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.