Kicking The Cobwebs Out

After many days off, it was hard to get going in the morning. I got up early so I could take my time and get out the door without forgetting things or messing things up because I was rushing.

I woke up to find that my car windows had frost and our friendly neighborhood raccoons had attacked the trash. I multitasked - I let the car warm up and defrost while I cleaned up the garbage and put it back in the barrels.

Once I was done with the trash, I scraped the rest of the windows and was able to get on the road.

The roads were empty as predicted. It's a late start for most people after a long weekend. I like to take advantage of that fact.

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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: Cold, sunny, 20s
Shady Gas Price: $2.89
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3 - damn critters!
Feared for my life: No

The Season to Be Giving

I took a later train because I wanted to rest up before the holiday.

It seemed like people were in a giving mood this morning. I saw someone hand their change to the dude that wishes everyone a good or lovely day (depending on your gender) and the guy selling Spare Change newspapers.

I also saw a guy wearing a turkey hat. Not sure if that was a gift or not.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:50
Departure Time From Train Station 7:26
Arrival Time at North Station: 8:04
Weather as I call it: Partly sunny but cold 30s
Shady Gas Price: $2.89
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Dropping Water Bottles On Your Head

Ok, a few things before I get started. Gas prices have been going up and up over the past 3 or 4 weeks. Man, what a bummer... Check out the shady price below.

I had to get up early this morning because there was a meeting I was attending at 7:45 this morning. So, setting the old alarm for 5:20 was tough. Waking up at that time was tougher.

I got out the door and got to the station without problems. The train was filled with people. Lots of men and women were standing in the aisles.

One dude wanted to put his backpack and his metal water bottle up on the rack above this woman who was seated in front of him.

His bottle fell through the bars of the rack and hit this woman on the head. Jeez.

Lots of "sorrys" and head rubbing. What an embarrassing scene. Then he had to stand there in front of her for the rest of the ride.

Want to get away?


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Departure Time From Home: 6:05
Departure Time From Train Station 6:28
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:09
Weather as I call it: Clear skies. Not too cold. 40s
Shady Gas Price: $2.95
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

How Do You Get Your Money In the Slot

The parking lot at N. Billerica charges 4 bucks to park. To pay this fee, you have to stick money into a small slot that is numbered - the number corresponds to the number of your parking spot.

It used to be 2 dollars for the longest time. Jamming two bills into the slot wasn't a big deal. 4 is a bigger deal.

The instructions on the side of the pay box tell users a different way of shoving their money into the slots, but I have a better way. I haven't been penalized for using this method, but that doesn't mean I won't.

I take 4 one dollar bills and fold them lengthwise...then I fold them in half again the same way.

As long as you lead with the folded corner, you should be able to jam them all in at the same time with ease.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:38
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, light rain
Shady Gas Price: $2.85 BOO!
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

It Can Be Dark Out There

As daylight savings time winds down, and probably a week longer than it should, the morning commute is as black at night. When you leave the house in the 6 o'clock hour, it's definitely a fumbling with the keys, trying to find the ignition kind of situation.

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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: Some rain
Shady Gas Price: $2.78
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Voting Day 2010

I was happy to sleep in this morning since I was going to the polls right as they opened.

I opted for a later train since the one I usually take would have been an impossibilty due to my voting plans.

That said, the voting went smoothly and my commute was easy.

There was a feel of snow in the air this morning. Felt like winter.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:50
Departure Time From Train Station 7:26
Arrival Time at North Station: 8:07
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, cold, winter-like
Shady Gas Price: $2.73
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Trash Was Knocked Over

Some wild animal had fun with my trash last night. They knocked it over and ate whatever they could.

I picked up after their Halloween party and was a little late leaving the house.

I got to the train station in plenty of time, but it was a little tighter than what I am I am comfortable with.

I tried to sleep on the train but I had visions of derailment in my head. Not sure why, but I had irrational fears that the train would derail if I fell asleep.

So I didn't.


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Departure Time From Home: 6:40
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Partly cloudy. Cold, High 20s when I left the house.
Shady Gas Price: $2.73
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No