Friday, May 30, 2008

Kind of Blue, kind of cool

There's a guy on the #48 who looks exactly like Miles Davis. Think collaborating with Coltrane Miles Davis. Think Miles in the early 60s. The girl who works next door and I were in the front of the bus. He greeted us in his French accent, "Allo! Ow are yoo laydeez?" He's cool. I think he works at the Lowe's Foods near work. Or else that's the only shirt he owns. He wears Dolce and Gabbana glasses. And he looks like Miles Davis. I wonder if he can play music?

Big developments on the #105, peeps. Cherry Cough Syrup Lady sat next to my this morning but had toned her perfume way down. As in, I could barely smell it. Do you think she read that previous post? If you did, Cherry Cough Syrup Lady, thank you.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Yo, Crip, whassup?

On my way home from North Hills tonight, I overheard the craziest conversation to date.

There were two older gentleman behind me, one on each side. Suffice it to say, they look like they'd done some damage in their day. They were talking like they knew each other. A woman gets on and recognizes the guy on the other side. She used to drive for the City Kitty up until about four years ago. She also recognized the guy behind me. She says, "you don't know me? Why are you looking at me like you don't know who I am?" Honestly, my guess is that he doesn't remember getting on the bus, let alone who drove it four years ago. She says next, "You remember? You had that broken leg. I used to call you Crip. 'Hey, Crip! How you be?'" Nothin. (It was at this point when I looked at her and busted out laughing, to which she replied with laughter as well. Thankfully.) This carries on for a couple more minutes before Crip recounts the story of how he got the broken leg.

Once upon a time, he was stopped by the cops. With six crack rocks in his mouth. (Sweet jesus!) They tell him he's not going to be arrested, he just has to sit in the back of their car for a little bit. (Um...really?) Then he went on about talking to the cops. He was a little hard to understand. Something, something, something...the cops tried to help him...weird segue...he spent 12 days in jail...his leg was broken...something, something. Yeah. Six crack rocks. And he spent 12 days in the pokey. The Raleigh cops are awesome. As hard as he was to understand, it really did sound like he had been rehabilitated. And that really is awesome.

As I was getting off the bus, the woman was saying to him, "you'll always be Crip to me."

Meg on Le Metro

We took the Metro a few times while in Montreal. I nearly forgot to report on the haps there.

1. We ran into Jamiroquoi on the Metro. He was wearing blue Adidas high tops and dancing. I shall begrudgingly admit, he was kinda cute. In a Viktor Krum sort of way.

2. There was a large group of teenagers sitting together. One of them had a black and white gingham scarf-thing that he was wearing under his baseball hat. He spent a considerable amout of time repositioning it. No matter what he did, it still looked stupid.

3. Saturday night when we went out, a Hoochie Mama got on downtown. Ya know how I know she wasn't wearing underwear? Because her jeans were so tight and low, you could see her ass crack. But hey, as long as she felt sexy, right? That's more than I can say for myself most days.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

You know, it's like the VA, but for cows.

I almost forgot to report on something I overheard on the TTA dispatch radio a couple weeks ago.

Dispatcher asks 105 Driver for her 1020 (location to all y'all not clued in). (Remember the 105 goes from Raleigh to RTP.)

Driver calls back and says she's in front of the veterans school on Hillsborough Street.

Dispatcher calls back asks another questions, etc.

Veterans school on Hillsborough Street? I've lived on or near Hillsborough Street for the better part of 15 years and I'm not aware of any veterans school. And then it hits me. She was talking about the North Carolina State University School of Veterinary Medicine. You know, that little yet world famous school where they train up animal doctors? That place that diagnosed and treated my cat for cancer last year in the same way they would have treated a human? Yeah, that veterans school. Apparently they also treat cows who have served their country.

Today is brought to you by the letter W and the number 105.

Today, the wackos on the bus welcomed me back warmly and openly. I saw The Other Amy's husband at the park and ride. He's not that attractive. She could do much better. Amy Number One wanted The Other Amy to sit with her this morning. She declined. Then she wanted to know what "waterworks" meant. I'm not sure The Other Amy knew because she replied, "um, you know, like a lot of water" in her high pitched voice.

