I Beat The Rain

Dark clouds loomed in the west while I stood at the train station. I was urging the train to chug faster so I would miss the downpour. Since I head east, I missed the rain completely. It started to come down after I was in the office for 20 minutes. Then I started to see soaking wet coworkers walking in. Well, I got that going for me...which is...you know. Hope you have a good weekend

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Departure Time From Home: 6:35
Departure Time From Train Station: 7:00
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, but not rainy
Shady Gas Price: $3.29
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Only In Two Places

Some days, the train is understaffed. The one in the morning usually runs with 3 conductors. If someone is sick or for whatever reason doesn't make it, they roll with what they have. With only two conductors, they open up doors in only two places. It tends to be the front and the back at my stop. That's fine, but I always wait in the middle. So today, my middle people and I had to trek to the back of the train. Not a horrible situation, but it was probably the most interesting thing that happened on my commute today. a hey hey...

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Departure Time From Home: 6:35
Departure Time From Train Station: 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Sunny-ish 60s
Shady Gas Price: $3.33
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nope

Better At Driving Than Me

There was a few close calls on the highway today. One where this black VW was close to hitting me on the exit ramp to 495 at the Lowell Connector. What a jerk! Good thing I didn't make any sudden movements or I would have hit him. Then, on the off ramp from 495, there was a motorcycle that decided that the ramp could handle two vehicles at once. What a jerk! Good thing I didn't make any...well you know the rest. What the hell, people? Was everybody in such a rush that they couldn't be a little safer? I guess. Maybe they were just better at driving/riding than me. Sure. Train and walk was ok. No pushing or shoving there.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:34
Departure Time From Train Station: 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Mostly cloudy, 60s
Shady Gas Price: $3.33
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 4
Feared for my life: Ish

Pretty Much Business As Usual

Well, I thought it was going to rain all day today. Much to my chagrin, the sky had only scattered clouds this morning. There was no need for an umbrella or any other rain gear. The commute was fine. No issues to write about. The heat from last week is gone so walking was more enjoyable. No interesting sights to share with yo. It was pretty much business as usual.

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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: Partly sunny, 60s
Shady Gas Price: $3.33
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Smoking Cigars

Ok - the most curious thing this morning with the heat at 80 degrees already was the guy who was dressed in a long sleeve buttoned up shirt and tan shorts and loafer without socks smoking a fat cigar walking out of North Station. That guy had it going on. It was quite a sight. Maybe he was giving his notice today. Maybe he always dresses that way. He looked confident - no matter what.

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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: Hazy sun, 80s
Shady Gas Price: $3.35
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Prepared For The Heat

After many days of reasonable temperatures, today we are getting the smackdown from the sun and the humidity. It's supposed to be a hot one. Everywhere on my commute, it look like people were prepared for the heat. From the clothes they wore and the expression on their faces, the people were ready to defend themselves from the dangerous conditions. I got an iced coffee. That should help me fend off the dreaded heat.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:33
Departure Time From Train Station: 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Hazy sun, starting to feel it. High 60s
Shady Gas Price: $3.37
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah

Not Groundhog Day

I got to the train station a little earlier. There were people standing and waiting by the side of the track. There was a group of three people where I usually stand. Two people were standing close together while the third was standing four feet away from the couple. It left a space big enough for me just to walk into and stand. Thanks guys! The train was a little late today. I was afraid we were going to have a repeat of yesterday but we didn't. It was just a little late. It was not Groundhog day again. The breeze was lightly blowing which kept me a little cold waiting for the train. No matter. Tomorrow it will be 100 degrees Fahrenheit - no big deal. I won't be cold tomorrow.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:30
Departure Time From Train Station: 7:01
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:43
Weather as I call it: Sunny, breezy, 50s
Shady Gas Price: $3.37
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: Nope

I Wasn't Late But The Train Was

It was hard waking up this morning. The sunny day laziness of yesterday set in and wasn't letting go. No worries. I powered through it and I got to the station on time. I noticed there were a large group of people waiting around the tracks. I wasn't sure why. I looked at my watch three times to confirm I wasn't late. But the train was. We had to wait another 15 minutes before it came. I felt asleep on the train. I am pretty sure. I may have let my mouth hang open. I really hope I didn't...but I did have that feeling of complete sleep.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:38
Departure Time From Train Station: 7:16
Arrival Time at North Station: 8:57
Weather as I call it: Cloudy then sunny by the time I got to Boston
Shady Gas Price: $3.37
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 4
Feared for my life: No

