If I Could Marry A/C I Would

A coworker and I were going to walk home from work last night until I received a call from Agie saying this:

"I am walking outside right now and can't breathe. My throat is dry and my tongue feels as though a layer of dirt is on it. And I've only gone 2 1/2 blocks. Don't walk!"

So I opted for the bus. My coworker had to stick around later than I did so I headed out on my own. Just as I began to appreciate the soft breeze blowing as I stood waiting for the next bus a man who can only be described as creepy and troll-like lit up a cigarette. There is little in this world I find more disgusting than smoking on a Code Red day with temperatures above 100 (the fact that the gas station in our neighborhood allegedly sells mayonnaise by the scoop is up there). He ruined my breeze that bastard and on top of it he kept pacing closer and closer to me. Thankfully a bus came about five minutes later. Unfortunately all the windows were open which meant no a/c. Normally it isn't too bad. You can get a cross breeze going if the bus doesn't have to stop too often. If it does it can get to be an oven inside (see previous story about hellish commute). I got a prime seat by a window and settled in with my pod for the ride home. Just as I began to enjoy the soft breeze blowing in the window the creepy, troll-like smokey man sat right in front of me. The odor that emanated from this man was a combination of not bathing and a stale, burnt cigarette smell. It was nauseating. I couldn't get off that bus fast enough.

This morning's commute (it feels odd to call it that since it's only about a 10-15 minute bus ride) was much more pleasant. The bus was cool and just a bit crowded but not too. I got off at the stop I usually do so I could cut across the park. It's a bit longer but a really lovely way to start the day. The park is so lush and green and the fountain is refreshing. Unfortunately, the fountain was being cleaned and after waiting on the corner for less than a minute sweat was forming on my forehead from just standing in the sun. It was 8:35 am.

Needless to say, I was a bit crabby. And then I saw that practically every bench in the park (it's a full city block - lots of benches) had a homeless person on it probably literally close to dying from the heat. My life is not that bad.