Rain Rain Go Away

So. What's the point of an umbrella? To keep you dry right? I just got
soaked on my way to the train station and I've got an umbrella.

I guess my unbrella was designed to only keep you dry from the shoulders
up. I'm soaked from the waist down. I need to get one of those big golf
umbrellas that take up the whole sidewalk. I just hope I don't turn into
one of those people who think they don't have to make any effort to get
out of other people's way whne walking down the street.

A bigger umbrella is definitely now on my 'need to get' list. Along with
a new cell phone.

Amtrak Trip

I'm on the last leg of my Amrtak trip from Philapdelphia up to Portland,
Maine, where Andy and I are spending the holiday weekend.

The first leg of my trip, up to Boston, I was in Business Class. This
leg I'm in regular old coach class.

The seats in Business class are better. They are wider, which is useful
to me. Each seat has a footrest on the seat in front of it and a leg
rest that pops up like a recliner. The seats here in Coach Class are
like airplane seats with a little more leg room and no arm rest in
between them. They are still comfortable, I'm just wishing I had a
footrest.

Also, like Business class, I have a 120V outlet at my seat that has been
useful. I've been able to keep both my cell phone and my PDA fully
charged.

The biggest advantage I've seen so far of Business Class is that it is
much quiter. There were only 15 seats in Business from Philadelphia to
Boston. Most seats were accupied but everyone was keeping to them
selves. No I'm sitting behind a group headed up to somewhere for the
day. 8 people total, 5 of them boys about 10 years old. They are not
quite or calm. Needless to say, I am no longer napping.

Overall though I am very pleased with my first Amtrak experience. It is
much easier and less stressful than flying. Given the right destination,
I'd gladly take Amtrak again.

Almost passed

This morning we must have a new conductor for the regional rail line,
SEPTA R5, train. The train almost blew right past my station. He finally
stopped the train all the way at the other end of the platform.

You'd think that if it is his first day driving, he might not take it up
to 'ramming speed' so quickly between stations.

Smoker Guy

I'm not one to care much if someone wants to enjoy a cigarette as long
as it doesn't affect me in the process. I've learned to tolerate the
people who light up while walking the streets downtown and I get that
big blast of first drag smoke in my face and the people that congregate
just outside the entrance doors to my office building (not sure where to
enter just look for the thick cloud of smoke).

But the other night I almost had to say something to the poor guy who
climbed onto the elliptical machine next to mine at the gym. I was about
25 minutes into my workout and breathing pretty heavily when I was
overcome by the smell of an old ashtray. I thought I was going to have
to end my workout early. It was so stinky! Luckily, I was able to
overcome the sick feeling the smell was causing in the pit of my
stomach, breathing through the mouth seemed to help, and I was able to
complete my workout. But really come on guy. Take a freaking shower and
wash you damn clothes!

So if you are a smoker, I beg you not to show up at the gym without
considering the impact that your smelly clothes and body are having on
the other gym members. Either that or quit - you are at the gym trying
to be healthy anyways!

The Burger King?

Last weekend, Andy and I stopped for lunch at a Burger King that, get
this, was out of burgers. 'We got chicken and fish but no burgers. We
ran out', the cashier told us.

What kind of Burger King runs out of burgers? That's like Pizza Hut
running out of pizza. Or Taco Bell running out of Tacos!

I guess Burger King really isn't the king of burgers after all.

By the way, I ended up getting just fries and a soda and when we passed
the next McDonalds, I was pleased to find out that they in fact did have
burgers.

Too Big

Have you ever owned a pair of pants that just didn't fit right? OK, that's a
silly question cause really is there anyone who hasn't?

Today, I am wearing the most ridiculous pants that even fresh out of the
dryer are too big and too long. But to make it even more comical, I have't
washed them recently so they are all stretched out.

I really never thought I ever hear myself complain about a pair of pants
that are too large but I feel like I look ridiculous in them. Is everyone
really looking at me silently laughing to themselves? Maybe some of them are
thinking that I must have just recently lost a bunch of weight. Do other
people even care? Do they even give my pants a second thought? All I can
think about is how silly they must think I look therefore everyone else must
be equally focused on my clothes too? Right?

Am I the only one who ever even worries about stuff like this?

I'm thinking the solution is that I am just going to have to go on a quick
shopping spree to find some pants that actually fit my fat ass. Not too
tight but also not too loose.

Either that or do some laundry.

Fireworks!

Happy 4th of July!

Last night Andy and I went to the local fireworks show they had in our
cute little town, Narberth. 'Fireworks at Dusk' the big banner across
the Main Street read. So, when exactly is dusk? And are the fireworks at
dusk, just after dusk or 15 minutes after dark? We weren't sure so we
left our apartment around 8:30. It is only a 5 minute walk thru town to
the town park where the fireworks show was to take place. We stopped at
a bench in the middle of town and watched all the people arrive with
their blankets, coolers, snacks and strollers full of tired kids.

We waited until the crowds of people arriving started to dwindle before
heading down to the park. Boy were we in for a surprise! There were
thousands of people crowded nto our little town. But most surprising
they had a fence up across the street approaching the park with a sign
that said 'Donations, $2 per person for field observation'. Of course
since we just walked down, neither one of us had our wallet or any cash.
Andy asked the guy with the jar 'What if we don't have any cash?' He
told us, with a little bit of attitude, that it is donations only and
the lady with him also collecting chimes in 'you can't get fireworks
like this for free anywhere'. Well, we walked on in anyways - hey it
said donations.

But, I started thinking of all the great fireworks shows I've been to
that were 100% free - no one anywhere taking up a collection of any
kind. Places like: Lenox Mall in Atlanta, Riverfest in Knoxville, July
4th in Nashville.

Asking for donations like this just didn't seem right to me and I've
figured out why. Two reasons:
1.) No where did they advertise that they would be taking donations at
the entrance. Had we known in advance we would have been prepared.
2.) The way they said '$2 per person' made it seem like you were
obligated to give no matter what. If they had said something along the
lines of 'Donations appreciated to help offset the cost of the show.
Thanks and enjoy the show!' I think they would have maybe even made more
money and noone would have had to feel guilty for not having exactly $2
per person in their group. We maybe would have dropped in a $10 for the
two of us had we known they were looking for donations.

The fireworks finally started at 9:30. Why they couldn't just say they
would be at 9:30 I'll never understand. Regardless, we had a goodtime
and I enjoyed the fireworks. The music could have used some more work as
twice during the show we heard the windows start up chime after the
music abruptly stopped. But the finale was pretty amazing. Loud and
powerful enough to feel it vibrating in your bones.

Overall, our first 4th of July in Narberth was good. We even grilled out
on our little grill some burgers and dogs!

Happy 4th of July!