More public transportation fun

I'm dabbling with another post, but in the mean time, I'll go ahead and re-address the fun times of my life via public transportation.  A lot of you have asked me if I've had any more bus encounters, often stating that it's kind of too bad that I switched my commute as I could have had a lot more funny stories to tell.  While I somewhat agree, I must say that honestly, I was really creeped out by it.  It's funny to read about and it was even funny to write, but I left out the details of every interaction I had and thus, my very concerned and freaked out feelings.  It's hard to verbalize feelings.  And sometimes you just can't put your finger on what exactly is making you feel that way.  All I know was that I was extremely uncomfortable with both of these men and all I could think about was getting AWAY from them.

I am happy to say that nothing in my brushes with people since then compares to the fools I mentioned in my previous post!  I have happily and thankfully adjusted my commute home from work to avoid any possible encounter with "Dude" and "Guy".  You have no idea what relief this brings me!!

I mostly enjoy my new way home.  When there is nice weather, I even opt to walk the 1+ mile home instead of take the bus.  This saves me a buck-something, PLUS I don't have to worry about leaving the gym at a certain time to catch the last bus and I get to enjoy being outside.

However, there are a few semi-crazy things that I've come across in my day to day commute , including

• Man smelling overwhelmingly like garlic hummus
• Woman wearing layers of clothing, including winter coat, fishing vest and fanny pack -- when it is 75 degrees outside
• Lady trying to shove her folded crumpled dollar bill through the slot to pay.  Tried over and over and over again.  Ummmm.  ??  How about unfold it, smooth it out and be a normal person
• One evening as I was walking home from the gym, I noticed a guy in slacks and a button up collared  shirt walking towards me.  We made eye contact from far away, and then I averted my gaze to the sidewalk again until the obligatory moment when he got close enough for me to acknowledge his presence with a half-smile, head nod or a brief "hello".  As I was about to perform one of these 3 actions, he stops to say something to me.  I pull out one of my earbuds so I could hear what he was saying.  Turns out it was this: "Hey, I'm headed to Pentagon City if you need a ride."  Hmmm.  Odd.  My response: "Oh, that's OK.  I live not too far away.  Thanks though."  Him: "Well, it was worth a shot, right?"  .............  Then he turns around and we walk with eachother for an awkward half a block until he gets to his car which is parked crookedly in the 7-11 parking lot...  I'm very confused by this.  Did he drive past me, park at the 7-11 and then walk up the street to come talk to me to offer me a ride?  So weird.
• One morning as I was waiting for the bus stop, I notice a person riding a bike towards me with a very upright posture.  Picture stereotypical gay guy riding a beach cruiser or something.  Yeah.  it was like that. And the dude was wearing a huge mushroom-ish helmet.  Anyway, I naturally was watching him as he came closer so I could see his sorry face.  But ALAS! It was ME who was sorry!  Because it was DUDE.  The bus-stalker!!  Mr. "Do You Remember" !!!  I was horrified and turned my whole body away from him.  I know he saw me, though.  Ugh.

***************************************UPDATE!!********************************

OK.  Creepy.  I wrote the upper part of this post a couple of days ago.  This morning I saw that I had a notification from Facebook saying I had a personal message to read.  It was from Brian.  Brian the DUDE!!  I can't even believe it.  I semi-recognized the name and profile picture from an earlier friend request 3 weeks ago.  I didn't put 2 and 2 together then; didn't realize it was THIS guy.  And since I determined that I didn't know him, I declined his friend request.  THANK GOODNESS!  Anyway, so he sends me the following message:

Emily,

With a morning German class and other commitments, I was unable to look you up till now..."it is complicated".

I would like to hear your side of the story, I honestly thought we were casually flirting.

If not I thank you for brightening up an other wise dull bus trip and wish you the best.

Brian

See what he did there with the mention of his German Class?  Because I went to Germany and mentioned I wanted to take German again.  UGH.  Wow, Brian.  Now I want to marry you.  Oh, and he was "just" able to look me up NOW -- not 3 weeks ago when I got the friend request from him?  (I searched through my emails to find the friend request from Facebook to get the date)  I'm even more creeped out by him than before.  I didn't know this was possible.  How did he find me?!  I never told him my last name.  Did he search through every Emily in my city?  How did he know it was me from my profile picture?  It's not like my picture is a close-up of my face and I am easily recognizable in it.  I just don't even know what to do.  Do I respond to this saying leave me the $*%& alone?  Or do I just ignore it?  Geez.  This is just crazy.  Crazy people are exhausting.

I'm exhausted.

Have I mentioned that I'm ready for a vacation?