Hollis-Amtrak to BART, approx. 5:50pm - A CSR's POV

A customer service rep's point of view: Even if a website puts the Xmas order cutoff date in "three-inch-high neon pink letters," people will still place their orders after the cutoff and then complain to customer service for not getting their stuff before Xmas. Their goal is to have 100% of people who call customer service to not call back with the same problem. But out of the tens of thousands of customers, less than one percent contact customer service with a complaint.

Hollis-Amtrak to Emeryville, approx. 10:45am - Geeks vs. the Cool Kids

Geeks vs. the Cool Kids: When the Powell/BART Shopper shuttle arrives at the MacArthur stop, all the hooky-playing truants and mallrats in trendy clothes get up to get on the bus. When the Hollis-Amtrak shuttle arrives, all the geeks get up. Case in point, a dude on the Hollis bus intently reading what looks like a D&D manual. For the Powell riders, D&D equals Dungeons and Dragons. It's a role-playing game, ok?

Missed Connections: Trader Joe's, Bay Street Mall

Do people who work in retail get laid all the time?

Januray 5, Abercrombie at Bay Street Emeryville - m4m U are really cute (Asian guy)

January 8, trader joes joe - w4m I regret not giving you my number, so I'll post a Missed Connections with no personal descriptions whatsoever.

MacArthur BART stop, approx. 10:50am - Hard to be Lazy

Hard to be Lazy: A young woman has a difficult time "being lazy" (i.e., "turning off the phone, sitting at home, etc."). In fact, she is on her way to class then to the "li-barry." A guy she knows buys $600 dollar outfits, though. She does not approve.

Missed Connections: TJ's, MacArthur BART

January 4, "The cute clerk at TJ's - m4w" Is it taboo to ask someone out at his/her place of work?

January 3, "MacArthur BART this afternoon - w4m" "Long and meaningful" eye contact

Powell to Emeryville, approx. 10:55am - Chile Rearing vs. Baggy Pants

Child rearing vs baggy pants: A young man holding a little girl in one arm, while trying to pull his baggy jeans up. As he gets off the shuttle, the pants slowly creep down to around his knees. He makes his way out with baby steps and pulls the pants back up.

Hollis-Amtrak to BART, approx. 5:55pm - Nerd Love

Nerd Love?: A guy enthusiastically summarizes five or six Twighlight Zone episodes to a girl. It's hard to tell if she is equally enthusiastic about hearing the summaries, or if her "really?", "yeah?", and "how did it end?" rejoinders are half-hearted. She admits she is freaked out by the ventriloquist episode.