So, I thought I was being really smart.

I have to wait for the Forty Acres and Red River buses every day of the week and it seems that lately, those waits have lasted around 15 to 20 minutes (I never get to the bus stops at the right time). Texas has been enduring uncharacteristic 30 degree weather, which has rekindled many local weathermen and women's passions and abilities to overreact, and so 20 minutes feels a lot longer than 20 minutes. I love the cold and all, but I don't like just standing in it; I prefer to be on the go. This is why I think New York City would suit me so well -- I want to pull my hair out when there are slow pedestrians around me. Aren't you going to be late for class? Aren't you afraid of getting fat?



Today I didn't rush to the bus stop after class -- I picked up a coffee instead and then went to the bus stop. This way, I could keep a little warm with some hot, caffeinated liquid during my two 20-minute waits.

(And yes, I could walk to the Red River bus in the same time it would take for me to wait for the Forty Acre bus and take it to the Red River bus, but on that odd occasion that it is extra speedy, it can save me some time and also, after class, I'm dead tired in my mind and my body. Three hour-and-a-half lectures in a row today! Ugh! Whenever you sign up for a history class, in particular, you know it's going to be 100% lecture format. And that's super unfortunate. Why is it that history professors are the least interesting and entertaining professors in the whole university? Why do they always have the most monotone voices? Historians tell stories, pretty much, so I think maybe they should start taking a few hints from Steven Spielberg or something.)

Anyways, for some reason, to my surprise, both the Forty Acres and Red River buses came to me right away, as though they could smell my coffee from miles away. And they were each completely packed with people. If the Forty Acres bus ever was part of a "clown car" act of any sort (and I know it's a big bus, so that would destroy the purpose of the joke, but I digress), the act would never ever end. During any kind of weather that's not beautiful and sunny, that thing is just spilling over with people -- I sometimes feel I'm 9-years-old again and playing "sardines" when this happens. And then I'm reminded if there was an accident of any kind, we would all be squashed to death.

So anyways, both buses were full. This meant that I had to squeeze in and grip a horizontal little pole (on both bus rides; thankfully they're short). I had a lot of trouble finding my leverage and almost fell down for a brief half-second. Hopefully no one noticed, but I think they did and just were polite enough not to react with facial expressions or laughter.

Do you want to know why I couldn't find my balance though? I had a cup of coffee in my hand!