October 11th, 2004
Woman who does not like to listen to other people´s cellular phone conversations
After having a weekend of many activities,
I decided to take a later commute on the public transportation system.
Plus it made me think that I am going to be able experience something
"new" because I never been on the 7:52 AM commute. There
were not as many people at the stop as when I take the 7:19 AM commute
which was good.
I plop myself to a seat and was going to read a magazine article.
Within 5 to 10 minutes, everyone seating in my vicinity is now hearing
some cellular phone conversation. I was thinking, "Oh my, does
this lady not know she is talking so loud that we can hear it." I
was thinking I should bark out "Hey shut-up". But I thought
that people would have thought I was being rude or something. So
I was thinking if I could perhaps ask her to put her phone on speaker,
because I don't like to hear only one side of a phone conversation.
But someone beat me to the punch. A woman on the opposite side starting
a long "SH-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h!!!!". But unfortunately the
loud woman was still talking. So the sh-ing woman tried it again.
This time it was little loud than sustain for a long time. Still
no affect. Then it happen, the sh-ing woman turned toward to
the loud cellular phone woman and said, "Excuse me.... Excuse
me!!... Ma'am!!.... Hey lady!!!!! Can you not talk loud? Can
you talk quieter? I don't want to hear your conversation."
Now the vehicle was quiet. I think I could have heard a pin drop.
The cellular phone woman started whispering on her phone and one
part I know I heard was her explaining to the person on the other end of
the phone that she was asked to be quiet. I sort of had a smile on
my face because I was glad to know I am not the only person feeling this
way. Then I was thinking this could have been a good commercial
that a certain beverage does for people who are described as "Real
American Heroes". This sh-ing lady could be nickname "woman
who does not like to listen to other people's cellular phone conversations".
September 22nd, 2004
Oh, how I miss my car.
I've noticed a new rider that has been
sitting in my car on the train the last several days. He has been
sitting in the upper deck sometimes only a few seats away from me. He
will sit down sip his coffee and peel open a banana. The first time
I noticed him was when I saw him place the peel of his banana under his
seat. Nice, I thought. I bet he's going leave that there when
he gets off. This is the upper deck, no one is going notice that
for the entire day. Meanwhile passengers will be riding the train
sitting on top of the compost pile he started under his seat. Sure
enough when we got off the train downtown, he left it behind. Pissed
me off.
The next day, he's back with his coffee and banana. This time when
he's done he is kind of enough to stuff his banana peel in his empty coffee
cup. A few minutes later, I here a strange clicking sound coming
from the seat in front me. I leaned a little to my left so that I
can see his reflection in the glass and noticed he was clipping his finger
nails. First of all, the constant clicking sound was getting on my
nerves but to top it off he was brushing the clippings into the seat. This
guy is really pissing me off. On top of having to shell out the $150.00
to ride the train each month, I have to ride to work surrounded by rotting
fruit carcasses and discarded fingernail clippings. Somedays I really
miss my car. It will be interesting to see what he does in the next
several days. Maybe I will get pissed off enough that I may something
to him. But, knowing me I won't, I will just reside myself to a commuting
hell of riding to work in the rolling landfill that is my train.
September 20th, 2004
Impatient commuter syndrome
Over the past several months that I have
been taking the train into work, I have noticed something weird about the
way people behave when it comes to riding the train. I thought that
starting this blog along with a friend of mine, who also takes the train
into work, will help shed some light on the woes of taking public transportation.
And maybe, with a lot of luck, help restore social order and a sense
of common decency among those that take advantage of the public transit
system.
The people at my train station seem to think the train is there to pick
them up and everybody else is just along for the ride. I normally
get to the train station a little early so I don't have to rush or perform
the 100 meter dash to catch the train. Although a little exercise
now and then wouldn't hurt me. There are several spots along the
tracks that people gather at so that the train doors will end up in front
of them. I will normally be the second person to my spot just behind
a girl that must get there 20 minutes early. In most situations the
order at which people would be served, say for instance at a restaurant,
would be the order at which they arrive. Not at my train station.
Even though the door is wide enough to let several people on at a
time, I am almost never the second person on the train. There are
people that would shove their grandmothers out of the way to get on the
train. I know this seems somewhat petty in nature but it erks me
that people that just arrived to the station as the train rolls up deserve
to get on the train before people that have been waiting longer. Maybe
there should be a hostess at the train station that takes your name and
hands you one of those vibrating pagers to let you know your seat is available
September 17th, 2004
My son had a bad day in school
This event actually took place back at
the start of the school year and I did not have anything to write about
today. So I thought I would share this event.
As I was on my way home, I was riding with a friend. So we were chatting
when there was this man in his mid-forties acting mad. He must have
been talking to a wife or girlfriend -- someone important. He said
rather loud, "Oh so you are too busy to talk to me on the phone..."
So I thought I need to listen in if he is going to talk that loud.
As soon as he hung up with that person, he immediately dialed another
person and within the first minute of the conversation he shared, "Josh
started school today and had an episode." I was thinking maybe
he was having a seizure or something like that. But instead the son
(this man seems like a single father) went to high school and after the
first day did not want to go back. He was sad over going to gym.
The son was so depressed that he refused to go to school the next
day.