I know the semester is over because there is a new group of Indian kids taking the bus to RTP.

Richard drove my second bus this morning. I haven't seen him in forever. He starts out by saying he can't remember where he supposed to go. He suggests Cisco...about five miles in the other direction from my office. Then he suggests Disneyworld and promptly laughs his head off. He gets to the stop in from of my office and gets on the PA system. He announces that we're arriving at our first timed stop, Dorothea Dix (the local mental hospital) and that he'll be the first getting off.

Bob got off the bus this morning and instead of saying hello to me as usual, he gave me the Evil Eye. Freaked me out a little.

I had yet another day free of Special Ed. Thank god.

The Cherry Cough Syrup Lady was on the afternoon bus. She's this larger black woman who, my hand to god, smells like cherry cough syrup. It's her prefume, I think, and it's wretched. "My, that scent is lovely. What are you wearing? Vicks 44D?"

Traffic today was beyond ridiculous. Gridlock to the point of I-40 being a parking lot just because it's a little rainy. I did work a little late, but I got home at almost 6:45.

If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all.

I'm back from Vermont. And Montreal. It was awesome. Cold, but awesome. If anyone in Vermont is wondering why I was such a pansy about the cold, allow me to enlighten you. Before I left, the temperature was around 80 degrees. On Monday and Tuesday, it was in the mid 80s. by this weekend, it will be 90 or better. Luckily now the humidity is only around 50%. That, however, will increase exponentially through mid-June. Today was a little cold and rainy, not at all unlike the weather this past week in Vermont. On the agenda for tonight is mostly homemade matzo ball soup and Law and Order reruns. I'm heading to the Farmer's Market this weekend and see what they have. It's time to start jamming. (HA! Get it? Jamming? Making jam? HA! I kill me.)

If anyone who knows my brother is reading this, please let him know that my list of what I forgot in Vermont is growing by the day. To everyone waiting on pictures on Flickr, yeah, um...I forgot the cable I need to hook my camera up to my computer. Grrrr. I also left my favorite dress, favorite shirt, and my copy of the Oxford Companion to English Literature that I found in Crow Books for $7. Luckily I'll see him in California next month. With any luck, he'll remember to bring all of that.

I had a great time in Vermont. I met some awesome people (Yes, you, Hotbox). If anyone is heading past Raleigh on their way to the next gig, holla if you need a place to stay. I promise to have a few beers in the fridge. Burlington is a super cool city. The restaurants are fantastic. We ate at American Flatbread...so good. I forget the name of that pub place close to American Flatbread, but their Beetlejuice brew is love in a glass. I am so, so eternally jealous of The City Market (is that the name? the co-op?) It's what Whole Foods is trying to be.

Montreal was great. I spoke with my friend M this afternoon who informed me that she was under the impression that there was a strip club on ever corner. I don't remember seeing any other than the one near the border with the stripping geishas. How exactly does a geisha strip? You know how guy strippers have the rip-away pants? Do the geishas have rip-away obis? I'm just not feelin' it.

What I learned over the last ten days:

1. We hired someone today named Willard Knuckles. Seriously.

2. When going to Canada from Vermont, have you're passport handy. Or know how to operate a bike rack properly.

3. "Je me souviens" does not actually directly translate to "Bring us your souvenirs."

4. I need to live near water. It's a requirement. Preferably within sight from my crib.

5. I make good matzo ball soup.

6. My brother is a hell of a cook. (I'd say chef, but he gets mad when I call him a chef.) His lasagna is better than mine.

7. The TSA is officially my mortal enemy.

8. If properly dressed, I could live in Burlington. Or Montreal. But my Canadian coworker told me taxes in Montreal are obscene. So, I'll just visit. A lot.

9. I have two regrets about Montreal. Number One...I did not once have the opportunity to say "Zut Alors!" and Number Two...I never did get my Croque Monsieur sandwich. I guess I just have to go to Paris.

10. I take a lot of pictures. On this trip, 632. I printed 150 today at work to send to Grami. One of the best perks about my job is the free prints in the office! Yay Kodak!

