One day

So due to a schedule conflict I have to work this one day, New Years Eve, in the middle of my 16 day vacation. Well that is fine. I was beginning to feel bored anyways and this will make it feel like two mini vacations instead. Wee!

Quite the empty train today. I have a feeling today will mostly be me cleaning up email and other misc administrative tasks.

Long weekend

Oh I need this time off. Oh man I do.
I'll be off the blog for two weeks but will be back well rested and good to go.

Blog

I already get the irony of this: the guy on a laptop next to me blogging, or journaling, into MS Word about watching movies with his daughter I assume.

I read it. You smash into someone on the train with a big laptop you lose your right to privacy.

I need breakfast.

Jinx

So far today is rocking. Slept in a little, caught every light on the way to the train, therefore I caught my train. Even got my favorite single seat.
Just two more days and I get some brain-time off.

Women

Done.

Planned

This morning feels like the Truman Show with Jim Carey. It felt on my way to the train station it was all scripted like: cue all red lights on my mark, move traffic, and go pedestrians!

I left 11 minutes before the train arrival to drive the half mile to the park and ride, and due to all that crap missed the train? It should not take 13 minutes to go 2500 feet at 6am anywhere.

Now I am late for work, but at least I have a seat and nobody smells bad.

Life

I saw a man die today. I don't profess to know why, only how. Whatever the reason he felt it necessary to end it all. But I don't have a problem with this. People die every day by their own hand, someone else's, or Mother Nature.

Look, Mr. Drama, If your last act on this earth is to kill yourself that is your prerogative. Do everyone a favor though and don't do it in public. You almost landed on people. You almost landed on children. You missed, however, and only damaged a tree, but mentally you scarred dozens of people who had to witness your body unceremoniously flump onto the ground.

You prick. How dare you. Be glad I, and nobody there, will ever know your name. You will always be that thoughtless guy who ruined a Monday for everyone; all the reasons why you did the act unknown, uncared for, and forgotten.

Known

Since kindergarten everyone knows what sawdust means.

Picture says it all.
Be glad iPhone doesn't have smell-o-vision yet.

Nose

Either the lady next to me has very bad vision or is using her nose as a stylus on her Surface tablet. I feel kinda bad for her because she does some finger swipes then practically smashes her face against it.

My back hurts way too much to laugh.

Broken

@trimet trains are poorly maintained. They break down fairly frequently. Were I most industries I would be in trouble. Their MTBF (mean time between failure) level is pretty unacceptable given their increases in fare every year.

But when you are the only game in town you can have crappy service. I mean, who is going to threaten your turf?

Forethought

Xmas holiday party tonight, so parking closer to downtown. More train options at night if I am here instead.

Also, quite full train this morning. But bearable. Annoying to see kids in seats next to standing seniors. Parents: if you want your kid to sit: you stand next to them and let grandma sit down.

Crowded

Lots of people yes, I get it. Rush hour, of course. Christmastime even.

Stop pushing.

Seriously we all want on the train and we all want to get home. Stop acting like such an entitled dick. Relax.

Cologne

Look man, mad props to you for not smelling like piss or BO. Trust me I'm very glad you smell good. Hell, it's even a nice choice of scents, but did you have to put on so much? My eyes are watering.

Crying. Not just sad movie or sad memory tears, but kicked in the nuts with a boot crying. It BURNS!

So many

Cold breeds need. Clever sounding lament for the state of downtown these days. The lower the temperature the more money people seem to want. They beg on corners, or even when waiting in line at the grocery store.

I had a guy ask me today for a dollar so he could get some whiskey. First off, kudos for honesty. Next, Spoiler Alert! Let me GUESS that you spend your money on booze.

The woman in front of me on the train was drenched in a cheap perfume fire hose. I wonder what it smells like to her, because to me it smells like rose petals that have been urinated on.

Excess

Slept a little long last night. Fell asleep too early and slept really hard. This work week might be good, but might be really hard depending on how people take the changes.

There is a pile of pumpkin seeds all over the floor at me feet on the train. Love how people disrespect things that aren't theirs.

Big guy with an ugly beard just smashed in next to me, too. He smells bad oh god and I have like 10 stops left.

Slice

The woman next to me is using her seat and 3/4ths of mine. I am balancing on one little bit of seat. No one else wanted to sit next to her, and I can see why: my buttcheek is falling asleep because its on edge.

Tomorrow is Friday. /swoon

Size

Why are honored citizens on the train all so damn fat. Not just overweight. Many American people have weight issues, but these people are "melted onto their hover-round" huge. She is literally taking up space where seven people usually stand.

It is astonishing.

Not

Life can be unexpected. Experience is supposed to be a great teacher, but I say it's a fairly shitty one. It's like having the winning powerball numbers the week after the drawing: would have been great if you had the knowledge you needed when you needed it. It does me know good to have such phenomenal knowledge after the fact.

Later trains are less eventful than rush hour ones. I have my own seat, everyone is just tired and beat right now. Heads leaning against greasy windows and books being read. Nothing exciting thankfully.

I'm going to listen to music, stare out the window and contemplate cause & effect.

Parts

Guy here singing, sort of. On occasion, the words he remembers come leaking out of him like drool on a bed pillow. He obviously likes the song, but knows roughly 3.48% of the words.

Also: it is really moist on the train right now. So many umbrellas dripping with rain are making this big metal snake one big humidor.

Hair

Crazy rude people on the train today. Well, I take that back. Not on but while waiting for the next one. When I am the first person on the empty platform, I wait near where doors will be when the next train pulls up. Years of riding has left me able to spatially predict their location.

If I am there, you don't jostle and elbow me when the train pulls up. When you do you catch a shoulder check. I am pretty sturdy and trying to push me didn't quite work there for you, did it?

It's Friday people: relax.

Stroller

You know, shoving your way onto a packed train with a stroller is just ignorant. I mean we are shoulder to shoulder. Yes I didn't move: I fucking had no where to go.

Your "move" comment without saying please was extra awesome. Shouldn't you be at home breeding? You look 17 and your kid looks to be two. Too big for a stroller but how can you know?

Masses

So many people up at 6am it's scary. Makes me wonder if anyone sleeps because I know all these people aren't in bed by 9pm.

I think I need to start taking naps. Getting to that age.

Over polite

You sit.
No you .
I insist.
Go ahead please.
No really I'd rather stand.
Me too, besides my stop is coming up.
Mine too.
Etc....

Seriously. Neither of you are sitting. We get it. Please stop talking.

Fat train

For this train to be able to fit their average rider, they would have to use both tracks to make one large fatass train. Three-foot wide recliners with Cheetos and Starbucks coffee dispensers on each one.

I know most Americans are overweight, maybe obese, but the average here is tragic avalanche fat.

I am not a tiny guy, but this guy next to me has thighs bigger than my waist and he gave me a dirty look for sitting next to him. You see, he had a butt cheek on each seat. Sorry no: smash in boy. One seat per person.

I think I'll have oatmeal instead of a bagel for breakfast in honor of him.

Happening

It's like... No degrees outside.
A "pack" of joggers made me miss the 6:09am train.
Seriously.. Who runs this early enmasse?

Then! When the 6:20 train pulls up, this tiny lady shoves her way in front of me and takes the good seat at the back of the train. I did the only thing I could think of: I looked her square in the face and went, "Boo!"

Yes.. I boo'd a little Asian lady.

Wow

What a fantastic weekend, week, and month. I am just in an eternal good mood these days.

My girlfriend is fantastic, making some waves at work, and now my best friend may have found a special someone.

I don't even care about the smelly guy sitting two seats in front of me, the dumbass eating McDonalds, or the couple making out behind me with full schlorping sounds. The blonde directly in front of me does have some amazing perfume. Pure pheromones... Hubba hubba

Gah

Too many people.

Early

Somehow I was able to wake up so early today feeling rested. Caught a shower and got out of the house and downtown really early. I might get some breakfast I have so much time.

Light train, too. Many people reading real paper books; almost like technology hasn't gotten out of bed yet.

Tonight I get to see my girl, and tomorrow is thanksgiving. Guess that makes today sort of like a Friday. Hopefully I can get a bunch of stuff done. Next week is shaping up to be a particularly spicy flavor of hell.

Avalanche

Most Americans are big. A majority are overweight or obese. But every now and then you see someone that baffles the brain. How they got that large does not compute.

Taking up three (3!) seats on the train. I am not sure if I have ever seen someone that big in person; only on shows where they are being rescued from their house using a crane.

Monday is a suck pile already. Found out my radio station 620KPOJ was bought out by FOX. And the idiot conservatives made it a sports station. Nice. Now there is no progressive talk radio in Portland.

Assholes.

I want breakfast. *grumble*

Here is hoping everybody is on vacation this week and I can catch up on work.

