Today on the Train

Take What You Can Get

2011-06-08T20:38:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...I know it has been a while since I've updated. Believe me, the situations have not slowed down on the train, but my ability to get to a keyboard and write it all down sure has.

Recently on my way to work, I listened in to a group of men talking. I couldn't tell if they knew each other beforehand, but strangers become friends pretty quickly on the train if enough time is provided, and you don't have your head in a book like I normally do. I digress.

Anyway, one of the men makes a comment that he's not actually on his way to work, he's on his way home from work. Mind you it is 7:30 in the morning. He said that he starts work at 3:00 am, that the hours suck, but these days you have to take what you can get. It is amazing the length people will go to get bills paid and food on the table when times are tough.

A group of coworkers were talking about their favorite taco stands in Los Angeles. They said that most of them don't open until 8:00 pm and then stay open as long as they have food available. I piped up and asked if these people had daytime jobs and then went out afterwards to see tacos. My coworkers said that is exactly what they do. Can you imagine? Working all day, taking care of your family, preparing your taco selling 2nd job then being out all hours of the night and then coming home to maybe sleep a couple of hours, just to do it all again?

There are too many people that are living lives like this or ones like it. Not making ends meet with even a full time job. These aren't people living outside of their means. These are people that cut costs anywhere they can and still can't make enough. This is not the American dream.

The entrepreneurship, the dedication, the perseverance, and the determination those are characteristics of the American dream, but those characteristics don't guarantee the happy ending.

Listening and Learning

2011-03-23T21:46:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...I had a whole slew of experiences. This morning I had to wake up early to go to a training at work. I basically woke up, showered, got dressed and ran out the door.

I got on the train and settled into one of my favorite seats with a huge text book and a highlighter. There was no way that I looked like I wanted to talk to anyone, but the man sitting beside me obviously thought otherwise.

He started by asking what I was reading. To which I replied "A book for school."

"Oh yea? What are you getting into?"

Really?

"Therapy." Back to reading and highlighting.

Then he moved on to definitely hitting on me, which boggles my mind because who hits on people before 9 AM?! But I easily deflected those comments.

He asked me what my hobbies were, to which I said "Studying." Nope he still didn't take the hint. He continued to chime in with little comments here and there and then a social commentary about how Los Angeles is the place to be for therapy because there are plenty of mentally ill..."I would know."

Towards the end of the trip, I had to take my head out of the book, and put on my therapist-in-training hat. The man started to share that he was going through a divorce and trying to get at least some custody of his kids. He didn't get along very well with his attorney because he was trying to do some research on his own and his lawyer didn't appreciate his effort and thought that he wasn't capable of helping.

To that I said, "You don't like to be under estimated."

"No! Because I'm smart. I might not have a fancy degree, but I know a lot of things."

I feel like that could have a been a good therapy session had this man come into my office. The train? Not so much...but I'll send him an invoice.

Then on the way home, I was still reading, and was interrupted by a conversation that was going on behind me. Two women were catching up. One was on her way to a math class at a community college, where she was studying cosmetology and the other was 5 credits away from getting her high school diploma or her GED.

"Do you know of a place that hires felons? I need a job!" The one getting her GED said, continuing with, "I need money now that I'm having babies and sh*t."

"Babies?"

"Yea, I'm 3 months pregnant with twins!"

She went on to talk about her boyfriend, who was excited about the pregnancy, and she was excited about a relationship with a guy that was "square". She defined square as gang affiliated, but not gang banging.

The women then went on to talk about jail and being pregnant in jail. They had a real conversation about not wanting to be pregnant there. An uncomfortable bed, not enough good food, stress (enough stress to cause a miscarriage), and even the possibility of losing the child to foster care once it was born. And the sad part was, they had seen it all. They might not have experienced it all first hand, but friends and family had.

The rides to and from work were interesting, and honestly they reconfirmed that I'm on the right path to become a psychotherapist (not that I've doubted this path since I've been on it). The stories today are similar to ones that my future clients will tell.

The stories are tough to hear and pull at my heart, but I see hope in them all. Sometimes hope is all one needs to get going in the direction to a better place in their lives.

Humor Keeps the Train Going

2011-03-02T09:25:00.000-08:00

Today on the train...the train conductor gave us a giggle. Just as the train was pulling away from a station, she got on the speaker that you can hear inside and outside the train and said, "Busted!"

We all looked around to see what she was talking about and saw a whole group of sheriffs checking people's tickets, making sure that everyone paid for their ride.

I like when the conductors interact with the passengers, even if it is just via the intercom. It must get lonely and boring being in the little box where they drive, going back and forth on the same track all day. What better way to entertain yourself than make the passengers laugh.

There is another driver that has a real deep voice and every once in a while he'll have some fun with us. He'll say "All aboard!" and then make the door closing beep sound like real "choo choo".

If I were a train conductor I think I would have as much fun as possible, obviously while keeping the train safe, but what better way to spread positivity than by entertaining a whole train full of people!

Continuous Learning

2011-02-23T11:00:00.000-08:00

Today on the train...two men in their 30's were quizzing each other. They had a hard cover text book that looked like it was on geometry out and were prepping for a test. They were discussing the uses of the different formulas and how it would benefit their job, which sounded like something to do with plumbing.

It was inspiring to see grown men so dedicated to learning new information and supporting each other to do well in the class which would lead them to do well in life.

In this day and age, you can't stop learning. New information is developed everyday and if we aren't paying attention we'll get left behind.

I was talking about technology with some of my family members this weekend. We were saying how we are living in the "future" with ipads, kindles and the like. Next thing you know we'll have flying cars, just like in Back to the Future II!

Social Experiment

2011-01-23T18:32:00.000-08:00

~~Today~~ A couple of weeks ago on the train... it had been raining pretty heavily for Los Angeles. I sat down in the seat closest to the window and realized that the open seat next to me had a leak dripping on it from the ceiling. Being the nice person that I am knew that meant that I would have to tell everyone that tried to sit there my entire trip that the seat was wet.

I did just that. As each person positioned themselves to sit I stopped reading and gently touched them on the arm to tell them that there was a leak on that seat and they would quickly move.

I should mention at this point that a woman had sat down kitty corner to me. She was scantily clad with a mini skit, no tights and flip flops. This outfit was not very appropriate for the frosty temperatures outside. She was also very fidgety, leg wiggling, toe tapping, etc.

Ok, back to my acts of kindness, I was getting tired of telling everyone about the wet seat. I didn't want to stop because I worried that the people around would wonder why I told all those other people but didn't tell the next person. I know that sounds silly. Why would the people on the train care what I was doing? But I worried about it. I still decided to stop telling people. I needed to get my reading done.

