Bleh.

Going home.
I'm done.

Last Friday

Today is pay day, last day before another three day weekend, and Friday in general.
I caught my early train perfectly with no waiting, and look forward to a fast day of work.
I am in a good mood.

Here we go again.

It's odd how when someone drinks so much, the stale alcohol seems to emit from their skin like some ridiculous cologne.

This guy needs to reduce his breakfast to a lower proof.

Yay sprint.

Barely caught the 6:04.
Heading home. Need to do a bit of research.

Warmer

Strange weather. Today low to mid 50s? It's like spring.
Just missed my train. Next one only 5 minutes away.
Wonder if today's work will be as nuts as yesterday.

Rain.

Strange. I almost missed the rain. Feels good on my head.
I wonder if its going to stay so unseasonably warm all winter, or we will pay hard for that.

Deck

With it being an abbreviated week, I decided to park at the garage at Sunset today. It shortens my ride by eleven stops and about 20 minutes.

Usually its full by now, but many have today off work.

Wee.

Rude

Dear annoying bitch on her phone,

It's rude enough to talk on your phone, but for the love of Christmas quiet down. Stop shouting. I pity your friends who have to tolerate you.

Xmas eve eve

Any shock that the train is skeletal today? Naw. It is what it is.

Book

Reading American Gods, missing her, and feeling some beer in my blood.

Some days I wonder.

Sjehjsj

19 degrees. What the frick..
I'm not typing.. just shivering.

Barely.

Ran for train.
Need new shoes.
Covered entire block in time of a flashy hand thing.
Whoa. Old.

Whoa

No idea who she is, but this girl on the train is mathematically gorgeous..
She turned every head on the platform as she walked by. Some got whiplash no doubt.

Also, someone is wearing a cologne that smells like a dog wearing Brut. Dear god it stinks.

Tuesday

It feels like it is no day of the week. None of them. I don't feel like tomorrow exists, and it's an odd sensation.

My life is a lie.

Sniffing out

The transit police and their happy fun drug dogs roaming the train looking for bad guys and evil doers make me feel safe.  Yes.

Obey, citizen, and you have nothing to worry about. They are here to protect -not contol- us all. Just keep telling yourself that.

Idiots...

Amusing the insolence.

Pioneer Square is non-smoking. Not difficult to remember. You are a stooge and nobody cares how inconvenient it is for you.

And your tantrum needs work.

Earlier

Caught an train pre-8 that I usually miss. This means I get breakfast today.
I wonder how this week will go.. if busy or dead due to the holidays. We shall see.

Another late one.

Beers with my friend. Picking up a 9pm train.

On the train, you really think everyone wants to hear your shit music. Turn it off.

Foggy

The morning is out of a bad mystery: cold, dense fog, and a train light pushing through in the distance.

All we need is a dead body, a grisled detective, and a crying widow shouting, "Why god?!" and the stage is set.

It's Friday. Hoorah.

Late train.

Beers with coworkers was fun. Looks like a quiet ride home. 9pm on a Thursday is lame.

That being said, watching five deaf people argue vehemently in sign language is amazing.

Thurs

Caught early train. Yay.
Tonight is payday. Yay.
Going to see my band again in a week and a half. Yay.
My mom sounds happier than I have heard her in years. Yay!
I get to see her and the rest of my family next weekend. Double yay.

Home

Some days I think I would prefer to stay at work and just keep going. I feel quite accomplished doing things. At home it becomes a black hole of nothing and ADD distractions.

Caught a good train though for my ride home, so I can sit the whole way.

Freaking Brr

Twenty-four degrees. What the hell. Beautiful blue sky, amazing sunrises, and so damn cold. My guess why the train is so late today.

Even with gloves I am struggling to type on my phone right now.

Breeders

Dear god lady, pushing you and your three babies on a crowded train and having the audacity to pull the mother card is annoying.

Yes. I get if you are tired. You just saw Santa and they are all a very crabby ages 3y, 2y, and 8 months.

This is not the responsibility of the other 100 of us. You have got to plan ahead next time.

And put a hat on that baby, she is red-pink with cold.

Yikes.

It has been very cold and very dry lately. It has been a while since there has been nearly zero December precipitation.

Once again I barely made the train. I am hoping today goes predictably. I could use no surprises today.

Not paying attention.

My mind is elsewhere. Not looking around the train. My guess is people are struggling to keep their personal space bubble in-tact while ignoring others' same attempts.

Let us just assume such. I am weary.

Getting old

A full sprint from car to train is a hell of a way to start the morning. It's so weird that I can feel great inside, but my body doesn't always appreciate it. Perhaps a bit more regular running might so me good.

Stupid heart.

Music

Yeah, as pathetic as it is I find myself soundtracking my life.  Happy, sad, anger, energized... I find music that fits my mood.

Good morning

Today has so far started out in an amazing fashion. I hope the day continues to stay at this level of fantastic. It's Friday and I get to see a friend tonight, and I even caught a good train.

Just need to get a hot cocoa and enjoy a two-bite blueberry scone.

Woo

Catching the 6:02 train when getting off at 6 is magical. Feels like I barely lose any time getting home.

Going to go listen to music and dream a dream.

Gah

It annoys me when these signature gatherers get on the train and use us as a captive audience to spread their politics. Get off my train.

Calendar

Today is December. Tomorrow is January. Next week sometime will be 2013.  Time is becoming less relevant and more amusing; the wooshing sound the clock hands make.

I have used up all of my relevant life milestones at this point. The only ones that seem left right now aren't ones I have to work for: the natural progressions of age.

Oh yeah. And the train smells like feces for some reason.

Ran

One of the best things about having my trimet pass from work is when the train is pulling up, and I have to sprint to catch it, I can get to the platform and can hop right on.  Wee!

Ugh. Today is "wear a bucket of cologne on the train" day.

Homeward.

Made an earlier train. Thankfully. Fairly full, too. Not sure what the city will do. In this economy more people are riding, yet due to the budget they are having fewer and fewer trains and busses.

The lady across from me has a kid on her lap. He is maybe two years old and sleeping. What is odd is she shifted and he didn't wake. She gave him a couple good wiggles and he didn't move. It was odd.

He wasn't dead, just refusing to be awake. I feel like that every morning. He reluctantly got to his feet, but refused his mothers plea to open his eyes. Instead he smashed his eyes shut and stayed wherever it was in his head that was better than the train.

Good intentions

Meant to get up early and catch a slightly earlier train, but no. Three trains never showed and a fourth was "out of service."

So after almost half an hour at the station one finally shows up, and our 200 people join the 200 people already on board.

It's standing room only already and we have 12 more stops until downtown.

Hey you.

You, yeah you. Douchey guy I see every day: you are not a unique snowflake. Jumping in front of already-waiting people to get on the train first earned you that shoulder check.

Sure it was taken as accidental, but be assured it was a message. Do it again and you'll be nursing another bruise.

Dick.

Brr

Quite chilly this morning. Caught a slightly later train than desired, but should get to work nonetheless with limited lateness.

