Why Can't We Be Friends

POSTER: "Lean on your best friend for the $50 he owes you. But don't lean on the subway doors. It's dangerous--you block other people."

MTA, we need to talk.

You need to get over this "best friend" of yours. I know, I know. He promised that you guys would get to hang out. Promised that you guys would be together from Coney Island to City Island. But, MTA. He isn't giving you your money back.

MTA, he's not coming back.

So, you have to stop taking this out on us. So many millions of commuters try hard to love you. We know you're serious about saftey. So, if it means that much to you, please, take the $50 bucks. C'mon. Take it. Go on. TAKE IT. You big lug. We love you. Atta' boy.

Flower Power

Monday, January 14th

At 7:15a it was sunny. Then, by 7:30p it was grey again. 36 degrees.

Train book: Hunt for Red October. This morning I read the section when the Russian fighter pilot was embarrassed during an assignment by two American jets. Tension is building over the Atlantic!

7:55a

N: I ran into my friend, Trish, on the walk to the train. She's pretty great. We parted ways at Dunkin' Donuts and I went up to the train. As I got to the platform, four slow-moving people waddled their way through the crowd as the train pulled into the station. As someone who needs to be at the front of the train, I did my best not to push these fellow riders in front of the train (that would only delay me more) and snaked around them at the last minute.

7: Crowded platform. Crowded train. I ran into the middle of the second car only to have some dude's backpack keep jabbing me in the ribs. It was too much so I gently pushed back enough for him to look up and kindly, but vaguely said, "Ah, your bag..."

G: Crowded and full of idiots. Since I've been heading to work early (we're 3 weeks without a boss at work, so an hour of quiet in the morning helps pick up the slack), I'm riding with the Brooklyn Tech High School crowd. Call me a curmudgeon, but I could do without the early morning shenanigans. How the hell do teachers do it?

Monday, December 3rd

I didn't write in October or November! Yikes. I'm back.

7:50am

Bright sun, blue sky (welcomed weather after this past weekend's snow storm, then rain fall).

The Bronx. 36 degrees.

Metro North to Grand Central
After unsuccessfully trying to buy a south-bound, one-way Metro North card because the machine wouldn't accept my cash, I said my good-byes to my lovely boyfriend who accompanied me to the station and boarded the 8:12am train with the understanding that I'd have to buy an $11 ticket from the conductor.

Once the conductor with a thick 70s ballplayer mustache sauntered up to my row, I explained the machine was broken and I'd have to buy my ride from him. He looked down at me and said, "Well, maybe we can work something out. How much've you got?"

He had a clear view into my wallet and the fat $20 that stared back at him.

I said, "I mean...I've got the money, it's just..."

He quickly said, "Ok then."

I sighed and was about to bring out the $20 when the conductor said, "Or, you could buy a $5 off-peak ticket from her." He pointed to the woman sitting next to me who was holding an unused ticket.

I looked at her, then at her ticket. I looked back at the conductor. He looked at me. He looked at the woman. Then, a little old lady sitting in the aisle across from me piped up, "Buy the ticket from her, sweetheart!"

So, I did and thanked her profusley. She said, "No problem, any time."

I thought that was sweet, because I'm sure I'll never see her again. But, if I do, I hope to return the favor.

Grand Central to Atlantic Ave.
I made the maddening transfer from the Metro North, through the main terminal of Grand Central Station (which is looking very pretty these days with it's Holiday light display) to the downtown express 4-5.

Hundreds of fellow commuters crammed themselves alongside me into the packed train. Then the announcer said the train would be "moving at slower speeds" for no good reason. Well, he gave a reason, but it was no good.

45 minutes and 15mph later, I arrived at my destination.

And some people walk to work: they miss all the fun.

Wednesday, October 3rd

It rained before I woke up (6:30a). The ground was wet, but drying and the air was so humid that when you move quickly, you sweat.

65 degrees.

8:39am

N: I had to get to work at 9:30am ("early" shift after an event), but I also had to finish all my laundry before work. I managed to do both by running/speed walking to the train, which I caught as it screamed into the station.

