Muggers in the Subway!

Last night I mentioned I'd figure out the subway today. Well after I wrote about my attempt at taking the subway in NYC yesterday, I got suckered into watching the news because I heard "Storm Watch" and grew concerned as to how I'd get back to Boston. I stayed up and watched the news just so that I could watch and see what this "storm" was all about. One of the stories that came on before the weather was "Muggers in the Subway". Apparently there are guys going from stop to stop mugging unsuspecting subjects. After hearing that lovely piece of information I have decided to be smart. Since I'd be looking at subway maps, it's dark out and I'd be without my pepper spray, I think it would be smart to just cab it until someone can show me the subway. Fortunately, many of my bosses previously lived in NYC so the next time I am here with them, I will ask one of them show me. One of my bosses in particular prefers we take the subway to cut down on expenses for the company so he will be delighted to show me. He has already shown one of the other Boston guys the ropes of the subway for that very reason because it is truly so easy, you just have to learn the ropes first. My other option is if the next time I am in the city and it's day light, I will attempt it on my own. I hate to sound like a chicken but I will play it safe. I lose all my street-smart confidence when my pepper spray isn't residing in my purse. 

New York, New York

It has been quite the week so far. I am at a conference in New York and am fortunate enough to be within walking distance from The New York Palace where the conference is being held. So, unfortunately for the purpose of my blog, I haven't been able to ride the train.

This evening,I wanted to be adventurous and stray away from the same three blocks that I have resided in for the last three days. I ended my day at the conference and went back to my hotel, changed and decided to take the train to the other side of Manhatan to grab a bite to eat. Well, that didn't pan out! New Yorks Subway system at first, didn't seem as organized as Bostons T. I'll elaborate:

I went into the station closest to my hotel. Lexington. I walked down the stairs and saw revolving doors that looked like they belonged in a prison. In Boston, we have delightful little gates that open on their own so you don't have to touch them. These, you had to touch and I was wearing cream colored gloves. Not happy about this so far.

I look around for a machine or an attendant so that I can pay. To my surprise, there was no way to pay. I saw people sliding cards through a card reader. I waited until no one was around and whipped out my credit card. Surely they must be swiping credit cards. That was the only logical way right? Wrong! Hence why I waited until no one was around. I didn't want to look like an idiot! I turned around and walked back up the stairs to the street. As I'm walking up the stairs a street thug whistles at me and screams (as I am the only one walking up the stairs) 'Mmm Mmm girl. Aren't you a sexy little thing! Mmm Mmm.' I look around to make sure he is talking to me. I have a pimple on my face and am confused. Does he not see my blemish? This guys goes on 'I'm taw-lking to you baby girl! You are so fine!' I smile and continue walking. This is when I realize my pepper spray didnt make it past security at Logan.

As I got about a block away from the shady street thug, I collected my thoughts. I was thinking that Boston would never have a T station that didn't allow you to pay right before you entered. You don't have to have a prepaid pass to get through and then it hit me: THE station I go through to get home every single day did not have a way to pay before you entered. It is strictly prepaid cards only at that gate. Since I buy a monthly pass I never noticed that the T entrance I use every day could be inconvenient for tourists.

As these thoughts went through my head, I decided I was starving and needed to eat. I stumbled upon a pizza shop and got some manacotti and garlic knots to go. I'll figure out the subway tomorrow!

Spit Bath

On the commuter rail this morning a husband and wife boarded the train. The train was packed so by the time they got on, there were no more seats left so they stood in the aisle near my seat. I thought it was so sweet of them to commute together. The woman was dressed in a lovely black pea coat and light blue scarf with matching gloves. The guy in a camel colored pea coat with a matching Burberry scarf. How cute right? WRONG! Ladies take note as this unfolds. They are chit chatting about their son and how cute he is and how he can count and what he did this morning in the high chair while she was in the shower. Blah Blah Blah… heart warming really. Until she does this: She notices the guy has something on his face. She removes her powder blue glove, licks her finger and uses that licked finger to clean it off his face! The whole train sees that. Business men, this poor guys piers, see that. NOTHING crushes a mans ego like the licked finger cleaning approach. Ladies, I know it’s a “mom instinct” to do this and fine, do it to your kids (and I can guarantee they hate this too) but don’t do it to your man. Keep him a MAN! Don’t flush his ego down the drain in front of piers or even in the privacy of your own home. This tactic is strictly for kids. Not for grown men.  That’s it. The End. Don’t clean your man’s face with your spit!

