The Long Ride
I'm in D.C., holed up in the basement of wonderful family friends. Really. Tired. And my tummy is fully of really good pizza. And TIRED. But here is the the entry I wrote on the train from Boston to Union Station, in excruciating detail.
It’s done.
I’ve been waiting to type that line for so long. I had a few false starts, times when I wanted to write it but it wouldn’t have been quite true. Friday, when I finished my last exam. Monday, when I’d finished the paper that was eating my world and everything was turned in for better or worse. Last night, when I managed to cajole a friend into storing my last stray blanket inside her fridge for the summer. Now it’s finally so.
This entry comes to you from the train: 3:27 p.m. Eastern Standard time. We just passed New Rochelle, New York. I just finished the first film of the trip, a copy of “Superman Returns” that I got from my dad. Another one masters the ancient art of the Truck. ‘Course, naturally, the whole time I’m superimposing Talia’s face on it. Excellent cinematic experience. Made possible by the fact that every set of seats has its own outlet. Which is a little slice of AWESOME.
It’s a beautiful day for traveling. For doing anything, really: it’s cool, sunny, and the sky is that softly faded battered-jean blue that says yes, it’s really summer. Earlier today, somewhere in Connecticut, I saw a pair of riders on horseback. It was a black and a bay with white blazes down on the lower legs, and they were just full out running. Gorgeous. This part has been written for two people. They know who they are. I don’t even know if they have Livejournals, but there it is. Lil’ bit of special somethin’ for those two lovelies.
So it’s come to my attention fairly recently that there is a device that will convince a computer game that it’s running on a PC, for-serious-would-I-lie-to-you, when it is actually running on an honest to goodness Mac. I want this thing. This knowledge has come scant days, more like 36 hours, before my epiphany in South Station this morning that I really, REALLY need to play Oblivion again. I am the fuckin’ Hero of Kvatch, bitches. I miss it.
current mood:
Giddy
current music: Superman Theme
3:40. Currently going through a big fat city. I think it is actually NYC. Let’s see if we stop. I’m not seeing any of my landmarks, but meh. Considering that I’m looking for the Liberty Science Center, this is probably not indicative of much. Actually, I know the New York City train station. Let’s see how this goes. Let you know in a bit.
There’s this girl sitting across the aisle and one up from me since Back Bay. She’s clearly high-maintenance: her stuff is in a Jimmy Choos bag, she’s got her breasts jacked up to her chin in a shirt I would probably commit arson to fit into, and her hair’s that funky bronzish color that you get when a natural brunette tries to go blonde and doesn’t quite make it. I had some theories about her earlier; I’m a judgmental bitch. I’m pretty sure she and her friend are New Yorkers, probably state rather than city, maybe Jersey; they were in Boston only visiting, in any case. She’s been on her cell phone most of the trip, not counting the two hours they spent in the bar car right ahead of this one. As a result, I know that she works for a finance group. She’s been doing all sorts of calls; one in particular to discuss a loan for a second home for a couple that can’t really be offered by her company, maybe you could do it. Is it weird that I like her so much more since she’s displayed some steel and a brain? I am such an elitist bitch.
current mood:
Sorta Guilty
current music: The woman next to me talking about how I look JUST LIKE her cousin Megan.
3:55. YES we are in New York City. I had the seats to myself for a while, but then a woman got on in Connecticut and sat next to me. Pleasant enough, but wearing that funky powdery perfume that older women like. IT was like, lady, please, you’re nice, but PLEASE set somewhere I don’t have to BREATHE you.
Where’s my ticket stub? Weirdness, I stuck it under my computer and now it's not there. Hang on.
current mood:
Anxious
current music: Train announcements
4:17. Oh my God. The Jimmy Choos woman just saved my ass. Or would have, anyway. I somehow lost my ticket stub. I went calmly insane looking for it: under the seats, removed the cushions, took EVERYTHING out of my bag, up and down the aisle, the whole nine yards. And she gave me her ticket stub, but then the crew checked everyone’s and the guy was hassling her. So I pretended she’d dropped it and I gave it back. Luckily I was still digging in my bags so I was able to look the part when I frantically told the guy I couldn’t find it. He had me write my name on a piece of paper that he then punched. I don’t know if that means they’ll charge me later. I hope not. I’m still worried they’re going to charge me a ticket price for my harp. I don’t THINK they will, but…there’s a chance.
