the wheels on the bus go round and round ...

So school started this week and now that I'm finally living in the same town as the school I'm attending (and because we already know what happens when I have to pay for parking) I've decided to explore alternative transportation.
Walking: Walking is a classic (albeit slow) method of transportation that allows one to take shortcuts on roads that have been closed for so long as to be overgrown with weeds and various forms of shrubbery. Walking also has the benefit of allowing one to read while in transit (except for the navigation of greenery on the no longer car accessible section of the trip). Unfortunately, walking also involves the manual labor of carrying the necessities of graduate life back and forth to class (which obviously includes an uphill climb in both directions, no word yet on the volume of snow). Theoretically walking would also be a healthier choice since it is over two miles to campus, but anyone who has seen me walk and read at the same time would probably make a successful case for having my motion classified in the strolling or perhaps even wandering category, both of which score fewer health boosting points.
Bike Riding: Bike riding is the quickest of the transportation options, but (in order to remain the quickest) requires a more popular route of travel, thus decreasing the enjoyable scenery points. The route still includes uphills in both directions (as does any non motorized option) and necessitates helmet hair.
Bus Riding: Having been on a hiatus from riding the bus (ever since I finished grade school) I was the least practiced at navigating this type transportation, however, having nearly finished an ms in cs (yes mom, I really am going to finish it soon) one would think that this is a surmountable challenge. When I was in kindergarten and I rode the bus for the first time my parents followed me in the car (and all the girls go awww). Unfortunately they were unavailable for such nearby support this time, and lets face it, it was embarrassing enough the first time. So, I took the bus all by myself. The first few times I rode, I conveniently rode away from home towards the end of the line. It's easy to figure out where to get off when the bus gets to the end of the line, because, well, it's the end of the line. Then, yesterday, for the first time I rode the bus home and I'm sure you will be surprised to hear that I managed to get off at the right stop :). The key is to pull the chord after the corner with the blinking light which is after the corner with the actual stoplight (those of you familiar with houghton will recognise this pattern). I can read on the bus despite the best efforts of the drivers who seem to take pride in stopping and starting the bus as quickly as possible. And since walking and riding my bike are both uncomfortably warm in the afternoon, the bus drivers seem to be doing their best to make the bus as air conditionally freezing as possible.