my toes are wet

They are... my toes are wet. Walking down Industriplex to work this morning... the grass in the median is moderately tall and was quite dew-laden. It's ok. Feet dry. Shoes, socks... very unpleasant, but nothing to let ruin my day.

I have learned to minimize the time it takes me to get here by dollar-signing the curves in the road. I've also found a few shortcuts.

This riding-the-bus thing is turning out to be quite a pleasant little change in my daily routine. Everyone needs to shift things up a bit from time to time. It's like I have a little mini-adventure every morning before work, instead of just driving straight to work... and another mini-adventure on the way home, instead of just driving straight home. Different encounters, different experiences every day. Usually things I can chuckle about.

So, today's story... well, Carrie started a new work assignment today so we got up around the same time. Kissed her goodbye as she and little Roxy sat out on the front porch/stoop then pedaled in haste to the fence behind the Regions bank where I chain the bike for the day. Bike daycare... heh...

Went and stood by the telephone/electric pole to which is affixed the "Bus Stop" sign.



...anyway, I met a nice dude at my transfer stop who offered me a piece of his McDonald's breakfast biscuit, which I declined, but thanked him. We talked a litttle - which is rare, because most people I've encountered at Bus Stops only talk to people the same color as they are... for whatever reason; I'm just SAYIN'...

The bus that picked us up was having door issues... as in, the door wouldn't close... then wouldn't open... back and forth... which made for an interesting ride. With the door stuck open, watching the blur of pavement and curb and grass reminded me of pleasant times in college. My friend Laura would take me riding in her topless, doorless Jeep with Third Day blaring as we rode. Awesome memories.

I got to my stop, stopped off for a mochasippi and a muffin, and proceeded to trod onward, through the dewy grass when necessary, to get here. I was only a little sweaty when I reached my destination. Which was nice.

So, that's my morning! I think the phone has rung 3 times since I've been here. Sweet. Oh yeah, I did create that Bus Stop sign myself... just for the record. *grin* Pretty cool site I found; you can make the sign say anything you want in all kinds of colors!

Life These Days

So, I promised a bus blog... and this is not what I had originally imagined it to be, but I have some pictures and a few comments.

Blah. I'm a bit cranky this morning... no real reason; just don't feel like being here. I'd really rather go drink a margarita and shoot pool. Live to dream, heh...

Well hey, it is Cinco de Mayo after all...

It has been some time since I blogged and so I am going to do a catching-up of sorts with some pictures from lately. Roll 'em!

First, I would like to present something I found particularly amusing on this past Saturday morning as I was out and about, running errands:



TACO BELL... is hiring with a starting pay of $8.50/hr.

Good grief... who turned the world upside down? I was at Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Louisiana recently, on a temp assignment... entering data and making corrections on INSURANCE SUBSCRIBERS' PERSONAL DATA FILES... for a flat $8/hr. Who knew? haha... Yo quiero Taco Bell!! I mean DAMN!!

Arright... this is the crazy lady I encountered on the bus yesterday. She moved twice, of her own volition, and came to sit behind me. Mumbling... of which all I understood was the phrase, "White people STANK!"... and swatting her newspaper book toward me to wave away my caucasian odor. :o) For awhile, I leaned against the window with my hands behind my head to more generously share my stank with her. Had to laugh. And, being me, of course I had to take pictures. :o)



It was hot yesterday. If you will notice, this woman is garbed in full hoodie. She was a real nut job. Later during the ride, she moved to the front of the bus and continued swatting her newspaper toward all the people up there, none of whom were white. She also kept making punching motions in the air and elbowing invisible strangers.

Bless her heart. Sheez...



Views on the bus on a Saturday morning... very relaxing. No sarcasm intended; though these people are literally relaxing... it was a calm morning aboard the Capital Area Transit System. I like the bus. It's fun.









Some people on the bus are LOUD and very animated. This past Saturday, I was on the bus with this woman (not pictured) who was literally SCREAMING her conversation with the bus driver and the people near her. It was just because she was cheerful and excited, but I mean... SCREEEAMING... and little Nic had a shredding headache. I contemplated asking her to quiet down but decided against it; I didn't have it in me. I just kept counting the stops til I could get off. Ahhhhh.... such is the price of sharing public space with... the public... heh.... Every person is unique.

"Nic wuz here - 4/2009" hehe Hey like my Doc Martens? Got 'em at the corner thrift store for a QUARTER!! HOLLA!! hehe... Had to punch a few extra holes in the straps to make 'em fit tight enough, but come on... Doc Martens for a quarter!



Anyway... so last weekend was the Baton Rouge Blues Festival. I biked downtown on the levee and brought Luna along; she usually gets lots of love and attention in big groups of people. However, upon arrival, I was duly informed by a security guard that "the dog (had) to go" because there were no dogs allowed. (Can't you hear Snoopy... haha) So, forget them, Luna and I found BETTER things to do around the perimeter of the festival area, and we could still hear the music ANYWAY! HA!!



