tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68688070437455249822024-03-20T12:38:38.422-03:00BusJackedJust when you least expect it, expect to be . . . BUS JACKED! The life & times of riding the bus.Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-9306543504118391782014-05-22T18:52:00.000-03:002014-05-22T18:52:02.831-03:00Jake is a deadbeatDiscussing paternity test results on the bus.......beyond awkward<br />
<br />
I chose the wrong seat to sit in, no wonder it was empty. The girl across from me is on the phone talking about who the father is of her child, so far it is Jake and he is a deadbeat. He wants to see his kid but doesn't pay support. According to her if he doesn't have time for court, he doesn't have time to visit....this is getting really uncomfortable.<br />
<br />
Assumed she was the mother but i was wrong, she just told whoever she is on the phone with that they got knocked up so it's time for them to smarten up. And boohoo they can always run to daddy. She's really giving her 2 cents. Talk about airing out someone else's dirty laundry on the bus.<br />
<br />
Jake, you need to man up and provide your child with some stability!!!Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-87641243463279899572013-04-16T10:45:00.000-03:002013-04-16T10:45:15.340-03:00Same story, Different daySame bus, same time, mostly the same people.<br />
<br />
There's a few new faces such as the girl playing her music way too loud. If you're wearing headphones I really should not be able to hear every word in the song. There's a highschool student who also seems annoyed by the music. Oh wait, I was wrong. He likes the music and for some strange reason he feels it's necessary to dance in his seat to show his appreciation to the music. Then there's the university student sitting across from me; I really hope he has a kid otherwise I have no explanation for why he has a child size, baby blue umbrella attached to his bag. Same goes for the guy last week wearing a business suit that got on the bus wearing a Dora the Explorer backpack. Oh I can hear the talker! She's the lady who talks the whole bus ride about anything & everything to the person sitting closest to her. If it's a day she has no one to talk to, she knits. The other day it was a knitting frenzy! I think she made a pair of socks.<br />
<br />
I feel bad I hated on the girl playing her music too loud and just realized it was a guy sitting in the back corner, Oops!Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-32732151515403803882013-03-20T10:47:00.000-03:002013-03-20T10:47:10.072-03:00Colourful snowThis morning I was waiting at the bus stop , standing in a bus shelter trying to protect myself from this freak mid-March winter storm. I was alone until some guy came in to also get out of the wind. I wasn't paying any attention to him, didn't even know what he looked like, but i could hear him coughing. And he kept coughing to the point it sounded like he was heaving and retching. The guy walked out of the shelter just as I turned around to see if he is okay, walks about 5 steps and pukes all over the fresh white snow, not pretty! He walked maybe another 3 steps and leaned against the little maintenance building that was there and continued to puke. He eventually kneeled down and I think maybe he was using the snow to clean his shoes off? Maybe burying his puke? Either way he was playing with the newly colored snow.<br />
<br />
Bus finally arrives, I hop on, and unfortunately so does pukey guy :( just my luck. I had a feeling he would sit at the back of the bus so I sat closer to the front. And then the coughing started again. I was just about to put headphones on to block out the sound & unpleasant thoughts of puke swooshing around the aisles when the bus pulled over at a stop and he got off!!! sooo happy! Turns out the coughing I heard on the bus wasn't him at all because the rest of the bus ride someone else was coughing & hacking at the back of the bus lol<br />
Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-8460688757592502692012-11-09T15:54:00.001-04:002012-11-09T15:54:17.450-04:00A Silly Willy RuleIf you are over the age of twenty, you NEVER wet willy someone on the bus. Did I really just see that happen? Not only do I not want to see you lick your finger and stick it in someone's ear, I am pretty sure your boyfriend does not appreciate it either! Really, you're an adult and still wet willying people in public?! Bus people, you truly amaze me. What will you do next......Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-84649995572723719862012-06-13T09:58:00.001-03:002012-06-13T09:58:46.388-03:00The TalkersWhat could be more annoying than sitting between 2 people that decide to start a conversation? I would like to know so that I can do it and annoy the 2 woman talking. Besides talking over me, they keep leaning towards each other, putting me in the middle of their conversation sandwich. Hello I'm right here, not invisible, pretty sure you can see me. You know, that human sitting between you? Maybe I should make a random phone call to someone or even call my voicemail. Ring Ring, no new messages. Oh boy I better stretch out to keep listening to my phone ramble on about no messages. Big arm stretches! Oops did my arm get in the way of your conversation? Teehee. Oh my back hurts now, I should lean forward a bit to stretch that too. Once again I got in the way of your conversation. Sorry you had to move your big curly head out of my space. Sure go ahead and give me dirty looks, but it's you that's being rude! Hmm, I haven't spoke to my mother today, I should give her a shout. Ring Ring.....no answer. Maybe i should call my voice mail again? <br />
<br />
