Not sure why, but there was a group of teenage girls screaming as they got off the subway...which spilt onto Clarendon Street. They didn't seem to be in distress since they were laughing between screams. Police officers took notice, but reacted indifferently. I think once they understood that there was no danger, they went about their business.
Certainly made for a different scene for 7:30 on a Monday morning. I tend to enjoy the quiet.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:57
Bus Arrival Time: 7:12
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Partly cloudy. 30s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No
3/31/2008
3/25/2008
Sox In The Morning
I watched some of the game before I left the house to go to work. They were losing 2-0. I thought it would feel weirder to watch a live game at 6:30 in the morning. It seemed like old times.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:57
Bus Arrival Time: 7:12
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Partly sunny. Not too cold.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Not today.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:57
Bus Arrival Time: 7:12
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Partly sunny. Not too cold.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Not today.
3/24/2008
Chats About Cats
On the Orange line today, there was a loud conversation about cats. People were talking loudly about their cats and which cat doesn't get along with this dog and so on. Nothing better than cat chat.
Back Bay station has been an ad mecca for the new disposable Mach 3 razor from Gillete....for the past few weeks now. I finally got a coupon for the darn thing today. (3 bucks off!)
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:58
Bus Arrival Time: 7:14
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Sunny and cold - no wind though
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Nope
Back Bay station has been an ad mecca for the new disposable Mach 3 razor from Gillete....for the past few weeks now. I finally got a coupon for the darn thing today. (3 bucks off!)
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:58
Bus Arrival Time: 7:14
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Sunny and cold - no wind though
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Nope
3/21/2008
Fast As The Wind
With no school for the kids today, our bus flew down Salem St. like the wind...which was blowing at about 25 miles per hour...so maybe a little faster than that.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:58
Bus Arrival Time: 7:10
T Departure Time: 7:11
T Arrival Time: 7:32
Weather as I call it: Windy and it felt colder than it really was. (Wind Chill)
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:58
Bus Arrival Time: 7:10
T Departure Time: 7:11
T Arrival Time: 7:32
Weather as I call it: Windy and it felt colder than it really was. (Wind Chill)
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah
3/20/2008
Getting Ahead Of Herself
The conductor called out "Next Stop - Forest Hills" right before we pulled into Haymarket. This mistake brought out some giggles from my fellow passengers. The conductor laughed too..and corrected herself.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 7:02
Bus Arrival Time: 7:13
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Cloudy. Damp. Cold
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 7:02
Bus Arrival Time: 7:13
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Cloudy. Damp. Cold
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
3/19/2008
Sure We Can Stop For You
One stop away from Malden Center, a guy "flagged" the bus down. He explained his whole story as he got on...saying he usually walks but it started to rain and he had the pass on him so he thought 'what the hey' and he decided to take the bus because why should he walk in the rain when he has a pass and the bus was right there.
Ok guy. Now just sit down so we can get going.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 7:02
Bus Arrival Time: 7:15
T Departure Time: 7:18
T Arrival Time: 7:38
Weather as I call it: Freezing rain began to come down. Crappy.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah
Ok guy. Now just sit down so we can get going.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 7:02
Bus Arrival Time: 7:15
T Departure Time: 7:18
T Arrival Time: 7:38
Weather as I call it: Freezing rain began to come down. Crappy.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah
3/18/2008
Earphone Sharing
I looked back at my earlier posts and I saw that I did write something about sharing music on the T, but that was more in line with involuntary sharing; i.e. people listening to their iPod so loudly that you had no choice but to listen along.
Today, I witnessed two instances of voluntary music sharing. On the bus and on the T, there were two people who would take one ear piece each and listen along to whatever was playing on the iPod.
It brought a smile to my face. Something about sharing. It's a good thing.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 7:00
Bus Arrival Time: 7:16
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:337
Weather as I call it: Sunny but still chilly.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Nope.
Today, I witnessed two instances of voluntary music sharing. On the bus and on the T, there were two people who would take one ear piece each and listen along to whatever was playing on the iPod.
It brought a smile to my face. Something about sharing. It's a good thing.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 7:00
Bus Arrival Time: 7:16
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:337
Weather as I call it: Sunny but still chilly.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Nope.
3/17/2008
Crocheting And A Toothpaste Exchange
I was observing today. The woman next to me was crocheting something. It was too early to tell what the final product would be.