Seats

When you run late you don't get a seat. Simple as that.
Friday!! Graaaah!

Amazing

This guy singing out at the pioneer mall has a an amazingly relaxing voice. Wish I could have stuck around to hear more of him but need to get home.

Great voice though.

Brr

This is probably the coldest day of the season so far. My hands are protesting typing this right now.
So, I sat down next to this young, Indian guy who was watching some show on his android phone. He was laughing with such mirth at whatever was on the screen that it was simultaneously distracting and awesome at the same time.
Mainly because of his relentless, full-bellied laughter.

That is an awesome feeling to laugh that hard that long.

Jerk

Train operator can't drive. People being tossed around like a salad. Ouch!

Cold

Love when I am waiting at a train platform alone and some bus pulls up and 40 people get off and some stand in front of me to get on the train.

It's where I break out my, "Train Elbows."

Look at me sitting down. You get to stand. I am a beautiful animal. Or.... something stupidly incoherent.

I am freezing.

Disability

Looks like a broken ankle. You have crutches. Kicking a 80 year old out of the "special" seat so you can sit down is low-rent.
Be a shame if your other ankle got broken.

#karmicjustice

Seat

If you get a seat on the train you don't really get the right to bitch if someone just brushes up against you. Sit there and shut up in your big, billowy Columbia winter jacket.

And for the love of shit, turn down your headphones. Not only does your taste in music suck, but the only joy I get is the knowledge that you will have hearing loss later in life.

Have fun saying, "What?!" to your grandchildren whose voices you'll never hear.

Herp

Friday and a good morning so far. Waltzed up as my train arrived, got a seat, feeling great after a good night sleep, and just look forward to the weekend.

Train people are dull: reading, napping and smartphoning.

Media

Choose your own noise. I don't have ear plugs with me, and maybe should start carrying them on the train. So many people have their phones, pads, notes, and various media consumption devices.

The problem is few headphones are soundproof, so in this enclosed place it's a cacophony of music, tv shows, movies and audio books.

So I sit listening to music more to drown it all out than to enjoy my own selection.

Hotel

During rush hour, lying down on benches like its a bed is just rude.

That being said, the four-seat at the nose of the newer trains is looking particularly nap-worthy right now.

Bikes

Seriously. Bringing your bike on a packed train is a dick move. Two people trying it and being indignant about it is comically rude.

It smells like the inside of an elephants ass onboard, too. I get a bit worked up and need to relax and breathe dee..

Okay just relax.

Red

Sometimes the halfway train is good enough. Get me out of downtown quickly.

Now I'm with a group of people who simply don't match. So many walks of life, ages, cultures... A huge mash up of society.

Kinda fun.

Only one asshole behind me who seems unable to grasp the fact that trimet isn't his personal transit service.

Maggot

Still wish people would stay home when they are sick. The douche next to me is the type would would spread a deadly pathogen if it were released into the wild.

He is coughing endlessly, not into his elbow, but into his coned-up right hand which he will no doubt shake with someone today and hold hand railings and turn door knobs.

I am typing this with one thumb slowly so I can hold my jacket over my face.

Shy

People need to take more chances with people, jobs, education and everything worth having. Being shy doesn't help on bit. Rejection hurts only the first few times. You find ways to cope.

Just fucking do it people. Do whatever it is you keep putting off. It's worth it.

Late

My body doesn't do mornings. I miss the days of rolling out of bed at 7:35 to get to work by 9am.

The overall demeanor of my fellow train riders is so much different, too. No fun conversations, no smiles, nothing. Just a bunch of tired, coffee-smelling people with scowls on their faces.

I need to change my career again. I have decided this one isn't working either.

CDC

Again: if you have a flu or other contagion, stay off the fucking train. You are coughing into the air particulates of you infection for the rest of the 200 riders here.

You have a civil responsibility, nay, duty to walk or stay home. Take a cab for all I care but have some common courtesy. We are all not trapped here in a vortex of your aerosol sputum.

Ugh.

Ahh

Morning: thou art a heartless bitch.

Think I am going to nap instead of update this thing.

Always something

For a long time I defended @trimet to most complainers on the train. Told them to start counting days they dont have delays and it will be far greater because, on the whole, the train is pretty reliable.

Something is amiss this week. Every day morning and afternoon there has been a malfunction, a delay, or, for some inexplicable reason, two blue lines per hour at rush hour. Per. Hour.

Hopefully it's an anomaly and trimet is just having a bad week. I can go back to defending their service come Monday.

Reservations

Not many seats a available on this train: it's rush hour. Someone sat down in the open seat behind me and the younger girl sitting there said to the guy, "Sorry. I'm saving this seat for my friend who is getting on (in three stops)."

Funny was -everyone- turning and looking in unison with a similar look of disbelief. The best was him just replying, "okay," without getting up.

My car

Forgot to bring my car onto the train. Figure since during rush hour three cyclists somehow shove on, maybe I should have driven my car down and onto the train. Since it's bring your vehicle on board day.

Also: it smells like somebody shit themselves.

Late-ish

The body just won't do before 6am on a regular basis. For one-offs, it's fine but no way otherwise.
The last two days I've left the house late and drove lazily halfway to work and parked in the transit center.
Plenty of parking at 630, I still get downtown with plenty of time for work, and the commute home is shortened by 20 minutes.
Maybe this is how I should be doing it. Now I can relax and enjoy my 6 instead of 15 train stops.

Adult

Oh ya. Sitting on a train, reading my voters pamphlet. Riveting stuff.

Need more sleep.

Rain...

Busy. Wet. Got a seat! Time to nap.

EOF

Body

I have to accept the fact that my body hates me getting up before 6. Get to bed at 9, 10, or 11 it's the same thing.

Hoping to kill it at work. I'm falling too far behind with so little help.

Train? Yeah everyone is reading. No exciting sights or smells.

Typical

Massively crowded trains here at 4pm. @trimet probably doing their best since, you know, it's never rained in Oregon before.

Still don't understand their rush hour logic. But I will get home eventually. Nowhere to be. It's a nice feeling.

Misanthrope

As much as I am reminded of the power and strength of humanity, some days it seems the balance of life is trying to double up the attempts to even things out in the other direction.

Ugh.. Standing room only trains are so annoying.

Timing

My body may be finally adjusting to waking up earlier. Today was no problem waking up. Problem now is that my bed was so warm and the room was so cold I didn't want to get up. I justified staying there, "a little longer," and enjoyed the warmth for a few more minutes.

Now on a train full of young business people, nursing students and rough worker guys with green lunch pails and it made me think about my mom and dad and all they gave to me and my sister.

Load

I feel heavy, the weight of my past sitting a little unevenly on my shoulders. My instincts tell me that I have been fairly good, if imperfect, in my decisions, yet I may pay for both insecurity and indecision with my whole self.

I am not wholesome or scar-free,  though I live more intentionally now than ever before. Is someone ever ready for the more important milestones in life.

Cheer

The new train is interesting. It does not have two autonomous bidirectional cockpits, but instead two uni-directional cars linked together all sleek-like.

In the middle are two large six foot by six foot windows facing each other into the adjoining car. Like a big screen television, one can see what is going on in the next car behind the green-brown tint of the UV coating.

This show isn't great when seen from outside, but in the tunnel you get a great vivid one. People talking, gesturing, wobbling in sync with the train rhythms, or in this case cheering.

There are about seven cheerleaders from a high school, wearing their blue and white uniforms and holding pompoms, practicing a cheer I cannot hear.

Wee!

Cluster

Seems #trimet is on top of their game again. Just had my face slammed into the seat in front of me when the driver slammed on the brakes emergency-style.

Sounded like a collision alarm going off in the cockpit, but we stopped okay. It also sounds like our brakes are permanently engaged now. Ugh, glad they are charging more for this.

My forehead hurts a little now. It was nice to get out of work early, but now I need an ibuprofen. Maybe a beer.

Yerp

So after a pretty much amazing weekend, I am enroute to work, and I am very late. Why? Because I slept through my alarm and now the train is running late due to various issues.

So I will get there closer to 9 than 8.

Not sure about my riders. Lots are winter bundled already which is odd to me. It's been nice outside and just a light jacket is fine.

Getting out early from work today, so will get home and relax. Life is fantastic.

Point

Leaving at 330 or 4 from work is completely irrelevant when you ride trimet. The lack of trains in the afternoon makes commuting inconvenient and annoying.

They are spending all that extra fare increase money on brainstorming ways to irritate riders.

Zzz

On the five o'whatever train, everyone is asleep and there is plenty of seating.

Also: nothing interesting.

List

Oh I was lazy and walked to the oft crowded Pioneer. It was busy as expected with people rudely shoving their way ahead of me.