Conversation over, mission accomplished :)Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-85320158768775887942012-04-11T09:43:00.000-03:002012-04-11T09:43:35.525-03:00Liquor BusWell it looks like, I mean smells like I am riding the liquor bus today. It's hard to say who it is since the bus is packed but I'm going to take a guess and say it might be the guy with empty seats around him. It's a good guess since people are standing instead of sitting in those seats. Oh I was wrong! The drunk just made his presence known by yelling at the driver to open the back doors. Problem is we aren't at a bus stop, just some pretty red lights! I swear he is going to bust those doors down if he doesn't clue in real soon. Even a girl is yelling at him that we aren't at a stop. So what does drunk guy do? He decides to walk up to the front of the bus to get off. OMG! He just totally fell and landed into the side of the wall. Ha ha! The best part is that it is an accordion bus and he fell right into the accordion wall!Haha I can't stop laughing! Thankfully everyone else is laughing too.<br />
<br />
Wow, the driver just slammed on the brakes! Did we hit a car or something? Everyone went flying, people that were standing actually slid a good 6 feet down the aisle, some man is trying to find his laptop bag. For a second I saw nothing but floor, and I am sure I grabbed the guy sitting in front of me by accident. I had nothing else to grab onto! Now some guy is daring a girl he is with to stand the rest of the bus ride. Haha she won't do it. Ow my knee hurts, I must have slammed it into the back of the seat when we stopped. Ok not sure what is going on because we are at the main bus terminal but not letting anyone on?! And now we just did a loop around the terminal and came back. No one knows what is going on, and everyone is looking at each other for answers. Did the driver break the bus or something? <br />
<br />
And the driver just got off the bus. So now what....<br />
<br />
...Oh that's what! A girl fell when we braked real hard and hurt her knee and now we have to wait for a supervisor to come take statement....oh joy. I could be here for awhile. What the...we are going around in a circle again! We just looped around the station for a second time! Wait, we are actually letting passengers on this time so we must be done with the report. Please just take me home!Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-20588911005678192072012-03-26T14:52:00.000-03:002012-03-26T14:52:53.497-03:00Bus Strike Week 6 - Strike is OverOur bus strike lasted 6 weeks, a few weeks longer than we thought, but it is finally over! Last week was the first week it was back up and running and I took the ferry almost everyday. What perfect timing since it was 30 degrees Celsius for 2 days in a row. Global warming what?<br />
<br />
This morning I took my regular bus for the first time in almost 2 months and it felt like riding the bus for the first time. Well not liking riding a bus, more like riding a roller coaster for the first time! Maybe the driver was just really excited to be driving the bus again, or maybe he had a little too much caffeine, but i had to hold on for my life. The driver was zipping around corners, I was flying out of my seat, and we braced ourselves every time the driver hit the brakes! Hmm maybe it wasn't the bus driver, maybe it's just me not being used to the bus anymore. Well the weather isn't nearly as warm and sunny as it was last week so I have all week to re-familiarize myself with the bus.Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-90329107007269003992012-03-06T15:20:00.000-04:002012-03-06T15:20:03.774-04:00Bus Strike Week #55 weeks later and yes the bus union is still on strike. I don't even feel angry anymore, all I can do is laugh at the union for how childish they are behaving. Every offer the city has put on the table the union has declined. The city keeps changing their offers to make the union happy but the union will not budge on what they want. So in a nutshell the union is acting like a brat at a toy store stomping their feet screaming "I WANT IT" and throwing a hissy fit without trying to listen or reason with the parent.<br />
<br />
Besides the child like attitude of "Gimme gimme" they are now acting out by pulling stupid stunts like blocking the city snow plows after a snowfall. Why? So that they can get the city's attention and gain support. Hmm...let's look at this again. So you stand in front of the city's plows and block them as they are leaving the depot to plow the streets before morning rush hour traffic, and now the roads are unsafe and you think this will gain you support? What do snowplows have to do with a transit strike?? And don't forget that these are the people making more money than most University graduates! How can you not laugh at this strike! <br />
<br />
I also read 2 weeks ago that the media was interviewing the head of the union and asked him if he was going to be going back in to continue talks that day. He said " I'll leave that to the adults to discuss". Wait....so if he called the city and other union reps adults, then did he just call himself a child? Either way ,for a union leader, that comment made no sense and probably did very little to gain support. <br />
<br />
So that's my little update on the Bus Strike! Oh and I am developing killer legs walking to work everyday!Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-58925031031751540362012-02-13T11:18:00.000-04:002012-02-13T11:18:40.593-04:00Bus Strike Week #2So the bus stroke is still on and we are now hearing rumours that they could be on strike until March. It's not even halfway through February and they know a deal won't be reached until March? Seriously almost a whole month and you can't come to an agreement? I have a feeling this bus strike is really bad news for the city and really really bad news for Transit workers, as citizens are slowly turning against them just like i said would happen! <br />
<br />
