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

Cold Car Part 2

I think the cold car was back today but it wasn't as cold as it was on Friday.

I sat in it the entire trip...which made for a very cold morning.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:30
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Sunny Cold 20s
Shady Gas Price: $3.09
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Who Ordered The Cold Car?

I got on the train as I normally do - using the middle entrance rather than the front or rear doors. I noticed something as I walked down the aisle of the train car...it was more empty than usual and it was dreadfully silent.

The white noise from the heater fans was missing. As I sat down in my seat, I felt the chill in the air. It was cold. There was a maintenance worker trying to fix the heater, but it was no use.

I guess he saw me blowing on my fist to keep warm and addressed me personally to let me know that the heat was working in the other cars.

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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: Cold, but no snow.
Shady Gas Price: $3.13
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

Shoveling And Switching

I got up at 5 AM so I could shovel out the driveway and get to work at a decent hour. I had meetings that started at 9AM and I felt that if I could get on a train before 7:30, I would be able to get to the office on time.

I finished shoveling around 6:30 and got ready to go to work.

I got to the train station in plenty of time and the train was running on schedule.

Then, we got to Wilmington and there was a switch problem. Conductors actually got out of the train and flipped the switch manually.

We got to North Station at 8:50. I hoofed it to the office and was there by 9:05...

Let's make it a dry week next week.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:52
Departure Time From Train Station 7:27
Arrival Time at North Station: 8:50
Weather as I call it: Light snow to clearing skies and sun
Shady Gas Price: $3.13
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 4.5
Feared for my life: Nah

Rude Dude

There's this dude who rides the train with me and he is the master of taking up a two seater with his ass (shifted sideways) and his bag.

He makes it so no one can sit next to him.

He always has his laptop open and I am sure he's looking at porn or something.

He drinks huge amounts of diet coke and eats Dorito-like chips before 7AM.

He's a jerk....and a rude dude.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:30
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:41
Weather as I call it: Cold 20s
Shady Gas Price: $3.09
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Just A Little Snow This Time Around

Man, this is becoming the winter of snow. Even though there was a dusting on the ground, it snarled traffic pretty fiercely.

Now, I was pretty much unaffected by the snow. It felt like a regular day except that I paid for my parking via an envelope and not using the slot "machine".

Thursday should be worse...

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Departure Time From Home: 6:30
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:42
Weather as I call it: Light snow
Shady Gas Price: $3.09
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

The Cold Can Slow Things Down

I pulled into the train station parking lot and saw an inbound train slowing rolling down the tracks. Uh oh, I thought. The trains must be running late.

Thankfully, my train station has an indoor facility where one can be sheltered from the cold.

My train was only delayed by 10 minutes...but it was slow moving and I got into North Station about 20 minutes late.

I was warm throughout most of the ride. So, I'll take it.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:31
Departure Time From Train Station 7:11
Arrival Time at North Station: 8:02
Weather as I call it: Cold. -10°F when I left the house.
Shady Gas Price: $3.09
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3
Feared for my life: No

Make Some Adjustments

So I got up an hour early to deal with the snow and get to work at a reasonable time.

I think with a little preparation, you can make it to work with no issues with snowfall that is less than 5 inches.

I got to the train station with no delay. It's a different crowd at 6AM than 7AM. They are tougher and they seem to know each other. I felt like I was intruding; they could tell I wasn't a regular.


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Departure Time From Home: 5:37
Departure Time From Train Station 6:28
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:09
Weather as I call it: Snow
Shady Gas Price: $3.05
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Sha-now

Ah, more snow. Or sha-now like my little daughter calls it. There was only a light covering of the roads and cars when I walked out this morning, but it didn't stop the schools in my town from closing.

The roads for the most part were fine. Right before the train station, I did tap my brakes and I started a small skid...nothing to write home about but it happened.


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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: Snow.
Shady Gas Price: $3.09
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

If I Were Driving The Whole Way

Today would be a great day for commuting if I were driving the whole way. I don't anymore and I didn't make a special arrangement today.

The air was cold and the chill was bad for the most part on my walk. There were a few other souls on the streets, but for the most part it was me and the walk signals.

I wish we had today off. It would have been nice to sleep in a little longer.

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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: Cold, sunny, some wind
Shady Gas Price: $3.09
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

I Think Someone Is Messing With Me

So the car that I thought never moved...has moved.

When the train rolled by it this morning, it was turned around and facing the opposite direction.

Two things...either the car is parked the exact same way every morning...which is not impossible, but improbable...

Or someone is messing with me.

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Departure Time From Home: 6:24
Departure Time From Train Station 6:59
Arrival Time at North Station: 7:40
Weather as I call it: Cold, windy, blagh
Shady Gas Price: $3.05
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Unmoved Car

Hey - I'm back...not that you missed me.

There's this car that the train passes every day and it hasn't moved in months. It's a late model (I like typing 'late model' - I sound like a police officer), black Honda Accord and it's parked in a lot near the Grossman Marketing Group building. I think Steve Grossman owns the company. He's a our new Treasurer, you know.

It's a nice car. It pains me to think it has been abandoned.

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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: Cold, 20s Partly Sunny
Shady Gas Price: $3.05
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 2
Feared for my life: No

Best Christmas Ever

I was wished a Merry Christmas by the guy who sat next to me on the train and I saw Santa Claus shuffling down the street while I was walking to the office from North Station.

I stood by him at a crosswalk. People were waving from their cars. Smiles were all around.

I have to say that the joy of the season was on display and it warmed my heart a bit.

Just a bit.

Sooooooowah, have a good rest of 2010...I am out until Jan. 3. SAH-weeet!

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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: Cloudy, windy, but not as cold.
Shady Gas Price: $2.99
Level of commute annoyance (scale of 1 to 10): 3 - had to brush off the car
Feared for my life: No