"Stupid is Forever, Ignorance Can Be Fixed" - Don Wood

This is not an etiquette tip. This is a common sense tip! When riding, boarding, disembarking, or waiting for a train, make sure your mobile phone is secure! This morning on my way in, I was arriving at

State Street

thinking “This morning went off with out a hitch. No crazies on the train. No mishaps.” Then, I hear “

State Street

. Doors open on the Left.” As the crowd started to leave the (vocab word coming up) sardine-packed-train a girl listening to her ear buds (I am convinced she was fake listening though because she would have caught on much sooner had she been listening) got caught on the doors. She continued walking and her ear bud cord kept going. However, her mobile was still attached to the door. The cord finally snapped off the mobile and the mobile went flying. It hit MY knee and bounced on to the floor and bounced again, not into the train but almost. The mobile bounced into the 3 inch gap between the train and the platform. The entire train and the people on the platform go “UUHHHH!” as if they were watching a very dangerous stunt at the circus. This girl continues walking, hence why I believe she was fake listening to her ear buds because had she actually been listening, when her music cut out, she would have known immediately that her phone was detached. After she hears the crowd roar, she turns around in sheer panic “Is that a phone?” frantically checking her pockets “That’s my phone! Oh MY GOD! That’s MY phone!!!” She runs over to the gap to try looking for it. She is now holding up the train. People are blocked on the train and people can’t board the train because she is just sitting there staring at her phone below on the tracks. I wanted to stick around to see how it panned out. However, that mobile bounced off MY knee! I didn’t want to stick around and get any blame. I trotted off to the office and will never know if she got her phone back or not but people… common sense, secure that mobile!

Got Bed Bugs?

Today was much more frigid than any other day this winter. It was 7 degrees out this morning and it warmed up to a whopping 23 degrees by the time I had to go home. Since it was so cold today, the T was infiltrated with masses of people. It was equivalent to when it's raining out. This creates what I call a "sardine packed train".

Sardine-Packed-Train (Noun)- A Train packed to the brim with minimal space between passengers.

As I was squished into the train, I found a comfy place in the crook of some guys arm pit (This is normal for commuters and people generally don't mind, as long as they get to where they are going). Thank goodness he follows train etiquette rule #1 (Good Hygiene). Just as I am starting to feel grateful for my little sardine spot, I look up to see this ad:

Really? Talk about making a girls skin crawl! I mean CRAWL!! I started itching immediately even though I knew there wasn't a shot in hell I have them. Talk about poor timing.

If Looks Could Kill

So, I just missed my train by 30 seconds! Literally! I was running behind at work due to the fact that I am helping coordinate a conference. There are a lot of moving parts so I have been nonstop all day. I looked at the clock and it was 5:17pm. It takes me 12 minutes to get to the train station on a good day. I quickly threw on my commuter shoes and was out the door. I put my coat, hat and gloves on in the elevator as I went down. Walked a block to the T and boarded no problem. The T arrived in North Station and another girl and I darted up a flight of stairs, neck and neck! We ran along a long hallway and up another flight of stairs! We ran out the door, along the side walk and through the front doors of North Station. We looked at the first schedule board to see what track we were running to. It was blank. We kept running still neck and neck. We came to the second schedule board. Track 6! It was 529! We were 50 feet away! We continue running to the track. Then some IDIOT steps in front of us and blocks us! Can you believe it! Blocked! We try to dodge him and we have no luck what so ever. As we stand behind Idiot-Blocker-Guy the doors to the track close and we see the kabus leaving the station with out us! She looks at me and goes "We should have made that! At least we tried!" and high five's me! Idiot-Blocker-Guy turns around and steps out of our way and says "Oh, do you need to get by?" If looks could kill, this woman went from high-fiving to death stare and I did the same! UGH!! I wanted t scream!!

Train Etiquette Tip #12-

Leave a path for people to get through to the tracks at the train station!!

Happy New Year!!

After a much needed long weekend of doing nothing and a much appreciated low key week before that, the train is back to the daily grind. No more seats to myself, no more spacious T rides. I am packed in with strangers all over again. However, I will say that my day was made this morning. It is official that I am a train commuter which brings us to:

Train Etiquette Tip #11-

Always say “Hello” to the conductor. It is a nice gesture and not to mention, it comes in handy when you forget and/or lose your train pass. When they remember who you are, they let ya slide every once in a while.

Well, my train etiquette tip #11 finally paid off. I did not forget and/or lose my train pass but it was even better. The conductor every morning and every afternoon checks the tickets. He always says “Thanks Hun” to the regulars (OK, the regular ladies). But when he gets to me every day and all the non-regulars he just says thanks. Well, this morning after saying good morning and handing him my pass he said “Thanks Hun!” I’m in! I’m officially a train commuter. The conductor has acknowledged me as one of his regulars which means that should I forget my train pass one day, I’m all set!  Which I won’t because I am very orderly with that sucker… at $151 a month, I’m not losing it because I’d have to re-buy the month again… no way do I want to do that… hmm a pair of shoes or re-buy my train pass? Tough decision… However, if I found myself in the situation of forgetting and/or losing my train pass, I know I’ll be fine.