YEAH! That's what I am typing about. As you may or may not know, I changed jobs last month and had two(ish) weeks to get my commute down via the commuter rail.
It seemed pretty quiet. Not a lot of people. Good times.
Today was a different story. Everyone was back from vacation...but I am getting ahead of myself.
I left the house a little late. The traffic volume last week would allow me to leave the house after 7AM without any problems...but this morning the traffic was 3 times what it was last week. I barely had enough time to park and pay for my spot when the train arrive. Note to self: Need to leave the house later tomorrow.
Lots of people at the station waiting for the train. I got a seat without any trouble...
Train got to North Station without any major delays. I hope that is always the case!
------------------------------
Departure Time From Home: 7:04
Departure Time From N. Billerica Station 7:26
Arrival Time at North Station: 8:08
Weather as I call it: Seasonal temps - 20s, Sunny.
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah.
1/04/2010
12/30/2009
Changes Are Afoot
Hello faithful readers!
I haven't updated this blog for a bit, but I have news to report. I have changed jobs yet again. I think since September 2005, I have had 3 different work places to commute to...now I will be adding another.
I took a job in downtown Boston and I am taking the commuter rail in from N. Billerica.
The past week and a half have been ok so far. There was a late/slow train last Wednesday...but for the most part it has been problem free.
It has taken me a bit to get used to it. I don't like spending around 300 bucks a month just to get to work, but that is the reality.
So in 2010, we'll get it going for real. I need to make some changes to the post template, and after that you'll start seeing posts about my adventures on public transportation.
Ever onward!
------------------------------
Departure Time:
Arrival Time:
Weather as I call it:
Shady Gas Price:
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10):
Feared for my life:
I haven't updated this blog for a bit, but I have news to report. I have changed jobs yet again. I think since September 2005, I have had 3 different work places to commute to...now I will be adding another.
I took a job in downtown Boston and I am taking the commuter rail in from N. Billerica.
The past week and a half have been ok so far. There was a late/slow train last Wednesday...but for the most part it has been problem free.
It has taken me a bit to get used to it. I don't like spending around 300 bucks a month just to get to work, but that is the reality.
So in 2010, we'll get it going for real. I need to make some changes to the post template, and after that you'll start seeing posts about my adventures on public transportation.
Ever onward!
------------------------------
Departure Time:
Arrival Time:
Weather as I call it:
Shady Gas Price:
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10):
Feared for my life:
12/10/2009
Beer At Work
Driving to work this morning...and I have beer for a holiday beer swap.
The brew I have was brewed with a lot of munich malt so it should be nice and malty. A perfect brew for winter time.
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Departure Time: 7:00
Arrival Time: 7:33
Weather as I call it: Cold but sunny.
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
The brew I have was brewed with a lot of munich malt so it should be nice and malty. A perfect brew for winter time.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:00
Arrival Time: 7:33
Weather as I call it: Cold but sunny.
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
12/09/2009
Whoa Ho! Snow!
We got our first major snowfall this morning. Not a big deal...not at all...
Why people act as if they have amnesia and don't remember how to deal/drive in snow is beyond me.
I made it to work within 10 minutes of when I normally get here. So weird.
Anyhoo. Be careful out there, you forgetful ones.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:04
Arrival Time: 7:52
Weather as I call it: Snow
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: Nope
Why people act as if they have amnesia and don't remember how to deal/drive in snow is beyond me.
I made it to work within 10 minutes of when I normally get here. So weird.
Anyhoo. Be careful out there, you forgetful ones.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:04
Arrival Time: 7:52
Weather as I call it: Snow
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: Nope
12/03/2009
Chickens and Falling Branches
Today on my drive to work I saw a yard full of chickens...yeah, chickens.
They must have gotten out of the pen. They were clucking on the front lawn...pretty close to a busy street. Their owner better wake up and see wha' happened.