Across from me, there were two ladies who had two big backpacks on their laps. One of them was pulling out large boxes of Colgate toothpaste out of her bag and handing them to the other. The other lady promptly tucked the toothpaste boxes into her bag.
Happy St. Patty's Day
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 7:02
Bus Arrival Time: 7:12
T Departure Time: 7:15
T Arrival Time: 7:36
Weather as I call it: Sunny, but breezy. Cold - 20s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: No
Across from me, there were two ladies who had two big backpacks on their laps. One of them was pulling out large boxes of Colgate toothpaste out of her bag and handing them to the other. The other lady promptly tucked the toothpaste boxes into her bag.
Happy St. Patty's Day
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 7:02
Bus Arrival Time: 7:12
T Departure Time: 7:15
T Arrival Time: 7:36
Weather as I call it: Sunny, but breezy. Cold - 20s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: No
3/13/2008
Back To Driving To Work
Well, just a bit. I drove from my house to one of the parking garages in Malden Center. I have a dinner thing after work tonight and it's cheaper to park than it is to take a cab home from the T station.
I think I am a little rusty behind the wheel. As I was leaving my driveway, I was slow to turn and look to the left. As I did, I saw this crappy Civic closing in on me. The driver gave me a look. I think he was hugging the curb, but I gave the "I'm Sorry" hand gesture anyway.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: N/A
Bus Arrival Time: N/A
T Departure Time: 7:12
T Arrival Time: 7:31
Weather as I call it: Mostly Cloudy 30s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Close call just outside my driveway was exciting
I think I am a little rusty behind the wheel. As I was leaving my driveway, I was slow to turn and look to the left. As I did, I saw this crappy Civic closing in on me. The driver gave me a look. I think he was hugging the curb, but I gave the "I'm Sorry" hand gesture anyway.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: N/A
Bus Arrival Time: N/A
T Departure Time: 7:12
T Arrival Time: 7:31
Weather as I call it: Mostly Cloudy 30s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Close call just outside my driveway was exciting
3/11/2008
More Like It
The bus came a bit early today. I celebrated this rare occurance by taking my seat quickly and quietly. (That's my way of saying I didn't celebrate at all.)
Two people sat next to me on the Orange Line but they cared and shared more than the people yesterday. I had feelings in my arms the whole ride.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:56
Bus Arrival Time: 7:10
T Departure Time: 7:11
T Arrival Time: 7:32
Weather as I call it: Sunny and cold
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Nah
Two people sat next to me on the Orange Line but they cared and shared more than the people yesterday. I had feelings in my arms the whole ride.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:56
Bus Arrival Time: 7:10
T Departure Time: 7:11
T Arrival Time: 7:32
Weather as I call it: Sunny and cold
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Nah
3/10/2008
Squooshed
Bus was late. I blame daylight savings time. (If you have read this blog for years like I have, you know my feelings on daylight savings time and time changes in general).
When I got on the Orange Line, I sat on the opposite side of the train from where I usually sit. Bad mistake. I got squooshed. I don't know how it happened but it did. I was reading my metro and suddenly I couldn't move my arms because my elbows were being held down by the two people beside me. With each passing stop, it got worse and worse. I really thought one of them would have exited at State or D-Town Xing...but no. They stayed on for the long haul.
I stood up at New England Medical Center just to feel my arms again.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 7:02
Bus Arrival Time: 7:16
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Sunny but cold. Winter coats were out in force.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 4
Feared for my life: No
When I got on the Orange Line, I sat on the opposite side of the train from where I usually sit. Bad mistake. I got squooshed. I don't know how it happened but it did. I was reading my metro and suddenly I couldn't move my arms because my elbows were being held down by the two people beside me. With each passing stop, it got worse and worse. I really thought one of them would have exited at State or D-Town Xing...but no. They stayed on for the long haul.
I stood up at New England Medical Center just to feel my arms again.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 7:02
Bus Arrival Time: 7:16
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Sunny but cold. Winter coats were out in force.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 4
Feared for my life: No
3/07/2008
Sleep Walking
I feel like I went through the whole commute sleeping with my eyes open...
I feel like I didn't get any rest last night. It was okay since I wasn't operating any heavy machinery.
Have a good weekend...I am gonna get some sleep.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 7:00
Bus Arrival Time: 7:11
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Sunny, Cool. mid-30s.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah.
I feel like I didn't get any rest last night. It was okay since I wasn't operating any heavy machinery.
