Oh...that's my cell phone?

So...let's talk about this guy:

This was actually from Friday...I just haven't had time to update.

Now...all last week...the trains were pretty empty due to Passover, Easter, school being out...etc. Good Friday, for obvious reasons, was extremely empty and quiet...especially on the off-peak trains.

So...there are TONS of seats on the LIRR...and this guy chooses to sit here. Now...the 3-seater in front of me, mind you, was empty. Then he just keeps looking out the window - UM - he could've had a window seat...plus he smelled so I was not a happy camper.

Then...someone's cell phone goes off...and it's just ringing and ringing. So - smelly guy next to me looks around and looks at the guy on the other side of him in the 2-seater...who was texting on his phone...as he's staring at him he realizes "oh...it's my phone" - what an idiot...really? Do you NOT know your own obnoxious ring tone? 

So...then continues to talk loudly on his phone...a serious LIRR cell phone offender. In addition to that...he was one of those people that not only was his phone ringing and ringing and ringing, but when he pulled it out of his pocket...he looks at the caller ID while it's still ringing. WHY do people do that? Can't you silence it while you decide if you want to pick it up or not? 

I know I am not like all of the rude people on the LIRR...but...I refuse to talk on my cell phone when I'm on the train. Unless it's an emergency...you can wait. No one wants to hear a one-sided conversation...or what you have to say to anyone in the first place. And IF I pick up the phone on the train...I cover and talk low or get up and go to where the doors are to talk if I have to. Really, people, WHAT did you do before cell phones? I really wish sometimes they didn't exist. We survived at one point without them.

LIRR...Late Inconvenient Rail Road...

...is what it SHOULD  be called.

So, I'm a day or so behind on this...been a little busy at work getting some serious work done!

Of course, the day I forget my phone, I would've had a nice picture of what the LIRR looks like when they have delays that cause rush hour to be one chaotic mess. You walk down the steps expecting to get to your track and instead of that, you walk into a pile of people who are just standing there with no place to go...and pissed off as well. Right away...you know you're screwed and hope that you have no plans to get home to because it's going to be awhile. There's no where to stand and you are pretty much in the way of everyone, constantly getting bumped into because people who can actually get on their train are trying to weave their way through the crowd. And let me tell you...it gets hot and gross with all of those people just standing around.

Apparently...during a routine inspection, they found faulty tracks and just HAD to work on them during rush hour...causing at first 5-10 minute delays which end up being more like 30 minutes.

What I absolutely LOVE is the fact that they send out notifications (which...you only get if you sign up) telling you that there are delays happening or anything that has to do with your train line. But...here's the BEST part...they send one out saying there are all these delays...advising customers to leave the city early to get home on some of the extra trains running for the holiday. So...when does the LIRR have time to speak to my boss(es) and tell them that it's ok for me to leave work because the LIRR has f'd up yet again.

Then...they issue an apology the next day...that also says they are going to schedule routine inspections AROUND rush hour so there is no more inconvenience during the craziest time of day for commuters. So...it takes a bunch of angry commuters to figure that out? That you shouldn't do routine things during rush hour? Um. DUH! Here's the thing. If I had money for every time the LIRR should apologize for the crap they pull with MY money...I might actually have a free commute every month.

Needless to say...I didn't get home until 7:15pm that night. All I can say...is thankfully...I had a seat and didn't have to stand on a packed train...because that would've made it 20 times worse. Then again...when that happens I generally push my way through and do what I have to in order to get a seat. Because it's literally every man and woman for themselves when that happens. The elbows come out!

I've named him...Stink Pot...

So, since I started this blog...the LIRR has been a little too silent...go figure. But, after a few days...the stories are back...

It's funny how after a short time...you can tell who is walking down the hall by the way they walk or even by the sound of their voice.

In the case of the LIRR...I can tell some people by the way they smell. Yes, it's gross because it's either a bad smell of body odor or way too much perfume or in this case...a certain substance.

Below is my newly named commuter...I've named him Stink Pot...because I know when I smell an abundance of pot/marijuana/weed...whichever you prefer...I know that this guy has just walked on the train. He REAKS of it and apparently he makes no effort to mask the smell because it is so freakin' strong!

I will say...having my Droid makes it 100% easier to take pics...it was always harder with my blackberry and the pics were a worse quality. I could never find a way to silence the shutter on my blackberry either - so people KNEW when I was taking a pic because they could hear it. So...YAY Droid.

On another note...I am reading Kristin Hannah's new book, Night Road, and I am absolutely LOVING IT. I can't and don't want to put it down, sadly, they don't pay me at work to read - I WISH! I love when people on the train are also reading something I have read before or want to read. The girl across from me was reading Firefly Lane - my all-time favorite Kristin Hannah book. I just wanted to tell her it was so good and she'll be crying soon haha! I will say...Night Road is becoming a very close contender with Firefly Lane and I'm only 1/2 way through!

Since I didn't post yesterday...I will add this as well. Why can't the LIRR figure out that when it's cold out...they shouldn't blast the AC just like there should be no heat on when it's hot as hell out!! I was FREEZING on the train yesterday because they were blasting AC and it was like somewhere between 45 and 50 degrees out. Completely unnecessary. The LIRR needs to get their act together! Wishful thinking, I'm sure...

Unless that purse has a ticket...

Nothing too exciting this morning, but I love how when women sit down on the train their purse automatically goes on the seat next to them. I can't speak for all women, but this is the case for most. You get the occasional one or two who put it on their lap...but generally...it's on the seat next to them.

I get on the train this morning and some woman isn't moving her purse or acknowledging that I want to sit in the seat where her purse is currently resting. She pretends like I'm not there, probably thinking I will just give up and try to find another seat. Lady...I am not scared of you or your purse. You will move it and I will sit...because unless it has it's own LIRR ticket...it doesn't belong in the seat. You can huff and puff all you want because now it has to go on your lap. But guess what? I don't care.

Believe me, I am guilty of putting my purse next to me on the seat...BUT...I will move it willingly for anyone to sit and will not be obnoxious about it.

Why I don't fall asleep on the train...

We all know I am not a morning person...and sleep as late as I possibly can. I can also be out the door in 5 minutes if I wanted to...believe me...it happens more often than not. When I started working in NYC...I looked forward to taking a nice little nap on the way into work. Well...that didn't work the way I wanted to. I just could not fall asleep on the train - I was uncomfortable and just hated the thought of people staring at me while I slept.

Here is why I'm glad I do not sleep on the train...because it's FANTASTIC entertainment for the people around a snoozer. Now...my favorite people are the ones who fall asleep next to the window and continually wake themselves up because they are nodding off and hitting their head on the window...I literally laugh out loud because I can't keep it in.

This is the progression of a very tired man...

 










I always try to get pictures of what I share with everyone...it's just not always that easy.