I read last week that some of the union workers striking are not happy about the strike either and are not in support if it. And now there are people picketing the picketers! There is one man who walks in front of the picket line every morning with a sign that reads "TAXPAYER, who do transit workers think they are" with another sign that says "Transit- Fire them and re-hire". This one man who is standing up against all the other picketers, and actually gets more waves and honks then the Transit strikers are getting. Why? Because no one supports the Transit Strike! On the radio this morning they said they same thing the man stated, fire the few transit workers that are not happy and hire new ones. This was on one of the most popular radio stations in the city saying what everyone else is thinking. The city cannot afford what the workers want, taxpayers do not want to pay more than what we already pay, but the transit expects us to just give them what they want? The city has made a number of offers but every single offer the union has turned down. They say it's not about money yet it's right there in the paper and on the news that the city offered an amount that the union felt was too low. HAHA! It's always about money! <br />
<br />
I've been lucky so far to catch a ride with co workers and friends, but that still does not make commuting to work any better. We have to leave almost an hour earlier, and we have to park a good 20 minute walk away from our office. The other day they had police directing traffic because of how congested traffic has become. It must have been the only way to get traffic moving, the cops directing instead of cars stopping for traffic lights. I have to say it did make a difference. But can they do that everyday? No, it's just not possible. Also more cars on the road equals more car accidents! For some people getting to work now means a 3 hour commute!<br />
<br />
Transit workers: Get off your high horse and suck it up that you do not get to select which shifts you work and for how much! Welcome to the real world. That's why it is called job!Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-60495157081164745062012-02-02T14:23:00.000-04:002012-02-02T14:23:47.886-04:00Bus Strike!Bus story? What bus story? Transit is on strike! Can you believe it? It's the middle of the winter (a mild one at least) and not a single bus or ferry is running. So my options are to take my car to work and pay and arm & leg for parking, swim across the polluted harbour (not much of an option) or walk across a cold windy bridge that will take me 2 hours to get to work. Unfortunately none of these options work for me. <br />
<br />
So what i will do is post stories from years ago, or recent stories that I haven't had a chance to enter. It's been a few months since i wrote any stories so i think you deserve a few. I will also post the interesting ways I get to work, and how much of an inconvenience it is that Transit is on strike. Also feel free to post/ vent some of your frustration about the strike, i know i am not the only one that is upset. <br />
<br />
I understand that the drivers want fair pay, job security etc. but i think all of us want job security and fair pay and to inconvenience 96,000 daily commuters to get there point across is unnecassary! And i'm not just talking about myself, what about the people who can't afford a cab and rely on the bus everyday to get to & from everywhere? What about those who can't afford a vehicle but rely on the bus to drop off their kids to daycare or school? Or how about the people who use the Access-a-bus to get to the hospital for cancer treatments? Oh wait, your job security/ pay raise is more important! Go ahead and fight for what you want, but to affect this many people and to pull public transportation is a bit much I think. I know not everyone will agree with me, and i am entitled to my opinion, but if this strike continues as long as last time (5 weeks) no one will be supporting the strikers!Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-68864341859006497432011-11-01T11:17:00.000-03:002011-11-01T11:17:13.081-03:00Road RulesThe other day I decided to take the ferry home instead of the bus, and while this isn't a bus or ferry story, it's what happened on the way to the ferry.<br />
<br />
I had just left my office building and was waiting to cross the street during rush hour. There is no crosswalk at this intersection but there is a law that says any intersection, whether it is a marked crosswalk or not, it is still considered a crosswalk and traffic must stop and let pedestrians cross. So myself along with 2 other people were standing on the corner waiting for traffic to stop so we could cross, which they did. We did not just walk out in traffic, we waited patiently. We were more than half way across the street approaching the opposite curb when a middle aged lady on her bike comes flying up the bike lane, along side the stopped cars. Clearly this lady had no intentions of stopping for us. One of the people crossing the street with me could sense this and they stopped so that they wouldn't get hit, but not me. How I see it is that I am a pedestrian that waited for traffic to stop and then crossed the street not doing anything wrong, and if this lady on her bike wants to ride her bike in the bike lane and consider herself a vehicle like that rest of the cars on the road, then she will obey all laws like the rest of the cars! Why should I stop when I am doing nothing wrong? I kept walking and the lady saw me, made eye contact with me, but kept biking! She really does not give a F that she was going to hit us, or what the rules of the road are! Again I am not stopping just because one person feels they are above everyone else. Finally when the lady was about 3 feet away from me she slammed on the brakes and stopped. One of the other people crossing with me hesitated and stopped so when bike lady saw this she decided to keep on biking. However i was still walking so the lady had to slam on her brakes again! She muttered something like "jesus christ" and gave all 3 of us real nasty looks like we were in the wrong. We finally got to the sidewalk and before we even had both of our feet on the ground the lady took off on her bike muttering to herself. All 3 of us looked at each other completely bewildered and even a man in one of the stopped cars shrugged his shoulders in confusion. None of us could believe how rude this bike lady was! I yelled down the street to the biker something like "you're supposed to stop for pedestrians too you know!" out of anger. I know it was silly, but just had to say it to feel better.<br />
