The minute-by-minute breakdown of how the man across the aisle from me on the 6:59 spent his 33 minutes on the train.

7:01 Makes cellphone call, tells pal “I can get to White Plains in 23 minutes.” Accent hard to place, perhaps French. Pink shirt, blond hair, 45.

7:02 Loses call as the train takes off.

7:03 Stares at phone.

7:04 Takes Blackberry out of worn leather briefcase, stares at it.

7:05 Stares at both devices side by side.

7:05 Takes cash out of pocket, buys ticket.  

7:06 Stares at Blackberry.

7:07 Taps email into Blackberry.

7:08 Stares at cellphone longingly. Desperately wishes for service.

7:08 This is kind of weird. I’d been listing to the album “Pressure Chief” on my iPod. The second track comes on. It’s called, fittingly, “No Phone”.

Sample lyrics:

No phone No phone I just want to be alone today
No phone no phone
Ringing stinging
Jerking like a nervous bird
Rattling up against his cage 

7:08 Has reception, makes call. Tells pal “I left at 6:59, or maybe 6:58, and I’ll be in White Plains at 7:23.”

[Editor’s Note: He’s wrong. He gets in at 7:30.]

7:10 Hangs up phone.

7:11 Dials Blackberry

7:11:30 Stares at Blackberry, places it to ear. Checks voicemail.

7:12 “No Phone” ends.

7:13 Hangs up Blackberry.

7:14 Pulls out cellphone, tells pal, “We left at 6:59. Or 6:58.”

7:15 Checks email on Blackberry while on cell with pal.

7:17 Puts Blackberry in briefcase on seat next to him.

Over/Under on Blackbery staying in briefcase: two minutes.

7:18 Takes Blackberry out. Still on cellphone. 

7:18:30 Puts Blackberry back in briefcase.

Over/Under 1 minute.

7:19 Hangs up cell. Punches in new numbers.

7:20 Hangs up cell again.

7:20:30 Stares at cell, contemplating next move.

7:21 Makes call on cell.

7:21 Blackberry comes out. Left hand holds Blackberry, right hand holds cell.

7:22 Hangs up cell. Calls Blackberry. No answer.

7:23 Sends email on Blackberry.

7:24 Holds Blackberry and cell side by side. Seems to be thinking, if I were trapped on a desert island with only one of you, which would it be? Appears pained by the thought. Cheers visibly after reminding self it was only a hypothetical question.

7:26 Puts Blackberry away

7:27 Puts cellphone away

7:28 Fidgets: Strokes chin, runs fingers through blond hair, using window as a mirror. Straightens tie.

7:30 Takes cellphone out of bag, stares at.

7:31 Stands up, puts coat on, raises collar.

7:32 Exits at White Plains.