Three Reasons to Leave Work Early Today 04.22.11
We have three more:
1. A Chrome messenger bag.
2. $100 to Seed Store to get some fine duds.
3. A gift certificate for free dance lessons at Metronome Dance Collective.
Aside from roaring storytelling from our performers, the three prizes above could be yours in the audience participation part of the show. What do you say? Have we twisted your arm?
Driver 3313, the Angel on the 5-Fulton 04.21.11
Photo by Roshan Vyas
Muni rider Alex encountered a driver he described as an “angel” and “a gem.” Read on:
The driver I met on the 5-Fulton is incredible. A few stops went by after I boarded the bus, then a guy got on and told the driver he had lost his cell phone on another 5-Fulton. To my surprise, the driver let the passenger borrow his phone to try and call his lost cell phone. No luck. Soon another 5-Fulton came in the other direction, so the driver stopped to let the guy off to search the other bus. No luck again.
Our driver waited for the guy to reboard and told him that he might have a chance of finding it at the bus yard division on Geary and Masonic. The bus driver did everything he could to help this passenger. He told the passenger where to go: first go to coach cleaners, then to Dispatch, and then to Lost and Found.
I don’t know if this passenger ever found his phone. But if he did, it’s thanks to this amazing bus driver who went above and beyond.
Later that night, as we continued to go down Fulton, I chatted with the driver. We talked about why the 5 was a trolley line and how San Francisco is still one of the few transit filled cities. We talked about the Skoda buses, Owl lines, and transit in the East Bay. I told him about my school and he told me he wanted to go into the computer industry but he’s not sure which field specifically.
Linux, Mac, so many choices, he said.
I was enjoying chatting with him so much I considered going back to Ocean Beach on the 5 just so I could listen to him. But as many Muni rides tend to go, some unexpected drama had other plans for my evening. Once we got to Hyde, two passengers who got on were accusing another woman of stealing a wallet. The driver called 911, and soon police officers came.
I’m not sure what happened at the end of the night after I left, but this driver is now my favorite! I think I’ll be taking the 5-Fulton more often around midnight — at least it is more interesting.
Thanks, driver 3313, for being my hero!
Tell a Muni Story, Win a Chrome Messenger Bag 04.21.11
If you get up on stage to tell a Muni story during the audience story portion of Muni Diaries Live, you can win a Chrome messenger bag!
Chrome says that their bags are weatherproof and city-proof. By the looks of it, I would guess that they’re Muni/Caltrain-proof, too. When I picked up the bag from the very nice folks at Chrome, I was very tempted to keep it for myself. But you know what? I have ethics. Take a look at this bag:
Look at what this bag can do:
Essentials. ‘Nuf said, right?
The reviews for this bag are as awesome as the bag itself. Reviewers call this bag “sweet,” “killer,” and “legit beyond all means.” Chrome also has men’s and women’s clothing (even socks), all extremely functional for the urban dweller and totally anti-nonsense. So get your story ready for tomorrow. This bag (street cred optional) can be yours.
‘I Learned How to Get Pills on My First Muni Ride’ 04.21.11
Photo by shanan
Justin recently arrived in SF. Welcome, Justin. Take it away!
And this was the first thing I heard:
GIRL 1: Crap, you know what? I don’t think I have any more pills.
GIRL 2: Really? I thought Chris still had some from the knee thing?
GIRL 1: Nooo, those are long gone. I’m talking about from what Julie had left.
GIRL 2: Oh! Did I tell you what me made Jeff do last month? We were at (some bar I don’t remember the name of) and decided we needed some Vicodin. Nobody had any so we convinced Jeff to go to the ER and get some.
GIRL 1: Shut. the Fuck. Up. Did it work?
GIRL 2: Yeah we just told him to make something up, so we found a clinic within walking distance and he walked in and put “Gout” on the form they handed him. Voila! Vics.
GIRL 1: Huh. (thinks for a second) What’s gout?
GIRL 2: Um, I actually don’t know.
I had to hide my screen as I was tweeting this, that’s how close the quarters were that day. I guess they just didn’t care who heard.
Thanks for sharing, Justin. Now, dear reader, it’s your turn to share your Muni story.
Kids on Muni not tooting 04.20.11
By goofcitygoof, from the Muni Photos Flickr pool. Add your Muni photos today!
(the headline refers to this morning’s post on Muni Diaries)
Tell a Muni Story, Win $100 From Seedstore 04.20.11
Tell a 1-2 minute Muni story on stage during the audience portion of Muni Diaries Live this Friday and you might win one of the great prizes from one of our sponsors. These prizes will rock the pants off any Muni rider (hopefully not literally).
Seedstore, the impeccably curated boutique in the Inner Richmond, is giving the best audience storyteller an $100 gift certificate to the store. You can use it toward any of the goodies at the store, like Joe’s Jeans, dresses from Free People, Pendleton blankets, and lots of other brands for men and women. Seedstore has a lot of love for the Inner Richmond neighborhood, which features prominently in their lookbook:
And…
Yup. Fashion shoot at a Muni shelter! Seedstore also has a blog where you can keep up with the latest happenings at the shop.
So, get your story ready for the audience portion of Muni Diaries Live this Friday so you can win this Seedstore gift certificate.
Stay tuned for more prize information this week. Tomorrow: Chrome Bags.
Criminal flatulence on the 1-California 04.20.11
Photo by davitydave
Here’s Muni rider Rachel’s contribution to Cute Week on Muni Diaries:
A typical packed 1-California on a Saturday …
The mom and son are practicing the street names (“What comes after Larkin?”), when the mother suddenly looks at the girl and says, “Who stinks? Is that you who stinks?”
The little boy, squirming in his seat, says, “It was me!” His mom laughs, but tells him sternly, “Well, you need to say excuse me to all the people when you do that.” He says, “Excuse me,” and then, with a worried look on his face asks, “Will they throw me in jail?”
See? Farts can be cute.
Raining dogs and dogs on Muni 04.19.11
Yes, it’s true: We never get tired of seeing adorable doggies on Muni. Muni rider “D” has the details:
So I was on the outbound 38 Geary after the Cherry Blossom Festival. At the following stop another large group of people got on and lo and behold this cute little face was staring back at me!
Everyone who was close enough got to pet him (her?) and the pup was sweet enough to lick everyone’s hands who had just petted him. Everyone was smiling, oohing, and awwing and his little tail wagged with sheer happiness that so many people were enjoying his company.
Alas, being so cute can be tiring so a nap was called for.
Tell us about the beings, four-legged or two-legged, that you saw on Muni today.
Rick-Rolled on the 8BX 04.19.11
Andrea had a Muni ride to be so, so envious of. Andrea?
We got to the second verse when he turned off the radio and sang, through the intercom, Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up.” The entire song. If I hadn’t lost my voice, I would have sung along with him, but the bus remained silent. Not even a chuckle. I wish I thought to record it.
Everything about this story is rad. Journey. A Muni driver with a wicked sense of humor. Man.
Thanks for sharing your Muni story, Andrea!
Photo Diary: Swimming in the Muni Tracks 04.18.11
Patrick explains why San Francisco is such a great city for photographers.
“Compared to the relatively small midwest community I came from, there seems to be a photo opportunity around every corner here, whether it be the stunning vistas from the many hills, the architecture, the fog (which I’ve not spent a lot of time in so far), classic cars or the multi-cultural riches. A photographer’s paradise.”
Or a koi caught in the train tracks.
Read the rest of his interview.
Ride Muni like a boss. Our Fast Pass Clipper card holders and Muni Diaries T-shirts are all on sale 