<br />
The rest of the walk to the fery I was fuming mad at the lady's ignorance and how she really could think she did not have to stop for us! So I get to the ferry terminal and as I approach the waiting area, who do I see? A middle aged lady standing and waiting with her bike! Of all the space I had to stand and wait, I decided to walk right over to the lady, about a meter away and wait for my ferry. I slowly turned my head, looked over at her and smiled. I held my gaze for at least 10 seconds before slowly turning away to grab my phone to tell my friend I almsot just got run over by a cyclist. The lady said nothing, turned her head and just looked straight ahead for the rest of our wait for the ferry. I could have easily told her off right there but decided not too since there is a good chance I will see her again. There will be many more chances for me to tell her off.Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-84836229283629680032011-09-27T11:49:00.000-03:002011-09-27T11:49:18.005-03:00Headphones please!On my way to work and the bus is stuck in traffic. It's bad enough I can hear Party Rock Anthem blaring from the headphones of the girl sitting in front of me, but now I can hear some other noise coming from behind me. This doesn't sound like noise from headphones but noise from speakers. I turn around to see if I can find the source of noise but almost everyone is wearing headphones. Maybe someone thinks their headphones are plugged in but they aren't. No that noise is definitely coming from speakers. So who is it? I turn around and take another glance but can't figure it out. The noise sounds like it's a TV show, a guy & girl having conversation. Ok judging by the romantic sounds of it I will say it's a girl watching it and it just keeps getting louder & louder! I take another look, but this time a few people are staring at me since i have turned around a couple times now. A guy sitting across from me just took his headphones off and looked back. He mumbles something to me about the noise; he can hear it too. We both look back and there is a girl sitting directly behind him who is hunched over holding her phone in her hands staring at it. It must be her! A young guy sitting 2 seats over from her takes his headphones off, stares at her and now all 3 of us are looking around. We all look at the girl and nod to each other that it must be her. Now there are at least 2 more people taking their headphones off to see where the noise is coming from. Just to give you an idea of how loud it is, 4 different people could hear the girl's noise over the music coming from their own headphones! The young guy sitting beside her has had enough and after looking at me one final time he leans over and says to her with a not so happy look on his face "excuse me, do you not have headphones?". The girl oblivious to what she is doing and how rude it is, looks at him and giggles "oh I'm sorry", and turns it off. The guy and everyone else in the area shake their heads and go back to their business. I look at the guy , mouth a thank you, and smile.<br />
<br />
Wow for once someone actually spoke up about another passengers lack of respect! Just really amazed at this girls ignorance. <br />
<br />
I'm sure the signs on the bus saying no stereos, and headphones are required apply to everyone!Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-34572368906389918892011-09-07T09:27:00.000-03:002011-09-07T09:27:15.381-03:00Street CredIt's after work, I'm sitting at the back of the bus. Bus pulls up to a major bustop and at least a dozen people get on. Everyone is pushed to the back where I am to make room for more people. So there are now about 6 people standing in front of me. I'm playing with my phone trying to zone things out when the person i am with nudges me and points to a young guy standing right in front of us. He points to a tattoo on the guy's arm. I'm trying to read it but the font used is horrible and i can't tell if i am reading it upside down or what! Finally I am able to make out what it says "WOODSIDE". Oh what a lovely tattoo, the name of one our towns ghettos! Staying classy I see. So we chuckle to ourselves but its not until i continue looking him over that I see the ultimate accesory. Sideways ball cap check, baggy white shirt check, big fake blinged out watch check, hold up, is that a glow in the dark rosary around your neck! WTF it is! Holy Shit, i have never seen something so ridiculous! Nothing against the rosary but come on buddy you really expect me to believe you pray and go to church? Maybe you pray you don't get shot, but thats about it. And glow in the dark? Does this add to your street cred or something? If you're that cool, then you should not be taking the bus.<br />
<br />
Oh how I love this town!Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-49564699683163880802011-08-15T09:51:00.000-03:002011-08-15T09:51:27.881-03:00Summer Break!I know, I know..... it's been over a month since i've had any updates on the crazy bus people. Between summer vacation & work, and taking the ferry, it's been impossible to write about anything. But vacation is over, the weather is horrible, and I am back to taking the bus again. <br />
<br />