Decided to do soup this next week for lunches. They tend to be healthier than my usual fare and the warm bowl of goodness will help my guts and alleged soul.

Nothing super interesting going on. Just a bunch of people enraptured in their digital devices. Me included.

Graveyard

The train is empty. There are maybe 8 people on this whole car and the only one marginally interesting is some weird musclehead in a stretch shirt, but dress slacks and shoes. He is quite proud of himself. But the 80s music in his headphones is amusing.

The skinny kid behind me tapped me on the shoulder, nodded at him and asked me if I thought he could take him.

I said, "Do you know martial arts?"
He said, "No."
I replied, "Then probably not."
He agreed, laughing.

They both got off the next stop and exchanged some words as the train pulled away.

I guess muscles could hear him and wanted to clarify. Wonder what happened next.

Anyways, three 7&7s and a half of a pizza with some coworkers built some team feel. Erk!

Alternate

Decided to drive part way to work today and pick up the train at a closer station. Doing this shaves about a dozen stops off my commute and doubles my train options in the evening.

You might ask why I don't do this daily. Well its because this method isn't unique at all.  This Park & Ride fills up by 8am typically and, while the sign said, "Lot Full," I checked anyway and found one last available spot.

That kind of gambling isn't what I crave every morning.

Now I am sitting next to a guy who smells like so much curry. Oof.

R

I have this friend. I'll call him R.  I personally think he is one of the smartest guys I know. He is also one of the most isolated. His sadness is palpable. I don't mind at all being around him because if I can, just for a short time, shoulder his burden, I'm grateful that he is a little more confortable.

I just wish he would get out of his own way. He truly deserves to be happy and make someone else happy.

The train is empty, quiet, and lame. I will go listen to some Unkle Bob and lose myself in thought.

Dec. 1st

Fitting somehow that the first day of December would be the first morning of the season that I had to scrape ice off my car. It is very cold.

It is beautiful. Every surface is coated in a diamond-like finish. People are bundled up and shivering. Again I am grateful I am not driving to work. Sure it takes a while to get there, but honestly 99% of my trips are quiet, relaxing, music-filled rides.

The right music

Sometimes a good soundtrack gets you through.  Not having to hear the inane drivel spewed by societies finest is a joy and pleasure.

Tomorrow I may just hit up the winter Brewfest downtown after work.

Cyclical

Oh you bike riders. You have this notion that you are so much better than anyone else. We are all so proud of your green lifestyle and tiny carbon footprint.

Seriously though, have some courtesy with your aluminum and steel monstrosities. We all have to ride the train together, and when we are so full your bike has no room: tough titties.

Also, people do sudoku a lot on the train. I always suppress the urge to help when someone seems stuck.

Another full train.

And so I stand again on a very full commuter train home. But such is life.

Walking to the train, I noticed a younger girl sitting on a corner with a baby and a cardboard sign saying family in need.  It is in the 30 degree range, and even though I am not a parent, my instincts kicked in. There was an ambulance up the block and I stopped and asked them if they could call in a welfare check on her. They said absolutely.

An infant shouldn't be out in 35 deg weather in little more than a sweater.
Oof.

Wild Kingdom

Grown men making animal noises is an amusing way to spend rising the train in the morning.  One guy trying to describe the dispondant noises his cat was making, and his friend trying to narrow down the disease.

"Was it a, 'mrrooow,' or more of a, 'Mwoaa?'"

I really find humans amusing.

Mire

Lots on the train tonight.  Not sure why, but it seems more and more are riding public transit. Maybe it's the economy, or people finally smarting up to the benefits.

Well those benefits dwindle down when you have to stand most of he way home. Ahh well. I sit for a large portion of the day now, so a little standing won't kill me.

Cyber Monday

The day's name sounds pornographic. To many businesses it is to them because their productivity today gets screwed from employees going online to find Christmas deals.

Today I caught a later train. Woke up fine, but had to tweak my website a little this morning. There is a time vortex when it comes to fiddling with web related stuff. I ate 20 minutes in a blink.

Tree lighting

Nothing quite like 10,000 people crammed into a few small blocks to ruin my commute home.

I just want a beer, some dinner, and some relaxing. Ahhhhh.

Wow

Empty park and ride today. Seems most people have today off. Only two other people here at the train station and maybe 10 on the train that just pulled up.

Wonder how busy my day will be. Looking forward to getting home so I can play more with code. Wee!

Late

Had drinks with a coworker whose last day was today. Talked a lot. It was fun. Now just riding a mostly empty train where the guy across from me is enraptured in a crossword puzzle.

Everyone else has a dead-as-midnight expression on their collective faces. I just crave food and want to lie down and think.

Empty

Yeah. Not many on the train today. I just barely caught it myself. I am really hoping there won't be many people working at banks today (or at least their IT guys.) Could use a slow day.

This is where I now read my kindle and listen to The Xx and relax.

After work: goodbye drinks with a coworker.

Chain reaction on #trimet

Trains are delayed due to an idiot in the rain wrecked on the tracks a dozen stops away. As a result the first train by since they got moving is paaacked.

I wait one more and its pretty empty. People really shoved and smashed their way into that first one, even though three more trains were lined up behind it.

Impatient fools. The last thing I heard as one last guy smashed himself in was from a learning disabled guy who said, "oh my gawsh, really? Fahhhck you!"

I couldn't stop myself from laughing.

Hard rain.

Oregon can be wet. It is a fact that keeps our state both clean and green. I generally am okay with it, and don't suffer from this SAD (seasonal affectiveness disorder) that some proclaim.

However, big soaking raindrops that just make you all soggy for the rest of the day are irritating.

Looking forward to the holiday season. This year has gone far too fast.

Barely

Train coming.. run run run.. almost there, oh no traffic in the way.. Damn it hold the doors.

They are staying open. Why? Some old lady in a Hoveround waiting for the ramp extension.  Phew.

Now on my way home. Need to stop at the store and buy dinner, litter and soap (all unrelated).

Thanks for Monday

I like Mondays. It's a time to start the week fresh with no baggage and no stress.

It is raining big drops today; the kind that thunk you on the head with audible noise. Thwap thwap.

There is a guy here transporting his electric guitar to wherever. What is neat about his gig bag is that it is a standard Strata-style bag that has been modified to include a little conical pouch at the bottom to protect the point of his Flying V. It's suburban "metal."

End to end

When its raining and cold, many of the metro homeless ride the train from Gresham to Hillsboro and back again. It costs only $4.75 for the whole day, and probably takes an hour or more to go from end to end.

It is warm, dry, and they can often blend in leaning against the window in an effort to get a small, comfortable nap.

The only giveaways are the smell, and the ubiquitous bag of belongings made green-grey brown with time and muck.

I honestly can't say I blame them given the alternatives.

Hands!

My fingers are a tad numb. Yup, a gloves purchase is in my very new future.

There is a kid behind me on the train watching cartoons on his mother's iPhone. It's annoying, but without the distraction I wonder how much more obnoxious he might be.

