Monday, January 30, 2006 - 8:11 a.m.

I saw my friend Michael who I run into at the station when I leave a little earlier. It has been some time since we have rode the train into work together. When the train approached, he suggested waiting for a seat on the next train but then we were able to scope one out. I wondered when the seat priority had shifted in my life - I realize that I will wait and wait until an empty train approaches rather than have to stand in the "el" which I was happy to do in my younger days. Do most people do this or did I get spoiled moving farther north where seats are more plentiful.

We sat across from each other in the parellel seats. We were trying to have a conversation, quietly and politely as to not disturb the other riders in their Monday morning haze. After a few "huhs?" and "whats?", we silently realized conversation was futile and went about other activities. I began to read my book and thus showing my fellow book club member how woefully behind I was for tomorrow night's meeting.

The parellel seats are really not big enough for two people. The regular seats have the aisle overage to compensate for two adults but the parellel seats have barriers. Luckily today, the bigger woman the first half of the ride exitted at Belmont and a tinier woman replaced her.

The standing people on the train all seemed to be really young today. Newly graduated from college all dressed up going to their first entry-level job. Although dressed in business clothes, they still had a smidge of a non-conforming individuality. Like funky nail polish or one man had the earring on the top of his ear.

Friday, January 27, 2006 - 8:36 a.m.

When I entered the station, this man held the door open for me. I responded with a thank you which he proceeded to look at me funny. Have we gotten to the point in society where simple politeness is look upon as strange or unusual? I appreciate politeness during the course of my day. A bunch of people barking orders all day is not attractive yet I guess this is the world that man lives.

Again, thank you to the man who held open the door for me.

I saw a friend on the train and we proceeded to chat the whole way to the loop. It was nice to see my friend but I had a little headache so conversation was difficult.

There was a young fashionable man with a pretty sweater, that shaggy haircut, chunky white belt with his jeans .... and flip-flops. Flip flops in January. I was cold looking at him. Even 50 degrees -- which is rare in January -- would not make me get out my sandals.

Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 8:04 a.m.

I was a little early, but the man who sat next to me was running extremely late this morning. He called work to let them know and they wanted to fire questions at him. He was so distraught that he asked if they could just wait until he gets there because he was not mentally there for them.

Continuing with my book, they put this 12-year old girl in a convent and thought she was posessed by the devil and just before locking her up, they cleaned her off because she was covered in her own excrement. I will definitely bring this fact up over dinner with my book club.

I had a debate in my head as I was getting off the train. There was a straight couple saying goodbye as the man went to a stop farther south. They kissed goodbye. I wondered if my boyfriend and I would do that ... we really have not had the opportunity to ride to work together. I could not recall ever seeing two men kiss on the train which is weird since it never phases me seeing it on the street. My over-thinking it sucks that I actually think of such things.

let me ruminate ...

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 8:07 a.m.

I think that gaydar increases on the "el". There is a train full of people and I take a look around to see who is on the train, who will I be commenting on in my blog. Now, I do not have good gaydar anyway but my eyes immediately find a gay man this morning who is also staring back at me. This happens frequently and not just to me but to my friends as well. My sluttiest single friend seems to always be checking out some hottie on the train (his words not mine). Does the metal concentrate the gay vibe so it is easier to spot?

This morning was a first that I did work on the train. I was supposed to edit a document last night but instead watched TV and created a new cocktail with my boyfriend. It was strange trying to work in this new environment - I do not know how people do it. Reading is one thing but concentrating on a work task is another. Most people probably use the morning commute to ease into the work day and doing work on the train is just like smacking your head with a two-by-four.

Random thoughts on a blustery morning

Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 8:07 a.m.

There was a woman going up the stairs to the "el" station blocking everyone behind her. She was going very slowly and seemed to have no urgency about her. Both trains - north and south-bound - were standing right there, doors open. I was getting annoyed wanting to get on that train (which I bolted right past her) but then had a small admiration for this woman. She was making her own pace and nothing was going to change it. She probably has no more hurry in her like my friend Sid who was a bike messenger for many years and said that all the hurry had left him.

Here is a quote from the book I was reading, Of Love and Other Demons by Gabriel Garcia Marquez:

They continued to make hurried, heartless siesta love in the evangelical
shade of the orange trees.

While reading this lovely passage, I was struck that I was sitting next to someone. Part of this blog made me realize that most of the time, I am sitting there reading my paper or book and someone inevitably sits by me. I rarely notice if it is a man or woman, tall or short, what color their hair is - if any at all, etc. I did look up from my book to make notice that I was sitting next to a white man in his 30s wearing those wrap around your head earmuffs.

Some mornings you are just a dumbass ...