But, as I was hustling by the Dunkin' Donuts the block before the train, I looked to see who was yelling. It was a policeman gesturing wildly and shouting at the top of his lungs at a man in a white mini van. Two other cops, a woman and man, stood quietly by the loud cop, as he continued his tired. The man in the van seemed upset, too, and did the stupid thing of continuing to match the cop in volume and tone. A little something I have learned from TV and stories and that one time I got a ticket for riding my bike across the sidewalk is: don't yell at cops. Even though it might feel good for a few seconds and even if they are wrong (which the probably are). It won't get you anywhere.

Unless you wants to be on TV.

7: Train pulled in as we pulled in.

G: No trains in the station. The 9:06am pulled in, commuters disembarked, we boarded and off we went.

Tuesday, October 2nd

Got to head into work on the "late" shift (be at work between 10-10:30am) because I get to head home on the "early" shift after tonight's 25th Next Wave Gala Kick-Off Reception.

Sky was bright, but mostly covered with thin clouds. Kind of humid. Work had the air conditioning on, but it was breezy and mostly pleasant outside.

65 degrees.

9:17am

N: As I was walking towards the station, an inbound train tooted it's horn. I knew it was going express, so I didn't rush. I did, however, wonder if I was catching the tail end of the messed up train schedule or just the beginning...

Another ten minutes rolled by as a W pulled into the station, sped up, tooted, and drove on through. By 9:34, a new N came into the station and I was sure it would stop for us. It had to: I would've thrown rocks at it and convinced the other commuters to create a human wall/barrier.

It stopped locally.

When I sat down in mostly abandoned front car, my feet slid on a slimey water-like substance. It smelled like vomit, so gave up my seat for a patch of clean air and stood in the front of the car. We pulled into QB Plaza and a crowd of people lined the platform. I fought my way off and silently wished them good luck on the UpChuck Express.

7: We waited another ten minutes for the 7. By this time it was 9:55am and had taken me almost 45 minutes to go 10 blocks. It is times like these that I get angry. 45 minutes to go 10 blocks? Where are we, LA on the 10 at rush hour? No. We're in Astoria, an hour after rush. That ride should take 15 minutes, tops.

Anyway, the 7 finally showed up (after I had to send a message to work, embarrassingly telling them I might be late...for the late shift! I hate that!) and was packed. I squished my way on amongst, suprisingly, a bunch of teenagers.

G: As I hustled down the stairs to the platform, I could see the last car of the G pulling out of the station. "Dammit!" I yelled to no one.

A train was in the station, but all the doors were closed. Within a few minutes, another G pulled into the station and before the people were getting off, commuters were making their way on. The conductor warned us, "Stand clear of the closing doors, please!" and closed all the doors accept the back one.

After another five minutes of waiting, someone announced that the train across the platform would be leaving the station first. Glad I had my iPod turned at just the volume where I can both hear the music and be aware of my surroundings. So, we all had to get up, file out of the one half-open door through the other train's one half-open door.

In a moment, all the train doors flew open, the announcer screamed something, the doors binged shut and we were off. At Greenpoint, I noticed this dude sitting kitty-corner from me and thought he looked really familiar. I swore he was my best friend's former step brother, Corey, who at one time lived in New York. I later got confirmation that Corey lives in Dallas, so I feel justified not talking to a stranger. Avoiding awkwardness just for the sole purpose of curiosity is a good thing, I think.

I got to work a little after 10:30am.

Monday, October 1st

Holy crap, it's October.

The sky was bright, covered in thin clouds with little vents of sky peeping through.

64 degrees, but it felt like 69 degrees. Perfect blue jean weather.

N: My spidey sense tingled a block away from the station, so I quickened my pace. Sho' nuff, as I got to the bottom of the stairs, the train pulled into the station. I love seeing other commuters run to catch the trainm, too: dude in the nice suit, woman in heels and a tight, cloth dress, mom dragging her kid by the hand. The announcer was hanging out the window, so he held the doors.

7: Train was quickly pulling out of the station as we arrived. Another one came within a minute. I got in the second door to avoid Door #1 conjestion.

G: The conductor was hanging out the window, so he held the doors. Which was awesome.

When I got above ground, I ran into a dear friend from work and we were both on our way to tea and donuts.