| Go Greyhond! (Lose your sanity!) |
[Jan. 12th, 2009|01:26 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | Fort Hood, Texas | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  mellow | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | "Something In Your Mouth" - Nickleback | ] |
My first experience with Greyhound was last October when we took a Greyhound to have a day trip in Chicago. It cost $20 for a roundtrip (and I still got 10% off because of my military ID) that lasted only about an hour and a half, two hours.
The story of my Greyhound trip began when Chris and I went to purchase plane tickets for me to come down to Texas only to discover the $350 round trip ticket went up by three hundred dollars. Dismayed, Chris brought up the idea of taking a bus...but it was a twenty-eight hour trip. Not to mention, hundreds of dollars cheaper. Plus with the bus, I would be able to see him five days earlier than we initially planned. At the moment, I was all on board with it. I soon recalled all the Greyhound horror stories and I felt very reluctant to take the bus.
Obviously I did.
I would like to emphasis one point: I have a lot of clothes. I love every article of clothes. Packing for two weeks and packing light was very difficult. I packed everything up, changed my mind, repacked. I then decided I packed too much, unpacked, and then repacked once more, tossing a lot of stuff out. I also decided I am going to have to let go of a few pairs of shoes. Chris protested that I should repack my heavy suede boots. Bah on him! If I had to take another pair of shoes along, it was going to have been my Harley Davidson boots. But I digress. The point I am trying to make is my suitcase was HEAVY! Chris gave me his ACU duffle bag that is supposed to be carried like a backpack; no wheels.
I managed to pick it up, walk from my room to the bathroom, weigh myself. I took the bag off and then weighed myself for comparison. The thing weighed 48 pounds! I then put it on, and walked into the living room with it so I could put it in the car when I left. When I did, I just dragged it to the car.
My mom dropped me off at the Milwaukee Greyhound station. I thought I was going to look all badass with an ACU duffle bag. I went to pick the bag up and couldn’t. I tried sitting on the ground, putting the bag on. I looked pretty silly trying to stand up, so I decided the whole trip, I am just going to have to drag the bloody thing. Lovely! I knew it was my fault for packing too much. In my defense, I’m here for two weeks and am apprehensive about doing laundry in the barracks unless I head over to the female side and pretend I’m a soldier.
I was advised to show up an hour before my bus left. To pass the time, I plugged my cell phone in and called my friend Allison and talked to her until I had to board the bus for Chicago. The ride there was really nice, I was expecting it to be more cramped. At the back of Greyhound busses are three seats and they were all vacant. I decided to plop down so I could stretch out. The ride to Chicago was really nice, I was just laying down and enjoying the ride. I figured I would get sick of my books (I packed five of them) and the Gameboy my friend Adam loaned me was not going to last forever.
I got to Chicago around 1:15 in the morning, dragging my suitcase behind me. Using my best military voice I asked someone if they would kindly watch my ACU bag for a moment. I grabbed my purse and carry-one bad to freshen up a little in the restroom and grab some food. (I was starving!)
The menu had no vegetarian friendly options and I could imagine the kind of grease that was on the fries and onion rings, so I opted to raid some vending machines and get some fruit. I then decided that my feet were already beginning to sweat and with over twenty-four hours of travel, I did not know when I was going to get another chance to take my shoes off. I went back to my bag and dragged it to the bathroom. Some unsupervised little girl was making a mess of the bathroom and I just ignored her as I put on more deodorant and began digging in my bag for my sandals.
The girl saw my bag. Deciding I was more interesting, she stopped playing with the dryers and began watching me. Since I was not prepared to wear my expensive wedding ring on a Greyhound bus for a long time, I slipped it off and put it on my keychain.
“You’re a soldier?” she asked me. She was kind of annoying me in the bathroom with her destroying it, so I lied to her and told her I was. At least I was paying more attention to her than her parent.
“Are you married?” she proceeded to ask when she saw my ring. I told her I was. She asked me where my husband was. I told her the truth; he was in Texas and I was on my way to see him. She asked a few more questions about me, was fascinated at my wedding ring. It was cute but she eventually got bored and began playing with the sinks.
