mean, median, mode, and range, 8:22 is clearly emerging as the mode. Who cares?
A new bus driver was driving this morning, and the temperature was a normal, comfortable temperature. If it were Bus Driver Appreciation Week, I'd enter his name.
A fierce-looking woman with fabulous serpentine hoop earrings sat across from me reading a magazine, which I'm guessing was Ebony or Essence. The article she was reading was entitled, "Black Love: A Chance to Flip the Script."
Speaking of Black Love, a young couple sat one row behind me, on the opposite side of the aisle. They talked quietly enough with each other that I couldn't hear what they were saying at all, which I found both admirable and frustrating. Model public transportation behavior, though, which I'd like to applaud.
Classes started back up today, and several students were walking down Kaplan, passing two city bus stops to get to the Wolfline stop at Gorman and Kaplan, and I wondered if they knew they could take the city bus for free, too. However, in a couple of weeks the question will probably be moot as those eventually-to-be-dropped, early-Monday-morning classes disappear from their schedules. And so the rhythm of another flip in the script of higher ed.
A guy on the bus had some serious red shoe tongue action going on:

Imagine my shock when I got off the bus today, started walking down the street to my office, and saw this progress on the new Hillsborough bus stop shelter:

I had no inkling that this was going to be a twofer or a BOGO, as it were, nor did I have any inkling that construction on it would continue over the weekend.
Well, it's a sad day, and it has arrived—I spent almost my entire work day packing for my move from my second floor office with this view: (As always, hover over images for snide remarks.)

to my new basement office with this fabulous view:

Not to be critical, but waiting for the bus home under the shelters, it became obvious that no "usability test" was done on them—mostly, probably, because the people who design the things don't actually use them. But I digress...
So, when you're standing inside the new shelter, looking up the street to see if the bus is coming, who sees a problem?

I got to the gym at about 6:00, and although it was pretty crowded, after doing my 300 ab crunches, I was able to get an elliptical machine without waiting. I did 30 minutes of cardio and didn't get stressed out about anyone around me at all.
I haven't forgotten about dated t-shirt sightings; I just haven't seen any lately.
Three guys were being given a tour of the place during my cardio workout, and I thought, "Oh goody, three more hotties coming on board. Let's hope they're still here in February."
I met Joe at Caribou Coffee at Olde Raleigh Village, and after about an hour there, they came around to tell everyone they were going to close early due to the weather.
Joe brought some killer Wind & Willow Chipotle Cheddar Dip with some crackers and I ate them with some coffee in the 30 or so minutes we had until they actually closed.
Back at home, I finished The Help. A quick-unraveling ending. Definitely a good read. Glad to be done in time for our next Mostly Social Book Club meeting.
~Monday~ I arrived at the city bus stop at 8:15, and the bus arrived at 8:22. Not to get all back into frequency distribution and statistics, but I think 8:22 is starting to be a significant number. In the game of A new bus driver was driving this morning, and the temperature was a normal, comfortable temperature. If it were Bus Driver Appreciation Week, I'd enter his name.
A fierce-looking woman with fabulous serpentine hoop earrings sat across from me reading a magazine, which I'm guessing was Ebony or Essence. The article she was reading was entitled, "Black Love: A Chance to Flip the Script."
Speaking of Black Love, a young couple sat one row behind me, on the opposite side of the aisle. They talked quietly enough with each other that I couldn't hear what they were saying at all, which I found both admirable and frustrating. Model public transportation behavior, though, which I'd like to applaud.
Classes started back up today, and several students were walking down Kaplan, passing two city bus stops to get to the Wolfline stop at Gorman and Kaplan, and I wondered if they knew they could take the city bus for free, too. However, in a couple of weeks the question will probably be moot as those eventually-to-be-dropped, early-Monday-morning classes disappear from their schedules. And so the rhythm of another flip in the script of higher ed.
A guy on the bus had some serious red shoe tongue action going on:
Imagine my shock when I got off the bus today, started walking down the street to my office, and saw this progress on the new Hillsborough bus stop shelter:
I had no inkling that this was going to be a twofer or a BOGO, as it were, nor did I have any inkling that construction on it would continue over the weekend.
Well, it's a sad day, and it has arrived—I spent almost my entire work day packing for my move from my second floor office with this view: (As always, hover over images for snide remarks.)
to my new basement office with this fabulous view:
Not to be critical, but waiting for the bus home under the shelters, it became obvious that no "usability test" was done on them—mostly, probably, because the people who design the things don't actually use them. But I digress...
So, when you're standing inside the new shelter, looking up the street to see if the bus is coming, who sees a problem?
I got to the gym at about 6:00, and although it was pretty crowded, after doing my 300 ab crunches, I was able to get an elliptical machine without waiting. I did 30 minutes of cardio and didn't get stressed out about anyone around me at all.
I haven't forgotten about dated t-shirt sightings; I just haven't seen any lately.
Three guys were being given a tour of the place during my cardio workout, and I thought, "Oh goody, three more hotties coming on board. Let's hope they're still here in February."
I met Joe at Caribou Coffee at Olde Raleigh Village, and after about an hour there, they came around to tell everyone they were going to close early due to the weather.
Joe brought some killer Wind & Willow Chipotle Cheddar Dip with some crackers and I ate them with some coffee in the 30 or so minutes we had until they actually closed.
Back at home, I finished The Help. A quick-unraveling ending. Definitely a good read. Glad to be done in time for our next Mostly Social Book Club meeting.
- Current Mood:
content
Comments
I didn't have a problem with the depth of the shelter (but can see what you mean). But that's because I've been the victim of gutter splash. Buses are heavy and they make dips and ridges in the asphalt in front of the stop over time, so after a while there is a place where stormwater/road slime/garbage will collect right in front of the stop apron after a while. If you are forced to stand close to the curb, and the puddle is deep enough like at the old stop, if someone drives thru it at speed: WOOSH! SPLASH! and the next thing you know, you're picking soggy ciggy butts out of your hair!*
My gripes about the new stop:
1. no trashcan. Last night, someone had already broken the shelter in and tucked an empty beer can in a bag behind the bench. So it NEEDS a trashcan.
2. no bike rack. NCSU is really bad about putting bike racks adjacent to their bus stops, so I shouldn't be surprised. But where does one lock a bike up at that stop? To the railing next to the steps? To the fence around the parking lot?
Grumble grumble grumble
Ann
*True story: H'borough & Gorman stop, original location. Nowadays, on those close-up stops, I stand ON the bench in heavy rainstorms to be out of the line of fire.
I totally agree with you with regards to trash cans and bike racks! Let's hope they're on the "things to come" list. One of the first things I have to do to reach your level of public transportation mastery, is to quit being so naive and optimistic! :-)
Thanks for reading and commenting, my friend! Maybe we can try to sync up our arrival at that stop later in the week when this weather mess clears up!
P.S. I wasn't advocating making the shelter closer to the curb; I thought maybe they could trim the trees!
Edited at 2011-01-11 09:21 pm (UTC)
Transit is all about optimism--yes a bus will show up, it will let you on board, and it will take you where you need to go.
I never see you up there. Going to have to try harder. :-)