New To The System

I got a seat on the train pretty close to the front. I had a nice lady sit next to me. She seemed to be really polite. She thanked people and was courteous to the conductor.

I think she may have been new to the system.


------------------------------

Departure Time From Home: 6:31
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Mostly cloudy, 30s
Shady Gas Price: $3.49
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

For A Monday

For a Monday, I was pretty wide awake and calm. I had some pretty good sleep throughout the night, even battled bad people in my nightmares...but my mind got a good reset.

After some breakfast tea and a blueberry filled pastry, I was good to go. GTG, as they say...somewhere.

Sunny to start, but once I hit the pavement in Boston the snow started to come down and it got steady as I walked into the office door.

I saw the flowers at the feet of the Kevin White statue.


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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: Sunny, then snow. 30s
Shady Gas Price: $3.49 - oof.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nope

Out Of Phase

The train stopped all weird this morning. I thought it was the conductor's issue at first but it turned out that the engineer had stopped too fast.

I sat in a odd place in the car...the middle.

I didn't know if I should go forwards or backwards to exit the train. I went forward. It worked out for me.

Blargh! Have a good weekend.

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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: Rainy, 40s
Shady Gas Price: $3.49
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Sorta Sick

Everybody in my house is sick so it was just a matter of time until I got something.

It's not a bad cold. It still feels like I am fighting it and I could be 100% better tomorrow. This morning, I was still feeling a little achy, a little run down.

I slept a little bit on the train. I sat down, made sure the conductor saw my pass, and then closed my eyes. Drifting away a little bit from consciousness was good. More rest would be even better.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:55
Departure Time From Train Station 7:26
Arrival Time at North Station: 8:07
Weather as I call it: Sunny, 30s
Shady Gas Price: $3.43
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Charlie Is His Name

The guy who holds two cups out and asks for change is named Charlie. Some guy came right up to him and said, "Here you go, Charlie."

Charlie was very happy to see the crumpled dollar bill. "Thank you!" he cried out in a sweet voice.

People kept walking. Charlie asked for more change.

------------------------------

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: Cloudy
Shady Gas Price: $3.43
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Foggy Roads To Drive Down

High temperatures and rain have turned snow into fog. I had to fill up the gas tank.
The drive to both stations (gas and train) were a little hazy.

------------------------------

Departure Time From Home: 6:25
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:42
Weather as I call it: High 50s. Foggy!
Shady Gas Price: $3.43
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Stealing A Victory

People seemed to be happier this Monday morning. I apply it to the Patriots stealing a win last night.

Train was on time. The warmer temperature was melting this snow.

Lots of smiles on the people's faces.

------------------------------

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: High 30s, maybe a little rain in Boston.
Shady Gas Price: $3.43
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

2 Inches To Shovel

We woke up to a nice coating of snow. Light fluffy stuff...not too bad. I cleaned off both cars and cleared the stairs and the driveway. I took the later train and sat in the 3 person seat...got squeezed in the middle.

Walked through the snow and wind to get to the office. The sun was shining and was blinding me. Winter is back, people.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:55
Departure Time From Train Station 7:26
Arrival Time at North Station: 8:07
Weather as I call it: Sunny, coldish
Shady Gas Price: $3.43 Poop.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nope

Same Crowd

I took a later train this morning. Too much partying with the family, I guess.

There was an accident at the 495/3 interchange. It looked like the road crews were towing away the vehicle when I got there, but there was a state police car with its lights own that blocked a lane of traffic. It added a few minutes to my drive but I didn't miss the train.

No matter the train, it's the same crowd of people at the station. I see them on the train ride home - or they take the early train with me too.

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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: Cold, sunnyish
Shady Gas Price: $3.37
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Coffee Wars

I went to Anderson Woburn this morning. I am meeting my family for my daughter's birthday tonight or at least that is the plan. Traffic on 93 South started to slow down in Wilmington...which only affected my progress a little bit since I got off the highway in Woburn.

At North Station, there were people from Starbucks handing out free sample cups of coffee. The set up was two people per corner - one handing out flyers and the other with a large canister strapped to his back. In his hand, he had a tap hose...and he was dispensing coffee to people who walked by.

I avoided them for two reasons. 1. The wind was blowing so hard and was sustaining for many minutes at a time that I felt like my cup would blow away and the coffee would spill all over me.

The other reason was the medium Dunkin' Donuts coffee cup in my right hand filled with black coffee.


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Departure Time From Home: 6:18
Departure Time From Train Station 7:10
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Windy, Sunny
Shady Gas Price: $3.37
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

Wow We Have Snow

I haven't had to brush snow off the car since....October.

There wasn't much though. I brushed an inch off of the car and shoveled the stairs and the porch.

The roads were fine. The train station parking lot was plowed-ish. I put money in an envelope and stuck it in the slot.


------------------------------

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, snow on the ground, 30s
Shady Gas Price: $3.37
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Closer to Warmth

It's a holiday but I still have to work. If that's one thing about working on a holiday, it's the lack of traffic and commute hang ups.

