(Untitled)

[emilya]

Before I left on Tuesday, I did neglect to mention that I was going to be in New York for the next two weeks or so.  However, john_j_enright did helpfully (and poetically) inform a full half of my friendslist of my departure a few days ago.

Anyway, I made a perhaps-misguided decision to take the train, as it was only very slightly more expensive than the plane

Comments

[emilya]

Possibly it was Rochester, I guess. I have no idea where anything in upstate New York is.

[kraorh]

You know, I've considered taking the train from time to time when I have some trip to take to the East Coast or wherever. And then, I read your account, which by the way, was written masterfully. I realize, after reading it, that there's a reason why Amtrak has been going bankrupt for years, and that were it not for federal dollars, it would have gone under. So I conclude from this that if one wants a cross country trip, allowing one to see "Fly-Over Country" from the ground, the best way is by car. I've made lengthy drives before, once from Houston to Boston, and another time from Boston to Madison. Both drives were a lot of fun, believe it or not. Audiobooks are quite useful when you're the driver

[emilya]

Well, really, I think the train is all right for journeys in the day-time. The view is rather picturesque and one needn't worry about driving in the snow and ice. It is merely the nights that I found so unfortunate and quite dreaded, by the end of the journey.

I rather snickered over the story you linked to. Both of my trains arrived on time, and in fact I got in to Chicago early, but the characters and setting were quite recognizable. Especially the crazy people. Everyone on the train was either a young and carefree student, an old and carefree elderly type, terrified of flying, obsessed with trains, or Amish.

[idomeneus]

I do not understand what authority the border patrol thinks it has to inquire about the citizenship of people who are not crossing any international borders.

[emilya]

Well, they weren't really inquiring with much authority. Everyone who claimed to be an American citizen was no required to prove it in any way, and while the others were asked for their passports, the man just saw that they had them in their hands and didn't look at them or open them or even take them; someone probably could have held up a piece of green construction paper and said it was a Canadian passport, the way things were going.

[sarcasticwriter]

Hi there -

You don't know me, but I was directed youraways by madbard, who pimped this entry in this journal. I read some of your other posts and like your style, so I'm Friending you, unless you'd rather I not.

[emilya]

Hi--of course you can friend me. Is there really anyone on LiveJournal who doesn't want more friends? Anyway, I saw your journal and you seem interesting, too, so I friended you back.

[sarcasticwriter]

You'd be surprised - there are some folks out there who are tremendously choosy about who they Friend.

Anyway, we're not those people - we're Friends! Wee!

[emilya]

Well, yes, I have known a few people who are terribly exclusive about whom they will deign to friend, but I've never known anyone who objected to being friended; in fact, the disparity, with the people listed as "friend of" greatly exceeding the people listed as "friends," seems to be the goal of those people.