Of course at the next stop, a young female medical student dressed in scrubs sat down, and I said nothing. I could see the fidgety woman look at me like "hey, why'd did you stop?" The medical student quickly realized that the seat was wet and drops of water were hitting her head and she got up.

At the next stop another person sat down, this time the fidgety woman chimed up and let them know that there was a leak. I glanced up and smiled at her. She continued the act of kindness the rest of the way.

A Quiet Mind

2011-01-03T09:05:00.000-08:00

Today on the train...there was a woman creating business plans. The only thing was that she was talking to herself. I'm guessing that she is schizophrenic because she every once in a while she would slip in another voice that was more like a breathy whisper. At times the voice was a little creepy but after awhile I felt like she wasn't a danger to anyone.

She went from creating business plans for Los Angeles to increase tourism, to how she was going to start selling notebooks similar to ones that were at the 99cent store, to wondering if mummys could be brought back to life, to talking about how snakes couldn't die unless they were killed.

It must be exhausting to have your mind going like that all the time. There is little to no way you could actually have substantial conversation with someone else, which could be very lonely. I wonder if she has medication and just doesn't take it, or if she is homeless and medications are hard to come by.

"A quiet mind cureth all"according to Robert Burton. I'm sure that woman wishes she could have a quiet mind.

Staying Strong

2010-12-22T10:55:00.000-08:00

Today on the train...a man defeated temptation. There was an older man on his cell phone and I could tell that the person on the other end was asking him where to find drugs. The man kept saying that he didn't know, that he hadn't messed with the stuff for four years and he liked his life now. But I could tell the caller was insistent.

The older man said "If it will put me in jail it aint' worth it. I like my life. I gave my life to Jesus Christ and I'm not going back." He was firm and there was no way even if he did know where the caller could find some drugs, he wasn't going to contribute.

At one point he sounded like he was going to hang up on the insistent caller, but then he started talking about how good his life was now. He had a job, a home, money in the bank and friends that really cared about him.

In the end, the conversation turned in to an invitation for the caller to hang out that night, instead of finding drugs. I wanted to turn around and tell the man how touching the call was to me. I didn't even know the man and I was so proud of him!

Community

2010-12-08T15:37:00.000-08:00

Today on the train...a group of women built a community. It started when an older woman asked a younger woman about the bag she was carrying. The younger woman should have been a sale representative for the bag company because she was selling the item like her holiday bonus depended on it. (It was a Samsonite bag for those of you that want to spend your holiday bonus on it.)

They started chatting about where they lived and it turned out that four of the women in the area all lived in Downtown Long Beach, blocks from each other. They raved about their apartments and the accessibility to transit, restaurants, wine bars, and did I say wine bars? haha

One of the woman brought up that she worked for an education organization and another shared that her son had ADHD. She was worried budget cuts would effect his quality of education. But her anxiety was calmed when the woman who worked in education assured her that his protection was from Federal money and his rights were protected. I'm sure the mother didn't expect to have that burden taken off her shoulders during a train ride. You could literally see her shoulders relax.

As one of the women stood to get off at her stop, another asked, "do you all know each other?" And the response was no. Some of them did exchange cards towards the end of the trip. But really they were just a group of women being open and friendly with strangers.They were all different ages and ethnicities but they found common ground with pride for the place that they lived.

See how easy it is to connect to those around you?

Lead Me and I Will Follow

2010-11-18T11:17:00.000-08:00

Today on the train...there was a dog. A service dog that is. An older blind man came on the train with his service dog prepared to stand. Three people immediately got up from their seats to provide a place for the blind man and another passenger guided the man to sit down.

As he sat, the service dog sat down between his legs. As the ride went along the man petted his dog and talked softly to him. The dog looked up into the man's unseeing eyes and soaked up all the love he was giving.

Another passenger got on the train, a rather large man, with a football build, and asked "How old is your dog?"

"Eight."

"Oh wow! How old was he when you got him?"

"18 months."

"You've had him a long time. He's a good dog! You have a good day now."

"Yes, he sure is. Thank you my brother."

And the blind man gave some more love to his dog and the sight warmed my heart.

The connections between humans and their animals is amazing. This man who would otherwise be quite disabled, is able to ride the train, even more manage to change train lines at the train station, without a pause in his step, all because of a dog that he loves and who loves him back.

I am very passionate about a non-profit organization called Puppies Behind Bars that has prison inmates on good behavior train service dogs. The inmates are able to create a bond with a living being, that may be an easier gap to bridge than bonding with and trusting a person, and become more confident by seeing what a wonderful gift they are giving to a person in need. The dogs then provide a lifetime of service forr law enforcement, the disabled and even wounded soldiers with PTSD.

Isn't it amazing how much good can be created by a little love?!

Making Ends Meet

2010-10-27T16:59:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...I over heard two new college graduates talking. They were discussing renting apartments and getting jobs. I can't even imagine coming out of college and trying to get a job in this economy. They talked about how all they knew how to do was reception work.

They envied their friend who was making $12 an hour, while they were only making $9. Again, I can't even imagine trying to make ends meet making $9 an hour. Oh, to be innocent and full of dreams!

It makes you think though, what is enough. With every step up I've thought, "Now I'll be comfortable." But there is always something more that I want. I want to travel. I want no credit card debt. I want more professional work clothes. I want nicer home furnishings. I want a bigger apartment and then of course a home of my own. I want to eat at better restaurants. I want a savings account full of money. It goes on and on and on.

It makes you think about the families that were running off of $100,000 a year paychecks that now are running off of unemployment checks. How hard it must be to change your whole lifestyle.

I guess we should always try to live within our means and be ready for a rainy day because you never know when it will start pouring.

Open Letter

2010-09-30T16:28:00.000-07:00

I've been noticing a trend with "open letters" lately. I don't really know what they are, but I'm going to write one with the hope that I'm doing it right.

Dear Stinky Homeless Woman on the Train,

Please find another train car to sleep in and even more so, a nice shelter that will let you take a shower and wash your clothes.

I can imagine being homeless is scary and terrible. Taking your situation into consideration, I would really prefer being able to breath while on my way to work.

Good luck in all your future endeavors.

Sincerely,

Natty McNattums

Same Old Past Mixed With New Beginnings

2010-09-15T11:49:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...two men were chatting right next to me. One asked the other if he was a Crip (large gang network her in the United States). The other confirmed that he was.

I felt very awkward being involved with that conversation. Not sure if I was supposed to be privy to that sort of information. But there is no way that they could have expected me not to hear.

The man that had confirmed that he was involved looked like he was in his mid to late 20's and on his way to a good job. I suppose sometimes people get pulled into organizations like that because of where they grow up and who they hang out with and then they are stuck with that past.

On a lighter note, it is the start of many schools in the area and earlier this week I saw a mother reading to her daughter on the train. The little girl was all prepared for class. Nice new school clothes, a backpack fully stocked, and a mother that was trying to prepare her daughter for what she was going to be learning.