I also had to avoid large tree branches on the road. The wind and rain had brought them down. People in front of me were freaking out.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:09
Arrival Time: 7:42
Weather as I call it: Wind, rain, branches, chickens
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
They must have gotten out of the pen. They were clucking on the front lawn...pretty close to a busy street. Their owner better wake up and see wha' happened.
I also had to avoid large tree branches on the road. The wind and rain had brought them down. People in front of me were freaking out.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:09
Arrival Time: 7:42
Weather as I call it: Wind, rain, branches, chickens
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
11/24/2009
November Rain
No leaves on the trees. Wet forests seen through the mist.
Road were dry for the most part except for some big puddles along the way.
Thanksgiving is coming up. I am looking forward to not driving anywhere and inviting people over the house for a big meal.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:16
Arrival Time: 7:48
Weather as I call it: Cloudy. Some dampness. 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
Road were dry for the most part except for some big puddles along the way.
Thanksgiving is coming up. I am looking forward to not driving anywhere and inviting people over the house for a big meal.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:16
Arrival Time: 7:48
Weather as I call it: Cloudy. Some dampness. 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
11/17/2009
Interesting Roadkill
It's kinda bad that the sight of roadkill is getting me to type-ah-type-ah-type-ah on this bloggie again. Anyway, I saw a dead beaver on the side of the road this morning. It was pretty cool...well, not because it was dead but because I don't think I have seen one in the wild before. I have seen their lodges but never saw one walking or swimming around.
Sorry I couldn't see you alive...hope your family is coping.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 6:57
Arrival Time: 7:29
Weather as I call it: Sunny, Cold 30s
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
Sorry I couldn't see you alive...hope your family is coping.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 6:57
Arrival Time: 7:29
Weather as I call it: Sunny, Cold 30s
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
11/04/2009
Sleeping My Day Away
Man, I have a hard time staying asleep at night. Usually it's one of the kids that wakes me up. In this case, my eyes just popped open at 3:30 and stay open for a while.
I did get some sleep before the alarm went off. I had some dreams of riding in a helicopter trying to do some mid-flight fuel link-up with another larger helicopter.
Weird.
Although drowsy on the drive to work, I didn't harm anybody or myself...that I know of.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:04
Arrival Time: 7:36
Weather as I call it: Sunny, cold, 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.63
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
I did get some sleep before the alarm went off. I had some dreams of riding in a helicopter trying to do some mid-flight fuel link-up with another larger helicopter.
Weird.
Although drowsy on the drive to work, I didn't harm anybody or myself...that I know of.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:04
Arrival Time: 7:36
Weather as I call it: Sunny, cold, 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.63
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
10/27/2009
Every Day Is a Gift
My wife and I say that to each other in a deadpan voice...right around the time both kids start to lose it around bedtime.
Every day is a gift.
It makes us laugh. It's nice to say when you are walking out of the house and into the cold and gray.
Drive was fine today. Some forceful merging at points. The Rte. 495 exit down the street from Chelmsford center is always a little spicy in the morning. A dude in an old Mercedes decided it was time for him to join traffic without asking or thanking.
I was able to take the shortcut to get around the construction need Bedford center...which made up for any earlier issues.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:09
Arrival Time: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, 35°F
Shady Gas Price: $2.57 - Yikes!
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2.5
Feared for my life: Nah
Every day is a gift.
It makes us laugh. It's nice to say when you are walking out of the house and into the cold and gray.
Drive was fine today. Some forceful merging at points. The Rte. 495 exit down the street from Chelmsford center is always a little spicy in the morning. A dude in an old Mercedes decided it was time for him to join traffic without asking or thanking.
I was able to take the shortcut to get around the construction need Bedford center...which made up for any earlier issues.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:09
Arrival Time: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, 35°F
Shady Gas Price: $2.57 - Yikes!
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2.5
Feared for my life: Nah
10/22/2009
When It's Not Raining Or Cold
You know, when it's not raining or cold, driving around this ol' state of MA during this time of year can have a calming effect on somebody.