(Luna found somebody's leftovers and I let her have at it. Why not... it was kind of a public service of her to clean up the mess anyway...)







"Nic wuz here too!" heh... okay okay...







Tiny heads atop the Shaw Center...





Some dogs out there were soaked from playing in the fountains. Luna was a bit scared of the fountains but did enjoy cooling her tongue in the water left between spurts! My sweet girl.



"When the sun sinks down - we'll be groovin'!" -Kenny Chesney





Back at home, the other night... my sweet "Meer Meer" - have you ever seen anything this cute?!??



Ma widdle man... aww!



Mr. Taz, my Tizzy-T... keeping an eye on things and awaiting the return of his sweet Carrie. As am I.



Luna, chillin' at the hacienda...



"Vladimir wuz here - 5/3/09" hehe... just like his Mama Nic!

My Life on the Capital Area Transit System

Yes indeed, Nic has been riding the bus lately. If nothing else, it's a good frame-of-mind changer. It makes you realize you're not so much; you're just like everyone else. Riding the bus answers many questions about life, culture and society... but, in turn, it spawns that many more wonderments. It also provides a plethora of neverending entertainment... or at least amusement... it is KY for those of us with a dry sense of humor.

I have begun a secret photo project - I am noodling the title presently - and I will post it in a blog when it is done, complete with commentary and stories. Don't let the suspense drive you mad. No, really - don't

Close Your Eyes

La tee dah. Long day. Not bad per se; just tiring. Carrie left for Vegas yesterday and I miss her already. She will only be there a few weeks, working for a dentist she knows from way back.

I have a job. I feel obligated to express gratitude for this job, but I can't say that I like it so much. The chick who's my boss is cool and all; she's very friendly and likes to chat when not much else is going on. But it's boring as hell, and I thought I had moved past the receptionist days. I will stay until I find something better. It only pays a small hourly anyway.

I have been tossing around the idea of becoming a public transportation consumer. Green, sure, but my reasons are not that noble. The car I am driving is neither insured nor is it even registered... if anything at all were to happen, I would be shit on toast. In more ways than one. So, I thought about just playing it safe and bussing it. It just takes about 3x as long to get to where I want to be, riding the bus. I'm weighing my options. If I do take the bus, I have to have myself out there on that little bench around 6 a.m. to get dropped off close to where I work by 7:30.

I also have an interview with Target on Tuesday. I was considering that just for a part-time gig but, provided I am hired and if it is something I like, I might just dust this other place and be a Targeteer. It only pays a little less, heh... and I wouldn't be bored. *grin*

I miss Carrie. I love her.

I only have a short time to be on my computer until the battery runs down. My power cord just decided to stop working. So until then I will charge up when I can, as I did today at my brother's house, and maybe use the computers at the library when I have the urge.

Public busses, public libraries... so common. As you might have ascertained, I'm a little down this evening, but it will get better. I'm hopeful.

Dyed Like an Easter Egg

If you lay your sparkly-white, bikini-top-and-shorts-clad-body down to read a book in the sun:

and

If you grow sleepy because the material you are reading is about accounting and, therefore, is not so captivating:

and

If you fall asleep:

and

If you stay asleep until, with a dried trail of drool on your cheek, you wake up because you have to pee from all the beer you'd been drinking:

and

If you remain in the sun still for an hour or so more after your trip to the public restroom:

THEN

you will be burned deep into your skin and feel lots of pain and remorse, as I do now.

Ouch.

My dad started calling me a lobster when I was out visiting them earlier. However, he did repeatedly express deep empathy or sympathy... those words' meanings confuse me... (insert Comment from Holly here) anyway he was really sorry to see me in such a state and seemed to wish he could help. Sweet Dad.



I went out to Central tonight to help in Avery and Abel's Easter Egg Decorating Extravaganza. I love those two boys. So sweet and so curious... much like my young cat Vladimir.







I showed the boys how to draw on a white egg with the white crayon included in the dye pack and how, when the egg was dipped in color, the drawing remained white and became visible.



Very similar: the white line across my back where my swimsuit tie protected a thin, very tiny strip of skin. I have become striped... again, much like my young cat Vladimir. Heh...







I took 3 generic Advils when I got home and re-slathered my skin with Aloe-enhanced lotion. Sitting here in this chair, I'm feeling pretty okay. It's just when I decide to get up... my skin will have to stretch and realign itself and that is the peril dangling over me.



Happy Easter to everyone. On my drive home, I thanked Jesus for what he did for me (all of us) and for his love... and prayed to feel better in the morning so that getting up and going to church would not be a grueling task.



God is good to me! He loves you, too, no matter what!



Nic