Photo of the Day: Train TV

Morning commute. Quiet Car. Train TV, set to snooze. Necessary morning nap/meditation.

~ photo by iPhone, with some filters.

Photo of the Day: Knocking on Knickerbocker

as of a visit Monday, February 20, 2017

Vestiges of the 'olde' New York can still glimpsed in the corners and shadows if you only look or know where to look. Hints: ends of platforms, tucked up out of sight, and/or disguised as the years have 'progressed' by. Where once a door may have opened to a glamorous hotel, now commuters jockey for a spot to cram on a subway shuttle and try to ignore the rats frolicking in the trash on the tracks feet below.

 ~ photo by iPhone, some slight filters

Knickerbocker Hotel entrance as covered by The New York Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/17/nyregion/behind-subway-entrance-to-hotel-knickerbocker-neither-arias-nor-opulence.html?_r=0

Photo of the Day: Calm before the Storm

Sunset tonight. Evidence that the days ARE getting longer. 

There was at least one bit of blue before the next storm and socked in series of gray days.

~ photo by iPhone

Photo of the Day: Snowmen

Hartsdale Train Station, as viewed from the train, February 1, 2017

Sometimes in transit, when you look up from your phone at just the right time, you see public art as it is meant to be discovered. This installation at the MetroNorth Hartsdale Train Station is located between the north and south-bound tracks, as part of a system-wide public art works project.

~ photo by iPhone, some filters.

Photo of the Day: Time Flies

Over Vegas, heading back to NYC

Very late Vegas Time / Very early New York Time

Vacation passes too quickly.

Also, this year flew by.

Which is good, because this year has been ...

~photo by iPhone 

Photo of the Day: Big Sky Perspective

 

It's been ... a rough few months.

Maybe ... just maybe ....

the clouds are parting?

Spotted while waiting for my train.

~ photo by iPhone

Photo of the Day: Light at the End of the ...

February is almost over.

Deadlines are looming.

Maybe the end is in sight?

Or am I just being blinded by all the staring at computer and screens.

~ photos by iPhone

Photos of the Day: Twilight Train Time

Looking south as the northbound trains come through.

The light changes so quickly at this time of year.

~photos by iPhone

Photo of the Day: Sunset Signs of Hope

The days are getting longer.

If you catch an earlier train, and remember to look up,

you'll catch sight of some fiery ribbons of light.

~ photo by iPhone

Photo of the Day: Flashback to Flannel

I was flipping through my photo archives in search of something else, when I rediscovered this shot.

Bring a snuggly blankie to tuck in you and your honey; 

takes early morning train trips to a whole new level

c. September 2015

To be clear, it was weekend commute, rather than regular rush, but still.

It's been so cold in the mornings, maybe I should bring a blanket

in addition to my thermals, 2 huge scarves, fleece gloves and my ski-rated winter jacket.

~ photo by iTouch

MLK Day at the Big J: January 19, 2015

Since I was so fortunate to spend yesterday's MLK Day back at the Big J, I thought I'd share some of the random pictures from last year's visit. 

I was still getting over some weird stomach thing, so I wasn't eating much, but I still had time to sit and toast to Ms. T---'s presence for a long leisurely breakfast. (Indie Food and Wine)

Ms. T--- had to go back to work, so I think I hung about the lobby of the Film Society of Lincoln Center and used their wi-fi to set up more appointments for the day. I also ran over to the Bed Bath & Beyond, Gracious Home, and Gourmet Garage for some errands.

Lunch was with Cynthia at an Upper West Side institution I had missed, somehow, in the seven years I worked in the area.

"Big Nick's" TOO (Because sadly, I missed going to the original Big Nick's. It shuttered in 2013.)

One of those tiny, hole in the wall vintage dives which are becoming more rare on the UWS. The menu was so huge, but again -stomach ailments, so I had chicken soup, fries, and eggs, of all things. I am hoping for a redo one day. 

On the way back, we spotted one of those random things in the City that you just have to question. Cynthia and I actually turned to each other just to confirm that we were seeing what we thought were seeing. In fact, we back-tracked and crossed the street to go over and take a picture.

Um? Okay? I thought the UWS had zoning for JUST this kind of thing.

Cyn had to peel off, but I set up camp down in the tanning booth (aka under the main front steps of the Big J)

to use the wi-fi until Matt could run down and give me a hug, and/or it was time for my "coffee" break with Brent back over at Indie. (Coffee for Brent, Diet Coke for me).

I had a "tea" appointment to see Susan, but she was under the gun on a print deadline, so basically she ran out of the building on a "coffee" run (more Diet Coke) from the coffee cart on the corner and we basically power-walked around the block three times while smoke came out of her ears and we literally cooled off in the frigid January weather. 

