The Bathroom Car

I hate the old trains. They're so outdated, the seats are all messed up and not as comfy as the newer trains, I never understood the seat where the back isn't as high as the other 2 in its row and worst of all, they all smell like the bathroom.

You can always tell something is wrong on the train when an entire section is empty, especially if it's during rush hour. No one wants to sit there and it's usually because it smells, there's no AC or there's a noise that everyone can't ignore.

Today. The train smells like bathroom.

If it weren't for the coffee and lotion the woman next to me has...the smell would be much worse. It's masking the smell enough for me to stay.

Then again, this is the same woman who is filing her nails and every so often she hits an angle that makes me cringe bc it sounds similar to nails on a chalkboard.

Every so often the smell of her coffee goes away and the smell of the bathroom comes back making me want to vomit. I could move, but chances are the other cars smell like this too. It's typical of the older trains. I don't understand why they are always so smelly.

The bathroom car is gross.

The Quiet Car - do you say something?

I have to say, ever since they decided to do the whole Quiet Car on the LIRR, it has been one of my favorite things the LIRR has done, and believe me, there aren't many at all.

When you commute every day...it's exhausting...you are at the mercy of the trains and there are stinky, rude, loud, obnoxious and annoying people that ride with you every day. But...you have to do it bc it beats sitting in traffic every day...paying more in gas, tolls, and parking than a monthly ticket.

So, when the quiet car started...I thought it was fantastic, however, I thought it might take away from some of the interesting stories I came across and posted/blogged about. The funny thing, is, it didn't...because you still get those people who don't know about the quiet car or just don't care.

A little bit ago, I took the usual 519 train home and as always, I sit in the quiet car. I love to read and if I have to, I will put my iPod on to block out constant noises or obnoxious people...but sometimes it's nice to just read w/out music.

You can definitely tell the people who sit in the designated quiet car because they respect the program and enjoy the silence.

So, there's a guy I have referred to in the past as 'stinkpot' and he is usually on the same trains as I am in the AM and PM...and he is an avid reader.

Sitting on the 519 one day, he was there on the other side of the train from me and there were two people in front of him talking to each other. One of the most awkward things to do, is say something to someone or multiple people about them talking on the phone or having a conversation with someone else. I don't like to do it, but at the same time, there's a reason for the quiet car.

It was a man and a woman who seemed to be friends, just chatting away. Stinkpot kept looking up from his book and the woman kept seeing him look and tried to lower her voice, but her friend just kept his voice at the same level.

Stinkpot then politely tapped the man on the shoulder and informed him that this was the quiet car and if he could, to please lower his voice. It was definitely the most polite way you could ask someone to be aware of where he or she was sitting. He didn't ask him to move or stop talking.

Well, this guy was a complete ass (pardon that french) and continued to talk...then...lowered his voice a little. But...then turned around to Stinkpot and said "is that better, is my voice low enough" in a really snotty and sarcastic way - completely unnecessary. Stinkpot said "look, I don't want to start anything, I just want to read my book and you are talking loudly in a designated quiet car."  The woman he was with was extremely embarrassed and asked him to stop. There was definitely a lot of tension as you could see it in the other commuters. 

That's how it gets when you have people trying to respect the program put in place. It may be silly to a lot of people, but, to those who ride the train every day...it's something that we respect and hope to enjoy as we sit on a train that takes us to work.

This morning would be another one of those times where you want to say something, but think...is it really worth it?

Two women who I also see on the train a lot were sitting in the 5-seater with me...they are both readers as well. A couple sitting behind one of the women were having a loud conversation, so the woman keeps sighing and turning around in hopes that they would get the idea that their conversation is A) too loud for a morning commute, and B) too loud for the quiet car.

The other woman looks up and they start talking to each other about the couple may not realize they are in the quiet car or debating if they should say something. The woman sitting next to me basically says not to say anything because she's like me - doesn't want to start anything.

The thing is, no one really wants confrontation on the train. There are plenty of times I would LOVE to say something...but...in the end...I can't go anywhere and I'm stuck on the train with these people who in the end won't move. So, why start something? I just end up waiting for them to realize where they are or realize that they are bothering the people around them...or...I wait for someone else to say something.

Slowest Train Ever

So I took the 540 today and it is by far the slowest train ever. It's supposed to get in at 621. The LIRR made an announcement at 638 saying 'sorry for the inconvenience but we are running 10 minutes behind.'

Well. I'm no mathematical genius...but it seems to me that they are more than 10 minutes behind.

Apparently there is congestion and now we are stopped.

At one point it was 625 and I looked out the window to see the Best Buy and thought I was passing Baldwin...which would've been acceptable. Then I realized...we were only in Valley Stream.

It's now 643 and we are stopped in Freeport. So according to my calculations (again...I'm no mathematical genius) that seems to make the train 20+ minutes behind.

I'm so glad the LIRR on time performance report was what - 90 something percent? Then they said 88%? Yeah. Keep going down LIRR. Not even close and clearly you cannot calculate how late your trains really are.

Also. I love how they let stop us to let a late eastbound train pass us...we're late too...thanks for making us later.

Time of Arrival: 650

Late: 29 minutes

Can't wait to see what LIRR records on this one.

Awesome.

Sitting in a sweat box...

I don't normally care much if the AC is on full blast in the summer bc then I freeze on the train. But, this by far, is the absolute worst train ride this summer. I do like a little AC pumping. No AC on the train. It is so gross. I can barely breathe it's that hot. Not saying I'm going to pass out but it's definitely not breathable.

