Riding along in my automobile.....Thank you Chuck Berry

Got the music in your head?  Good.  Keep it there.

I'm tapping my toes while I type.

Yes, I am that coordinated, thank you for asking.

I've parked my car for the most part here in Victoria.  Generally speaking.  For work, I have been taking the bus, soon, I'll be getting LaRombashaniqua out, but for now, the bus is it.

There are advantages to the bus, I don't have to pay for parking.  I don't have to drive around like a crazy person to find parking...or leave for work stupidly early to find parking.  There's less money spent on gas, the wear and tear to the vehicle.  Quite frankly, I am ok leaving Trudy (the car) at home.

Disadvantages to the bus: people.  If I could ride with dogs, that would make me much happier.

This week I had a couple adventures in commuting.

One day this week, I had an appointment that was a brisk 15 minute walk from the hospital.  So, I laced up my sneakers and walked (very briskly) to get there on time.  My intention was to walk home. I googled it.  It would take an hour.

After my appointment it was one of those gloriously amazing Victoria days, blossoms out, it was lightly raining (like in a great romantic movie.....big drops....), the sun was shining.  I popped up my umbrella and geared up for my walk home.  It was fragrant, it was beautiful.  I loved every single minute of the 68 minutes it took me to walk home.

The interesting thing, I was amazed at what I miss when I am riding along in my car or on the bus.

For example, there is a VERY cute little red brick house on the way home that was built in 1890.

There were several "painted lady" style houses with really old buzzers as a door bell--someone rung one when I was walking by.  I didn't just help myself to the buzzers.....

And near our house there is a statue of a man panning for gold.

Who knew!

I think I should walk more often....except I got home from work after 7 pm.

I did have to walk through a pretty sketchy area of town to get home, and I didn't realize it until I walked through it--how tough it actually is.

I passed 2 prostitutes, setting up for the night, talking about how their pimp went through all their stuff.  Not looking for anything in particular, but just looking.

I passed a couple drug deals.

I passed some people at the bus stop looking just weary.

Then, I walked over this gorgeous stone bridge, as I was approaching the half way point I see this guy in the distance -- he is holding an IPhone and is shooting things.  Trees, banners, more trees.  As I get closer I can hear it's actually a laser.  As he got onto the bridge, he held the phone to his leg and looked at his feet, trying not to make eye contact with me.  Then, as he went passed me, I heard his Iphone go off again, (his mouth made the sound, don't go looking for the laser app.)  I turned and looked over my shoulder to see that he has SHOT me!  I quickly clutched my chest and said, You got me!  He laughed.  Made my night.

The other commuting story this week comes courtesy of the bus.

Thursday morning I raced out the door to the bus, having missed the first one....the next one came minutes later (Thank you Victoria Bus Service....)

He was speeding towards me so I waved him down and he stopped.  He told me I had to stand near the curb or he wouldn't stop.  I was at the curb.

He stopped away from the curb--so I walked off the curb realizing my pencil skirt was too narrow to allow me to get from the street UP into the bus.  It took me a couple attempts, but had to hike up my skirt to get into the bus

Sigh.

Then, he shut the door on me while I was half way in.  I was in--my briefcase was not.

Sigh.

I sat down and opened my e-reader, chillin time.  He then missed dropping off people at 2 stops.  He said the bell didn't go off.  The green light on his dashboard was lit, as was the "stop requested" light.  So, he stopped the bus, asked us to pull the string, we all heard the "ping", watched the lights go on, he said, Oh it IS working.

Then someone requested the next stop, and he didn't stop.

When we arrived at the hospital, 4 of my VIHA coworkers get up to get off the bus and guess who didn't park close the curb.  Yup, MY bus driver. So, as I am struggling to get out of the bus. HE SHUT THE DOOR ON ME! I ended up hitting the door with my arm--now I have a bruise.

I decided at that point to complain, so I sent my little email and got a voice mail from the transit authority.  I wasn't the only one to complain--so what do you learn from this?  Pencil skirts are not good for commuting and get out and get the earlier bus...that driver is the bees knees.