Last Post of 2011

2012 will be a better year, right? We can't have 5 bad years in a row, right?

I guess it hasn't been a horrible year, but I would like to feel like I had a good year on the 30th of December in 2012.

We'll see. Time is what you make it. I am going to give it a go in 2012.

Good luck to you. May your driving to work be smooth in the next year.


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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, 30s
Shady Gas Price: $3.25
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Nope

Winter For Never

We used to say in our office that it was Winter Forever last year. This year, it's Winter For Never. We had a cold one this morning but it has been pretty mild this December. I think January should stay the same.

I have this later train schedule down. Too bad I will going back to the typical train next week.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:58
Departure Time From Train Station 7:26
Arrival Time at North Station: 8:06
Weather as I call it: Sunny, cold, 20s
Shady Gas Price: $3.25
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah

Just Joking About 20 Dollars of Gas

I like this later train business...the extra sleep is nice especially if you have been out with friends the night before.

I left the house earlier than yesterday and was able to pump in 20 bucks of gas before I got to the train...that should keep me going for the next three miles.

Joking.

I got a little coffee using my li'l gift card and was in the door before 8:20.


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Departure Time From Home: 6:58
Departure Time From Train Station 7:26
Arrival Time at North Station: 8:05
Weather as I call it: Some sun - 40s
Shady Gas Price: $3.25
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Threw The Bums A Dime In Your Prime

Yay - it's back to work time for me. I slept in later and took the 7:26 train out of N. Billerica.

It was pretty quiet and there weren't as many people on the train.

There was one hangup at Wilmington. We had to wait for the Haverhill train to get through the station. The wait added a few minutes to the ride.

The walk was good - I think I hit all the lights right and was able to cross the streets with no delay. I gave a buck to the homeless guy who wishes me a good day everyday. It's my two year anniversary at this job and it seems like I have more good days than bad days.

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Departure Time From Home: 7:09
Departure Time From Train Station 7:26
Arrival Time at North Station: 8:09
Weather as I call it: Mostly cloudy
Shady Gas Price: $3.25
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Happy For Some Time Off

It will be nice to have some time off next week - to shop - to sleep - to not drive to work.

Hey ev'rybod. Have a great week next week. I will be back after Christmas to blog again.


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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: Some sun, 40s
Shady Gas Price: $3.25
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Sending Christmas Cards

I took a later train to work today. It was nice to sleep in a little bit and ease my way into work.

I had to mail all the Christmas cards today. I bought stamps and affixed them to all 30 envelopes right there at the Milk St. office.

Then the building management of our office had breakfast and I ate muffins and little paninis. Delicious.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:50
Departure Time From Train Station 7:26
Arrival Time at North Station: 8:08
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, 40s
Shady Gas Price: $3.25
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Lost ID

On the way to Boston, some dude lost his photo ID. The conductor shouted something weird like, "the last guy who got on at West Medford may want to check to see if he has his ID".

Then the other conductor used the intercom and called the guy by his name. He said he had his ID and he should see either conductor when they stopped at N. Station.

It must be interesting to have your full name being called over the intercom on the train that early in the morning.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:32
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:42
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, 30s
Shady Gas Price: $3.25
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Bells Are Ringing

It's been colder this week but with the proper coat and the right attitude, it has been a fine experience in the morning.

When we arrived at Wedgemere station today, there was a loud bell ringing in the train. They had to check the engine and we were delayed for 8 minutes at the station.

Once we got started again, we didn't have any more trouble.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:33
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:48
Weather as I call it: Cold, partly sunny.
Shady Gas Price: $3.29
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Flipping Blue Seats

The rain was coming down hard when I woke up this morning. I was hoping that it would die down before I stepped out the door and it did.

The roads were wet but there was no rain to drive through to get to the station.

Blue seated car for the third day in a row. I almost flipped some other seats to face forward but I just sat in my regular seat.


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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: Rain-ish. 40s
Shady Gas Price: $3.29
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Dark mornings make for a quiet ride to the train station. Everybody seems to be slow moving and cautious.

I had to sit in the blue seated car again. The seat that I changed direction on what still in place...so I sat down again.

The walk was good. We have had some great weather in terms of temperature. The rain held off too.

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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: Cloudy, 50s
Shady Gas Price: $3.29
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Winter Fog

Usually it's foggy in the summer time when cool nights bring foggy conditions to the warm mornings.

This morning, there was fog all around. Leaving the house was an adventure...

In all the low lying areas on my commute, there was thick fog covering everything.

Very stealthy.

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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: Foggy, then sunny.
Shady Gas Price: $3.29
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Blue Seats

Those commuter rail cars with the blue seats that just hold two people each have to go. They are all too small. I do like that I know how to make them face the opposite direction.

I did that this morning and was able to face the seat in the direction that the train was moving.

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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: Cold, 20s when I left the house.
Shady Gas Price: $3.29
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Remember It's December

I had a early meeting and I also had to make change for the old parking machine so I got up a half hour before I usually do. I walked out of the house and I was hit with a big gust of wind.

I went to the gas station mart down the street from the train station. There are some scary characters hanging out in the store. There's guys playing Keno and dudes just watching you in the parking lot.

I got a bottled water which broke my 10 dollar bill so that I had enough singles for the slot.

Once I was on the train, I realized that I didn't have my December pass. I pushed the pass into the top buckle of the seat to cover up the month. I got away with it.

I bought a ticket for the ride back though.



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Departure Time From Home: 6:02
Departure Time From Train Station 6:26
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:08
Weather as I call it: Dark. Colder. 30s
Shady Gas Price: $3.28
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No