right now we're on the 183 flyover and I HATE THIS PART

The bus has taught me a few things.
One - cutting your fingernails in public has become socially acceptable. I thought it was still considered a tacky, disgusting thing to do in public, but judging from the amount of clipper action on the afternoon northbound, I guess I was wrong. Somebody update Emily Post.
Two - the bus is its own weather system. It doesn't matter what the temperature is outside or how much the A/C runs on the bus, the bus has its own ideas about what temperature it wants to be today and you and your comfort and thoughtfully packed cardigan can bite the bus's ass.
Three - There are chatty people and there are un-chatty people. The chatty people like to, well, chat. And chat...aaaaaand chat. The un-chatty people wish everybody else would just shut the fuck up so they can read their book in peace. Some unchatty people are unlucky enough to have a broken iPod this week and would like you to know that it kind of sucks. And that lady over there is going on vacation next week and that one over there has a daughter in dance and the daughter's recital is next week and that guy over there just doesn't understand how anybody could vote Republican in this day and age. Please. God. Make it stop.
Four - falling asleep on the bus is an exercise in terror. Twice now, I've dozed off on the bus, only to find that the driver has decided, for whatever secret bus reason, to take a detour. Waking up to shouts of "WHERE ARE YOU GOING??" is not a lot of fun. Note to self: start hitting that 3:00 Diet Coke again.
Five - People sitting at a bus stop at 6:10 AM are NOT chatty. I must start getting up earlier - that was just wonderful
Six - Halcyon has excellent coffee. And really, really fucking good blueberry muffins. If you're ever in Austin, give them a shot.
Seven - I no longer give a shit if I look like a dork. I wear black low-top Chucks with skirts, I carry a backpack on both shoulders, and I do not care. I do not care. If I have to walk roughly a mile from my bus stop to my office every day, I'm going to be comfortable. You don't like it? You can pay for my gas and I'll start driving again.
Eight - I'll narrow this down to Texans, but I suspect it's Americans in general - are spoiled when it comes to cars. You tell people you're taking the bus to work and half of them act like it's some sort of tragedy, like your car got repo'ed or you've been diagnosed with epilepsy and advised not to drive. Dude...it's a bus. New York is considered the most of the most and there are grown-ass adults in that town who get around by public transportation and never learn to drive. Consider Paris and London, where there are buses everywhere and it's not weird to ride one. Texans, I love y'all, but y'all are about a bunch of spoiled babies when it comes to cars.
Nine - There is one bus driver who does not know what the fuck she is doing. In my head, she's Crazy Carla. I have no idea what her real name is, but she looks utterly insane and scares the shit out of me when she drives. I try really hard not to catch her bus.
And - Ten - The big fancy red buses have wireless, but it doesn't like Firefox. That's cool - I'll just use it to post a long overdue entry.
HEH.