had his shirt ripped off. The police arrived after one guy took off and were blocking the bus stop for a period. We got on the bus and had to wait for other vehicles to clear out so we could move on. After we turned onto Randolph and picked up a couple people we took off and down the street a guy stepped out in front of our bus as if he didn't know traffic was approaching. The driver quickly braked and we all held on and that is when I asked loudly, "is there a full moon tonight?", which got a few laughs. All in all it was a chaotic wait.
Bus rides = entertainment

LOONY PEOPLE OR LONELY PEOPLE

An older woman in an embellished scooter approached me at my bus stop this morning stating that I looked just like the man at the candy store. She was a little confused because she pointed at the wrong building. I see the man going to work everyday and the only thing we have in common is height and a messenger bag. I stated, "you mean that guy right there?", as he was walking in the front door of the candy store. She had to turn her scooter around to the north to see. She pointed out that her eyesight isn't so good and that as she got closer to me the only thing we had in common was the "purse" because he had a little beard. She continued, "You know it's a purse. You don't see many men wearing one around here." I informed her that a lot of men have the messenger bags in Detroit. "Do you work at a bank? I see you have your cell phone on you." I informed her that I work at a law firm in Detroit. She elaborated, "I'm a hairdresser and I went on this mission to the prison one time to cut hair. I had to take dull scissors. Did you know they don't allow shampoo in there? They don't even allow paper back books. They said the cardboard is too stiff. There was a doctor and an attorney there waiting too. Well they didn't end up letting me in to cut hair. I was glad in the long run. It was scary." She then proceeded to take off down the side walk. I couldn't help but wonder was she loony or lonely? Maybe a little of both.
Bus rides = entertainment

Fashion Sense

Boy, my ride home yesterday was an eye opener in fashion. This fella could have taken some serious lessons from Bruno!

He walked up and was talking to the driver so I had a good, long look. He had on a white, gray and black plaid shirt, paired with white, red, and black plaid shorts. Heavy emphasis on the red. It was pretty hard to look at. To top off this ensemble, he had on the requisite too big baseball cap, laden with all of Swarovski's current stock of rhinestones spelling out the Old English 'D' of the Detroit Tigers.

Have to say, it was quite the sight!

SPITTER

The bus this morning was not as full as it usually is so I was able to get a seat at the back of the bus. I cracked the window for a nice breeze and was enjoying the ride when all of a sudden this big guy hawks up a loogy opens the window in front of me and spits and turns around. Apparently the look on my face must have been telling because he turned back around and apologized, "I hope I didn't spit on you and if I did I apologize". Thank goodness he didn't spit on me. That phrase was supposed to make it all better? If he would have spit on me I'm not sure what I would have done - kicked his giant ass? Probably not. Spit on him? Maybe. I swear people are in their own little worlds.
Bus rides = entertainment.

Smelly Guy

Let me tell you it was a smelly ride into Detroit this morning for me. The Limited 565 bus was crowded and I happened to sit near the back door next to an old guy. The bus was in my opinion a bit stuffy and I kept smelling this stale beer and cigarette aroma so I faced away from the old guy to try and avoid his direction. He was moving a bit so I looked over at him and low and behold he was drinking a wine cooler. Well that solved the mystery of the bar room stench.
Bus rides = entertainment.