Thursday 8:12 a.m.

Upon arriving at the station, a really average looking man - so average he was wearing red tag levis and white leather tennis shoes with no logo was in a real hurry. Where was the fire? The train wasn't at the station and you couldnt even hear it. It was no so frigid that those extra second meant the difference between frostbite or not.

Got on the train and there were no seats. There was also a real sadness to all the people on my car. I don't expect dancing on a Thursday morning to the loop but these people looked like this train was header to nowhere. HAd to really focus on my book to get those people's energy out of my mind.

Transferred to the red which this whole week as been walking from one train to another with the greatest of ease in the morning. I took the last seat. I know there were women behind me but the weren't 1) old, 2) pregnant or 3) pregnant-looking.

The problem with this ride was my allergies started. There is no way to attend to a runny nose on the el in any graceful way. Plus if you have the sniffles, the el car seems to amplify that.

My ride ended with the same feeling as the start, some average man really in a rush to something squeezing ahead of me out the door.

Wendesday 9:59 p.m.

Banner day for the Chicago Transit - three full fared rides in one day. Almost half a sawbuck spent for this privilege.

As I was going down the steps to the train platform, this young man and woman were ascending the stairs. The man had blackened spiky hair, funky glasses, bell bottomed pants, was wearing make-up I presume and nail polish and the only phrase I caught him saying to his friend was "And you konw I am straight" and he was serious.

Got on the red line and for some reason this train was dirty. It also had a crowded feel even though it was only half full.

At Fullerton there was a young white woman who got on the train and sat across from this black man who was really was into her. I was reading Time magazine about the general who will lead the upcoming/more-than-likely war in Iraq and I could see him eying this woman. Then he says "Temperatures dropping". Only a "C" for effort since at least that is better than "cold out tonight" Then to still try an engage this woman he asked "do you have gum or piece of candy". She replied with "all I have is a mint" which is too strong for our gentleman. At that point I got out of the train at Belmont for the transfer.

As I was leaving the final train for the day, there was a man reading the program from the play I had seen tonight. I almost engaged but c'mon ... this is the "el".

Wednesday 5:28 p.m.

Took the red line with my friend b/c we were going to see a show together. Since we were only going about four stops, my friend said we shouldnt sit so for the first time ... I became a DOORHUGGER.

We chit-chatted about our conversation from work which is completely gossipy and unprofessional - which five people should be fired at our company. The only person I noticed was one person got on the train and tried to do a crossword standing up which wasnt working since the driver appeared to have a speed control disorder.

We got out at North and Cly-burn. Any "el" rider will tell you that cly-burn is spelled Clybourn and should be pronounced like Cly-born. But the guy they hired to do the voiceover seems to have an alternate pronunciation. He also pronounces library lie-berry.

Wednesday 7:55 a.m.

This morning got a slightly early start and things were really nice as I approached the el on what appeared to be a slightly warmer day. Also with a kick to my step as I got to the platform and the train was approaching right away.

got on and got a seat. The train seemed empty for rush hour. Not that I am complaining about that.

When I got to Belmont, it seemed that the train was empty b/c everyone was waiting for red line on the Belmont station. I saw a friend who seemed to be determined to get on the red line now with her husband rather than wait for the next train (she was actually docile about this and I just followed more like a leming than giving any protest about this).

The oddest thing happened at Fullerton, nearly half the train emptied. It was weird. l had never seen that happen previously but my friend groaned about "I hate the fullerton station" so this must occur. She was pushed my some madman trying to get out like the doors were going to close and never let him out.

Tuesday 6:45 p.m.

So this el ride was pretty uneventful. Got on the train after hoisting all the rest of my cash onto my card and got a single seat at the front of the train.

Then she came on.

Some girl with the most horrible voice alive! It wasnt her natural voice and I dont know who told her ever that it was funny. But she kept using it. For a minute I thought maybe that was her reall voice and that her parents must have really pissed off god or something. Then she would say one sentence regular and then go back to it. The voice permeated the whole train and people started fidgeting and getting really edgy. Thank god they got off a t Fullerton or she would have been dead.

And I didnt finish my crossword puzzle.

Tuesday 8:05 a.m.

The ride is so much smoother when you get a seat on both trips. Also, I was in the el zone today - walked up the platform and walked on the train. At Belmont walked directly into a waiting red line.

On the brown line was a guy dressed like he was going deer hunting. Flannel, big brown coat with those brown overpants that are real thick with some shit-kicking boots. He had these funky glasses too - like the kind you get when you are in the army. Seemed a little out of place amongst the businees goers.

The theme of the day reading wise was spirituality. Next to me was a guy reading some Christian Scientist book that looked a little ominous. Across was a woman with a tiny diamond nose ring that was reading a well worn copy of Divine which looked to be published in the 60s.

Once I transferred to the red line with my partially filled out crossword puzzle, the seat that was available was next to a guy who had his small bag on the seat. I paused before sitting to allow him to remove the bag but he never did. Not during the entire ride to downtown.

Monday 5:17 p.m. (previous day)

Rode home on the el with a co-worker - and one who is my friend so it wasnt like we had to come up with weird work conversations or small talk about inane things like how much we hate the fact that nobody makes coffee at work.

