Seriously Folks

Bus Departure Time: 7:02
Bus Arrival Time: 7:18
T Departure Time: 7:19
T Arrival Time: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Cloudy and cooler...yay!
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: I'm worried

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My wife learned about the shooting at the Ruggles T station on the TV news last night. I think she's worried about me...which made me start to get worried too.

I joke and report about if I feared for my life on the T in the morning...but maybe it's not really a joke. When you hear about people getting shot and stabbed on the same line you take everyday, you get to thinking about your own safety. I look around the train car in the morning and none of the people I ride with, from what I perceive, are thinking that this might be their last trip. They are thinking about getting to work on time, dreading the silly paperwork they have to complete, worrying about other small stuff (you know, in comparison to getting killed).

Maybe I'm getting overly dramatic here, but it makes me wonder what the hell is happening to our city, country, world, etc. Do we need to live in constant fear of each other, or can we figure out how to get along with each other? (and I mean that on a one on one up to a world level).

On a completely different and much lighter note, I got a card for a free slice of pizza at Bostone Pizza while walking out of the Back Bay T stop. I have had a slice from there before, and I can tell you it's ok, from what I remember... It's not the best pizza I have ever have, but I feel you should support a local business. The guy who handed me the card along with the little menu was enthusiastic, cheery, and seemed passionate. Hey, he might have been the owner. That kind of effort should get all the support in the world, in my opinion. I might have to stop by today and get two slices.

MBTA Rules That Can Be Broken

Bus Departure Time: 7:04
Bus Arrival Time: 7:19
T Departure Time: 7:19
T Arrival Time: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Mostly cloudy and a little less humid than yesterday.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

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Only 3 people asked me, "Is it hot enough for ya?" yesterday. What a disappointment.
Heat waves should be measured in this fashion. It isn't a heat wave until 5 people ask you said question. None of this "three days in a row of 90+ degree temps" business.

The bus was packed. It got so bad the driver was letting people on through the rear door.

At Malden station, some guy ticked off one of the conductors by standing in the doorway. The guy was stopping the doors from closing by using his body; leaning against one side of the doorway.

The conductor yelled at him over the intercom, "Will you stop holding the doors open!?!" The guy walked away from the door and sat smugly across from me.

I am not sure how I feel about what he did. On one side, he was holding the door open for people who were running for the train. On the other side, he was holding me and the rest of the train up from proceeding down the line.

Overall, passengers are not supposed to hold the doors open...

I don't know. How do you feel?

Summertime Haze

Bus Departure Time: 7:02
Bus Arrival Time: 7:15
T Departure Time: 7:19
T Arrival Time: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Muggy, hazy sun.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

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I woke up a little later today as planned. When you are not used to it, an extra 10 minutes will do you good. Well, at least today it did.

The bus ride was a mirror image of yesterday. Mike and I stood near the rear door and talked about the Sox losing again.

There is usually a Metro hawker who shouts goofy things like "Get your Metro because I am dropping it like it's hot!" at the Malden Center T stop but he was out today. His replacement was less dynamic.

I thought I would document the haze we are encountering today with a photo I stole using Google Image Search:



I can't for someone to ask me, "Is it hot enough for ya?!??!"

Protect Your Identity on the T

Bus Departure Time: 7:03
Bus Arrival Time: 7:19
T Departure Time: 7:19
T Arrival Time: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Hazy, steamy
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah

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The bus stop had a small crowd: Mike and me. We talked Sox; apparently they lost last night. If they play on the west coast (they played in Seattle last night), I can't/won't stay up for those games. I need to learn about it the next morning.

We stood in the back of the bus and got into the T station 16 minutes later to laugh at the free paper hawkers with their ridiculous routines to get you to take a paper.

Hey, if you are riding the T and you clip your work security badge so it faces forward so everyone can see it...be careful. I saw some dude staring at this woman's badge so much that she felt she had to flip it around. Not sure what was on the badge, maybe just her name and her company, but I guess that's enough to stalk somebody.