After the mother finished reading she asked the girl to explain to her the point of the story and the she went on to teach the girl how to tell time. It was an honor to observe that dedication. We are all so busy with life sometimes little moments like that slip by, but this mother was taking the time on the train to teach her daughter and reinforce the foundation that the girl will use for the rest of her life.

****

I realize I've been missing for awhile. You are all on my mind, but I too have started school. I am getting my Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, so my time has been a little preoccupied.

I enjoy being able to tell these stories and sharing my experiences, so I will definitely make an effort to touch base with the blogging world.

Help Me Help You

2010-08-17T21:28:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...there was a man panhandling. He had a whole speech prepared that I'm sure he repeated on each and every train car.

It started out with a normal "can you spare a dollar" but then he went on to say that he had a lot of mental issues and that sometimes he takes his pills and sometimes he doesn't. I don't know what his goal was by sharing that information. Did he mean to scare people into giving him money?

The first thought that went through my head was "why does he need money, if he can afford his pills?" and then "If he has pills that keep him sane and could potentially help him get a job, why would he be panhandling?"

No, I did not give that man any money.

Honestly, I rarely do give panhandlers money. There are so many places to get free food and shelter in Downtown LA. Ok, so maybe people don't like staying at the shelters, but you can still get free food!

Not on the Train

2010-08-04T13:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I guess I have listened to this on the train...

My friend Tyler Von Allen has just released an album and I just had to share it with all my blogger friends. I'm not just saying he's good because he is my friend. He really is good!

I have the cd in my car and listen to it all the time. I wake up with songs in my head and I HAVE to listen to them. I keep saying that if he could get one (or more!) of the songs in a tv show or on a movie, he'd be set! The songs would shoot to #1 so fast!

You can check out the songs on itunes and last.fm or go to his website for more info.

Tell me what you think!

Outside the Walls

2010-08-03T19:30:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...three men got on the train. As soon as the doors closed one said, "Isn't it a trip that all these people are living their day to day lives and we just got out of jail?"

"Yea, it really is." replied his friend, while he laced his shoes up (when you are put in jail, they remove the shoe laces from all inmates shoes so that they don't use them as a weapon).

These men had JUST walked out of jail. They rode the train for awhile and held an intelligent conversation about how the Japanese make a lot of the stuff we buy these days. One of the men even piped in about how China owns a lot of America's debt.

The situation reminded me that you can't assume that people will fit the stereotypes. Yes, they were criminals, but that doesn't mean they aren't smart or don't have something valuable to provide to society.

Sunday to Sunday in the LBC

2010-07-25T18:13:00.000-07:00

This past week was Stroll and Savor and as promised I got some pictures so you could all see what I get to experience. If only you could taste what I get to taste.

First you have to buy the tickets.

Then you get to eat the food. This is a delicious Indian restaurant. AH-mazing! If the line wasn't so long I would go back for seconds. They make everything fresh and keep it coming out hot!

This is the plate that you get at George's Greek. It's the best deal and really makes my mouth water. Greek salad, gyro, pita bread, spanakopita, hummus, and tzantziki.

This is the line of people waiting to eat at George's. I told you this was the best deal!

People get pretty creative when they need to eat. There are high top tables placed around the sidewalks, but when those run out, people get creative. This group is eating on a newspaper dispenser.

Thai Gourmet is a fairly new Thai restaurant on the block. This is the second time they've participated in Stroll and Savor. This is was the first time people realized just how delicious their food is! The line was pretty long and they kept having to bring out more food.

Who could forget dessert! Frosted Cupcakery is amazing! They make great flavors and their frosting is to die for. When they do Stroll and Savor they make these little hi-tops which are two small cupcake tops sandwiching frosting in the middle. The flavors you see here are red velvet and vanilla with sea salt caramel frosting. Oh man! I could eat a ton of these.

I hope you enjoyed Strolling and Savoring with me!

A Little Off

2010-07-21T20:58:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...a large smelly homeless woman smooshed all along my side. I went straight into OCD mode. Mind you, I don't even have OCD, but I couldn't stop the feeling of being contaminated. Let's just say it wasn't the best way to start my day. I shower daily and really enjoy smelling fresh and clean.

The situation made me consider if I would stop taking the train if I did contract some type of parasite, like lice or scabies. I'll just cross that bridge if I ever reach it.

On a better note, I found out that during the Summer time there are several spots along the beach that show movies on one of those inflatable screens. What a great idea. You can get a little picnic and some friends together and enjoy a free movie in the warm Summer air. Love it!

This week is also Stroll & Savor! I can't wait to eat some delicious food and stroll along 2nd street. I will try to take some pictures this time so all of you that don't live nearby can see what it's like.

I don't know if you could tell, but the Sunday to Sunday in the LBC series have been pretty hard for me to keep up with. I don't know whether it is just hard for me to write at the end of the weekend, or whether I'm just not feeling the topic. If you have really enjoyed it, please let me know. Or if you have some thoughts about another weekend series you'd like to see, please leave a comment.

I aim to please!

Alphabet Walk

2010-07-16T21:45:00.000-07:00

The alphabet walk brings you the letter "O"

I am participating in the blog alphabet walk inspired Piper over at One Sydney Road. I'm a little late, but better than never, right?

O is for Ocean

This is where I truly wanted to be today! As I walked over, there were families that were leaving after a day of beach fun. There were kids covered in sand and girls with sea salt hair. Why did I have to be at the office on such a great beach day!? Oh yea, it's that thing called a paycheck. I suppose that is important too.

Well I hope you enjoyed my interpretation of the letter O. Piper has a great series called "Shake It Up". All of you bloggers should head over to her site and get inspired!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Lost and Hopefully Found

2010-07-15T17:30:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...a woman started crying. Some people that were sitting near her asked what was wrong. Apparently, she didn't know where she was or how to get back to where she lived. Sounds like she had a long night, if you know what I mean.

The people asked where she lived and if she lived there with anyone. I think they could tell that she wasn't all there and hoped that someone was responsible for her that could help. They told her what train to get on next and what station to get off at, but from there she was on her own.

Ignoring how she ended up in this situation, I can't imagine the feeling of being completely lost with little way to be found. Of course she has her options of making a collect call to someone she knows, or going to the police to explain her situation, but still, that's a scary feeling.

I am an avid watcher of the A&E show Intervention that focuses on an addicts life and then the intervention that their friends and family put together, hoping that the addict will choose to get sober. This situation totally reminded me of a recent episode. The addict was a PCP user for 25 years! She had been kicked out of her friend's house for smoking it and soon realized that she was 28 miles away from the place she was staying and had no way to get there. She started propositioning strangers for rides as she walked down the street. Obviously, not the best idea.

