Rantings on the 1 Bus

Riding the 1 bus between Hynes Convention Center and Central Square is ALWAYS an adventure, most likely a crowded one, but today we got special notes on life from a homeless-esque, sort of destitute-looking fellow, with some personal effects that ranged from a giant trash bag, a duffel bag, and a tall plant...I'm not sure where these things came from, or where he was going, but his life wisdom was another proud moment for Mass public transit. See below for his thoughts on a few subjects...(Headings are my own, quotes are 100% real...)

Rehabilitation: "I'm right outta Bridgewater State Mental Hospital for the criminally insane...They said 'get this ni**a outta here'"

World Peace: "Violence is not the answer... I still wanna get even for the World Trade Center"

Funerals: "See these flowers, aren't they nice? I could bury you with these"

Exercise: "I can bend and stretch. I'll put some moves on your a$$"

Populism: "I could be riding by in a chauffeur-driven limousine, but I ride with the people. I'm with the people"

Not settling: "I want some chicken wings. I have everything else I want"

On group participation: "Somebody else speak up"

God: "The final word for today, God is great"

McWeird

I sympathize with people who have allergies, but this man has just taken things too far - between rubbing his Adam's apple, while sticking his tongue out, rolling water around in his mouth, AND wearing those barefoot toe-sneakers - this whole scenario is just getting weirder by the second. When is my stop???

The Self-Defense Predicament

So, in my nighttime pedestrian wanderings, and sometimes just because DST has ended, I occasionally walk home in the dark. not a streetwalker per se, but... anyhow. In the interest of self preservation, I'm mulling over these options: 1. Self-defense: "GET BACK!!" 2. Concealed weapons: ummm, I'm anti-guns, and really don't wanna carry a blade under my tongue or any other part of my body. Plus I'm usually coming from work where I'm assuming carrying a concealed weapon would leave me jobless... 3. Sprays: someone mentioned mace and pepper spray - which besides being illegal or needing a license to carry, I'm pretty sure I'd get into my own face... Sighhhh, in lieu of my options, I'm legit hoping my antibacterial hand sanitizer will squirt far enough to get alcohol into a would-be-assailant's eyeballs... Yeah. That and 911 on speed-dial.

The T-Tantrum

Power to the parents, but I think I would've handled it differently if my overfed 6-year old were still in stroller and throwing a tantrum about not being able to take his shirt off becuase he was hot on a 50-degree day... Maybe he had a fever? IDK, but for three very long train stops, I had to listen and watch said child vent his angst at being a 6-year old with no control over whether or not he could disrobe. It's hard being little. If only he knew, adulthood is not that much more liberating :-/

Oops...

Wondering whether accidentally falling onto one of the three men hogging a seat in front of me on the train will convince even one of them to give up his seat... I'm perfectly capable of standing in the 3-inch heels I chose to wear to work... I'm just wondering if gentleman still ride the T.

Move in! No, but seriously though...

Move your bodies! What is it about simple instructions that befuddles the Boston commuter? There's always a herd of people by the door of the bus or train and empty air pockets five steps into the actual vehicle. Sometimes there are even unclaimed seats! But who would know? I saw a group of high schoolers get on the train the other day and stay cramped near the entrance because previous passengers hadn't moved in... So they're learning this tom-foolery from a young age. Oooh, Boston...

Sightseeing Sucks

Sightseeing outside this city is, umm, difficult. There aren't any tall or spectacular buildings and things look pretty industrial in at least half of the state. Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating. But, continuing in that gray odyssey of industrialization is the scary looking gi-normous white windmill that's popped up somewhere near the Everett/Somerville town line. It's like the long white blades keep getting longer. I really think it's an optical illusion. It's even starting to look more imposing than the industrial vestiges of the 19th or 20th century that loom behind it. But because it's shamelessly promoting a new era of energy efficiency, I'll leave it alone, for now.