The Meaning Of It All

I write down details of my trip into work every day I go to work. I type about interesting stuff, funny stuff, weird stuff, annoying stuff...stuff. Stuff.

Why does it matter? Does it matter? I am collecting experience and putting it into some kind of recorded form. I guess I am capturing time.

Time is depleting for me (hopefully not rapidly!) It's depleting for everybody.

Capturing the time I am here. Putting it somewhere. Keeping it.

Letting myself and others know, "I was here."

It had meaning.


Commute was ok today. No complaints. The T conductor thanked us over and over for riding the T.


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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 50s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: No...I was busy living life.

Puts It Into Perspective

I had a hard time writing something today. I am sad over the accident on the Green Line yesterday evening. I joke about fearing for my life everyday on the T. Mostly joking, but it's not so funny when it's real.

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Bus Departure Time: 6:58
Bus Arrival Time: 7:18
T Departure Time: 7:21
T Arrival Time: 7:43
Weather as I call it: Sunny and warmer high 50s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 4
Feared for my life: ...

No Fires This Morning

I was hoping to see some aftermath of the fire in Downtown Crossing. No such luck. I was if it never happened. Maybe it didn't?

I seem to be getting to Back Bay station later and later. I checked my watch as we were pulling into the station and it was 7:39.

The T doesn't seem to be delayed. Strange.

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Bus Departure Time: 6:57
Bus Arrival Time: 7:13
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:39
Weather as I call it: Sunny 50s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Water On The Seats

Back to work! Great weekend though. The revitalizing powers of the sun are amazing.

Bus was fine. I got on the Orange Line and there were three seats with what appeared to be water on them. Appeared to be...is the key.

You see this thing on the bus all the time. Windows are not closed. Rain pours in and gets on the seats. On the Orange Line, it comes down to someone spilling something. What the liquid is and what container it spilled out of is always a guessing game.

I didn't play today. I stood.

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Bus Departure Time: 6:58
Bus Arrival Time: 7:15
T Departure Time: 7:18
T Arrival Time: 7:39
Weather as I call it: Cloudy and 50s. A bit humid?
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: Nah

Calisthenics While U Wait

It has been going on for a while now, but this morning I am finally going to write about it. An elderly lady likes to do Calisthenics at our bus stop. Lots of wild toe touches, swinging of her legs, and other type activties are rocking our li'l stop every weekday morning!

I found it strange at first, since you don't normally see that happening at the stop. Now, I would feel lost without it. If she's not flailing her arms and legs around, something's wrong.

Some people driving by in cars like to slow down and stare. C'mon peeps, move along. She's just trying to get the old blood flowing.


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Bus Departure Time: 6:57
Bus Arrival Time: 6:13
T Departure Time: 6:15
T Arrival Time: 6:35
Weather as I call it: Sunny, high 40s. Bring on the warmer temps.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life:

Gray Skies Blah Day

I am jonesing for this weekend. Today I didn't want to get out of bed. The cloudy, cool, blah weather isn't helping. I think a three day weekend will be of much help.

The T was fine with me today. No real issues to speak of. One should cherish these days.

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Bus Departure Time: 6:57
Bus Arrival Time: 7:12
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:36
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, cool, blah
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Nah

Get A Charlie Card

I'm feeling cranky this morning. I am annoyed by people who still pay for their bus ride with change...when they ride it everyday like me. I have my Charlie Card. I "beep" it and I get on. I don't hold up the bus.

Peeps who frantically shove change into the slot and drop coins on the floor and cause the bus to pull over and stop for extended periods of time while they get their stuff together...everyday....have got to upgrade. Upgrade.

Get a Charlie Card. Use it. Please.


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Bus Departure Time: 6:57
Bus Arrival Time: 7:13
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Sunny 50s..it's spring.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: Nah.

Sports Talk

Back on the bus today. The sign said it was a 92 bus, but we got on anyway. The driver said the sign was broken. Go figure.

A woman who rode the bus with me had a bag that said, "Pints for Half Pints - Children's Hospital". My first thoughts were of pints of beer. My bad. Three day weekend coming up.