11. I'm damn tired. The sun rises way to early in Vermont.

Nitey night, y'all.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Meg On The Bus, the Vermont Edition

It has been brought to my attention that my readership now extends to the Great White North. That said, I'd like to give a shout-out to my homies at NECI. (Mod Sixx-keepin' it real! Hey!) Since I am visiting their turf, I feel I would be seriously remiss if I did not show the CCTA some love. And that's just what I did.

I went from Essex Junction to Burlington. The ride was about 30 minutes total. There was a young, country girl who had a little retail therapy at the Big Lots this morning. She had never been on the No. 2 Essex Junction before. The whole way to Burlington, she complained it was the longest bus ride ever. On the return trip, an elderly gentleman sat behind me and tried to talk to me. First he wanted to know if he was on the right bus. Then he wanted to know if I took said bus often. Then he wanted to know how I was. Lisa, a bus driver, radioed in that she was having an issue with which she needed assistance. She didn't think it was a police matter, but just kid-stuff. Rough crowd, these Burlingtonians. There were a number of cutie college boys on the bus today, but I had to remind myself they were born while I was in Algebra II. I think my best part about the CCTA is the drivers. They all looked like they got dressed in the REI store this morning, they all had giant walrusy moustaches, and they all looked like they might be more comfortable on a Harley than behind the wheel of a city bus.

Stay tuned y'all for the next installment of Meg On The Bus: The International Edition, Live From Montreal.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

See you soon!

I'm off the the Green Mountains!

Monday, May 12, 2008

That settles it...

I have to get cats soon.

I like the guy who sits at the bottom and walk with his front feet.

Click here!

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Of all the gin joints in all the world...

I had to work today, to make of for last week. I was riding my bike to the bus stop when who comes walking down the sidewalk towards me? My old friend, Chris, that's who. I love this guy. And I haven't seen him in a couple years. We were only able to talk for about 10 minutes before my bus came, but it was really good to see him. I gave him my number and went on my way. I got on the bus, which was as crowded as usual on a Saturday. I sat on the sideways seats and noticed the guy sitting next to me. He was young, probably 18 give or take a couple years, black, and a wee bit slack-jawed. Do you remember ADA Robinette from the first couple seasons of Law and Order? He has the same flat top haircut. The green embroidery on his black backpack indicates his name is James. James had a piece of paper he had printed in a color inkjet printer. It had the shape of a CAT bus on it and he was cutting it out. Very carefully. And he'd laugh and shake his head when the bus hit a bump. Once he cuts it out, he pulls out a full size bottle of school glue and starts folding, gluing and assembling the miniature paper bus. For the record, it was a copy of the Number 10 Longview bus. Once he got the bus glued together, he pulled a big plastic container out of his backpack. The was about 11" by 13" by 4" with a clear bottom and a blue hinged lid. He opened the lid and, to my surprise, it was chocked full of miniature paper buses. In fact, there was no room for the newly finished No. 10, so he took out a model of a new TTA bus to make room. He closed up the box and put it back in is backpack. He rode the rest of the way with the green paper bus in his hand. All of this took maybe 20 minutes and was simultaneously one of the funniest, coolest and most confusing things I've ever seen on the bus. I can only imagine what my face looked like when he opened the plastic box.

I left work about 1:30 and rode to the transfer center. The bus dropped me off in Raleigh around 3, which would normally be really annoying except that it was a really nice day out and...Chris was at Moore Square waiting for his bus. We got to talk for about another half hour. I'll get to see him later this week when we have more time. What I just love about this guy is that no matter how long it's been since I've seen him, it feels like yesterday.

I had a great bike ride today to. I rode about 9 miles today which is a personal record for someone who isn't convinced yet that she's not going to fall over on the bike.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Take two of these and call me in the morning.

Not to worry, y'all. I'm still around. I just still sick. I've been riding the bus. Hijinx and hilarity have ensued. It's just that I fall asleep when I get home.

Be back soon.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Hey everybody, this way!

