I want to see a real future!

Yesterday was a two bus day – I rode in the morning and evening. While overall it was an uneventful day there were a few highlights. The top person on the bus today was only on for one block. He got on at Park and got off at Irving, and sat next to me for his ride. This guy was a young, skinny, nice looking man. The best part – he had on a bright blue Hawaiian shirt! It was fabulous. The funny part has to be the one block ride – I think I’ve done a three block ride before if the bus is there – but one? Who knows.

Then at Chapin, a man gets on, walks to the back (of course), looks at everyone and just belts out: “Who won the election?!” Now I feel pretty strongly that Obama should win the nomination and I had completely blanked that PA had closed the night before. I then heard all this chitter-chatter in the back about “her” and “why?!” and “I want to see a real future!” so I pretty much figured it out. It was confirmed when I arrived at my office and had to look at the pic on the online newspaper site. I couldn’t even bring myself to read one word.

I did learn from the overly-informative Express that the average German eats over 2.2 pounds of white asparagus per year. My first thought was dang – that must stink! But then I realized that I eat about a pound of green asparagus each week so I’ve really got something on the Germans! Come on Express – give me something good in the morning!

I rode the bus home. I completely checked out and ignored that there were others in the universe. I was sitting next to a high school chatterbox who at one point bumped my arm, looked at me, and said “my bad.” I was going to ignore it since I’d checked out of the universe, but dang the look she gave me, so I just quickly said “it’s all right” and we went up the hill. I did notice all of her friends laughing at me when I got off at my stop. Whatever. You know, if I had a penny for every high school kid who laughed at me on the bus, I’d probably be a millionaire.

Morning
Wait: 2
Ride: 34

Evening
Wait: 4 (yeah!)
Ride 27 (this may be a record)

Spine of the City

In the last six years I've lived in four distinct DC neighborhoods. For the last year I've lived in North Columbia Heights and have had the opportunity to fall in love with this city all over again. I live among a community of people, and we have all found our own path to my neighborhood. Some have lived here for years, for their entire life. Others have come and left behind horrible places. Others stuggle here to make ends meet. Still others see this as a first step to independence and the "American dream" whatever that is anymore.

I work in a land of science but I live in this wonderful world of human interaction. I don't get to comment on it in my daily life, I only get to anticipate policy issues people may raise with scientific fact.

The time I spend on the bus, traveling up and down this spine of the city, is my time that I get to observe, feel compassion, anger, frustration, calmness, and interact with my neighbors and fellow DCites.

Everyone is on their way somewhere. We all sit (stand) together on the bus to get there. Who knows where this will go, but my goal is mainly to comment upon the beautiful people I interact with along 14th Street NW.

I need to tell people about...

...the bus driver I had last week who waited for me at my stop because I couldn't run in my shoes. They were flats, but not run-able. She smiled as I boarded and said "good morning."

...the sweet children who ride daily to school with their siblings/cousins/friends and take care of each other.

...the crazy dude who about cracked open the emergency exit when we were stuck in traffic, instead of going to the front of the bus. Before he about cracked it open, he asked the guy sitting under it to cover his head so he wouldn't get covered in glass. We told him to go to the front, and it really seemed like he just hadn't thought of it!

Grab a hold of the hand rail!

A rather uneventful morning ride. I was a little upset when the only seat available on the 52 was half taken up by the person sitting next to it. However, the lovely gentlemen that were standing in front of it motioned for me to sit there, although the dude showed me his frustration. Whatever. I half sat on his leg and settled in.

The woman (embarked at Belmont and left at P) who told everyone that walked by her to "Grab a hold of the hand rail!" was cute. So concerned. Pretty much everyone ignored her. I did too, but I still heard her. I liked her hat too.

Apparently I need to run stairs, according to the Express. That did not a happy morning make. I just read the Washington City Paper last night -- you know, the "best of" version -- and they say the best spot to run stairs is Meridian Hill park. That's a half mile from home, so I should be able to do this, right? Right, we'll just see what happens there. I'm not planning to get my stair on anytime soon. But I read this twice in 12 hours? Torture! The Guilt!

Happy Earth Day to all.

Wait: 4
Ride: 33

Good Morning!

After much enjoyment, befuddlement, shock and disgust aboard the 14th Street bus, I’ve decided to start a log of my time spent traveling down this historic corridor. Okay, actually I decided to start this on Friday afternoon when a sparky old guy got on at N Street and went on and on about how he couldn’t wait to drink his corn alcohol. He made my afternoon.

I travel daily on this bus, south every morning and north most evenings for a good 3 mile ride from north Columbia Heights to Federal Triangle. The people, places, sights, sounds, and yes the smells of the 14th Street bus are near and dear to my heart.

This morning, I boarded the 52 (door to door service, people!) which followed immediately behind a 53. It was pouring rain at our new fancy bus stop, and we were all cuddled up under it. The gentleman with no teeth looked at me in amazement when we saw the 53 and 52 coming and said: “We have two buses! The second one is not that full. Vamos.” I followed him, really only because the 52 is my prime choice.

I got a seat at the next stop, hung my umbrella and pulled out the Express. Monday’s version is so slim, so I pretty much got through it by the time we passed the metro. At U Street, a lovely lady sat next to me, looked at me and said: “Good morning how are you today?” Honestly, someone out there who rides the metro or even the 30 buses -- please tell me how often that happens to you?

Wait: 3
Travel: 40