Whenever you ride home with a co-worker, you need 5-10 minutes to decompress from work mode. Who annoyed you that day. Small triumphs. Productivity assessment. The usual office gossip about who violated the unwritten office rules like playing video games on their computer or who spent too much time in the bathroom (this is a true fact from my office that two people have been accused of loitering to long in the bathroom).

When the train got to Belmont a large woman came on and was standing right in front of me. She had a big belly and I was seated but it was not obvious if the belly was a baby or just a belly. I awkwardly looked to my friend for guidance but alack, none was given. So rather than give up my seat, I asked her if she wanted to sit down and she said "no". Needless to say, I think she was not with child and I just reminded her that she is not a svelt woman. This conundrum happens all the time - especially being a gay man whose doesnt have many child bearing friends.

Monday, 8:10 a.m.

This was a very cold morning ... about 12 degrees outside with a lower wind chill. The sun is shining and the sky is really blue which is always odd. The fashion accesory on the Irving Park station was the reverse earmuffs. I always think they look really uncomfortable like they are pinching the person's head. Also, I cannot understand why people do not wear hats when it is this cold out.

No seats on the brown line this morning and was a little crowded due to a lapse in available trains. On the train we three "No War" buttons that were exactly the same within my eyesight.

There was one woman who was doing homework for a class that appears to be music theory because she was using a musical staff paper. She wasnt composing nor was she really answering questions but it looked like she was copying the answers onto her staff. The class is with Columbia College and despite the cold the book said it was a class for "Spring 2003".

Upon the transfer at Belmont, I stood next to this one man who was obsessed with cutting his nails. What would make you need to this activity, in the cold at this moment? He was very methodical in cutting his nails and making sure it has the perfect roundness. His cuticles appeared to have been recently manicured as well.

I got to ride the purple line which is always more pleasant. THere is usually a seat and you get to still see outside the whole ride. The red line goes underground which makes me feel like such a cog in the 9-5 chicago loop office machine.

On the purple line, there is always someone grading papers. I don't know why this is - especially when you think that would occur going north towards Evanston to where Northwestern is and not downtown.

This morning there are five guys who are obviously in a group together heading to an airport. The thing is that none of them are sitting in seats together. I have never understood that macho BS that does not allow you to sit with your friends b/c you might "touch". One seemed to be the leader pointing out the various landmarks as we went by ... Depaul, the Hancock. He was also the one to signal the group when their stop came up.

Friday, 5:10 p.m.

Got on the brown line for one straight shot home. Had no money on my card and one card machine was working with a line of five people. I had immediately panicked when I saw the train in the station (like I was in a rush or something) but it was the other train. Finally got my turn and finished right when my beloved brown line pulled up.

The train was crowded and there were a lot of people waiting for this train. I went to what to what I call the hole which is where on the brown line -- the only place I have seen this -- they have a real handicapped spot for a full wheelchair. Even a wheelchair with those leg things.

I took out my book, The Bourne Identity, and faced the elderly/handicapped seated holding onto the provided pole. There was a baldin man a little younger than me sitting there who would go between a faux nap and talking about his evening plan like he was negotiating the Versailles treaty. Quotes like "I don't you really want to invite Max and Susan if they fucking dont want them to be there. They will be like 'Who the fuck are they?'" Back to nap then "Hey dude, yeah that's what we're fucking doing."

On my other side were two young women. One had that nasally voice that gives young twenty-somthing women a bad wrap b/c NOBODY wants to listen to her. Her friend had this more masculine almost nothing matter to me voice. Obviously, the nasally woman was more interested in talking to the man-voice one than vice versa. The interesting thing about the first half of their conversation was that it was about puppet shows. Not "I have seen a puppet show" but intricate detail into the production of a puppet show. The manvoice woman said "she could only manage one puppet where Christopher has a bunch." They even talked about puppet auditions.

Then, as the ride wore on and the manwoman became bored with her companion, the conversation switched to how lucky you are to wear jeans to work - a favorite topic of the 9-5er. Not that I condemn this, I too have said things like "at least we get to wear jeans on Friday" never realizing that my job is pretty good since I don't have to say "at least my manager does not whip me."

These two women also work in the Sears tower which has its own prestige about it. Which floor you work is key to the Sears Tower hierarchy. The manvioce woman HATES being so high up and can feel the building move on windy days.

The conversation ended for me with the nasally woman whining about how she didnt know when she was getting picked up for dinner. Then it was my stop.

Friday AM

Started by hearing a train pull out right as I went through the turnstyle. Also, realized that I need to put money on my card at the end of the day. The nice lady who usually says "hello" and have a good weekend" was consumed by another co-worker gossiping about the bureaucracy of working with for the CTA.

Plenty of seats on the brown line this morning. Sat in one of the old and handicapped seats but away from the wall. Whenever I sit by the wall, some larger person sits in the seat making me a squashed pancake against the wall.

Transferred at Belmont and a red line train came immediately ... as did another brown line. No seats available so decided to stand by the front escape door. A man that had a blond ponytail who still insisted on doing his crossword puzzle while standing, came in right after me. His personal space was an issue as he did not really allow adequate room between the two of us - creating the similar situtation to sitting next to the wall in the handicapped seats.

When we got off at Lake, this station was particularly popular this morning as many people needed to get out of the train. Many people got out to provide room but one lone doorhugger bottle-necked the whole process.