Perhaps I'm looking too far ahead and extrapolating false patterns (after all, Boeing and school haven't started back yet), but I have high hopes for this new year of commuting. After the evening commute that can be accurately and politely described only as "interminable" throughout the entire month of December, tonight the busses were on time. Or even early. It was amazing.
Downtown Seattle has a nice shopping district just about in the middle, along with a large plaza. At off times of year, the plaza tends to get crowded with protesters (protesting is a favorite pastime of many people here). During December, it--and the streets around it, all of which are major arteries--tends to get crowded with shoppers. Crowded enough that it would sometimes take the bus twenty to thirty minutes to drive four or five blocks. One night I actually caught the last "express" bus for my route because it was running forty minutes late. The positive to the horrendous traffic was that I was averaging sixty pages of reading each day during the course of the ride.
But then came tonight. Tonight was amazing. The streets seemed empty after the last month's experience. Those same four or five blocks went by in one or two minutes. We--only the bus driver and me since my house is close to the end of the line--arrived at my stop on time. Loyal Way NW and NW 85th Street: 6:56pm. It seems like I haven't arrived home before 7:20 in ages.
I hope the magic continues.
Posted by jonhanneman at January 3, 2005 8:59 PMWhy don't you carry a pogo stick, get off before those congested areas, pogo through, then get back on the bus afterward?
Posted by: Jason at January 4, 2005 4:24 AMHow about posting a picture of you with your new glasses? I think your BLOG readers would appreciate that.
Posted by: Lar at January 4, 2005 4:55 PMSorry--no photo to post yet (no easy access to a digital camera anymore).
And the magic failed miserably tonight--not downtown, but at the Ballard Bridge, which kept me from getting home until 7:25. Ugh. Of course it's the night that I meet with my church group at 7:30.
Posted by: Jonathan at January 4, 2005 9:55 PMhappy birthday, mr. epiphany-man. hope you're doing well. maybe the magic will dip back in for the special occasion today.
Posted by: joy at January 6, 2005 11:03 AMI read an article today that stated that Seattle is the "fittest city" in the nation. As you observe the people you see there is that a correct analysis?
Posted by: Lar at January 6, 2005 11:41 AMPerhaps I should move to Seattle. I went to purchase some clothing today and, lo and behold, the store no longer even STOCKS small size men's clothing (nothing under 34!). Can I get some kind of special tax status as a thin person?
I just returned from the Netherlands. Can you guess how many overweight or obese people I saw there?
I told the clerk at the store today I'm going have to shop for clothing in Europe now!
Grrr.
Posted by: Jason at January 6, 2005 3:38 PMHAPPY BIRTHDAY, JON! And what birthday number may this one be!
Posted by: Lar at January 6, 2005 7:00 PMJon, I hope that you are not too upset about the Rams beating the Seahawks today. It was a good game.
Posted by: Lar at January 8, 2005 6:13 PM