One of the greatest things about getting on the bus at an early stop after work is that I get a seat exactly always. And one of the greatest things about getting a seat exactly always is having a hand in deciding who gets it once I get off. Last night, there were probably four times as many people at my stop as usual, so it was clear a bus hadn’t come by in a while. If my stop is crowded, every other stop is likely to be crowded, so I steeled myself for thirty minutes of feeling awkward about sitting while so many people are standing yet being lazy enough to not want to give up my seat.
Our driver was apparently a fledgling stand-up comedian, because she was making comments at every stop over the bus’s loudspeaker, telling us to “step up, move in, get to know your neighbor” and calling out to the screaming baby in front, “You tell ’em, girl!” I especially appreciated it when a woman at the South Street Seaport stop made a big deal about how crowded the bus was, and the driver said, “Oh, here, let me ask some of these people to get off so you can be more comfortable,” and then left the woman standing on the curb with her mouth open.
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If I were the woman who got screwed out of the seat, it would be one of those things where I’d think you did it on purpose and get pissed, then realize that there are 50 billion other people in the world and you probably didn’t even notice me. I think it’s funny you actually DID do it on purpose. And it makes me wonder how many of the people on the road that piss me off are doing it on purpose, too.
A while back, I wrote an article about something or other and mentioned in it that I like to put my makeup on once I get to work but feel bad for people on the train who have to look at my shiny face in the morning, and some commenter said, “Get over yourself! No one cares if you wear makeup or not! No one’s paying attention to you!”
And I was like, “Wait, really? Because if I don’t have my face in a book, I’m paying attention to EVERYONE. And totally judging them for not wearing makeup and stuff.
The fact that other people might not be purposely trying to ruin mean people’s lives and make nice people’s lives better is so weird to me. I notice everyone! And I take everything personally! If other people are ignoring everyone else, it totally explains why everyone in this city is horrible to each other.
Sorry, I’m long-winded.
Your stories are SO entertaining! and a constant reminder of why the hell I left Philly. hahaha
PS: I finally joined foodbuzz – I am hoping that’s the site you mentioned! (just between you & me & every person reading these comments, I am too lazy to go through my posts and double check!!)
I always worry that I come off as a toooootal asshole in these stories, but who wants to hear about all of the drama-less, pleasant rides I have?
That’s the one! I added you as a friend and expect to see you in the Top 9 any day now. The site is very friendly to recipe artists such as yourself, and I think it’s my number 2 or 3 traffic-bringer-inner even as a restaurant-reviewer.
Thanks Katie!
Only problem? I feel exactly like I did when I first joined Twitter. I have no idea how to use the site. It looks like you link your blog posts to Foodbuzz (?) but I have no clue where to start. Any advice? (why yes i am slow on the uptake)
I’m sure I’m not even close to using it to its potential, but yeah, go to your Home tab and use the dropdown on the right to link your blog posts. (Somewhere on the site, there’s an option to just RSS your posts in, but don’t do that, because the RSS is horrible about updating. Do it manually.) Add your pictures in with the same form you use to submit your posts. Then, if you really want some publicity, e-mail the link that Foodbuzz generates (i.e. http://www.foodbuzz.com/blogs/3438323-per-se-review-photos) to your Foodbuzz friends so everyone will pay attention to you. Then your Buzz will rise, and you’ll get into the Top 9 most-buzzed for the day. That’s all I ever do.
You are a doll! Thanks so much. I’ve added my first post (yesterday’s PB cookies) and did exactly as instructed – added pix and emailed my 7 friends. WOOT!
Guess I’ll just repeat each time I post. Now I must get offline. Just baked a banana coffee cake (with brown sugar streusel) and the smell is drawing me like a siren..
XO
I do hate how manual it is. I haven’t added a post since February or something. Same with Flickr. But I guess they want you spending time on their site, which I guess I can’t blame them for.
NEED STREUSEL! (I once accidentally ordered a streudel and was so upset by the difference a letter makes.)
That’s possibly the best story I’ve heard all day. I love that you look for uncomfortable shoes. If I saw someone in uncomfortable shoes, I feel only slightly bad for them because it was their choice to wear elf type shoes.
I’m not sure if it’s clear, but I look for the uncomfortable shoes so I can punish the wearer by not giving her my seat. The thing is–I also hate when people wear sneakers with tights and dresses. So you basically can’t win with me unless you’re wearing comfortable but pretty flats. Or flip-flops, which is what I wear every day with the intention of changing into heels once I get to work but rarely remember to.
That driver deserves a medal. And I, for one, am happy that you function as your fellow bus-riders’ karmic wheel of fortune. I want some of that cake when you get it.