Oh love - isn't it beautiful?

So, by some stroke of luck, I end up making it to the train not only on time, but early enough to pick up the last train that is running late - giving me a few extra minutes to get in town - YAY!

So I settle in and read my book till we get into the city.  It's hot - really really hot - even with the AC on.  I can barely stand it.  We stop at the next stop and a couple, expecting a child in the next 6 weeks or so and they sit down together.  They are nothing short of adorable at first glance... till momma bear is trying to get comfortable (i've been there, nothing really makes it comfortable), it's hot, adding to the discomfort, and ... you have an all too clingy husband who can't keep his hands to himself for like 10 minutes.  She kept shoo-ing him away to stop holding her hand, to stop 'carressing' her arm, to stop touching her leg, and finally to stop cuddling into her.  Like I said it was hot, and for the love of god, he wouldn't stop and get a clue.  I could tell in her face, she just wanted to be left alone to shut her eyes on the train ride into town and relax.  But this dude, wasn't having it.  She was frustrated and pushed him away, and told him no and stop like 10 times.  I wanted to stand up and yell at him.  I didnt want to be touched and I am not 7+ months preggo.

Good morning, Bad morning, but hey, it's Friday!

Good Morning:

This morning started out like most others - and by that means me, shutting off the alarm and going to sleep.  45 minutes later, I wake up - to my 20 month old alarm, realize what is going on, and jump up to get in the shower. Running this late though, I realize I am only going to make the last 'rush hour' train out of Salem.  But - aha!  I get there, and there must be 4756 people on the platform...turns out the 8:05 express was late.  Yet right on time for me.  I jumped on, got a seat amongst all of those people, and read on my 25 minute journey to North Station.

Bad Morning:

That being said, while walking out to jump on the Orange line, a younger guy (maybe late teens early 20s - MAYBE), was walking out and not looking where he was going, and kicked my foot with these crazy boot things.  OWWWWW!  It hurt so much that I swear the pain shot up into my teeth.  I literally had to close my eyes for a second and take a deep breath...it really hurt!  I only had flip flops on so I didn't have anything to buffer the kick.

I do have to say, he did apologize, which is something that most don't do when it comes to bumping into you or otherwise hurting you on public transportation.

But, it's still a good morning, because it's Friday! :)

Sweaty, Stinky, Body Odor ... Ick. Public Transportation in the Summer

I will reiterate again - taking the commuter rail and the T to work is WAAAY better than driving was.  Or even better than it was driving to Wellington to the Orange line to go to work.  Why?  Well, first and foremost, it saves me money.  Really!  Pre tax dollars pay for my pass, and I get a ride to the Train station - you know just like high school, just early in the morning.  I also like that it IS 'green'.  I am using less gas in my car and hopefully saving a little chunk of the environment.  A bigger chunk is saved with the recycling I do at my house, but I digress.

What I DON'T like are the smells on the T.  I have a sensitive nose - a very sensitive nose.  I can gag about a smell before anyone else around me smells it.  Which brings me to my complaint about public transportation.  Which is not only the issue in the summer, smells and stinky people certainly do exist in the winter, it's just shall we say, enhanced in the summer.  It's hot, everyone's sweaty, and some just don't use the appropriate deodorant or use deodorant at all.  Bleh.  This morning in fact, there was the faint smell of body odor and I couldn't figure out who was responsible, but I did have to put my nose in my shirt at one point to avoid any gagging.  

But... the point of my post is that no one needs help smelling any worse during the summer, so if you could, please don't work out till you're a sweaty mess, and then just get on the commuter rail.  You do smell, and seeing your shirt stick to you because of that sweat makes me gag.  Please, either rinse off at the gym, or stand in front of a fan for a while.  

T delayed due to police activity?

On Tuesday I was greeted at the North Station T with the PA stating that 'all trains on all lines are delayed about 15 minutes due to police activity'.  The PA further went to explain to Green Line passengers that the Green Line was delayed 'due to a police investigation'.  Always interesting... especially now when police presence has been heightened for a while.


