what my new apartment looked like before it became my apartment building

It looks much nicer now.

Pugs of Belltown!

Bus Stops I Have Known -- Bus Stop #5

NW Market Street and Ballard Avenue, Seattle.

I frequently visit this bus stop, located in downtown Ballard.

Overall Bus Stop Ratings (out of 5 stars)

***** User Friendliness. Yes, I have a soft spot for this bus stop, and it gets five stars for User Friendliness. It has a bus shelter (more about that later), another bus shelter (yes, indeed, very artsy), as well as the much preferred awning in front of the shops located behind the bus shelters. It has a garbage can AND a recycling can, a bus schedule and map, and even a bench. Overall, a very well-equipped bus stop.

**** Interest of Surroundings. Ballard is pretty interesting. It used to be more interesting, back when there was a cool paper arts store right behind these bus shelters, but it's still pretty cool. There's a lot of small shops and businesses that I love in Ballard, like Cookies, Nervous Nellies, Secret Garden Bookstore, Great Harvest... plus, there are several good coffee shops and bars in Ballard. But, this bus stop only gets four stars for interest, because it's a little boring compared to the rest of Ballard, alas.

*** Architecture of Surroundings. Obviously, I like the early 1900s building behind this bus stop, and The Ballard Building across the street. There's too much in the way of condo construction going on in Ballard, but you can't see too much of that from this bus stop, so it gets three stars.

**** Personal Safety. Safe for all levels of awakeness and soberness.

** Creepy Factor. I know secrets about this bus stop, so I give it two stars for creepyness.

Now, since I teased you a little, should I tell you some secrets I knwo about this particular bus stop???

Once upon a time, this bus stop wasn't there! It was built during a major reconstruction of Market Street that also repaved the old bricks at the intersection of Market and 22nd. Boo on that. But, hooray, because part of the original plan was to put a public restroom at this bus stop. Can you IMAGINE? Sheesh. Luckily, that plan was ditched.

My store, Turtle Press, used to be right behind this bus stop, back when this bus stop was just a sign in the ground. Then, they revamped the bus stop too, including placing these uberartsy bus shelters right directly in front of our store! So, while the shelters are kind of nice, I have some residual negative feelings about these particular bus shelters. We complained to Metro, to the Ballard Chamber of Commerce, to the Neighborhood Service Center, to anyone who would listen. But we were told only that moving the bus shelters was out of the question. And to the idea that our businesses was being impacted by the fact that people couldn't see our store through the bus shelter frosted glass? We were told that it was part of the artist's "artistic vision," and that it would not be changed.

This bus stop did hurt our business. But as far as Bus Stops I Have Known goes, it's a nice bus stop.

Bus Stops I Have Known -- Bus Stop #7

Leary Way, Seattle.

Visited on my way to one job from another job.

Overall Bus Stop Ratings (out of 5 stars)

*** User Friendliness. Yes, there is a bus schedule, but no garbage can or bus shelter. The building that is a natural to lean against is none too clean on the outside, so I'd recommend NOT leaning up against it.

*** Interest of Surroundings. There's a cat that lives in one of the apartment son the ground floor of the building. I love this cat! It stares at you, wondering why you're standing there in the cold rain at a bus stop while HE (or SHE?) is much more sensibly sitting inside on a nice cushion. Busy street with construction to watch, car dealers constantly making announcements over their intercom, and a pay phone placed just far enough away to make you miss the bus.

* Architecture of Surroundings. The condo construction is supposed to be creating a pretty mega building, but I like the historical buildings better, so I give this stop one star for architecture.

**** Personal Safety. Seemed pretty safe. Two overgrown bushes on either side of the bus stop might make it have only one star for safety at night.

** Creepy Factor. Not too creepy. The bushes do bother me a little, I guess.

Bus Stops I Have Known -- Bus Stop #6

University & 45th, Seattle.

Visited on my way home from work after a work-related visit.

Overall Bus Stop Ratings (out of 5 stars)

*** User Friendliness. This popular bus stop hosts many amenities to commuters. There is a bus schedule posted. There is a trash can. No bench or shelter, but this stop is in front of a bank that has totally given up on keeping people from sitting on their brick ledge or hiding under their huge awning. They have even surrounded their cash machine with a railing to try to segregate official banking areas from the loitering and waiting for the bus areas. However, the ledge is frightening for all but the most strung out loiterers to sit on. Living in an alternative reality helps mask the scariness of the ledge. However, I hadn't even had a beer when rating this bus stop, so it only gets three stars for User Friendliness.

*** Interest of Surroundings. The Ave is right there. That's all I need to say about that.

* Architecture of Surroundings. The previously mentioned ledge encloses the bus stop on the north. Otherwise, architecture is minimal.

* Personal Safety. This stop can be dangerous when a bus pulls up. There will be a mad stampede to get on the bus first, so beware. Use elbows if necessary, and enter by the back door if possible. Note that in Seattle, all busses coming FROM downtown will allow you to enter by the back door and pay as you leave. This gives you a better chance to either get a seat all to yourself or to have a choice among available seat partners.

** Creepy Factor. It's difficult to know who's waiting for the bus and who's just, well, waiting. Choose your crowd carefully. Mingling with the wrong crowd could become creepy.

Pussen

Once upon a time there were three brother cats and three sister girls. The two younger sister girls talked the older sister into adopting those three brother cats.

Pixel 1991-1992 (not pictured)
Tiger 1991-2003 (?)
Pussen 1991-2007

We will miss Pussen the Gray, sister Katie's cat, the last of the three brother cats this side of the rainbow bridge. Pussen has been living with my mom, taking care of her, while little sister is in grad school, so I've visited with Pussen quite a bit lately. He was the most gentle-sweet-gray-vocal-huggable cat.

I still miss Pixel and Tiger. We sure do get attached to these furry little creatures, don't we?

I'm off to hug my Hilton-cat now. He's going to have to take over the job of Chief Spider-executer now.