Wasted bandwidth

This text exchange, which originated this afternoon but didn't pick up steam until tonight, should remind people that because I've put my mobile number online, it means I want people to text me and I will engage in a conversation. If you're not expecting a response, put the phone down.

I've omitted the text headers (as numerous people have said they find them annoying) and my replies, as always, are in green.

* * *

So you like to mess around with people when they text you, eh?

Do you always state the obvious?

How long did it take you to come up with that? I texted you hours ago LOL

Sorry, I have this thing I do from 9 to 5. It's called a job. It keeps me busy.

So you're just reading my text now?

No. I didn't read anything. I was just sitting here and I got this vision and it was written in arial font with a point size of 10 and it said, "So you like to mess around with people when they text you, eh?"

I'm not even holding a BlackBerry. I am telepathically communicating with you.

Right. I bet you make up your text conversations because they are all read too well rehearsed. Or, you spend a lot of time thinking about your answers.

(long intentional pause by me)

Hello?

Oh, sorry, I like to take my time and think about my answers before I text them.

That's what I said.

I am in awe of your super brilliance.

I am in awe of how you've managed to dupe people into thinking you're this hilarious comic.

I can't recall calling myself that.

Oh, wait. Former stand-up comic. Which essentially means you failed.

Actually, what I needed to do was pay my rent and working clubs for $75 a night plus a percentage of bar tips doesn't afford much in Toronto.

Right. You failed in being able to establish a comedy career.

Maybe if that had been my ambition but it was something I did as a hobby while going to college.

Still a fail.

Anytime someone writes "former", it means they can't follow through with something.

Yes. I didn't follow through with a stand-up comedy career because I had no desire to be famous.

So you write a GO train blog instead. Pretty sad my friend.

I disagree. I enjoy writing the blog and it's awesome to know people enjoy reading it. I've always liked to entertain.

But you just couldn't make money from it.

I don't make money from the blog either.

At least advertisers know a loser when they see one.

Not a goal of mine.

What to be a loser? That's the only thing you've won at! LOL

I have no desire to make money from a website.

Then I don't get it.

Get what?

Why you even bother.

Well if I didn't bother, I wouldn't have the opportunity to meet charming assholes like you.

I suggest you watch your mouth.

I never did understand that saying. I can't even see my mouth.

Don't change the subject.

LOL, you act like I started this conversation.

You wrote back didn't you?

Isn't that what you expected? Why else would you have texted me if you didn't expect a reply?

Anyway, good luck loser.

Thanks for the waste of time!

They may be the best damn people, but they can't park worth a damn

update - photo is not of oshawa go lot


Supposedly the Oshawa GO lot. Early summer. Those are a lot of trees ... mmm ...

'Drunk' woman drove along rail track in Mercedes then broke down in front of train

From the UK:

It was only by good fortune that the Metro train – containing 20 passengers – was on the opposite side of the track.

Karen Angus, an alcoholic mother-of-three, had drunk wine and taken antidepressants when she got behind the wheel of her car.

While crossing the Metro line at Fawdon in Newcastle, she managed to somehow drive onto the tracks on the night of February 24, 2009.

CCTV footage was shown to Newcastle Crown Court that showed Angus driving her silver coloured saloon 765 yards (700m) along the track from Fawdon towards Wansbeck Road Metro Station.

Prosecutor Debbie Breen told the court: "At about 11pm the Metro driver Alistair Joel saw headlights appear on the other side of the track.

KEEP READING

All your space belong to me, plus I'm wearing gloves and opened toe shoes. This weather has me confused

Pic courtesy of JC

Bee biddy banana biddy, bo bo fiddy fiddy ... gotta kick your bag-a-biddy

Squiggles writes:

So this morning, before the bare-assed crack of Dawn, I boarded my usual train and sat in my usual section. Not long after I was settled and the train rolling, I noticed a quartet of biddies on the train who were having volume problems.

After I put in the earphones and started listening to my aural entertainment, I could still hear them. Well, one in particular. Nice oxblood boots, but a horrible voice. And someone that has an opinion about everything. Which everyone on the train heard.

I started praying to Jeebus that it is a day-tripper event that these biddies were heading to and that they do not understand that everyone at that hour craves quiet. These quiet cars cannot come soon enough.

Anyhoodles, I got my revenge. By Union she placed her one bag that sat on her lap into the aisle, next to another bag she had there. No one tried to tuck them under the seats. I walked up beside them so that when the train stopped and people moved, I would be in position. I rushed to stop some Twinkie from jumping the seat to stand in front of me. This is important! I have a mission!

I kicked the bag (aka purse). I hooked my foot to it and when I walked, it came along with me. Then I kicked it into the quad behind her.

She probably never even noticed. She was too enraptured with her conversation about measurements.

Made me feel better. And fingers crossed she doesn't come back.

Better makes plans for Monday!

From the Toronto Star:

The union representing most of York Region’s bus drivers is warning commuters to start planning an alternative ride on Monday.

Drivers for Miller Transit and First Transit are expecting to receive an offer Tuesday from their employers and then to vote Wednesday and Thursday on whether to accept it.

But the union is not optimistic the offer will be enough to avoid a strike set for midnight Sunday.

Drivers will vote on the offer whether or not the union bargaining committee recommends it, said Ray Doyle, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1587.

“We are anticipating they’re going to turn it down,” he said.

