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.