Well, I sure hope the woman from the train was able to get home. I'm really glad there were some nice people there to help her get one step closer.

Ask and It Shall Be Given

2010-07-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...there was more than average niceness going on. A panhandler came on the train and politely asked if anyone had any change so that he could get some breakfast. He walked down the aisle with no donations. But I saw a teenage boy pull out his money and start folding up a dollar bill. He watched the beggar for a few stops and then as the beggar got off the train, the boy threw the dollar bill out the door. It landed right at the panhandler's feet, as if it had come from heaven. He looked around, picked it up and walked on down the platform.

I thought it was really interesting how the boy didn't want to give the man the money directly. But he cared enough to watch the beggar the entire ride and strategically throw the dollar at just the right time. I hope the panhandlers enjoyed his breakfast.

The same time the boy was planning his giving, a woman was commenting to her friend about how she was smelling fresh bread and it was making her really want some. She kept saying this for most of the ride when she started to look around and saw a woman sitting with a pastry bag on her lap.

"It must be your bread! It smells delicious."

The bread lady replied that she had one to spare if the woman and her friend wanted to share. It made me smile that someone would give a stranger food from their own bag so willingly. The woman took the fresh baked bread graciously and commented on how good it was.

The way she talked about it made me want some!

*I realize that the pictures that I added have absolutely no connection to the story. I apologize, but these were the last photos I had from my train adventure. Note to self, take more pictures.

Crack on the Train

2010-07-01T19:30:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...I finally had to ask an expert what crack smoke smells like. Recently, I was chatting with the boyfriend about the different smells that I experience on the train, and I mentioned that there is a smoky smell that isn't cigarettes and it isn't weed that I really can't stand. I myself have never knowingly smelled any other drugs.

Well today, two men got on the train and brought a cloud of that smell with them. It hit me in a way that made it so I couldn't even take a good breath. I had to know what this smell was! So, I texted a friend that has a "troubled" past and asked what crack smoke smells like.

He said that it smells sweet, which described this smell to a T! My hypothesis is that one of the guys had a crack pipe in his pocket and he and his friend had just used it, thus created the huge heavy crack smoke cloud that followed them. Oh, the perils of addiction.

So, since I was breathing in crack smoke, does that make me a crack head?

Sunday to Sunday in the LBC

2010-06-27T22:28:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I didn't mention this last Sunday, but June's Stroll and Savor was last Wednesday and Thursday! It was amazing as always. I was really excited because a restaurant called Thai Gourmet started to participate. I am addicted to Thai iced tea even though I'm sure it's terrible for you, and of course they had it out.

I really do love my neighborhood. I love that all these people come out. I know some people would be put off by the crowds and the lines, but that's one of the reasons why I like it. I can't wait for next month's Stroll and Savor. I'll try to be better and let you guys know about it the week before, in case any of you are close enough to come out for a bite to eat.

I spent another weekend mostly out of Long Beach yet again. I went to the Dwell convention, which was really neat. It made me want a home to decorate and make energy efficient, but honestly I can't even imagine having the money to buy a house, let along decorate it. One day...

I met my coworker/friend and her husband at the convention and then they took me on a quick tour of downtown Los Angeles on the way to their new house. Yes, I know I work there, but I barely ever get beyond a 1 block radius of my building and the train station.

We walked through the Watercourt where Grand Performances puts on Summer concerts. They were getting ready for one that night that looked like it was going to be a lot of fun. Then we took Angel's Flight down Bunkerhill.

Image originally uploaded by Wehardy

Image originally uploaded by Waltarrrrr

Then we walked through Grand Central Market which took me to another world. I will definitely have to go back there to actually eat sometime. My sister said that there is a papusaria that supposed to be really good there.

Image originally uploaded by Mort Guffman

On our way to their house we stop in the Bradbury building, which was amazing! I've seen it in several movies, but it is even more dramatic in person.

Image originally uploaded by Kansas Sebastian

Honestly, it was amazing to see so many Los Angeles landmarks in such a short amount of time. I've lived here the majority of my life and had never been to any of these places. Next time I head out on an adventure like this, I'll be sure to bring my own camera too!

Back home in Long Beach, I completely missed an arts and crafts fair that looked right up my alley. I love things that are handmade with care and passion. There is just something about items that are unique and made by someone who really cared about the quality of the item. I'll have to keep an eye on this organization so that I can make it to the next event. Don't worry, I'll let you guys know too.

Sharing is Caring

2010-06-22T20:49:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...I was worried I wasn't going to have a good story today, then a barefoot homeless man decided he wanted to sit in my section. The young man that he choose to sit next to was kind enough to get up and move all of his stuff, but when he sat back down the homeless man took over his own seat plus half of the other seat.

The young man politely asked if he could have some more room and the homeless man replied "No, I don't feel like sharing today." And started laughing. He thought he was so funny, but obviously came to his senses shortly after and moved over enough for the young man to sit comfortably...well as much as comfortably as one can when their nose is being filled with the scent of homelessness.

I was sitting nearby and really tried to not judge. I am currently reading "Tattoos on the Heart" by Father Greg Boyle and his whole message is about having boundless compassion. Even though I didn't like the way the homeless man smelled, I needed to not judge him. Who knows how he ended up in the situation he is in currently?

Sunday to Sunday in the LBC

2010-06-20T19:30:00.000-07:00

This weekend was full of beautiful weather! Nothing could keep us inside. Saturday the boyfriend and I took a walk through a neighborhood that we've never been through before, and we've lived here for 2 1/2 years. Then today to celebrate father's day we went hiking with my family on the Palos Verdes peninsula.

image originally uploaded by myhsu

After a good hike with gorgeous views, like the one above, we headed over to Nelson's at Terranea, a fairly new resort that is absolutely fantastic. The day and the company I was with made it even more fantastic.

Next weekend will be spent outside of Long Beach as well, at the Dwell convention. A couple of my coworker/friends are going to meet me there. We'll all be taking the trains from different directions, to meet in the middle at the LA convention center. I can't wait. Dwell is the one magazine that I actually still subscribe to. More often than not, I read it cover to cover, even the letters to the editor.

Dwell just knows how to capture my attention with gorgeous graphics and plenty of informative articles. The magazine is all about design, whether that design is architectural, landscape, interior, or technological.

I hope you all had a good weekend and that your upcoming week is filled with productivity!

Pride

2010-06-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...there was an energy that I haven't felt before. Two big sporting events were going on that affected Los Angelenos. Mexico was playing in the World Cup and the Los Angeles Lakers were playing their final game in the NBA Finals.

The train goes right by the Staples Center where the Lakers play, so there were a lot of fans that were on their way to root for their team. A young man got on the train wearing Green, the color of the Celtics playing against the Lakers, and a few guys started to tease him.

"You're wearing the wrong color today man."
"You're in the wrong neighborhood with that shirt on."
"You better watch your back."

