Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 8:07 a.m.

I was walking behind this man on the way to the train who was smoking the foulest smelling cigarette. Now, I smoke when drinking and dont mind the smell of cigarettes but not at 8 a.m. and blowing directly in my face.

I grabbed the RedEye and accidentally grabbed two copies. I gave one to the woman behind me and it was like I had just given her a piece of gold. She was very grateful and expressed this to me.

When I got to Belmont, a woman sat in the aisle seat next to me. She was young and small. She proceeded to read over my shoulder the entire ride. Didn't matter that half way I switched to the Tribune, she read over my shoulder. Get your own FREE RedEye lady! Pay for your own Tribune subscription! This is my paper and you are creeping me out.

Monday, September 25, 2006 - 5:22 p.m.

There was a little girl that was screaming and screaming. Her daddy said "you know, you are going to have to re-examine your volume". This did not help.

I screwed up my soduku by having too many fours in it. Damn.

Monday, September 25, 2006 - 8:05 a.m.

There was a man gathering petitions to run for alderman. Now, I am a Mary Ann Smith fan and really had no desire to help this nobody run against her. He had this full schpiel that he said to everyone "I am xxx Parsons running to be your alderman and need your signature on a petition." I politely replied "No, thank you."

I got on the train and took the only seat available. There was a tiny woman who scowled at me but she was not old or pregnant. A vibrant girl wearing black ballet slippers. I promptly sat on the seat covered by the Best Buy circular (I was scared to see what was underneath).

The book I am reading, The Glass Castle becomes more fascinating with each chapter.

Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 8:06 a.m.

There was an upscale, sophisticated woman on the Berwyn platform who looked lost. I assume that her car was in the shop or her driver was ill. So here she was, amongst the commoners wondering how this whole el train worked. She clutched her newly purchased transit card with intensity. She could not make up her mind which way to go - do you sit front or back of the train.

The man sitting next to me on the train had a beautiful suit that I kept eyeing. It was a subtle brown tone with a very slight pinstripe. It was that light summer weight wool suit. He was accessorized with some sunglasses, the iPod mini and a silver wedding band.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 8:17 a.m.

There were many people on the Berwyn Station this morning. An announcement was made that "A seven-minute delay at Howard is now fixed and the trains should be coming momentarily." I was amazed by his precise knowledge of the delay.

There was a woman sitting next to me on the aisle seat. I finished the RedEye and was going to switch to my new book. The woman looked at me and I said "No." Then she got up and I was getting my book out. She said "Oh, I thought you were getting off." I responded "No, just changing reading materials" and for some reason I touched her outer thigh which startled her. I opened my book and pretended that it did not happen.

Monday, September 18, 2006 - 8:30 a.m.

I was particularly struck by one man who saw an empty can on the platform floor and decided to pick it up and dispose of it. I thought that was a generous act to the Chicago transit Authority.

Monday, September 6, 2006 - 8:07 a.m.

This is the first el ride after my recent move. Fortunately, I am still going to the same stop and taking the same path for the most part.

A man was also taking the same path to the train and his gait was really delicate. He was carrying one of those cloth tote bags that are easy giveaways from conferences I tend to only use then throw away.

The woman who sat in front of me had a daily devotion book. Today's reading was about a lamp and came from Revelations 22.

College is underway and the students are filling up the train (this will diminish as the semester continues and the skipping/failing of classes starts) Or maybe I missed the memo about casual Wednesdays. One of the male students had a very sleek casual look with a madras hat and seer-sucker shorts. Unfortunately, he bought the shorts to big so you could see his ridiculous striped boxers underneath.

An overheard conversation:

Man: "Hey you"

Woman: "OMG! Hi! How are you?"

Man: "Great! And You?"

Woman: "Good ... Good."

Man: "You don't remember me do you?"

Woman: "Not at all."

Man (answering dejectedly thinking he had made more of an impact than he really did): "We knew each other from xxx"

The conversation trailed off but I was enthralled at how well this woman feigned enthusiasm at this chance meeting and conversation.


Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 5 p.m.

Sitting behind me was an Eastern European couple and their daughter who was about five. The man had a continual conversation with his daughter and here are some of the gems.

"That is Wrigley Field, one of the most important places in America to Americans."

"I don't want to hold your doll, boys don't play with dolls" The little girl responded that the boys in her class do - which he responded "No, I know they play with trucks."

After the suspicious activity announcement "I think you have suspicious activities and I should report you to the authorities" which the little girl screamed NO! after that.