One Bus

Bus Departure Time: 7:02
Bus Arrival Time: 7:16
T Departure Time: 7:21
T Arrival Time: 7:42
Weather as I call it: Mostly cloudy and warm
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

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Although it has been a major plot line for this blog since February, my commute's complex two bus "game" has been put on hiatus for the summer. We'll probably start up again in September when the kids are back in school, but for the next couple of months there will be one bus that leaves at 7:00. So, no more guess work. Boo!

I guess I will sleep in a few minutes more.

With the lack of a second bus, the only bus was packed with people...but people who do not pay in change so we moved pretty quickly.

We did have a stop where a woman had a hard time getting by people to get to the exit. As the door closed, she piped up, "Not yet!" so the driver opened the door and she finally stumbled off.

The Orange Line was fine. I got some reading done.

Something in the air is making me want to sneeze (weather.com sez it's grass pollen), and I finally did on the street walking to my building. Someone said "Bless you" after I sneezed. It took me off guard, but I thanked them.

Mysterious Hours

Bus Departure Time: 6:58
Bus Arrival Time: 7:09
T Departure Time: 7:15
T Arrival Time: 7:36
Weather as I call it: Sunny. Low Humidity. 60s Makes you want to call in sick. :)
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: I wish

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Summer is here (well later on today officially) and it's been sorta easy going on the T so I thought I would pepper you with a random note. Here you go:

There's a place in Malden near the T station called Artichokes Ristorante Trattoria. You can check it out here and here.

I saw this sign a while ago, but I haven't had the time to type about it until now.

Their hours of operation are from 4:30 to Closings. 4:30 to Closings! (that's plural and I don't what that means...maybe it's a typo).

I wish I could set hours like that. Are they trying to support early dining or do they like the mystery of never knowing exactly when they will close?

Retirees and risk takers rejoice!

Meh, I have always wanted to try it. Maybe I will go there around 6:37?

I will be out tomorrow. Type to you Monday.

Let Me Off First

Bus Departure Time: 7:02
Bus Arrival Time: 7:14
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Cloudy but thankfully not raining
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Not today

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I love it when the first bus, which is scheduled to come to my stop at 6:57 comes later than the second bus (which is scheduled to come to my stop at 7:05, I think?)

It's all messed up.

We only realize this situation when we are sitting on the second bus and the first bus passes us at the next stop.

Meh, the kids are out of school so the rides are fine.

Hey, can we let people off the trains before boarding? At Sullivan Square, I heard a woman yell "Let me off first!!!" She meant business.

I didn't see her but might have been the woman who stiff armed some guy a week ago.

Maybe this woman got stuck on the train once because she couldn't exit the train in time and she never wants to have that happen again.

Effectiveness of T Billboards

Bus Departure Time: 6:58
Bus Arrival Time: 7:12
T Departure Time: 7:12
T Arrival Time: 7:33
Weather as I call it: Mostly cloudy and high 60s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nope

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It looks like the kids are out of school and it reflects in the bus ride.
No kids = Easy ride.

We did have a new driver today. She likes taking big swings into the stops (and I mean turning the bus with a big swinging motion - not with a baseball bat).

It kinda made me a little car sick after the 15th swing.

My getting to the Malden station platform was perfectly timed with the arrival of the train. Unfortunately, all the seats were taken when I got on so I had to stand. While standing, I noticed there were billboards for the same website all along the banner row on my side of the car (probably on the other side too).

After reading all their quirky slogans, I was hooked. I had to check the site out, even though I would probably regret it later.

So, do yourself a favor and don't check out Windorphins.com.

Street Teacher

Bus Departure Time: 7:02
Bus Arrival Time: 7:15
T Departure Time: 7:15
T Arrival Time: 7:36
Weather as I call it: Still cloudy and cooler
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Nah

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I was late out of the door this morning and I missed the first bus...wah.

The second bus came right after that, and the ride into town was smooth. People paid and took their seats with no issues. I think the bus driver even wished someone to have a good day. Wow.

The subway was pretty calm as well. No whistling today, though.