Luckily these words were said with laughter, so there was no reason to take the threats seriously. There are definitely some serious fans out there.

Since Los Angeles is almost 50% Latino (according to the Census Bureau), there were also more than a handful of Mexico soccer fans. They had their flags and vuvuzelas in hand (glad they were smart enough not to play them on the train). A couple of old men got on the train and yelled out "Viva Mexico". It was very sweet.

It was great to see everyone so excited. Whether they were proud to be from Los Angeles or proud to be Mexican, the excitement was the same!

Helping and Receiving

2010-06-15T16:59:00.000-07:00

I just felt the need to share. There is an Etsy store that has been created called Help the Gulf Coast where 100% of the proceeds will be given to charities that are helping with the clean up and recovery of the oil spill.

The items in the store look amazing! One of my favorite photographers, A. Jarrett has an item there Head on over and get a little joy out of helping the cause!

Be Kind

2010-06-10T20:28:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...two strangers became friends. Two men were standing and the first, we'll call Joe for clarity asked the other, we'll call Bob, if he could use his phone to have his friend pick him up at the station. Bob said sure.

That action alone was pretty rare to see. Would you give your phone to a stranger to use? I don't know that I would, and I'm a pretty nice person ;)

Then some seats opened up and the two men sat next to each other. They started with the small stuff. Joe had an obvious accent so Bob asked where he was from. Turned out they were both originally from the South and had been out here for less than 10 years.

They then went on to talk about family and make jokes back and forth like old friends.

It is simply amazing how strangers can connect in such a short amount of time. It isn't just crazies that want to chat on the train. Occasionally, one might interact with someone that is just plain nice.

Publicity

2010-06-09T09:29:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been sporatic lately. I promise tomorrow I will actually write a "Today on the train..." post, but today I thought I'd share a little publicity that I got this morning!

There was an article in the LA Times talking about what an adventure the Blue Line is and one of my friends left a comment on the web version talking about my blog! I better check my google analytics numbers today to see if I got any hits from it!

Hope you all have a great day!

Enjoy the adventure.

Short and Right to the Point

2010-06-04T10:02:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...the man sitting next to me was clicking his pen non-stop! Some people just don't realize that there are others in the world that don't appreciate noise like that. If I was brave enough I would have snapped that pen right out of his hot little hand and not given it back.

(I know this post is short, but I had to express the annoyance)

Happy Friday everyone!

Talking When No One is Listening

2010-06-01T20:11:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...I almost didn't make it past the 4th stop. My stomach started cramping and I got all hot and I knew that I wasn't going to make it all the way to work. The stop the train was just arriving at was the Compton station, normally not where I would chose to get off, but there is a McDonald's across the street where I could use the restroom. I was lucky because most of the stations don't have bathrooms nearby. That is one thing I think about when I'm not feeling so hot. Where would I go if I really had to "go".

As I walk from the restroom, I seriously considered just getting back on the train back home because I wasn't sure I could make it to work before another "episode". But I left it up to the universe and said that whatever train came first I would go in that direction. Of course it was the train to work.

I must have had the best train luck this morning because the train I got on was also the train a young preacher boy got on. He was reciting Bible verses that didn't really belong with the statements he was making, and jumping from one subject to the next. I would have given him credit if he was actually inspiring people, but it really just seemed like he was repeating bits and pieces of someone else's sermon. He must have gone on for about 20 minutes.

As soon as he got off, a young man that had been sitting towards the front of the caboose started to get louder. I had originally thought he was on the phone, and not being very nice to the person on the line, but it turned out he was just talking to himself. It was as if he was thinking aloud with his stream of consciousness. He turned to the man sitting next to him and said "Are you a good father?" The man answered, "I sure try to be." and the young man replied, "I wish I had a dad like you." To that a small group laughed and the people that were sitting around him slowly started to move away.

I couldn't tell if he was on drugs, mentally a little unstable or just wanted attention. Maybe all three?

Aye Matey

2010-05-25T20:40:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...I saw a pirate. Well, actually I saw a movie pirater (is that a word?). I've seen them on the train before but I'm always surprised at how open they are.

The man today went up and down the aisle saying "Movie man has your movies." One rider called out to him to see what movies he had and the pirate sat right down and pulled out his inventory. Told him the prices and even provided his phone number.

He said he had been in the business for four years. He definitely had the whole system down. His customers could call him on the first of the month and he would meet them somewhere to exchange the goods.

I just don't understand how comfortable guys like him are. How do they know there isn't a cop on the train? I wonder what the penalty really is for selling boot leg DVDs. I suppose it can't be life changing, otherwise people would be more careful.

What's Next?

2010-05-18T20:35:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...an older man and woman were discussing how young people live their lives these days. They started the conversation by talking about a coworker was getting ready to retire after working for the company for twenty plus years.

The woman made a comment about how young people today just don't look to work for a company their whole lives until they retire. Then the man added that most young people don't even have the next five years planned.

Being a "young person", I would have to say that is mostly true. One of the reasons could be that there are so many different jobs out there now. When we first get out into the "real" world, there is absolutely no way for us to know what job or company will really be the best fit. It isn't just blacksmith, police officer, teacher, doctor, lawyer anymore.

I think many people these days don't want to work just to pay the bills. We want to like what we do for a living and feel gratified at the end of the day. To figure out just what will keep us motivated and engaged, sometimes times we have to experience it all.

I do fantasize about being retired, but thinking about exactly what position I'll retire from is impossible to imagine. There is just so much out there!

A few months ago, that topic would have stressed me out. The pressure of trying to figure out what you'll be when you "grow up" is heavy. I'm one step closer because I was accepted into the master's program I applied to, and will be working on becoming a marriage and family therapist for the next couple of years!

I'm very excited, but even that doesn't mean that I'll only be a therapist for the rest of my life.

Lesson Learned

2010-05-13T21:04:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...there was a man that I've seen before. He's an older man, well dressed, walks with a swagger. He jumps from caboose to caboose tempting people with his shell game. The lowest you can buy into the game for is $20. Now the first time I saw this man I said to myself, "if you have $20 in your pocket to throw away, you probably shouldn't be taking the train." But there are many people that keep this man employed.

I was sitting next to one such person today. He was a young boy, I'd say 23 or 24 years old, reading a book titled "Kindness", wearing plaid shorts, and brand new fancy European style sneakers.

The older man initiating the game was at the other end of the caboose, but every once in a while the boy would get out of his seat to watch the game. I could tell he was getting excited. He made a comment when he came back and sat next to me.

"That guy just made $100 from that game! It's an easy way to make quick money."
"Or a quick way to lose it." I replied. I wanted to add that it was a scam and that no one ever really won. The older man probably had several people on the train that were working with him to make it look like people win, but I didn't know who was a pawn and who was actually just riding the train so I kept my mouth shut.

