XU and bus rides

To escape the absolute zero that is downtown Phoenix, I paid $2.50 today for an all-day bus pass. Two buses and an hour an 10 minutes later, I was in Scottsdale. Buses are aliens in Scottsdale, Phoenix's version of, I dunno, Beverly Hills.

I love public transportation. One, because it's the most egalitarian way to travel. If you ever ride the El in Chicago, from the airport to downtown, you will encounter every walk of life. (And many limps of life.) The train/bus doesnt care who you are or how much money you make. It goes the same speed for everyone. I once rode the train in from Ohare in a crowded compartment with a bag lady, going from face to face asking for money. She told an incredibly sad story about her son who was killed in Vietnam. As she worked her way up the aisle, you could see the Suits ease their newspapers from their laps to practically on top of their heads.

One other time, I rode the Pacific Coast train from San Diego to San Juan Capistrano, just for the hell of it. (Highly recommend it; lots right along the ocean. Stop at San Clemente Beach.) Anyway, I'm a seat in front of this man and woman. They are strangers in San Diego. An hour later, they're arm in arm when they get off at San Juan Cap. I'll always wonder what happened.

The bus here is Latins, African Americans, street people and me. Some are going to work, some are killing time. "How are you?'' from one guy is answered "I lost my house, dude'' by another. "Where you living?'' is followed by "on the street.''

Scottsdale is very nice, in a rich-people kind of way. But I did find a hole-in-the-wall, honest-to-Dios Mexican place for lunch, which made 2 1/2 hrs on the bus worth it. Plus, it's 85 and sunny here and there's lots to look at, if youknowwhuttamean.

As for the game... X wins if they hold J. Alexander to his average (17), defend the 3 and break even on the boards. X loses if Lavender has a bad night and the refs let everyone play. I say X has too much talent for the U. of Huggs... 68-65...