Things I Have Learned From Skyrim

1. Doors are dangerous.

2. Walls are dangerous.

3. Floors are dangerous.

4. Going to town is dangerous.

5. Going on a hike is dangerous.

6. Shouting at people can make them run away...or want to kill you.

7. Steal anything you want, but never kill a family chicken.

8. Talking to dogs is cool.

9. Always carry 35 apples, 10 apple pies, 17 cabbages, 20 potatoes, 37 cheese wedges, 18 leeks, and 7 salmon. You never know when you'll need them.

10. Not all people die when shot with 39 arrows.

11.  Killing people after giving blood offerings results in admission to special clubs. 

12. They like hanging out with the club of people who steal things.

13. Monsters are real, but even ghosts can be killed by swords and magic balls of destruction that shoot out of your hand.

14. Sometimes desecrated corpses fall from the ceiling and give you nightmares, but it's okay. They usually have a bunch of gold in their pockets to make up for your trauma.

(To be continued...)

On Why Not Having A Car Is Actually A Complete Blessing

I wanted to write about how awesome my experience with alternative transportation has been since I don't have a car. My modes of transportation including riding the bus, riding my bike, walking, and begging friends for rides. Most of this will actually be about the bus. 

1. Meeting New People 

When riding the bus, I have met so many people from different walks of life. I've talked to a mechanic whose car turned on him. His transmission blew out right before he went to work (#irony). I've met a preacher from a very traditional Baptist church. I've met homeless men, nurses, businesswomen, teachers, struggling artists, hipsters, hippies, single moms (along with lots of their children), older men and women reading the newspaper, college kids, refugees, a woman who was pregnant and going into labor, and your average Joe.

Bus rides don't always go as expected, and you share both horrible and fantastic moments with these people. Once, the bus went out of service in the middle of the route. It was raining, I'd just broken my umbrella from the wind, there was nothing to shelter us from the rain, and I had no idea where I was. I shared this moment with the only other person on the bus, a guy who I personally found a little sketchy. Turns out he was a nice guy and we both enjoyed complaining for twenty minutes until the next bus came.

A great lesson is learned from riding the bus. Just because someone doesn't look like you, live like you, or seem similar to you, doesn't mean you're nothing alike. People are people, and people have amazing different outlooks in life. When you ride the bus, you learn about these viewpoints and can share your views with others. You'll be surprised to find similarities, and you might just find yourself feeling more compassion and a little more human.

2. Discovering New Places

On occasion, I get off at the wrong bus stop. Usually I'm just a block or so off, but in doing so I've found some amazing places. I discovered one of my favorite spots in Louisville this way, Fountain Court (Picture 2). This little street can't be driven on. It's just two sidewalks on either side, with a beautiful garden as a median. It runs perpendicular to the beautiful St. James Court, where the St. James Court Art Show is held each year (2, 3, 4, 5). Now, I purposefully get off at this stop just to stop and smell the roses, quite literally.

I've also seen someone with a police telephone box in their yard (clearly this is where the Doctor lives). I wish I knew the exact location, but it was in an unknown area to me. I've also discovered Franfort Avenue, which is lined with cute shops and local restaurants. I can't wait to have a day to go explore the area. You find gems in the city that you'd never normally pass through.

3. Learning Patience

In today's society, we expect instant gratification. Having to wait at bus stops, go at a slow speed and stop nearly every block, and having to walk a couple of blocks to get to where you're going teaches patience and gives you more time to appreciate the world and the people in it. You learn to accept time as something that passes quickly and that should be appreciated and enjoyed. Whether this means spending time with God, listening to music, or just enjoying the outdoors, this extra time is wonderful for reflection!

4. Improving Time Management

Most of the time, I don't travel far from home. This means that the bus I normally take passes through every ten minutes and I don't have to plan ahead of time. But for longer journeys, I have to plan. For example, I sometimes take a special route of my usual bus that arrives at say, 10:47 and I arrive at my destination around 11:30 for an event that starts at noon. I have to plan ahead and schedule around this. If I go to the next bus that takes that special route, I won't make it on time. Riding the bus has helped me prepare a schedule for myself and organize my things ahead of time so I'll be able to get out of the house quickly and efficiently.

5. Becoming More Aware of Your Surroundings

Okay, so it's not all roses and sunshine. There are sketchy people out and about, and you do have to look out for them. I've learned to watch out for others. For example, I biked to the convenience store today to pick up some light bulbs. When I came out, two large men were near the bike rack chatting. I thought about just politely going over and grabbing my bike, but these were big dudes. To get my bike, I would have had to put my back towards these men and put my purse down to get my keys and unlock my bike. I was obviously not comfortable with this, so I did have to stand in the sun for about 10 minutes until they left.

On bus rides, I've learned that overall people are quite friendly. People chat with me all the time, and I very rarely feel uncomfortable or nervous with a situation, even when I'm in a pretty sketchy area. To help ease any nervousness, I also keep some method of self-defense with me. Whether you keep a taser, pepper spray, a pocket knife, or just keys, it's better safe than sorry.

6. Great Stories 

Finally, I always have entertaining stories to tell when I come home from a bus or bike adventure. Here are some below:

- Remember those two large guys at the convenient store I mentioned? It turns out that one of them was a homeless man and the other had brought him there to pick him up some groceries. They chatted and the man told him his story and they ended the conversation with a big hug and lots of thanks.

- I was proposed to at a bus stop. I went to a Rite Aid to pick up some straws and an Arizona tea. When I got back to the bus stop, the bus was a little late. I was only a few blocks from home and the weather was lovely, so I decided to just walk. As I walked away from the stop, the man asked me to marry him.

- I was down on Broadway once to transfer to my next bus on my way to an interview. This man walked around me and then turned to me and said "I was just admiring the back and figured I should see the front. Both are gorgeous!" He then asked me if I'd like to spend time with him...I politely declined. A few days later, I went to meet up for a date in the area and I saw the man again. He and I chatted for a few minutes about life and stuff.

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To sum all this up, give riding the bus, walking, and riding your bike a try. You learn a lot, appreciate life more, and will save money on gas. I won't go all enviromentalist on you all, but it also decreases all those pollutants destroying the planet and what-not too! Give it a shot, you just might find a new favorite way of travel!