Jokes on them: I was last on and a guy got up from the seat next to me and I sat down.

They are a little jealous.

I have so much to do tonight. Argh. My to-do list is long.

Week

This week needs to end. Not sure what it is going to take but I very much look forward to relaxing. It's only Tuesday.

And tomorrow will be one long confrontation. So looking forward to it.

Speaking of which, two things are interesting. The girl in daisy dukes who has her butt in my face, and the Doppler effect on bagpipes as we pull away on the train.

I want a pillow, stat!

Thanks

As I just wander up from my car to the platform, I hear the woosh in the distance, only I don't bother quickening my pace. The train due at 612 is showing up early at 609.

This is fine as so am I. The next train shows up around 621 and it is pretty damn chilly on the platform.

Only one seat available and it is a tiny one between a window and a large guy in a hoodie: I'll take it. So now I am smooshed, but kinda warm.

Big guys are good for that. I should know.

SRO

Sometimes there is no seating. Get over it. You don't walk up the aisle as a spry 19 year old and demand people give up your seat. You just don't. You are neither elderly or disabled. Stand! It's good for your circulation.

Otherwise, there is a very interesting conversation about gun control between the couple in front of me.

And the girl next to me has 2" acrylic nails and somehow is using an iPhone. She is using her knuckle instead of her fingertip.

Bland

Doesn't seem like anyone really has any life in them on Monday. So odd that we all work this five for two life.

Every seat around me is expressionless, distracted and lamentable. Maybe once we all buy our legal, addictive stimulants we will all be interactive again.

My brain is doing very odd things to me.

Smells

Alcohol perfume, dried sweat and baby shit. I love this train.

Can't type more.

Four

Fourth day of the new schedule and fourth different train time. This one not as busy. I think this one will get me downtown around 6:58. Cuts it a little close. May have to rely on the 6:12 for a more relaxed commute.

The woman next to me is quite big. She gets a seat and a half to my little half-seat. Sitting on the edge is kinda hurting my butt, though it isn't all bad. I'll get over it.

Blueteeth

Long hair + Bluetooth = you look crazy. And your conversation isn't even interesting.

Oh and when it's packed. You, mr bicycle guy get to wait. We are humping in here. No room for your vehicle.

Students

Hey younglings going to fill your noggins with stuff, I have a free lesson for you.

Your backpack is huge and you have no nerve endings in it so you cannot feel it thwapping your fellow passengers. Be aware of it. It is huge, heavy and sharp in places.

And don't get all mad when I shove away the point of your Anatomy book into my Trapezius muscle. Apologize to me with a smile and hold your bag in front of you.

Busy lots.

So yeah I can tell its going to be much busier train wise. If I can do the sunset thing though, perhaps it will take less time.

It smells very bad on board right now.

Early

Tried a commute method and it intends to dump me off way early at work. Oh well.

Will try something different tomorrow.

Shampoo

Someone on this train has a shampoo that is magical. Can't stop breathing deeply. Not sure if its male or female, but the scent sure is nice. Thanks, person-of-unknown-hygiene.

Earlier trains are just as packed as the morning one. A little ickier but it will be so much nicer to be home sooner.

Wow

So I slept through 3 alarms, but caught the 6:23 train. It was packed when it got to My stop. I've never seen that unless a trains been backed up.

Amazing.

I did get a seat, but its next to some rude bald asshat who keeps passive-aggressively elbowing me. I just landed one of my own and smiled at him.

This new schedule may prove interesting.

Courtesy

I can't emphasize this enough: if you are sick, stay home. Do not take public transportation and sit there wheezing, coughing and sneezing.

It's beyond contemptible. You have a few hundred people in an enclosed space breathing your germs into our bodies outside of our control. You are rude, inconsiderate and, above all, inhumane.

Oh and.. Lady behind me? You are in your late 40s with grey hair. Pulling the "Senior Citizen" card to get a seat on a packed train is pathetic. That guy should have carded you.

Guess what? Tomorrow is Friday! Yaaaay!

Mop

Without their belt of gun, taser, cuffs, pepper spray, zip ties, and flashlight the police officer looks exactly like a manual worker. Blue shirt and matching pants.

From behind without seeing a badge and curled-cord radio on their breast, they could be on their way to clean an office building, work on a car motor, or plumb some pipe.

Lesson here is I guess is: always wear a belt if you have a career.

The guy sitting behind me smells like a sack of stale potato chips...my nose is curling around it.

Return of the Toe

Yikes!!!

This blog post left intentionally blank. I have nothing more (appropriate or otherwise) to say about her matter.

*fistbump*

Chill

This morning was worthy of a mug of cocoa and some oatmeal. I briefly considered a jacket, then remembered it is supposed to be nearly 90 today, so I just was cool on the way to the train. No biggie.

I missed my usual 7:12 train Maybe it was late, too, because one pulled up at 7:14 as I got there. Pretty open seating, too, as I got my favorite seat.

Can it be Friday? Please?

Non-sport

Walking is locomotion, not a sport. If you do not suffer from a neurological or any other disorder, it shouldn't be that difficult. Apparently when you are texting on a phone this ability takes mad skill. A "woo girl" walking down the street who was texting and tripped on her own shadow was funny.

More funny was her barely noticing: no embarrassment, looking to see what she tripped on, or any other acknowledgment that she almost biffed hard on the sidewalk.

The voice of the girl next to me would be grounds for divorce. She has a huge rock on her finger so somebody married her. Most likely deaf. She is like a caricature of herself.

Also, major kudos to the train driver for buying a Street Roots magazine out of his window.

I crave sushi. Dinner!

Hangover

I don't mean hangover from alcohol, but from relaxing. Scientists determined that it takes, on average, 2.6 days to return to a state of relaxation after you have been stressed.

It is not surprising that everyone stays wound up a bit too tightly. It would be like sleeping four hours a night and claim to be awake. After a few days or weeks you would be a zombie and useless. Same goes for the five day work week.

And based on the train, the zombies here want brains primarily because all of ours have atrophied under the weight of our own content obeisance.

Food

Look. We all eat. I know we get hungry. But when you are on a train with many people, it's your responsibility to have food that doesn't permeate every cubic foot of air in a 70 foot-long conveyance. You, you stupid girl, and your garlicky yakisoba noodles are pungently sweet. They smell tragic to me and the rest of the people riding with you. I can smell it at at other end of the fucking train. You are rude in ways that are defined by Merriam-Webster.

Also, guy on the cell phone who just discovered the technology: No one wants to hear your conversation. Hang up. The tunnel is coming thankfully. Dick. Your, "sweetie," can wait until you are off the train. Stop.

Strange

It feels so bizarre riding the train. I've said it before, but I ride every day at the same time in both directions. Of the 200 people on the train I probably recognize two people that ride when I do. Otherwise it is a daily changing of characters.

And not just a little, but by a lot. The number fluctuates from a few people, to some standing, to sardine city.

Today is jammed. Jammed with faces I have never seen before.

There is a disease called prosopagnosia in which the suffer cannot discern faces. There was a dumb thriller movie about it years ago I think with Jennifer Lopez that dealt with it.

Anyways, it would be neater if there were a bunch of people who rode together. Start and end days with conversation with people you see literally 10 hours a week. I don't see my real best friends that much.

Perhaps I should figure out a way to organize a ride buddy program.

Stunted

Odd seeing who is a kid probably 17-19 years old with a huge 24 ounce mocha. Makes me wonder what all that caffeine is doing to his widdle heart.

He is so small, the cup dominates both of his hands like a three year old walking around with a 2-liter bottle.

Sitting pigeon-toed by himself, chest caved in and looking back at me through half-closed eyelids, I wonder about his future.

Baggage

Large bags, purses, bookbags, and the like should be banned on trains not going to the airport.

Jesus. If it sticks out that much, why do you carry it? And too bad if it's heavy and needs its own seat. Put it on your lap you plebe.

And somehow there is a baby crying so loudly on this train that it is overpowering the audio of Agalloch's, "Into the painted grey," turned all the way up in my headphones.

New

Tomorrow will be interesting. Should dress nicer, but don't want to.

Train is lame. Dumb guy with his bag on his seat. His claim is that his leg is hurt so he needs to sit diagonally.

I feel squishy.

Standards

I need a new rule book. I don't know what is what any more. Chivalry and equal rights seem at a loggerhead.

No idea. I just need off this train. People are in bad moods today.

Packed

So I walk a few extra blocks from work to catch the train before it hits downtown stops where literally hundreds get on. Typically I get a seat, but this time it was already packed by my platform.

Thankfully a stop later, a lady sitting next to where I was standing got off. So I sat down.

There is a twentynothing girl giving me the stink-eye for not offering it to her, but ya know: respect your elders.

Now to contemplate dinner.