I have mentioned before that on the ferry nothing really weird or unbelievable happens but I have seen one or two things that made me laugh. One morning I was getting on the ferry and a lady was standing with her daughter in her stroller. That was not weird but the mother seemed weird. She ordered a muffin from the coffee stand, and after paying for it she turned around and pushed the stroller away......never taking the muffin. I bought my coffee and I was going to grab her muffin and bring it to her but before I had a chance to grab it she came back, pushing me aside and laughing hysterically muttering something about her muffin. I could say it was still early in the morning and we have all done something like that, but I think there was more to it and i'm not sure what. I watched her as she pushed the stroller and instead of standing up straight to push it, she bent over so that her back was level with the handle and pushed it like she was trying to move something that weighed 1000lbs! Maybe she was going for the ergonomic style but I highly doubt it and I also doubt the stroller weighed that much! When we got on the ferry she stood instead of taking a seat. The ferry was half empty so she had plenty of seats to choose from. So since she stood she spent most of the ride trying to keep her balance (waves were choppy) so why not take a seat?? Then she forgot to put the brakes on the stroller, turned her back for 1 minute and there goes the stroller across the aisle! Other people kept staring at her daughter and paying attention to what the girl was doing but I couldn't see her so maybe the daughter was just as weird. <br />
<br />
Then there was the guy who obviously had trouble dressing himself for work. I got off the ferry and a young guy was walking in front of me. I have seen him on the ferry and bus for the last 4 years and know enough that Fridays are casual dress day at his office. So he had on jeans and a rugby style American Eagle shirt. How did I know it was AE? Because his shirt was on inside out! At first I thought it was one of those shirts that have the tags on the oustide on purpose, and I grumbled about how much I hate those shirts. But then I noticed the seams were also on the outside! Wait a minute! Omg, his shirt is on inside out! There it is, American Eagle XL size, for everyone to see! I sort of felt bad and wanted to tell him so to save him the embarassment when he got to work. But then again he doesn't know me, I just watch him, so I kept on walking. <br />
<br />
The good thing about seeing these things on the ferry/ bus is that I now have quite the checklist for presenting myself as a decent/ normal person. Order coffee: do i have my coffee? Check yes! Get dressed in the morning: are my clothes on properly? Check yes! <br />
<br />
See, simple life lessons can help make you a normal person :)Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-73635233466012403012011-07-08T16:54:00.000-03:002011-07-08T16:54:53.735-03:00Don't run, just walkSometimes I run to catch my bus, but I think after what I saw today I may not do it anymore. Or at least not do it the way a lady just did it.<br />
<br />
While waiting for my bus, a different bus pulled up, passengers got on, and it started to pull away. A lady was trying to run and catch that bus before it took off. Even after the bus started to pull away, she still kept running knocking and pounding on the side of the bus trying to stop it. This is where SHE should have stopped! She left the sidewalk and was now running between the bus & curb, even though it is obvious this bus is not stopping. So what happens next, she trips on the edge of the curb ( there was only about a foot of space between the bus & curb) falls backwards, and rolls onto the sidewalk. Everyone gasped and ran over to help her and I felt bad but at the same time it could have been prevented. what if the bus had been going faster and she fell towards the bus, not away from it. I feel horrible but was catching that bus really worth risking her life? She looked really embarassed when everyone tried helping her up so hopefully she realized her stupidity and won't do it again!<br />
<br />
Would you chase a bus down the street?Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-12359247849364659812011-07-05T09:47:00.000-03:002011-07-05T09:47:06.433-03:00Ever wonder why.....Ever wonder why:<br />
<br />
-people dance & sing while listening to their music? I dance & sing, but when i am alone or with friends. I do not dance when i am standing by myself waiting for a bus or the ferry, and definitely don't do it like i am auditioning for a tv show! For example, a girl waiting for the ferry this morning was all by herself with her headphones on jamming. She held her ipod way up in the air staring at it and she was singing & dancing back from side to side. There was at least 45 other people also waiting so i just don't understand it. It's not like she could actually sing, it was horrible! Why, just why?<br />
<br />
-people stare & continuously smile at you? I do! Last night while waiting for my bus, a lady sat down beside me on the bench. She looked at me and smiled, and I nodded back. That's normal, we say hi to each other around here. What's not normal is that she kept glancing & smiling, like she wanted to talk to me, or just really enjoyed my presence. It's creepy! Why are you staring at me?<br />
<br />
-people act pissed off when you sit in the seat next to them and they have to shove over? You paid fare for one person so guess what? You only get one seat! It's public transportation, people are going to sit beside you whether you like it or not! <br />
<br />
-parents let their kids bang their head off the window and don't stop them? Seriously, I have seen this happen!<br />
<br />
-people wear sneakers with a suit/ dress/ skirt? this has nothing to do with the bus really besides the fact i see women on the bus wearing sneakers with big wooly socks and they have a blazer and pencil skirt on. Why do you do it? It's silly. <br />
<br />
-there's a weird greasy smudge on the window beside your face? Did a girl lean her face on the window and take a little nap leaving behind her makeup smear? Did someone lean their head against the window leaving behind a hair gel smear? Does someone have really greasy shoulders that left a smudged behind? Besides these thoughts i really cannot explain that mystery smear, but i do know to not touch it or lean on the window.Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-42137997798300644932011-06-24T16:35:00.000-03:002011-06-24T16:35:35.910-03:00Chatterbox & the Seal Normally the ferry ride to work is not very exciting. It's relaxing and beautiful, but you don't normally see weird stuff. But the bus ride to the ferry can fun which is where i first laid eyes on Pin head.Well this week we have a new addition to the ferry bus, Chatterbox. <br />
