Bad Bus Driver

Kindergarteners, pumpkins, a school bus, and... more dirt.  The usual October trip to one of the Farms here in Colorado. Driving distractions include, onions, rutabagas, carrots, potatoes and the enterprise of U-PICK of big veggies by small people.   Impressive.   

If we're talking about anyone who drives, anywhere-- road construction hold-ups and obstacles must be mentioned.  Now that's a hard job.  Driving distractions include: All kinds of dirt.    MUSIC is   SWAG ON by Mary Riddle.

Todo en la vida... Or just everything I'm willing to share.   In this case, how we came to Colorado in 2006.      

Going back to work... And many half hearted regrets. Driving distractions include; Cartoons, route books, the writer's voice... and not wanting to work. Until you get there. 

There are always a few mandatory assignments we have to complete,  Before we go back to school. Driving distractions include;   Wondering, like some of us might do at the beginning of a school year, why you are still a bus driver, bored kids, aimless wanderings in a school bus, the working people, Malcom Gladwell, The Moth, and finding your voice.   

This summer is going to be different.  I have plans. At least, that's what I thought a few months ago... But it wasn't. Any different, I mean.   And that's okay.   Driving distractions include; The weird things that happen when you wear pink, the things you never get done... And one particular bougainvillea.   

There are nights of dreams in the early days of a new job--and maybe a few years longer.  Until there aren't anymore.  Driving distractions include; remembering those dreams and growing up close enough to Disney World that we knew it well.  That means Walts World comes up often in a Peter Pan sort of job.    I forgot to mention; MUSIC included in this episode: ZAYOO by LUKAS GOT LUCKY THE TYPE by MIMMI BANGOURA

Greetings from Eaton River County Junction, Colorado! Hope you all stay with us until June comes around again! --Alexandra, Andrew and anyone else brave enough to talk into a mic. (and maybe drive a school bus) Driving distractions include... Whatever music we're listening to. (No truer words). 

 It's another school year in Eaton River County Junction.  We hope you all stay with us—Alexandra, Andrew, Louis and  and anyone else who is willing to to talk into a mic—until June comes around again.             Driving distractions include—some encouraging words for new drivers.  (At least, we hope they are).

Here in Eaton River County Junction it's the last day of school. I hope all of us have a wonderful, relaxing summer.  Driving distractions include; All those moths, evaluations, books with many tomorrows, abandoned art and other projects, and poor judgment on behalf of Netflix. 

There are three more days of school here at The Eaton River County Junction School District. We're almost there. Driving distractions include MOTHS (of the Miller kind), and some serious parking attendants.

There are four more days of school.  Driving distractions include;  What I got wrong about the kids,  other things we need to remind ourselves...and well...a few other people, middle school humor, and some salsa. Because we still love The Heat.    

There are five more days of school.  Driving distractions include end-of-year Adminstration frustration, Canada fires, the fact that there are only five more days of school, and the significance of igloo coolers. 

  We're waiting for the end of the school year--here at The Eaton River County Junction School District in Colorado. Driving distractions in this short episode include; Missing Buses, school district mechanics, keeping the writers voice alive when monotony starts to set in, and besides getting to the end of another school year, the only major accomplishment this week might have been succesfully self-checking over 200 dollars worth of groceries.    With Andrew.  Yes, looking forward to summer. 

All about work, field trips, compensation, and getting through these last months at The Eaton River County Junction School District.  Driving distractions include Colorado and Florida disasters, friendly and not-so-friendly bus drivers, how did I get into this job anyway, and a reluctant visit to The Superstore.   

In this episode--- Wayward imaginings of a restless bus driver, observations about middle school angst and challenges, with a few thoughts from the older side of Gen Z (After all, they've been there). Driving distractions include BeReal, Valentines Day, getting through the winter and taking care of business, misperceptions and style, getting along, Miami, and the usual crushing.  

Here are (at least) three ways to live a big life. Driving distractions include weight room commitments, break room parties, break room bosses, Wynwood Walls and... Cake.  Because everyone likes cake.

