Gravy Train

Only need to make the etummoc today, then have the rest of the week off. Things will be on hold, unless something really absurd happens duing my holiday travel.

Happy Thanksgiving, and in the words of a former boss at a daycamp, "safety first, fun a close second." Keep in mind that you can have alcohol on Metro North; so this holiday season don't drink and drive, drink and ride instead!

Luck favors the prepared, darling

Retummocs (like superheros) need to make sure they are properly dressed for their adventures. Living in a region that actually experiences 4 seasons, it is important for your wardrobe to have range. Be wary that weather conditions can differ greatly between your origin and destination. This usually isn't so bad in the spring and fall, but a light jacket can make a world of difference.

When winter approaches its easy to notice the temperature difference between Manhattan and Tarrytown. The warm coat that prevents you from freezing in Tarrytwon, keeps you comfortable on the train, and is unbareable in a crowded shuttle or subway car. Snow is far worse. A few flurries downtown means mega inches all over Westchester. You'll regret not taking your computer home with you every day, when you look back at the first tracks you just made on the platform. My advice is to go for layers so there's some control over your insulation.

Little can be done during the summer when there is a dress code to consider. This means suffering, plain and simple. Some days aren't meant for pants, and "I will be working from home today because the hot weather is causing me to sweat profusely and I'm not a strong swimmer" isn't easy to sell. Polo shirts offer some relief (if allowed), but that's all I got.

Ok, not a lot of advice this time around. The best thing you can do is invest in a sturdy, compact umbrella, and always remember: no capes!

Shuttle trouble

For those of you that missed my tweet: ended up missing the shuttle with about 10 others. We group cabbed it to the office and stopped to talk to the front desk about the shuttle schedule being inconsistent. (Probably worth noting that the builing is leased to multiple companies and this isn't intenal to my company) Apparently they had to make changes because the complaints to the driver were getting out of hand and she felt threatened.

I bet I know who THAT was... just can't believe it got that bad. Totally out of line. However, I am deciding to take the high road and forgo my promised rant & rave. I'm just glad building managment chose the drver's safety above all else.

Plus they already filed a complaint with that bitch's employer.

Back-tracking

After leaving my apartment I made a mad dash for the bus and just made it. I sat down, took a breath, and remembared that I left my work laptop in my apartment. fml. Had to get off at the next stop and run back to my apartment to go get it. Took a taxi to GC and made the last train that I could in hopes to make the Tarrytown shuttle. Keep your fingers crossed, that is, if you're awake at this hour.

This train happens to be a local, which means it makes a stop at my favorite spot, Glenwood. Between the train and the Hudson there is this big old brick factory. I'm not exactly sure what draws me to it, but I am obsessed with this builing. There are many brick buildings along the Hudson line that look like they've been turned into offices. Yet, this one remains untouched. The overgrown ivy and warped windows give it characterand I always look for it when I pass by.

I secretly aspire to clear out all the old asbestos and turn it into a green community. Solar panels, rooftow garden, even a watermill. Its a really a silly idea but I feel like this old factory should get a little attention. It probably has a wonderful history and cerianly has a lot more appeal than the facility next door (last picture).

Sorry if these aren't rotated right.

Arriving on Track NULL

I still need some spy classes because I failed to get a clear pic of a fellow passenger I need to talk about. At least I didn't get caught, and I know he'll be back.

The Tarrytown station construction is more intensive than I thought. I arrived this morning to find that a third of one of the platforms had gone missing. This is a good sign that they are replacing the rusty old walkways above the track. Fingers crossed. Photos from this morning:

Relocation

I've decided to take the blog over to www.etummoc.com from here on out. After repeated attempts, I finally got WordPress up and running. I brought over all previous posts and hope to start customizing soon. Need some rest before the morning haul...

Transfer is Available to:

Going to start the twitter thing for spottings and quick comments.

www.twitter.com/etummoc

Note to self: spend some time this weekend getting more organized.

Bow hunting and such

Sleeping, at times, is a highly developed skill. One of my college roommates was "trained" to be able to sleep while standing. I know (for a fact) that my friend Grace could out-nap anyone. As for me, I've got the ability to lose consciousness within 5 minutes of hitting the pillow.

A train nap, however, requires a differnt skill set. Sure anyone can pass out on their way to Grand Central, but only a true retummoc learns to sleep in both directions. Okay, regular commuters can have this skill too, but in their numbers somebody is bound to wake you at your stop. I've never slept through my stop on a nothbound train (knock on cushion) and have attributed this to three vital assets:

1. Good internal clock - being able to wake up and know how much time has passed is very important. Admittedly, I have woken to a panic of not knowing where I am.
2. Knowing your route - to alleviate panic its good to build up visual references between stops.
3. Focused response to stimuli - your body needes to respond to movements and sounds of the train, and ignore nearby chatter.