Friday. Payday. A few things to do and the weekend is here. Yay.

Too young.

The girl next to me is wearing a wedding ring. Maybe I am just getting too old, but she doesn't look legally old enough to be married.

Age sucks.

Thankfully, the N17 movement did not stop my trains arrival or departure. I think I'm going to go read my kindle now.

Bad day?

A got on the train just tried to spange his parole officer by mistake. 
Awkward.

Now stupid fat kid next to me is slurping a milkbox from Starbucks and mowing down on a cheese danish. This kid will be mediocre and unimportant the rest of his life.

Well, I hope so anyways. But I am just an asshole.

What's this wet stuff?

You would think living in Oregon people would remember the rain: how it feels, how to prepare, and how to drive.

Nope. Not the case. Idiots.

Caught a later train, probably to make up for being so early yesterday. But that is my fault for lounging around in bed this morning enjoying the softness.

Really difficult work day ahead of me. One client with multiple cases on a new server install configured in a very wacky way. Should prove a challenge.

Phone being odd.

Cables make a difference. Stupid after market shitty micro usb drains instead of charges. Going to have to throw that thing out before it shorts my phone to death.

Not much going on the train right now, thankfully.

Just barely

Caught a slightly earlier than normal train. This is good since I need breakfast today. Going to be a long one.

This train should have pulled out long ago since it arrived as I was getting out of my car.  Usually, they race in and everyone at the platform piles on as it zooms off.

Thankfully I made it.

It must be an exam day; everyone on the train is buried in a text book.

The year.

Going fast this year is just flying by. Next week is Thanksgiving already. The square downtown has the giant unlit tree waiting for festivities.

Work is work. Leave it there, pick up where it left off.

The train is only moderately full with a few open seats available. The train operator just came out of her cabin long enough to say hello to a rider whom she knows.

I crave comfort food.

Again with the bags.

Between this cough and some unsettling dreams, I did not get enough sleep last night. Woke up out of phase and a tad groggy. I was able to catch the last viable train at 8:11am.

Most seats taken, and one kid doing his college homework with his backpack on the seat next to him. I basically just looked, nodded at his bag, and said, "excuse me."

Oh the pains it must've given him to move it.

There is a woman in head to toe leopard print reading a Kindle. I wonder if it is a story about large cats.

No from here

There appears to be an eastern European family on the train with me here. Mother, father, two daughters about 19 or 20.  One keeps glancing over here, and when I look up she looks away. She is wearing a head scarf and red leopard-print leggings.  Her upper body is in conflict against her legs.  Not sure at all what to make of her.

I'm off for four days. But still not feeling great. I left my laptop at work: intentionally.

Not into it

Bland commute. Bland train riders. Not much to report, but today is my last day before a four day weekend.

I'm going to sit back, relax, and ignore captain backpack across from me who just unabashedly dropped his belongings on the girl next to him.

No apologies needed here. He just has a lot of shit. What a tool.

Dark rain

This time change is messing me up well. Only six and am ready for a nap. Also the rain makes it somewhat difficult to type on the screen.

Haven't been asked for spare change yet. The fair weather beggars are staying dry under overhangs I guess.

I want some tea, some dinner and some slippers.

Oops. Spoke too soon. Someone just begged me for spare change. Dammit. No.

And now I smell skunk on the train. Ack!

Everyone is late

I didn't catch my 8am train. I missed the 8:05 as well. I snagged the 8:11. Three other people I recognized from my commute did the same. Something about bed this morning did not want to let go. I think it was snuggling me back.

There is a guy in front of me studying medical flash cards, all written in a cyrillic language. The girl next to me is reading Chicken soup for the Writer's Soul. And the kid across from me just activated a Morcheeba playlist on his ipod. I wish he had external speakers on that puppy.

Interface training at work this morning, then a database install before lunch. Wee!

Out of Dodge.

Trimet platforms can be a wretched hive a scum and villainy. It is like playing Frogger on Atari bobbing and weaving the spangers and crazies. Nice that a train, any train, swooped in and rescued me.

There is a girl behind me with what sounds like a New Zealand accent on the phone with a friend. It is a pretty interesting accent in that it isn't thick like most: subtle.  She is wearing a bit much make up, though. Having no pores makes a girl look weird.

Brighter mornings on #trimet

Maybe it is because of daylight savings time that the train is busier today. Maybe because it is Monday. Perhaps midterm exams are happening at a college or university downtown.

Regardless of why, there are indeed many more folks this morning, so hey crazy Chinese bible lady, you may or may want to reference 1 Thessalonians 5:14 in that book of yours which says, "And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone."

Shoving your way onto the train, and forcing yourself into a seat lacks patience and understanding. I want to thump you on the head. Not hard, just a good teachable moment thwack the way you test a cantaloupe for ripeness at the store.

I had to Google that passage since I don't follow your religion, but thought perhaps you might understand that reference material.

I need hot tea, as I am getting sicker.

My mother is in surgery right now. My thoughts are with her.

Scent

The girl sitting next to me on this cold, wooden bench at Sunset TC smells very good.  I wonder what it is.

I asked her, she said Gucci.

I'm ready for a relaxing weekend. Oof what a long one its been. A nap sounds great.

#trimet entertainment

I'm not sure if everyone else likes to travel in complete silence, but I enjoy when my bus/train operator is in a talkative mood. Always fun when they give news, weather, fun statistics, or anything else.

But usually it is dry, quiet and boring on trains, so I guess what I am saying is: thanks you rare happy guy or gal. You make the ride a little more bearable.

Full again.

I wonder if gas became cheap how much emptier the train might be. Just a few may help with seating.

Listening to Mitch Hedberg on Spotify. Funny and sad.

Someday

I may work somewhere someday that doesn't require me to display my work ability based on my choice of pants.

Apparently a delegation of bank VP types are coming through so a memo went out proclaiming today "no jeans day." I was tempted to wear ratty sneakers, a snarky tshirt, and pressed slacks.

There is a girl two seats behind me that I know from somewhere, but can't place her. Damn getting old sucks. Stupid memory.

Protest

Occupy Portland seems to launch their little temper tantrum of a march every Wednesday now.  Delayed my train again. It did start raining though, so there is that.

Perhaps I am just being insensitive to the movement, but while I do sympathize with the cause, I also have things that need done.

Fingers

My hands are cold. Accuweather says it is 26 degrees right now. I believe them.  Where are my dang gloves? There's a girl reading a travel book about Belize sitting next to me. I hope she goes.

One thing I regret in my youth was I did not travel internationally more. I really wanted to go places and see things. At this point, my travel will be virtual and my experiences will be vicarious. Time is not my friend.

I'm not ready for today.

Things get weird.

I'm simply at a point at work where the politics are rearing their ugly heads. I'm not playing the game, but there are some rather odd things transpiring amongst the office dwellers.

Lots of people on the train. Odd, but okay.

Empty

It is a full train and there is barely a place to sit. The lady next to me is snivelling inconsiderately into a Kleenex.

Look people, if you are sick you shouldn't be on closed public transit. It is rude, mean, and flat out stupid. If you have a cold that has you that mucused up, stay home or drive your car. Don't subject hundreds to your ailment because you are going all IronMan for your job.

Half-train

Budget cuts? Why send a half-train at rush hour?  Good thinking #trimet. I know, maybe if you raise rates again, you can run fewer trains.

Cry me a river. Your subsidies are fine.

On another note, hope I get home before the trick-or-treating starts. Dodging kids in my car should prove annoying if I don't. Bit if last year is any indication, I don't have much to worry about.

Halloween

It's a chilly morning for sure. People are bundled, fingers are pink, and and the sky is blue. I not at all certain if I will beat home trick-or-treaters tonight. My generation of parents are such paranoid idiots, they will do it at 3pm before anyone is home probably. Poor kids not getting the ooky spooky Halloween vibe.

Generic holidays. Bland citizens.

It's important to note that nobody on the train this morning is in costume, unless surly Monday commuter is their costume. I thought I might see one zombie at least.

Donated pick

Guy singing at the bus stop: you have talent, but you are funny. Personality goes far with me. You get my $1.36 in pocket change and my thick 0.88mm nylon guitar pick as a donation to your cause.  Wish I had more.

Oddly at 8:45pm on a Friday the MAX is pretty empty. Not much going on. But hey, its still Friday and tomorrow has naught but scrambled eggs and relaxation in store.

The girl across from me has crazy sexy boots.

Friday

I hope today is simple and good. I just want to go so my job, then visit with a friend, then return home and relax.

I'm not thanking any diety for it being the end of the week. I wish there were a safe drug I could take to focus my energies.  I'm doing so many things in a mediocre fashion, that none of them are really being done well.

Chivalry Pt. Deux

I may bitch about this more often than other things, but ultimately we are all on this train together. I will gladly relinquish my seat to the disabled, the elderly, and people my senior who look like they need to sit down.

If you are a 16 year old high school girl, I give you this message: you are standing.

#trimet failed revolution

So last night was odd. Waited for a while for the protest to get off the tracks so we could get underway. When we got about halfway home, the driver asked us to all get off due to a train problem or something.

Most of us grumbled knowingly and got off. This happens, but not frequently. Suddenly this guy in a nice suit gets loud, raises his hand and shouts, "does anyone else feel like cattle? This is the second time they have done this to me in two weeks."

Zero response. Dead silence. Wrong soapbox. We accept the nuances of public transit. Perhaps you should, too.

Wait delayed

My barely making this morning's train hasn't gone unpunished by fate. Missed my afternoon train by about 3 seconds. The doors shit on me and wouldn't reopen.

Oh well. Tonight I eat dinner, say goodbye one last time to a friend, and then work in some time to sleep.

I just want to get on this train before the Occupy Portland protests blocks the train tracks home.

Barely made it.

Lots of weird traffic caused a backlog and I just barely got to my train in time.

I think it rather odd that I catch the same 802a train daily, yet don't recognize anyone. Ever. On the earlier train I started to notice regulars, but at this time of day the group is vastly different every day. It makes me worried that I have developed prosopagnosia.

It's Wednesday, right?

Advice

At work, there seems to be a few worn souls that need advice on letting go of work when they aren't there. I tend to forget work mere moments after leaving. Always have.

But many take it home with them and both annoy and bore their significant others with their work stories.

Let go people. It is only what you do, not who you are. Find a hobby.

Frost Warning

So it's that time of year were I buy some gloves. Starting to get real chilly in the mornings.

There are also an inordinately large number of people out today. Wonder why today is so busy like this.

Monday Pt.2

I've nothing to say. Today is over and for that I am grateful.

Monday

Days are flying by really fast these days. Not sure at all if it is merely perception stemming from me being busy, or if some evil time being is actually at work here.
I am going with the evil since I am doing less now that I am just working an am not actively in school.
Whatever it is, I am certainly in need of some better planning of my day evenings and weekends.  I need to extract maximum rewards from them.

Tall boots.

I'm not sure who decided it, but whomever made women's tall boots the latest fashion trend: thank you!

Hey couple in front of me, perhaps wait until you get home to molest each other.  The sight of you sucking face is bad enough without the schlorping sound that accompanies it.

What...

There are easily three times as many people on the train than usual. What is going on downtown?

So instead of a leisurely ride downtown I am smooshed a little and have girl scowling at me for having a seat.

Look, I'm all for chivalry, but you are younger than me by easily 12 years. You can stand missy.

Transfiguration

Tall, slender girl in the white dress and red satin rose in your hair, what sort of ritual do you do in the morning to look so pure. Does it take you hours, or are you simply carrying around fantastic genes.

I am not sleeping well lately. My body feels fine with the new mattress, but my head is all kinds of scraps and frayed ends.

I twist.

The Turn

Mornings are getting more brisk every day. I want it to be January as fast as possible. We are hitting a time of year of which I am not a fan.

Halloween is fine and all, but I need it to race past thanksgiving and Xmas as fast as possible.

I'm not taking any extra time off this holiday season.

There is a man in a suit carrying only a cell phone and a claw hammer sitting across from me. Should I worry?

Zombies

Sometimes I look at people around me and view them as extras in the movie of "Me." Very conceited. They are not just a bunch of mindless filler that gives breath to an otherwise empty world.

I wonder how many of them write commuter blogs and have commented on me while riding as, "that guy so engrossed in his phone." To them I am an extra. Were I in their movie I would be billed simply as, "man on train," if at all.

My life is simple and relatively fulfulling. I don't have everything I want, nor will I ever. I am grateful, however, that I still am a recurring character in my movie.

I'm just not sure yet if I am a hero or the villain.

Gingerbread

Got tired of waiting for Verizons OTA update for Android OS, so I installed it myself. So far it runs great, but some of the simple features will take some getting used to.

The very pretty girl sitting next to me is reading a book by Schrodinger. She also smells very good.

Today is Wednesday already. This week is flying by somewhat. I am ready for the weekend already.

Nice.

Missed the super-packed train by just a moment. Sprinted a block and a half only to have it pull away.

Rats.

But hey, right behind it was another one. This one is empty by comparison. Get to sit and relax. Ahh.

The great cliche here being that if you don't get what you try hard to achieve, look around, because there could be something better nearby. Had I not run, I might have missed this one, too.

Time

The fastest time is known to move, unproven thusfar by scientists, is the nine minutes between pressing snooze and the alarm going off again. It is a folded vortex of space/time that occurs in mere femtoseconds.

Oddly enough, I was able to catch an earlier train. With all the corporate meetings today, it will be good to get a breakfast and relax a bit.

Stinkor

In the 80s, they released action figures for the He-Man cartoon. One of the "evil" characters was green, had skunk stripes, and came packaged doused in patchouli oil. His name was Stinkor. He stunk badly, and kept that smell for years afterwards.

People choose to wear this oil while riding public transit. Yes it smells awful, but oddly the smell always reminds me of that childhood memory.

But what I wonder is what does someone smell like where THAT is the preferred scent.

Monday is over. Ugh. Thanks for that.

Half train

I typically catch the 8am train. They are usually two long cars. For whatever reason, today there was only one car. I haven't seen that before n the morning commute hours.

That being said, you might think that people would be a little more cognizant of the standing room only nature of the commute and take their precious bags off the seat next to them. Nope. Morons.

Non-post post.

Seeing @dougstanhope tonight, so no commuter hate today.

Will be back Monday with fresh venom.

A pile of inconsiderate.

Old Korean lady, your enormous purse does not deserve its own seat. Your kicked out crossed legs, one bouncing rhythmically to the music blaring from your headphones was kicking me. That is why I nudged you back.

It got your attention as intended. You need some lessons in social graces and courtesy.

And nobody is impressed with your bedazzled iPhone playing its ringtone at top volume. When it rings while you are looking at it, you are socially obligated to silence it after the first ring.

Barely...

The train nears the station while I am still at my car in the parking lot. Dammit. I get out and walk towards the platform as it arrives. I won't make it. I am halfway there when the doors open, so screw it I will run.

I set foot on the platform as the doors are closing. Dammit again. The operator, after a pause, must have seen me in his mirrors because he reopened the doors for me.

Hooray.

The half and half.

The red line train doesn't go all the way out to my place, but it gets me halfway there.  The perk is I get out of downtown where, at rush hour, people will beg anything from change, to a cigarette, to $12 (I know right?)

So I wait at the transit center for the blue line. Generally a nine minute delay, but what it costs in time is more than made up for in peace.

Froggy

A misty and cool morning today, makes me.glad I don't drive my commute.  Perhaps its why I am not stressed when I get to work.

Apparently I caught the airport train today because so many people have luggage. Mostly empty, too.

Soundtrack

Some music seems to play out a sound track to a movie. Right now I am listening to Band of Horses and looking around me making up stories about people.

That girl there is on her way home after a first day of work, hoping her boyfriend will have moved out already.

This guy is trying to think of a good best man speech he has to give this Friday, and it's for his dad's wedding.

And this guy right here, he is on the wrong train and doesn't know it yet. By the time he realizes it and the color drains from his face, the girl will be gone forever.

The air up here.

First night on my new bed has me feeling well rested, less back sore, and taller. I only slept 5 hours and woke up refreshed. I drank a glass of water and laid back down, bit probably didn't need to.

Today they are pressure washing the train platform and annoyingly moving people around to avoid overspray - as the train is arriving. It's like, give it 30 seconds and we will all be gone.

The gal sitting next to me is easily 6'2".

Fast Friday

I want this day to go by quickly. Looking forward to a good show tonight. Need to stop at the store over lunch and buy some earplugs.

Today is talk loudly on your cell phone day on the train. Three people shouting conversations rudely. I should hit up my friend Todd to build me a portable cell jammer.

Ghotesters

My portmanteau for ghost protesters.
Today there were thousands of people downtown assembles for the Occupy Portland event. I was somewhat concerned whether or not they would block mass transit lines.

They were long gone. Not sure where they poofed to, but I'm glad to be heading home.

Agalloch tomorrow. *metalface*

Forgetful

I had planned on bringing my FlipCam with me today so I could take it with me to the Occupy Portland rally today, bit I left it at home like an idiot. I am in my Cop Camouflage, aka business casual attire, so I won't get maced.

You know the DollarTree sells headphones for one dollar. There is no good reason to play your shitty music from your cell phone on its external speakers.

Douche.

Repeat.

Falling in love a few dozen times a day is a hobby. It's more fun to make up stories about people than to actually know them.

I'm putting up walls.

Timing

Showing up to the train stop just as the train pulls in is a good mental boost for the day. I feel in sync, which is good because one of the lead devs is in town from Atlanta and I will be eating his brain zombie-style today.

There is nearly nobody on the train, so not much to report here. Just a half dozen of us all listening to headphones.

I am thinking I may treat myself to a latte this brisk, Autumn morning.

Good samaritan gang.

This guy was panhandling at the train stop, and was $4 short for a hostel. I told him, when he asked me, that I had nothing to give him.

Just then this family with seven people and two strollers surrounded him and asked him his story be told them whatever it was. They questioned him on his finances and his "plan" for fixing his situation. He was pretty upset at this point, but instead of anger it was embarrassment. I almost pitied him for the third degree this affluent family was giving him.

Satisfied with his answers, the patriarch of the family then pulled out a business card and $3 for bus fare, and told him he ran a hostel in SE and to take his card and get a night sleep, but he had to promise to start working on his plan tomorrow.
They then gathered up the family and roamed off as the guy folded up his sign and headed towards the bus stop.

A Chuck moment

I haven't read or watched Fight Club in a long time, but recall it clearly. I'm not sure if its just the writing ability of the author or the subject matter's unmistakable tie to me, but it speaks to me.

This morning I have been feeling strange.

That guy.

If you are using your Powell's receipt as a bookmark in the book on said-receipt, you annoy me.

Also, everyone smells like a wet dog. First day of major afternoon rain of the season.

Being big

The guy who bathed in old spice didn't want to sit next to me today because my shoulders are too broad. He wriggled uncomfortably a few times, looked around, squirmed more, then finally elected to move.

Who is next?  Bring it on.

Oh. A pretty girl I have seen before. She just pulled out her multicolored clown kit and is now painting on her expression in layers of brown and purple. She looks better before she starts this process. Pity.

What is there?

A very long and tiring week behind me, I really should find something amazing and fun and borderline illegal to do, but all I want to do is nap right now.

Think I will snag a beer and see if my neighbor wants to throw around a football.

Oh, there's nothing going on here on the train aside from two hipsters arguing about taxes.  One just said, "Sales tax is so passe."

I don't have the heart to tell her that saying something is passe is passe.

Friday

The "relief" of Friday escapes me. People shouldn't spend 71.4% of their lives waiting for one day. Saturday: the magic day to enjoy your "life" you toiled over to earn. Because let's get real, who really relaxes on Sunday? You can't get any meaningful errands done like bank, dmv, Deq, passport office or such, and you have the thought of work tomorrow looming, preventing you from evening hijinx.

People really need to figure out a way to enjoy the hours during the week, too. Hell, enjoy yourself at work. Resist the urge to say TGIF today. Buck the trend and say tgim on Monday.

Craphing? Lrying?

The baby behind me is laughing but doesn't sound like joyful laughter.

Instead it sounds like someone being forced to giggle with a gun pointed at their head. Laughs interspersed with sobs.

Very creepy. 

Tomorrow is Friday... neat.

Expanding riders.

It's no mystery that the seats are small on the train. When I sat down, the guy against the window squished himself in to get a part of himself off my seat.

But gradually over the last few stops he has exhaled and begun to ooze into my space.

Listening to Billy Collins on Spotify. Trying to ignore the kid on the lap of his mom across the aisle. He seems intent on breaking his mom's jaw with the back of his little head. She is bobbing and weaving deftly.

New time

This new schedule is being good to me. Lots better seating on the train, but not as much in the way of hijinx.

Going to lean back and listen to Elbow and go over some projects in my head.

Nails on chalkboard.

The voice tone of the girl sitting across from me rakes my eardrums. Doubly bad is the fact that she doesn't seem to require the human need to breathe, and has been an unending stream of breathy, wheezy dialogue since her stupid face got on the train about seven stops ago.

Come on! Breathe...is she going for a record of some sort?

Grr.

The one block sprint.

For whatever reason, when I leave work, the train pulls up to my stop when I am a block away. I watch trimet.org from work, have the app on my phone, and mostly just leave when I can.

No matter what, I find myself sprinting a block every day to catch it. Normally not a problem, but with my back it was ooh, eeh, ooh, ahh..each step.

Behind me two college kids are bitching about having to wake up at 7:30am for a class. Good lord the torture! I remember those days, but now I wish I could sleep in some days that late.

Bad decisions

There is an older guy here: bald, black shirt and khakis, also an SS tattoo on his neck.  Not sure what state of mind one has to get to think this is a good idea.

Also, if you wear a long, tan trench coat, wear pants. I see your shorts, but from behind you look like a flasher.

Stop it.

New time new coat.

8am. I park a little farther away, but otherwise it feels the same. My commute home should prove interesting, too. Plenty of seating on this later train as well. Guess I missed the huge morning rush.

I am grateful I got this coat as a gift from my family. It's the weather-proof shell of another jacket, and it is doing a great job of repelling the autumn rain. I am quite warm and dry as a result.

All the windows are foggy on the train. In the words of my dad when the car windows did the same, "alright, who's breathing?!"

Fast and inconvenient.

Needed to bring my car today, unsure of traffic I left at my usual time.

Got downtown 45 minutes too early... not too bad. Going to have breakfast...and relax before diving into my workload.

Stupid chivalry.

It's so awkward when you offer up your seat to a lady and she says no thanks.  Figured she might be just going a stop or two, but nope...she just wanted to stand.

Not sure why it annoys me.

Okay I am over it.

I need to run errands tonight. Haircut, straplocks for my bass, catfood, gas in the car, bleh... wee!

Bye 7am riders.

This is my last morning at this time on the train. Just as I was beginning to recognize faces, but that isn't a huge deal.

Tomorrow I will drive my car to work so I can leave straight from work to head to the gig. Then next week I will be on a modified schedule.

Sleeping a little longer each morning will help my overall mental state. Hopefully that translates to better work, happier me, and less stress.

Curry

The train is a combination of body odor and Indian food. Have yet to determine if its the same guy or not.

Work has been odd. My boss shifts gears between slathering tons of work on me with a frenzied haste, and telling me to relax and take one thing at a time.

Friday is only two days away.

Square footage

Your bag is enormous. Yes, you college kid. And you, older business guy.  Please be aware of your girth when it is slung over your shoulder.

Take it off on the train. If you can't take it off, stand the hell still and stop roaming and turning because you are hitting people.

Your annoyed look when I pushed your bag off my neck was informational.

Deal.

Last train.

It doesn't matter what the schedule says, it doesn't even matter if you can see another train down the line. You have secret knowledge that the train pulling up is your train, the only train, the last train ever.

They (the cosmic "they") even stopped all trains; dumping out barrels of cheese-colored paint for the hand rails, and destroying that small German company that makes the brake cables. All to guarantee that no train will ever stop here again.

And you are certain there is a small army of leathery rail workers with striped hats waiting with picks and dynamite to tear up track and timber behind this train.

These must be the reasons why you fillpack and shove your way rudely at 5:22PM on this obscure September Tuesday.

Books & yarn.

I read. I consume a lot of books in order to keep my mind active, and my imagination young. However I am skeptical when there are two guys giving away free books at the train station. I wanted to grill them on their organization and what the book was about, but saw my train coming and opted for a brief, "No, thank you."

Usually when someone is knitting on the train, it is just a hat or the beginnings of a scarf (what I call the 'learning rectangle'), but this lady is putting the finishing touches on what looks like a onesie or a sweater. It looks really soft and complicated.

Odd people.

The human brain I feel is designed to attempt to make patterns of everything. It is a phenomenon known as matrixing. Today's group of people doesn't fit at all together and my brain hurts.

I take that back, everyone looks like they are at the end of their rope. Monday? Feels ominous.

Axemen

I guess there is a Timbers game today since there are so many walking billboards; people not just wearing team gear, but replica jerseys (sponsors and all.)

Hey, it's Friday, and freakin' gorgeous outside. I need a haircut, a beer, and a Five Guys burger. Then... more bass.

D-FENS

I feel like Michael Douglas' character in Falling Down. Not because I want to go on a social rampage, but that the only thing in my backpack is my lunch. Yeah.. random.

I have broad shoulders, the problem with this is that I am not skinny left to right. When a skinny little guy sits next to me, then gets annoyed and starts nudging me over, I get a little gruff. I rotate my shoulders to give me a leaner profile to be polite and he still leans into me.

I really want to puff up, sit back, am smash this guy, but I haven't had my OJ and banana yet so I am tired and nonconfrontational.

Focused.

I'm officially terrified. I've played in front of people before, I can read music, but I didn't realize the gig I am playing next Friday will be two hours long, and require me to learn 20 new songs I've never heard in only one week.

So instead of observing my commute, I am reading the set list,and listening to the album now (thankfully Spotify has the CD Baby catalogue and I was able to get the whole thing offline.)

I hope I do okay... I want to do right by this guy.

The Dullet

Not sure if the word exists yet, but this girl has a terrible hair cut. It's actually so bad it is making me angry.

It is bleach-blonde and black like a zebra, which is fine, but it is a mullet. And not just any mullet, but the front half is normal hair, and the rear is dreadlocks. Yes a dullet. Does she not have anyone who loves her who could convince her what a bad idea it was to do this?

And she is in a pantsuit a la Hillary Clinton. I'm so confused.

I'll do it.

Bunch of guys standing up on the train. One seat available: next to a gorgeous woman. Nobody sits. Too intimidated?  Are they only going one stop? No idea. I just shrug and sit down.

Getting mean stares from them now as though I siezed their opportunity. My message to them is: grow a set next time.

Squish

Americans are overweight. The seats on the train remind me of gradeschool desks without the desktop attached. So even people of proportional weight are hanging out on both sides.

Put five of them together, and you are on a very smashed bench of people.

Today starts my new training at work on the new product, and my stomach feels weird.

That old factory.

There is something about the yeasty dough and cold meat smell of a pizza shop that bring me back years when I worked at one, but more importantly spending time at them as a kid. It's amazing the flood of birthday parties and late night pizza and video games.

Childhood is so fast. I wish someone would have grabbed me by the ears and told me to enjoy it while is lasts. Then again, if I knew it was temporary, I may not have enjoyed it as much; anxious about the approaching end.