<br />
I got on a fairly empty bus, and sat on one of the seats the runs parallel with the aisle. Across from me was this lady chatting away! 3 seats down from her was another lady reading a paper who did not seem one bit itnerested in what Chatterbox was saying so i figured she was not the one she was talking to. Chatterbox continues talking but at the same time she was looking at the ceiling with her eyes rolled halfway into the back of her head, and just kept moving her head from side to side. Okay now i am starting to question her sobriety. She's now asking questions in her conversation but the hell is she talking to? No one is sitting beside her and no one is really paying attention to her either. She looks past the lady sitting 3 seats down and randomly asks if they (whoever they is...) still ahve her number. A guy sitting a few seats down from 3 seat down lady looks at Chatterbox and grumbles "do you ever stop talking?". Chatterbox asks again about the number and he just rolls eyes, shakes his head and looks away. Maybe he has been on the bus for awhile with her and getting sick of it. Who knows! And she keeps talking. I'm trying not to laugh at this point because i really cannot figure out if the guy knows her or not because she seems very interested in him. She continues talking to him (even though he is a good 3 meters away from her) and he just shakes his head and asks her to shut up. I look down at her feet and she has with her a blue recycable bag which has 2 rolls of toilet paper and slippers in it. I think it's safe to assume Chatterbox is not all there in the head.<br />
<br />
One last thing, on the way home that same day on the ferry, as we were crossing our Harbour i saw something black bobbing up & down in the water. It was a seal!! Yeah it made my day :) <br />
<br />
Happy Friday everyone!Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-66055810951194965332011-06-10T10:07:00.000-03:002011-06-10T10:07:44.818-03:00The Randoms RoundupNothing too exciting has happened on the bus this week, but a few oddities did stand out!<br />
<br />
Earlier in the week I was on the bus on my way to the ferry. I sat down in my usual seat and looked over and who do i see? Pin head!! She was sitting in the same seat, dressed sharp just like last time, however she did not have as much going on in her hair. I tried counting the pins before she got off the bus but i was only able to count 13 pins before she got off. Also i noticed she only had one elastic in her ponytail, not an assortment of hair accessories. However this time i was riding the bus with a friend so i was able to point her out to them. Funny, i didn't have to tell them who she was, after seeing the amount of pins they figured it out on their own who she was!! <br />
<br />
This morning on the bus i saw a very interesting sight. It was something i have never ever seen on the bus before and it definitely made my jaw drop and question the sanity of the person. Well this person wasn't on the bus, he was outside walking towards the bus so it still counts, and it was at a major bus terminal. So i am on the bus and we are pulling away from the stop and i glanced out the window and i see this guy walking towards the bus stop. This guy looks about in his early 20's, had bright dyed red hair with his bangs twisted and coming down the front (picture a "greaser" hairstyle but with the bangs coming down way past the eyes) and wearing the most unbelievable thing i have ever seen; a bathrobe & slippers. No joke! He was casually strolling across the parking lot wearing a navy blue robe and slippers like it was normal!! He had a friend with him who was wearing normal clothing but not this guy. I couldn't believe it. Maybe he was doing it as a dare or joke, or maybe normal just isn't his style. All i know is that i would love to see this guy again, actually riding the bus! Now that would make my day.Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-1874852603212544592011-05-26T16:18:00.000-03:002011-05-26T16:18:30.119-03:00Stop, hey, what's that soundAn interesting story from 2008!<br />
<br />
So a few days ago I was on the bus on my way to work. There was a guy talking to the bus driver about his kid & summer camp & taking him there. This man was wearing a shirt & tie & was clean shaven. I was trying to figure out why he was telling the bus driver his life story & figured it was just another one of those passengers (the ones that think the bus driver is their best friend). So the man sits back in his seat which is 2 seats behind me, and the bus takes off. Almost immediately I start to hear weird noises coming from behind me & i can hear the man talking, so I just assume it was his son being wild or something. The noises continued and I started to think to myself 'what is that kid doing?' but chose to ignore it and try to mind my own business. The bus makes a stop and a lady gets on. As she sits down she recognizes the man sitting 2 seats behind me. She starts to wave hello to him but just as she is in mid-wave the smile on her face changes to horror & disgust and she covers her mouth with her hand. I can still hear the weird noises coming from behind me & now i am really starting to wonder what the hell this kid is doing! Another noise and the lady covers her mouth again and then starts digging through her purse looking for something. I decide to finally turn around to see what is going on and just as i turn around BLLLAAAAH! It's the man puking into a grocery store bag! There was no child with him! The noise was him puking the whole time, and what the lady was looking for was a kleenex to give to him! <br />
<br />
