A Regular Rider

I am recognized as a regular now on the 4:48am MARC train.  It's rather embarrassing as to how I discovered my regular status but I'm going to tell the story anyway.  It all started this morning when I slept through my alarm.  So rather than getting out of bed at the usual 3:45 am.  I slept in until 4:05 am.  While 20 minutes may not seem like enough time to throw my schedule off, trust me it did.  I scrambled to wash my face, brush my teeth, get dressed, pack my bag, grab my coffee and dash out the door by 4:25 am in order to get to the station in time to make my train.  I did it, of course, and was greeted by the other early morning commuters when one of the women who also is a regular rider leaned over to tell me that I had forgotten to zip up the fly on my pants.  I thanked her and as discretely as possible finished dressing.  Was I embarrassed?  Not really.  I figure you have to be pretty familiar with someone in order to point out such a misstep.  And frankly, I'd have been more embarrassed had she not said anything.  So today I sing the praises of the other early morning regulars who watch out for us newbies and make sure we get to work dressed and in one piece. 

Civilized Hours

Through a serendipitous event, I was able to shorten my morning commute significantly today.  In fact, I didn't have to step on the MARC train at all this morning.  Rather, I was able to get to the office via metro rail and that's all.  The commute took in total maybe 30 minutes, which allowed me two additional hours of sleep this morning.  So while 5:45 am still may seem like an ungodly hour to some, it's a far cry from the 3:45 am wake up call I usually have.  Frankly, I could get used to it.

Birth Control

When seven children -- ranging in age (I'm guessing) from about one-year-old to about eight -- entered the train car this evening, I knew I was in for, shall we say, an interesting ride home.  It's not often that you see this many children on the MARC, especially in one car, and the entire atmosphere of the evening commute changed.  Not only was everything much louder -- the crying, the yelling, the teasing, etc. -- but there was more movement than I'm used to from the regular commuters.  The kids were constantly fidgeting -- sitting on seats, standing on seats, sitting on laps, standing on laps, standing in the aisles, again, etcetera.  The adult chaperones looked too tired to put a stop to any of it and I'm not saying they should have.  Kids are naturally curious when it comes to new surroundings and this appeared to be the first train ride for many of them.  Plus, I think it served as a life lesson for the young couple sitting next to me who watched in horror at all the commotion.  Like I said, interesting ride.

Commuter Etiquette

Few things bother commuters more than the failure of only occasional riders to follow the unwritten rules of the rails.  But if the rules are unwritten, how are new riders supposed to know what is appropriate?  That's where I come in.  In an effort to help novice riders, I've compiled a list of some of the more common rules to follow.  If you can think of more, please feel free to add them as I'm sure I haven't thought of everything.

1. Cultivate your situational awareness -- In other words, make sure you pay attention.  If commuting during rush hour, you will see people rushing to catch trains,  purchase tickets, etc.  If you impede their progress, you should be aware that you do so at your own risk.

2.  Stay to the right -- Metro rail has its own version of slow traffic stay right.  That means, if you are not going to walk up the escalators, get out of the way of the people who are walking.  Chances are, those people who are walking are the same ones rushing to catch trains, purchase tickets, etc.  Do you see where I'm going with this?

3.  Talk softly -- Whether it's when your talking on your cell phone or to your neighbor, just remember not everyone needs to hear what you say.  This is truest in the morning when people tend to try to catch a few extra ZZZZs before starting their workday.  The evening commuters tolerate noise a bit more.  It's probably because they've already had their coffee.

4.  Use roller bags with caution -- Luggage is okay, but a rolling backpack is more troublesome.  While they may be convenient and save your back, I've been tripped up several times because someone just hasn't been paying attention as to who is in front or behind them as they wield their bag around.

Friday Friends

Need a tip for making a new friend?  Try cracking open a box of wine and offering a plastic cup of pinot grigio to your seat partner.  I'm telling you, it really works.  At least it did this evening for my seat partner.  She said she always brings an extra cup in hopes someone will share a drink with her, but often people decline.  I'm not shy though.  I really appreciated the offer.  It has been a rough week and while every Friday I hear other people celebrating, I had not yet experienced my first train happy hour.  It was exactly what I needed --- both the drink and the friend.  So we thudded our plastic glasses together and toasted to the weekend.  Now that's what I call commuting!

