Toad also traveled with us!

Chris like everyone else wants to walk up to the sky

A thoughtful, thinking Toad

I entered the train, surprised by the heat. Standing by the horribly designed ad that said Be BART smart with an ungrinning female face peering out. It was hot unlike the air in the San Francisco station, almost like the heat had carried on the train from the East Bay.

A woman in a tank top and skirt walked out of the train at Civic Center, dropping a black sweater.

I said to her, “You dropped your…” I paused for a second not sure what it was. She hurriedly turned around and said “my sweater…” She thanked me and got out moving left. As the doors closed, I heard her smiling with her daughter walking right to where the escalators were.

A few years ago, my phone slid out of my bag while taking the bus. I got off without noticing and a man rushed out of the bus. “You forgot this!” he said and handed me my phone.

What would life had been…if I did lose it…

You know you have something in there, but it just won’t come out.

We struggled to the counter. Five people were already in line with the Plus line empty. There was an old man and his wife (or mother?) were bickering about the travel. Chris waved me away so he could prepare for his wheeling and dealing at the counter.

I happily dragged our luggage to the nearby row of chairs while Chris got in the barely marked line labeled Enterprise Plus members.

The old man with five people in front of him turned to Chris who stood alone in the Plus sections. The man gestured behind him, “Excuse me, I believe the line starts here.”

Not missing a beat, Chris replied with an assuring smile, “Oh it’s ok, I am an Enterprise Plus member.”

An expression of realization then embarrassment slowly passed over the old man’s face.

As one person finished, the Enterprise staff member looked up, “I can help the next person waiting in the Corporate line.”

Chris walked up to claim his reservation.

I refuse to take a taxi. Even when it’s late and dangerous. Even when it’s raining. I will struggle and do something so heinous (like walk alone through Soma at 11 pm at night during the weekday—as if that is dangerous) to save $5.

The exceptions to the rule are:
1. When I feel like I will die if I take another step. i.e. I am wearing stilettos or am in a very very very bad mood
2. The majority of the people I am with insist on taking a taxi (this is often the most common scenario where I find myself biting the bullet and relenting)
3. I am super super super late to something that I cannot be late for
4. Qualifies as a company expense
5. If the fare is less than 50 cents

I have returned to the dry summer weather of California. I haven’t been so much happier.

But also sad that it’s not a whole week of sleepless nights on a couch, a futon…and a place that isn’t mine…

After years of peer pressure along the lines of “a good haircut is worth it”, I finally went to a place where shampooing the hair was part of the package. Where the stylist spent some time examining the hair almost as an art.

So I did it. I finally paid $30 for a haircut. Previously, I had only paid at most $20 but even then mostly around $10 or so.

But with a real haircut, I am almost persuaded to buy hair products. The hairstyle cannot survive a morning let’s roll out of bed and out routine. It requires management.

So is that what a real good haircut means? Extra dollars for the style and the extra dollars for the hair products that may or may not keep my hair in some form for years to come. All in the pursuit of looking good?

Yesterday, I learned what a muffin top really meant. It sounds exactly what it is. Just like a muffin.