Speaking of the harp. I was worried that they wouldn’t let me on at all with it: luckily I mentioned this to the ticket guy (an older gentleman who was comfortable enough with me to take his pills in front of me) and he called me a porter. Guy’s name was Alan, and he was absolutely FANTASTIC. Personable, nice, took my stuff and put in on a cart in the back room so I didn’t have to deal with it while I waited and then asked permission of the conductor for me to take the harp on. YAY! I not only tipped him $5 but hugged him as well. At that point, mood was euphoric.
current mood:
Grateful
current music: Lex Luthor yelling
4:21. Newark now. Part of me is dying to leap off this train and hail a cab to Hac. I miss him, even though we had a long conversation when I was in South Station on, guess it, Heroes and Oblivion. Poor man hasn’t even hit up Cloud Ruler Temple yet; I don’t know how I would’ve done anything without being all tricked out up there. Last time I played I named the horses after Half Life 2 characters.
Hmm. What to watch now. Oooh, “Déjà vu? “
current mood:
Curious
current music: None
5:14. I like my reflection best in windows of moving vehicles, always have. I love to see myself projected onto the world. There’s something philosophical there, but I’m not going to look for it. Suspect I'm just vain.
current mood:
Contemplative
current music: Déjà Vu dialogue
5:16: And we follow with an Idiot Moment. I have a bottle of Pom (oh delicious Pom) and there was juice in the cap. So I lick it, naturally. And then happen to look over across the isle. Where a young guy is sitting, looking at me. Awkward.
current mood:
Embarrassed
current music: Déjà Vu dialogue
6:39. Trippy film. Very good; slow and kind of disorienting at first, and Denzel spends a fair amount of time being bewildered, which I’m not really used to. I think he’s played a federal expert in everything I’ve ever seen him in.
Just crossed a body of water and the track got ROUGH. I don’t know why or where, but I should be in D.C. soon.
current mood:
Mellow
current music: Confessions Part III- Weird Al
Epilogue: A nice Indian gentleman who'd been talking most of his trip about cell phone services and computers helped me drag my rolling suitcase almost all the way to the door, then pointed me in the direction of the place where taxis are. I rolled my way over, called Ellen, waited for Ellen, loaded crap in Ellen's car, and then we dropped my stuff off and walked down the block for very good pizza and red wine. Now I pass out.
current mood:
Exhausted
current music: None
It’s done.
I’ve been waiting to type that line for so long. I had a few false starts, times when I wanted to write it but it wouldn’t have been quite true. Friday, when I finished my last exam. Monday, when I’d finished the paper that was eating my world and everything was turned in for better or worse. Last night, when I managed to cajole a friend into storing my last stray blanket inside her fridge for the summer. Now it’s finally so.
This entry comes to you from the train: 3:27 p.m. Eastern Standard time. We just passed New Rochelle, New York. I just finished the first film of the trip, a copy of “Superman Returns” that I got from my dad. Another one masters the ancient art of the Truck. ‘Course, naturally, the whole time I’m superimposing Talia’s face on it. Excellent cinematic experience. Made possible by the fact that every set of seats has its own outlet. Which is a little slice of AWESOME.
It’s a beautiful day for traveling. For doing anything, really: it’s cool, sunny, and the sky is that softly faded battered-jean blue that says yes, it’s really summer. Earlier today, somewhere in Connecticut, I saw a pair of riders on horseback. It was a black and a bay with white blazes down on the lower legs, and they were just full out running. Gorgeous. This part has been written for two people. They know who they are. I don’t even know if they have Livejournals, but there it is. Lil’ bit of special somethin’ for those two lovelies.
So it’s come to my attention fairly recently that there is a device that will convince a computer game that it’s running on a PC, for-serious-would-I-lie-to-you, when it is actually running on an honest to goodness Mac. I want this thing. This knowledge has come scant days, more like 36 hours, before my epiphany in South Station this morning that I really, REALLY need to play Oblivion again. I am the fuckin’ Hero of Kvatch, bitches. I miss it.
current mood:
Giddy
current music: Superman Theme
3:40. Currently going through a big fat city. I think it is actually NYC. Let’s see if we stop. I’m not seeing any of my landmarks, but meh. Considering that I’m looking for the Liberty Science Center, this is probably not indicative of much. Actually, I know the New York City train station. Let’s see how this goes. Let you know in a bit.