As I was entering the station, this man was talking to the attendant saying "Thank you for letting me get coffee, now can you let me in?" The attendant was not having any of it looking at him like she has never seen him prior to this. Does this work? Can you et a free train ride by claiming that you have seen the attendant before?

Here was my train conundrum for the day. I would give up my seat for a pregnant woman. I would give up my seat for a woman with a child. Should I give up my seat for a woman with a stoller and the baby is sleeping? If I was in the parellel seats by the door I would, but I was in the middle of the train.

Then I reached in my bag and my work laptop was not there. I don't do things like forget keys, cell phone or especially the one item I need to do my job all day! I have to get out at Belmont and go back home to get it. This ends my CTA experience for the day since now I will be really late unless I drive to work.

She was in a big hurry ...

She ran by me going down the street to the "el". She was in a hurry and had big red hair that was bouncing as she walked in chunky heels. Her rushing did not get her to her destination any earlier. She was on the platform waiting for the train as I arrived and was still in a hurry as she bolted into the train door ahead of me.

I sat by the window. Around Belmont a very sweet young woman sat next to me in a bright green coat that matches the bright green on the walls in my guest room (it was there when I loved in). She was having a nice conversation with her mother. After she was done, she pulled out her Bible and was reading from the book of John, chapter 3.

I have a thing about reading the paper everyday - the RedEye and/or Tribune. Today though, Maybe cause it is Friday, I wanted read my book about the pretty slave girl in the Caribbean which is due for my book club on the 31st. The name is obviously escaping me right now.

The gamble paid off

Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 5:23 p.m

There was a packed train. I decided to wait. Another train comes up 60 seconds later. It is full as well. Do I dare? I took a risk. Up comes a train with many, many seats.

In the station there was a bongo player. Maybe he would be a better choice in the morning ... kind of a "get your day going" type of thing. The post-work vibe is not working with the rhythm of the islands - at least for me. HE was very good though. His fingers were taped with white first aid kit tape.

I sat down in a seat by the window. Then this man sat down by me who reeked of smoke. Did he just finish a pack before descending down the stairs to the platform. This was that smoky man smell where who knows how long he has smoked. Thankfully, the seat ahead of us was free after Clark/Division and he moved up to sit by himself with his stanky smell.

There was also a woman who had a book. The book was open but she was totally daydreaming looking at the ceiling of the train. She looked so serene. So peaceful. I wonder where she was that made her look so happy? I bet it was not Fire Island where my daydreaming happens.

Thursday, January 19, 2006 - 8:21 a.m.

This woman sitting in the parellel seats was reading a book titled Holy Skirts. I thought that was an intriguing title and one of the amazon.com descriptions was:

Rene Steinke's Holy Skirts is a powerful and sweeping historical epic, an
all-encompassing novel that fully merges fact with fiction. It's an audacious
portrait of the early twentieth century, covering two continents and
transporting the reader into worlds of bohemian society in both Berlin, and New
York. Holy Skirts tells of poetess Baroness Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven, her
life of art and writing, and her contributions to the Dada movement, which
included such notables as Man Ray and Marcel Duchamp.

Heady book for early morning train reading.

The sun was getting in my eyes. I was annoyed for a while until I realized - we have not had the sun for many days. So I quit my bitching and enjoyed the sun beaming on my face.

This man had the oddest sweater. It was trimmed with two stripes of maroon leather (or maybe pleather). It was like something science girl on Project Runway might have designed-if she was not cut last week. He was in his 30s which seemed young to be wearing such a bold sweater.

As this one gent got on the train he was consumed with his hair. He needn't worry - you could tell there was a lot of product to keep that naturally mussed look all in place. His natural look had a very unnatural orangy color.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 6:35 p.m.

At the Grand station was this kid yelling across at the southbound tracks at his friends. He yells, "are you going there? me too! See you there!" If he was going to the same place, wouldn't he be on the same train as his friends? Isn't going to the same place starting at the same spot necessitate the potential for the same transport? He did get off at Clark and division with his mini iPod.

I got very frustrated with my crossword and then got really into my soduku puzzle and was about finished when I realized that they were calling Berwyn. I bolted from my seat just before the doors closed on me. This guy stared at me like "how could he miss his stop?"

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 - 8:17 a.m.

I am going to have diarrhea.

That is my one and only thought on the train this morning. My train ride was spent hoping that I was not going to have diarrhea until I got to the office.

I first realized that I was going to have some loose stool was when I got to Wilson... many, many stops before Lake. I was a little panicked ... ok, a LOT panicked. I wondered how much I would have to pay a cabbie to take me in my soiled pants home.

I made it to the office just fine.

I noticed nobody else on the train. They were one big blur as I focused on not shitting my pants sitting next to the petite girl with a blue nosering and boring book.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006 - 8:25 a.m.

