Rant Stuff

My car, Guy needs a rest, so I've been taking the bus and train to work. The ride isn't bad - well most of the time the ride isn't bad.

I just don't understand some people here in Atlanta. There might be many seats available and lots of room towards the back of the bus but certain people INSIST on standing in the front. One guy talks to the driver so his place is pretty much assured. (It's almost like folks are fighting for pole position for the race -The race from the bus to the train at the last stop) The others crowd around the first guy so that people getting on at later stops really have to squeeze past them to get on the bus. This of course adds to the commute time and the annoyance factor.

The cell phone on the bus people get on my nerves too. I don't really need to hear the lastest "crunk" ringtone at 6:18 when I feel I should be sleeping. I don't really need to know what everyone wore to the party last night or who "Nay-Nay" went home with. I wouldn't need to know in the late afternoon, but in the early AM I really don't need to know about your life.

The "tell us all, why dontcha" people irk me too. The sun has not yet risen and most of us are content to sit quietly - reading or gathering our thoughts during the ride to the train. Then YOU get on the bus and seem compelled to share your most mundane achievements with all of us - you just need someone to be your outlet. We watch you scanning our faces as you walk the center aisle - looking for a victim - we who know better refuse to catch your eye or smile - the innocent newbies might say "hello" which is the only opening you need. You launch into a long discussion of the reasons you're on the bus in the first place, what time you left your home, the temperature outside, the forecast for tonight, and what you might cook depending on the price of chicken breasts at Publix. (It's fun to watch the newbie's face change from friendliness to forced after a few blocks of non-stop lip action)

Other quieter speakers can't be heard over her "outside" voice and any competition for our attention is quickly vanquished. We are all forced to hear her opinion of the latest films, music, style of dress, young people, the bitches on her job who are out to get her, her ex-husband and his new wife and whatever was on televison last night. She explains that she's not from Atlanta originally and how the transit system in her hometown is so much better than this. She doesn't care that the person she used to get started has something to say. She has the floor and filibuster (although we have no vote here) it shall be. I call her "sister soliloquy" and I'm sure other riders have their own pet names for her. It's gotten to the point that some mornings there's a audible sigh of relief if she misses her regular bus and an involuntary groan if we see her in line. One older lady phrased is well, "Oh Lawd, here she comes."

The 2 seater people are another annoyance. Why must people ask you to move your belongings to allow them to sit down? Is it possible that you feel your purse needs its own seat? Were you raised by impolite wolves? I see one lady do this every single day. Someone must ask her to move her bag. EVERY SINGLE DAY. How did she NOT learn the day before?

Tomorrow - the wonderful train ride.