Sprint

Mondays are trying enough without the full run from car to train. Geez. Not many on this train at all; only half as many as usual.

And everyone is boring. Bah.

O Friday

Only a four day week but it felt like six. I am glad for my train ride home sometimes. It is thirty-seven minutes of my day dripping off me onto the window, the seat, and the floor.

Which is okay, because it can mix with the Mt Dew bottle, the Willamette Week, and the other random trash here and there.

It's a busy train, but that is expected for this day & time. Nobody too interesting around me, although there is a strong garlic smell. Very.

This weekend I sense fun.

Ruuuuun!

Train pulls up as I am parking my car and I have two options: wait 9 minutes or sprint my ass off.

Hey! It's Friday and Payday. Good day for a run. I made it just barely.

In other news, I need new shoes. These have lost their support.

Warm

Autumn is my favorite season. It has so many good memories, holidays, smells, and flavors. It's the time of good food and family, as well as football and basketball. All good times for certain.

I must however weep the demise of the miniskirt. It's mid 80s so these lovely ladies are kind enough to bare their legs.

For instance, three pencil skirts in front of me. My gratitude to the sun of summer for making this happen. The red male blood in my veins thanks you.

#pig

Lap dance

Very nice lady standing next to me on the train. She is well dressed, professional, reading her kindle, and has a large butt.

I only mention this because for the entire trip down here, it has been resting on my shoulder, and she seems unaware of its actions. Now, I don't begrudge her. It's a packed train and we are all a but sardined this morning, but up until a few moments ago it did render me unable to type on my phone.

I am freed up now but almost to my stop.

Late

Well, got out of work two hours late and now am on a train not even going all the way home. I will have to switch trains halfway there. Won't get home until after 8. Yay for that.

Oh, and this train smells like a hippie's herb shop exploded. Like a poorly made pasta salad. My nose hates me.

That being said, I am in a relatively good mood. I am craving a cupcake and a star trek movie. Probably red velvet and Undiscovered Country respectively.

Wee life!

Judge

Two skater kids standing there, listening to punk and laughing at stuff notice a woman reading a kindle, occasionally looking up and signing in ASL to her companion. The two kids stare long and hard at her, and one of them waves at her to get her attention.

Now, pause this scene. I expect something along the lines of... ridicule or disrespect. You know.

I couldn't have been more wrong. To my surprise, young tattooed and pierced skater punk begins signing to her.

She smiles and signed back. This went back and forth a few times before she said, "thank you," in sign and he nodded.

Turning to his friend he said, "oh she was just curious about what the announcement was about because she could barely hear it."

His friend asked how he knew ASL, and the best sentence I've heard all week was uttered.

"Duh, dude, my mom is fucking deaf, remember?"

I sit here speechless, in any language.

Syncopation

Of the eleven people at the back of this train, all of them, a cool 100%, are on their cell phones. All of us have our heads leaning forward at about 45 degrees reading our screens, exacerbating the yet-to-be-named disease causing trauma to the neck and shoulder muscles.

Someday, when this generation is old and our backs shrivel under spinal compression, osteoporosis, and the weight of our experience, we will resemble the gentle curved slope of a bold comma.

What I wonder though is what is everyone doing on their phones. I am going to say everyone is blogging about all the silly people on their phones.

I only say this because the guy across from me looked up from his phone and gave me the same smug look I was feeling a moment ago.

Grease

The guy behind me is probably a cook. By the smell of it a Mexican restaurant. He reeks very badly. The think, sweet smell of grease could be cut like a stick of very dirty butter.

It's pretty overwhelming. Been on the train a while and I am not used to it.

Churchfinder

A couple, ignorantly in love, are sitting here reading a book filled with churches. Like apartment finder magazine.

I wonder if it's geographical, separated by sect, or maybe in ranking order of how much damnation you will experience if you should divorce.

You know, like a sliding hell scale. Flip to pg.209 if true love. If she is just hot and dumb, perhaps something in the pg.12 area.

Host

Half dozen Japanese kids here smashed in with me on the train. One opened a folio that said, "interviewing your host family."

I remember fondly the time my family hosted a girl from Japan in the early 90s. It was an amazing and interesting experience. I recommend it to anyone who loves learning about other cultures.

Phallus

Wow, taking an early train today. The people on the 630 train are unmitigated dicks. Attitudes and rudeness in spades.

Glad I normally do not work this early. Scowls, elbows, and glaring scoffs decorate this train like a cranky, diced onion on a metal hot dog. My guess is they either are collectively very unhappy, or it's, "emulate NYC day."

Today going to attempt to relax and just take it slow. Many of my clients are in the gulf region, so they are dealing with a hurricane. I hope it's nothing like Katrina for them.

Afoot.

I know it is rude to stare. I get this. And I very much appreciate someone taking care of themselves. I must say, however, choosing to stay in your skin-tight work out pants and stand at the front of the train facing everyone is making it difficult to stay the gentleman. Why?

Oh my god your cameltoe is gigantic. It like two lipstick tubes shoved down your pants. Like an evil face trying to push through a wall of latex in a horror film. You could hold a pencil and sign something. It deserves a celebratory fist-bump.

Not sure if it is intentional or not, but I encourage a mirror check. Gah! I keep looking up as if your crotch has become a commuter muse.

I am sorry for staring. Thank you.

Metül

Yeah.. Guy next to me listening to his iPod loudly of some metal song. I can barely hear it but it's about 240bpm.

My irritation gave way when I realized I had my own music with which I can drown him out.

There is a street girl sitting across from me that smells like eau de 30-days-unbathed. Too bad the train doesn't have a "downwind."

Giggle!

Oh for the love of whatever deity you fear shut up, stupid girls behind me.

I mean, running all over the train is annoying but understandable if you are a toddler, but when you are 14 you need to shut the hell up.

Working late makes me grumpy.

Better

Had some great dreams last night. Think it purged some weirdness. Feeling quite better today. Caught a near empty train and got a good seat.

Just as I say that a woman gets on. Her shirt has leopard print, she has a kindle, and she smells like someone shot her with a fire hose filled with perfume.

And not good perfume, but that burning kind that smells like an industrial bathroom cleaner. Ow my nose.

Phase

Today was really weird. Most things didn't seem real. People. Work. Friends. Nothing.

I felt as though I was pulled into a really strange television show of my life where everything was haphazardly directed and poorly written.

I think when I get home I may go straight to bed.

Even the train feels like a toy.

Why not

Some days #trimet nails it. They have lots of train which are on time. They even have good drivers who don't herk and jerk the throttle which tosses all of us riders around like a large human stirfry.

Today is one of those days. It's not often, but mad credit for when they pull it off. I get reminded why driving my own car is second fiddle.

I crave a huge bowl of Cheerios.

One

Rush hour. Busy. #trimet decides to send a one-car train. I can barely type this I am so smooshed.

If this train were a music venue, we would get in trouble with the fire marshall.

Maybe a good trampling would make them wise up to having sufficient cars for rider volume.

Luckily for them, it is against my morals to incite such a thing.

Back

Vacation was short and hot, but I had some good times.
Now I am on a busier than usual train on my way in. The 703 train never showed because #trimet is not too reliable. Now we have double the riders.
Yay Mondays!

Fixed costs

Answer me this: if you are homeless, how can you afford to smoke when cigarettes are $5 a pack?

Anyways. Gorgeous day out. Friday. Payday. First night of vacation. How can I not be in a good mood?

Bounce

Drunk guy comes into the bar all belligerent. He is 86'd and sits outside while the bartender calls a cab.

Well he decides to go for a walk, falls down, bounces his head off the sidewalk and knocks himself out.

Now 911 is called instead of Radio Cab.
When I walked away he was fighting the paramedics that he wouldn't go to the hospital for lack of insurance.

Fun.

Weather

I think you can more accurately predict weather than the train usage patterns.

Some days it's light and airy. Everyone has a seat and life is grand.

Some days it's like today: standing room only well before it hits downtown therefore it gets crammed and you have angry mobs shoving and angrily pushing.

I got a seat because I used strategy and cunning.

Also: there is a young man of 24 or so reading, "Henry Kissinger On China." Very strange.

Wine

Woman next to me, possibly 40s maybe early 50s. She really takes care of herself. You can tell she eats well and doesn't smoke. Her skin is amazing, her smile is bright and has a pretty nice set of gams.

Only giveaway are her hands and laugh lines. She is, dare I say, hot?

Breathe

From the time I got onto the train and ongoing, these two girls have been talking.

Not just a conversation but one of them has a loud, resonant voice and hasn't taken a breath in about 30 minutes.

She is defying the laws of physics.

And she is younger, so her words are 97% meaningless because she uses the word,"Like," every other word.

And the phrase, "just kidding," replaces a period for her at the end of a sentence.