Soon after the older man came and sat right across the aisle from the boy and me.

"Now he's really tempting you," I said.
"The money I have is my girlfriend's. I really can't play with that. But I could totally win! It's so easy." He said just as he got wrapped into the game.

The older man talks fast, draws a crowd, and is pretty aggressive. Before the boy knew it, he had put down $100...and lost it. Just as soon at the older man had the $100 in his hand the boy started to beg for it back. It was so sad to see.

"No no no no. That's my girlfriend's money. I really need it back. No no no no, please!" The boy cried.
"Nah, you lost! If you won, I'd pay you. I don't cry when I lose." The crowd that had built up around the game started talking crap and the boy sat silently.
"Ok, I'll let you try to win it back. You bet $20 and I'll give you the $100 if you win." The older man said and the boy jumped at the chance to get his girlfriend's money back. Which of course is not what happened. The boy was left with an empty wallet and the older man got off at the next stop to hustle some other desperate soul.

As the crowd disbursed the boy got his digital camera out and called out asking if someone would buy it from him.

"You really needed that money huh?" I asked.
"Yea..." The boy was sweating profusely. There might have been tears mixed in with the sweat, but I couldn't tell the difference.

Two men who had been in the crowd watching the game started asking him what happened and asked where he was from.

"Pasadena. I ride this train everyday."
"Oh! We thought you were a tourist! You should have known what was going on. You should have seen it coming."
"I did."
"You knew what was coming and you just gave him all your money?"
"I guess so."
"Hope you learned your lesson. You got schooled today." Just as the boy got up to get off the train they added "Put that on your resume!"

I felt really bad for the boy, but he had to learn somehow. Too bad his girlfriend had to be affected by it. I wonder how long she'll last.

Baby Mama Drama

2010-05-11T20:15:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...I was sitting next to a lady about my age. She pulled out her phone shortly after I got on the train with her day care center. Apparently, they charged her for picking up her son late and she didn't want to pay.

If you leave the story at that, it sounds like she should have just paid the fine. The problem was that her son is normally picked up by a neighbor, THREE hours before they called her. The mother had a valid point in saying that the day care center should have called her way before they did to inform her that her son wasn't picked up, and if they had called her then she wouldn't have a fine to pay.

Of course, I could only hear her side of the story, but the fact that this conversation went on as long as it did amazed me. Instead of being all about the customer (and the safety of the child), the person on the other end of the line was trying to defend what was done and enforcing the fee being paid. The mother of course countered that by saying that her son is always picked up on time, all of the people that were listed as emergency contacts live nearby and no one was called until THREE hours after her son's normal pick up time.

The day care worker obviously then went on to theories of child abandonment and police being called, which the mother then repeated that someone should have called her or one of her emergency contacts before the police needed to be called, but the place waited THREE hours to call.

I give credit for the mother for staying calm and making all of her points, but I still felt bad because through her conversation I learned that she was a single mother of a two year old that doesn't get off work until 6:00 pm, which is why someone else picks up her son from day care.

That is a lot of stress for one person to handle. I'm sure she spends day in and day out providing for her son, and then this situation comes along, causing her to question her trust in the day care center's ability to take care of him, but probably not having many other affordable options or the time to look for them.

Sunday to Sunday in the LBC

2010-05-09T18:34:00.000-07:00

Do not worry my blogging friends! I'm back. It has been a busy couple of weeks. The days were full and I would get home just in time to slip into my jammies and fall into bed.

I got up early(ish) yesterday morning so that I could edit some more of my pictures from my train adventure. You all will get to see those over the next coming weeks.

I hope you all had a great Mother's Day. My family met at my parents' house and ate a delicious breakfast of almond, macadamia nut, buttermilk pancakes! Of course my father made them so that my mother could relax and enjoy her day. After breakfast we headed off to the Getty Museum to see the Leonardo da Vinci sculpture exhibit. It is amazing to think that these sculptures were created hundreds of years ago by hand. The technique is so precise and detailed. We just don't see that around much anymore. Da Vinci was a true genius!

Ok, on to things Long Beach related. Apparently, Long Beach Heritage puts on downtown walking tours every third Saturday of the month from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM for $10. They visit some buildings that have stories to tell and share their passion for preservation of Long Beach history.

Photo from Inflictfreedom

I really love old buildings and know that Long Beach has a rich stories to tell. It is a lucky city to still have many old buildings around to share those stories.

I think I may take a historic walk to find out a little bit more about the city that I live in and love!

Love is in the Air. Or is it?

2010-04-27T20:43:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...A young woman struck up a conversation with a man sitting nearby.

"Nice day, isn't it?" She said
"Yea, yea it is." He replied and off the conversation flew.

He moved to sit closer to her. She teased him. They laughed. He complemented her. They introduced themselves. And then it got derailed.

He told her that the next stop was his but that he'd really like to talk to her again so could he get her number. Do you know what she said? "Oh...no, I enjoy my freedom."

I just couldn't understand why she would start a conversation with someone, flirt with them more like it, and have no intention of having it go anywhere. There are so many ways to not talk to people on the train, I just thought that she was giving the poor guy mixed messages.

People are funny.

Sunday to Sunday in the LBC

2010-04-25T19:20:00.000-07:00

Ok kids, since Tina did not contact me I used random.org to find another winner. The winner this time is....Kathryn!

Yay! Kathryn, I really hope this pillow goes with your new condo! And if you want more to match, Stephanie has two more available. I'll bring the pillow to you this week.

Also, this weekend the boyfriend and I had a little train adventure and I got plenty of pictures to spread the love on blogs to come. We started at the stop where I get on the train to go to work (seen in the pics below) and took it all the way to Pico Station. But every couple of stops we got off and I found the public art work and snapped some photos.

The adventure made me realize just how much art we have at the stations. I had seen that a few stations had it, but never looked very closely as I sped by in the train. We took time at each station and I saw that a lot of care and planning went into where the art was places, the subject matter, and the neighborhood that it was placed in.

As I was taking the pictures I got a couple weird looks, but hopefully the people were able to see what I was seeing and appreciate their neighborhood train station a little more.

Drum Roll Please!

2010-04-22T19:41:00.000-07:00

And the winner of the Wavy Teal Pillow from Cowan's Creations is TINA!

Tina, please contact me by Sunday, April 25 to claim your prize.

I realized as I was choosing the winner on random.org that my set up doesn't require people to leave their email addresses so I don't have any way to contact the people that leave comments, unless I know exactly who they are.

Thank you everyone for participating! This was my first giveaway but I think it went pretty well. I loved all of your comments and ideas of what to do with your favorite items. Now that you've picked them out you gotta go back and purchase them!

Thanks again everyone!