After our "tea," I did head upstairs to the "new" suite of "off-site" offices to check in with my former boss Ed, but I kept my profile pretty low, because I like to be respectful of their working day. I plan these visits very carefully and strategically - and often make sure it's off-site.

(There is nothing more annoying than a former employee swanning in on their break while you are frantically busy working, or on a deadline, who wants to catch-up. I know. I have been one of those resentful busy worker bees.) 

One of the best parts of the day however, was getting a big old hug from some of the security guards. It'd been over a year or so since I had ducked in - and it was just like I had never left. I DID get scolded that I hadn't brought THEM baked goods.

Figures. You feed them a few times, and they think you'll feed them all the time. (I would if I could.)

~ photos by iTouch

Train Training: January 15, 2015

Readers, if I can leave you with nothing else from your 10-15 seconds reading this entry - or even ANY reading of this blog - let it be this.

DON'T BE THESE PEOPLE!

That is a five-seater on a train, where two people obliviots* are taking up all of the seats. People are standing in the vestibule because these two Seat Hogs are spread out, 

eating a three-course meal, with bags everywhere.

I took this a year ago - and I'm STILL so annoyed I had to share it as a PSA.

 DON'T BE THESE PEOPLE.

Also - it was FREAKING COLD that day. I don't know how she sat there with her lap and legs exposed like that.

*(Oblivious Idiots)

~photos by iTouch

Spotted on the Train: January 13, 2015

 Someone thinks they remember their grammar lessons.

From wikipedia:
Stet is a form of the Latin verb sto, stare, steti, statum,^[1] originally used by proofreaders and editors to instruct the typesetter or writer to disregard a change the editor or proofreader had previously marked. This usage of the verb, known as the "jussive subjunctive",^[2] derives from the active-voiced third-person subjunctive singular present and is typically translated as "Let it stand".^[3]

Conventionally, the content that included the edit to be disregarded was underlined using dashes or dots and stet written and circled above or beside it.^[3] Alternatively, a circled tick or checkmark could be placed beside the content in a margin.^[4]

Found via Google Image search on STET

~photos by iTouch

That Time I Saw POTUS: January 10, 2015

Sadly, my (first) trip to DC last year had to come to an end and I had to wend my way home. But no trip to DC would be complete without a sighting of the big man himself, POTUS.

I didn't say it was the real POTUS.

I just said there was a sighting... in the gift shop... at Union Station. By a very one dimensional version.

It was another beautiful sunny Amtrak train trip home, with all the free wifi I could enjoy, while texting to catch up on work, keep people apprised about half hour delays due to people falling down boarding the trains in Baltimore, and for me to stay plugged in to take pictures out the window. I did look up a few times to snap the sights.

 *President of the United States

~ photos by iTouch

Rain Insurance / Spotted on the train

Murphy's law:

If you HAVE your umbrella with you, and it looks like this ...

it won't rain.

I did. It didn't.

But ...

What is Murphy's law about stashed drinks on train?

If they are there, you won't be thirsty?

These were separate legs of separate commutes. 

I'm going to start a photo series if this keep up.

People! Follow the national park rules. Pack in. Pack out. 

There are enough annoying things on trains than dealing with your trash.

The company can't even afford to fix the seats with anything better than duct tape, 

forget hiring people to clean up after you.

~photos by iTouch; general distaste for litterers, all of us

Photo of the Day: Waiting for the Train

I call this: Waiting for the Train, and BOY do I need a pedicure, why is this train late again?

Yes, it's a long title.

~photo by iTouch

Grey Days

The calendar may say spring, but it just keeps on raining, snowing, and being cold, foggy, and miserable. It's really starting to wear on a person. Everything is just monochrome. 

Even an amber lantern doesn't help make the concrete and snow seem any better.

I need spring.

I need more blue skies.

Thank goodness for fun mail from friends.

~photos by iTouch

It's the Spring Equinox? Really?

I can't wait to complain about sitting in the Hot Seat!

It's the Spring Equinox and the snow - 

large, flakey, perfectly pointed, perfectly crystalline pointed - 

snow is coating everything 

again.

Honestly? While it was beautiful? 

I'm just over it.

Go home winter. You are not welcome anymore!

~photos by iTouch

Marching Forth: Trudging for the Train

 ~photos by iTouch

Rub it in, Scottsdale!

Another March day, Another Snowy commute.

This was the view on the train platform home:

This was the HUGE advertisement from Scottsdale, Arizona. Rub it in, why don't cha?

~photos iTouch