Talk of the upcoming Celtics series and the Lester No-Hitter filled the Orange Line cab. I didn't mind overhearing the chats.


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Bus Departure Time: 6:57
Bus Arrival Time: 7:10
T Departure Time: 7:12
T Arrival Time: 7:32
Weather as I call it: Partly sunny, cool, high 40s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Nope

Dentist Appointment

I am not going to report on the regular stuff today. There was a dentist appointment at 9AM that changed everything...so we'll do this all again tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by.

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Bus Departure Time: N/A
Bus Arrival Time: N/A
T Departure Time: N/A
T Arrival Time: N/A
Weather as I call it: Sunny, Cool...like 50s, I think.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): N/A
Feared for my life: Nah.

Gave A Dollar

On the bus, I saw more earphone sharing. I guess it's ok to share ear wax. Sorry that was gross...but that's all I could think of when I saw the two high school kids with an earplug a piece from the same iPod.

Stopped off at D-town Crossing and got breakfast for my co-workers. I gave a dollar to the guitar player/gospel singer guy.

Hopefully he'll sing a spirtual for me.


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Bus Departure Time: 6:57
Bus Arrival Time: 7:12
T Departure Time: 7:15
T Arrival Time: 8:05 (took a little pause at Downtown Crossing)
Weather as I call it: Cloudy and cool...gonna rain today.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah

Not Riding To Work Today

I have a conference to go today...which starts at 11. So I am telecommuting right now. There's a lot less shouting when you telecommute.

I'll pick up where I left off tomorrow.

You Are Holding Up Service

No shouting matches on the bus today, thank goodness. The players from yesterday's game weren't on the bus...so round 2 will have to wait.

The Orange Line conductor was yelling at people coming on the train. One of the things she exclaimed was, "You are holding up service!"...

Pretty intense stuff. The gravity of holding up a whole line of the T is enormous.

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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, warm, 50s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nope, felt pretty safe.

MBTA Bus Shouting Match

Today just wasn't a happy, friendly day. People were cranky. Not sure what to attribute it to...maybe the Celtics' lack of playoff wins on the road. I don't know.

There was a scary exchange of heated words on the bus. It got to the point that I thought some fists would fly...or other things flying. Let's start from the beginning.

The two people involved I will describe as "Old Guy" and "H.S. Kid" (You can probably guess where this is going). When I got on the bus, H.S. Kid was already sitting. I sat down in the seat in front of him. Old Guy got on at the next stop. He walked down the aisle and walked up the three steps that separates the back and the front of these new fangled buses. He asked the teenage girl across from me if the seat that she had her bag resting on was taken. She nodded, "No". and moved her bag. He sat down. Behind me, I heard H.S. Kid mumble something about, "You don't have to ask if the seat's taken...you just have to sit down." Apparently, he has his own opinions about MBTA Bus etiquette. I don't think Old Guy heard him because he didn't react to the kid's mumbles, but this incident is worth noting...a sort of preamble of what was to come. It seemed H.S. Kid already had an issue with Old Guy.

I guess it's also worth noting a few other things:

- The teenage girl promptly got up and moved to another seat 5 seconds after Old Guy sat down.

- Based on my own sense of smell, I caught a whiff of alcohol as Old Guy walked by.

- Based on my own eyesight, he was carrying a large black trash bag that was filled to half of its capacity.

As the bus ride continued, more and more people filed on until it seemed the bus could take no more. Old Guy noticed there was standing room in the back of the bus and shouted out, "There's plenty of room back here if you people weren't too lazy to move back!"

H.S. Kid took offense. "Why don't you shut up?" he retorted. "Picking on 15 year olds...you're probably pretty lazy yourself!"

A volley of "Shut ups" and "Screw Yous" took place...then comments related to their mothers and fathers were spoken. At that point, I started to tune out since it was getting to be very uncomfortable.

When the language got particularly ugly, a bystander yelled at the H.S. Kid and said, "Hey, there are kids on this bus!"...referring to the two baby carriages that were riding along with us.

H.S. Kid's response was, "I don't care!" He went on to explain he didn't care because he wasn't going to back down from Old Guy. Everyone, including myself, looked like they were trying to will themselves invisible.

