Archive for November, 2007
Friday, November 30th, 2007
A-Rod’s Sister
She’s a Metro-North conductor. She checked my ticket this morning and, in fact, checks it a few times a week.
She’s a Latina, about 30, pretty, and pleasant.
And she looks exactly like freakin’ A-Rod.
As such, it’s hard to return her pleasantness. She’s politely thanking me for showing my monthly pass, and I’m gritting my teeth so […]
2 Comments » - Posted in Metro North by TJ
Friday, November 30th, 2007
Another ‘Rocky’ Sequel
Since none of us can seem to get enough of the giant drag queen who often rides Metro-North, here’s a little somethign from the modestly monikered The Legendary Train Main Paul:
Sounds like you all have met Rocky!! He (or she, however you think of it!!), is a regular on the Harlem and New Haven lines. […]
No Comments » - Posted in Drag Queens by TJ
Thursday, November 29th, 2007
What’s Up With, er, Slippery Rail?
Here we are in the waning days of November, and I can’t say that I’ve seen much evidence of that dastardly commuter scourge known as Slippery Rail/Slip-Slip/The Worst F***ing Thing About Commuting in the Northeast.
Granted, I’ve only lived through one fall season of riding the rails, and didn’t even have this little ol’ cyber soapbox […]
1 Comment » - Posted in Slippery Rail, Waterworld by TJ
Wednesday, November 28th, 2007
The Metro-North Channel
I had the divine pleasure of quaffing a $7 pint at Irish watering hole Annie Moore’s recently. (Me: Seven dollars for a pint? What is this, the Campbell Apartment? Bartender: Try three times that at Campbell Apartment. Me: You’re right, that was mean.)
Grand Central commuters know Moore’s well; on 43rd, it’s about the length of […]
3 Comments » - Posted in Annie Moore's by TJ
Tuesday, November 27th, 2007
Voice of London Underground Silenced
Angry Youngman has informed us that Emma Clarke, known as the voice of the London Underground for her subterranean subway announcements, has been sacked for posting humorous (or “humourous”, in local parlance) announcements on her website.
Here’s one we can all appreciate:
“We’d like to remind our American tourist friends that you are almost certainly talking too loud.”
Apparently […]
2 Comments » - Posted in Uncategorized by TJ
Tuesday, November 27th, 2007
The Trainjotting Reader
And you thought the guy on the train next to you inching over the invisible line between the seats was irritating, and your Metro-North conductor a bit rude.
From Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild:
I’m a hobo now! That’s right, I’m riding the rails now. What fun, I wish I had jumped trains earlier. The rails have […]
No Comments » - Posted in Into the Wild by TJ
Tuesday, November 27th, 2007
Hertz So Good
Rented a car from Hertz over the holiday, picking up outside Boston and dropping off in North White Plains. I’d seen the Hertz building a million times from the Metro-North–you could throw your iPod with the downloaded monthly pass at it from the train–but it didn’t dawn on me that that’s where I was returning […]
1 Comment » - Posted in Hertz, North White Plains, Uncategorized by TJ
Monday, November 26th, 2007
Word of the Week: TIMES NEWROCHELLE ROMAN
TIMES NEWROCHELLE ROMAN \TIHMZ NUroshell ROHmin\ noun: The distinctive rounded typeface found on station platforms informing readers what the stop is.
(A.K.A. “Larchfont”)
Usage: I think I saw that same Times Newrochelle Roman font that Metro-North uses when I was looking at a restaurant menu the other night.
1 Comment » - Posted in Word of the Week by TJ
Wednesday, November 21st, 2007
Talking to Strangers
I stood on the platform under Grand Central, waiting for the downtown 4/5.
She was pointing to my earphones and saying something.
I plucked the iPod buds from my ears to listen.
“I have that too!” she said excitedly.
She was about 10, in pigtails and a big smile. She was with her mother and little sister, who appeared […]
No Comments » - Posted in iPod by TJ
Wednesday, November 21st, 2007
Our All-Time Least Favorite Commuter Song
There are decent songs about commuting, such as the Who’s “5:15″, and the relatively crummy ones, such as “Takin’ Care of Business” by Bachman Turner Overdrive (though the latter scores extra points for the line about the “8:15 into the city,” seeing as I take the 8:16 into the city and all).
Then there are the truly […]