The best thing I saw this morning was a guy trying to instruct a driver about the rules of the road. He was walking across the street in a crosswalk and as the car approached him, he kept pointing down at the white lines as if to somehow convey to the driver, "I'm walking in a crosswalk and you are supposed to stop!" The vigor this guy had in his exaggerated arm movements made me laugh out loud.

He can't expect to teach anybody with that method.

I'm taking a few days off. I will be back next Tuesday. Have fun.

Whistling While Going To Work

Bus Departure Time: 6:59
Bus Arrival Time: 7:15
T Departure Time: 7:17
T Arrival Time: 7:43
Weather as I call it: Cloudy and cool, in the 50s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah

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Well, the messy meat splatter discussed in yesterday's post was gone from the bus stop this morning. Thank God for raccoons, feral cats, and other critters. They do a good job cleaning up.

While I was waiting for the bus, there was a older gentleman across the street walking backwards with no shoes on and slapping himself on his back using alternating arms. I am not sure if he was exercising or punishing himself. It was bizarre and I kept asking myself if it were real or not. Nobody else at the bus stop acknowledged it...so I didn't say anything.

The bus was packed and the T was quiet except for some guy who thought he could whistle tunes for 5 stops straight. I don't know where I fall on the whistling in public debate, but after 3 stops I had had enough of the whistling.

MBTA Lessons Learned

Bus Departure Time: 7:02
Bus Arrival Time: 7:17
T Departure Time: 7:20
T Arrival Time: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Partly cloudy but warm - 60s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nope

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Ok, let's start with the ugly:

Not sure what it was, but there was a splattered meaty mass in front of the bench at the bus stop. It could have been puke, dog food, or puked up dog food. So, I bent down and took a taste.....I was wrong, it was cat food.

Gotcha.

It was weird though...one doesn't see that kind of a mess everyday. The woman who was standing at the stop before me didn't acknowledge it. Maybe she was the cause?

I got on the second bus after waving off the first one. Let me type it out so you can read it: The second bus driver runs a tight ship!

"No Canadian coins!" she yelled as a passenger tried to pass a 25 cent piece with a Caribou on it.

Tsk tsk!

"Wait for the green light!" she exclaimed as another passenger attempted to scan her Charlie Card before the reader had reset.

My goodness, the insolence!!

The Orange Line was grand as ever. Another rule of the T is for passengers on the platform to wait for all passengers to exit the train before stepping onto it. I saw an older woman "heisman trophy" a guy this morning so she could get off at Sullivan Sq. before he walked on. She sorta patted him on the chest after the stiff arm. He smiled a bit, and bowed his head in repentance.

He knew the rule.

Stare Forward

Bus Departure Time: 7:00
Bus Arrival Time: 7:15
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Mostly cloudy..warm
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: No

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Ah, Monday morning...Time to pay for your two days of debauchery, you hungover drones.

First bus came a little late and I jumped on and got a seat. Got to the T station just in time to jump on the Orange Line.

I didn't feel like I captured anything on the ride today. I stared forward like everyone else wishing they were anywhere else but where they were at that moment.

Sad, really. I am tired and I shoulda stood in bed.

System Breaks Down

Bus Departure Time: 7:04
Bus Arrival Time: 7:22
T Departure Time: 7:25
T Arrival Time: 7:46
Weather as I call it: Hazy sun around 60 degrees
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 4
Feared for my life: No

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Is it Friday yet? You can lump that question in with "Hot enough for ya?"

The first bus didn't come, so we all hopped on the second bus. The driver of the second bus had some snide remark about the first bus driver's absence when we got on:

"She must be off having breakfast somewhere."

Ouch.

The bus was packed. The driver stopped at every stop and let people get on via the back door because the front of the bus was filled with people. The driver was a stickler for the "do not stand in front of the yellow line" rule, stating many times that she wasn't going anywhere until people stood behind the line.

I think it might have been the longest bus ride I have encountered since the job change/commute change in February.

Here's my next salute: Hats of to "Woman I Assume Works at New England Medical Center". She is always wearing light blue scrubs with matching Crocs and she always gets on at Downtown Crossing and gets off at the New England Medical Center stop.

