Bus Report #560

Seen in the Fillmore and Geary 22 bus stop across the street from where I was standing (and I wish I had my camera, if it's still there tomorrow I'll take a photo):
One slender door propped up against the blue glass. The door was painted white on one side and black on the other.
On the sidewalk there was half a table and half a chair painted white in front of the white side of the door, and the other halves of the table and chair painted black in front of the black side of the door.
I stared at this unexpected bus stop installation, wishing I had my camera and time to go look at it.
But I didn't, and my bus rolled up a few minutes later.

I sat in a window seat by myself. The man sitting in front of me is a regular, always reading thick paperback books. He smelled like old cigarettes and like he could use a bath.
Behind me sat another regular, who also smelled not-so-fresh. I opened the window and hoped for the best.
The older nurse, Shirley, her friend, the boy with the limp, the lovebirds, the woman who always has to stand right next to me and the lazy mailman were all there, too.
As we kept going towards Potrero, more regulars got on.
The elderly lady with the cane who uses it close the windows, the too-cool-for-school teen boy with his graffitied skateboard.
The usually humorless woman who gets on at McAllister got on, and she was actually smiling. She had a feathery barrette above her ear. It looked good.

Bus Report #559

After a lovely evening reuniting with my folks (just back from an extended trip to New Zealand), I caught the 38 Geary at the Geary and Kearny stop.
The only other person waiting for the bus was a man in sweats and a T-shirt, and flip-flops that made it impossible to ignore his overgrown, yellowed toenails. He had a shaved head that seemed too big for his body. He clutched a paper bag full of coffee from a large international coffee mega chain.
He saw us walk up to the stop.
"A bus just went by," he said, almost apologetically.
There was another one coming. I pointed to it, said, "Here's the regular."
My parents took off for their hotel.
The man said, "It doesn't matter to me, I'm going to 25th Ave, so I can take whatever bus comes."
"Yeah, you're lucky," I said.
The bus came and I got on and made my way to an empty seat in the back. A man scurried through the back door and laid claim to the seat I had wanted. He had his backpack on it and he stood next to it.
No problem, I would sit behind him.
He didn't move to let me by and I brushed past his arm, a little annoyed. There was plenty of space to sit, I couldn't figure out why he was still standing.
I sat.
He waved to the man with the flip flops, who came over and said hi. They stood there, blocking the back of the bus, for no discernable reason.
It was like this for the rest of my ride home. These two guys just standing there, plenty of seats around, just standing obliviously in the middle of the bus, barely talking.
It was strange.
There were three loud girls sitting in the back of the bus, discussing which celebrities they would sleep with. They all agreed on Matthew McConaghey. I felt bad for him.
At Larkin, a man in a silver shirt got on. He was also wearing a fake flower lei around his neck. I couldn't tell if this was a costume or his every day look. But he pulled it off.

I Live Here: SF Opening night

Last night was the opening night of Julie Michelle's I Live Here: SF retrospective at SOMArts. It was a beautiful night, and if anyone hasn't seen the show yet, it is well worth it.
T. and K. met me at the show (K. and I having taken the 10 Townsend from downtown).
It was great to see everyone at the show who I already knew. Julie, you know such lovely people! We spent the night admiring the exhibit and the Muni bus shelter that housed Silvi from the Poetry Store.
I finally had a chance to properly meet J.M. from A Beast in a Jungle. It was lovely to meet you, sir, and chat. Let's do it again soon.
There was such a feeling of city pride in the gallery last night. I can't think of a better way to pay homage to San Francisco. Thanks, Julie, for putting together such a fabulous show!

Afterwards, T., K. and I walked to 16th and Potrero to catch the 9 San Bruno and the 33 Stanyan. The 33 slowly wound its way up towards the Haight.
The couple sitting behind me were talking a mile a minute in Spanish.
A beautiful, tall deaf girl got on the bus. The driver showed her how to feed her money into the fare box. She signed 'thank you' and went to sit down.

Bus Report #558

Not much to report on my commutes, lately. I can't tell if that's good or bad.

The other day we had a 22 Fillmore driver who narrated the whole ride out to Geary, and very little of what he said made any sense.
As we made our way down Fillmore Street, he called out each stop, then added what he perceived to be the local attractions at each stop.
Some of his observations made sense, like encouraging the tourists on our bus to get out at Haight to catch a bus to the upper Haight, or to get out at Hayes to see Alamo Square.
Others were just... nutty.

At Fillmore and McAllister he said, "Anyone want to see a bikini contest? Yes sir, right here we have a world famous bikini contest, with girls."


The next stop was by the McDonalds: "Mc-Mc-Mc-Mc Donald's, folks, Mc-Mc-Mc-Mc Donald's. Get your burgers and your nuggets."

We pulled in to the stop by Yoshi's and he started rambling about a baby shower. I couldn't figure that one out.

Public Service Announcement...

Friend and co-conspirator S. Sends the following plea for help for a dear friend of hers. If you see Tami's phone or know any way for her to try tracking it down, let us know! Thanks!

I really need your help. My dear friend Tami has had a tragedy today and while some of you may think it’s minor, believe me, it’s not.

At today’s crazy parade Tami’s phone came out of her stroller when she was putting it back in the car. She was parked on Golden Gate Ave. between Gough and Octavia. On this phone, she had over 100 pictures of her son Conner, who sadly passed away right before his second birthday.

It's a lavender Blackberry with her name and email on the lock screen.

Thanks!