There’s this girl sitting across the aisle and one up from me since Back Bay. She’s clearly high-maintenance: her stuff is in a Jimmy Choos bag, she’s got her breasts jacked up to her chin in a shirt I would probably commit arson to fit into, and her hair’s that funky bronzish color that you get when a natural brunette tries to go blonde and doesn’t quite make it. I had some theories about her earlier; I’m a judgmental bitch. I’m pretty sure she and her friend are New Yorkers, probably state rather than city, maybe Jersey; they were in Boston only visiting, in any case. She’s been on her cell phone most of the trip, not counting the two hours they spent in the bar car right ahead of this one. As a result, I know that she works for a finance group. She’s been doing all sorts of calls; one in particular to discuss a loan for a second home for a couple that can’t really be offered by her company, maybe you could do it. Is it weird that I like her so much more since she’s displayed some steel and a brain? I am such an elitist bitch.
current mood:
Sorta Guilty
current music: The woman next to me talking about how I look JUST LIKE her cousin Megan.
3:55. YES we are in New York City. I had the seats to myself for a while, but then a woman got on in Connecticut and sat next to me. Pleasant enough, but wearing that funky powdery perfume that older women like. IT was like, lady, please, you’re nice, but PLEASE set somewhere I don’t have to BREATHE you.
Where’s my ticket stub? Weirdness, I stuck it under my computer and now it's not there. Hang on.
current mood:
Anxious
current music: Train announcements
4:17. Oh my God. The Jimmy Choos woman just saved my ass. Or would have, anyway. I somehow lost my ticket stub. I went calmly insane looking for it: under the seats, removed the cushions, took EVERYTHING out of my bag, up and down the aisle, the whole nine yards. And she gave me her ticket stub, but then the crew checked everyone’s and the guy was hassling her. So I pretended she’d dropped it and I gave it back. Luckily I was still digging in my bags so I was able to look the part when I frantically told the guy I couldn’t find it. He had me write my name on a piece of paper that he then punched. I don’t know if that means they’ll charge me later. I hope not. I’m still worried they’re going to charge me a ticket price for my harp. I don’t THINK they will, but…there’s a chance.
Speaking of the harp. I was worried that they wouldn’t let me on at all with it: luckily I mentioned this to the ticket guy (an older gentleman who was comfortable enough with me to take his pills in front of me) and he called me a porter. Guy’s name was Alan, and he was absolutely FANTASTIC. Personable, nice, took my stuff and put in on a cart in the back room so I didn’t have to deal with it while I waited and then asked permission of the conductor for me to take the harp on. YAY! I not only tipped him $5 but hugged him as well. At that point, mood was euphoric.
current mood:
Grateful
current music: Lex Luthor yelling
4:21. Newark now. Part of me is dying to leap off this train and hail a cab to Hac. I miss him, even though we had a long conversation when I was in South Station on, guess it, Heroes and Oblivion. Poor man hasn’t even hit up Cloud Ruler Temple yet; I don’t know how I would’ve done anything without being all tricked out up there. Last time I played I named the horses after Half Life 2 characters.
Hmm. What to watch now. Oooh, “Déjà vu? “
current mood:
Curious
current music: None
5:14. I like my reflection best in windows of moving vehicles, always have. I love to see myself projected onto the world. There’s something philosophical there, but I’m not going to look for it. Suspect I'm just vain.
current mood:
Contemplative
current music: Déjà Vu dialogue
5:16: And we follow with an Idiot Moment. I have a bottle of Pom (oh delicious Pom) and there was juice in the cap. So I lick it, naturally. And then happen to look over across the isle. Where a young guy is sitting, looking at me. Awkward.
current mood:
Embarrassed
current music: Déjà Vu dialogue
6:39. Trippy film. Very good; slow and kind of disorienting at first, and Denzel spends a fair amount of time being bewildered, which I’m not really used to. I think he’s played a federal expert in everything I’ve ever seen him in.
Just crossed a body of water and the track got ROUGH. I don’t know why or where, but I should be in D.C. soon.
current mood:
Mellow
current music: Confessions Part III- Weird Al
Epilogue: A nice Indian gentleman who'd been talking most of his trip about cell phone services and computers helped me drag my rolling suitcase almost all the way to the door, then pointed me in the direction of the place where taxis are. I rolled my way over, called Ellen, waited for Ellen, loaded crap in Ellen's car, and then we dropped my stuff off and walked down the block for very good pizza and red wine. Now I pass out.
current mood:
Exhausted
current music: None