What I love the most, is that people complain and yell at the conductor. They can't do anything but reset it which they did and it can take about 15 minutes to kick on and start working. If you don't like it. Get up off your ass and walk up a few cars to where the AC is working and stop complaining.

Her response was quite hilarious to the guy who asked the question of 'how do we know when it works or not after you reset it?' She said 'when you start to feel it.' Love that sarcasm!

I look at it as maybe I'll sweat off a few pounds hahaha.

Look, it sucks to pay all this money for a commute that doesn't have heat or AC in the proper months, but, it doesn't happen every day.

This is one of those 'I hate ppl more than the LIRR' moments.

Stairs are not one way...

I really need to keep up with this!!

It's true, it doesn't always take long to annoy me on the LIRR...and today was no different. For the most part, my train rides haven't been too bad or eventful for that matter...and today's blog isn't really about being on the actual train.

I always have this thing where I get annoyed when people bombard the stairs and think that the stairs go only one way, their way. It happens a lot and I've just learned not to care and I'll push those people out of my way if I have to - I don't like to do it - but I don't like that they think if they are walking up (or down) the stairs they can take up the whole staircase if they are with someone else or a group. They have no courtesy to move over politely.

Today, I got off the train and of course when everyone gets off the train, it's only natural that everyone just goes up the stairs like a herd of cows...bombarding the stairs and going up with no room for anyone to come down if they have to catch a train that happens to be on the same track and/or platform. I've been there and it sucks to push through everyone bc you need to get to your train.

As everyone's walking up, there's one lonely guy trying to make his way down the stairs through all of these people and he was very polite about it bc I watched the whole thing. So, as he passes this one girl, he probably hit her bag as he was trying to come down and she turns around and just gives this deathly look and at that moment I just wanted to say something or push her myself ha! It sucks being one person against 50 people trying to get down the stairs to your train...I wish people had more respect for those that need to get down the stairs and to their train while going against the grain of a huge group!

The stairs work two ways - unless it's an escalator - then there are usually no problems!

Be considerate and move out of the way!

If you can't fit...please don't sit...

 

This is an oldie...but a goodie. If no one gives me new material on the LIRR...I'll just bring back old material...hey...it's new material to you!

So, I will preface the story with this - I was originally sitting where his hand is - yes, that is supposed to be a two-seater.

The 2 seats across from me were occupied with people. The train stops and commuters pack in...I hear "excuse me" from behind and I turn to get up to let them get in and sit...and if you could only see my face...it read "are you serious? there's no way you are fitting in the seat next to me" - the guy sitting across from me was wide eyed w/the same expression as was everyone else on the train. I'm sure they were just thankful that it wasn't them. There was no science to it...he just wasn't fitting there.

Well, outside of basically sitting ON me, he managed to squeeze himself into the seat next to me. When he did that - he pushed me over because he did not fit on just one seat...he was on 1 1/2 seats...I was on 1/2 with my side jammed up against the armrest - not.comfortable. I still look at that picture and wonder how the heck I fit there and how on Earth he squeezed himself in there!?

Also - he was chewing on the fattest cigar I have ever seen and it was just plain disgusting.

This was a very long time ago...so I want to say that the train stopped in Jamaica or Woodside and just before it stopped - the guy sitting across from me gave me a sympathetic look and got up as if he was leaving. That may have been the case...or he just got up because he felt so bad for me...there are still some chivalrous male commuters out there that will give up their seat for a woman. 

That's when I switched seats and saw how much room I actually had. I gave him another look like "how is it that you thought sitting there was a good idea? I had to move because I was so uncomfortable and yet you really don't care."  

I snapped a picture because I felt that everyone just had to see this!!

The Faker

 

So, this is The Faker. Or the "I need space woman"...I kinda think she pulled a jerk move...

This was on the Long Beach Line...in case anyone cares to know...I was on my way out to see my friend Christina and Ben and their new addition, Christian, so thanks to them since I haven't blogged in awhile and have new material!

Now, I was originally sitting on the outside seat...where her bags are conveniently located.

I got on the train first, and always sit on the outside - I do not like to feel squished on the train and especially if a bigger person asks to sit down next to me - I get a slight case of claustrophobia...not to mention it is just uncomfortable!

So, she gets on the train and asks to sit down - because it requires me to get up - I will not just slide over unless I know the person and don't mind.

As you can see in the picture - she is on the phone. She talked to multiple people the entire commute to Long Beach. THANK GOODNESS I had my freakin' iPod with me AND it was fully charged. But...I could still kinda hear her over the iPod.

This train stopped at Lynbrook, Centre Ave (I think), East Rockaway, Oceanside, Island Park and finally Long Beach. What KILLS me about this...is the train ends in Long Beach...so now that you know that...here is the rest of the story...

When we arrive at the first stop - Lynbrook - she starts shuffling her bags together and I was kinda in the middle of a good song and not paying attention until she looked at me. I turned my head to her and she give me the "I need to get out" look and points that she is getting out. Of course, I get up to let her out. 

She puts her bags down where I was just sitting...now...normally I let the inside person out and then sit back down again...but because the train was pretty empty after Lynbrook...I sat in the 5-seater since no one was sitting there...that's where I took the picture.

Remember, I got up because she signaled that she needed to get out. What does she do? She sits down and takes papers out and puts her bags in my seat (that I got out of bc of her). Was this woman serious? So she's a faker...she never needed to get out. Want to know how I know this? Because she didn't get off the train until Long Beach. She was going there the whole time. She apparently just wanted to put her bags down and had to fake getting off the train for it to happen.