Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - 7:55 a.m.

On Berwyn ave. just before getting to the station was a man who was wakling along jauntily while listening to his walkman. His personal style was that of Will Smith during the Fresh prince years.

I was intriqued by all the people wearing sunglasses. Since it has been hot and sunny, it appears a larger percentage of people were wearing sunglasses. Because you cannot see people's eyes, they all seemed very robotic. Animitrons making their way down to the loop.

The woman in teh seat next to me played Tetris the whole ride on her cell phone. She was not very good and gave me really snotty looks when she caught me looking at her. She had a diamond-elle nose piercing.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 5 p.m.

I ran into my friend Coby on the train who was just coming off an audition at the Goodman. He is a calm man but had the audition energy still and was eager to talk about it. I had not seen him in a long time and he was doing well. It made the train ride go very fast.

***I found out later that he did get cast and you can see him at the Goodman next season!

Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 8:15 a.m.

My friend Patrick and I went to a birthday party for our friend Michael last night. Since the party was in the neighborhood and we have AC, he decided to stay over. We drug our hungover asses on the train.

I was dismayed that he took the staircase I never take, sits in the front of the train. I was surprised how this broke up the morning rut. He did choose a seat that was facing backwards at the end of the car so I could see everything passing me.

The first time ever, I fell asleep. Trying not to lose my breakfast watching the backward riding and the trust of my friend to watch my bag, I dozed off. I just hope I did not snore.


Monday, July 17, 2006 - 5:40 p.m.

I had to run an errand after work to Crate and Barrel. So when I entered the train station at Chicago, I had already walked from the river to Chicago. The train was crowded and I was sweating. I saw one open seat and like a little old lady I bolted for it - basically cutting in front of a guy with a Brooks Brothers bag.

Monday, July 17, 2006 - 8:08 a.m.

Since the el fire the other day I notice that I have been avoiding the last car of the train. I was always a last car rider - maybe it stemmed from wanting to be the back of the bus cool kid yet never was.

I sat next to a really fussy lade in a beige/green suit. When I sat down, she made sure that there was plenty of room between her and me so that we were not touching at all. When we arrived at the Grand station, she stated "my stop is next so i guess I should start preparing"

There was a co-worker who was in the aisle but then a seat opened up and she sat across the way by a window. Lucky for her a really cute guy sat next to her. I was hoping they would strike up a conversation, go on a date, fall in love, get married and then I could say I was there when it all happened.

Thursday, July 6, 2006 - 7:50 a.m.

I gave up caffiene four months ago but last night I thought I would enjoy a large diet coke during my screening of X-Men 3. I was awake until 1:30 then tossing and turning all night long. So, being on the train this morning was somewhat of a blur to me.

I remember getting an aisle seat. I cannot remember who I was sitting next to.

The were two metrosexual guys towering over me as I read my Sandra Bullock Vanity Fair. I was reading an article about blowjobs, how they become so American and low-class.


Wednesday, July 5, 2006 - 5:15 p.m.

There was a large man sitting in the aisle seat with the window seat open. I have now mustered the courage after ten years of riding the el to actually insist on sitting where an empty seat is. I don't care about how much you have to maneuver to let me into the empty seat.

The very large man was reading the worlds smallest prayer book. It looked tiny in his large hands.

As we approached Belmont, there was this man freaking out at probably his receptionist on how he was so late for his client. He told the person on the other end "to just make them feel comfortable, I am on my way ... you know how the trains are." I really don't think the trains made him late.

I'm Back!

Wednesday, July 5, 2006 - 7:50 a.m.

First, I am back from a small hiatus.

The first day after a long weekend, the train is pretty empty. When I got on the platform, there was only one person on the whole platform. The car was empty. There was a window seat available but as I was heading toward the seat, this man was making a mad dash to get it before me. I didn't feel like putting forth the effort and sat on an aisle seat.

In front of me was a man in a suit working on his laptop. I thought he looked very lawyer/financial type but instead he was writing a paper on Van Gogh's Entrance to the public Garden in Arles.

A larger woman sat across the aisle from me. When she sat down, the man in front of her began flirting slightly with her -- or so I thought. He was a Streetwise vendor and she was saying she had no money but then proceeded to advise him on how to find a job. Her advice was to go to some free internet place and visit sites like careerwise.com or careerbuilder.com

I did feel bad for her because she sat in the window and this woman got on at Addison and was visibly uncomfortable about her size. When we reached Belmont, the woman changed seats for obvious reasons.

There was a door-hugging woman who was very hip and attractive. The unfortnate thing is she was wearing a tight white shirt and exposed her ill-fitting bra.