Post 79: Trains, Planes and Automobiles

I'm surprised this isn't already a post. I checked my old ones and it doesn't look like I have, as of yet, talked about the different modes of transportation and my views on them. And doesn't that just sound fascinating? (As people everywhere roll their eyes or chuckle in the distance.) Maybe not...but there are a lot of things that could be said. And as for the funny, it is my job to track that down and drag it into the post.


Trains come first in the title, so I will talk about them first. But it won't take too long because I don't really care much for trains. I have nothing against them either. I just find them kind of dull. The train to downtown here is a lot faster than the bus, though. But I like the bus better. I don't know why. Well, that isn't true I do kind of know why. I like that with the bus it runs all day. The train only runs at certain times, in certain directions. There is more freedom and less stress in taking the bus then.


Though, honestly, even if that wasn't true I think I still might prefer the bus.


Planes are okay. I don't really like flying as much as I did in the past. I used to love it, especially at take off or landing when I could look out and see the city shrink or grow. It was cool. Then, partially because the novelty of that wore off and partially because turbulence on one of my flights caused the plane to go sideways (really, really randomly). It was so shocking and so out of nowhere, the flight attendant that had been serving drinks flew across peoples' laps.


That killed a little of the thrill.


I like car rides, but they make me so sleepy. I don't know why, but after ten - fifteen minutes in the car I am ready for a nap. And it is always true. I will wake up and be energetic, I will get ready to go and be fine, then I get in the car and ten minutes later it is like someone zapped away all my energy. What's up with that?


I like car rides, because I don't have to worry about how clean things are. I mean, buses are kind of gross. I'm sure whenever I get sick nowadays it is something I contracted from riding on the bus.


And, oh my gosh, the other day I was on the bus and this guy comes and sits down like a few seats away, right next to some other guy, and five minutes after he sits down he starts eating fried chicken. Right there, on the bus. And this disgusting, yellow grease is dripping down his arm as he tears it apart with his teeth (and chews with his mouth open, by the way). It was so gross, but that wasn't even the worst part. The worst part is that he LEFT THE BONES BEHIND. Right next to the guy who he sat next. And not like in the bucket or bag either, directly on the seat.


Don't believe me, click here.


So, you know, when you are thinking about whether to drive or take the bus and going over the 'being more green' argument just remember that this guy could end up sitting next to you. I ride the bus anyway. I figure it doesn't really matter how I travel these people find me. Like the young woman who told me her life story at the bus stop (including her physical confrontation with her cousin at her last family reunion as well as about her first pregnancy scare). Or like the older gentlemen who explained to me how I was like his youngest granddaughter, because she too had short hair and he didn't understand why women were cutting their hair short these days.


I guess that is the biggest danger when it comes to public transportation- other people. Which is kind of funny, and it reminds me of the Sartre quote, "Hell- is other people".


Not to say public transport is that bad, in many ways it is very conveinant, but it can be a nightmare too.


That's all for now, folks. Headed off to class here momentarily.