Another Kentile Floors Rainy Day Photo

Dear Subway Gods,

Dear Subway Gods,

I am a LOYAL subway rider (honestly, I love you 100% - minus the smell, sometimes), but lately, you are testing me! 2 days in a row of almost 2 hour commutes home after LOOOONG days of work is REALLY, TRULY getting to me.

I also know I am lacking a little patience lately as well, because quite frankly, I want summer to start and my daily commute to drastically change. YET, I need you to cut me some slack! PLEASE! Can we go back to an hour and a half at most?

Love, Alicia

PS: If you have any suggestions for improving my subway karma, I am taking suggestions ;)

A Day of Interesting Commutes

This morning was quite a morning. The train I usually take quit running in Brooklyn. So I changed to the only other train available at the station. Then, I started thinking and stopped paying attention. I missed the transfer I was supposed to make. I ended back up on my regular train heading uptown. I decided to do an above ground transfer from the F train to the 6 line at Lexington. I don't think I've ever done this transfer before and there is something about the green line... If I don't get on the green train at my normal stations, I get completely confused on which way I am going... And of course, I was not paying attention. Next thing I knew, I was on the downtown 6 train instead of the uptown. I couldn't believe my luck.

Then, this afternoon, I was on the train (luckily no trains ran off through route, and I was paying close enough attention that I didn't miss my transfers). This guy got on the packed train and started telling a story to his friends about a time he was on the subway and some guy had his elbow shoved in his back. It was absolutely HILARIOUS! I laughed so hard I was crying! I wish that guy was on the subway at the end of every day.

Moustache

If you are a NY subway ride, you've probably seen this around... Seems like someone has taken to drawing out the word moustache on the upper lip of portraits on underground ads. Things that make you go hmmmm?

Subway Artist

So many performers fill the streets and subways of New York City. Today, I got on a crowded subway to see this artist sharing his talent by drawing out portraits for fellow subway riders.

Repetition

Subway Riders

Recently, a friend sent a link to some iphone photos. One of them was taken of people on a subway. I was inspired and impressed by it. The lighting underground often leads to horrible photos. In the quest to get a good subway photo, I practiced on the platform the other day... Not too bad, considering the camera I am using. :)

This is Awesome!

A friend of mine just sent me this link and I HAD to share it! She knows me too well!! The nail clipping one Should definitely be up in all subway cars!!

Go check out the Subway Etiquette signs HERE!!

There's nothing better

Than subway music!

Underground Dancer

34th Street, New York City

A Sunset Caught

Isn't it beautiful? I literally ran out of work today, not for the soul purpose of catching the sun setting (although, it should have been, considering I never see it lately). I ran because it was Friday, and it was a horrible one on the work-front. Exhausted on the subway, I feel asleep hardcore for the first time in a while... I jumped awake at the underground stop right before my subway came above ground. Just in time to see the beautiful sky, the sunset creating art in the world outside my window. Today was a day to get that window seat.

Hope you saw a beautiful sunset today too. And if not, I guess you can have a piece of mine to call your own. I don't mine sharing :)

Rules For a Subway Rider

It's happened twice in the last two weeks. These things have tortured me on two different occasions. Both occasions involving older men, finger nails, the subway and that horrid noise. I cringe at the thought!

Alissa said it best this morning... when I arrived at work to tell her the horror story of my morning commute, yet again. If it's something you can do in the bathroom, it should Never be done in public! And yes this fits in the bathroom category, cutting nails is strictly to be kept in the bathroom.

I couldn't believe it this morning. The man's wife was sitting right there with him, dressed up in fancy clothes and high healed shoes. What was she thinking letting her husband get away with this? I cringed each clip he made. I tried not to focus on that dreadful sound. I cursed myself for not having my iPod. So... in attempt to keep myself distracted (unsuccessfully) I wrote my 5 rules for a subway rider.

1. No clipping of nails ON or NEAR the subway. This means no clipping when your waiting on the platform for the next train, and no clipping when your riding the subway. (This is directed at older gentlemen... 2 in one week... and both in the Pacific St.-Atlantic St. vicinity.)

2. Bags don't need seats. Sure, give your bag a seat if you're on an empty train, but otherwise, you won't be hurting your bag's feelings if you put it on your lap of between your feet. There is NO reason for someone to take up an extra seat on a train with people standing.

3. The morning talking volume is Mute. No talking. Sorry. It's early. I don't want to hear you. Start talking at lunch time. (This is mostly directed at teenagers, as they are usually the chatters...)

4. Take your trash with you when you leave the subway. If you have hands enough to carry it on the subway, then use those hands of yours to carry it off the subway (trash cans are most likely lining your walk to the exit!) Parents, you need to make sure you're helping your children abide by this rule too. Or at least pick up after them.

