Boston Book Trends -- Apr. 26, 2010

• The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Evening Commute -- Apr. 26, 2010

I got to Government Center at 6:07, and they had a table set up for security checks. But they weren't actually checking anyone. I walked right through, and they didn't say a word to me. I wonder if the checks are just random, instead of every person?

Anyway, there was a B line at the platform when I got there, but it was gross enough outside that I decided to wait, and a D line arrived at 6:09.

Morning Commute -- Apr. 26, 2010

I got to the stop at 8:04. A train showed up at 8:07 but I could see there was another train right behind it, so I decided to take my chances and wait. I was rewarded, because I got a seat on the train that showed up at 8:09. If all morning commutes were that easy, I wouldn't need to have this blog.

Evening Commute -- Apr. 23, 2010

I go to Government Center at 7:16 and ran to catch a C line train. Not only did I miss the C line train, but I also hurt my foot. Clearly, I am too old for commuting anymore. A B line showed up at 7:18, and it was nice enough outside that I decided to take it. They announced it was "standing by" when we got to Park Street at 7:20, but we left Park Street at 7:22, so that really wasn't bad at all.

Morning Commute -- Apr. 23, 2010

I got to the stop at 7:57 and ran to catch a train right away. I switched to the second car at Kenmore, but, unusually, the second car was even more crowded than the first. So I got off when we got to Copley at 8:03. The next train arrived at 8:04 and was still too crowded but I got a seat on the next train to arrive at 8:06.

Morning Commute -- Apr. 22, 2010

I got to the stop at 8:09, and a train arrived at 8:12. I got off at Copley at 8:19. The next train came at 8:20, but was too crowded. The train after that arrived at 8:24, and was still too crowded. I finally got a seat on the third train to come through, at 8:25.

And here's another question I have: I could hear the music of the guy sitting two rows away from me, over the music I was listening to. How loud is that music in his ears? And can that possibly be good for you?

Morning Commute -- Apr. 21, 2010

I got to the stop at 8:13, and the first train that arrived at 8:18 was too crowded for me to fit onto. How crowded was it? Well, the next train was right on its heels, at 8:19, and even that one was too crowded for me to get a seat. This is what happens when the trains are not spaced properly.

I got off at Copley at 8:30 and got a seat on the next train to come in at 8:31. But here is a question I have: Why-oh-why does it seem like lights are out so often on the trains? They are either out, or are they flickering spookily in headache-inducing fashion.

Boston Book Trends -- Apr. 16, 2010

• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
• How to Make Birdies! by John T. Gollehon

Evening Commute -- Apr. 16, 2010

I got to Government Center at 5:40, and a D line showed up at 5:41. It was a very crowded train, full of what appeared to be college students, who were openly drinking from bottles of beer. We have an open container law in Boston, so this is definitely not something you see every day here.

Morning Commute -- Apr. 16, 2010

I got to the stop at 8:20 and grabbed a train right away, getting off at Copley at 8:29. The next train to arrive at 8:30 was too crowded, but I got a seat on the train after that at 8:32. Not bad, all in all.

Boston Book Trends -- Apr. 15, 2010

• The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
• Put Option Strategies for Smarter Trading by Michael C. Thomsett

Evening Commute -- Apr. 15, 2010

I had to go to an event for work in Harvard Square, so I took the Red Line for a change, getting to Park Street at 6:01. First things first: Why is the Red Line platform at Park Street so wet? I understand we had a bunch of rain last month, but none of the other subway stations have the weird random leaks that seemed to be all over the Red Line platform.

Second things second: Why aren't there any annoucements for when Green Line trains are approaching? And, honestly, what is the point of those announcements, anyway? They only tell you when the train is in sight, at which point you do not need an announcement.

Third things third: It was too crowded for me to get a seat on the train that eventually arrived at 6:05. In fact, I wasn't able to get a seat until Central. I am unused to that during the evening commute! I always get a seat on the Green Line coming home!

Morning Commute -- Apr. 15, 2010

I got to the stop at 8:20, and a train did not deign to make an appearance until 8:29. I got off with relief at Copley at 8:41. The next train at 8:42 was too crowded, and the train after that at 8:44 was also too crowded. However, my patience rewarded me, and I was able to get a seat on the next train at 8:45.

Boston Book Trends -- Apr. 14, 2010

• The Tourist by Olen Steinhauer
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (two copies!)
• The Shining by Stephen King

Evening Commute -- Apr. 14, 2010

I got to Government Center at 6:06, and a C line came right away. It was unusually crowded, as I had to wait until Park Street to get a seat. Weird. I blame Sarah Palin.

Morning Commute -- Apr. 14, 2010

I fell behind, and, in an effort not to bog myself down, I am now starting fresh.

So: Today's commute:

I ran to catch a train at the stop at 8:12. The train was packed, and there was an epidemic of people sitting on the steps and blocking the aisles. Please stop doing this, everyone. Please. Also, one random guy on the train was wearing a fedora. He looked good. More men should wear fedoras. Take note.

I got off at Copley at 8:23 and got a seat on the next train at 8:24.

Boston Book Trends -- Apr. 8, 2010

• Changes by Jim Butcher
• The Foutainhead by Ayn Rand

Evening Commute -- Apr. 8, 2010

I got to Government Center at 6:09, just as a D line was pulling in. Nice, simple commute.

Morning Commute -- Apr. 8, 2010

I got to the stop at 8:16, just as a fairly full train was pulling away. The next train came at 8:20, and I got on, and a man was sitting on the steps. I hate when people do this. It takes up so much space, and makes it so impossible to enter or exit the train without falling all over the place.

