Every morning and every evening, I ride the commuter rail train.
I betcha didn't know that there's a perfect science to commuting, did you?
In the mornings, I leave the Trenches between 6:42 and 6:45 am. Any later than that and I am forced to channel my inner Junior, which is NOT a good thing.
Every day, I park in the same spot at the train station (preferably spot #300). This spot ensures my quick getaway in the evening (more on that later).
Every morning, I ride on the 2nd car from the front. It's a double-decker, and I always sit downstairs. Facing front. (I get nauseous if I have to ride backwards. I think it's because I spent my entire childhood riding in the "way back" of our family station wagon.)
I always sit on the inside of a 3-seater. This way, I can immediately lean my head against the window and SLEEP.
(I sleep like a CHAMP on my morning train ride. Sometimes I wake up so disoriented I can't remember if I'm going to or coming from work. And I'm pretty sure I snore...and drool.)
All this happens before I even start my 8:45 a.m. work day. (Yeah. You read that right. A full 2 hours after I've left the Trenches.)
In the evenings, I head to the train station around 4:45. It is always my mission to try to snag a single-seater for the ride home because let's face it, sitting next to strangers (when I'm not comatose, that is) SUCKS IT. So I usually end up playing the "train game" where I try to guess which track my particular train is on and I head for that same 2nd car from the front, ahead of the pack.
[There's an innocent-looking old lady who is my fiercest competition for a coveted single-seater. So I race her (in my head) every night. Usually the bitch elderly woman wins. So I once again sit on the inside of a 3-seater and hope that the train isn't packed so no one will have to be squished next to me.]
About 2 stops before mine, I start making my way to the front of the train car. There's a crowd of us who stand there, much to the annoyance of other passengers who are getting off first.
I do this because the parking lot in the evening? Is a nightmare. Easily 20 extra minutes of traffic jam if I don't get my ass outta there quickly. By this time, it's after 6pm, and I don't have an extra 20 damn minutes to spare when I've been gone all day and just want to get home to parent mah preshus baybee boyz. (Heh.)
So you see, there's really a lot more to commuting that just the actual train ride. Lots of practice, skill and maneuvering is involved.
Along with a hefty daily dose of bitching.
Cross-posted at In the Trenches of Mommyhood.
You've got it down to a science!
Posted by: Daisy | July 18, 2008 at 12:34 PM