My Main Man METRO Marty

After a laughter filled night drinking wine and Facebook stalking with my friend Nat the Horny Toad, I decided to be civic minded today and ride METRO for a few hours.I chose the #27 bus because it makes a loop around Houston much like 610 does but on a smaller scale. I boarded the luxury liner at Shepherd and Westheimer. As the bus stopped to pick me up, I snapped a picture of this beauty for my blog. The bus driver and an official looking METRO guy thought it was funny that I was taking pictures. I told them that I was whitegirlridingthebus, and that I had to document my journey. Whatever lady, take a seat! I sat behind a man who had fingernails that could give Howard Hughes a run for his money. Gross! He occasionally would put his hands in the air and perform some Black Swan-type moves. Too bad he got off at 11th street. Fingernail Man was the only crazy to board the bus during my two and a half hour tour.  Boring until we got to Cavalcade. Finally the seedy part of H-town. Still only a few drunks walking the side streets. We continued on to Lockwood, when the official looking METRO guy asked me if this was my first time riding the bus.Duh, I'm a pro at this. His name is Marty, and he was on #27 training the new driver, Mr. Decker. Marty is a single parent raising a 9 year old son. Bless him! He starting working for METRO in 1980 and showed me a picture to prove it. Marty left METRO to work for Nabisco, but returned to METRO twelve years ago. He is the nicest, most helpful employee I've ever dealt with. Marty told me all about the Clinton/Wayside community, and even showed me where the new tracks for the rail were being laid. I was sad to see Marty and Mr. Decker get off at the Magnolia Transit Center. We all had to change buses, and a fellow rider named Cynthia helped me out. Hell No! I couldn't take her picture but she was charming all the same. The route took us all over Houston's back forty which is largely industrial until we hit the med center. It was a non-eventful two and a half hours, so I will go back to walking and riding the bus downtown. I hope to visit with my main man METRO Marty again in the future. If you've got three hours to spare, I highly recommend (yawn) riding the Inner Loop Crosstown #27.

Heights Ashbury Coffehouse

Suffering from post-4th of July holiday blues syndrome, I decided that a nice ride on Metro would make me feel better. Boy did it! As I waited on the #81/#82 at Westheimer and Weslayan, I conversed with an urban street dweller named Curtis. I had to pay close attention to him when he spoke since he was missing all but six of his teeth. Curtis used to be a professional wrestler in South Carolina thirty years ago until his heart attack. He had that damn attack because he weighed 305 lbs. Curtis told me that Nutrisystem didn't work worth shit, so he just started walking and riding a bike (sometimes he was forced to steal a bike if someone stole his first). Exercise and living on the streets are the keys to effective weight loss. Note taken. Curtis is a man of faith, and shared with me his belief that Jesus saw to it that people would give him money in his empty Whataburger cup. You gotta love a positive thinker.
Off to my destination in The Heights: Heights Ashbury Coffeehouse. I had read about this hip, new establishment, and wanted to check it out. And I was not disappointed! The owner is Katy Whelan, and she has created a warm, groovy atmosphere for all to enjoy. My latte and breakfast taco were both wonderful, but the best thing about Heights Ashbury is the people. Katy opened this place about 3 months ago with the hope of making it a gathering place for music, coffee, poetry readings and other fun things. She definitely achieved her goal. As I enjoyed the local musical talent, I got to know Katy's boyfriend, Charlie. I liked him the minute he said he was from the Dallas area, but liked Houston much better than the Big D. Go Houston! Charlie is a photographer and beer connoisseur. Now that's a winning combination! He was so friendly that I would have bought a polaroid from him if he had pulled one out. Heights Ashbury is definitely on my list of favorite Houston coffeehouses, and I look forward to a return visit.
Time to head home. While waiting on the #26, a handsome hispanic youth with gang tattoos on his neck came up and asked me if the bus had come yet. I told him no, that it would be coming in a few minutes. He started talking about a nap, a chicken, and his mother, so I inconspicuously put my hand on my taser in my bus bag. As the bus approached, this confused lad told me "that Mexican lady across the street LIED TO ME!!! The bus hadn't come yet!" He was highly agitated about this so I kiddingly replied "you can always trust a gringa". Right when I thought I was going to get shanked, he replied "thank you ma'am". Sometimes the scariest looking/acting people end up being the nicest. Coffee and new experiences make for a memorable Sunday!