I had that feeling today while driving. I was looking at the trees and the still water of the rivers and I felt at peace.
The cool air, the stillness, the silence.
When you don't have the extreme conditions of way below average temps and downpouring rain, it can be a real pleasure.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:09
Arrival Time: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Cool, 40s, Partly sunny
Shady Gas Price: $2.47
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
I had that feeling today while driving. I was looking at the trees and the still water of the rivers and I felt at peace.
The cool air, the stillness, the silence.
When you don't have the extreme conditions of way below average temps and downpouring rain, it can be a real pleasure.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:09
Arrival Time: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Cool, 40s, Partly sunny
Shady Gas Price: $2.47
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
10/19/2009
Wet Leaves On Windshield
Man, too much snow too early. Not that there was any to shovel or wipe off my car, but mid-October is too early for snow. Yeah, too early.
I did have a lot of leaves on the windshield. I needed to remove many of them with my hand. My wipers were only effective on 40% of them.
The other few that were left the wind removed after driving for about 20 minutes.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:01
Arrival Time: 7:32
Weather as I call it: Cloudy - cold 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.45
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
I did have a lot of leaves on the windshield. I needed to remove many of them with my hand. My wipers were only effective on 40% of them.
The other few that were left the wind removed after driving for about 20 minutes.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:01
Arrival Time: 7:32
Weather as I call it: Cloudy - cold 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.45
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
10/06/2009
Voting Day
I stopped off at the ol' polling booths to vote on a couple of questions.
There is a few proposals that the townspeople were asked to vote on. It involved adjusting Prop. 2 1/2 and increasing our taxes. It was a hard choice and I will leave it at that.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:00
Arrival Time: 7:45
Weather as I call it: Sunny and cool.
Shady Gas Price: $2.45 - post Labor day slump.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
There is a few proposals that the townspeople were asked to vote on. It involved adjusting Prop. 2 1/2 and increasing our taxes. It was a hard choice and I will leave it at that.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:00
Arrival Time: 7:45
Weather as I call it: Sunny and cool.
Shady Gas Price: $2.45 - post Labor day slump.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
10/02/2009
Reckless Teens
Crazy Friday driving out there. A bunch of teens in beat up cars passing people and tailgating and trying to cause accidents. It was crazy out there this morning.
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Departure Time: 7:16
Arrival Time: 7:46
Weather as I call it: Sunny, Cool, High 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.47
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No, but crazed
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:16
Arrival Time: 7:46
Weather as I call it: Sunny, Cool, High 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.47
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No, but crazed
9/16/2009
4 Years
I have been blogging for 4 years. Lots of driving and lots of riding.
1 accident
3 Jobs
Big Dig collapse
Sox championship
Celtics championship
Superbowl loss
Puke on the T
Boston Now comes and goes
$2.99 a gallon gas price
I think I am going to take a pause for a while. I am glad I had the opportunity to write about driving to work for this period of time.
So...goodbye for now...I am sure it will be a short goodbye since something interesting always happens in the morning.
------------------------------
Departure Time: When I left my house
Arrival Time: When I got to work
Weather as I call it: Favorable
Shady Gas Price: Not as cheap as it should be
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2.163293450
Feared for my life: Always
1 accident
3 Jobs
Big Dig collapse
Sox championship
Celtics championship
Superbowl loss
Puke on the T
Boston Now comes and goes
$2.99 a gallon gas price
I think I am going to take a pause for a while. I am glad I had the opportunity to write about driving to work for this period of time.
So...goodbye for now...I am sure it will be a short goodbye since something interesting always happens in the morning.
------------------------------
Departure Time: When I left my house
Arrival Time: When I got to work
Weather as I call it: Favorable
Shady Gas Price: Not as cheap as it should be
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2.163293450
Feared for my life: Always
9/15/2009
Again With The Wild Turkeys
This time there was a rafter of turkeys in my back yard. My wife called me to the window where we saw 5 turkeys walking around our fence. There seemed to be larger turkeys in my neighbor's yard. I think they were the parents.
