Commuting Characters

You've got the woman who is cupping her hand over her cell phone while she talks. I guess she really does not want anyone reading her lips when she talks. Are we at a ballgame or something? Are you afraid that the other side is going to steal your signs?

You've got the woman who is singing to herself loudly...mostly a hum...no iPod to be seen. The song is just in her head.

You've got the guy who has smoked more packs of cigarettes this morning than most people smoke in a lifetime.

Good people - every one!


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Departure Time From Home: 6:52
Departure Time From Train Station 7:26
Arrival Time at North Station: 8:07
Weather as I call it: Light snow and windy
Shady Gas Price: $2.69
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

March 2010 Rain Aftermath

Things seemed to be back to normal for the most part on the train today. There was some slow going between Billerica and Wilmington, but I would say the rest of the ride was typical.

The Shawsheen River is engorged and roaring under the tracks.

Winchester seems to be underwater. School parking lots are filled with huge puddles. Ballfields where people would bring their dogs to run around have now been replaced by ponds for ducks to swim.

I am hoping things dry up soon.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:30
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:47
Weather as I call it: Sunny, 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.69
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

What A Nightmare

So I got to the train station with not much trouble. Yes, it was raining and yes I had seen flooding issues on the TV...but I didn't encounter much resistance.

After getting to the train station, I saw that there was a lot of people waiting in the station. Again, I knew that there was a delay on the Lowell line of the commuter rail...15 to 20 minutes. Not the end of the world.

After 40 minutes, I heard a loud conversation from the center of the station. I concluded that the Wilmington station was closed due to flooding. No trains were making it beyond Wilminton it seemed. There were supposed to be shuttle buses but none were seen.

I decided to drive to work. How 'bout cha? As I get on to 93 South, my wife calls me to tell me her car isn't starting.

I drove home so she could use my car to drive our son to school and I could wait for AAA.

I got to work around 11 o'clock. Yay!


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Departure Time From Home: 6:50
Departure Time From Train Station Didn't happen via train
Arrival Time at North Station: Didn't happen.
Weather as I call it: Rain
Shady Gas Price: $2.71
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 6
Feared for my life: No

White Swans

On the ride in, I saw two huge, beautiful, white swans swimming around in one of the marshes along the tracks...somewhere in between Billerica and Wilmington.

I was surprised and happy to see them.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:55
Departure Time From Train Station 7:26
Arrival Time at North Station: 8:05
Weather as I call it: Cloudy..
Shady Gas Price: $2.71
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

More Than a Feeling

Some dude has his iPod blasting and he was blasting the band Boston. Oh yeah. Raise your fist and beat the beat to More Than a Feeling.

It must have been that first Boston album because the next song I heard was something else by that band but I don't know the name of it.

He was BLASTING IT. Who cranks up Boston on their way to work? THAT GUY!


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Departure Time From Home: 6:53
Departure Time From Train Station 7:26
Arrival Time at North Station: 8:06
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, 28 degrees
Shady Gas Price: $2.65
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Putting On Your Makeup

If there is one big difference between commuter rail and subway travel, it's the freedom the ladies feel to apply makeup while riding into work.

I would see some woman do touch ups on the T. Maybe the full application here and there.

On the commuter rail, I see this ritual about 3 of out 5 mornings. It's not just a touch up. It's the full deal. It's about 20 minutes of concealer.

I think it takes talent.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:33
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Partly sunny, some wind, 30°F
Shady Gas Price: $2.65
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No