Full story

Prospect of riding GO so awful, woman gets drunk and steals bike

From Twitter

http://see.sc/4ffriH

Article Snapshot:

A 26-year-old Milton woman was arrested Saturday at the Bradford GO station lot for being drunk in a public place.
South Simcoe Police attended the GO Station Lot on Holland Street East in Bradford for a report of an intoxicated female stealing a bike.
Police arrived on scene to find she had fallen from the bike and appeared disheveled and struggled to get up off the ground with minor injuries.
A strong odour of alcohol was prevalent on her breath and she exhibited signs of extreme intoxication.

This woman was from Milton. That's a long bike ride home when you've gotten on the wrong train. And on the wrong corridor. Just a presumption. At least she wasn't trying to steal and a car and drive.

Suggestions for your next Pick3 numbers

Photo linked from flckr; BruceK

Occupy Stupid

From: 1905571XXXX
To: 19054427423
October 15 2011 9:30 AM

Saw most hilarious placard on train this morning. Bunch of hipsters from Coburg heading into the city for Occupy Toronto and after I pointed out their spelling error, the sign was put under the seat and of course, I didn't take a picture before I said something.

They had written "Congradulations on taking a stand. Make sure your signs show educated opinions."

I see the university degree paid off. They glared at me for the whole train ride like somehow it's my fault they couldn't spell. I also wanted to ask them what their sign meant seeing as most people would come with signs already written or designed, so it's a pretty sad attempt at warning people!

End of vacay ends with high note

We left the chalet early and decided to find a place for breakfast. There's not much open along Highway 60 or 11 at 9am on Sunday so we headed into Huntsville, just outside where Deerhurst Resort is located.

At the junction of 60 and 11 is a big box lot of stores and nestled in there, across from Wal-Mart (in cottage country! I'm still amazed to see big box stores in cottage country) is a small diner called Coffee Cabin.

With my breakfast special came a latke. With one bite, I was transported back 25 years when a neighbor of ours would make these every Christmas/Hanukkah season. The latkes at this place were just as good as Anna's, if not better. I wound up ordering a side order of 3 more.

As I've said before, I'm a foodie and when I find good food, I like to let others know. The breakfast we had at this place sure beat what we would have had at Tim Horton's! I was determined to find a place other than Tim Horton's!

Unacceptable service? LSW passengers start petition for a more comfortable ride

Passengers at the Clarkson GO station in Mississauga say their platform is dangerously overcrowded and their train ride uncomfortable now that the 7:58am trip fills up in Oakville.

- Toronto Star

Click here for photo

Commuters at the Clarkson station in Mississauga are accusing GO Transit of sacrificing their comfort, convenience and safety to riders one stop west at the Oakville station.

Nearly 700 people have signed an online petition and 57 have contacted GO directly since a Labour Day service adjustment to the 7:58 a.m. train that runs express to Union Station in 27 minutes.

The train used to originate at Clarkson so riders there were accustomed to a comfortable ride, usually in a seat. Now the train starts in Oakville and Clarkson passengers find themselves standing in the aisles and on the staircases. Many worry that the platform at Clarkson has also become so crowded that it’s tough to stand back from the yellow line when a VIA train whooshes through the station fast enough to throw someone off balance.

Full story

Rain, rain, go away ... but look... How cozy!

This morning I woke up to rain but then I stood at the top of the stairs to peer down at the sitting area off the kitchen in this chalet.

Perfect for book reading, right? Which is what I did for most of the day.

Mimico parking donkey

Really?

How hard would it have been to park in the actual spot?

Breaking News! The benches, now sporting a coat of fancy gun metal black, have returned to the Bay Teamway

Why was I the only one that could see this for the crisis it truly was?

But can't we all use the exercise? Airport trains expected to make walk to platforms longer for GO customers - MP

The latest sketches of the Weston station show that GO commuters will have to walk an extra 250 feet (76 metres) across the ARL platform to access their trains, said Sullivan. That’s in addition to a longer walk to the station for many commuters because the Weston GO stop is being moved south of its current location on John St. to the south side of Lawrence Ave. W.

“In the winter it will turn a lot of people into drivers.”

- NDP MP Mike Sullivan

What's this all about? Read the Toronto Star for more.

Across the blogosphere, I found this rant

- Image linked from the rant-bot

daily rant – 00046 – GO (away) Train

Kid in handcuffs?

from Kelly
to cj@thiscrazytrain.com
date Thu, Oct 13, 2011 at 11:33 PM
subject Wednesday @ Whitby - Kid in Handcuffs

Hey Cindy,
Wednesday evening, I was getting off at Whitby (from the 4:53 Union train) and saw three GO cops who had corralled a kid in one of the vestibules and had him in handcuffs. Anyone see what went down? I've never seen GO cops detain any one like that. He seemed pretty calm and harmless at the time. Just curious!
Kelly

View from the hot tub and deck. Aww yeah...

Can you feel the excitement?! New poll is up.

Many TCT readers are curious what the fare payment of choice is among fellow commuters.

Well, now you can tell everyone!

Make your mark. Top right. Just above the Twitter feed.

Poll results. Poor cheese and crackers. Lost by a mile

Cheese and Crackers. Smoked by Pop Tarts.

What's best for breakfast on ye ol' GO?

Pop Tart
18 (7%)

Granola Bar
37 (14%)

Fruit
12 (4%)

Cheese and Crackers
2 (0%)

Tuna or Egg Sandwich
14 (5%)

Bagel or Toast
30 (11%)

Nothing! Eat at home/work/in the PATH but not on the GO
141 (55%)

Votes: 254