The only issue was the temperature. It was around 3°F at the house. I let the car warm up for 15 minutes before I left. The car was warm but not hot. It seemed like the engine never really got that hot.

The walk from North Station to the office was sorta brutal. I counted the steps knowing that each one was one closer to the door and warmth.


------------------------------

Departure Time From Home: 6:36
Departure Time From Train Station 6:58
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Cold, sunny
Shady Gas Price: $3.37
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Blue Salt

The guys at the train station were saying it was icy on the platform and were spreading the blue salt around.

A woman who doesn't ride the train a lot sat next to me. I could tell because she paid for a round trip ticket and had to search for change to pay for it.

The walk was wet again. I have my umbrella with me so I got through it without too much water absorption.


------------------------------

Departure Time From Home: 6:37
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Rainy, 30s
Shady Gas Price: $3.37
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah

Actually Drove To Work Today

I faced light snow, rain, and wind but drove all the way to Boston today. I parked in the uncovered lots in the Seaport district. 13 bucks all day. Can't be beat.

Well, the walk to the office could be a little shorter. The wind and the rain was pretty bad.

The wonderful thing was that the wind was at my back for most of the walk.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:16
Departure Time From Train Station N/A
Arrival Time at North Station: N/A
Weather as I call it: Snowy/Rainy/Windy
Shady Gas Price: $3.37
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

Exotic Auto Body

There's a billboard that I can see from the train as we ride along the rails towards North Station. It can be seen if you are driving southbound towards the O'Neill tunnel on 93.

Anyway, it is an advertisement for an auto body shop and I think it has the word exotic in its name.

Usually only pets and dancers get described that way...

------------------------------

Departure Time From Home: 6:28
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Sunny-ish, cool
Shady Gas Price: $3.37
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Take A Knee

When I got to Boston this morning, it appeared that the city got some snow before the sunrise. There was a small coating of snow here and there but the really tricky parts were the icy patches. I felt them under my feet from time to time in my walk.

Then, at the crossing of Hanover St. at Congress St., some dude slipped and took a knee. He recovered ok but I crossed the street very careful as to not replicate his fall.

The rest of the walk was ice free. The building owners put down some salt and the sidewalks were safe.

------------------------------

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, manageable
Shady Gas Price: $3.37 - wha' happened?
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

I Couldn't Get The Cold Out Of My Bones

Man, I walked to the train platform and I couldn't shake the cold out of my bones. It was cold car ride and a cold wait for the train. I was hoping that the train would be incredibly warm, but it wasn't. I felt a little better on the walk to work from North Station, but it was still cold. I think if I get some rest and change my frame of mind to expect cold tomorrow morning, I will feel better.


------------------------------

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: Cold-ish, 10s
Shady Gas Price: $3.33
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

King Of The Homeless

Right around Haymarket, this guy started handing out money to all the regular folk who hang out and ask for change. One regular is a guy actually calls out, "Change?" with a cup in each hand. The guy gave him the coins that were in his pocket.

The second regular is the guy who wishes everyone a good day. Well, if you are a man then it's a good day...if you are a woman, it's a lovely day.

Just once, I want to have a lovely day.

The guy handed the #2 regular a dollar bill and said something about the Bruins.

The third regular is Mr. Spare Change Newspaper...and he was leaving his shift. The guy said hello to him.

I am telling ya, today...this guy was the king of the homeless.


------------------------------

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, a little warmer. 30s
Shady Gas Price: $3.29
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nope

Squeeze Me A Little Tighter

I took an earlier train today so I could be on time for an 8 o'clock meeting. It was pretty dark when I got to the station.

I got on the train and sat in a two seater. In a few stops, a big and tall man sat next to me. It was pretty uncomfortable for a while since he pinned me to the window.

I shifted a bit and it got a little better, but he was big and was reading a book...which didn't make for much elbow room.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:02
Departure Time From Train Station 6:26
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:06
Weather as I call it: Dark, 20s
Shady Gas Price: $3.29
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 4
Feared for my life: Nah

Wear Your Hat

I brought my hat this morning. I learned that my ears can't take the chill like they once did. I was not doing well on the evening walk to the station so I made sure to get that hat in my jacket and wear it even though it messed up my hair.

Other than the hat business, the commute was fairly ordinary and went smoothly. I was warmer so the whole process was better.

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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: Mostly sunny and cold.
Shady Gas Price: $3.29
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nope

Check That Engine Before You Wreck That Engine

Cold one this morning and my check engine light is back on. I should really get it looked at but since it was turning on and off, I thought that maybe it would shut off again. No such luck so far. If I could go back off in March, I would appreciate that because I could get an inspection sticker.

Meh - we'll see. I am probably endangering myself and everyone around me. Happy New Year.



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Departure Time From Home: 6:38
Departure Time From Train Station 7:00
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:42
Weather as I call it: Cold, some sun.
Shady Gas Price: $3.29
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No