Finally

After not seeing her in over a year and a half, I can say that I'm officially moving on. But I'm moving forward without a very large part of my heart.

It feels like she left all over again.

Over tech

Rather large dude next to me watching Burn Notice on his laptop, while browsing amazon for weed wackers on his iPad which is lying on his keyboard.

Dude needs to unplug, says the guy blogging from his phone.

I am a proud hypocrite.

Mondee

Here we go again. Let's see how this week treats me.
Got a seat on the train, but the woman next to me looks like she hates the universe.
I'd tell her she has deep frown lines at a young age, but it is too late and they would just run deeper.

Pain

There comes a time when no matter the pain, if you have it long enough you barely notice it until someone points it out.

This is true with the body and mind. For instance, how many days, months or years can you wake with a broken heart before you are just used to it?

Boom

Pay day. Friday. Perfect timing on arriving at the train platform as it pulled up.
Crazy busy morning ahead with three appointments and an intense meeting before lunch. Hopefully smooth sailing after that. *fingers crossed*

Delayed

Missed my packed 5:03 train by seconds. Doors closed without me! I was all bummed but then another came two minutes later with only half the seats used. Now I can relax the ride home. Nice.

Workout

Today's fun was the train pulling up before I was even in the parking spot.
It was stop, park, grab lunch, and ruuuuun across the parking lot at full speed.
Best part was an old lady who witnessed the whole thing. Her applause as I barreled onto the train was near-Olympic.

Daily

I don't recall the last day that was a solid commute both ways. Always some delay.

Today: someone lost their kid on the train. A sad event indeed that would scare me to death were I a parent. But I don't fault them but just the situation.

Every day! Something new conspiring!

Hearing

It's difficult to find a metaphor for something you can't describe in actuality. There is a sustained high pitched sound, like a recording of the ocean played back at the wrong speed.
I hear the train long before I see it as I approach the platform. Today is pretty nice and clear, so I heard it the moment I stepped from my car.
Gave me about 30 seconds to run probably 100 yards.
Oof.

Lesson

Cute. Young 21 year old girl teaching you 21 year old boy sign language. So adorable their interaction.

Makes me miss those days. Youth was good.

Chief

President Obama is in town. I sense my ride home is going to be tragically shitty due to service interruptions. His motorcade will do fantastic things to the tragic flow here.
Yay?!

Trade off.

In the last year of work, I have been stuck in traffic once. That was one of the four times I drove in for some random reason.
As much as I bitch about delays, smelly people, and ignorant dicks, I have to say that just being able to watch a movie, read a book, or bitch about said-dicks is a decent trade.

Painter

Hey, extra loud house painter guy, I bet the guy on the other end of that phone call is just as annoyed at your yelling tone as the rest of us are. Aren't cell phones neato!

You are saying nice things - friendly things - in the voice of a killer. You are quite the puzzle.

Tunnel ahead! You will lose signal thankfully, but assume you will call them back when you emerge.

I don't like you, old crazy house-painting guy.

Sandy

Sand in the City! Man this is cool. Pioneer Square has a few tons of sand in the middle of the city and people are doing giant sculptures. Neato.

Also lots of people waiting for the Train here. Thankfully my new "get a seat" tactic worked again!

Just saw some dildo with a sharpie putting his tag on a Willamette Week newspaper box. I hope he has something awful happen to him.

Special place in my heart for hating vandals.

Amazed

Between kindles and phones, you would think this train were a mobile library. I expect any noise to be greeted with a terse, "shhh."

One guy just apologized for coughing.
Strangeness abounds.

Tentative

Hooray briefly. Was able to catch a train barely seconds before it passed away. And! I got an actual bonafide seat.

Now watch us break down.

Tech

So much technology on board today. Everyone, too, not just a few. Laptops, iPads, kindles and phones. The world is engrossed.
I crave toast.

Each

Very productive work day. Going home to be less than productive. Need to learn some good improv techniques for this Sunday's jam.
Train so far has been pretty good ride: a rarity for the them these days.

Bloody Murder

Impressive the children behind me about 15 feet. They are yelling, screaming and crying. Lady barely has them under control.
Screaming and shouting.
This mother is overwhelmed and ineffective. I might have sympathy if it weren't for her having four of them.
And we are all collectively the bad guy for looking at her as our ears bleed into a communal pool.

Most impressive is my ability to hear this over my music: which is metal turned all the way up.

The guy next to me took out his hearing aids and said he still hears them and only them.

Birth Control at its finest.

Justice

Sweet justice is the four foul-mouthed, drunk street kids getting fined for non-payment on their stop.
If they stayed on and went one more stop and came back, or were on the other end of the train, they would have been okay.
They even saw the inspectors and still got off.

Ahh stupidity.

Hearing aid

I'm not saying old people shouldn't own technology, but if you sit on the train yelling, "hello! hello!" on your phone, perhaps you should consult your audiologist.

Chilly

AC on the train, so cool. Glad I'm not stuck in traffic.

And thanks to Jon's advice of the other stop, I get a seat almost every day now instead of standing up.

Bananas

People, you really need to stop with the bananas in enclosed public spaces. We are all trapped in this little metal tube, and your breakfast is pungent and invasive.

Stop it!

Gorgeous

Summer starts July 5th. Nobody but the locals believe you.
Can't wait to get home and just relaaaaax.

Traaaaiiinnns

Morning riders look like zombies to me sometimes. They may not smell like rotting flesh, but the dead gaze and slobbering is there.

Due to federal bank rules, no super long weekend for me. Just the 4th. Wee.

Rage

Some people need to dial down their inside voice volume a few (dozen) decibels.

And it mainly seems to be women, which is odd since men are naturally louder due to physics.

New rule

If I miss my trains on a Monday, I should get the rest of the day off from work.
Stupid snooze button.

At least the 7:15 is much less populated than the 7:05 and 7:11 ones.

But I get a feeling all these people missed the train, too.

Blerg

Strange train swaps, one train almost rear ends the one in from of us, and creepy dude just had to count out loud against the map how many stops before his.

ONE, TWO, THREE...

Barely

Trains in the morning show up at 7:01, 7:05 and 7:11. After that it's a longer wait and I basically am somewhat screwed to get to work on time.

Thankfully I snagged the 7:11 one today. Will allow me a cup of tea and a muffin before diving into my shitpile of work.

Mass effect

Not sure what is going on, but train ridership has doubled if not tripled recently. It's obnoxious to say the least not just for the influx, but all these newbies don't know, "the rules."

Guh.

Too many

Far too many people and not enough trains.
Can't type.

No butts

The seats on the train were designed for people without asses.
Well more like very narrow pudgy asses, since they are slim and hard.

Falling

Falling in love is cruel. Why are we designed to do it.
It's been a year and a half and it won't, fucking stop.

Breakfast

Dear Mr cyclist,

Kudos on you for eating breakfast. It's an important meal.
Your choice of an orange on a closed train shares it with us a bit too much.
Next time bring enough to share, or you can wait it out.

Attitude

I think a smidge less attitude would make the world a better place overall. I don't know where all these shoulder chips came from, but it seems everyone has one.

Set down that baggage people.

Okay.

This week went so fast. I am shocked.
Not even caring about the rail denizens right now. I am all sorts of off. Time to relaaaaaaax.

Unhealthy

It's easy to lose faith in humanity. Gaining it and keeping it, that is the struggle.
Time to disconnect.

Infection

Some people annoy you only a little with their loud ring tones, one-sided conversations, and general rudeness.

You don't want to be too mean or cruel, so I hope this stupid woman in front of me who barged her way onto the train, pushing me aside while yammering on we phone gets a painful infection.

Maybe her big toe, or a urinary tract. Just enough to give her some quality discomfort.

Famous

Sometimes I see someone on the train that reminds me of someone famous. In this case there is a girl who looks just like Kristen Stewart from the Twilight movies. I'm resisting the urge to ask her I'd she has been asked that.

I bet this girl is a better actress, though.

Entitlement, again

Full train. Almost empty one 2 minutes behind this one. Announcement made to this effect.

You might think someone may just wait for the next one.

Nope! Everyone shoves their way on as hard as they can. Morons! I hope they hit every red light on the way home to equal the 2 minute wait.

Schedule of dumb.

#trimet runs so few trains at rush hour, it amazes me. By the time they get here they are bursting at the seams.

Almost makes the cost of driving worth it as I timed it and, even in traffic, driving is way faster.

Destroyer

I am become death, destroyer of companies.

I have a knack for getting on a sinking ship it seems. It is quite weird. Looking back there are very few exceptions.

That being said, I'm looking at two sets of seats on the train: two skinny people sitting next to each other and two great big people doing the same. I want to switch one of each for balance.

