Tramp Beggar Vagabond Drifter Hobo Homeless Person
I'm always compelled to look in the direction of the panhandler. The person who is waving the cup, jingling the hat chanting such things as, "spare change!"
This one particular day, a man whom I see frequently at the Powell Street station is always jingling his cup. He does however have the famous "Street newspaper" to offer in exchange for the change. I have never given him any change. I figure he is a Bart employee. He's there all the time, he has something to offer and he has a sales pitch. To me he is getting a check from whomever is producing the newspapers.
One day I passed by and he says, "You know I have to contribute to my pension fund." I started to laugh hysterically. I thought, "this guy takes the cake."
He was honest and had a spin on how to get money. I'm not mad at him for having a different strategy for getting money. It's all in the approach. He's doing it his way. Some do however piss me off and I have to read them my own person scroll of by-laws.
BY-LAWS FOR THE TRAMP
1. If I offer you an apple and you beg for my pretzels, we will be fighting. I offered something so don't go to the extreme dammit!!!
2. I'll give you a dollar for gas, don't go and ask for an additional $2.00 after I smell the alcohol on your breath and make you aware of the fucking alcohol. You are a bold bitch for that one!!! You're strategy was kick ass, but don't breath on me next time!!!
3. I can't give you a ride to your house!!
4. If you approach me on Monday and then again on Tuesday I might cut you.
5. They are giving out shoes at Ellis & Cyrill Mangrin so stop acting like you can't get any..
6. Some people do like you, but not on Thursday when you picked my pocket and took my daughter's happy meal money.
7. I know you don't have a dental plan, but if you ask me, I will give you a toothbrush and toothpaste. It helps to ask and YEE shall find. "HEY YEE.. IF YOU ARE OUT THERE AND YOU READ THIS. YOU REALLY PISSED ME OFF DUDE!!! I SEE YOU EVERY FUCKING DAY AND I'M TIRED MAN. GET ANOTHER GIG!"
8. If I ask you for a quarter dressed in my Armani suit.. would you give it to me?
9. I know you already have a bart ticket, so I can't give it to you today. Maybe Monday or maybe not!!
10. Seek Jesus!!! or Hay-Seus!!!
today on the way home the
today on the way home the vagabond hobo drifter homeless person was sitting in the handicap seats. i only had a few stops to go and was standing by the door. he was trying really hard to engage me in conversation and I was being polite in return. then a person with a cane got on the train and went to sit down and he told the guy that he couldn't sit down next to him because he has a cold. there were plenty of seats so he went and sat elsewhere. i gave said vagabond the same look I give my 5 year old when she does something bad. the next time someone tried to sit next to him, as the train had become SRO, he allowed the person to sit, but then sat as far forward on the seat as he possibly could and turned so his back was to the person next to him. as though he was offended at the foul stench and didn't want the stink to stick to him (like he didn't have enough of his own already). I then gave him the "you crazy" look and he got off at the next stop.
He was definitely touched by
He was definitely touched by someone other than Hay-Seus aka Jesus (giggle and Much laughter). I hope the badness didn't rub off on anyone on the trip. If so, we will light a candle and hopefully all of the badness will be gone by morning. Some have lots of nerve. Their thinking has to be measured and then weighed with a scale of light heartedness. He probably needed a Pimp-slap of a lifetime. It amazes me how some think that the seat is just for them. What really amazes me is how the seats are for disabled are taken up by non-disabled individuals and non-seniors. I will however sit if I do not see any that appear to be non-disabled or senior. Is that discriminatory? Forgive me for those who think so. I try to stand as much as possible, but there are those days when I'm just plain tuckered and tired.. Shit!!!!
I'm proud that you gave him the Look of Warning. Which means, "if you get any closer, I shall smite thee with the back of my hand." Tushay (? spelling) & a high-five for the effort.
Chrystal Flanders -"You're Saying it or You're Not! You're a Punk or You're Not!"
I think rule #4 is the best.
I think rule #4 is the best. It's always the best when the same bums use the same lame stories repeatedly and don't remember you even though you see them every day and keep reusing the same tired stories. "I need money to get on BART" or something, but they're always in the same area and never get on the BART train and go home.
Though not strictly BART (or bums), does anyone know what happened to the "Silence the Violence" kids that always hung out by Kaiser in uptown Oakland and by 40th & Telegraph near MacArthur? These are the ones who were always selling some homemade hip-hop albums and were putting on a show that weekend.
Just curious since they would harass me every day, sometimes multiple times a day, in both locations. I'm curious since I haven't seen them in months.
I'm trying to get a $4.90
I'm trying to get a $4.90 BART ticket; I've got 35 cents; can you please spare a quarter, anything?
I think the "hip hop"
I think the "hip hop" salesman resurfaced but at the Berkeley stations and early mornings. I've run into them also. Were they doing a spin-out in the station or outside in the parking lot? Either way we are giving up $5 to see a show and get music afterwards. Oh yea.. and they aren't kids. I think one of them is in his 40's or 50's. They camouflage quite well.
Chrystal Flanders -"You're Saying it or You're Not! You're a Punk or You're Not!"
I love how they deny it when
I love how they deny it when you tell them that you remember them telling the same lame story the day/week/month before.
Spoke to the Tramp
Spoke to the Tramp today...He actually has a job at the place where they sell the newspapers. He was going to apply for another job at Starbucks. I thought that was pretty cool. He has ambition. So this is just to say that all Hobo's are not hobo's contrary to common belief. They are trying. Good luck on your interview. I hope he takes a bath though.
Chrystal Flanders -"You're Saying it or You're Not! You're a Punk or You're Not!"