Counting Blessings

2010-04-21T20:14:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...there was yet another accident that caused train delays. This time the accident was just close to the tracks, not involving the actual train. The train was pretty full, but the driver came on the loud speaker as the train arrived saying that there were two trains right behind him so not to crowd too much. I actually got a seat in an area that I prefer!

Behind me I overheard a woman on the phone. She was saying that she absolutely hated her job. She was busy all the time and one of her coworkers was very needy and was demanding things from her that overwhelmed her work load. She knew that she had to deal with it because the job market isn't very good right now which made her feel even more stuck. (One of my least favorite feelings by the way.)

Half way through my ride home she got off and was replaced by a young boy and his mother. As soon as the boy sat down he started saying "That's my blue car. That's my silver one. Oh and that red one." and then he said "Mom, aren't you going to point out your cars?" So of course the mother started in. We passed a park and the boy said the cutest thing, "That's my park...but I share it with Andrea, and Mark, and ..." and listed off all of his friends.

Another part of my trip that I enjoyed, and always enjoy when it happens, was when a man sitting down noticed a mother standing up while holding her sleeping toddler. He tapped her on the shoulder and offered his seat, which she gratefully accepted. And let me tell you, her toddler was not small so I'm sure her arms thanked the man too.

I love when people have manners!

*Don't forget to enter my give away. It closes tonight at 11:59 PM PST.

** I will be going on a picture taking adventure this weekend with the boyfriend so I apologize for not having pictures today.

Sunday to Thursday Giveaway

2010-04-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

After seeing some fellow bloggers do this, I thought I would mix it up and do a giveaway! My sister Stephanie has a great Etsy shop and has kindly offered to donate a Wavy Teal pillow for my giveaway.

She started her shop about a year ago when she was laid off from her teaching position. In between her school networking and substitute teaching, she took her free time into her own hands and has created some really beautiful items.

How do you get the fantastic pillow? To enter all you have to do is leave a comment telling me what you would do with your favorite item in Stephanie's shop. You can also enter by tweeting about my giveaway and leaving a comment with a link to your tweet. Or you can mention the giveaway on your own blog and leave a comment with your blog link!

The giveaway will close Wednesday, April 21 at 11:59 AM PST. The winner will be chosen with random.org and announced in my Thursday post.

The Strength Within Us All

2010-04-15T21:04:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...well actually a while back. I've been wondering if I was even going to write about this experience. It makes me nervous to think about even, but I think it's an important story to tell.

After the rush hour dies down the train becomes pretty empty so when I was getting physical therapy done on my knee and had to take a later train, there was barely anyone on it. This was before I sat in a caboose that was connected to the driver, and before I made an effort to get a seat where no one would sit next to me.

Just like every other day, I sat in one of the many open seats next to a window and got my book out. A few stops down the line a man got on and sat right next to me. He put his arm up on the railing in front of us, kind of boxing in the row. I looked at him from the corner of my eye and went back to reading.

As the ride continued his leg got closer and closer to mine. I normally sit pretty close to the window anyways but I kept trying to scoot over. Finally, there was not any more space to fill and every part of the side of his leg was touching mine. My heart started to race. I tried to make excuses. Maybe he just had a different sense of personal space, but then he started to "giggle" a little, a creepy quiet giggle.

I really don't remember what stop he finally got off at. I do remember that the side of my body that he was sitting near, still radiated his heat. I knew it was inappropriate, but it was over. At least that's what I thought.

The next time I had physical therapy he was there again. Again I was in an empty caboose and he sat right next to me. I knew it was him because of the way he sat down, with his arm over the railing and his outfit was the same as before. This time I wasn't going to let him make me feel that way! I wasn't going to be a victim and let him get his rocks off by making me feel uncomfortable.

I told myself that if he started to do it again that I would tell him to move. My heart raced. I wasn't reading anymore. I was just waiting for him to start, which of course he did. I didn't know if I could get the words out because my heart was racing so fast.

"You need to move your leg!" I said looking from his leg to his face. He seemed startled, moved his leg and got off at the next stop.

I was so proud of myself! He was NOT going to make me feel threatened! And that, my friends is why this is

Random Acts of Kindness

2010-04-14T21:32:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...there was a man with a lot of bags and a newspaper. I think he fell asleep at some point, so when the train came to his stop he jumped up real fast causing his bags to go all over the place. Just as he got his bags together and the driver came on the speaker saying that the doors were closing, he dropped his newspaper.

Across the aisle, next to the open door was an older man that I've seen on the train before. He always places a newspaper on the seat before he sits down, and more often than not, he puts ear plugs in his ears. He was watching the man with all the bags and as the driver came on the speaker he put his hand in front of the door so that it wouldn't close. Such a simple action, and yet it meant a lot to a stranger.

The man with the bags grabbed his newspaper and ran out the door as they quickly closed behind him. The situation made me smile. Kindness can come in all different forms, even old men who normally like to keep to themselves.

*I'm trying out a new font to go with my new template. I think I like this one better.

**The ducks are in a fountain at the Los Angeles Central Library.

Free Stuff!

2010-04-13T15:38:00.000-07:00

I just thought I'd let my readers know that one of my fellow bloggers is having a giveaway.

One Sydney Road is going to be giving away a bracelet from her friend, Heidi's shop. Go on over and enter!

Sunday to Sunday in the LBC

2010-04-11T20:48:00.000-07:00

Starting Friday, April 16 is an event that many Long Beach residents wait all year for. It is when the downtown area is transformed into a raceway for the Long Beach Grand Prix!

It is amazing how the area is changed. There are times when I've been down there that I have no idea where I am in relation to how the area normally looks. Places where you normally walk are covered by bleacher seats, and walk ways are built over the road where you normally wouldn't be able to pass.

The race has been going on since 1977 and it seems like everyone in the city is there. And you can hear the cars racing from miles away!

This year I won't be able to attend because the boyfriend and I have a wedding to go to, but I'm sure we'll be able to see the remnants of the weekend from the tire marks left on the road for months afterwards.

Cha Cha Cha Changing!

2010-04-08T21:19:00.000-07:00

I decided that I needed some spring cleaning around my blog and changed the template and layout! So if you get the blog content through a reader please take a peak at the actual website and let me know what you think!

Thanks!

Safety First

2010-04-08T20:18:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...I was reminded about an incident that happened awhile back. I was taking an early train home so there were very few people in the caboose, just me, a mother, her young child, and a young man. I was sitting, a few rows behind the young man, reading when I started to hear a weird scratching noise.

I looked to where the sound was coming from, and saw the young man crouched over towards the window. At first, I couldn't figure out what he was doing, maybe something indecent, but then I realized that he had a box cutter in his hand and he was scratching into the window.

