Hoarding subway rides
So I am posting a new entry at last and it's about - of course - the subways.
But this time, it is no random story or observation. As all of you probably know by now, there is a transit strike in NYC today. And in case you can't tell by the time on this entry, I am very much not at work.
Granted, I needed a day off (even if it involved taking one - school is open), but if it is any longer than one day, I'm going to have a problem.
I will once again ask: does anyone know of a good way for me to get from Manhattan to the middle of Brooklyn? No? I didn't think so.
And now, of course, for the random story. (Yep. I lied. This is pretty much another subway entry like all the others...)
Yesterday, I think I must have been hoarding subway rides in anticipation of today's strike. Well, that wasn't entirely my thinking - but I think that, had it not been for the strike threat, I would have been on the subway a bit less... but now I should explain:
Yesterday, I rode on a total of ten different subway trains over five different trips. The fun part is, only one of those transfers involved walking any further than across a platform.
And now I shall elaborate:
My day began with my usual commute to work (1st and 2nd train). Then, mid-day, my usual travel to the second school I work at (3rd). After that, my day got less usual - I had a staff meeting back at the first school (4th train). Then, because I was in the neighborhood, I went to Amazing Savings to buy things like chocolate - and a few gifts, like a photo frame for my parents. This did not involve the subway, because that's the neighborhood of my first school - which is why I went - I usually don't end my day there. It is important to note that i went there because I left with a few heavy bags, and therefore wanted to minimize my walking.
But I also wanted to go clothing shopping in Manhattan, which is why I stopped at a kosher Dunkin Donuts - conveniently located right next to the subway - and bought an egg and cheese croissant sandwich for dinner. It sounds like such a non-Jewish sandwich... But it was $2, and I was able to eat it on the train. Which is good, because I got home late.
So. Onto the local train (5th) - but it wasn't going where I needed to go. Well, actually, it was, but I would have needed to walk an avenue block once I got there. So I transferred to the express (6th train) as soon as I could. But the express, though it would run up the correct avenue in Manhattan, was also express in Manhattan. So I switched to the local - a different local - (7th) to get to my final destination. Both transfers involved walking across a platform. Which was nice.
Went to Burlington. Shlepped around my heavy school bags and Amazing Savings bags. Found a coat. Agonized over the coat - can't return for cash there - waited on an insane line to buy the coat. Left the store with the coat - plus all my heavy bags. Could have walked one avenue block and taken one train home - would have dropped me two avenue blocks from my apartment.
But remember, I was carrying heavy bags. So I got back on the same train (8th one), and then switched twice (9 and 10!), because the wrong express train came first and I was impatient. Those were also same-platform switches, though one was a very long wait. And once I got to my street, it was only five minutes to my apartment where I could finally put everything down.
I know that all sounded rather confusing. Especially because I didn't put in all the subway lines - I decided it was too much info for an unlocked entry. (If you want to know, feel free to ask.) Let's just say I spent a lot of time traveling: hour in the morning, half an hour each way in the middle of the day (some of that is walking time, though), and probably 45 minutes to the store and 45 minutes home.
That having been said, I did buy a winter coat, and had I waited even one more day, the coat would not have been there for me. I would have bought another one there, I think, but the other one was not as nice. I got the last coat in my size of the style I liked - and they had petite sizes! - and the woman looking next to me was looking for the same size and might have discovered it first had I not been there.
So yeah, I have a fancy wool winter coat now.
And I spent a lot of time on the subway.
Today, I plan to spent a lot of time on foot instead.
But this time, it is no random story or observation. As all of you probably know by now, there is a transit strike in NYC today. And in case you can't tell by the time on this entry, I am very much not at work.
Granted, I needed a day off (even if it involved taking one - school is open), but if it is any longer than one day, I'm going to have a problem.
I will once again ask: does anyone know of a good way for me to get from Manhattan to the middle of Brooklyn? No? I didn't think so.
And now, of course, for the random story. (Yep. I lied. This is pretty much another subway entry like all the others...)
Yesterday, I think I must have been hoarding subway rides in anticipation of today's strike. Well, that wasn't entirely my thinking - but I think that, had it not been for the strike threat, I would have been on the subway a bit less... but now I should explain:
Yesterday, I rode on a total of ten different subway trains over five different trips. The fun part is, only one of those transfers involved walking any further than across a platform.
And now I shall elaborate:
My day began with my usual commute to work (1st and 2nd train). Then, mid-day, my usual travel to the second school I work at (3rd). After that, my day got less usual - I had a staff meeting back at the first school (4th train). Then, because I was in the neighborhood, I went to Amazing Savings to buy things like chocolate - and a few gifts, like a photo frame for my parents. This did not involve the subway, because that's the neighborhood of my first school - which is why I went - I usually don't end my day there. It is important to note that i went there because I left with a few heavy bags, and therefore wanted to minimize my walking.
But I also wanted to go clothing shopping in Manhattan, which is why I stopped at a kosher Dunkin Donuts - conveniently located right next to the subway - and bought an egg and cheese croissant sandwich for dinner. It sounds like such a non-Jewish sandwich... But it was $2, and I was able to eat it on the train. Which is good, because I got home late.
So. Onto the local train (5th) - but it wasn't going where I needed to go. Well, actually, it was, but I would have needed to walk an avenue block once I got there. So I transferred to the express (6th train) as soon as I could. But the express, though it would run up the correct avenue in Manhattan, was also express in Manhattan. So I switched to the local - a different local - (7th) to get to my final destination. Both transfers involved walking across a platform. Which was nice.
Went to Burlington. Shlepped around my heavy school bags and Amazing Savings bags. Found a coat. Agonized over the coat - can't return for cash there - waited on an insane line to buy the coat. Left the store with the coat - plus all my heavy bags. Could have walked one avenue block and taken one train home - would have dropped me two avenue blocks from my apartment.
But remember, I was carrying heavy bags. So I got back on the same train (8th one), and then switched twice (9 and 10!), because the wrong express train came first and I was impatient. Those were also same-platform switches, though one was a very long wait. And once I got to my street, it was only five minutes to my apartment where I could finally put everything down.
I know that all sounded rather confusing. Especially because I didn't put in all the subway lines - I decided it was too much info for an unlocked entry. (If you want to know, feel free to ask.) Let's just say I spent a lot of time traveling: hour in the morning, half an hour each way in the middle of the day (some of that is walking time, though), and probably 45 minutes to the store and 45 minutes home.
That having been said, I did buy a winter coat, and had I waited even one more day, the coat would not have been there for me. I would have bought another one there, I think, but the other one was not as nice. I got the last coat in my size of the style I liked - and they had petite sizes! - and the woman looking next to me was looking for the same size and might have discovered it first had I not been there.
So yeah, I have a fancy wool winter coat now.
And I spent a lot of time on the subway.
Today, I plan to spent a lot of time on foot instead.