I moved to where the gate was supposed to be, propped my luggage against a wall. After a few minutes, I began to wondered why no one else was lining up. I then notice a line out of the kiddy corner of my eye. Curious, I wander over and ask if this was the line to Kansas City. Getting a ‘yes,’ I grab my stuff and run in line. I’m the last one on the bus and I know I am going to have to sit next to someone over night. I know it sounds really spoiled of me, but it was an overnight bus ride. I have endocrine problems (thanks Type 1 Diabetes for running in the family! =D) and as a result---it happens to almost all diabetics--I have leg problems that I am suspecting is neuropathy. So my legs just start screaming at me if my blood sugar levels start acting up, at night, or if I am sitting in a cramped place. It isn’t terrible and my mom gave me some pills she takes for her legs to calm mine, but I just wanted to avoid
Chagrined, I begin walking down the isle and look for someone decent and sane looking. Someone I briefly spoke to on the bus offered me to sit next to him and I was all too happy to accept the offer. We chatted for a bit and then the sleeping pills I took in Chicago began to kick in and I crashed around 2:00am. I woke up around 3:30 because of a pit stop and we all had to get off the bus. Feeling like a zombie, I wandered into the gas station there and was happier than anything to find out they had Peach Mango Fuzes there! I bought two along with some mini doughnuts. I then went back on the bus and eventually feel back asleep, only to be woken up an hour later for another pit stop. The driver turned the lights on and announced he was getting a cigarette break. I got up once more because my seatmate (whose name was funnily enough, Chris) wanted to get a cigarette. I moved to the window seat (duuuumb move!) and fell back asleep an hour or so later. I slept until about sunrise.
By this time, my seatmate is annoying me. He talks about partying and all the places he’s been and done yet bitches about how poor he is. He mentions all these towns and asks if I have been to them. “No, I have not really traveled outside the Midwest.” Apparently I would like all sorts of towns in the world. Meanwhile, someone close to me decided that I was his long-lost soulmate the night before. He kept going on about how pretty my hair was and asked if he could touch it a few times. I told him I was married and he did not get the hint. Another guy from behind us plus my seatmate told him to back off and eventually, he did.
The seatmate seemed decent enough, but I am just not a chatterbox. Especially when trying to sleep. I’ll talk for a while but after a while, I get annoyed with talking. I doubt digging my dead iPod---I grabbed the one that had no power. Yes, I have two iPods. I lost one, went out bought another one, then a month later, found it---and listening to it would have stopped anyone from being Chatty Cathy.
We arrive in St. Louis around 9am, an hour later than we are supposed to. Once more, we are all made to get off the bus and I hope to snag a seat from someone that just left. I grab my stuff and put it on an open seat. After getting off the bus, the three people I was talking to (my seatmate and the guy behind us) were just standing and talking. Remembering my Greyhound horror stories, I make sure that my luggage is still on the bus. I’m a bit paranoid, but it is better than losing my stuff! We are then told to wait in the station. I was miffed at this. Compared to Wisconsin, it was a nice temperature.
As we are walking into the station, we see a huuuge line waiting for people to board the bus. We have priority seating, but I was still concerned on how PACKED the bus was going to be. People were sitting by themselves during the ride down to St. Louis, but not now. My seatmate tells me to put my stuff back at his seat. I then learn that the people in the long line at the station have spent the night there. If they did not make this bus, then the next one was going to be at six o’clock at night. I felt so bad for them. It was one of the things I was warned about in reading the Greyhound horror stories. As selfish as it sounds, I was glad it was not me in that position.
I ate my meager breakfast of the mini doughnuts from the night before while I hear chatting. The guy behind me said to my seatmate. “I sure wish I had a pretty girl to travel with.” He saw my WTF expression and amended, “you probably think you look like shit, but compared to some of these people here, you’re hot.”
Thanks...?
We board the bus, I grab my stuff and move it back to who I was sitting next to before. Luckily for me, my soulmate is no longer on the bus...then again, if he was, it was so crowded I could probably not see him. Around 11:00, I start becoming paranoid. If the bus doesn’t make it to Kansas City on time, I’m hella screwed on getting to my final destination in Killeen on time.
I call Chris, who in turn calls Greyhound and talks with them. He informs me that the bus going to Dallas in running late and they will hold the bus regardless for thirty minutes. My seatmate goes on, pointing a bunch of stuff out about Missouri and really...don’t care. I begin a book I was halfway through and just nod my head at the appropriate moments. He then starts on about how happy he is to be going home. Great for you, I have another looong time ahead of me. Around that time, my need for a shower really kicks in. Despite using Wet Ones to keep me clean, I do not smell as nice as I am used to and my hair is driving me crazy.
When we got off the bus, the driver moved the bag for me to the appropriate station. Always paranoid, I checked to make sure it was there. I then decided I needed some food, greasy as hell or not. After I checked with the front desk, I learn that the bus is leaving in twenty, so I go and freshen up once more and happily went to get some food. I initially ordered some Grilled Cheese and the women making the food said no dice. So I settled on some fries. I went to check on my carry-on and jacket. I wandered around the Kansas City station for a minute and then went to check on the food. Ten more minutes pass and I just am tempted to ask for a refund. An order of fries come up and I go to claim it, only to be told it is not for me. I show them my receipt and tell them I ordered them. Apparently they forgot all about it.
I tend to think it is because I am like the only white person in the place ordering food so they confidently forgot about my order. I grew up in Milwaukee, the most segregated city in the US. Minorities bitch that they are treated unfairly, but depending on what side of town one is on, Caucasians are discriminated against just as much. I make no claim to suffer the same treatment so many minorities do, but everyone is treated like crap because of the color of their skin at one point.