So, I of course, wondered why.  When I got off the Green Line at Copley I still didn't find the reason, but I did find a friendly News 5 reporter getting his camera shots of the street signs and the Copley station as well.  Yesterday evening I flipped to channel 5 to see what the deal was - thanks in part to this channel 5 cameraman, I found out that they were looking for a man who had 'indecently exposed' himself on an inbound Green Line train to Copley.  Full story found on the Channel 5 Website. Kudos to the woman who reported it and to the police who arrested the guy.  People who do this on the T or anywhere for that matter are creeps!

MBTA Launches "Park Mobile" Pay by phone app

On Tuesday, the MBTA put these handy little fliers to advertise the ParkMobile Beta program.  These handy little fliers were left on your seat for you to read on your way into the city to learn more about the program and how it works - and I assume to invite you to test it out.  It's a partnership between the MBTA and ParkMobile where you download an app to your iPhone, Droid or Blackberry and are able to pay for your parking via credit card.  The program begins on July 23rd.

What do I think of this?  I think it's awesome!  No more shuffling around in the morning to find singles or change to slip in that little slot in the morning while you're rushing to make sure you get the train that is just about into the station.  Plus, if you're one of those people that just never carry cash (like me), then this is a moment where you're probably thinking "It's about time!".  Hopefully this turns turns into a program beyond a beta test soon after!  Thanks MBTA!

Almost Macho

Spotted on the Commuter rail ... Buff guy, with his white t-shirt or the non PC term (apologies in advance for anyone who is offended by this term) "Wife Beater" on.  Certainly has done some lifting... most likely wanted to be noticed... and he was.  Was it because he was the only guy on the train with a white tank on, bald head, and what looked to be greased up muscles?  Perhaps, but his macho cover was blown when you notice ... dun.. dun.. dun...............the white tank is inside out.  At least Michael Jordan would be happy he is supporting Hanes...

A little hint for next time ... check to make sure it's right side out prior to putting on the macho shirt.  It really does take away from the 'look'

Wrong season for these pants

Yikes... I am going to add an entire segment that just talks about improper attire for the weather. In this weather... it was 80 degrees out at 7 AM on a hot train in July. The cords should have been put away a couple of months back!

Not on the T... but in Commuting in the Air

So last week, instead of commuting all week, I was in California for work.  I was looking forward to a week of great meetings and fun, followed by a weekend in the city.  Not to mention some escape from public transportation.  Well, public transportation as encapsulated in the "T" or Commuter Rail.

The week was off to a great start - first and foremost, I paid (myself) to upgrade on an already phenomenal flight on Virgin.  A little bit more room could only make it better...right?

Well it depends on how you define comfort, I guess.  For me, it means, more room since there were only middle seats available, free stuff (food, movies - Couples Retreat and It's Complicated were GREAT, btw!).  It also means, hopefully sitting with a better crowd, because well, you have to pay more, a significant amount more to sit there.  I quickly learned, that I assumed incorrectly.

So by upgrading I got all sorts of great perks.  For one, I got to go through the 'express' line in security.  Basically it meant that I jumped about 3 people, since well, the gates were only for two gates.  and I got to board first.  Which just means getting settled in before everyone else.  Still, I was sold!

But the excitement of walking onto a Virgin America flight for the first time quickly waned as I slowly approached my seat.  I started to smell alcohol ... first just one whiff, then I thought I was starting to feel woozy because of it.  I quickly thought of the only three scenarios that could possibly happen:

1. Oh My God!  6+ hours, I am going to be sick before this plane lands
2. Oh My God, I am going to be drunk from fumes before this plane lands
3. Umm, where is candid camera and / or am I going to be featured on a new season of Airplane - now featuring Virgin America instead of Southwest (and if so, please give me a few more minutes to just put on some makeup!)

It got to the point that it was just seeping from his pores.  I get it, who hasn't had a day like that.  I remember one or two back in my younger days.  But this guy wasn't 'younger'...and we weren't talking a 5 or 6 AM flight... it was almost 9 AM.  Which leads me to only one conclusion ... it must have been SOME party!

And so... while I escaped the "T", I did not escape the perils of public transport.