Monthly Archives: November 2007

The ultimate bus foul, part II

I guess I have an answer to my question about whether bus riders in Seattle ever get groped.

Seattle police are searching for man who has sexually assaulted at least four women near bus stops in South Seattle.

The assailant sneaked up behind the women and forcefully groped them, starting with two women Nov. 20. The latest and most threatening attack was reported early Wednesday, when the man dragged the victim into a dark driveway, fondled her and took her wallet, police said.

(Source: Seattle PI)

Wow. And I always liked riding the 36…

November Golden Transfer

This month’s Golden Transfer goes to Seattle’s Bus Chicklet, my daughter, Rosa.

Rosa started riding the bus on her second day of life–a short trip home from the hospital on the 4. Since then, she hasn’t gotten out much, but she’s ridden the bus on all but one of her outings. (Over the Thanksgiving holiday, she took her first car trip–to Spokane in her Grandpa Jerry’s Jeep.) In her first month of life, she’s ridden: the 3, the 4, the 8, the 18, and the 48. The 48 seems to be her favorite, but that’s just because she hasn’t ridden the 27 yet–at least not since she’s been on the outside.

So far, Miss Chicklet has been well-behaved on the bus (knock wood), and she seems to enjoy riding in the carrier I use to transport her:

Rosa in the Baby Bjorn she rides in on the bus

She didn’t seems as excited about the car seat:

Rosa, not particularly enjoying her first car ride

Looks like we’re going to get along famously. :)

P.S. – You might have noticed a significant slowdown in posts of late (as if pregnancy didn’t slow them down enough). The first weeks of parenthood have been a bit consuming. I’ll try to do better in December, but posts will likely continue to be slow through the New Year.

Overheard, by Bus Nerd

Southbound 48, 7:15 PM–a cell phone conversation:

“If my body were a country, my hair would be the rebellion.”

Can I get an amen? Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with my flat iron.

Bus chick preparedness, part II

Last week, Cat from Kirkland sent me this question:

I have no aspirations of becoming a bus chick. However, I’m in salary negotiations for a job in downtown Seattle, which means that I may become a bus chick within a couple of weeks ([commuting] from Kirkland to downtown). I’ve been obsessing about what type of bag to carry. I normally carry a laptop bag and a purse and sometimes a small lunch bag. But, with my new transportation situation, I need an all purpose bag. I dress up and wear heels to work every day. So, already I realize that I’ll need to carry an extra pair of shoes, as well…

So bus chick – tell me – how in the world am I gonna carry all of this stuff and still look presentable? I read your post about bags, but I need specifics. I need something durable, professional, waterproof, and cute.

Interesting timing, Cat. I’m on the hunt for a new bus chick bag as well, having discovered a pretty major flaw in the Tumi soft-sided briefcase I’ve been carrying for over a year. (The strap loosens and detaches after a long period of carrying it–even with only my light laptop and my wallet.)

Readers: Any suggestions for attractive, versatile, professional bus chick bags?

A side note: I do my best to avoid carrying an extra pair of shoes unless it’s absolutely necessary and instead look for shoes that are stylish and comfortable. In the winter, that generally means heeled boots (with heels that aren’t too thin or high, of course). Then again, my job does not require me to dress professionally, so I can get away with more casual attire than, say, an attorney could. Any downtown-office bus chick types with footwear suggestions?

A weekend bus adventure

Last week, my Gail came to town to meet her new granddaughter. On Saturday morning before she returned home, the four of us (Bus Nerd, Bus Chicklet, my Gail, and me) headed to Hi Spot for brunch. Bus Nerd and I have taken the bus to Hi Spot at least a zillion times (4 + 3, 48 + 3, or short walk + 3) since we’ve been married. Unfortunately, Saturday was the first time we’d done it with an infant. Dealing with the baby in the sling, the diaper bag, and my Gail’s bus newbie status distracted Bus Nerd, and he somehow managed to drop his wallet on the 4. He realized it soon after we got off, but not soon enough to catch up to the bus.

I know from experience that losing something on the bus means waiting until the end of the day for it to be turned in to lost and found (assuming it gets turned in at all), and then waiting until the lost and found office is open to claim it. Losing a wallet is a bit more urgent than losing and umbrella or pair of gloves (my specialty), and I knew that Bus Nerd wouldn’t be able to enjoy brunch if he had to wait until Monday to find out if his wallet had been returned. So, being the resourceful bus chick I am, I suggested that he catch a cab and intercept the 4 while the wallet was still on it.

While my Gail, Chicklet, and I caught the 3 to the restaurant, Bus Nerd did just that. He called Metro from the cab, and a helpful rider information specialist kept him up to date on the 4’s progress (for once, the route’s excruciatingly slow pace was a benefit) while the cab driver gave chase. He caught up with the bus on Virginia. The driver remembered him and immediately handed him the wallet, which had been turned in by another passenger. Nothing was missing.

Wallet back in pocket, Bus Nerd took the cab to the restaurant where my Gail, Chicklet, and I were waiting, and we all enjoyed a stress-free meal. Props to the rider information specialist, the Good Samaritan passenger, and the cab and bus drivers, for making the end of this story a happy one.

An update

As promised, the rest of the story of Bus Chicklet’s arrival:

Many of you assumed from my last post that I rode the bus to the hospital while in labor. Alas! I wasn’t that heroic. The little chicklet had overstayed her welcome–enough past my due date that I had to be induced. So, on Halloween night, Bus Nerd and I rode the bus to the hospital as we had for all of my previous doctor’s appointments, sans contractions or ruptured membranes. The only difference was that we were carrying bags and feeling excited to meet our daughter.

On the day after she was born, we took our little one home on the 4. (It’s not the ideal route for an introduction to Seattle’s bus system, but at least we can be confident she’ll be ready for anything on future rides.) She rode in a car seat (you can’t take a child home from the hospital without one), but she’s enjoyed subsequent rides (on the 3, 4, and 48) in a nice, cozy sling. Of course, other than visits to the pediatrician’s office (which is a two-minute walk from our house and doesn’t require a bus ride), we haven’t taken her out much. Still, we’ve already managed to have a bus adventure. More on that tomorrow.

27 + 60 = a bus baby

Bus Baby has arrived!

Vitals

First name: Rosa, after Original Bus Chick
Middle name: Caroline, after my mom
Nickname: Bus Chicklet (thanks to the reader who suggested it last spring)
Birth date: 11/1/07
Birth time: 7:33 AM
Weight: 8 pounds, 7 ounces

We had planned a cab to the hospital, which is only a couple of miles from our house, and had also enlisted family and friends as backup transporters; however, because we had more warning than most people (more on that later), we managed to ride the bus to (27 + 60) and from (a short walk + 4) Miss Rosa’s delivery.

As you can imagine, Bus Nerd and I are a bit preoccupied (and tired!) right now, but I promise to share the whole story very soon.