Have a good weekend...I am gonna get some sleep.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 7:00
Bus Arrival Time: 7:11
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Sunny, Cool. mid-30s.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah.
3/06/2008
Comedy on the T
I didn't post yesterday but I will talk about both trips (today and yesterday) in this post. The stats will be for this day, though.
Yesterday, two guys got on the bus and they had a comedy routine going. One guy was just shouting out things...to the point where you ask yourself, "Is this really happening?" It got off to a rough start because he was complaining out loud about the woman in front of him not having her money ready when the bus pulled up.
He was commenting loudly about her lack of common sense and wondering what this world was coming to with people who weren't prepared "for anything".
He then started to rant about the 12 step program and how he would rewrite it. With shouts like, "The first step is to take a toke!", I was hoping this ride would never end.
Today, the bus went over a big pot hole on Centre St in Malden. There was a big 'whoop!' from the ladies who were sitting in the back of the bus. One of the ladies exclaimed, "That's probably going to be the biggest excitement we have all day!"
Potholes are pretty exciting but I wish these ladies something pleasant and more exciting today.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:58
Bus Arrival Time: 7:12
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Sunny, cooler, 30s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah
Yesterday, two guys got on the bus and they had a comedy routine going. One guy was just shouting out things...to the point where you ask yourself, "Is this really happening?" It got off to a rough start because he was complaining out loud about the woman in front of him not having her money ready when the bus pulled up.
He was commenting loudly about her lack of common sense and wondering what this world was coming to with people who weren't prepared "for anything".
He then started to rant about the 12 step program and how he would rewrite it. With shouts like, "The first step is to take a toke!", I was hoping this ride would never end.
Today, the bus went over a big pot hole on Centre St in Malden. There was a big 'whoop!' from the ladies who were sitting in the back of the bus. One of the ladies exclaimed, "That's probably going to be the biggest excitement we have all day!"
Potholes are pretty exciting but I wish these ladies something pleasant and more exciting today.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:58
Bus Arrival Time: 7:12
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Sunny, cooler, 30s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah
3/04/2008
Warm and Breezy
The weather outside was great. People were wearing windbreakers. There were smiles on faces...well not really...but it was nice out and it made me feel warm and breezy too.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:59
Bus Arrival Time: 7:15
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Warm and breezy
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Nope
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:59
Bus Arrival Time: 7:15
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Warm and breezy
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Nope
2/28/2008
Long Torture
Nothing more to say than this: Switching problems at Oak Grove stink.
Stood on the platform with 300 of my closest commuting buddies for 20 minutes in the blustery snow.
It was not fun. People were getting pushy too. One woman turned around to ask another to stop sticking her in the back with her bag.
Not fun at all.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:58
Bus Arrival Time: 7:12
T Departure Time: 7:33
T Arrival Time: 7:55
Weather as I call it: Cold, windy, snowing (lightly)
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 8
Feared for my life: Frostbite comes to mind.
Stood on the platform with 300 of my closest commuting buddies for 20 minutes in the blustery snow.
It was not fun. People were getting pushy too. One woman turned around to ask another to stop sticking her in the back with her bag.
Not fun at all.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:58
Bus Arrival Time: 7:12
T Departure Time: 7:33
T Arrival Time: 7:55
Weather as I call it: Cold, windy, snowing (lightly)
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 8
Feared for my life: Frostbite comes to mind.
2/27/2008
Public Conversations
When you ride the bus (this situation probably applies to any public place really...but let's keep it to what I experienced today), do you ever sit near two people who are talking loudly to each other and really don't need to be talking as loudly as they are?
This morning, two people got on at the stop right after mine. They were talking to each other as they stepped on.
They talked to each other throughout the ride.
They talked to each other as they exited the bus.
I don't care that they were talking to each other. Communication is great. It's just the volume at which they were communicating to each other. I was able to tune it out...so I don't even know what they were talking about...but the constant chatter was driving me nuts. It became a chore to tune it out.
Meh, I have no solutions...just thought I'd share.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:57
Bus Arrival Time: 7:15
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, 30s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2.5
Feared for my life: Nope
This morning, two people got on at the stop right after mine. They were talking to each other as they stepped on.
They talked to each other throughout the ride.
They talked to each other as they exited the bus.
I don't care that they were talking to each other. Communication is great. It's just the volume at which they were communicating to each other. I was able to tune it out...so I don't even know what they were talking about...but the constant chatter was driving me nuts. It became a chore to tune it out.
