The bus is a (fun/annoying/exasperating/infuriating) place

You have to love commuting by bus, especially when it makes you two hours late for school (Monday), or gets in an accident with a guy who speaks no English (Wednesday). Yes, I am having a bad bus week.

But there are still interesting parts. I am conducting an unofficial cultural study on "bus people". And, though I take the bus nearly every day to school, I'd rather not consider myself one of them. Today's discussion topic of choice:

"them darned gangsters"

The lady with the neon-pink lipstick says, "They oughtta just lock them up in BC Place for a night, and let them have it out right there."

The guy who takes up two seats replies, "Ha ha, let 'em clean up after themselves for once."

Huh? I'm pretty sure I read a similar proposition on NowPublic.com, but that scenario gave them full run of the PNE grounds for a night. Anyways, the topic got the whole bus excited. It is universally intriguing to walk around everyday knowing that you may by hit by a stray bullet, because, you know, the odds are so likely that that will ever happen to a random citizen.

Note: the excitement only extended to conscious persons. This does not include the Asian guy who was falling asleep on my shoulder. Why do people always fall asleep on my shoulder? Is it because I'm too polite to rudely awaken them with an elbow to the ribs? (I've seen someone do that before...the victim is usually too disoriented to realize what happened, so I could maybe get away with it...)

I tell myself, it's all part of the journey. It makes civilised company that much more enjoyable.

One more thing--I try really, really hard not to giggle when I'm eavesdropping on the bus, or when I peak over at the old lady next to me and notice she's reading a Harlequin Romance. I kind of hiccoughed today a little while attempting to stifle a laugh.

"...as the perspiration dripped off her delicate brow..." OMG! Funny!

Maintaining composure is difficult. Very difficult.