A friend of mine had called this morning offering a ride but I was still in bed and could not get ready in time. As I approached the el, I had wished that I had hustled and rode in with her. Nothing like the "el" with a slight hangover. Realizing the masses can smell last night's double Maker's oozing through your pores not to mention the hundreds of pleasant smells that the CTA must bottle and spray in their cars like Febreeze.

Today's set of riders was particularly tall. Across the aisle was a woman who was at least six feet and wearing brown striped slacks (just like me, although mine are pants ... not slacks). Two tall door-hugging men with iPods. Tall everywhere. Maybe I felt small...

I was on the "blessed" train. One particular red line route in the morning is the blessed train ... according to the conductor. Unfortunately, blessed did not get you out of a police search of the train at the Chicago stop.

One particular note is that this past weekend, I actually took a bus. i was nervous and granted teh Clark bus took forever to appear but it was pretty flawless. I suggest everyone take the bus every once in a while - the variety of life there is unlike the train.

Thursday, January 12, 2006 - 8:18 a.m.

It always perplexing to me that today I left 10 minutes earlier than yesterday and today I was on time where yesterday I was late. WHAT IS THAT? such a mystery ...

I had a nice seat on the red line because I am far enough north ... but these last few days I have had to change to the brown line. Standing all the way into the loop. Being crowded and not getting to read the Tribune (takes up too much room).

And to that guy who kept ignoring his phone .... either ANSWER the fuckin' thing or put on your silencer. I am volunteering to help you. Just bring me your phone and I will turn it off for you. Also, I will get rid of that annoying ring tone that sounds like the Munsters door bell. It was not cute the first time or the tenth time.

Funny thing is when I looked up after the 10th time, I probably looked annoyed and yet this man stares back at me with this apologetic look like there was NOTHING he could possibly do to rectify the situation.

There was a woman in a pinkish hat who was sitting below where I stood and was getting the soduku puzzle much faster than I was. It was making me jealous and annoyed that today I do not have the mental capacity for soduku.

Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 4:48 p.m.

THe one story about the train is that I did the soduku and screwed it up in ink. I saw this woman doing the same puzzle successfully and I showed her that I was defeated. She suprisingly had little sympahty.

Wednesday, January 11, 2006 - 8:10 a.m.

So getting up to the platform proved a challenge. I heard the bell signaling that a train to the loop was coming. I got behind this very short woman walking up the stairs who was in the center of the stairway. THere was no way to pass her ... and there was no way to get her to speed up. I thought that I would miss the train and this petite woman seemed to not care if she did or not.

The train ride was pretty uneventful aleit LONG. I was really not aware of time while I was on the train. I arrived at my last destination later than I thought it was.

Again I was amazed by the politeness of people leaving the platform at Quincy. THe zipper effect really works.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006 - 4:48 p.m.

I got out of my class early and ran to the train. I was starving and wanted to get home very quickly. I was talking on my cell phone and ran up the exit stairway at Quincy. I didn't notice any of the zillion warnings.

I was talking the purple line to switch at Belmont. That weird single seat at the front of the car was available. I love that seat. You get to sit and nobody can sit by you. I finished my crossword puzzle in no time.

The soduku puzzle in the RedEye was supposed to be only 2 stars and the guest solver did it in 9 minutes. I spent the rest of the ride wracking my brain over that stupid puzzle and it turned out that I get to the end and made a huge mistake somewhere. IN PEN! GRRRRR

I almost missed the belmont stop I was so engrossed. That would have been horrible riding all the way north to Howard just to ride back down to Berwyn again. Not earth-shatteringly horrible bu would have delayed my enjoying penne alfredo with spinach and shrimp!

Now, I have written a blog post as boring as my el ride.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006 - 8:04 a.m.

As I get to the turnstyle trying to make my train, I dropped my wallet. I wondered if there was a timer on going through the turnstyle after putting your card against the machine. Would it put the money back into my account if I did not go through? How long would the "ENTER" light stay on.

Really empty on the red line this morning. I should try to get up earlier more often. Today, I have a class in the West Loop which is going to require a train change at Belmont. When I get to Belmont the train starts to fill up. I panic and leave. My original intent was to wait until Fullerton but I was in the middle and thought I would get stuck on the red line. I made this young woman next to me get up right when she sat down.

I do miss the brown line. It is so clean always which goes to show the obvious classist ways of city hall.

There was a woman in a wheel chair who was three feet tall. What struck me about her was that she was a serious power broker. She was ripping someone a new asshole on her cel phone. She had the serious power black suit and very put together hair. I looked up from my paper and she was staring at me. I smiled and she smiled back - I didnt want to fuck with her. I assume the person that she was screaming at did not want to either.

The one article in the RedEye that struck me was the one about how even two glasses of wine will make you mentally impaired te next day. This made me want to have some right then.

