You would think that after riding the bus for four years, I would know by now that the only thing I can do while on the bus is sleep—otherwise I get nauseous.

And yet, still, I attempt to do something more productive with my time. I mean, it is a rather long bus trip. Sleeping seems like such a waste of time, when I could be reading, or knitting, or trying to defeat the lasted videogame I’m playing.

But fifteen minutes in—no matter what I’m attempting to do—I become sick, and have to spend the rest of the trip with my eyes closed, willing myself not to puke, because I don’t have time to get off the bus I’m on and wait for the next one to show up.

This version of motion sickness seems very weird to me, considering that I don’t get sick on boats, on trains, or in airplanes. But stick me in a vehicle that has wheels, and I’m going to lose hours of my life for lack of being able to do anything else while traveling.

This pains me to admit, considering I’m an extreme multi-tasker. I’m not really and truly happy unless I’ve figured out a way to do two things at once. Reading and eating? Reading and walking? Check. Reading and knitting? Check. Reading while traveling in a car? No.

And I don’t understand the difference between the bus and the lightrail—why does one make me sick when the other doesn’t? I suppose it’s a mystery that will never be satisfactorily explained.

But, if there was ever a scientific study done for this type of motion sickness, I’m in. I’m all for a cure, so that I can go back to doing what I do best—procrastination while looking productive. Because while I’m multitasking, I’m sure to be avoiding what really needs to be done.

– “Your Heart is an Empty Room,” Plans: Death Cab for Cutie

Tagged: on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 · 4 Comments »