Feed the Birds

All I could think of was the song from Mary Poppins, "Feed The Birds", as I was waiting for the bus next to the City-County Building this afternoon. I had to chuckle because an old lady was feeding pigeons from her cart in the middle of all the folks waiting for the bus and walking by on the sidewalk. Apparently those people are more patient and tolerant than I would be with lots of pigeons scrambling about for the bread. As I was watching the show with a smile and a chuckle a lady a few feet away caught my eye and she was smiling as well. Life is full of surprises, chuckles and bird lovers.
bus rides = entertainment

Typical Monday

It turned out to be a typical day on Monday. I was standing at the bus stop, my usual one, and I noticed a flurry of angry birds in the median screaming at what appeared to be a kitten directly across from me. After the traffic cleared I walked across Gratiot and yes indeed it was a kitten lying in the grass. I didn't know what to do in the minimal amount of time I had. How did a black kitten end up in the median? It was either injured, weak or both. I left it for mother nature to sort out because my bus was two blocks away.
I boarded the bus and sat at the back. When we got to Seven Mile a mother with an infant was helped by a kind gentleman to get her stroller off the bus - I like to see people step up to lend a helping hand. Later on at the Blvd. the driver recognized an old friend waiting for the DDOT bus and offered him a ride (technically a no-no but what's the harm). We have a sweet driver in the morning. She is always smiling and friendly. When we got to Conner there was a person banging on the side of the bus as we pulled off so the driver stopped to tell the man she couldn't pick up people on the way Downtown but it was a passenger she let off earlier who forgot his bag on the bus. Boy did he luck out. All in all a typical day on the 560.
bus rides = entertainment

Close Call on Gratiot

The middle of last week was quite an eye opener when it comes to drivers on the road. The bus was nearing the intersection of Gratiot and Randolph when a woman decides she is suddenly in the wrong lane and brakes. Apparently she didn't notice the large bus in her rear view mirror! The bus driver slammed the brakes and we all held on for fear of flying out of our seats. The woman crossed two lanes of traffic to park at a meter on the street. Wow! she could have had a painful rectal exam by the bus just then if not for the quick thinking of the bus driver.
bus rides = entertainment

Who You Run Into

Some days you never realize you may run into someone you haven't seen in a while on the bus. It was the case for me Friday on the way home. I stepped onto the bus and heard my name looked up and saw it was a former co-worker and home town friend from way back. It was nice to spend the trip home catching up on each others family and goings on. It makes the ride enjoyable. Hope you all get to catch up with and old friend soon.
bus rides = entertainment

A Foggy Day In D-Town

It started out as a brisk walk in the fog to the bus stop and the worry that the bus would pass me by due to the thick fog but it didn't thankfully. I froze for about 10 minutes and I boarded, said my hellos and made my way to the back of the bus. There was a guy zoned out with headphones on across from me. It didn't last long because shortly after I sat down he went into the, "this is a kick ass song mode" and was tapping his feat and gyrating in his seat - basically dancing like he was at a nightclub. It was quite amusing to watch and put a smile on my face. I should note that he had his eyes closed the whole time.

The fog was really slowing the traffic down to a crawl and apparently the bus driver ticked off a driver in the center lane because he cut right in front of the bus and slowed to a 2 mph crawl. When the traffic on the left cleared the bus driver got over and the car driver flipped us the bird.
bus rides = entertainment

I'M A LISTENER - Patrick Sharpe

On the way into work I ended up standing near the front of the bus. I got sized up by a man standing up front as well. He asked me where I worked - I told him and he jumped to the conclusion that I made six figures at which point I set him straight. He immediately proceeded to tell me about his business idea in GREAT detail for the whole 1/2 hour ride downtown. The man was obviously working on his business pitch with me. That evening a couple of regular riders who happened to witness my skill in listening were razzing me about my situation. All in fun.
Bus rides = entertainment

A Crappy Story to share with you...

Well, I am officially back on the bus! After almost four months of being laid off, I am back. Not at the same pay rate, and certainly not back where I was at, but I guess I should not complain.

Anyhow, back to the present. I had a rather uneventful bus ride this morning. I rode the Gratiot run because I have a funeral to go to on that side of town tonight. I got off the bus and walked down Randolph to the corner of Congress. There is a bench there that a homeless person sometimes occupies (which, by the way, how are they going to fine the homeless for not carrying health insurance?). What was there to greet me?

Three large piles of human feces (aka shit). Nice way to start the day. I'll be crossing the street from now on. Interesting that it is right across the street from the Wayne County Building (aka Coleman A. Young Municipal Building).