Drive was good today. Tomorrow is a special day.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:07
Arrival Time: 7:38
Weather as I call it: Sunny, 50s
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
Drive was good today. Tomorrow is a special day.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:07
Arrival Time: 7:38
Weather as I call it: Sunny, 50s
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
9/11/2009
Don't Forget
A few years before I starting blogging about getting to work...there was an attack on America...that threw our normal routines into chaos...and destroyed our sense of security and ended lives.
Writing about the routine reminds me how precious that can be...because it wasn't fun when it was smashed to bits that day...
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:02
Arrival Time: 7:31
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, cooler, low 50s
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Not today
Writing about the routine reminds me how precious that can be...because it wasn't fun when it was smashed to bits that day...
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:02
Arrival Time: 7:31
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, cooler, low 50s
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Not today
9/09/2009
Long Drive Because Of Tardiness
I had a long drive because I got out of bed late and I hit the roads late.
With all the school buses and the children and extra cars, it made for a lot of stop and go.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:16
Arrival Time: 7:54
Weather as I call it: Sunny cool 50s
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 4
Feared for my life: Nah
With all the school buses and the children and extra cars, it made for a lot of stop and go.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:16
Arrival Time: 7:54
Weather as I call it: Sunny cool 50s
Shady Gas Price: $2.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 4
Feared for my life: Nah
9/04/2009
Wake Up Naturally
I have been setting my alarm for a much later time...like 8:00 and letting it act as a fail safe.
That way, I can wake up more naturally.
It's been sorta working. I feel more awake in the morning. Certainly makes the drive a little bit better.
Long weekend...thank goodness...
------------------------------
Departure Time:
Arrival Time:
Weather as I call it:
Shady Gas Price:
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10):
Feared for my life:
That way, I can wake up more naturally.
It's been sorta working. I feel more awake in the morning. Certainly makes the drive a little bit better.
Long weekend...thank goodness...
------------------------------
Departure Time:
Arrival Time:
Weather as I call it:
Shady Gas Price:
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10):
Feared for my life:
9/03/2009
Slept In A Bit This Morning
I have been feeling a bit sleepy this week. During the day, I feel like taking a nap. Maybe it's the change in the seasons.
Maybe I just can't hack this 6 hour sleep schedule...day in and day out.
So I slept in a bit. I stayed in bed for an extra half hour.
I left the house about half hour later than usual. Traffic wasn't too much different...and actually, it was better than yesterday.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:32
Arrival Time: 8:01
Weather as I call it: Sunny, Cool, 50s
Shady Gas Price: $2.63
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
Maybe I just can't hack this 6 hour sleep schedule...day in and day out.
So I slept in a bit. I stayed in bed for an extra half hour.
I left the house about half hour later than usual. Traffic wasn't too much different...and actually, it was better than yesterday.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:32
Arrival Time: 8:01
Weather as I call it: Sunny, Cool, 50s
Shady Gas Price: $2.63
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
9/02/2009
Coffee School Gasoline Work
Coffee School Gasoline Work. Those are the items that made up my morning.
Not necessarily in that order.
The school buses and school children are clogging things up. Every year, there is a slow transition from summer time fun to bearing down and getting back to normal.
The transition will be a bit prolonged this year as school seems to be starting in spurts. Next week should be slow as well.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:08
Arrival Time: 7:43
Weather as I call it: Sunny Cool 50s
Shady Gas Price: $2.63
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No
Not necessarily in that order.
The school buses and school children are clogging things up. Every year, there is a slow transition from summer time fun to bearing down and getting back to normal.
The transition will be a bit prolonged this year as school seems to be starting in spurts. Next week should be slow as well.
------------------------------
Departure Time: 7:08
Arrival Time: 7:43
Weather as I call it: Sunny Cool 50s
Shady Gas Price: $2.63
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No
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