5. Don't sleep on people. If you are so tired that you can't sit up (I know how you feel) then get a window seat or one by a rail... Strangers don't usually enjoy being your pillow. (Happened to me twice and I'm pretty sure it was the same guy both times... can't say I've been watching for that guy to make sure it doesn't happen again, because I'm usually passed out myself... not against strangers. I'm the one drooling with my head against the window.)

*Side note: Maybe it's because of how I'm feeling this week, but I'm a bit perturbed at the public transit this week. (Not enough to want a car myself... just enough to notice.) The trains are slower. The bus waited for me to run half way down the block almost to the door, just to shut their doors and pull of the curb this morning. Some woman made sure her bag was nice and cozy on the seat I should have been sitting on. People don't know how to line up when getting on a bus (at least not the people in the Bronx...) And not to mention the story Seth came home with yesterday from his subway ride...

Wall of Music

SUBWAY ANECDOTAL
I've decided to attempt to start something new. Considering that I spend almost 13 hours a week riding the subway, not counting any weekend travel I may do, I am going to start a once-a-week post of a moment from my subway riding hours.

On our way to Port Authority, near Time Square, we traveled down a long tunnel. While there were many interesting things going on as we made our way, the wall of music stood out to me most. As an avid iPod listener, I have often wondered what it would be like if people could hear my music as I walked by them. It would be like sharing a part of me in passing, in a similar way that I do by my outer appearance. I'd imagine how everyone would have various types of music surrounding them, depending on who they are. When I saw these "advertisements" covering the walls of the tunnel, I was reminded of these past thoughts.

We didn't slow down to plug in our headphones, but did see a few people wondering along and listening to the various people's music. I'd be interested to see what sounds go with the different people. Since I didn't plug in, I am assuming it is music you hear... I guess I could be wrong?

Smith and 9th St. on Saturday

After spending the afternoon playing with Phoenix, Seth and I joined Ethan, Bric, and a friend in the city for dinner (at Rosa Mexicano in Union Square -- Amazing!) and a movie (Frost/Nixon). I snapped this picture on the F train at the Smith and 9th street stop. Seth loves this stop because it offers a great view of the city.

Subway Tapping

On our way home from Union Square the other night, we caught a couple minutes of tap dancing before racing down the stairs to jump on our train. Seth was familiar with these particular tappers, as they frequent Union Square underground often during his end-of-the day commute. These people were tapping when Stephanie and I arrived at Union Square on our way to the Strand to buy books (bought Twilight... I joined the book reading revolution), and they were still tapping after we spent time walking through Union Square holiday booths, finding books at the Strand (including a few proofs :), and a drink to celebrate happy hour. I don't know how they did it... less than 2 minutes of watching them exhausted me!

I am a Human Pillow... Again

I'm wondering how I could let this happen again! Sleeping Creepster somehow ended up sitting next to me for a second evening commute home again! The post about the first time is here. As he was falling on me and crowding me into the window, I began jabbing my elbow into him enough to make him realize he should Stop. At one of the stops, he comes to enough to turn his body so he's sitting sideways on the seat and leaning against the back of the seat rather than me. Good Plan, I think to myself... until he starts leaning back on me. I can't even believe he slept through my elbow jabs... the ones jabbing right into his back... but he did... This Sleeping Creepster kept falling further and further back, pushing me closer and closer to the window and closer to claustrophobia.

I'm watching for this guy from now on, and I will make sure Not to let him sit by me. He really pissed me off today, especially when I was trying to get out of the corner to get off at my stop. He pissed me off enough that I had to pull out the "F*ing people" comment under my breath as I yanked myself out from where I was lodged. That's a first... I guess maybe NY is rubbing off on me. (Sorry for the language readers, but that's how much he pissed me off today.)

Subway Rider

I love the subways (most of the time). They sometimes have a mind of their own, like the other day when the D turned to an F... and became Very slow. Or... when 3 B's came before the D decided to show up. They provide me with many opportunities though... like time to grade papers, which I can do for the whole hour commute I have from between home and work. Or the opportunity to see some great dancers... like today, when I saw some of the best "subway performers" I've seen to date. (Involving a young child with major talent)... I even donated money (granted it was less than a dollar), but I have made it a point to only donate to the ones that are the Best. Subways also provide me with an opportunity to completely space out. I turn up my iPod music and will disappear from this world, only existing in my mind with No clue of what is going on in the outside world. I also love subways because I get the opportunity to people watch. Sometimes I'll be the only people watcher on the subway... Other times, I share the space with other wondering eyes, trying not to make that awkward eye contact with my fellow watcher.

The other thing I've noticed and started enjoying about my morning commute is meeting up with the people I commute with, the regulars who hit up the subway at the same time as I do. I see them almost daily, but I don't know them. I won't know them. They just join me as we jump on the train and head to the city for yet another work day. They join me in peering out the window as the sun starts to wake up the city and reflects the beautiful morning colors across the windows of the skyscrapers in downtown Manhattan. Ahh, yes, I do love the subway, especially the one that crosses over the Manhattan Bridge.