One stubborn son-of-a-bitch

Ah, the holidays–it certainly brings out the best in everyone.

I was sitting quietly on the subway on my way to work this morning, eavesdropping on the couple beside me. They sounded like they had been together, in one form or another, for a very long time. She was dressed to the nines in a black dress with black patent heels and he looked very dapper in a tuxedo. Either they’d been out all night partying or they were headed to a formal event. (Side note: 8:30am is far to early to be wearing formal attire. Even in NYC).Hoping to gain some wisdom from their toils in the marriage salt mines, I leaned in. This is what I heard.

Her: I lost all my friends when I lost my job. All of them.

Him: Well. That happens.

Her: Yeah. Now I just have you and my sister. Speaking of which, did you see? She planned her nephews Bar Mitzvah on the same day that her husband’s mother died? You know I don’t put events on days when people die.

Him: Ugh now you are going all Kabbalah on me?

Her: Well, you know, I think it’s a big deal.

Him: So you wouldn’t celebrate my birthday on the seventh of September because of someone who died years before?

Her: Well….

Him: Gee thanks.

Her: Well you know, birth days and death days, they are very important. But I think death days outweigh birth days.

Him: So does that mean that when I die, you wont celebrate anyone else’s birth day?

Her: Well you are one stubborn son-of-a-bitch so who says you are going to die first?

He just sat there silent.

Now there’s the secret to a winning relationship.

Grouchy, grouchy, grouchy

Back-to-school is both a blessing and a curse. Parents are blissfully left to their own devices as their kids traipse off to their classes, maybe even heading to college leaving an empty nest behind. Generally parents look forward to this time of year- but for the commuter- back-to-school is a nightmare.

Trains and roads get packed with kids, and teachers, and school buses. What was a reasonable 20 minute ride now becomes a 35 minute bumper car race. As a commuter, 15 minutes becomes a big freaking deal.

Add to that the promise of winter weather or rain and you’ve got one hell of a mix.

This morning was a perfect example.

The conductor who is usually very chipper, wandered down the aisle muttering to herself over and over.

“Good morning. Have a good day. Your day will only be as good as you make it.”

And under her breath. ” grouchy, grouchy, grouchy. Everyone is so damn grouchy today.”

I guess everyone has the back to school blues.

Overheard something entertaining, strange or annoying on your commute? Send your story my way thecrankycommuter@gmail.com.

How does your commute stack up?

A post in today’s NYTimes shows you how much the average commuter in your neighborhood pays to get to work. The new service Abogo let’s you put in your address and calculates the average amount of money you (and your neighbors) spend on the commute.

Turns out much of Long Island (and areas around all major metros) are bright red–meaning most people spend more than $930 per month on car costs, gas and public transportation.  The regional average is almost $100 lower for my area.

That’s a heck of a lot of green just to get to and from work.  Is it any wonder that people are leaving the tri-state?

Fare Hikes Up for “Debate”

This morning commuters on all the Long Island, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island MTA properties were faced with this welcoming flyer.

It proclaimed “Proposed Changes in Fares,” once again for all public transportation riders. This after a fare increase just 9 months ago.

Ticket prices are slated to go up across the board anywhere from 0% (not likely) to 14% according to the flier. (Side Note: When was the last time that the MTA decided to raise fares 0%? Really?)

That made for an interesting tenseness on he train ride this morning. As the conductor walked through my car very few people acknowledged him or said thank you as they are apt to do on any other day. There was hushed grumbling and audible sighing at the sight of yet another proposed hike. These are people living in the exurbs of Manhattan because the cost of living in the City limits is far too high. Folks who have commuted and sacrificed their quality of life for 4-hours-a-day, 5-days-a-week for 20 and 30 years. And again they are faced with another fare hike on top of income tax hikes, property tax hikes and state tax hikes? What incentive is there for them to stay here?

According to a recent op-ed in the NY Post, riders should be ready for even more hikes. According to the piece, stimulus gave he MTA $1.6 billion, not nearly enough to cover the more than nearly $30 billion they need to make infrastructure improvements to prevent massive breakdowns like the one that stranded LIRR riders last week. That doesn’t even include the pension and health costs that the article claims will be needed in 2014. That means that all indications point to fares rising wit no end in sight.

The MTA purports to keep more than 3 million drivers off the roads each day- but what happens when the cost of a monthly train and subway passes surpasses the cost of driving, tolls and parking? What happens to the smart, middle class forced to pay more and more just to get to work? Tri-borough suburbanites and politicians alike worry about the massive brain drain resulting from the skyrocketing cost of living in this area- so where do $400 per month public transportation fares leave us?

For the first time in my commuting life I am seriously considering attending one of the public hearings. (Too bad they all begin on union time at 6 pm- What hard working commuter could actually make that without leaving their office at 3pm?)

Because $350 per month per rider, just isnt enough.

Killer Whales at Sea World

Welcome to the second home of Cranky Commuters everywhere!

Overheard on the Long Island Rail Road today:

A conversation about the dangers of Sea World and captive Killer Whales.

“You know, it’s a thing to see. Those whales are all tucked up in their pens. We took the kids there once many years ago, and we got there real early, and got a great seat.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Very cool. But, you know it’s a tough thing to watch, those killer whales on TV, when they kill those seals. Heartbreaking.”

“Sometimes I feel like those seals. This train ride is like trying to make it out to the ocean with giant Orcas running interference the whole way out.”

It’s amazing what you’ll hear on your morning commute.

Heard a strange, funny, or just plain nonsense conversation on your commute.

Send me the details at thecrankycommuter@gmail.com.