Why Is It That . . .

Strangers insist on talking to you when you have earbuds in your ears on the bus/train/shuttle and you are obviously listening to something? This happens to me daily on the commute to and from work and for the life of me, I cannot understand. Do they think I have earbuds in my ears because "it looks cool"? Or do they think the earbuds in my ears are "a new fashion accessory"? Or perhaps they think I'm with the FBI and I'm "tapping" in on someone. I don't know but what I do know is it's quite disturbing to get disturbed in the middle of a wonderful song by the Beatles or Keith Urban or Frank Sinatra or Jimmy Buffet or the Goo Goo Dolls or Kenny Chesney or anyone for that matter (the list is endless, as you can see).

Yes, I am usually listening to some music or a downloaded podcast or something on my most delightful Zune. It's quite relaxing, I must say, and definitely beats listening to everything else around me! I'm obviously just not that social when it comes to sitting in a contained moving object with a bunch of folks I don't know! Oh well, I try but honestly, my only goal on the bus/train/shuttle is to get from one point to another - safely and without error. I am usually successful!

And Just When You Think You've Seen It All . . .

Okay, every day riding the transit system is definitely a new experience. It never ceases to amaze me the number of different people one sees on the daily commute. There are construction workers, businessmen in suits, fast food workers, office workers, college students, homeless people - you name it, they're on the train!

Today though, I saw something that almost had me on the floor laughing so hard. A rather tall gentleman had come down the escalator and was waiting at the platform for the next Northbound train. I was standing right beside him, also waiting for the train, when I noticed he was carrying something under his arm. It was, yes indeed, a hemorroid pillow just like the one pictured above. His was orange though and I swear he looked as if he were about to head down to the shore with his tiny life preserver and "save" someone. Poor man - I felt so bad for him! If that had been me (and thank goodness it isn't) I think I would deflate it, stuff it in my laptop bag and then inflate it when I arrived at work. No one would be the wiser. :) If I see him tomorrow, perhaps I'll suggest that to him (not!).

You definitely see all kinds and all things on the public transit system. I told a friend of mine today - if it weren't so darn entertaining, I just don't know if I could do this day in and day out! But it is incredibly entertaining. And so I continue participating, saving scads of money and lots of gas, and usually walking around with a smile on my face!