Drug dealers, buses, and the cold

So I took the Greyhound bus for the first time.
Went from Leduc to Grande Prairie. The bus
ride up was rather interesting. There was the
somewhat expected crowd of half-corked and
pierced individuals. And the line-butters. God
how I hate line butters. The ones who saddle up
beside the front of the line instead of BEHIND it
and then 'work' their way into the line.
There is a lot of line jumping in Alberta.



But most interesting of all was the "I'm not 18 yet"
drug dealer sitting behind us. She talked non-stop
about the various parties and bars she had been to
across Alberta. That must not have had enough of
a desired effect on her friends. She then proceeds to
pick up her cell phone and make various calls to her
'customers'. "I'm just coming back from Edmonton and
have a new shipment of 'you-know-what-it ends in Y' ,
I have yellows, blues, and the new sparkly pink ones."
She was especially proud of the sparkly pink ones as she
mentioned them numerous times. I do admit they sound
pretty but I don't think I'd eat one, whatever it is. Oh,
and did I mention her entire conversation was sprinkled
liberally with F's. Oh, yeah - and there was a mother and
her 7 or 8 year old kid right across the aisle from her.

So anyway, drug dealing girl puts her white leather 'bag
of goodies' in the window beside my arm. I know they were
her goodies because I saw the white zip lock bag sticking
out where she had tried to zipper the pouch. So she takes
the bag back, puts it back 4 or 5 times in the next hour or so.
Each time, she is shoving it farther and farther up the window
so it is almost right next to me at this point, totally in my space.
I'm thinking "why would she want to give me her drugs?" Then
it dawns on me, she had been mouthing off. Should the bus driver
or anyone have called the cops and they stop and search the bus,
guess who the drugs are beside? Me. So I shove the bag
waaaay back into her spot. She mumbles something under
her breath but she does not try it again.


Grande Prairie is a neat little town. Actually it's not so little.
Had a great time with the cuz and very very good food. My
poor hubby, he hardly ever gets home cooked meals. I always
feel so guilty when I see him scarfing down home made meals
like he is a starving animal. But not guilty enough to make
home cooked meals. Although I have been known to throw
some chicken or steak on, I do not prepare a typical Holiday
meal. I admit, I have never made a pie.



The trip back was less eventful. R slept most of the way and I
read manuals for my job. Some of the rumors regarding bus
travel appear to be true, such as:
1) All bus drivers are cranky
- I think it is a requirement
2) You will meet a variety of interesting individuals on the bus
- some you will wish you never met.
3) The bus ride does not seem as long as it sounds
- time goes suprisingly fast
4) and most importantly try to avoid using the bus toilet
- it is Co-ed and many users do not have good aim,
especially while moving.

Another thing I found to be true. You know when you
hear someone say "but it is a dry cold" and you think
"yeah right, whatever- cold is cold" But, there really is
a such thing as a dry cold. The morning we left to come home,
it was minus 12. Cuz told me and I said 'yeah- right' so cuz
promptly retrieves his outdoor thermometer (he was quite
proud of this thermometer) and shows me. And I can't
believe my eyes. I am standing outside, I can see my
breath, and it is not cold. R and I stood outside the Bus
terminal for 10 mins with our jackets open (sorry Mom) and
we were not cold. It was weird. And that was my trip.