I need to have my head examined.

My first bus in the evening was running too fast tonight and I almost missed it. Between you and me, this was the last thing I needed after the day I had. I went into the TTA customer service office to let them know. While I was filling out my complaint form, a customer service girl sells a monthly pass to a guy and mentions to him that if you buy six of them, you get a free monthly pass if you bring back the six used ones. I did not know this. Again, tough day, the last thing I needed to hear. So I mentioned it to the girl. I tell her I had never heard this before, I have been riding the bus for about a year and a half now, no one told me. Her response was basically, "Oh well." In her best interest, she summons a supervisor. I express my frustration, shall we say, to the supervisor. As the conversation ends she gives me two monthly passes for free. (A monthly pass costs $64, for those of you playing along at home.) Essentially, it's what I had earned this year by buying 12 monthly passes. Sounds great, right? Yeah, except now I feel a bit guilty. I mean this is $128 (someone check my math) value that she just gave to me. On one hand, I'm thrilled. On the other hand, I fell like maybe, it was too generous? Someone, please, what the hell is my problem?

Next week the TTA is having a big hoopla. Next Friday, 9/26, is Operations Appreciation Day. I am planning on making bus shaped cookies with bus colored icing for all of the drivers and staff. I'll wrap them up in little bags with a little note that says thank you. They really are great people. They have comment cards that riders can fill out and turn in. I grabbed a fistful today to fill out for Boyfriend (of course), Floyd, Lester, Norman, Preacherman, Sarge, Richard, and anyone else I can think of.

Preacherman is one of my favorites. He works part time, so I don't see him that often. He's the one that looks like a compact Jerome Bettis. He has the exaggerated diction and dramatic pauses of someone who does a lot of public speaking. He's apparently a preacher, from what I hear. He's a nice guy with a funny name. I forget it, but it's something like Harrington Jenkins. Bennington Jones? I forget.

Sarge is my new morning bus driver. He's a bit gruff, but nice. He has the deep voice, perfect posture and neatly groomed moustache of a career military man. It was also confirmed that he was in the military by several bus drivers.

The great people deserve cookies. I figure a production sized recipe by Bo Freiberg should do the trick.