Meh, I have no solutions...just thought I'd share.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:57
Bus Arrival Time: 7:15
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, 30s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2.5
Feared for my life: Nope
2/26/2008
Making Friends On The Platform
Hey, the bus came on time today. That was nice.
Just one thing of note this morning: There were a couple of Asian women on the platform at Malden Center speaking in their native tongue. I am not sure what it was as I am not familiar with any language outside of English and some of the European languages (Spanish, French, German, and Italian...maybe Lithuanian).
I was standing near this couple when this other man walked up to them and said something to the effect of "Go back to China" or something like that and he walked away.
The women, looking nonplussed, stopped chatting for a moment and then continued after the man walked away.
You don't win friends with salad and you can't make friends with ignorance either.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:58
Bus Arrival Time: 7:13
T Departure Time: 7:20
T Arrival Time: 7:42
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, 30s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
Just one thing of note this morning: There were a couple of Asian women on the platform at Malden Center speaking in their native tongue. I am not sure what it was as I am not familiar with any language outside of English and some of the European languages (Spanish, French, German, and Italian...maybe Lithuanian).
I was standing near this couple when this other man walked up to them and said something to the effect of "Go back to China" or something like that and he walked away.
The women, looking nonplussed, stopped chatting for a moment and then continued after the man walked away.
You don't win friends with salad and you can't make friends with ignorance either.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:58
Bus Arrival Time: 7:13
T Departure Time: 7:20
T Arrival Time: 7:42
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, 30s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No
2/25/2008
Coffee Roasting
The bus was late today, just in time for the kids to go back to school.
I could smell the coffee roasting this morning. I must have been downwind from the The New England Coffee Company. They have been in Malden since 1966, you know.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 7:07
Bus Arrival Time: 7:21
T Departure Time: 7:24
T Arrival Time: 7:46
Weather as I call it: Sunny 20s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No
I could smell the coffee roasting this morning. I must have been downwind from the The New England Coffee Company. They have been in Malden since 1966, you know.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 7:07
Bus Arrival Time: 7:21
T Departure Time: 7:24
T Arrival Time: 7:46
Weather as I call it: Sunny 20s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No
2/21/2008
Saving Seats With Shells
On the Orange Line, there was an empty seat but no one wanted to sit on it.
Somebody had left pistachio shells on the seat.
Somebody had left PISTACHIO SHELLS on the seat!?!
Thankfully they were the non-dyed ones...but still...this is odd for even the T.
Thoughts:
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:57
Bus Arrival Time: 7:11
T Departure Time: 7:11
T Arrival Time: 7:32
Weather as I call it: Cold...sunny...but 20s if that.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: Nah.
Somebody had left pistachio shells on the seat.
Somebody had left PISTACHIO SHELLS on the seat!?!
Thankfully they were the non-dyed ones...but still...this is odd for even the T.
Thoughts:
- Somebody was eating on the T...which is something I wouldn't do. Too dirty.
- Somebody was eating pistachios on the T early in the morning...I dunno...Pistachios just aren't a breakfast food to me.
- Somebody decided to leave the shells on a seat once they were done. Why would you do that? Pack in - Pack out, peeps.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 6:57
Bus Arrival Time: 7:11
T Departure Time: 7:11
T Arrival Time: 7:32
Weather as I call it: Cold...sunny...but 20s if that.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: Nah.
2/19/2008
Bless You Rules
One thing about the third full week of February...no school...which means easy riding on the MBTA...
I got on the bus today and there were 4 other people on the bus. One of the people is "coughing up lung" guy...who seems to be feeling better. He hasn't been coughing that much lately.
A woman who sat in the front of the bus had a sneeze attack. She must have sneezed seven times in a row. People said "Bless you" after the first three times, but then stopped.
I guess they felt she was on her own after a certain number of sneezes.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 7:00
Bus Arrival Time: 7:11
T Departure Time: 7:13
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Sunny, 30s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Nope
I got on the bus today and there were 4 other people on the bus. One of the people is "coughing up lung" guy...who seems to be feeling better. He hasn't been coughing that much lately.
A woman who sat in the front of the bus had a sneeze attack. She must have sneezed seven times in a row. People said "Bless you" after the first three times, but then stopped.
I guess they felt she was on her own after a certain number of sneezes.
------------------------------
Bus Departure Time: 7:00
Bus Arrival Time: 7:11
T Departure Time: 7:13
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Sunny, 30s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Nope
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