The Transit Librarian

adios

2009-08-23T22:40:00.002-05:00

This blog has been dying slowly for quite a while now. A facelift couldn't keep me interested. So I've started all over at cjcamp.com. The three of you still following me here can come on over if you want...

transit and libraries

2009-08-23T19:32:00.002-05:00

uhh...

2009-08-18T19:50:00.001-05:00

Dear progressive friends,

This is not aimed at anyone in particular, so please don't take it personally. I just have a bug up my butt this evening...

"Dem Cowards" by Dewey Phantom

video

2009-08-08T17:13:00.004-05:00

First, watch this. Then, watch this.

zoo

2009-07-12T18:57:00.003-05:00

Kassie and I went to the Minnesota Zoo today. As you might guess, we saw a lot of animals and I took some photos. I know it's not a dog, but I couldn't resist taking a pic of this puma taking a dump!

Awesome!

Wausau

2009-07-05T20:57:00.001-05:00

I went to Wausau for my grandma's 94th birthday celebration. I missed the party, because it was on Friday, but I caught the rest of the fun.

just a bit more about my grandfather

2009-06-04T00:24:00.003-05:00

The Wausau Daily Herald wrote some nice things about Grandpa.

We're headed to Wausau for the funeral on Friday.

Franklin M. Gering 1913-2009

2009-06-01T18:29:00.002-05:00

My grandfather has been ill. In late April, when he first went to the hospital, we didn't think he would make it through the weekend. His kidneys were failing and he suffered from congestive heart failure. But he hung in there. My brother and I visited him and said goodbye. He hung in there some more. This weekend he took a turn for the worse. I was on the phone with my mom a little while ago and she had just told me that his kidneys failed when she got another call. It was the lady from hospice calling to tell her that Grandpa died. He was a dynamic man of faith who lived an interesting and fruitful life. He was completely ready to go and comfortable with death. I'll miss him.

vacation '9

2009-05-24T20:34:00.005-05:00

WARNING! Disturbing photos ahead.
Proceed at your own risk.
(I'll let you figure out which ones you think are disturbing...)

Kassie's parents have a cabin and are in the process
of completing a house near Nevis, MN. We spent
a little over a week there. It was very relaxing.

We were all excited to go on vacation, but I think Jeff was the most excited of all...

Jeff checked out the beaver lodge, did not see a beaver.

Kassie's brother Pete and his friend Josh were up for the first weekend we were there. Here, Josh cleans a walleye he caught.

Sarah and Nathan came to visit us the first weekend. We took a 10-plus mile bicycle ride on the Heartland Trail.

Oh, ha ha. I'll bet I'm the first person to ever do that! ha-freaking-ha.

Awesome! See you there! For sure!

There are bald eagles on their lake.

It's not far to Itasca, so Kassie, Jeff and I drove up there for the day.

Jeff and I crossed the headwaters of the Mississippi.

Bambi.

Awesome! part 2.

Akeley, MN. Kassie took this shortly after I read the notice to please stay off Paul's hand.

Walker, MN. You know, I don't know...

I guess the Huber family must have all lost their limbs to leprosy or something.

Jeff got a treat. Slightly old zucchini.

And perhaps the most disturbing photo of all.

2009-05-15T14:45:00.002-05:00

um...

2009-05-13T20:39:00.002-05:00

If you didn't like the nude year photo, this might not be for you. But it amuses me.

remember me?

2009-05-11T19:41:00.002-05:00

I got a new bicycle today. I plan to be jumping over cars within the month.

strangest thing I've heard for a while

2009-04-07T19:58:00.002-05:00

I drove the 2 today.

As a woman was exiting the bus, I wished her a nice day.

She said, "Thank you. I hope you (pause, pause) get enough to eat tonight!"

Um... I did.

sweet

2009-04-07T19:36:00.002-05:00

Here's what a winning NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament bracket looks like:

It's not mine. It's from a guy named Joe Taylor in New Jersey. It's awfully impressive. There were at least 4.6 million entries in the ESPN contest. It looks like he made a few entries, but still.

You can see mine here. It's easily the best I've ever done and will ever do.

not too smart

2009-03-24T15:05:00.003-06:00

So the economy is in tough shape and if you have a job, you ought to be happy to be employed. If you are a M*tro Tr*nsit bus driver, what would be a good move? Drink while driving a bus? Uh... sure. If you're this guy.

If you really want to see what he looks like, it's easy to find a pic...

There was a lot of buzz around the garage today, of course. His BAC was .24, which is pretty amazing. Naturally, I feel sorry for the guy. He clearly has a problem. I hope he gets some help. Um, I guess he probably won't have a choice, will he? I hope he accepts it.

afternoon snack

2009-03-17T13:27:00.002-06:00

ha!

2009-03-17T13:11:00.002-06:00

M*tro Tr*nsit, together with MillerCoors, is offering free rides tonight from 6:00 PM until the last trip of the night.

We have hoods to put over the farebox to remind our passengers that the ride is free.

One of our dispatchers is pretty funny.

oh, dear

2009-03-15T00:19:00.000-06:00

some idiot got let loose with the GifBuilder...

action

2009-03-14T21:02:00.004-06:00

ooh, ooh!

2009-03-07T18:52:00.002-06:00

check it:

betta fish

2009-03-05T19:12:00.002-06:00

My niece and nephew each got a fish. My nephew, who is five, named his Pikachu. My niece, who is three, named hers before they even left the store. Her fish's name is... Karen.

Pikachu and Karen

stop!!!

2009-03-02T04:49:00.000-06:00

As if I don't find the BUS STORAGE sign amusing enough...

dear wcco.com,

2009-03-01T18:11:00.003-06:00

um...
1) your graphic amuses me to begin with,
2) click to enlarge?

she said,

2009-02-26T11:28:00.001-06:00

"I'm having a seizure."

And she was. It passed and she got on my bus.

hello, it's been awhile

2009-02-26T11:14:00.003-06:00

Kassie called me in to the TV to see some bad news last night. A bus hit and killed a woman in Minneapolis last evening. Apparently, the driver was unaware he'd done it until he got a call from Control.

I feel terrible for the woman's family and terrible for the driver, who is an acquaintance of mine.

If I ever have the misfortune of killing someone while driving a bus, I'm not sure I could go back to driving (assuming it wasn't my fault and I got to keep my job). For me, this serves as a(nother) reminder just how fragile life as I know it really is.