This blog is your blog

Yes, that’s right.  Twofer!  (Two-for-one.)  Why?  Because the second adventure nipped at the heels of the first adventure, and the disparities (and sad similarities) between the two simply must be presented together.  Stephe, now that I know you read this, I must say: I tried to post that OJ entry sooner, but something went wrong with my technology.  We’re back on track now.

I am fortunate to live in a city that is on the BART line.  Mik and I have discussed the relative merits of public transportation (mostly) nationwide as well as (a little bit) internationally, but that is a post for another time.  I have spent countless hours on BART during my going-on-nine years in the Yay, most of which were accrued during this school year.  And so, without further ado, I bring you Two Bart Adventures.

Preface

Thursday night: Prohibition Party at Aquadelt.  Stay over at Elaine’s place (Theta).  Katharine steps on me in the middle of the night, but all is otherwise well.  I have a quiz the following morning, and then Brittany schleps me home to get de-ickified.  (In my defense, I wasn’t that icky.  But, I didn’t shower at Theta.  That is all.)

Part I

Nancy hosted Taco Fiesta Night (there were tacos to eat, sangria and tequila to drink, and Nancy/Matt/Matt’s Sigma Pi bros to accompany) on Friday, so I headed back up to Berkeley after undergoing ritualistic hygienization.  At Lake Merritt, a young man was looking at the timetable.  I noted Greek letters on his sweatshirt, the sleeve of which bearing an embroidered “US Army.”  We’ll call him Kevin, because, well…that’s his name.  As the Richmond train pulled into the station, he asked if it was the right one for Berkeley.  I nodded the affirmative, and we hied ourselves aboard.  I sat down, he sat down in the row in front of me, and across the aisle sat a mother with a child next to her, two children in the row behind her, and still another child in the row behind them.  Oh dear.

The mother+brood offboarded (note the BART terminology) at 19th Street, but one child’s zip-off hood lay on the seat.  I dashed after them and handed her the hood.  Upon my return, the young man said, “Wow, people are so friendly up here.  In soCal, no one would care.”  I half-heartedly wished I looked cuter that night, but since I was all bundled up (it was cold!) and wearing my glasses, I shrugged at such girliness and smiled back politely.  (Recurring trend.)  Eventually, we got to talking though.  Mundane things like…

Him: So, how many more stops are there?
Me: Three.
Him: *checks mobile*
Me: Oh, you’ll have reception at the next station [MacArthur]
Him: Whoa, you read my mind!

We discussed why we were each BARTing to Berkeley…

Him: I live in soCal, but I’m up here for work.
Me: Oh, for what?
Him: Military intelligence.
Me: Cool.  In Dublin?
Him: Yeah…and I figured I’d visit some friends in Berkeley.  So what are you doing?
Me: Well, I went home for a bit, but now I’m going back up.
Him: Oh, going out tonight?
Me: Naw.  I went out last night, so my friend and I are just gonna chill tonight.
Him: *half smirk* Hungover?
Me: Oh please.  I do not get hangovers.  [KNOCK ON WOOD]

And then…

Him: You’ll have to show me how Berkeley girls do it!
Me: Ha!
Him: You should take me to some Asian parties.
Me: Um.  I don’t really do that…
Him: Oh?
Me: Well, Asian sororities scare me…
Him: There’s gotta be a story behind that!

[Insert story of the night Mik and I ran into drunk Asian sorority bunnies.  Like, dressed in bunny costumes.]

Me: And Asian frats were never that appealing to me.
Him: I guess I’d better take my sweatshirt off, then!
*oops*
Me: Wait.  Explain this to me.  Army…and fraternity?
Him: Well, I’m in the Reserves.
Me: And otherwise…?
Him: I go to U$C.  [ew]

There were some undercurrents.  Nothing overt or sketch, but just some talk of how his plans for the night weren’t yet finalized, what were my plans, &c.  Really, it was a pity that a) I wasn’t feeling cute [I know the point was that he thought I was cute, but the flirt muscles weren't working, okay?  Not that they ever do...], b) he was only up for the weekend, and c) I already had plans.  I did give him a chance, though, at the end.  Walking out of BART, I asked, “Are you sure you aren’t going to get lost?”  He could have responded along the lines of, “Well, if I do, can I call you?” or something like that.  Nope.  Instead…

Him: Well, thanks!  *Hug*
Me: ???

Part II

I stayed over at Nancy’s place that night.  It was good.  Margaritas are good.  Sangria is good.  Tequila is my friend.  The next day, we went to Fat Apple’s for brunch.  PUMPKIN PANCAKES.  Hurrah.  Then, women’s basketball game against the ‘furd.  *Sigh*  It was an exciting game with an unfortunate outcome.  Interesting diversion: I was invited to try out to be a Mic Man.  As we walked home, we got rained on.  Bummer.

So, back to BART.  The man sitting near me said something.

Me: ?  *Eyebrows scrinched*
Him: Oh, I was just testing you.  That was Korean.  I like your glasses.
Me: Thanks.  *Polite smile*

I returned to my book (Pride and Prejudice, don’tcha know?), but he kept talking to me.  Seriously?  Note that, at this point, I was still all bundled up and wearing my glasses.  In addition, I hadn’t just gone home to shower, and keep in mind the drenching.  Suffice it to say, I was not in top form.  Not even middling.  Just before his stop he said, “So, maybe we could do dinner sometime.”

Me: Oh.  Well.  I’m really busy.
Him: Too busy even for a phone call?
Me: You know, with school and everything…
Him: Well, hopefully, you won’t be so busy the next time I run into you.  And, you should learn Korean.

And he peaced out.  WHAT KIND OF LINE IS THAT!?  You should learn Korean.  Yeah, if I’d like to get beaten.

Moral of the Story

Don’t shower, and get asked out!