I guess what happened was he had to drop his son off at summer camp but had the stomach flu & decided to take his chances, which were obviously not in his favour. And the reason he was talking to the bus driver was to let the driver know about his situation. So very interesting morning indeed! The next day he was on the bus again but i think he was feeling much better. No bag & no puke!Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-22104687818580264522011-05-19T09:44:00.000-03:002011-05-19T09:44:08.726-03:00Pin HeadHey there bobby pin head! Did u have some trouble with your hair this morning? I see an assortment of bobby pins, clips, even hair elastics in your hair! Geez i just counted about 12 pins on one side of your head, how many do you have on the other side? 1, 2, 3, 4....forget it. I'm just going to quit now and round it up to about 20. Wait, you can't get off the bus, i was just about to take a picture of your wonderful hair style! Sorry I didn't mean to stare and look like a weirdo but considering your dressed quite sharp, and you are young and pretty, i just can't get over the fuckery of your hair!<br />
<br />
Time to get off the bus and switch over to the ferry. I think i will take a seat right in front so i can watch the ferry approach the other side of the harbour. Oh someone left the newspaper behind, I"ll skim through this while we cross over. Ten minutes later and we have reached our destination. Wait, WTF? I'm now looking at the side of the harbour we just came from. But I sat in the front facing the side we were going to. How did i go from sitting at the front of the ferry, to now sitting at the back facing the opposite direction! I didn't move! Did the ferry reverse at some point and go backwards? How did I not notice that? Wow this morning is just full of questionable things!Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-39926742466320749072011-05-10T09:25:00.000-03:002011-05-10T09:25:34.118-03:00Muggy & GrossIt's that time of year again, a nice mix between wet & muggy and if you thought outside was bad, just wait until you step onto the bus! It's a perfect breeding ground for sweat and body odours to intensify and for some reason on these wet days there always seems to be more people on the bus, and dirtier sweat<span style="background-color: yellow;">y</span> people. I want to open a window but we are going pretty fast and it;s pouring outside so all i am going to do is drench the people sitting behind me! Sometimes you have to put manners before your own comfort; i can hold my breath.<br />
<br />
OH GROSS! You should never ever check your shoulders for dandruff while on the bus, and NEVER brush it off onto the people behind you! This girl (?) looking extra greasy just did. Yes i am questioning the gender. I can't tell what it is sitting in the seat. Oh finally the air circulation kicked in. I can already feel the air clearing up. Eww no, don't scratch your head! Stop it! Now it looks like its snowing on the bus! God their hair looks like it hasn't been washed in a month. I understand that it probably does itch being that greasy and doing that stuff is fine in the privacy of your own home when no one is around, but come on! You are on the bus and it's flaking all over the people behind you! STOP IT!Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-27452518639820400282011-05-03T09:58:00.000-03:002011-05-03T09:58:27.956-03:00Bus RoundupI'm back! Sorry it's been awhile. My life has been busy and hectic, but still taking the bus. I used to think putting headphones on and reading is what it takes to block out the craziness on the bus. However over the past 2 weeks I've learned that if you have a lot on your mind and if you go into a deep thought, you barely notice what is going on around you, and the bus ride is much faster. But it is the bus, so there are some things no one can ignore. Here's a rundown of the past few weeks:<br />
<br />
On my way home from work two girls get on the bus and sit beside me. At first they seemed normal and I thought they were regulars since one of them said hi to almost every person sitting in the front end of the bus, but after a few minutes i started to rethink that thought. They were talking and laughing so loud, and at one point it seemed like they were acting out scenes from a movie or something. One of them even had a beard! They were talking to everyone that came on the bus, even if they didn't know them, and tried to keep the conversation going, and every now and then would stare at me. It was just weird. Bearded lady scared me.<br />
<br />
A different day a guy sat two seats down from me but the whole time he hovered & leaned towards me. I didn"t dare look at him to see what was really going on especailly since he kept hacking and sniffling. Eventually he got off the bus but when he tried to get off, he tried to open the door before the bus even came to a stop! He was trying to get the door open so fast and pushed so hard that I actually thought he was going to jump out and roll down the street. Shortly after he got off a guy on the bus sneezed so loud that the poor girl sitting in front of him jumped out of her seat and looked so frightened amd cringed as if he sneezed on the back of her neck. I couldn't help it, I laughed.<br />
<br />
A couple got on the bus and stood in the aisle for 5 minutes arguing over who was going to sit down first. The guy waned the girl to slide into the seat and sit before him (being a gentleman) but the girl wanted him to sit first. So instead of either one of them sitting, they stood in front of the seat blocking the rest of the people coming down the aisle, and argued about who was going to take the seat first!<br />
<br />
