Addendum

Please feel free to add your own MUNI cheers and jeers in the comments section!
I'd love to hear what other MUNI riders have to say....

Bus Report #119

The woman sitting next to me this morning on the 22 Fillmore had a water bottle with her initials on it, and they were the same as mine. The similarities ended there, though. I was dressed head to toe in warm wool, she was wearing a hot pink rain slicker. The driver skipped her stop because the signaller was not working, and she barked at him and made him stop at the next corner, and cursed him out.
I would never do that.

It is time for the FCN 2005 Cheers and Jeers list.
Sadly, not many cheers for MUNI this year, but let's bring on the list anyway.

Jeer: MUNI raised fares and cut service. Hmmm... No comment.
Cheer: Commemorating Rosa Parks with tasteful photos of her at the front of each bus.
Jeer: MUNI says they are cracking down on fare evaders but I have not noticed a difference at all.
Cheer: Another year of my favorite commuters, Carmen, Ebony, J., Headphones-Guy, British-Look-Guy and many others.
Jeer: All my favorite drivers were switched to different routes and schedules. When I do see them, it's usually because I am running late or on a different bus line than usual.
Cheer: The Lolita sign on Dolores Street has been up for months, no sign it is coming down anytime soon.
Jeer: Watching the decline of the buildings on 16th that had the fire this past fall. The graffiti and the trash seems to multiply daily.
Cheer: Riding the 2 Clement home. What a nice bus line, not crowded, fast.
Jeer: Re-routing the 2 Clement down California instead of Euclid. Who's bright idea was that?
Cheer: MUNI Fast passes did not go up in price, only cash fares. I shouldn't thank MUNI for this, but I will. Thanks!

Bus Report #118

The Masshole was on the bus today, with only two thirds of his skateboard. The wheels were gone, too, and the bottom third of the board was missing. It looked like it had gotten in an accident and was completely sheared off, raggedly. Poor Masshole.
The 38 Geary was incredibly crowded, which was weird because the bus was actually early. I stood for a while, then folded myself into a rear seat between two large women with even larger tote bags.
Ran like a crazy person for the 22 Fillmore, which was nice and empty. The driver waited for the mom with the two daughters and for some of the other regulars.
The All-Star Hotel on 16th and Folsom is getting as face-lift, and there was an article in the paper about it the other day. The lovely pink paisley design on the outside of the hotel is courtesy of a local muralist.
The hotel is going to be supportive housing, and got a grant from our mayor's Care Not Cash Program (I think, don't quote me on this!)
It will be nice if they fix up the building. It looks so sad right now.
Sad, but pretty with the pink designs.

Bus Report #117

Last night I left work a few minutes late and had to take a later bus. It was okay, though. It was empty, quiet and I got a window seat.
At Harrison Street, British-Look-Guy came on. He was in his usual white denim jacket, a porkpie hat and, get this, rose tinted shades!
Fashion genius!
At Mission Street the bus did not stop by BART. I think they are renovating that side of the plaza, perhaps to match the one on the opposite corner? Now the buses are stopping out front of Casa Thai, one of my favorite Mission District Markets.

This morning there was a flock of pigeons and two seagulls fighting over slices of pizza on Fillmore Street. The Gulls won.

The Masshole and several of the young families were on my 22 Fillmore.
Boys from the Mission High Basketball team sat and stood near me, applying copious amounts of Vaseline Intensive Care lotion to their hands and faces.

The Pigeon Man got on the bus at Valencia, sans pigeons and sans his sack of birdseed.
Which was kind of a relief.