Feb 4, 2010

LORI'S BIG CITY ADVENTURE

I had to go into Vancouver on Tuesday for an appointment. With the Vancouver 2010 Olympics starting up very soon there are a lot of street closures and extra traffic everywhere with a reduction in parking areas. It became very obvious that I was not going to drive in.
I have always driven in heavy traffic and that doesn't bother me but I had no idea what to expect downtown and figured public transit would be the better plan. Uh huh. Yup. Public transit.
Did you know they will let pretty much anyone on those things? How dumb is that.I know?
Lucky for me my husband works very close to one of the main Sky Train stations. I parked my car at his work and walked over to the station.
First I got to suck up some rain spray from the big trucks driving by me. Great start. Over I go to the station and up the loooong escalator. Ooops, turn around and walk back down the loooong flight of stairs to purchase a ticket from the machines that were just inside the door when I came in. Kind of behind your back as you are looking ahead.
The trains run often so there was not a long wait. There is such a variety of people on public transit because as I have said they will let pretty much anyone on these things. There were lots of students, chatting on phones, texting and talking to their friends all too loudly.
There were workers of all types heading in for their workday. Several of the young men who reached into their pockets to grab their phones or something would release a very pungent smell of weed. I wonder if they think no one can smell it?
photo D Sharon Pruitt
When you ride on the elevated train you get a very different perspective of the city. You can see into people's back yards, on top of building rooftops, into fenced off areas, into a movie set. You can see graffiti all over the place. There seems to be a new trend of putting couches outside in the rain for years to help them acquire a nice patina. I saw at least 6 in different areas. I am pretty sure there is no garbage pick up in these areas because it is all piled up in the back yards. My god people. Open the front door and put the garbage out to the curb on garbage day.
The people on the trains are so odd. Of course there is the customary "scream crazy stuff at everyone" guy. I wanted to peel some of the duct tape off of his jacket and put it across his mouth to keep some of the crazy inside him.
Then there was the man who took off his shoe and adjusted his toes so they were more to his liking. Twice. Then he took the other shoe off but realized he was still not getting the toe on the first foot right so he switched back to the original foot and adjusted it a third time.
Sometimes when the train empties out at a popular stop you glance up and you are looking at the guy 30 feet away from you staring right at you through 4 different plexiglass dividers. It wasn't enough.
You wonder about the people on the train. What are their stories, where are they going.
There is the rather attractive woman who is probably in her early 60's. Lovely, long, wavy red hair, tall, slim and well dressed. And your eyes go down to her boots that more suited to a stripper with their shiny, black patent leather and their stiletto heels. I figure she is a dominatrix. On public transit. Times are tough all over.
And riddle me this Batman. Why does the great big guy have to sit beside me and make me feel suffocated. I am claustrophobic and thought I would scream. This commute for him required him to talk loudly into his phone for the entire length of his trip. STFU.
I don't have to use public transit often thank goodness but the next time I do I think I will wrap tin foil on my head and talk loudly into a blow dryer. At least I will get the seat to myself ... and likely a date.

Did you like a post? Click on the SU button to Stumble it. Thanks.

18 comments:

  1. Sounds like quite the adventure...I seem to be a magnet for drawing the weirdo's to me also...funny post.

    ReplyDelete
  2. well it gave you a good blog story...LOL...I like taking the train...it's fun looking at the sites and all the different folks..really different here in Texas...then when we rode the subways and busses in New York on a trip...

    ReplyDelete
  3. When we first moved to Philadelphia (me being from Mississippi and then a small town - mostly Amish - in Northern Indiana) I was absolutely, positively, wet my pants scared every time I took public transportation. But after a visit to New York, I wasn't nearly as frightened lol. Fun post! Kathy

    ReplyDelete
  4. Be sure to get a picture for us! Thanks for the laugh out loud!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I can so get into this story. Next time wear that tin foil, and maybe spray yourself with some odd smelly liquid. This had me cracking up the entire way through. Been there, done that. And it is so much our transit system. Welcome to the Vancouver Olympics.

    Oh and Lori, these ARE the normal people that you encountered. I lived in Vancouver for years, and trust me, these are the good ones....LOL. They don't bring out the real weirdos until your second visit.

    Jen

    ReplyDelete
  6. I needed a good chuckle this morning -- thanks for providing it!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I fondly refer to Vancouver Public Transit as "An Experiment in Human Smells".

    I commuted to and from SFU Burnaby and SFU Downtown at Harbour Centre for 7 years.

    Once, a man began chewing on my hair from the seat behind me.

    Another time, a man was busy picking his nose (emerald mining) all the way from Waterfront Station to Broadway. Every time he found an emerald, he'd smear it on the hand pole directly in front of him, for everyone's enjoyment.

    I don't love public transit...except in Portland Oregon, where they have free transit in the downtown core.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Well.. I can tell you I will be driving up to see my friends instead of taking the train and then the Sky Train.. Oh Boy! Sounds like a fun ride. I have heard some similar stories from M's girls who have taken the Sky Train several times into the city... and thank you so much for the great story in it!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Too funny, Lucy! Whenever we are anywhere with our son, Dan, he attracts all the weirdos! We can always count on some bozo chatting up to him and only him. I don't know what it is! Restaurants, the metro, airplanes - any event! We just laugh... I don't think you really need a date, do you? LOL
    hugs, Ethel

    ReplyDelete
  10. Aha!! I love this one: "I wanted to pull some duct tape off his jacket and put it over his mouth." LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Awww Lori - you met my cousin Gordon (the toe tweaker)!! Seriously I am grateful I don't have to take transit - although the West Coast Express I think carries a better brand of humans.
    We are bussing it into town one day for the Victory Ceremony and then driving to Richmond to check out the OZone - that looks like a ton of fun and we are going with our favourite Dutchman to Holland House - YAY

    ReplyDelete
  12. LOL!! I don't know how people in NYC ride those subways ..I can't stand them!
    The toe guy..ewwww!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I wish I could send this to everyone in Florida who is behind the new high speed rail their putting in here. It will only be 84 miles long and of course will cost millions, just so they can ride with the people you described. You had me in stitches!

    btw, thanks for your thoughtful comment about my move and my family history.

    ReplyDelete
  14. You sound like a visitor from another planet looking around you and saying "where are you from?" I was laughing so hard reading your description of public transit. I am with you don't encroach on my space. I find airplanes claustrophobic.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Yesterday, DH and I had to use public transit--the LRT into downtown Edmonton--cheaper and less stressful and way more interesting. I love people-watching. Maybe I would be that person staring at you through 4 sheets of plexiglass. I sometimes wonder if people think I'm staring--I'm really not, I'm just in my imagination making up a life story for the person I'v noticed. Enjoy your blog. I've been having trouble with somethin either the computer, or the browser, or my internet provider, because for quite a while i haven't had the patience to leave messages--not that I can't, but it takes forever to get to the comments, then forever to post them. But I've been neglecting you, so I took the time today.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I always assume that the person next to me thinks that I'm the odd one ;>)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I remember the sky train from when we were living in Vancouver in 2000-2001. I understand it's been extended massively since then. Surely the Vancouver commuters can't be less reprehensible than the ones over here! This week it was the "I Haven't Bathed Or Laundered My Clothes In Months" brigade.

    ReplyDelete
  18. hahaha welcome to the train, lori. i love the sky train! although rush hour i could do without. you'll get used to the weirdos and just when you think you've seen it all, another guy will come along and take the cake. i have too many stories to post here lol. maybe ill do a skytrain post of my own. thanks for the idea, lori. :)

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate every one of them and respond to all.

Labels

911 (1) ABBY STOKES (1) ABORIGINAL (1) ACCOMPLISHMENTS (1) ADS (10) AFRICA (1) AGASSIZ (1) AGE (1) AGING (7) ALL ABOUT YOU LISTS (add your list too) (1) ALLERGIES (2) ALVIN (1) ALZHEIMERS (1) ANIMALS (6) ANNIVERSARY (8) ANTIOXIDANTS (1) Antique (1) ANTIQUES (4) APOLOGY (1) APPLE PIE (1) APPLIANCES (1) APPRECIATION (1) APPS (2) ARCHITECHTURE (1) ARCHIVES (1) ARIZONA (1) ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS (29) ARTISTS (4) ASPARAGUS (1) ATTA GIRL (16) AUCTIONS (1) AUTISM (1) AUTUMN (3) AWARDS (31) BABIES (1) BABY SHOWERS (2) BABYSITTING (1) BACK PORCH ANTIQUES (1) BACON (1) BAD BEHAVIOR (1) BAD IDEAS (4) BAD LUCK (1) BAKERY (1) BAKING (1) BALSAMIC VINEGAR (1) BARBECUE (3) BARN HOUSE ANTIQUES (1) BARNYARD BASH (1) BASKETBALL (2) Battle of Princeton (1) BB GUY (9) BEANS (1) BEARS (6) BEEF (15) BERRIES (1) BIG FEAST BISTRO (1) BILL OLIVER (1) BILLS (2) Bird (1) BIRD HOUSE (1) BIRDS (4) BIRTHDAY (9) Blog (4) BLOG BUDDIES (5) Blog problems. (2) BLOGGERS (4) BLOGGIE AWARDS (3) BLOGGING (6) BLOGS (56) BLUEBERRIES (2) BODIES (2) BONSAI (1) BOOKS (2) BOXING DAY (2) BOYAN SLAT (1) BRAGFEST (1) BREAKFAST (2) BREAST CANCER (1) BRITISH COLUMBIA (9) BUCKET LIST (1) BULLYING (1) BURGERS (1) BUTCHART GARDENS (2) CABBAGE ROLLS (1) CABIN (15) CABIN STORIES (25) CALENDAR (1) CALL CENTRES (1) CANADA (5) CANADA DAY (5) CANCER (5) CANDY (1) CANNING (3) CANUCKS (2) CARNIVAL OF GENEALGOY (2) CARS (5) Cat (1) CATS (6) CATTLE (1) CELEBRATIONS (1) CENTENARIANS (1) CHANGING TIMES (1) CHARITY (3) CHEESE (2) CHEESECAKE (2) CHERNOBYL (1) CHERRY TREES (1) CHICKEN (11) CHILDHOOD (1) CHILDREN (4) CHLORIDE (1) CHOCOLATE (2) CHRISTMAS (26) CINCO DE MAYO (1) CLARK LITTLE PHOTOGRAPHY (2) CLEANING (1) CLOTHING (2) COALMONT (1) COCKTAILS (1) Coffee (2) COFFEE GROUP (22) COINCIDENCE (1) COLDS (2) COLLECTIONS (48) COMMENTS (10) COMMERCIALS (3) COMMETS (1) COMMON SENSE (1) COMMUNICATION (1) COMMUTE (1) COMPUTER LESSONS (5) COMPUTERS (30) CONCERTS (2) CONTESTS (12) COOKING (56) COPING WITH CHRISTMAS (1) COPYRIGHT (1) CORNUCOPIA (1) COUGHING (1) COUNTRY (1) Crafts (2) CRANBERRY SAUCE (1) CRIME (1) CROSS STITCH (1) CRUELTY (1) CUPCAKES (2) CURRY (1) CUSTOMER SERVICE (1) DANCING (5) DANGEROUS (2) DARVONDA NURSERIES (1) DARWIN AWARDS (1) DAYLIGHT SAVING (1) DAYLILY (3) DEATHS (3) DECORATING (6) Decorative Painting (1) DEER (1) DENNIS