As the H.S. Kid got off the bus, he did comment about the Old Guy's intoxication at this early hour. After the door closed, Old Guy had some things to say about what he was going to do to H.S. kid...things that I would have to testify in a court of law if need be.

Once a year, there's a loud argument between strangers on the bus and you just pray it doesn't get violent...especially when logic and humanity is seemingly vacant from the proceedings.

Beyond that, the Orange Line ride was full of delays. Some based on the train just stopping in between stops...Some based on people in the way of the doors closing.

The conductor was shouting at people at State and Downtown Crossing.

Sometimes this town is a morass of negativity.

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Bus Departure Time: 6:58
Bus Arrival Time: 7:15
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Partly sunny, cool, 47 degrees
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 6
Feared for my life: Somewhat

Not a Morning or Monday Person

Bus was late today...not missing like other days. The lateness caused my other stop compadres to admit that they are not morning nor Monday people.

The bus driver apologized for her lateness...which was refreshing. She was having trouble with the bus. She drove as fast as she could to make up the time. I thank her for that.


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Bus Departure Time: 7:07
Bus Arrival Time: 7:19
T Departure Time: 7:20
T Arrival Time: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, windy, 47 degrees
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: Nope

Missed The Stop Need To Speak Up

Few notes from the trip today. Some high school girls were trying to get off at the stop after the high school...you know...cuz there's places to eat at that stop. Well, they were loud enough to tell the driver to open the back door...so the driver kept going.

They needed to walk a bit for their D and Ds.

Malden Center is so quiet without Boston Now hawkers there.

The gospel singer was at D-town Xing this morning. I was glad to have him back.


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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 and cool
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

MBTA Survey

I was handed an MBTA survey today at the Malden T stop. Pretty simple questions about where I get on and off the T...and some profile questions like my age, ethnicity, how many vehicles I own, and salary range.

I was actually given two of them, but I am only going to fill one out. I may give the other one to a coworker.

Not sure how this is going to help the MBTA improve the service...but they are trying to gather info. They can read this blog too...I guess.

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Bus Departure Time: 6:57
Bus Arrival Time: 7:12
T Departure Time: 7:15
T Arrival Time: 7:36
Weather as I call it: Spotty rain, cool, 50
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nope

More People On The MBTA

With gas prices soaring, are there more people on the MBTA? I am not sure, but today there seemed to be a lot of people on both the bus and Orange Line. I have to say...since I do take the T to work, I haven't felt as much pain from higher gas prices.

Food prices, yes. Gas prices, not so much. I need to stop eating.

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Bus Departure Time: 6:58
Bus Arrival Time: 7:15
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Partly sunny - mid 50s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah

Who Shrunk My Metro?

I did not go to work yesterday so I did not report anything. I was back in action this morning and I am happy to say that the MBTA hasn't changed since last I rode. Just so you know.

What has changed is the size of the Boston Metro newspaper. I didn't pick one up today, but I passed the stacks and it looked tiny. They shrunk it to half the size.

When I got on the Orange Line, I did see some normal sized Metros(?) Was I imagining tiny Metros? I will have to get one tomorrow.


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Bus Departure Time: 6:58
Bus Arrival Time: 7:15
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:38
Weather as I call it: Sunny, Temps in the high 40s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Few Steps Behind

Man, I had a hard time getting out of the house this morning. Every step forward I took..turned out bad...and meant I had to redo something...and extended my time getting ready.

I still made the bus stop in time to catch the bus.

I look forward to tomorrow where I don't have to rush around.

When I got to the Orange Line platform, the doors closed on the train and it rushed away.

I guess I am just slower than usual this morning.

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Bus Departure Time: 6:58
Bus Arrival Time: 7:10
T Departure Time: 7:16
T Arrival Time: 7:37
Weather as I call it: Cloudy and cool.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Standing Up For Sitting Down

I got a seat on the bus, but the guy next to me needed lots of room...so I had half a seat for me to sit. I was on the edge of my seat...literally.

On the Orange Line, I had a seat but I got up to let a mom and her kid sit together. Nice.


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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 cool. 40s
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah