Jan 26, 2007

"PAINT A VULGAR PICTURE"

It was twelve degrees last night. That is bitch-ass cold. I was standing on a el platform waiting forever for a brown line train huddled into one of those heat stands with a ton of people. My Chicago and Chicago-expat readers know, but for those of you who do not, you go into one of the stands and press a button and overheat heating elements kick on for a few minutes, then they automatically switch off. So, last night, I found myself the closest to the button to restart the heat when it switched off. So, I pressed. Nothing happened. Everyone turned around and looked. Press the button, okay? one man said. JUST PRESS IT a woman said loudly and slowly, as if I don't speak English. I pressed again. Nothing. A woman pushes in front of me, knocks the shit out of the button, causing the heat to resume and says, You can't even press it with your weak little fingers! I laugh and said loudly that my fingers must be frozen, standing out here for so long, but nobody finds this terribly funny. Screw it, the heat was back on. When the train came, I moved back a car to not look at anyone from the heat hub. Eh.

Today, more working. I am so close to being Caught Up. I don't know if I have ever been this behind in my entire life. Like I always say, though, I'd much rather be overwhelmed than bored. Especially in my line of work. But a return to my moderate work schedule would be nice, I have to admit.

Going to go to the store in a bit and pick up stuff for Shabbes dinner. It might be a busy weekend, but tonight I'm going to relax, damnit!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ugh, that is RUDE! I admit I have been part of the "heat button mob" mentality, but never to the point that I would give someone shit about it. Just the look to tell the person closest to push the button. Poor Amy. Blegh.

Sizzle said...

your poor little frozen finger that couldn't turn the heat on. i am glad the train came and they didn't cook you for heat!

hope your friday night was relaxing.

Al Sensu said...

You need to realize that button isn't a clit, so just bang on it. Subtlety not required!

Growing up in NY, we never had such a thing on the Els. But at least we had the design sense not to have a "brown" line. Of course, NY goes by letters and numbers, but brown? I think if they ran out of primary colors they should have gone to something like burnt sienna.

Big city - subway riders - rudeness... where is the surprise? Not too many Wesley Autreys out there!

Amy Guth said...

Al.. OMG.. when i first moved here to Chicago from NYC, I was SO confused with the trains. NYC's number and letters made perfect sense to me, but colors? Oy, twas an adjustment.

Nicky said...

Why do people act so bloody rude, especially when it's cold? Like, hello, folks, we're ALL miserable -- how about being nice instead of making it worse?

Eric Riback said...

Better subway rage than road rage. At least on the subway usually nobody dies.

Unknown said...

you're a clever girl