Boston Train Standoff

Hey there, I know it's been a while. I have changed jobs since the last time I posted here so I am back on the train and dealing with that commute. There hasn't been too much to report since December of last year outside of changing jobs. Interestingly enough, there are plenty of the same faces still riding the train from the last time I rode it in 2013. Today, something happened and I need to record it. If you have ever ridden the train, you know about the rush to the doors before the end of the ride. People start to jockey for position before the train stops to exit the train faster than others. The aisle gets filled with anxious passengers five or so minutes before the trip has end. I was sitting in the middle of the car in a seat that has room for two people. There was a young woman who sat in the seat in front of me and she was sitting closest to the aisle. With 3 minutes to go in the trip, she stood up. She didn't move so she stood in the aisle while the train moved forward. There were two gentlemen that lined up behind her. One looked like a student - he had headphones on and didn't seem to mind standing in the aisle in the middle of the car. The other guy, well, he was middle aged worker and he wanted to get to the front of the car. He shouts to her, "Will you move up?" She responded with. "There are many other people who also need to get out." I am not sure I understood her motive, but that's what she presented. The scene was uncomfortable so I put my hand to my eyes as if I were looking away from seeing an accident about to happen. When I looked again, the guy wasn't there - he must have turned to go out the door on the other side of the car. The woman's face was red with intensity. She had stood her ground and continued to stand there throughout the rest of the ride. To me, a better course of action should have been where the guy asked nicely if he could get by her. I think she would have accommodated him. Instead, we had a morning standoff. Boston Strong.

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Departure Time From Home:6:55 AM
Arrival Time at Work:8:12 AM
Weather as I call it: Partly Cloudy, warm, 60s
Shady Gas Price: $3.34
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Hey Guy With A Snow Blower Get Out Of The Way

There was a guy snowblowing his driveway on Lexington Road in Waltham. He decided that it was ok to stand in the right lane of the road with his machine as if the morning commute wasn't in full swing. I swerved to not hit him He motioned to me to say "slow down" very aggressively. There was no joy in his motion. I motioned back to him to "get back in your driveway before you get hurt." He motioned something else to me that I saw in my rearview mirror. The holiday spirit fills us all.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:32
Arrival Time at Work: 7:23
Weather as I call it: Clearing after a snow storm yesterday
Shady Gas Price: $3.45
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 4
Feared for my life: No

Frost in the Fields

Drove through Billerica on Route 4 this morning. All the old farm land where large houses loom now was filled with frost. Icy sparkles on lawns. White crystals on dead brush in the distance. It gave the everyday look of the commute a beauty not often seen. Tomorrow will be not look the same, to be sure. Enjoy today.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:32
Arrival Time at Work: 7:43
Weather as I call it: Brisk, frosty, 30 degrees F. Clearing skies
Shady Gas Price: $3.39
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

Different Rules Out On Route 4

So a minivan pulls out into traffic. The Honda Accord takes offense and proceeds to pass him slowly across double yellow lines. Once the Accord is in front of the minivan, it slows down. The minivan reacts and flicks its high beams at the Accord. I was right behind this scene and I was hoping it would stop quickly, but intrigued to see if anything would happen. The minivan puts on its blinker to turn right, which I cheer because it takes him out of the conflict with the Accord and I will be rid of him too. As it comes to the street, the minivan pauses and lets the three cars who were waiting to exit that street out onto Route 4. I was a bit annoyed by the kind gesture but it was coming from a minivan who pulled a risky move to pull into traffic. I guess it wanted to punish me too.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:21
Arrival Time at Work: 7:17
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, some fog, 50s
Shady Gas Price: $3.39
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 4
Feared for my life: No

Are You Lost or Unaware

I had to beep my horn twice today. There were a few people who were looking at maps (yeah, the ones that are made of paper and you have to unfold to read them) at red lights that continued to look at maps when the lights turned green. I hate doing that but I hate sitting through a light cycle more. They reacted quick enough to get me through the intersection but man, get a GPS already.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:48
Arrival Time at Work: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Sunny, cool, 50s
Shady Gas Price: $3.65
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

It's Been A Fun Ride

I am thinking of bringing this blog to a close. It's been a while since I have felt compelled to type up a report of my latest trip. My route is fairly incident free and character free. Outside of reporting on the weather and the gas price, I don't really have much that is worth my commentary. I probably jinxed it. Now it's going to be crazy/awful/fascinating and I will be sucked back into it. I don't think that would be the most horrible thing ever to happen, for sure. So, commute well. Be well. The blog's not dead but it's not alive.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:42
Arrival Time at Work: 7:28
Weather as I call it: Rainy
Shady Gas Price: $3.65
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

You're Driving a Porsche Convertable

Earlier this week, there was a woman driving a black Porsche convertable. I had just voted and I was leaving the school parking lot and somehow I got right behind her as she left the lot as well. She drove sooooooooooo slowly. I started to guess that she didn't own the car. She was acting as if any wrong move would be a catastrophe. She made me miss green lights. She added more time to my drive. She finally turned left and I went straight. I hope she made it to her destination ok.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:50
Arrival Time at Work: 7:35
Weather as I call it: Foggy, cloudy, drizzling
Shady Gas Price: $3.45
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No