Also: I crave a doughnut.

Wolfsheep

Today was Monday masquerading as Tuesday. It was rough and I got little done. Each day is going to be worse for the foreseeable future.

Too bad me ragequitting isn't the prudent thing to do.

New

So... I hope bankers are taking extended time off today. Spent yesterday updating my resume.

I need to get back into school before I am too old to learn.

Festival wait

Look #trimet. Trains are on rails. Why on a holiday weekend Friday at rush hour do you have half the trains as normal. This is a little ridiculous.

Shouldn't have to wait 30 minutes between trains at this time of day.

Der

I'm beginning to see what other countries hate about us.

Such entitlement.

Oh dear

One guy has pizza from old town. Another crazy lady demands pictures of it.

Ahh Portland.

Close

Sitting at the bar it dawns on me that they shouldn't know my order when I go in.
It should be a, "Hey! New in town?" kind of moment.

Late yellow

Caught a late train because I got stopped repeatedly by school buses.
I will have to take that into consideration moving forward.

Gestapo

Not one or two but seven cars of fare inspectors and supervisors on the last stop. Lots of busts, too. Quite amusing seeing street kids make a run for it.

Losers.

And now I deal with random people sitting next to me. Wish I had a riding buddy.

Morning again

It's almost June again. Years fly by so fast it feels less like I'm enjoying the seasons and constantly looking forward to the next one - either putting up or taking down decorations.

It doesn't feel like morning. It feels like a random day. The weekend was a blink.

Run

Today was a flat sprint for the train. Wonder if that counts as cardio.

I found an app that makes losing weight sort of like a game. Seems fun. My goal is to be at my goal weight by christmas. That is 60lbs in 30 weeks, or only 2lb a week. Totally doable.

Wee! Fun times.

If you are downtown, unbathed, carrying a clipboard with a pot leaf on it, please don't ask me if I am registered to vote.

You haven't earned the right to that information.
Me saying, "I am not interested." is the most polite way I can say, "go away."

Take the hint.

Time away

I'm restless in Portland. Part of me wants to leave and see more... stuff.

Maybe soon.

New time

Hour earlier on the train. Looking different but then again every day is different usually.
It was pleasant until this one guy just got on smelling like gardenia and patchouli. My eyes are watering.
Of all colognes this is the one he picked? I really don't get people.

Guh

Wow people are loud and smelly today. I read somewhere a phenomenon that states aggression increases in warm temperature.

Hmm. Looks like fare checkers just chased off the trouble makers. Nice.

Bleh

Yeah it's Monday. I don't feel like writing

End

Friday
The end
Fin
Done
EOM

Wack

Many flavors of WTF, son. All sorts of odd folk on the train here. Loud idiots, weird power people, and some guy whose breath smells like butt.

Seriously every exhale of his smells like a fart and I feel bad for him.

Not sure where my loyalties lie these days. Should look for work in Maine. Why? I've never been to that state.

Spring is here yo.

SRO

Yeah this morning is standing room only on the train. I don't want to know what traffic would be like in Portland without our public transit.

Looks like another beautiful day outside.

Islanders

Seems today is national coconut scent day. Not the real smell but that artificial suntan lotion or shampoo coconut smell.

I just want to get home.

Tech

Some days it seems everyone on the train has a book. Today it's electronic devices such as phones, kindles and iPads.

Also this driver has a lead foot. I'm either falling forwards or back. Go easy chief.

People mover

I'm reminded of the Wedway people mover from Disneyworld when I get on the train. That was much more opulent and smelled less like body odor since I guess vacationers bathe more.

There seem to be fewer cameras on this commuter train as well.

And my destination is not the, "happiest place on earth."

Overheard on MAX

Tranny Wrecks
Tranny Wrecks
She is saying it over and over to someone on the phone and it is making less and less sense.
Tranny Wrecks.

Okay then.

One

Today was day one. It should feel like birth but felt like Thursday. No lottery, no pardon, no breaking of ice, glass or shackles. Thursday.

What waits for me at home?Cinder and ash, but no flames. Those burned out long ago. I should feel free, but instead feel like its Thursday.

Busier

There are more people than usual on the train this evening. I can't hear them because I am caught up in Alcest being all dreamy.
Think I need to break out the keyboard to augment some music.
Taking tomorrow off work as a mental day and could not have planned better as today was a killer. Oy.
Going to sip a whiskey tonight and play my guitar more.

Dear god.

The guy next to me is huge. The way you think of gods as huge. His whole front is smashed and billowing over like a muffin. Jesus.

And the smell... I hate to judge but I am being pummeled into the window. Ouch. Smoosh!

5 minutes

What a difference one earlier train makes. Almost nobody today. All afraid of May Day? Who knows.

Dear god.

The guy next to me is huge. The way you think of gods as huge. His whole front is smashed and billowing over like a muffin. Jesus.

And the smell... I hate to judge but I am being pummeled into the window. Ouch. Smoosh!

Monday

Checked work mail just now and two people "out sick" already. Case of the Mondays no doubt. Delightful. I can only do what I can.

Love seeing so many people reading books on the train.

Crazy for Jesus

Guy singing about how awesome the "Lord" is. Loudly. On a crowded train.

Crazy nutbag.

Surprise

This is one day where it's starting good and I hope gets better. It is Friday and I had no idea. Surprise!
I woke up early, it's sunny, and I am alive.

Night

Leaving the bar is weird downtown. A 40 minute ride with no bathroom is... Inconvenient.

*crosses legs*

PSXOne

The one tunnel reminds me of the game Ridge Racer on the original playstation. Dave and I would always compete for the best lap time.

Brief good feel memory.

Ernest

Maybe we all need an alter ego. Not necessarily a super hero or arch villain, but more of a Tyler Durden.

Replacement

Yes it's warm. Yes we wear less. If your bra is laden with rips and holes perhaps a shirt?

Also other dude, why are you sweating so much? Is this train a finish line to a a marathon? Weird.

Finally: unless you are going to put your phone on speaker, talk quieter. The whole train is getting half of a conversation.

Ugh

Smells like someone dumped a bottle of Febreeze and coffee on the train. Wtf. It's as though no one cares that they share an enclosed space with several hundred people.

Friday.

Yeah. It's over. Another week. Gorgeous weekend ahead.
Done with people.

Early

Woke up early, train station early, to work early... This means breakfast! Heh.

Not many people on this train.

Heart

That's it: time to cut out caffeine.

Slump

Dear younger generation:

Your posture collectively sucks all curved forward like a very jumbo shrimp.

This exudes low self esteem and screams for a Myers-Briggs tattoo showing off your Introvert Pride.

Also: pull up your pants - your underwear selection isn't interesting enough to show off.

Get off my lawn.

Up

I saw a guy looking up. Who could guess what he was looking at, but it was raining. He stared into the sky. People looked from him to his focus and back wondering. Some laughed. Some looked puzzled.

Someone called the cops.

They approached him and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Looking up," was all he replied.

It's not a crime so they left with a shrug, and he looked up - seeing something or nothing we couldn't see.

I left to go back to work, he was still looking up as I held him in my sight as long as I could.

It was amazing how much commotion was caused for someone doing something so simple, yet out of the ordinary.

Nice

Late trains are empty trains.
Much more comfortable, much less in the way of interesting people.

Angry

Birds. Yes the app. You have headphones in like six rows up and I hear you playing it. That is insane.

Today was a typical Monday. Nothing exciting. The VP did buy me lunch and wanted to hear my take on things, that was pretty neat. Apparently I have a reputation already for freely expressing my opinion in a way not only constructive but with suggestions for fixing things.

Where did that come from?
/cynical

Also: tasty French Dip.

Milestones.

Three ages that cause you to pause in life: when you realize you are older than most current musicians, when you are older than most current sports athletes, and when you are older than the President.

I'm hitting number two right now.
Time yet for a midlife crisis? Where is my Corvette.

Yours

You only can have one seat at rush hour. Your coat and purse do not.

Get over it queen rolly-eyes.

Faux tech redux

The fake engineer typing "dir" over and over is back. Just when I say I don't recognize anyone, this guy reappears. I've got to be more specific in the future.

Drool

A whole family of slack jawed people got on. Old mother, father, son, and two daughters walking down the platform all with their mouths wide open. Big "mid-yawning" mouths. Very odd.

Old pains

Trying to forget someone unforgettable is a tall task. Think I may need a memory zapper, or at the very least a frontal lobotomy.

Oh yeah, the train. Hey look: people being people.

Routine

Same route, same seat, same walk, same parking spot, same time, same train: always different people. It boggles my mind.

Later yet.

The ride home get more bland with each passing hour. Nearly nine and everyone is just slouched forward looking at their phones or eyes closed letting the day slide off them.

Nothing special.

