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.