Although I am not absolutely sure wear she works, I would be willing to bet a large sum of money..say 25 dollars...she works at New England Medical Center.

"Woman I Assume Works at New England Medical Center", I salute you!

Yell No Bell

Bus Departure Time: 6:58
Bus Arrival Time: 7:15
T Departure Time: 7:20
T Arrival Time: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Sunny and cool. 40s? I didn't wear a jacket, and I was fine.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

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I had to fly and present to a client yesterday so no communting to work.
The commute to Logan yesterday morning was ok...just ok. Thanks for asking.

I took the first bus and caught up with Mike about the Sox and their current losing streak. Meh, this June Swoon will be over before you know it.

The bus had a great sign up front (if you can call it that): "Yell No Bell" was written in marker where the stop requested sign would normally be.

I got to Malden Station and missed the Orange Line by that much. I took the next T and it went just fine. No delays and no issues.

Sometimes it works like its supposed to work.

Boston Now Aggressiveness

Bus Departure Time: 7:05
Bus Arrival Time: 7:19
T Departure Time: 7:20
T Arrival Time: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Cloudy and muggy. 60s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nope

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I took the second bus today. There were lots of people at the stop and I didn't feel like dealing with the crowds.

There were two high school kids behind me. They were singing songs about things they saw...like "Paul's Rubber Stamp Shop". Good times.

Is it just me or have the Boston Now paper distributors become more aggressive over the past few weeks? It's getting to the point where papers are being forced in front of me and I need to swat them away to get by.

I'm feeling like I don't care if it's Boston Now, Boston Yesterday, or Boston 3 Weeks From Now.

Remnants of Tropical Storm Barry

Bus Departure Time: 6:57
Bus Arrival Time: 7:12
T Departure Time: 7:15
T Arrival Time: 7:39
Weather as I call it: Light rain and some wind.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 4
Feared for my life: Nah.

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The bus came on time and on a day like today, that's all you can ask for. Thanks to the late riser syndrome on Mondays, the bus was pretty empty too...which was an added bonus.

As usual, there were many wet seats. The windows were closed when I got on the bus, but they must have been open at some point this morning. I was able to sit down on a dry seat and wipe up the water on the wet window seat with my coat sleeve just in case I had to move in to accommodate another passenger. It turned out that I didn't have to move at all, since there weren't many people on the route this morning.

Eh, I hope someone is keeping score.

We got to the T station pretty quickly, and I got on the Orange Line train that came in at 7:15. We had to wait for a long time (2 minutes) at Sullivan Square due to traffic up ahead, but the rest of the ride was problem free.

Overheard On Someone's iPod: Some dance song. I could hear the high hat rhythm which was right in time with the clacking of the train's wheels as we raced into Community College.

Fire at Back Bay Station

Bus Departure Time: 6:57
Bus Arrival Time: 7:12
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:38
Weather as I call it: Hazy sun. 60s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Maybe I should have?

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There was a fire truck outside of Back Bay station this morning. I wasn't sure why...but when I got into work and checked Boston.com I saw this headline:

MBTA commuter trains have stopped running through Back Bay Station after what appeared to be a small debris fire started near the tracks. A T spokeswoman said the Boston Fire Department has responded, and trains should be running again as soon as the fire is extinguished.

I can tell you Orange Line had no problems going in or out of the station...and I didn't see any flames/smoke/panic/woman-and-children-first type event going on. Oh well.

Hey, it's Friday and I thought I would start saluting(I don't think I feel comfortable giving a "shout out") people I see on a regular basis on the T. I see these people so much that I recognize them and have given them nicknames in my head.

Here is my first salute: Hats off to "Stereotypical Business Suit Old Guy" He gets on the Orange Line every morning at North Station and takes it to Downtown Crossing. He wears nice suits and looks sorta like this:



I always wonder what you do, but if I were casting a movie you would play the role of the corporate higher-up...You know, "The Man".

"Stereotypical Business Suit Old Guy", I salute you.