It's the endlessness that made it magic. Summers lasted a lifetime and I was convinced I would never be a grown-up.

Dammit.

Fair-weather Wallace

So the latter half of the summer, there was this younger round-faced guy with big hockeystick sideburns who waited at a bus stop at the end of the block.

Usually he is in a kilt. Today, however, he is in cargo pants. Now its true that his kilt could be at the cleaners, but today is also twenty degrees cooler than its been in months.

Sitting next to me is a girl missing the lower half of her right arm. She is reading a book turning pages with her elbow. She has to lean forward to turn the page, so every few moments she looks as though she is really into the story.

Perception

I saw a blind man running full speed down the sidewalk running to catch his bus; his red and white stick clacking on the sidewalk uselessly.

I wondered how he knew he was running late.

It feels odd that my backpack that has served me all of my college life now carries a laptop and a lunch pail for work. I know it misses the books and folders and scantrons it used to cart all over.

To that end, I find it interesting that I now work for the company that owns ScanTrons, when I spent $40k worth college using them for tests.

99%

It's a literate bunch here on the train this morning.  Books, Kindles, magazines, a newspaper (quaint), and one gal reading a knitting book trying to figure out a pattern. Good times are being had, and I am the shlub using my phone instead.

I am going to Powells after work today. I had to go anyways, but somewhat amusing considering this cosmic reminder disguised as a sea of readers.

Friday

Thank Pope Gregory XIII it's Friday. I am not sure what tonight holds, but today was busy all day at work, and the train is not too packed at all.

Actually got the fun look at the next train of people seats.

I'm in a weird mood.

Remember me.

I felt an odd thing this morning as I sit on this train with a group of familiar strangers: connection. I am starting to recognize them as my shared daily riders, and kind of want to introduce myself to them.

Not out of community or social convention, but the selfish act of someone missing me if I stopped showing up one day. Is it such a bad thing to want to be memorable?

The girl in front of me has rainbow wristbands and is clutching a stuffed pink unicorn. Her pink Chuck Taylor shoes have the word PIMP written in Sharpie on the toe.

And the police just came down the train with a drug dog.  It's Friday morning I guess. Obey, citizen.

Your precious bag.

You may hate my bluntness, Mr. "My Bag Needs a Seat," guy, but in all honesty when you have a train full of people, you put your damn bag on the floor in front of you (or in your lap).

You harumphed when I asked you to move it for the older lady standing up, but to hell with you. I overlook the fact that you are probably nineteen years old and don't have a single clue what life is about yet. Pull out your earbuds, push that foppish hair-don't out of your face and either stand up and offer your seat, or move your damn bag.

My words, "Hey. Move your backpack man," were the nicest I could come up with.  You'll get over it eventually. Trust me.

All that.

Dear girl on the train,

If you are a lithe 5’11” (mostly leg), red-haired, and you decide to wear a pinstripe pencil skirt, spaghetti-strap tank top, and heels, please do not get all upset at people looking at you. I’d never seen so many dirty looks returned to several people in my life. I mean it’s called “attractive” for a reason, and if you dress in such a way, be prepared to just deal with attention you get.  Yes it makes you feel pretty and beautiful, but that’s because you are.

Or at least were until that attitude clouded your outward appearance.  Next time wear a garbage bag to match that sparkling personality of yours.

(Or simply smile back.)

Regards,

Your fellow red-blooded male passengers.

Eyeballs

Sitting on the rows of mid-facing seats on the train, I was looking down at my phone jotting down some notes to type up later, and glanced up at a girl sitting with her mother.  She looked over at me and my only reaction was to look down quickly at my phone (ooh the pretty buttons. After all, she was quite pretty.

A few moments later, I chanced a glance back up with just my eyes not moving my head and just then she turned and looked over at me. CAUGHT!  I looked down again. Paused a moment, and looked back up. She's was still looking. Well the jig was up... I just looked back at her for what felt like a long time. I saw the corner of her mouth lift into a half smirk, and I mirrored it.

Then looked down again. She won THIS round of staring-contest.  I didn't look up again until she got off the stop before mine.  Talk about a long ride.

Damn technology

The android blogger app ate my post. But it wasn't that long. Just odd that I caught such an early train today, yet it was still fairly busy. I brought my backpack with me because I wanted to bring a few things to my office today (some photos, and stuff), and it wasn't too long of me sitting down when someone leaned over and asked me what classes I'm taking this term.

For a brief moment I smiled, flattered then quickly became sad. I do miss looking forward to the learning, and the doing, and the interacting. It occurred to me that I was pausing too long before answering and said, "Oh sorry, I'm not a student anymore, this is just some stuff I'm taking to work with me."

"Oh," he said turning back to his Kindle, deeply uninterested in what I did for work.

Mortality

While passing under the Vista Bridge known as, "Suicide Bridge," I overheard someone tell someone they were traveling with exactly that name of it, and was struck how commonly accepted a name it is.

Photo by Jesse Raley

Makes me wonder how many lives were lost to earn that name, or if it is the creation of collective wishful thinking.

Summer is over.

Today people are back to school and work. Bleary-eyed and awkwardly holding their backpacks, many students are aboard at this fine early hour.

I give it a week and some of this newness will be replaced with open books reading that mornings homework, and the calm regularity of life in full swing.

Side note: if you spent $50 on a hair cut that causes you to jerk your neck every 15 seconds to get the swath of hair out of your eyes, you paid too much.

And so it begins.

This is my last post for a few days. I am taking a few days off work.

Today is a great sunny start to that time off. I intend to relax, reflect, and recreate. It feels early to be taking a vacation, but since I haven't had a proper one in almost a decade, it's bound to feel weird regardless.

Easier

It's only week three and I think my body is getting used to super early mornings. Still, waking up at 5:59 a minute before the alarm makes me feel like I robbed myself of precious rest.

Okay, this just in...if you ride a bike, you are last priority on a crowded morning train. Seriously. Don't push your way onto the train.. you have transportation. We don't have to smoosh ourselves against a window so your overpriced piece of shit boutique bike can fit in the aisle.

And your hat is dorky looking.

Magnets

What ultimately are we as humans attracted to?  The more I think about it, the less clear it is. I break it down to two major factors: equivalent wisdom and preferred being.

In short: we are fundamentally attracted to people from whom we can learn, and those who put us in a state of mind where we are the best version of ourselves when they are around.

This has little to do with appearance. That is young, fleeting lust. Attraction is a selfish act that is catch-22.

You love because you must. It's not like you have a choice in the matter.

The expert.

The guy with the 711 coffee next to me hasn't taken a sip since he has been on the train. I don't blame him as the smell coming from the cup isnt coffee you would want.

It smells like hot mold.

But the longer he sits there the more I wonder if he is going to drink it. The anticipation is killing me wondering what his facial expression would be. He cradles the cup like anyone does, but there are no lip prints on the lid.

He looks tired, even. Drink it! Oh it is just too much. Perhaps he is a connoisseur and knows the secret temperature where it becomes perfect. His eagerness to drink it is tempered by his patience and knowledge.