These skills should be refined through practice before attempting to use them on a northbound train. I suggest training and testing yourself on the way to Grand Central. Or you could always take the easy route and befriend a reliable insomniac.

Subway lovin'

Missed the shuttle to Grand Central so I had to take the subway. Rolled into the station to find two people making out just outside the door. Not just kissing but there were rapid arm movements that straddled the line between caressing and groping. Cracked a smile as I walked by and got to thinking... I wondered if, at any given time, there is some couple (or more I guess) kissing in the subway. With all the hello's and goodbye's that must happen in this city everyday, is gotta be close.

Something for you to ponder on the way to work.

in traNSiT

finally, i've joined the modern age of smartphones. having a full keyboard is nice but takes some getting used to. had a good post going and then got distracted by my new toy. will get that up soon. i just can't wait to put up some pictures, especially of some of the crazies. need to practice taking photos discreetly.

I Spy

Things I spotted on the way to work today:

1. Yankees fans on the way to the ticker-tape parade
2. A giant inflatable rat
3. Guy wearing black dress pants and a white undershirt with no coat of any kind. Also, there were remnants of blue marker all over his face.

Service Advisory

Tonight's etummoc is going to be interrupted by a business dinner in Yonkers. The best thing about taking the train is you don't need a designated driver...

Thank god the stadium express is also going to grand central today. Getting hungry before getting on the train is torture. I start having food fantasies like i'm at hogwarts or one of the lost boys in the movie hook. On second thought: robin williams + green tights = lost appetite... problem solved!

Hungry!

Thank god the stadium express is also going to grand central today. Getting hungry before getting on the train is torture. I start having food fantasies like i'm at hogwarts or one of the lost boys in the movie hook. On second thought: robin williams + green tights = lost appetite... problem solved!

So i was OBOB on the game day. Shows how much I know about sporting events. I guess yesterday was just some advance notice on the rules. Getting really confused about the work at tarrytown station. The building renovations are nearly complete but now they are putting up wooden platforms. Hopefully it has something to do with replacing the walkways.

Don't know jack about baseball

So i was OBOB on the game day. Shows how much I know about sporting events. I guess yesterday was just some advance notice on the rules. Getting really confused about the work at tarrytown station. The building renovations are nearly complete but now they are putting up wooden platforms. Hopefully it has something to do with replacing the walkways.

Yankee Stadium Express

It just occurred to me that with the Yankees up 3 games to 2 in the World Series, tonight could be the last trip with the decked-out fanatics that take Metro-north to the stadium (at least for this season anyway). So in their honor, I thought I'd share a few rules that I've adopted for traveling on the Hudson Line on a game day:

1. Pick the right train car - Any seasoned subway rider, commuter, or retummoc will know that picking a train car for the speediest exit at your destination is key to saving time. However, this does not hold true on a game day. You need to survey the surroundings to avoid being stuck near bro-deo's, sor-RAWR-ity girs, and cougars. It is possible to score bonus points by looking for people who have taken booze with them on the train. If you see a low key group with beer or a Styrofoam cooler, sit near them. If they overestimated the amount they could drink on the train, they'll probably try to pass off the rest. Hey, its happened before...

2. Do not sit in a 4 or 6 seater - Its usually easier to spread out by taking the seats that face each other, but on on a game day these seats are in high demand. If traveling alone, you will be joined by others, and be caught in an awkward position. Having grown up in PA and now living NY, I've abandoned any allegiance to sports teams. Given that I'm not the biggest sports fan to begin with, being polite and friendly never relieves those "I'm sitting at the wrong lunchtable" feelings.

3. Do not try to be productive - The environment is far busier than usual, and its nearly impossible to concentrate on work or reading. Your best shot is to escape with electronics. If you happen to be trained to sleep even while standing, you still may get to take a train nap. But that's about as likely as falling asleep at a Foo Fighters concert.

4. If all else fails: eavesdrop, hard - A pretty good rule to remember in general; you have a front row seat to some pretty entertaining stories. People tend to forget they are taking PUBLIC transportation, so take advantage of the free material. If nothing good comes up, feel free to embellish or make up your own stories. Don't feel bad, there's far worse on television.

Cynical though they may sound, the rules are all about avoiding worst case scenarios and trying to have fun.

Fall Back

Appreciated the daylight and feeling of sleeping in that daylight savings alotted me, but now its pitch black and i wish both my gloves were done. Hudson was busy with tugboats in the am. Right now, on the shuttle hearing how this mary might have gotten something slipped in his drink on halloween. Apparently she "doesn't remember a thing" but the details that are still there are being relayed far too loudly for this confined space. Train nap time