Welcome back

your avatar doesn't count anymore?

Depends...I don't think it's funny, but I guess your results may vary. 

You are very, very special. And not short bus special. 

what a nice thing to say.

There's nothing wrong with Short Bus special.

I left out "not that there's anything wrong with that." 

Its not that great, especially when you're driving a short bus, they go faster and get tickets.

Yeah- I have a lead foot too- I don't think I'd be a good bus driver.  Especially driving the long bus.  I probably wouldn't give myself enough time to stop and end up rear ending people all the time.  And then the children might complain about their necks hurting and I'd get sued!

out of context, really really funny.

I was being serious Scott!  I think about the bus driver thing all the time.  Especiallly when I see a bus with kids jumping around all the over the place, and when the bus turns corners, and can't get over into another lane because nobody lets them over.  I always wonder- how do those bus drivers handle it???  But yeah- guess it's funny out of context.

[further hijack] 

I drove a school bus for 10 years, had a 75-mile route to a local state university, college students, left early morning and returned late in the evening. Real peaceful job, everyone would either sleep or study. This was how I paid my way through college, bachelor and masters degree as well as a whole lot of screwing around (literally crammed six years of college into ten).

It's also how I met my wife, she was a student/passenger on the long bus. After the state eventually cut out the route (else I might still be driving it!), I sold my bus and bought an engagement ring with the proceeds. Thus I tell everyone I traded in my bus for my wife.

[/further hijack] 

So how did you actually meet your wife?  One day did she get on the bus and slip you a note?  Or did she deliberatly fall walking up the bus steps so that you'd help her?  Or did you just impress her with your nice, gentle, easy braking skills?  Please give details.  I wanna hear!

You're close. She was getting on the bus her first day, and was so stunned by my exceptional good looks that she stumbled coming up the steps and nearly fell in my lap. She said it wasn't deliberate, though.

I let her chase me for many years before giving in.

Hey Hollis! Glad you're back. How's the swimming?