Besides that and the regular drunks and bag people, not much more to report. I promise to keep up with the stories this month!Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-27620560452830699932011-04-14T10:36:00.000-03:002011-04-14T10:36:10.694-03:00It's my party and I"ll sit if I want toA girl just got on the bus and sat down beside me. This girl is wearing one of those Dollar store Birthday hats that look like a cake with candles on it. I thought people only wore those at parties because someone is forcing them to wear it. I have never seen someone volunteer to wear one, and out in public at that! She also has three bags with her (can't describe the joy oozing out of me) and smells like mothballs and my cat's litter box. People are standing and bday girl doesn't feel the need to move any of her bags even though she is taking up 1.5 seats. I understand you are a bigger girl but if you take the bag of your back, take off the bag slung over your shoulder, I am sure we can find the other half of that seat, and just maybe you can find the birthday spirit in you to let someone sit down. She is talking to her male companion about herself, extremely loud, loud enough for everyone to hear. I have a feeling this girl is an attention seeker. Oh she took off her backpack........and picked her nose and flicked it :( <br />
<br />
Nevermind, forget about the seat. Time for me to get off this bus.Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-53378783381518657122011-04-08T14:45:00.000-03:002011-04-08T14:45:48.133-03:00Deja vuOkay so once again i am on the bus, same seat as the other day, and as i am playing with my phone the lady sitting beside me starts asking about my phone. And just like the other day, she kept talking about it and telling me about her phone. She went on & on and I couldn't hear half of what she was saying! I had to do what I did the day before and just smile & nod and hope she would eventually shutup! Like the other guy, she got off at the same bus stop. It's so weird, two days in a row I sit in the same seat and the I don't get it. The next day I sat in a different seat and no one even looked at me. Hmm, I almost want to go back to the phone seat just to see if it is jinxed and if someone will talk to me about my phone. Not that i am hoping weird strangers will have a conversation with me, but i want to see if it will happen again. At least the ladies breath didn't smell like something crawled in her mouth and died!<br />
<br />
Happy Friday!Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6868807043745524982.post-86788528948598324842011-04-05T09:34:00.000-03:002011-04-05T09:34:28.381-03:00Please, have a tic tacWow, it's been a week since i last posted! Sorry about the wait. Life has been busy & the bus has been boring, nothing is quite as exciting as the knife altercation. However i did have an annoying ride home yesterday.<br />
<br />
I sat at the back of the bus because there were not many seats left. I saw a few at the back where a group of women were sitting. I think they must work together because they were all different ages but knew each other by name and one girl was doing work on her laptop. Now the girl on the laptop was one of those 'bag people', her bag and coat had a seat of their own despite the fact people were now standing. A lady got on the bus and could see no one was sitting there but as she got to the seat she realized it was reserved for a bag however she was not going to allow a bag to get a seat and for her to stand. The girl with the laptop at this point had her head down in her lap like she was trying to sleep so her friend called her name and tapped her on the leg to wake her up and tell her to move her bag. At least her friend had some manners! Laptop girl sat up looked at the lady waiting to sit down then looked at her bag and scoffed and said to her friend 'i'm about to puke any minute, what do you want me to do?" I couldn't believe it! Just because you are sick does not mean you get two seats, and i'm sure the girl was able to lift her bag down to the ground. Eventually with the help of her friend she moved her bag and the lady got to sit down, but the laptop girl just kept complaining that she was feeling sick. Another one of her friends asked if she had the flu or something and she said no she had motion sickness because she walks everywhere she goes and now she is taking the bus and couldn't handle the motion! WTF! The bus was going about 50km/hr down the road which is not fast at all! Also if you are feeling that sick maybe getting off the bus and getting fresh air is a better idea than bitching on the bus and possibly puking everywhere! Ugh, long story short, the girl made it to her bus stop without puking and got off the bus.<br />
<br />
So she didn't puke however I almost puked after a guy sitting beside me decided to chat me up. His breath was horrible! He must be a chain smoker and a heavy coffee drinker!! It all started because i was playing with my phone to help me ignore pukey girl and he kept looking over my shoulder watching what i was doing. I could feel his eyes on me and i was trying to ignore it, like i do with everything on the bus, when he finally made a comment about my phone. He asked if it was the new Blackberry and then proceeded to ask a few questions about it. I figured okay he wants to buy one and is just wondering if it's any good, so i chatted for a bit with him about it. But when i more or less ended the conversation and turned my head back to my phone and continued palying with it, he started mumbling to me about something. We are at the back of the bus, right beside where the engine is, so i can't here a damn thing he is saying! He keeps chatting and i just keep smiling and nodding since i have no clue what we are talking about just keep hoping he will leave me alone. Nope, the rest of the bus ride he kept talking and from what i could hear it was about texting, and playing videogames and finger excercises!! Now he was just chatting me up as a friend and it had nothing to do with my phone. It's one thing to try and be polite and smile, but when his breath smells worse than horse shit, it is even harder not to offer the guy a piece of gum or a mint.<br />
<br />
Hmm maybe it wasn't motion sickness for laptop/ bag girl. Maybe she was just getting a whiff of phone guy's breath!Bus Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04484078709036677342noreply@blogger.com1