Mom always said... There are twelve days of Christmas. And I think I have just made it in that timeframe! But this episode is not all about Christmas, or bus driving, for that matter. It never is. Driving distractions include those middle school kids, and those elementary runs, a few words regarding diesel mechanics (well, more than a few), inflatables, much deserved breaks for all of us, The Moth, the overall appeal of driving a school bus, and well, JOY. If you're still on your winter break—I hope you're having a good one.  Happy New Year!                                                                                                              ---Alexandra

Some worthwhile and some not-so-worthwhile conversations Andrew and I had at the local grocery store. Can the span of decades be diminished by the common problem of hunting and gathering food? (It's in aisle 9).  Distractions along the aisles include Kanye (of course), voting, records (vinyl) and record players, rap, Ye (again), lost rappers and Vietnam Veterans. 

Welcome back! It's another school year in Eaton Springs, Colorado.   And another trip with a marching band. It's not every day you get to hang around a parking lot in Colorado and experience the simulatanous warm ups of half a dozen marching bands. 

Good Morning, everyone.              Here, in Eaton River County Junction...and other places in the country, it is the last day of school.  If you're heading out today like I am—have a great summer.              And thanks for listening.                                                                  --Alexandra

There are 2 more days of school. Driving distractions include, The logistics of pizza. 

There are 3 more days of school. Rain and southern hospitality. 

Let's talk about The Shop.

There are 7 more days of school... And, Sometimes, This can be,              The best job in the world.

There are 8 more days of school in this 15-day end-of-year podcast countdown. Which...now that I'm trying to keep up...I realize probably would have been just as good if it had been a 10 day countdown.  Or even a week.  A week would have been just fine. This episode is two days late... Let's just pretend it's Friday.

There are 9 more days of school...  

There are 10 more days of school. There is also...still...COVID. COVID distractions include people with signs, people with yard signs, people who don't know how to communicate. 

There are 12 more days of school... Driving distractions include weed, painting another place, skating in the dark... And everything else everyone might plan to do this summer.  Oh, and there's roadkill.  

There are 13 more days of school... Driving distractions include questions, crushes and the things kids should know, but don't.  Unless we tell them. 

There are 15 more days of school... 2021-2022 has been a long school year. There is no point in talking about it... We all wouldn't know where to start.  There are... 15 more days of school in this COVID school year podcast countdown. 

When are things going to be normal again? Well, whatever normal is-- in a bus full of Middle School kids. Driving distractions include Fortnite, landfills, holiday inflatables, masks, rainbows, windstorms, and... How long does it take to do a seating chart anyway?   

We're all looking forward to things getting back to normal again--As much as normal can be in a bus full of Middle School kids. They are... so over this COVID thing.   And so am I. Driving distractions include Fortnite, landfills, holiday inflatables, masks, rainbows, windstorms, and... How long does it take to do a seating chart anyway?   

These kids are speaking and debating for hours!  And that's fine with me.  Driving distractions in the first of this new (bonus) series include getting out of town with the school district, getting to know people, thermoses, and Hospitality. 

I'm sure... I'm never going to get used to these pencil-throwing, water spilling, candy throwing new kids I've got.   But, as usual, the bus is just the setting. There is always more going on. Like that time I had a baby. Driving distractions include...a hospital stay, telephones and newborns, strangers and telephone booths, and a little bit of Aspergers.  Thank you for listening. Alex

Eddy and Jose, and a few others...They own the bus.  (Living and losing in a long term pandemic)

This episode is about podcasting-- for people who have a lot of ideas.  And maybe not a clue.   

The kids are okay. Because they have Marvel. 

"It never occurred to me..." When bad bus driver, Alexandra Concentric, is assigned to a new alternative COVID job, she expects to manage that all...well...just as badly as anything else.  But there is more time to think in these pandemic days, face ourselves, our faults and those thoughts we might have ignored--and when we need to--find ways to say good-bye.  And that is what this episode is about. How we move on when we are hardly moving at all.  Distractions include soap, sanitizer, legos, kids with masks,  and lost loves. 

If you thought a bad bus driver couldn't be poetic --you might be as surprised as I am. Talking about Florida history and everything that is going on today. Distractions include Art (yes!) and Andrew's total understanding of the movie Tenet.  

            This short little message (not an Episode) will introduce, my one and only Quarantine buddy, Andrew.         And also includes a possible spoiler alert for the movie Uncut Gems.              Talk to you again soon.

Story-worthy distractions include a financially struggling school district,  school bus training, how our work works, and doesn't work, for us and... well...a huge challenge.  

Bad Bus Driver is a podcast written and produced by school bus driver Alexandra Concentric --with a little help from some hard-working friends--Featuring stories, tunes, wit and occasional wisdom from the road. Or, just about anywhere.