When I got off the train at the retro Quincy stop, I notice there was only one turnaround exit bu two lines were feeding into this. THere was no awkwardness, the two lines would take their turns -- like a zipper. Seeing that moment was an nice thing - everyone getting along.

Friday, January 6, 2006 - 12:19 p.m.

All rules go out the window when you take the "el" on non-rush hour times. I rarely get the opportunity to do this but you find a whole new interesting set of people who are wandering around Chicago in the middle of the day.

Before I boarded the train, I helped a family with three children figure out which side went north. The three children kept screaming at the mom "Santa already gave us that in our stockings". Why were the children pointing this out and were they about to receive another gift they were now refusing?

There were plenty of seats on the train and I sat backward near the window. After a while this made me a little nauseous so I stopped reading.

There was a panhandler on the train who seemed to come out of nowhere. He had one of those canes for blind people (is there an official word for this?) so I assume he could barely see yet he had the biggest eyes for someone visually impaired. They seemed to shoot out of his head.

He received a little change from the crowd and said "God Bless". He then stood by the door that goes between the cars and counted his change by feel. Then burst into a chorus of "Jesus is the reason"

In front of me about three rows facing me was a man who was probably homeless. He had a huge distressed bag of random stuff. THis man was enjoying a piece of cherry pie. It was his lucky day because he had three piece, all stacked upon each other. When he finished the first piece, he moved to the second piece by turning over his plate where the pie had stuck to the bottom of the top plate. He did seem to be thoroughly enjoying his dessert.

As I went down the stairs at the station getting off the train, there was a woman who was coming up the stairs and had to rest after every two steps. She would let out a gasp before starting again.

Friday, January 6, 2006 8:25 a.m.

Another day of walking right on to the train upon arriving at the station. Still didn't quell my mood or desire not to be riding the train to work.

I was fascinated by this article in the RedEye by this female columnist who did not like Brokeback Mountain. It was a thoughful column making no apologies and just saying yes, it's important but she found parts slow and hopefully her gay friends will understand. There was this hetero man in front of me also captivated by the article as well.

The guy who sat next to me slept the whole way in to the Loop. There are two types of people - people who can sleep on the train and those who can't. I cannot. My boyfriend can. This man can.

The only conversation on the train was this couple holding hands. You could not make out anything she said except one time she exclaimed to him, "You mean, what would I do if I was not with you?"

Thursday, January 5, 6:44 p.m.

Post-gym, I walked to the Grand stop. This is not my normal stop - just when I get done with the gym. I am always amazed and perplexed by the variety of el stops even along one line. I get off in the morning at the Red Line Lake station with all its new fancy glorious-ness. Brightly lit, new paint.

I sit in the seat right by the door that runs parellel with the car. Lately, I have been stuck between a person and the wall before the door which with even a petite person is uncomfortable.

Oh - when I got on there was a large white man with a beard that was sitting on the outer seat. He has his newspaper on the other seat. It is the only open seat in the front of the car and I must have had "ooo - my ass is tired" look and desperately need to sit down. He sees me and ROLLS HIS FUCKING EYES at me. I decide he is too sweay to bother and I walk by him to the other side.

I finished the RedEye crossword. I am a crossword junkie and a snob at that. I normally do the Tribune but when I do the RedEye, I expect to finish. Yesterday I did not and it made me crabby.

The only other interesting site besides the strangely silent car was the reading material across from me. One guy was reading a new Michael Connelly book which I will have to look into and another guy was reading a magazine called "Climbing". I judge in silence that it must be a BORING magazine but then again I read running magazines and TimeOut Chicago.

Hello all -

Since first starting and losing this blog three years ago, I AM BACK. I have also switched lines after moving to the lovely neighborhood of Aandersonville.

Thursday, January 5, 2006 8:18 a.m.

I was very late since I forgot my cell phone and deemed that I could not live the day without it. I was half-way to the station before having to trudge home to retrieve and envy my boyfriend once again still getting to sleep longer than I did.

Luckily, I walked right on to the train.

I got a seat next to a man who was listening to his iPod with his only belonging being the RedEye and a Walgreens bag with six cans of soda. I looked up to see this man I used to see at the gym when I belonged to Bally's. He is Asian, stands 4.5 feet tall which comes up to my elbow and always has perfect hair even post-workout. He smiles at me graciously.

There was someone playing Enimem loudly on their iPod - not the guy next to me. Didn't he read Peter Townsend's warning in the newspaper yesterday?

oh oh oh - sitting next to the Asian gym-goer was an actor who did an informercial for the CTA. How ironic that he actually uses the product he endorses. Then it made me sad thinking they did not pay him enough and he had to be part of the 9-5 cog machine to make ends meet. At least he is pretty.