I am home again today. I made it halfway to the bus stop this morning and felt like I needed to lay down. So I turned around and came home. I woke up around 1:30 and walked down to Snoopy's for a chicken salad sandwich. While I was there, I was passed by two cars and a truck decked out in Hillary For President signs driving around and honking. Don't get me wrong. I'm a big fan of Hillary. I really hope she wins. I've always liked her. It just seems supremely hypocritical for this type of campaigning to be acceptable. Hillary has a very definite stance on the environment and what she's willing to do to change it. I don't think Hillary knows about it. I'm sure it's six volunteers run amok. I called her campaign headquarters to say something about this. A switchboard operator told me everyone was too busy to talk to me and that I needed to go on line. (Sorry, lady, I don't need to do anything!) My only recourse at that point was to go to her main website and submit comments. I must admit I am a little put off by all this.

Here's what I said.

"I live in Raleigh, NC. Our election is tomorrow. I understand that Mrs. Clinton has strong ideas about the environment, including ending carbon emissions and fuel dependence. I am in support of Mrs Clinton and sincerely hope she is our next president. What concerns me is that her Raleigh, NC camp feels an appropriate way of campaigning is to decorate cars and drive around downtown honking their horns. Not only are these people contributing to the noise pollution, but also to the air pollution. When I looked up how to volunteer for Mrs Clinton, I did not see driving and honking as one way to support her campaign. In a conservative state such as North Carolina, she will have to be very careful with how she presents herself. We still have a very large farming community who feels her place is at home, taking care of her husband. These actions witnessed today appear very hypocritical.

You ought to be ashamed of yourselves."

Sunday, May 4, 2008

That's the power of clean, baby!

I forgot to mention we have a new bus driver in the morning. Put a pair of glasses on this lady and I'd swear they were the same person.

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Do I sound like I'm kidding?


If anyone thinks I was kidding about spray painting "parade route" on the street in front of my apartment building, I was not.

This morning I woke up to the sound of bagpipes. Lots of bagpipes. To my surprise when I looked out the window, there were fire trucks. Lots of fire trucks. As in...Hillsborough Street was closed a block up and looked like a parking lot for fire trucks. This morning there was another parade that started in front of my building. I went outside and took some pictures, which you can see here.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Not it!

I got kicked out of work today. One of my coworkers drove me to the bus stop. I still feel really crappy. I have bronchitis, which I get about once a year because asthma. I'll be okay in a couple days. Could be worse, right?

I ran up to the pharmacy this afternoon after my nap. On the bus home, two young teenagers were sitting across from me, one boy, one girl. The boy had a nearly full iced coffee from McDonald's, which he dropped on the floor. It went everywhere. The girl said to him, "I guess that's why there is no drinking on the bus." To which he replied, "it wasn't me. I didn't do it." Had I been feeling better, I might have told him it would be much more convincing if he wasn't holding the empty cup in one hand and the lid and straw in the other.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Come one, come all!

I just got home from my doctor's office. I can take the Number 2 and be at her office in 20 minutes, which is about as long as if I were to drive. Coming back, the bus was standing room only. I have never seen so many people on a City Kitty. It still wasn't as bad as the bus in Chinatown in San Francisco. The first time I went, we visited Chinatown...so cool, so many varieties of dried sea horses available! We were going to take a bus up a rather mighty hill. The first bus came. You could not have fit another person on the bus. I swear! The next one was a little better and we got on. At the next stop I was elbowed by an 80 year old Chinese man because I was in his way. He didn't say anything, he just shoved me out of the way. It was awesome.

How does Cordell Walker crash through all that glass and not get cut?

Two episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger and I still feel awful. I've always had a mild obsession with Chuck Norris that can't be explained my any reason whatsoever. I remember a few years back that I had a recurring dream about fighting bad guys, karate-style, with Chuck. (Don't judge. You know you have a freak flag too.)

I'm going to the doctor later today. Hopefully she'll give me drugs that work better than these dark chocolate M&Ms I've been taking. They just don't seem to be working.

Not going in to work today means I have to go in on Saturday. We're down one in the HR department. One of my coworkers was rushed to the hospital on Monday for what began as back and neck pain and turned out to be a aneurysm that resulted in emergency brain surgery!!!!! She's going to be okay, thankfully. She'll just be in the hospital for a couple weeks.

Still no word from the apron swap lady. How rude! I may have to resort to making an apron and mailing it to myself. "Oh! What a surprise! I just love the colors! I wonder how she know I had a rooster theme going on in my kitchen? It's perfect!"