Traveling Light

I had to admire the man who sat next to me on the commute home tonight.  He nonchalantly walked to the seat with a small newspaper in hand -- something he obviouly picked up on the way to the train in order to have some reading material to keep him entertained on the ride.  The newspaper was it though!  No lunch bag, no briefcase, not even a portfolio.  Okay, so he had a cell phone, but that was strapped to his belt and didn't seem to weigh him down at all.  Sure, I thought, travel light now but you'll pay for it later.  What happens if the train breaks down?  I will feast on my extra pudding cup and bottled water both of which are stuffed under the computer and pair of shoes in the totebag I had to move in order to let him sit down.  Moving it took awhile too because I was rummaging through my purse at the time trying to find my train ticket to present to the conductor.  While I was doing that, Mr. Light Traveler as I have since named him, pulled his neatly out of his shirt pocket and flashed it.  Okay, so I get the point, but I'll admit it right here, right now, I will never be able to board the train with nothing but a newspaper.

Hot & Humid

Thanks MARC for putting out coolers full of icy cold water at Union Station.  While it doesn't make up for delays, mechanical failures and lack of seats, it does make the long ride in this heat (97 degrees today!) a bit more tolerable.  The extra crank on the air conditioning is also a nice touch.  These may be just customer relation ploys, but it hasn't gone unnoticed.  Just thought you'd like to know.

SRO

It was standing room only on the morning train, which is understandable given that MARC had previously announced the train would be operating with one less car.  However, the commute home was also SRO.  So either MARC forgot to attach the missing car when we arrived at Union Station or more people are riding the train.  MARC recently announced an increase in ridership so it's most likely the latter.  And it is expected that the trains will be even more crowded once September comes and fewer people are off on vacations.  So perhaps the new, sterile train cars with their too-close seats are a blessing in disguise.  According to MARC, the new cars mean fewer people standing.  As for me, though, I'm just glad I get on at the second stop.

Stuck

I'm sitting on a stopped train.  UGH!  Apparently an Amtrak train is disabled near the BWI stop and it's preventing us, and the two trains ahead of us, from getting past.  I can tell it's going to be a long trip home.  I find it interesting that these types of delays never seem to happen in the morning on my way to the office.  Perhaps it's because there are fewer trains on the track at that time of day.  Perhaps the commuter gods just like to conspire against me.  I'm not really sure.  All I know is I just want to go home. 

She's Back!

Orange Hat Lady is back.  She sat down right in front of me this morning.  Finally.  I haven't seen her in several weeks and thought she had escaped from the morning commute.  But there she was this morning.  Orange knit hat pulled down over her eyes napping away.  I almost said something to her, but decided not to disturb her.  As we pulled into Union Station though off came the orange hat and The Voice wished us all a good day.  All is right with the world.

Magazine Mogul

My stack of unread magazines is literally more than a foot tall.  I just measured it this weekend.  This is a bit disheartening.  I told myself when I took the new job with the long commute that I would use the time to catch up on my reading. But it seems as if my stack keeps growing. 

Now let me be clear.  I don't actually pay for a subscription to all these magazines.  These are things we've gotten with extra frequent flyer miles or as gifts.  But still I feel guilty if I don't read each and every one. 

So not only did I measure my stack this weekend, but I put the magazines in chronological order so I could read the oldest ones first and then move on to the more recent issues.  Unfortunately, by the time I move on to the more recent ones, they'll be old too.  Just to give you an idea as to how far behind I am on my magazine reading -- I just learned who was best dressed at the Oscars and who actually won the golden statues.  I don't know how I functioned all this time without knowing that important information.  But I managed to make it through, several months in fact, blissfully ignorant.

Nonetheless, I'm determined to get through the stack, one by one.  Tomorrrow, for instance, I could read a  fitness magazine that guarantees I will be bikini ready by the first day of summer (NOT!) or I could read a holiday issue of a cooking magazine.  (Yes, I'm really that far behind.)  So while it's not too late to get in shape for next summer,  I decided to read the holiday issue instead and see if I can come up with some new recipes for Thanksgiving.  I just hope no one has tried them though.  After all, they're a bit outdated.