Eating it.
Yesterday I had quite the Septa experience. It had snowed a bit the night before, and the ground was covered. I almost fell walking the block and a half from Jasmine's house to mine in the morning, so I figured I better not ride my bike to work. Luckily, I had 2 Septa tokens left. After packing Ramona into her special doggy backpack, I walked to the bus stop at 7th and McKean. An older woman was waiting for the bus. She looked at me , and asked if the bus was coming up the street yet. This led into a whole conversation about snow days, and what it was like for her as a kid in the winter (her mom would make her wear one piece snow suits and boots with heavy metal clasps in kindergarten, and she would always have to pee as soon as she got to school, but she couldn't get the frozen metal clasps off, and ended up crying everyday). I rarely have the nerve to have full conversations with strangers, but for some reason I was really talkative that morning - something to do with the break in routine, I think. Kind of like how all my neighbors hung out when the earthquake happened last year in Hawaii.
Anyway, the bus was late. What a surprise. Cars were slippery sliding all over the street; I wasn't really expecting to get to work on time.
After work, I walked back to the bus stop to go home. It was freezing at this point, and there were tons of people at the bus stop, which is usually a good sign because it means the bus hasn't come in a while (i.e., it should be coming soon). I eavesdropped on a woman's cell phone conversation in which she said she'd been waiting for the bus since 6:45. It was 7:15. I kept peeking into the street, sure the bus was coming soon. Ramona's 25 lbs got progressively heavier on my back, and my fingers got progressively colder and colder in my little mitts. Finally, at 7:45, the bus came. I was so relieved, I sank into a seat, and pulled Ramona's bag onto my lap. Suddenly, I noticed Jeff walking up the aisle, awesome surprise! He sat next to me and pet Ramona through the mesh backpack. Somehow, in the next 15 minutes, he talked me into cracking the zipper open "just enough to pet her!" As soon as she smelled the fresh (?) Septa bus air through the open zipper, Ramona shoved her little nose out, followed by her little muzzle, and soon, her whole little head. Jeff and I tried unsuccessfully to contain our nervous laughter, and hoped no one would notice that we had a dog on the bus for the next few blocks.
So I got home, and had to almost immediately pack up for DJing FREE CUPCAKES! at the Khyber. The streets were still way too slippery, so I walked to the bus stop YET AGAIN. This time I was alone, it was freezing, and I had no idea when the bus was coming. I had asked Jackson to look up the bus schedule at home, but he scoffed at me and told me I should just go out and wait. So I did. I stood there for what seemed like forever, and the whole time I complained to myself. This sucks. I hate Septa. I hate DJing. I hate winter. Fuck.
After all that happened yesterday. I woke up this morning determined to ride my bike to work. It was sunny outside, and most of the snow had melted. The sidewalks were still icy, but the streets were pretty clear. Or so I thought. I hopped on my fat-tired Trek, and loaded Ramona into the basket. We were off! It felt good to ride after a day off. I tried to take it slow and look out for icy spots. I turned off 7th onto Passyunk, and noticed some construction up the street. I was thinking about how I'd probably have to get off my bike and walk it up on the sidewalk when suddenly I was sprawled out on the ground. Oh no. Ramona! A woman on bike pulled up next to me and asked if I was ok. I scrambled up and turned to see Ramona shaking herself off, and slip sliding back toward me across the huge patch of black ice I'd fallen on. I walked a block, shaky, before riding the rest of the way to work. Slowly.
I still remember one night last winter, Steph and I went to Jasmine's house when she lived at 15th and Wolf for sushi. It had snowed that day, and as we left to go home, Star warned us to be careful of black ice. I had no idea what she was talking about. Now I do. My knee hurts, but I'd still rather ride my bike then take Septa.
Anyway, the bus was late. What a surprise. Cars were slippery sliding all over the street; I wasn't really expecting to get to work on time.
After work, I walked back to the bus stop to go home. It was freezing at this point, and there were tons of people at the bus stop, which is usually a good sign because it means the bus hasn't come in a while (i.e., it should be coming soon). I eavesdropped on a woman's cell phone conversation in which she said she'd been waiting for the bus since 6:45. It was 7:15. I kept peeking into the street, sure the bus was coming soon. Ramona's 25 lbs got progressively heavier on my back, and my fingers got progressively colder and colder in my little mitts. Finally, at 7:45, the bus came. I was so relieved, I sank into a seat, and pulled Ramona's bag onto my lap. Suddenly, I noticed Jeff walking up the aisle, awesome surprise! He sat next to me and pet Ramona through the mesh backpack. Somehow, in the next 15 minutes, he talked me into cracking the zipper open "just enough to pet her!" As soon as she smelled the fresh (?) Septa bus air through the open zipper, Ramona shoved her little nose out, followed by her little muzzle, and soon, her whole little head. Jeff and I tried unsuccessfully to contain our nervous laughter, and hoped no one would notice that we had a dog on the bus for the next few blocks.
So I got home, and had to almost immediately pack up for DJing FREE CUPCAKES! at the Khyber. The streets were still way too slippery, so I walked to the bus stop YET AGAIN. This time I was alone, it was freezing, and I had no idea when the bus was coming. I had asked Jackson to look up the bus schedule at home, but he scoffed at me and told me I should just go out and wait. So I did. I stood there for what seemed like forever, and the whole time I complained to myself. This sucks. I hate Septa. I hate DJing. I hate winter. Fuck.
After all that happened yesterday. I woke up this morning determined to ride my bike to work. It was sunny outside, and most of the snow had melted. The sidewalks were still icy, but the streets were pretty clear. Or so I thought. I hopped on my fat-tired Trek, and loaded Ramona into the basket. We were off! It felt good to ride after a day off. I tried to take it slow and look out for icy spots. I turned off 7th onto Passyunk, and noticed some construction up the street. I was thinking about how I'd probably have to get off my bike and walk it up on the sidewalk when suddenly I was sprawled out on the ground. Oh no. Ramona! A woman on bike pulled up next to me and asked if I was ok. I scrambled up and turned to see Ramona shaking herself off, and slip sliding back toward me across the huge patch of black ice I'd fallen on. I walked a block, shaky, before riding the rest of the way to work. Slowly.
I still remember one night last winter, Steph and I went to Jasmine's house when she lived at 15th and Wolf for sushi. It had snowed that day, and as we left to go home, Star warned us to be careful of black ice. I had no idea what she was talking about. Now I do. My knee hurts, but I'd still rather ride my bike then take Septa.