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.