We got to Copley at 8:27, and I got a seat on the next train that came into Copley at 8:29. I got a seat, but, unusually, it was the first car that was less crowded than the second car, so I had to dash to get a seat. And then I was annoyed because I was sitting next to a Sprawler. However, when he got off at Park, I really looked at him for the first time and realized he was a kid, all dressed up in a suit, clinging to a resume folder, and then my heart softened and I felt bad. I hope he got the job.

Boston Book Trends -- Apr. 7, 2010

• Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
• Bright-Sided by Barbara Ehrenreich
• Cemetery Dance by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett
• The Fence by Dick Lehr

Evening Commute -- Apr. 7, 2010

It was so beautiful in Boston yesterday that I walked all the way to Copley before getting on a train--and even then I only hopped on because I knew I still had to go grocery-shopping so I wanted to get home. Anyway, I walked into Copley station at 6:48 and hopped on a C line that arrived at 6:49.

Morning Commute -- Apr. 7, 2010

I got to the stop at 8:11. A train was already there, but it was too crowded for me to get on, so I had to wait for the next one. Which didn't show up until 8:18. I totally lucked out and got a seat at Hynes, but it was next to a man absolutely reeking of cologne. Why do people do that?

Evening Commute -- Apr. 6, 2010

I got to Government Center at 6:03, and an E line was already sitting there. The next train came at 6:05...and was another E line. Now, let me tell you why this even made less sense than usual: There was a game at Fenway tonight, meaning the station was crowded with game-goers, and the E line is the only Green Line you cannot take to a Red Sox game. So why would you ever be running two E lines in a row when you know the demand for every other line will easily outstrip it? Again: impossible to ascribe logic.

The next train was a C line at 6:07, so I took it.

Morning Commute -- Apr. 6, 2010

I got to the stop at 8:02. Naturally, the machine that terrorized me yesterday is once again blinking that it's out of order. A train arrived at 8:04, and I got on and got a seat immediately. This is usually a bad sign, and, indeed, when we got to Kenmore at 8:08, we were told that the train was going out of service.

Now I know I've ranted about this before, but, giving it some more thought...I still really don't understand this. Why do they do this? What is the point? Almost everyone getting on the train aboveground is going downtown. It's not like Kenmore is a major destination. It's not like you're really serving any purpose running a train to Kenmore and no farther. What you're doing is moving a bunch of people closer to their destination, and then forcing them to squeeze on the next train. And what does that train do that goes out of service at Kenmore? Does it go back out to the beginning of the C line to transport more people? I guess maybe that's the reason? Run C lines more frequently? But all the people you're collecting just have to wait for another train at Kenmore, so is it really saving time? Argh. Trying to ascribe logic to the actions of the Boston subway is exhausting.

Anyway, a train arrived at 8:09, and we stuffed ourselves onto it. I got off with relief at Copley at 8:14, and got on the next train to arrive, at 8:16, getting a seat immediately again.

Evening Commute -- Apr. 5, 2010

I got to Government Center at 6:56. One of the stiles said it was out of order, one was stuck and so was effectively out of order, one just kept flashing "Re-try/See Agent" at me, the last one finally let me through. It was like a Goldilocks-ian journey. And, once again, a subway worker standing right there, looking quite unconcerned. Just a normal day.

A D line train showed up at 6:58. Well, actually, the first car of the train said it was "out of service," but that was a lie.

Morning Commute -- Apr. 5, 2010

I got to the stop at 8:04, just as a train was pulling in. I stopped at the machine to collect my ticket. This machine has been broken for a while now, but it appeared to be working this morning, so I swiped my card. It went crazy, my receipt ticket darting in and out, in and out, rapidly, and I tried to grab it, and I couldn't, and then it disappeared inside the machine, forever, meaning that I had to swipe the card again to get onto the train, meaning that I paid twice. Of course, there was a subway worker standing there watching the whole thing. I did not appeal to him for help, but he seemed quite unconcerned by the situation.

I ended up getting a seat at Hynes, so I didn't need to do my Copley trick.

Evening Commute -- Apr. 2, 2010

I shared the commute home with a friend, so I wasn't taking my usual copious notes. All I know is that we got to Park Street at some time between 5 and 5:15 and didn't wait very long for a C line, and it was an unusually quick ride, only about 15 minutes or so to my house.

Morning Commute -- Apr. 2, 2010

I got to the stop at 8:01, and a train did not arrive until 8:06. This was bad, because it meant that it was very crowded. I got off at Copley at 8:15 and managed to get a seat on the first train that came in, which happened immediately. The bad thing about this seat, however? The man never to me kept falling asleep on me. And then he would jerk himself awake once he touched me. And then he would fall asleep on me again. I am trying to practice having more sympathy for my fellow human beings, and I'm sorry he was so exhausted, but, you know, NO TOUCHING.

Evening Commute -- Apr. 1, 2010

I went out after work, which meant that I didn't get to Park Street to take the subway home until 10:34. A D line showed up at 10:36, and we were at my stop twelve minutes later. Twelve minutes. During rush hour, I have never made that journey in less then twenty, ever.

Morning Commute -- Apr. 1, 2010

I got to the stop at 8:25, and a train showed up at 8:26. It was crowded, and I had to stand, but I couldn't try my Copley trick because I'd had a 9 a.m. meeting get scheduled at work unexpectedly and I was cutting it too close.