Right

So nice and bright this morning, seems spring may finally have arrived limping into the city. I'm currently being drown in at least three strong colognes right now.
I wish people had common sense sometimes.

Asymtotes

Bad day, but always approaching zero but never hitting it as long a I am alive.

Five

What a difference a few minutes makes. The 8:01a train tends to be full, but the 8:06 is luxury and roomy. Hmm. Pays to be late I guess.

People

I am surprised both pleasantly and otherwise all day by people. While some stereotypes hold true, I am often taken aback at how people can be a lot more, or less, than they seem.

Broke

If I gave money to every person who asked me for it in a day, I may very well have nothing left. It's a sorry state they are in but I work hard all day for my scraps. Standing around on a corner sans pride asking for handouts is not a vocation.

Yet I still feel a need to help them. I just don't know how.

Csi

Like forensics, I think one can trace back through decisions to find that moment where everything unraveled.

What is interesting to me is that the decision is rarely one I labored over and lost sleep, instead being an aloof or spontaneous choice that I had no idea would change me forever.

I read once that, "the past is one thing that doesn't deserve a second chance." I agree, but studied, it may be possible to learn from the mistakes so at least I don't make the same ones again.

Courtesy

When I can hear your music over my headphones, which are playing loud dark metal right now, your music is too loud.
No really.

Nuance

Can someone strongly dislike a culture without being racist? I mean, if I have zero issue with Americans of a race but feel uncomfortable with people from a country, does that make me a bad person?

I hope not, because what I dislike are the social inequalities and conventions of that culture, not the genetic makeup of the people.

So what is the cultural version of racist, culturalist? Guh

Life changes

Time is no companion, it's a middle manager always watching over your shoulder reminding you that your life is finite.

Train people are all bland today and worth few words.

Battle

In the battle between rank perfume and curry: the curry wins. It beat that perfume smell to death.

Wow that's strong.. Eyes watering.

Strange

Just all sorts of strange people on board. Weirdness abounds. So much so that the one normal guy over there, and I guess me to some extent, are the oddities here.

Scratch that, normal guy who I thought was on the phone with a blue tooth is sitting alone having a calm conversation with his reflection in the window and no phone.

Odd stare

People are funny. I'm not sure if the odd stare I am getting from this guy here is confrontational or strange curiosity. He either wants to fight me or kiss me.
Maybe both.
Hopefully neither.
He is really strange.

FauxGeek

The ancient guy sitting next to me has an old old gateway running XP.
For the last 10 train stops he has pointedly typed the same two commands into a cmd window: dir/w and type stuff.txt.

After typing these in order he strokes his chin in contemplation and glances around furtively.

Dir/w

As if he is hoping I strike up a computer conversation with him.

Type stuff.txt

I hope that is not me in a few years.

*chin rub*

Slippy

Yeah well it snowed but hovered above freezing so it is a giant slurpee outside. My car did a little sideways action on the way to the park and ride but ultimately no big deal. I was hoping for a snow day.
Appears many are seeing it as such because the train is fairly empty.
Then again it's also finals week so many students are done and on spring break.

Grey

I am one, my liege,
Whom the vile blows and buffets of the world
Hath so incens’d that I am reckless what
I do to spite the world.


Ugh, some days are better than others.

Rude

Plenty of seating. No real need to push your sorry ass in front of me to get on the train.

I wish a flu on you.

Bored

Nothing going on the max at this time. Just sitting here in my own little world. Derp. Had a good beer at VC called BattleAxe. The world isn't real.

Frigid

For how late in the year it is, sure is cold. Fingers having trouble typing. Brrr

Done

One and done. Time for the weekend already? Yup.

Back

First day back after a brief hiatus to be with family after my grandmothers death.
Train is the train. People are people. I'm just not that into it. Today should prove weird given my preoccupation and distraction with self-introspective.

Derp

Hi! I ride a bike and take the train, so out of my way!

Fuck you.
Also: abortion.

Timing

Warmest day of the year today, perfect timing at the train platform, pretty girl sitting next to me, and beers tonight with E make this a possibly nice day overall.

Just need to plow through this pesky thing called work. My schedule is full, so hopefully it goes quickly.

Driving with the penis

Damn trimet driver won't wait for me slapping shoe to catch the train, but one leggy blonde jogs lightly waving her hand well fuck if we should hold up the other 200 people aboard so she can hop on.

God forbid she gets on the train right behind us.

Pretty people have too much advantage in this society.

Entitlement

You weren't born with it folks, from whom did you learn this behavior?

Random guy q-tipping his ears on the train and then carefully examining the earwax: gross man. Gross.

Also everyone is wearing black today.

Run!

Barely caught the train. Again. It's like I am sprinting for 4/5 of them. Wee!

Nature has a way of hinting for you to stay in shape.

Bags

As many people as bags have seats on this train with people standing.

Fuck it, I asked the guy to move it. It wasn't that hard.

Hey Friday, missed you.

Inverse

Lots of ugly on this train. Four expressions and bad posture in about every seat. It's a tube full of people who forgot they are alive.

A busy Friday ahead of me, a weekend lies ahead.

Manson

There are beautiful people in Portland.

Rest

I'm not sleeping well, waking up feeling like I just spent a few hours working some manual labor job. Thankfully the replacement bed will be there Saturday.

Uneventful train ride thus far, everyone is keeping to themselves.

Courtesy

When you are on public transportation, there are a few things that you should not do. One being listen to your music so that everyone around you can hear it. Another would be carrying on lumbering unimportant phone conversations.

Yes it is a free country, but a little common courtesy is nice so we don't have to hear you say, "oh I am tired. Didn't want to get out of bed this morning." blah blah . The best part of this commute is when we go through the tunnel - cutting off everyone's signal putting the train in an almost church-like reverent silence.

That daffy bitch just won't shut up.

Better timing

So I landed at the train stop just as an earlier train showed up. Awesome since I need to stop and get some chips and salsa for work.
Everyone is very quiet reading their books today.

Weird ride.

Some days just seem more odd than others. Today is a boring ride with no very interesting people. That's okay because I just want to sit back an listen to Unkle Bob on spotify.

Friday sprint

Barely made the train. Woo!
Not too packed either, because I got a good seat.

Ready for a good weekend. Yay!

Surprising

Leisurely walked for the train, one pulled up a moment later. Easy day of work. Good lunch. Some laughs. Going home for dinner, guitar and maybe a smattering of television.

Overall I give the day a 7.

So many.

I'd be curious to see what our commutes would be without TriMet. Every 7 to 11 minutes a double long train pulls up and about two dozen people get on. This happens all morning at many stops. Tens of thousands of people at any moment are on these trains at any given time at rush hour going in both directions.

Put them on the road and life would be miserable.

Runnin.

Another two block flat sprint for the train. I am displeases with my timing.

At least my seatmate is quite the cutie.

I'm done with "today" (c) tm

Early

Catching an earlier train, and don't know what I think about this crowd. Fewer professionals and more students.

Though now that I look at the time, it is about my usual time and once again this is a whole new set of people. What the heck. Do I wake up in a new universe daily?

Strange.

Brisk

Warming day, breezy night. Beer prices rolled back to 1980 at my local watering hole. Overall a good night.

Heading home now for some guitar and relaxation. Need to play more music.

Forgot my headphones on my desk at work so I get to listen to some guy loudly picking up on a girl behind me.

Everyone loves their electronic devices.

Grind

Here we go again. Back to the grind. Sitting next to two girls using the word "like" every two words. I wonder at what point in maturity girls grow out of it.
It's, like, so, like, annoying.

Squee

Done with the week and about to enjoy a few days off. Perhaps get together with my band mates on Sunday.

Barely caught the train. Happy times.
And not too busy either. ahhhhh

Morning

I hope this day just flies by zoom zoom style. So far so good as I caught a very early train. Time to get a good breakfast.

Pro tip for riding the train: don't have a ringtone of a song you enjoy. If you do, don't listen to half of the damn song and let the call go to voicemail.

Rude!

Full of Derp

About 30 senior citizens lined up at the ticket machine waiting to purchase a ticket is amusing.

The worthless twenty nothing laying across the seats next to me on a crowded rush hour train isn't amusing.

I am irritable.

What gives.

Leave the house early and miss the train, leave a few minutes late and I catch it?
Strange.
Another day another dollar. I need to pick up some wood to do some carving with again. It's so Zen.

Entitled

One train breaks down and dear god the humanity. How quickly the world owes these ungrateful morons.

Oh boy.

Tues

Valentines day is not a real holiday. It's merely there to test and remind you. It's built for new lovers and old broken hearts.

I hate the color pink.

Missed

My usual train pulled away as I got to the platform and now I will ride a slightly more annoying one. But that is okay. It being only 4 minutes later isn't as busy, so I get a seat.

