Kids On A Train

Yes, this too could be a bad Samuel L. Jackson movie: Kids On A Train!

The usual kids were on the train with me this morning...but they were louder than ever.

The mom was trying to shush them, but they got louder.

They seem to know each other from the same day care. The boy lit up when he saw the other kids. He started to laugh with joy as he saw them walk up the aisle.

I can't remember the last time I was so excited to see somebody else. Maybe I look that way when I walk in the door at the end of the day and see my kids.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:30
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, humid, high 50s
Shady Gas Price: $2.73
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

Hey Monday - How Are Ya?

I saw there was an accident on Route 495 on the news this morning before I left the house. What I didn't know was how much it would affect me. It seemed a lot of people were getting off at Route 3 to avoid the accident, which slowed everything down for travelers driving south.

I felt I left the house on the early side this morning. If I had just left a few minutes earlier, I would have made the earlier train.

I saw my usual train pull into the station right before I was going to drive into the parking lot...so instead I went to Starbucks and got a coffee. Now that my stomach bug is gone, coffee is back on my menu.

I took the later train and it wasn't too much of a big deal. It gets me to the office only 25 minutes later than normal. Tomorrow I will try to leave earlier.


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Departure Time From Home: 6:32
Departure Time From Train Station 7:26
Arrival Time at North Station: 8:10
Weather as I call it: Mostly cloudy. Cool. 50°F
Shady Gas Price: $2.73
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

Salem Five Infiltrates

The Woburn/Anderson stop was the scene of a Salem Five Bank promotion. As we stopped in the station, I saw a band and a guy walking around handing out apples...

I couldn't hear the band but they looked like they were rocking.

The sun was big and orange today. I was able to look at it on the horizon as we rolled along into Boston.

My stomach felt a lot better too. I didn't feel as queasy as I did yesterday.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:39
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Mostly sunny. 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.75
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Sick To My Stomach

I had some stomach problems last night and they crept into this morning. I felt weak and sick to my stomach. Just a sour stomach. I bought some pepto on the way to work and I am hoping it fixes the problem.

Ugh, I should have stayed home

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Departure Time From Home: 6:32
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Partly cloudy, cold, 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.75
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Jet Blue Is In The Garden

Jet Blue had a big promotion in North Station today since they are the official airline of the TD Garden.

Please fly in to see the circus, Bruins and Celtics games, and concerts.

I got a handout that entered me into a contest. I almost won, I guess. The grand prize winning number was just 2 digits away from the one I had.


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Departure Time From Home: 6:34
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:42
Weather as I call it: Partly cloudy
Shady Gas Price: $2.75
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

When You Can't Walk Because Of The Sun

After I got off the train, the sun was at such an angle that there were patches of my walk where I couldn't see. I was blinded by the sun. It was pointed right in my eyes.

If someone wanted to take something from me...like my wallet...this morning around North Station would have been the time to do it.

I wonder if pickpockets use the angle of the sun to their advantage...

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Departure Time From Home: 6:30
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Sunny, cold, a bit breezy
Shady Gas Price: $2.75
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Forgot My Parking Money

I usually trade in 10 dollar bills into 1 dollar coins using the machine at the train station. They are easier to insert into the slots than bills.

After I get my coins, I put them in a dish near my door in my house. I usually remember to grab the coins before I leave...Yeah, I typed usually.

I forgot my coins today. I had to turn around and go back to my house to get them.

I missed the train I usually take - but I think that saved me from standing in the rain. The showers passed through pretty quickly and I was better off taking the later train.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:35
Departure Time From Train Station 7:27
Arrival Time at North Station: 8:07
Weather as I call it: Rain with wind - wonderful
Shady Gas Price: $2.75
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 4 - at myself.
Feared for my life: No

Too Much Traffic On Route 3

I saw a guy in a wheelchair board the train at Woburn. I found the conductor was quite accommodating to him.

There were some space problems when the woman with the baby carriage and the toddler came aboard, but everybody worked it out with each other.

Significant traffic on Route 3 South around the 495 junction. In the 10 months or so that I have been driving this commute, these past few weeks have been the worst in terms of non-accident related volume.


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Departure Time From Home: 6:36
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Sunny, cool
Shady Gas Price: $2.71
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Roundtrip Needs To Be Same Day

Round trip tickets for the commuter rail are only good for the same day you purchase them.

A woman who sat in the seat across the aisle from me had to buy a new one way ticket to Boston this morning.

All parties (the conductor and the passenger) were calm in the exchange. It's just a bummer she had to pay twice.


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Departure Time From Home: 6:36
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Sunny, cool
Shady Gas Price: $2.71
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

So More People Drive To Work Today

I found the train to be quiet and pretty empty on the way in. I learned later that a lot of people drive in to work on Columbus Day because the parking is free on the streets.

I have a monthly train pass, so if I don't use it - I lose it.

I would rather be on the train and save money on gas. Did you see that the price is up 10 cents? Sheesh.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:36
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Sunny, cool, 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.69
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Worst Kind of Rain

Walking around the streets of Boston this morning was a nasty experience. The rain was blowing horizontally between the buildings. The wind off the ocean was constant...

Everyone kept saying that tomorrow will be better. I hope so.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:35
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:43
Weather as I call it: Rain
Shady Gas Price: $2.65
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

She Left Her Coffee on Her Car Roof

On the walk portion of my commute today, I saw a woman take a left onto Congress St. with an iced coffee on her car roof. People on the sidewalk opposite me were shouting and pointing at it, which made her stop suddenly.

Because she stopped, her coffee feel forward and her windshield was covered with a coating of light brown liquid.

The cup rolled off the back of her car. I picked it up and threw it out.

I looked in and she was on her cell phone. I am sure the conversation switched to a discussion of spilled coffee and milk.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:33
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:42
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, some light rain here and there.
Shady Gas Price: $2.57
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No