Seeing as how my bus is scheduled to leave in a few minutes, I stand in line and eat my really hot food as fast as I can. I don’t get very far and end up throwing my food away. As I board the bus, I am beyond thrilled to see that it is not full at all! The bus departs at 1:00am. While boarding, I notice the guy that I saw since Milwaukee and find out he is heading towards Fort Hood as well.
I move towards the back and set up camp there. I finish my book and then go to my book on Roman life and culture. (Hellz to the yes! I’m a nerd, but I love stuff like that.) I feel a bit tired, and fall asleep. I wake up around 3:00 and notice the backseat is open. I immediately move all my stuff there and am beyond happy. I read for the rest of the way.
We stop at Wichita. I wish we had more time because I notice a Sonic not too far from the place and wanted to jog there, grab a smoothie, then jog back. Yet I know I had no time for it, so I contend myself to wander around Kansas for a bit. (Which by the way, is flat and boring.)
As I am boarding the bus, the man who is heading towards Fort Hood begins talking to me about why I am going there. Chris and his son are in the same unit-ish. He then heads back to his seat and inquired how I am getting to the base. I said my husband has friend picking him up. He asks me to call him and see if he can hitch a ride. I love being put on the spot! I could have lied and pretended to call Chris and say he was not answering, but I had a feeling it would backfire. Chris of course, being the nice guy he is, says yes. I wanted to get to the base and shower. The last time I had a bad feeling about someone and said yes to a request when I should have said no, I had a hell of an night! I wonder how he was supposed to even get on base, he had no military identification card. As I pondered that, I got a bit worried.
The bus finally departs and I begin talking with someone in front of me. It was nice for half an hour or so, then I wanted to play some video games. It was dark out and of course, the overhead lights are not working. I play Final Fantasy 6. I got a bit stuck, so I decide that the light showing everyone where the bathroom was makes an adequate reading light and read for a while. I wake up at Oklahoma City and some man initially wants to sit in the end seat. So I move my belongings and he sits down. This man smells...terrible. Oh my god. I wanted to scream. Eventually, he moves and starts chatting up a storm with someone nearby. I’m fine with that.
Around 8:00, I take a sleeping pill and it kicks in at 9-ish. I fall asleep and I am used to ignoring screaming children and just ignore this child that kept carrying on. I know blaming the babies is silly. I just think it is foolish of parents to take their infants on a long bus ride. When it is a necessity, it is a necessity, but why not for something to make your child more comfortable? The economy is bad, but is bad for everyone. I know I would try to avoid travel if I had a sick child or a tiny little baby.
I forgot to mention earlier that this one big woman, since Kansas City kept speaking loudly, calling me “that skinny ass white girl.” At first, I thought she was going to start something but I just keep ignoring her. Which I am sure pissed her off. Yikes!
Anyway, I finally wake up around 2:00. The bus was supposed to arrive in Dallas at 1:00. The bus to Killeen was supposed to depart at 2:15. The bus shows up in Dallas at 2:20. As I am getting off the bus, I hear “last call to Killeen.”
I could not find my ticket. I remember I put my tickets in the same place and they were there when I left Wichita. I freak and I know there is no time to talk the station into printing me out another ticket. I go around the bus to find my bag and it isn’t there. Wonderful! Fucking wonderful!
I go to the bus and it is already on the bus to Killeen. I then end up talking to the driver and he lets me on the bus! I was so worried. I get a seat and the man who is mooching a ride off of Chris’ friend sits next to me and begins chatting. He falls asleep and I am looking out the window, thanking every fiber of my being this is the last bit of the trip. I feel so gross and my limbs ache. I take note of how dark everything is. Eventually, I pull out Final Fantasy 6 and start playing until around 4:30. I had about twenty more minutes, but I was too excited to keep playing. I turn off the Gameboy and look out the window once more. Eventually, the bus pulls off the highway. For a town the size of Killeen, the bus station was awfully far! (And at least along the airport, they had a Sonic and Jack in the Box...smoothies!)
Finally, we pull into the station at 5:02am. The woman that was giving me shit before swears at me a few times to get out of her fucking way. I am moving as fast as I can. But at that point, I am so annoyed, I turn around and tell her exactly where she could shove it. Maybe I said something else, very unladylike but I did not care. I grab my stuff and get off the bus. The woman is about to start something, but Chris spots me (thank goodness!) He grabs my bag. The man who wanted a ride disappeared into the station. At that point, I forgot all about him until we got to the car. I did not care, that guy was kind of creepy. Then again, compared to the other creepers
We stopped at McDonald’s for breakfast and Chris snuck me into the barracks. I never want to see a bus ever again. Ever. I also need to make a mental note not to come home when the cell phone bill gets there because of all the times I accessed Facebook in my phone.
(I didn't proofread this. Bite me.) |
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