HOPPER (1) DESSERTS (6) DIAPER CAKE (4) DIAPER MOTORCYCLE (1) DINNER (5) DISSATISFIED (1) DOCTORS (2) DOCUMENTARY (1) DOGS (16) Dogue Brasileiro (1) DOING WHAT IS RIGHT (2) DOMAINS (1) DR. OZ (1) DREAMS (1) DRINKS (3) DRIVING (3) DRUNKENESS (1) DUNCAN (2) E COLI (1) EARTHQUAKE (1) EASTER (1) ECOLOGY (2) EMAIL (3) EMPANADAS (1) ENDERBY (1) ENOUGH (1) Eric Burdon (1) ETHICS (1) EXHAUSTED (1) F-BOMB FRIDAY (2) FACEBOOK (6) FACEBOOK BUSINESS MANAGER (1) FAERIES (2) FAIRS (1) FALL (8) Family (7) FAMILY BIBLES (1) Family tree (1) FAMILY. (10) FARMER'S MARKET (3) FARMING (1) FATHER'S DAY (1) FAUJA SINGH (1) FAVORITE (1) FEATURED ARTISTS (1) FERRIES (1) FERTILIZER FRIDAY (1) FETA CHEESE (1) FIREPLACE (1) FIREWORKS (1) FIRST NATIONS (1) FISH (4) FLAGS (1) FLORIST (1) FLOWERS (7) FOG (1) FOLLOWERS (1) FOOD LOVE (1) FOOD POISONING (1) FOOD STORAGE (1) FOOD. (8) FOODIE FRIDAY (34) FOREST FIRES (2) Fourth of July (1) FRIDAY (1) FRIDAY FUNNY (3) FRIENDS (22) FRIGIDAIRE (1) FRUIT (8) FRUSTRATION (2) FUN (4) FUNDRAISER (7) FUNKY JUNK (1) FURNITURE (1) GADGETS (3) GARAGE SALES (2) GARDEN (9) GARDENS (28) GARLIC (1) GARLIC BREAD (1) GENEALOGY (39) GEORGE CLOONEY (1) George Washington (1) GIFTS. (7) GIFTSTORES (1) GIFTWRAP (2) GIVEAWAYS (17) GLAMOUR (3) GOING WITH THE FLOW (1) GOOGLE (1) GOOGLE READER (1) GREAT GATSBY (1) GREEN MEN (1) GREEN TEA (1) GUACAMOLE (1) GUEST WRITER (4) GUITARS (2) GUNS (1) HACKERS (1) HAIKU (2) HAIR (3) HAIR JEWELRY (1) Halibut (2) HALLELUJAH (1) HALLOWEEN (2) HAM RADIO (1) HANGOVERS (1) HAPPY (2) HAPPY 101 (1) HARRIS' STEAKHOUSE (1) HATERS (1) HEALTH (20) HERBS (2) HIGHWAYS (1) HINTS (2) HISTORY (6) HOCKEY (4) HOLIDAYS (3) HOLLYWOOD (1) HOME AND GARDEN (36) HOME BUYING (1) HOME OFFICE (1) HOME. (6) HORSES (3) HOT ITALIAN SAUSAGES (1) HOUSE DAMAGE (1) HOUSEHOLD TIPS (2) http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifOUTDOOR WEDNESDAY (1) HUDSON RIVER SLOOP (1) Hummingbird (2) Humor (26) HUMOR. (81) HUMOUR (93) I SAY HMMMM (1) ICE FISHING (1) INSECTS (2) INSPIRATION (4) INSURANCE (1) INTEREST (1) INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY (1) INTERNET (3) INVENTIONS (3) IPHONES (1) IRONY (1) ISSUES (2) ITALY (3) JAM (2) JANUARY (1) JAPAN (1) JAZMIN (1) JELLY (1) JEWELRY (1) JOBS (1) JOHNNY DEPP (1) JOKES (1) JOSH JENKINS (2) JOURNEY (1) JOY (1) KARL MALONE (1) KATZIE BAND (1) KEEPING IN TOUCH (1) KIDS (5) KINDNESS (2) KOBO READER (1) KREATIVE BLOGGER (1) LAKE SUPERIOR (1) Langley (1) LASAGNE (1) LAUNDRY (2) LAW (2) LAWYERS (1) LEAKY PIPE (3) LEFTOVER WINE (1) LEMIRE (1) LEPP FARM (1) Library and Archives Canada (1) LIFE (98) LIMBERT FARMS (1) LINDA GUMMER (1) LITTERING (1) LIVING (1) LOTTERY (2) LOUIS HEBERT (3) LOVELY BLOG AWARD (1) LUNCH (4) MAGAZINE (3) MAMMOGRAMS (1) MANSIONS (1) MANTLE (2) MARIE ROLLET (1) MARIJUANA (1) MARKET (3) MARKETING (1) MARRIAGE (2) MASSAGE (1) MATH (1) MATTHEW WATT (1) MAXINE (7) ME EITHER (22) MEDICINE (2) MELLOW YELLOW MONDAYS (4) MEMES (180) MEMORIES (5) MEN (5) MENTAL ILLNESS (1) Mesothelioma (1) METABOLISM (1) METAMORPHOSIS MONDAY (15) Metis (1) METIS. VETERANS (1) MEXICO (1) MICE (1) MIGRAINES (1) MILITARY (1) MOANS (1) MOLES (1) MOM (2) MONEY (1) MONIQUE LUM (1) MONSANTO (1) MOOSE (1) MOSAIC MONDAY (23) MOSAICS (2) Mothers (1) MOTHERS LINE (5) MOTIFAKE (1) MOTORCYCLES (1) MOURNING JEWELRY (1) MOVIES (3) MOVING (8) MOZEY-ON-INN (1) MR. ROGERS (1) Music (4) MUSIC. (4) MY GUITAR PAL (1) MYSTERY PERSON (1) NAMES (1) NATURE (9) NEIGHBOURS (1) NESTING (1) New France (1) NEW YEARS (2) NEW YEAS EVE (6) NEWPAPERS (1) NEWS (4) NICK BRANDT (1) NIGHT SKY (1) NOTE TO SELF (4) OCEANS (2) OLD AGE (1) OLD PHOTOS (1) OLYMPICS (3) ONLINE SECURITY (1) ORANGES (1) ORGANIZATION (1) OSTEOPOROSIS (1) OUTDOOORS (1) OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY (32) p (1) PACKAGING (1) PAJAMAS (1) PARADES (1) Parenting (3) PARTY (2) PASTA (1) Patio/Deck (1) Pets (1) PHOTOGRAPHS (10) PHOTOGRAPHY (9) PILOTS (2) PINK PUMPKINS (1) PINTEREST (1) PIZZA (3) PLAGIARISM (1) PLASTIC SURGERY (1) PLAYING FOR CHANGE (1) POACHING (1) POEM (1) POISON (1) POLICE (2) POLLS (1) POLLUTION (1) POND (1) POPPIES (1) PORK (10) PORTLAND (3) POSITIVE MESSAGE (1) POSTCARDS (1) POWER OUTAGE (1) PPS FILE (21) PRIDE (1) PRIME RIB (1) PRIVACY (1) PROBLEMS (2) PRODUCT REVIEW (2) PRODUCTS (1) PROTEST (1) PULLED PORK (1) PUMPKIN (1) PUMPKINS (5) QUARANTINE (1) Quebec (2) RACCOONS (1) RAIN (1) RANDOM (77) RANT (9) RATS (1) RCMP (2) READING (1) REAL ESTATE (1) RECALL (1) RECIPES (26) RECOMMENDATIONS (2) RELATIONSHIPS (1) RELAXING (1) REMEDIES (1) REMEMBRANCE DAY (2) REMINDERS (1) REPEAT POST (7) REPORTING (1) REPOST (3) RESEARCH (1) RESOLUTIONS (1) RESTAURANTS (8) RETIREMENT (1) RIBS (1) RICE (1) ROAD TRIP (8) RoadTrip (1) ROCK AND ROLL (2) ROCKAWAY REST HOME (1) ROCKS (1) ROMANIAN (1) ROOSTERS (3) ROSA'S CUCINA (1) ROSES (1) ROYALTY (1) SAD (2) SAFETY (1) SAISON (1) SALAD (5) SALSA (2) SAN FRANCISCO (4) SANTA (61) SAUCES (2) SAUSAGES (1) SAVINGS (1) SCAMS (2) SCHOOL (2) SCIENCE (3) SCRAPBOOKING (3) SEAFOOD (1) SEARS (1) SEASONS (1) SERENDIPITY (3) SEWERS (1) SHAME (1) Shopping (10) Sidney British Columbia (1) SILLY SUNDAY (2) SINGING (1) SISTERS (5) SIXTIES (1) SKY (1) SKYTRAIN (1) SLEEP (6) SLEEPOVER (1) SMALL TALK SIX (3) SMOKED MEAT (1) SMOKERS (1) SNORING (1) SNOW (3) SNOWMOBILES (2) SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (2) SOCIAL MEDIA (5) SONS OF ARTHRITIS (1) SOUP (1) SOUPS (4) SPAM (3) SPINAL CORD INJURY (1) SPORTS (3) SPRING (5) SPRINKLERS (1) STAINED GLASS (2) STARS (1) START UP (1) STATS (2) STEALING (1) STORIES OF MY ANCESTORS (2) STORMS (3) STOVE (1) STRESS (1) STUFFING (2) STUPID PEOPLE (2) SUBSCRIPTIONS (2) SUCCESS (1) SUFFRAGIST (1) SUMMER (4) SUMMER SUNDAYS (1) SUNDAY FAVORITES (41) SUNSET (2) SUNSHINE AWARD (1) SUPERIOR SCRIBBLER (1) SUPERSTITIONS (1) SURPRISES (1) SUSHI (1) SWANS (1) Swartz Bay British Columbia (1) TABLESCAPE THURSDAY (9) TAG (2) TAILGATING (1) TANDOORI (1) TARA JEAN POPOWICH (2) TATTOOS (1) TEACHERS (3) TECHNOLOGY (4) TEENS (1) TEETHING (1) TEMPLATES (1) TGIF (1) THANKS (1) THANKSGIVING (5) THE CAMINO (1) THE VOICE (1) THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GIGGLE THURSDAY (1) THINKING ABOUT YOU (1) Thomas Cadwalader (1) THREE OR MORE TUESDAY (3) THREE OR MORE TUESDAYS (23) TOLE PAINTING (15) TOMATO SAUCE BASE (1) TOMATOES (1) TOTEMS (2) TRAGEDY (1) TRANSIT (1) TRAVEL (9) TREAT YOURSELF THURSDAY (5) TULIPS (1) TURKEY (2) TV (1) TWITTER (1) USA (2) VACATION (4) VALENTINE'S DAY (2) VANCOUVER (4) Vancouver Island (8) VEGETABLES (12) VIDEO (3) VINTAGE (7) VIRUSES (4) w (1) WALL WEDNESDAYS (2) WAR (1) WATERCOLOR (1) WATERY WEDNESDAY (4) WEATHER (7) WEDDINGS (3) WEDNESDAY WORDS (3) WEEDS (1) WEEKENDS (1) WELLNESS (1) Whale watching (1) WHALES (1) Wii ADD ONS (1) WILDLIFE (3) WIND (1) WINE (15) WINE JELLY (1) WINNER (1) WINTER (4) WISDOM (1) WOMEN (8) WOOLWORTH (1) WORK (14) WORLD (1) WORLD TRADE CENTER (1) WREATH (1) WRITER'S CHALLENGE (19) YANN ARTHUS-BERTRAND PHOTOGRAPHY (1)
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...