Not to say that Josh is special, but why would you talk about this on the
train in a tone that everyone can hear. The dad did not just talked
once about the incident, but he called 4 other people on the phone and
shared the story. I think the kid is justified to be stressed
because he has a gossip father that can not confind anything.
Maybe he should start gossipping about his father.... he looks like a hairy
gorilla and can't keep a secret.
September 16th, 2004
Fountain drinks are a goldmine!
As I was heading home from work in THE
CITY, I was not able to find a seat all to myself. I had to share
an end seat which have two benches faces each other. I shared the
seat with two prospectors who were researching for a future business. Evidently
the individuals were looking at purchasing a gas station/convenient store.
I tried to ignore them, but the conversation was loud and it was
fairly crowded as well. I decided to stay point and just my best
to ignore. The conversation just ended up being somewhat strange
so I will share it with this blog.
The individuals were viewing all the information was a computer laptop
where there were gas stations marked for sale. Information included
the annual sales for the business, the price, the square footage, and other
information. It appears the two prospects were not wanting to be
partners, but were reviewing what is the best deal. The individuals
did not want to have a gas station in THE CITY because of the amount of
competition with other vendors. The preferred location was going
to be a small town in a mid western state.
Now coming from a small town myself, I can understand the logic here. There
is less competition and if on a business highway/interstate it could be
lucrative. So the individuals talked about how car washes for a gas
station is not profitable. It only a plow to attract customers via
the convenience of getting gas and then washing your car. I did not
really see the importance at all as I pick a gas station based on the brand
and the price. Then the businessmen were looking at the books of
the business. There was not much information and one guy (who was
short in stature) asked why is there not enough historical info. The
other guy (who was tall in stature) explained that the current gas station
owners have only started to keep records since the decision of selling
the business. Now realize these people are working in the business
field right now and want to buy something from a small town where (most
likely) these people are not as formerly trainer as these buyers. I
asked myself do they not realize this?
Anyway the conversation then went to comparing all the businesses for sale
with its offerings. The short guy then exclaimed, "Oh my gosh
this one has fountain drinks and alcohol. Fountain drinks are a goldmine!
You can make a bundle from these alone. Plus you don't have
to spend much on maintenance." While it is true that a soft
drink fountain does not have much in expenses -- working in fast food there
is very little labor involved and most of the cost is for the drink, lid,
and straw -- I would have not spoke that loud about it.
Then the conversation went to the cost. There much had been which
was a deal: it was in an ideal location and was for sale for $1 million
dollars and had a nice amount of square footage for a convenient-type store.
The shorter guy exclaimed all you need is $250,000 to get a loan
approved. I thought OK if you have that much money laying around,
then what get a gas station. I tend to be conversation on things,
but I know from my business knowledge that is not that simple. I
would have find something more profitable or build a business outside of
retail. I only go to a gas station to get gas. Yes I may get
a bottle soft drink, but I don't go to a gas station to buy milk, alcohol,
chips, nor other goods.
Of all things to do on a ride home from work, I would not be crazied for
a convenient mart.
September 15th, 2004
Sir Cough-a-lot
I can't believe I survived the ride home
from work. Basically I was riding home when I notice something odd.
There was this old looking guy (maybe later 40s or early 50s) who was drinking
a Jamba Juice. He was riding next to an Asian woman. She was
fairly young. What caught my attention was the fact he gave her the
rest of his Jamba Juice. Evidently he had his fill. I thought
it was strange at first, but though again maybe he knows her. I
started to think more and that is was really strange for a complete strange
to give his drink after he licked the straw (and maybe gave the drink some
backwash); so they have to know each other.
Then it happen!!! He started to cough. It was a small succession
of three coughs. He did not even cover his month at first. Then
30 seconds later he cough again. The woman next to him never reacted
to it. She was still sipping on the Jamba Juice which he previously
was drinking. Again he coughs but the last one was one of those coughs
you do to clear your throat. It sort sounded like he was hacking
up something. I started to feel icky.
It was hot that day and I was wearing a long sleve Oxford style shirt.
Naturally one will sweat a little with this type of shirt on.
With this guy coughed I started to think if I continue to sit here I am
going to catch his whatever. I looked around to see if I could move,
but I could not find an empty seat. Now he is coughing again. But
this time he formed a fist with his right hand and put up near his mouth
to be polite. How polite it is really? Because it is just causing
whatever he has to bounce off his right hand (in a sort of fist shape)
to go to his left and right. So now I am envisioning small droplets
of germs bouncing away from him. And he was still coughing.
I'd try to ignore it, but how can you ignore a guy coughing in front of
you for a 40 minute ride. I thought nothing worse can happen. Can
it? Of course because I thought of it, something is happening now.
The guy I was sitting next too start to blow his nose. Now
granted he was using a Kleenex and it never slopped out of the Kleenex,
but because of the coughing guy, I was feeling grossed. So after
the first stop, I decided to stop up and wait for my stop (8 minutes later)
near the front of the vehicle.
Of course as soon as I got home, I had to take all my clothes and wash
them immediately. Then take a long hot shower. Sure
I am wanting to disinfect myself, but with the ride I had home this night,
I need to have that "feel good clean" feeling.
Therefore, I dubbed this guy Sir Cough-a-lot.
September 10th, 2004
Welcome
Welcome to this site. Everyday as I use public transportation I notice the experience is never like yesterday. Here I am going to record My Everyday TRavel Adventures.
