Let's Get Through It

I like it when the train is empty before a holiday weekend. It reminds me of the days leading up to the end of the year. There aren't that many people riding so you can get a seat without any problem. Once you get a seat, you don't have to share it with anybody. Wellup, it's the last unofficial weekend of summer coming up so let's all get through Friday and then get home.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:36
Departure Time From Train Station: 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Sunny, 60s
Shady Gas Price: $3.71
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 1
Feared for my life: Nope

Leave The Guy a Sandwich

I saw a woman leave some food on a sleeping homeless guy's wheelchair on Friend St. today. I love silent acts of charity. Did she ever talk to the guy? Does she leave food often? No backwards train today. Yay.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:36
Departure Time From Train Station: 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Sunny, cool, 50s
Shady Gas Price: $3.69
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nope

Backwards Train

I arrived at the train station around the regular time. As I walked up the ramp to the platform, the purple lights started to flash to signal that there was a train approaching the station. I crossed the tracks quickly to get to the other side but went along my business. It's not typical for a train to come outbound to Lowell at that time, so I guessed it was a late train. I looked down and walked to stand in my usual spot. Once I arrived, I looked up and was surprised that the train was on the inbound side. I didn't know that the train was actually the train to Boston until people started to get on board. Not sure why the train arrived when it did or in the manner that it did, but we left N. Billerica, made all the normal stops, and got to Boston late. The woman next to me asked me if I knew what happened. I told her I didn't.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:37
Departure Time From Train Station: 7:00
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:53
Weather as I call it: Light rain. I brought an umbrella but didn't need it.
Shady Gas Price: $3.69
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

I Didn't Get Hit By A Train

I can say the train I rode didn't have any trouble getting into Boston today. There was an issue later on when a car decided to go around the crossing bars in West Medford and was hit by the Amtrak train. Train vs. Car - Train always wins. Reminds of something a guy said to me when a truck hit a railroad bridge: Truck vs. Bridge - Bridge always wins. There's something that is reassuring about absolutes. Maybe it's because I feel like you can count on those situations to always end the same way. Besides that, don't get into a fight you can't win. Don't try to beat the train on the tracks. Train always wins.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:39
Departure Time From Train Station: 7:00
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Cloudy. 60s
Shady Gas Price: $3.63
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nope

Skunky Smell

Somewhere in Medford, there was a strong smell of skunk. Maybe the train hit it - I am not sure. I was sure that the smell was powerful and it filled the train car. It didn't last long but it was pungent for a few minutes and pretty unpleasant to say the least. I stopped by Boston Brewin' today. The owner's 40 birthday is today and they were having a bunch of specials. If you work downtown in Boston, check out Boston Brewin'.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:39
Departure Time From Train Station: 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Sunny, high 60s.
Shady Gas Price: $3.63
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nah

Feeling Good

Man, my company's summer outing was yesterday. I could be hurting a bit more than I am and I am thankful for that I am not. They were down a conductor on the train so we had to walk to the back of the train to get on. I sat down around where I usually sit. Nowadays, I don't get a seat companion until Wedgemere or so. The person is usually thin...which is nice. All right. Have a good weekend, peeps.

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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: Mostly cloudy, 60s
Shady Gas Price: $3.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nope

Sunny Skies and Smiles

Well, the sun was out and the air was crisp. We get one of these days maybe three times a year and they tend to be ones where we have to be in the office while the sun is up. The morning walk is nice but it really better to be there in the mid-day sun. The smile you see from some happy stranger. Maybe it's the weather. Maybe it's a funny tweet. I don't know. And they didn't even mean it for you. You just got a bit of the side spray of their happiness blast. These days, you'll take it where you can get it. If that's all I can get, then that's what I'll accept.

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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: Sunny, clear skies, low humidity
Shady Gas Price: $3.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: Nope

Gas Price Jumped

That gas price just jumped up over the weekend. Labor day is coming up. The gas price ramp us is on. Nice commute today. People were extending their weekends I am sure. The traffic is pretty light and the number of seats open on the train is up. Walk was good to the office. Not as muggy as in days past.

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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: Sunny, 60s
Shady Gas Price: $3.59
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Stopping And Crying

I don't know the reason, but we were stopped for an extra long time at Wilmington Station. I think we had to wait for another train entering the station from the other side of the rails. The conductors were sorry for any inconvenience. The main one was mumbling about the reason why we needed to stop. Around West Medford, a baby started to cry loudly and continued for the rest of the ride. People did their best to ignore the baby.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:34
Departure Time From Train Station: 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:46
Weather as I call it: Sunny 60s
Shady Gas Price: $3.49
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 5
Feared for my life: Nope

How 'Bout Cha?

The morning commute can be full of surprises. Not today. The weather was ok. It has been getting more humid in the morning with every passing day this week. Outside of the high dewpoint, the driving conditions were ideal. The train came on time and the wall was fine. I figured out that it is about three fourths of a mile to my building from North Station. How 'bout cha?

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Departure Time From Home: 6:
Departure Time From Train Station: 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:
Weather as I call it: Partly sunny
Shady Gas Price: $3.49
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10):
Feared for my life: No

Sneaky Gas Station

I got out of the house early today and the ol' gas light was on so I decided to hot the gasoline station before I drove to the train station. Gas at this station was one of these sneaky higher price for credit card purchases. I think I paid something like $3.73 a gallon. I don't think that's right. Everything else was good. Should have stuck with the shady had station.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:
Departure Time From Train Station: 6:
Arrival Time at North Station: Weather as I call it: Mostly cloudy, 60
Shady Gas Price: $3.
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10):
Feared for my life: Nope