Sunny Day Run

Sunny day this morning. The air was dry and it was pretty awwwesome driving. I took the later train because I ran this morning around my neighborhood. It was pretty sweet. The weather was perfect and I made good time. Anyhoo. I took a little nap on the train. It was really nice to close my eyes and just drift off to some place between sleep and awake. Once I got out, I was refreshed and walked to the office.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:55
Departure Time From Train Station: 7:26
Arrival Time at North Station: 8:05
Weather as I call it: Sunny, 60s
Shady Gas Price: $3.37
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10):1
Feared for my life: No

Gotta Get Used To It

Cloudy this morning but the roads were pretty free and easy. The train station was quiet and still until the train came. Man, there was some speed and power behind it today. Very big gust of wind came after it pulled into the station. Good train ride. No announcements of higher ticket prices today. Mom and the two kids disrupted passengers sitting near the front of the car. They all felt like they had to give up their seats even though she claimed she didn't need it. Walk was fine out of North Station to work. I could get used to this kind of commute.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:32
Departure Time From Train Station: 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Cloudy, warm, 60s
Shady Gas Price: $3.39
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: No

Ticket Prices Are Going Up

This morning on the train, the conductor got on the loudspeaker and talked about how ticket prices were increasing as of July 1. He made a funny "Wha?" sound after he noted how much a one way ticket from Lowell to Boston was going to cost. He then suggested to everyone who wanted to save themselves a little money in the future to buy tickets now, in bulk, before the tickets go up in price. That's pretty good advice coming from an employee of the company that is charging the fares. All of us monthly pass peeps who get them purchased through some work program can only shrug their shoulders...like me. I have already purchased my expensive July pass. Yippee.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:37
Departure Time From Train Station: 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:43
Weather as I call it: Rainy, humid, 60s
Shady Gas Price: $3.39
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nope

Left Behind

I got on the train and sat down. At my feet was a large Dunkin' Donuts black iced coffee about three quarters full. Did somebody take a sip and then just leave it on the floor of the train? Did somebody forget to take it with them? Are they cursing themselves for leaving behind a tasty cool beverage? No matter - it was a problem waiting to happen. At any moment, someone (probably me) was going to kick it over. So I paid it forward - I took the big cup with me when I departed the train and gently put it in the trash. Who would leave such a large iced coffee behind?

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Departure Time From Home: 6:32
Departure Time From Train Station: 7:00
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Sunny, 60s
Shady Gas Price: $3.39
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No - but I feared an icy coffee mess

In Terms Of Rudeness

Man, I was tired this morning. I slept on the train or at least I did my best approximation of sleep. My eyes were closed and my mind was resting. The trip went by quickly. I opened my eyes and we were pulling into North Station with some jerks and clangs. I think the brakes need an inspection. Walking to work, a worker from the local Cosi gave me an empty small coffee cup so I could get a free coffee. I took her up on her offer even though I should only drink coffee on Wednesdays. When I got out of the restaurant, with my coffee in hand, I saw a guy on a bike yelling at another guy in a car about not using a signal. He called him a number of names that are not right for this blog. I am under contract to keep the content at a PG level at worst. Anyhoo - it's good to see Boston hasn't lost its edge in terms of rudeness.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:38
Departure Time From Train Station: 7:00
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Sunny, 60s
Shady Gas Price: $3.39
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: Nah

Then I Will Be Silent Again

Four day work week that went by quick. Next week I will be out of the office for 4 days so I will have a one day work week coming up...sorta. This morning was surprise pass inspection day and the conductor told us we all passed with flying colors. I had my June pass ready. I felt prepared. The sun was shining and people were in good spirits today. At least from the chatter and the expressions I saw, it appeared that people were feeling happy. Well, I leave again for a while - but you take care of yourself. Avoid cars when you're walking the street, and avoid those people with clipboards. They want to steal your soul.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:33
Departure Time From Train Station: 7:00
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Sunny, 60s
Shady Gas Price: $3.57
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: No