[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Who Let the Dog Out?

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Who Let the Dog Out?
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1215218265.shtml


   After a morning of yard chores, I went out walking, to finish up the
   Jordan neighborhood as part of my current quest to walk all of
   Minneapolis. That's 14 down, 73 to go.
   To get there is simple, take the 5 bus at 1:04, arriving at Lowry and
   Emerson at 1:20, only this time, it was 1:50! You see, about 5 minutes
   into the trip, an amiable but disoriented German Shepherd decided to
   get on. We all thought it was a seeing eye dog at first, but while
   docile, she needed five minutes of coaxing to get off the bus.
   She then decides to relax and sprawl under the bus. The owner finally
   appeared with the leash that she had somehow escaped, but even then,
   it was a ten minute job, not without a piece of tenderloin. Add to
   this two wheelchair passengers, numerous parents with bulky strollers,
   and someone with a bicycle to mount in front. It was packed, too,
   meaning we stopped at every stop to pick up passengers, standing room
   only.
   But I was in no hurry and very pleased with the driver's professional
   handling of all of these situations. I sent Metro Transit an email
   commendation in fact. We should be praise our public servants when
   they do it right, not just carp when they don't.
   The real struggle was the walk itself, being on Weight Watchers, and
   passing one grill after another, all wafting sweet aromas at me. Let
   me tell you, there was some fine barbecuing going on in this section
   of North Minneapolis today.
   Tonight, I'll be watching The Music Man as is my July tradition, which
   is set around the Fourth of July in 1912 Iowa. A quaint town, music,
   romance, and a flim-flammer. Can't get any more American than that.