I Assume This Is North Station

Freezing rain met me as I walked out of the door. I had to scrape the windows and the windshield before driving. Then, I noticed that my neighbors had their trash barrels out and saw that we didn't. So, I stopped, got out, and dragged the barrel to the curb.

I got on the roads and people were driving slowly. I got to the train station on time, but barely. Some other people were running behind too. The train horn blasted as a guy ran across the tracks right before the engine came into the station.

As I was walking off the train, the guy beside me asked, "This is North Station, I presume." Yep, this is the last stop.


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Departure Time From Home: 6:38
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Freezing rain, rain, fog
Shady Gas Price: $3.29
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

Gas Is On The Rise

Man, those gas prices are climbing again. Now it's the unrest in the Middle East that's causing the increases.

The price of gas is a small thing as compared to people fighting for a better way of life. I hope it all gets resolved sooner than later and peacefully.

The little kid who rides the train with his mom made a man run away, literally run away. He started to cry when he wasn't able to sit in the seat he wanted to sit in. So, the guy gave up his seat and ran out of the car amid chuckles and snickers from the rest of the passengers.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:34
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Sunny, 20s
Shady Gas Price: $3.19
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Prez Day

A little light snow to start the day. I brushed it off and I was on my way.

I didn't realize the train was on a Saturday schedule until I got to the station. Hey, I forgot it was a holiday.

The train had a lot of people paying in cash on it. It was probably because the stations were closed due to the holiday.

Fun - just me and a few of my closest friends on the train this morning.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:32
Departure Time From Train Station 7:07
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:49
Weather as I call it: Light snow
Shady Gas Price: $3.15
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Getting There Fast

I got up a little earlier. I had a few things I wanted to do like go to the post office and drop off some letters. The roads were clear and my trip didn't take that much time at all. The train ride was pretty easy.

I got there fast.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:25
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Sunny, cold, 20s
Shady Gas Price: $3.11
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: No

Love is Commuting

On the train, the guy who takes up too much space sat next to me. I don't know if I have mentioned him before, but he likes to sit down and spread his legs out. He likes to explore the space. I hate it when he sits next to me. I secretly wish that someone else will sit next to me...anyone else.

After the train and on the walk to work, I saw an old lady crossing the street very slowly. She held up traffic a little bit. Some dude rolled down his window and shouted, "Happy Valentine's Day, ma'am!" I am pretty sure he wasn't sincere.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:34
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, but mid-30s. Wow.
Shady Gas Price: $3.15
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

Wynter!

This winter should be spelled with a 'Y'. It makes it more rawk.

Some shoveling. Some slipping in the T parking lot. Some people didn't make the train.

The car that I thought never moved... I am pretty sure the person who drives it just parks precisely the same way every morning. Impressive.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:35
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Light snow to light rain
Shady Gas Price: $3.13
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: A little bit in the parking lot.

No Heat No Lights But We'll Get You There

"Happy Monday!" That's what the conductor said to us as she walked down the steps to the platform.

"We got no heat, no lights, but we're moving!"

Thankfully, there was heat at some point in the beginning of the trip because the car was warm. It did get colder as the ride progress. Every time someone got on, the door would open and cold air would seep into cabin.

It wasn't too bad. It made for a quiet ride.


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Departure Time From Home: 6:28
Departure Time From Train Station 7:00
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Sunny, cold
Shady Gas Price: $3.13
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

Unicycle

As we were stopped at West Medford, there was this guy running for the train with a unicycle. I am not sure where he was going to ride it in all this snow. Cycles with 2 wheels are hard to ride in this stuff. Not sure how he was going to pull off the one wheel.

He didn't make the train. He was left standing there on the platform with his unicycle in hand as the cars rolled away.


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Departure Time From Home: 6:34
Departure Time From Train Station 7:01
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:45
Weather as I call it: Sunny, clear, cold - around 10°F
Shady Gas Price: $3.13
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Cancelled Trains

When it rained last March, I could understand the delays on the trains. There was so much rain that I thought the tracks would wash away.

Now the snow is causing the MBTA to cancel trains.

I drove all the way to Andersen/Woburn today to make sure I got a non-cancelled train.

I even got a coffee at the Dunk in the station. The worker behind the counter was so slow, I almost missed the train arriving at 7:13. Thank goodness I didn't.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:25
Departure Time From Train Station 7:13
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:52
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, some flurries, 20s
Shady Gas Price: $3.13
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 4
Feared for my life: No