The infinite loop that was the Presto card account verification process

 A few people wrote in about the move made by Metrolinx to secure Presto accounts with email verification via Microsoft and how people tried to convert their accounts only to be told their account didn't exist. I experienced this myself on November 1. I spent 30 minutes in a loop on their website. I would convert my account, only to be told my email didn't exist and then I would reset my password only to get a message that my account could not be recognized.

I decided to give it a month to see if this would get fixed and as of today, it looks like you CAN verify your email address and convert your account. Sure beats waiting on hold for hours to talk to a customer service rep, right? 

Be not afraid

Shoes on the seats of a GO train drive you crazy? Me too! Don't be afraid to call people out for it. The best approach is passive aggressiveness. Walk through a coach and as you spot foot riders just bellow out your disdain as you move past. There is no shame in this game.

So that worked out well

It looks like I'm going to have to remember how blogging worked and how to efficiently schedule posts. One of the most important tools for any content creator is a content planner and schedule. I'm not quite there yet as I'm pretty rusty coming out of blogging retirement. I beg for your patience.

Do you have a tip for a story? Send me a text at 905.442.7423 or drop me an email at cj@thiscrazytrain.com. 

Ew

People who use the toilet on the GO train but then don't close the door after they leave are the worst. No one wants to stare at a toilet during the train ride. And yes, I'll get up and close it.

Gee, I wish I could breathe that in for the whole train ride, said no one ever

The overindulgence of perfumes and colognes by passengers of GO Transit has reached nuclear levels. And we're still only at 50% passenger volume.

If I can smell you before I see you, that's really bad.

If your stink permeates the air long after you've traveled through a coach, you may want to reconsider your hygiene habits.

Forget what you see in movies. You don't spray the fragrance all over yourself. You only need to put a dab on your wrists, or maybe you don't need any of this for work? 

Let's try this again tomorrow.

Someone abandoned an entire Chinese take-out meal for four at Ajax GO Station

According to This Crazy Train reader Drew, this food sat in a stairwell in the parking garage for several days.

It's like something out of Chernobyl and the abandoned city of Pripyat in Ukraine.

The pandemic gave me time to learn to bake

I started with bread like everyone else on the planet. Then I moved onto sweet breads, pastries, and bakery staples like buns and loaves. Lately I've been working to perfect donut making. Today I nailed it.

@ridethiscrazytrain #baking #donuts #doughnuts #hawaiian #eatallthefood #poursomesugaronme ♬ Pour Some Sugar On Me - Live - Def Leppard

My last GO train photo before the commute stopped for 26 months

Monday, March 16, 2020 was my last day at my office tower in downtown Toronto. 

The Thursday before, many companies told their employees who could work remotely to do so with the intention we'd all be back at work in two to three weeks in an effort to "flatten  the curve" due to COVID-19.

I went in that Monday morning to grab some files. As we left Ajax GO station it was about 8 am and my coach only had five people on it. I took a photo because it was surreal.

My first day back at the office was May 16, 2022.