NUTS A BUS

Perhaps it was the coffee, perhaps the excess of chocolate. Having been up since five in the morning I needed a jolt before heading out to North Beach for the weekly pubcrawl, and sometimes too much caffeine or theobromine makes me slightly paranoid or inclined toward suspicious concern. Who are these dubious individuals, and why are they standing so close? Have they bathed? Recently? Perhaps together? Fortunately the bus arrived before I could ask personal questions.

The girl who got on at the same time looked, by contrast, very intelligent.
And altogether like a real person, with a likable personality.
Very possibly freshly showered, with good habits.
And a highly functioning brain.

While smoking my pipe in Chinatown I came to the conclusion that most humans are rather mundane pedestrian creatures without much distinction, unless I know them and have seen them before. Especially that family of Spaniards, and why do some of the men look like thoroughly vicious Euro-trash? Ape-like, and quite remarkably stupid.

Spaniards. We fought an eighty years war against them.
Should have sunk many more of their ships.
Fire and sword, bastards.

The smoke proved salutory and calming. I was fully human again by the time the bookseller arrived, and for some odd reason the temperature seemed much better too. The good effect of the caffeine was kicking in.

At one point we ended up discussing cans of tuna fish as well as sardines. Sadly, anchovies were not mentioned, and I think that was a grievous omission. Late night snacking while cruising the internet is not just beer, cheese, and cookies. An array of fishy substances seems essential. Though under no circumstance those nasty smoked baby oysters.
Smoked salmon is a plus. Omega-3 fatty acids, for fetal development.
As well as, perhaps, a dab of caper mayonnaise.
Gold fish crackers don't count.


While waiting for the bus there was berserk mumbling from further up the block, unconnected to the stoned individual who weaved and stumbled past, or the woman walking in the middle of the street, very unstable, giggling loudly. Whom I feareded might veer into the path of the bus within the next block, but mercifully did not. The late night street life is getting weirder. Spaniards, drunks, and crazies.



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