Showing posts with label EL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EL. Show all posts

Monday, January 23, 2012

"Can you please move towards the center of the train"

Quite frequently when the train is crowded someone will ask everyone to scrunch together so they can fit on the train.  Personally, I hate this and I think it is very self-centered and rude.  However I don't say anything.  I continue to read my book and just think happy thoughts. 

Today, someone tapped me on the shoulder interrupting my nook.  She said "Can you please move forward."  I had a rather obnoxious gym bag with me on the El, and I absolutely hate it when people's gym bags or briefcases touch me, so I purposefully kept a few inches between me and the next person.  I figured I was being nice.  I told the lady "No, there are only a few inches, I can not move.  Perhaps the people who are trying to get on the train should take the next one."  I used to get on the train at this station.  I know how crowded the train is at this station.  I also know that whenever I used this stop I would sometimes have to wait 2 or 3 trains because they were full.  So when the lady said "Everyone is just trying to get somewhere on time, they can't wait for the next one."  I was surprised.  I told her "Perhaps the people who live at this stop should plan for a crowded train and arrive at the station earlier... or be late." She didn't really like that answer, but I didn't move. 

Honestly, it really annoys me when people push themselves on the train.  Is your world really going to end if you are 10 minutes late?  Do you really have to be so self centered to inconvenience a ton of people?  To the people who are rude and forced themselves on the train by squishing into people... I'm really sorry if your late, but wake up earlier... I HATE waking up.  I would much rather sleep in every day.  However if you have someplace to be and you must be ontime, then plan for it.  Arrive at the train early.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Why do you interrupt me while reading?

This is my morning routine.  After I get up, get ready, take the dog out, I leave the house to walk to 30 (approximately) steps to the EL.  (Trust me, It is LOVELY in the rain, and snow.)

I honestly expect and hope that I spend the next 30-35 minutes in solitude and do not plan or desire to have any conversations until I arrive at work.  For the occasionaly friend that I run into, a conversation is acceptable.  Although, I honestly hope we are good enough friends that we can talk, say Hi, and then return to reading our books.  I mean really.... I don't start to wake up until I've been at work for 1 hour.  For someone who I went to High School with, it is also acceptable for you to start a conversation with me, but please have the decency to do it when you are a few stops from your departure so we don't have to talk the entire way to the city.  Otherwise we both feel obligated to talk during the entire trip, and I have a strong desire to get off the train and change cars so that I can read in peace.

As soon as I get to the platform, I take out my nook and begin to read.  When the train comes I get on the train and (I know you can believe this, but...) I continue to read.  So you have to understand when the following thing happen, it kind of ruins my morning.

If I am reading, what makes you think that you have a right to interrupt me and ask me about the nook.  Since when were people able to hold a conversation and read at the same time?  Do people not understand that I am reading for pleasure?  That there are certain people in the world that ENJOY reading?  This has happened to me twice in the past week.  Its usually a man who looks to be "tight on cash" who interrupts me to ask me what I'm doing.  If I weren't afraid (hmm, maybe afraid is the wrong word, maybe cautious, timid, aware... is a more accurate description of my feelings toward him) of him, my response would be "Well, I WAS reading on a Nook, but since you interrupted me, I am currently not able to read now, am I...."  But since I don't know this person and he could be dangerous, even though I'm always on a crowded El, I simply say "This is a nook" (without making eye contact) and continue to read.

Unfortunately, even though I am attempting to be visually engrossed in my book (which I usually am actually engrossed in the book), the conversation NEVER ends there.  At this point I feel like I'm becoming a Nook commercial and honestly I have no desire.  They ask the price (which I always tell them is $80 since I got mine refurb'd and I don't want him to think I'm rich), how many books it can hold, if it comes with books, and  how much books cost.  Of course, since I am afraid of this guy, I always answer him.  But I usually fail to mention all the cool nook features, like library lending, and "lend me" features.

Unfortunately, this conversation usually ends up lasting 10 minutes, and I keep re-reading the same sentence over and over again because I'm being interrupted.  What is even MORE unfortunate is the man must want to talk or something and tries to continue to talk to me.  At this point I usually say "what?" a lot to try to signify I'm really not in the mood to talk.

Perhaps I'm too nice but, this attempt usually fails.... Thus a crappy start to my morning.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Smelly People

So, you know that smell of people who don't brush their teeth.  Not really bad breath.  But morning breath.  This one guy on the EL this morning REAKED of not brushing his teeth.  It was honestly very disgusting. I don't understand how someone can be so oblivious of his own hygiene and NOT care!  If I were more of a b*tch I would have gotten up and leave to a different seat.  However I couldn't.  So I had to deal with the smelly grossness.   Not a good way to start a morning.