"Soon," he thinks.

Fare is Fair.

The last couple fare inspections on the train have been very odd. At the last stop in Fareless Square, the 4 officers get on in a not-very-sneaky way.

Plenty of time for any nonpaying freeloaders to deboard with no penalty. However both times there have been people who see them (make eye contact), yet stay on only to get fined. I just want to say to them... Duh! You had an out!

Okay enough of that, going to close my eyes and listen to this woman speak Russian to her friend behind me. Ahhhhh. Such a beautiful language.

The face of morning.

Large mouths and travel cups of coffee dot the landscape of... oh hell.. mornings on the train remind me of a really boring zombie movie. Everyone is slouched against the window, listening to their ipods, or reading books.

Speaking of books, it seems everyone is reading the Game of Thrones (two near me now). Reminds me of when Eric recommended to me years ago. He should write book reviews because all of his recommendations have been great. You add some Sean Bean and suddenly everyone is buying hardback books again. Could it be becoming adult Harry Potter craze?  Will people be dressing as Bran for Halloween?

The speed of life.

Not sure if it will last, but my work days fly by pretty fast right now. Didn't realize it was time to go home.

It seems a bright aire on the train. Everyone is smiling, lots of conversations around, and it fairly creepy! But thats okay.

Doing things right.

In the grand scheme of things I guess I'm not doing all that bad. I bitch a lot, but really don't ultimately have much justification. I could live in Darfur, Libya or any number of place that are currently in a state  of fear, panic, or social unrest.

Instead I sit on a train, reading Aphra Behn, wondering why its so necessary for this person to have their ipod turned up so loudly.

I should just scream into a pillow instead at random if I feel a need to bitch.

Non-rush hour.

Funny how much difference an hour or two makes. Catch a beer with Eric downtown after work, then hit the train and amazingly enough: seating!

Now only one seat was available, bit its sitting next to a rather attractive girl who smells like lavender. I sure hope she isn't reading this...

Nope she is on her Facebook not paying attention. I need to address my attention deficit. Delved into that a bit at the bar... time to figure out how to focus. We shall see.

The checklist.

People take the same commute daily generally speaking. You might think  they would know what to expect on a daily basis: overcrowding, weird smells, strange stares from amateur bloggers. Not the case.

Eye rolls, heavy sighs, tsks, and disgruntled expressions all over the place. Sure its Monday and they are going to a job they all hate so much, but what a way to spend a seventh of their lives.

That aside, the woman next to me (aside from smooshing me into the window), is reading a book on her Kindle about vampires. It's in large type, so I can read it.  It's not a book with vampires, but a book explaining them and why they are so popular in our culture. Why do you need an entire book when three things explain them: sex, power over people, and immortality. 

Old men, managers and Wil Wheaton

So Friday at five in the afternoon there should be a huge rush hour right? Nope.

Handful of people including two crusty old guys trying to out-grumpy each other and sitting right in front of me: my manager.

Great! And she gets off at my stop. Great! And she lives a half dozen blocks from me. Great!

Looks like last night of flicks on the bricks downtown. Stand By Me on a huge inflated screen. Maybe I should have stayed and watched it. Oy.

WM3

I know I said this would solely be for my commute, but I have to mention the West Memphis 3. I learned this morning that they could go free today (with provisions).

These three guys are my age, but instead of spending the last 18 years as I have done learning, loving, and experiencing, they have been in prison for a crime they didn't commit due to Satanic Panic and the overzealous folks in Arkansas..

I was first introduced to them in 2004 by an instructor at PCC named Christopher Brown. He was my WR121 teacher. He showed us the documentaries of Paradise Lost: The Child Killings of Robin Hood Hills. Since then I have followed the case at www.WM3.org as they filed appeal after appeal.

If they do indeed go free today, you too will become familiar with their story. I hope the judge gives good news today.

Olfactory assault

You know you are on public transit when you shove your nose into your own armpit to find freshness.

In my defense, I smell fairly good today.

There is Axe body spray, perfumes, sweat, grease, bad breath, ranch dressing,  smoke and I'm pretty certain someone shit their pants.

Trains have all the comfort of a lipstick tube of an airplane, only it affords you the additional luxury of all public being able to ride for no charge.

Something amiss.

I remember the last week of high school back in 1993 there would be a day where all seniors would take a day off. It was called senior skip day and the administration hated it. We didn't tell them which day it might be, so it was a total surprise.

Today felt like a normal morning until I reached the train, which had arrived before I got out of my car.

Anyone who rides the train knows it swoops in like a pelican, scoops up the fish-passengers, and flies off quickly. This time it sat there as I walked towards it with its doors open waiting.  Once on I was greeted with a rather non-rush-hour crowd of two people.

Where is everybody? It's Thursday. Did is miss the memo about a skip day?

Old mother Hubbard

I'm not sure how many children this woman is watching, or if she is a solitary chaperone on a field trip, but since there are a lot of them, I am going to assume that every kid on the train is hers.

She is younger than me for certain and quite attractive, but possesses a store of the wisdom of motherhood.

She look calm, tired, but vigilant. Every child around her is very well behaved. When they do act up, they look over at her and stop immediately. She smiles at them with her mouth, but not her eyes.

If she told me to sit up straight, I probably would.

In the interest of protecting the innocent, here's a picture of her foot. =P

Community quiet.

Maybe its all the indoctrination in school where teachers pounded obedience into the soft spot in my head, but I find it interesting that a hundred and fifty or so adults sit quietly on this train in a studyhall-like atmosphere.

People glance annoyed at people who strike up conversations as though they will get us all detention.

That is, of course, until that one person sits next to you. Then you appreciate the shared silence.

Legality...

At the first stop out of Fareless Square Tri-Met decides to have a half dozen fare inspectors get on board and announce a check.

Only right then, a dozen people got up and launched off the train like an inadvertant flash mob with the inspectors in pursuit.

They never did check my fare.

Special

People don't always stare at someone with a disability out of rudeness or pity. Sometimes the adaptations are pretty interesting.

This guy here has impaired vision, and lying in front of him is a very watchful German Shepherd, and on his lap one of those rubber nub laptops that look like a typewriter.

He is engrossed in whatever he is reading, and I'm jealous.

A simple matter...

A little boy of about 5 years old was staring at bronze nude statue downtown. Pointing to her rubbed-shiny crotch he said,  "Mom? What is this?"

Before steering him away, the mom quietly replied,  "a woman."

Took me a full block of walking to hear the memory in her voice.

Hardcore.

Crowded on the way to work, but found a seat next to this guy probably 18 or 19. He sat there very thugged out in baggy pants, flannel, gold chains, gold tooth, smelling like so much cologne.
He was also talking very loudly on the phone next to me.

"Yeah, I heardja.  I'll be derr. Don't be all like dat."

He went off or some time on the person on the other end of the call. When he was done, he pulled his iPhone from his head, and I glanced over only to see the screen:

A picture of a sweet lady, and in white letters at the top of the screen, "Mommy."