I hope this week is better than last.

Graaah! You are neat!

I just saw one strung out girl get all up in another girl's face, scaring her to death, and said to her, "you are very beautiful." then she sprinted off the train laughing.

Go Portland! Even you can come up with an Attack Compliment!

Bed

Some days a bed is the most amazing place in the world. Today was one of these days. But like all vacations, I couldn't stay,
Now I am on the train listening to the guy behind me breathe loudly and smelling some strong coffee somewhere.
Weekends are fantastic.

Timing

Girl behind me tells the guy next to her that she is glad he sat with her, being someone she knows, because yesterday some "creepy guy" asked her to coffee.
His reply? "Your fault for being so pretty."
She giggled...
Smooth bro. Real smooth.

Chilly

At least it's dry, but brrrrr.

There is a girl next to me waiting for the train that is a doppelgänger for Katherine MacPhee. Cute little thing.

I need time off to regroup. I feel stress.

Ghost train

If #trimet doesn't have trains running on schedule, how difficult is it to fix the transit tracker? We have had two arrival times come and go with no train.

I would really like to get to work on time here guys...

Strange

I still find it strange that for the most part, I see different people every day on the train. Almost all of them. Seven months of the same train in both direction and there are only about a dozen or so regulars.

It's just weird.

Morning

I may need to get sunglasses soon if it stays so bright and sunny. Cold but at least it's set this morning.

Train platform seems more crowded this morning than usual, hope there is a seat for me since I am still waking up this morning.

Nice

Clear, bright and beautiful it's also quite chilly this morning. I got a good night sleep, so I am surprisingly awake already.

I don't know why I get annoyed with people so easily. Maybe I should see someone about it.. Riding the bus is rife with annoyance.

Patience

I love taking the second of a back to back train, a few seconds earns me a seat. The first train was packed!

Ugh

I need to lose about 60 pounds. Riding the train is downright embarrassing.

Sigh

Spangers

If I gave away money to everyone who asked daily I would be so broke. It's amazing really how many people ask me.. I don't look rich!

Time

I enjoy my commute to work sometimes. Thirty-seven minutes to read, meditate, or write. On the way home it's time to unwind so my daily work gunk isn't flung about like monkey poo when I get home.

I'm enjoying my books again.

Running

I am in such no good shape. Sprinting 3 blocks shouldn't make my heart beat too fast.

I really need to work on that teleportation or flying technology.

Back to work.

After being sick yesterday, going back to work today. Still not 100%. There are three Indians sitting by me on the train and the curry smell is overwhelming. My supernose is screaming.

Also, for some reason people still feel their precious backpacks deserve seats when the train is full. I don't get the selfish entitlement. Did these people not have parents?

Mix

Just to mix it up, decided to park halfway to work, putting my transit time at a very short trip to and fro.

Yay for Fridays.

Smooshed

Way too many people on the train right now.
No room to type; getting dirty looks for even using my phone right now.

Unclench people ...

Nicer

Way warmer this morning than it has been, and not raining. That is okay with me.
But the trains are off schedule due to some officer involved shooting way down the line. For this delay, here is hoping the bad guy got his ass handed to him.

Well

This is a boring ride home.
Laid out some coarse invective at work today, hope it stimulates process change a bit. I've had enough with tiptoeing around the issues.

And now: dinner

Water

I am starting to think I prefer snow over rain. This is an incredible amount of precipitation for this area, and all it does is annoy me.

And my umbrella is at work (great place for it!)

Bah

Symbolic

Mondays were invented to make you appreciate weekends. Mine went too fast and too unproductively. I did get some things done, but wanted to do more with a few things.

The train is unusually full. I wonder if, as per usual, trimet skipped a train in the morning.

The guy sitting next to me smells like old food grease. My guess is his school job is working at a restaurant.

Again

You are not entitled to a seat unless you are old, injured, or in your third trimester. Stop with the glaring you ridiculous little girl.

Oh and hey, it's Friday. Yay for sleeping in tomorrow.

Entitlement

Almost killed a man today, or rather he almost committed suicide against my car. A bicyclist ignored a stop sign while riding on the wrong side of the road and nearly broadsided me, but I floored it and he whiffed behind me skidding out of control.

He didn't fall, but part of me wished he would have taken a non-injuring, embarrassing tumble onto the wet pavement.

Scared the hell out of me.

Clown

Why oh why do women so much damn makeup? This girl next to me might be attractive, but I can't tell due to the thick layer of spackle on her face.

Tomorrow is Friday. Yay!

Tiptoe

The train I am on must have a driver in training or something. Get it? Train-ing?

Anyways, we did like 15 MPH the whole way here and am now 5 minutes late for work. Boo.

Odd

Strangely packed train for this time of day. My guess is more people used public transit this morning out of fear of snow that never happened.

Not looking forward to being home tonight.

What snow

I sometimes miss living somewhere that had a few extra days off per year due to weather. Last night it snowed like a beast, but turned to rain around 5am melting almost all of it away.

Fantastic I say.

Then again it's good I am not home, as it is quite an uncomfortable situation.

Yay work!

White

All weekend we had flurries, but it waited until today to start sticking. Fantastic, really.
At least the trains are running on time.
Only annoyance being one douche using his phone as a walkie-talkie. But at least I can hear both sides of the conversation.

Oh the crime

Friday night fare check on the train, those without are rounded up like cattle and driven to their DOOM for lack of payment.

I'm glad I am all paid for the year through work, but really... How hard is it to just pay a few bucks.

Derp.

End

This week is over after today. Thank goodness.
I am in a wretched mood. I look around the train and am wishing bad things on people.
I need coffee to care today.

Native

My honorary name this morning is "Man Sprinting For Train" *gasp* we are talking run-away-from-a-bear speed here.

I am not looking forward to my schedule this morning. Back to back meetings through lunch. Got some whoppers, too.

Wacky people

Playing chicken with a train is stupid Mr. SUV. The train can't swerve.

Also, it smells like so much rotting lunch on the train right now.

Omg cold.

It's like 20 outside. Argh. Imma shivering here.

Some douche is splayed out across two seats and has his bag in the aisle.

Wouldn't mind thunking him on the forehead to pay my respects to his holiness.

Stolen away

Funny finding a near perfect job in Alaksa...too bad I am not a fan of constant cold.

I am going to have to put my foot down at work. I am being used. Time to get all hardassed about it.

Monday

Today was repulsive, and Trimet forgetting to run one of their rush hour trains, like incompetent plebes, doesn't help.

I'm ready for a beer.

Cars!

Why is there nowhere to park? Oh yeah, school term begins today at local colleges. Look at all the bright yearning students. It's so precious.

I miss it a whole lot.

Oof.

Today was hectic and tiresome. Glad it is over. Why people wait until the end of the week to do stuff is beyond me. Do things as soon as logically possible and you can cross them off.

The train is boring tonight. No fun wackos, just several Mexican women on their phones to whom I can only assume is each other, given their facial expressions.

Burp

There are a lot of attractive people in this town. Not sure if its the water, the weather or the lifestyles, but for some reason people look good. At least today.

I saw a news article this morning where there was a crowd of folks elsewhere that looked ugly with anger and time.

Ghost train

A train went missing. Now 30 minutes delayed. Sometimes public transit sucks. Stupid #trimet

It smells like cork, chicken and car tires. Weird.

Sprint

Yeah, I ran my ass off for the train. I made it, though now I have no ass.

Quite the empty train this morning, but I did catch an airport train. Just a few business women in power pantsuits carrying luggage.

I want this day to be over already. I have a troublesome client who has pestered me for three weeks now and I just want done with it.

Crazy

A woman asking a guy for proof of fare before letting him sit next to her.

Wack-ass biatch.

Tomorrow is Wednursday. Eep.

Tweusnesday

On a four day week, today is weirdly named.

What is it with people having four letter words on their knuckles? It looks silly and tacky, and I have a hard time taking you seriously.

Caught a relatively early train today. Means I can snag some oatmeal before what looks like a very busy day. Full schedule up until lunch.

Bleak

It's hard to ignore the negativity at work. I keep my head down and do what I have to, avoiding piling onto the anti-corporate drivel that streams endlessly from most of my coworkers.
The problem is, you still hear it even if you try to ignore it. I have begun to see the topics of their complaints scooch their way into my work day as if I were the frog and they are pointing out to me how warm the pan is getting.
It's making me uncomfortable with the environment.

The train is making weird noises as though the brakes are broken. That would be great if we were careening out of control down the tracks. Weee! A+++ would ride again.

Back

Back where it left off, trains are crowded, people look surly, and ignorant morons are talking loudly on their phones.
Good times!
I have tons to do at work today, and not sure if my clients will be happy or hung over.