(tagging scratched into the wall next to my seat today. I'm probably breaking some gangsta rule by posting it)

I got a little scared because he had a weapon and because there were so few people on the train. I got off at the next stop, which of course was in a bad neighborhood. I wasn't sure if I would have been safer if I had stayed on the train.

I was hoping there would be sheriffs at the station like there are in the morning, but there was no one in sight. For a second, I considered calling the number the stations have posted everywhere for when you see things suspicious, but since I didn't remember which caboose I had been in and hadn't really seen the young man's face, I decided against it.

I got on the next train, sitting in a caboose connected to where the driver sits, which is what I have done every time since, just to be careful.

I really think the sheriff and police departments should have a texting system so that if you see something you don't have to call and talk out loud. I could have done that while I was still in the caboose!

If You're Healthy and You Know it Clap Your Hands!

2010-04-07T19:37:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...there were at least three middle aged men with canes. It made me think of all the people I've seen on the train that were in wheel chairs, motorized wheel chairs, or walking with canes. Most of the people I've seen aren't particularly old so it's surprising that they would already been in such deteriorated condition.

I know health care is a touchy subject in America right now, but I have to think that these people wouldn't be in such bad shape if they had quality health care.

A few months ago, I dislocated my knee cap. I've got a pretty intense pain threshold, but I have to say that dislocating your knee cap is really painful. I went to the doctor and got prescribed some physical therapy, which helped immensely! After six weeks of twice a week therapy, my knee was good to go.

Even though the doctor and the physical therapy were covered by my insurance, what I owed was still pretty pricey. I suppose that someone with chronic health issues and without health insurance would just have to live with the pain as it got worse and worse and worse, leading them to a life with a cane, wheel chair, or motorized wheelchair.

That doesn't sound like very much fun to me...

What I Did on My Spring Vacation

2010-04-04T20:22:00.000-07:00

Remember the good ole days when the teacher would have the whole class write an essay about what they did on their summer vacation? Well, I'm not going to go that far, but I thought I would share highlights of my trip to Yosemite with my family and my boyfriend.

The first night that we were there it snowed! I'm a Southern California girl so I've only seen it snow once before. This snow was so big and fluffy! It felt like we were inside a snow globe.

(This is the view from our hotel room)

We layered on all our clothes and went out for breakfast at the Ahwahnee Hotel so that we could enjoy the fresh snow from their floor to ceiling windows in the dining room, not to mention their delicious food. Yosemite Valley has an amazing shuttle system. All the buses are hybrids and take you anywhere you'd want to go around the valley. So we simply got on a shuttle and were dropped off at the door of the Ahwahnee.

To work off just a few calories we decided to take a "hike" to some waterfalls. It's "hike" because most of the trails are paved and aren't too strenuous.

(the boyfriend and me in the upper left hand corner and the sister and me in the lower right hand corner)

We enjoyed the Yosemite museum and as we walked out of the short film Spirit of Yosemite the sun was shining and melting some of the fresh snow. Which revealed that Spring was really trying to reveal itself.

The whole trip was really a mixture of good food, relaxation, family bonding time and appreciation for nature. I can't thank Galen Clark and John Muir and all of the many people that came after them for preserving such an amazing piece of land.

Time for Vaca!

2010-03-29T21:20:00.000-07:00

Hello blog friends,

I'm going to be on vacation this week in Yosemite so I won't be blogging. I hope you don't miss my stories too much. I promise to come back with some amazing pictures. It's supposed to snow so everything will have a nice dusting.

I'll be back on Sunday!

Have a great week!

Natalie

Sing It!

2010-03-25T21:29:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...I didn't get off at my regular stop to go home. I was meeting the boyfriend a little deeper in Downtown Long Beach so that we could attend the Taste of Downtown Long Beach. It is a little creepy how little by little the train becomes empty. That's when things can get a little weird. I was facing backwards and heard someone stomping down the aisle. A disheveled old man walked quickly by me and right up to a little placard that is on the wall of each car with the history of one of the many cities that lie within Los Angeles county. He got right up close to it and read it line by line and then quickly walked to the door waiting impatiently for it to open.

Then as he got off at the next stop a young man took his spot asking for attention by mumbling the song that he was listening to on his ipod. Occasionally, he would burst out with a few words and then he'd go back to mumbling. I could tell when an instrumental came because he stopped singing and instead concentrated real hard on a "slick" dance move.

He's not the first person that I've experienced singing on the train. It's like they hope Simon Cowell is riding the train that day and will give them their big break into stardom. Too bad! Simon is not on this train and nobody asked you to share your music with them.

As I was getting off the train a man came up along side me and said, "You sure do see some crazy stuff on the train." And I replied "I know! I actually write a blog about all the crazy things I see." I felt so proud of myself and proud of my blog, really! I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy planning for and writing it!

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

2010-03-23T20:26:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...I overheard a teenage boy on the phone talking his friend into going to school. He was laughed and said "If you're ready to go, why wouldn't you just go?"

I can remember my high school days and the only reason I wanted to skip school was so that I could sleep in. If I was able to get up, showered and dressed then I was good to go. The boy hung up soon after, hopefully convincing his friend to go to school that day.

A few stops down the line he called out to a girl that just got on the train and chatted about whether or not they should go to school too. They had been late already and the teacher told them that if they were late again they'd be kicked out. But luckily the girl looked at her watch and said that they shouldn't be late so they should just go.

It's funny how the teenage brain works. Everything is instantaneous and rarely are the long term effects taken into consideration. If only they knew how important each day of school was to their future and how hard their teachers were working to get them to learn.

As Whitney Houston said "I believe the children are our are future, Teach them well and let them lead the way, Show them all the beauty they possess inside, Give them a sense of pride to make it easier"

Sunday to Sunday in the LBC

2010-03-21T19:39:00.000-07:00

As I walked down to the beach to participate in the beach clean up, I knew I should have brought my camera. There were at least 75 people there to help clean up the beach. There were groups of students, families, middle aged people, young people. It was really a great site to see, so many people caring about their neighborhood and willing to give up some time on a Saturday morning. Of course it was a beautiful Saturday morning and we're on the beach, so it wasn't that hard of a choice.

I really do have to give some appreciation to the organizations that bring the people out, Surfrider Foundation and CAT. CAT is pretty much manned by one man and he is able to network and connect with so many people. It's amazing! I think it's an amazing example of how someone's passion can inspire others to ignite their passion as well.

For the up coming week, I wan to highlight the Long Beach Museum of Art. The museum is celebrating it's 60th birthday and all sorts of exhibits are being shown to showcase the museum's history. I hope to make it out there this Saturday so that I can take some pictures for you all to see. I love the location. An old house sitting on the bluff above the ocean. The original structure houses offices and a cafe and a new more modern looking building houses the exhibits. A perfect combination of classic and modern architecture.

Have a great week!

Blogs to Note

2010-03-20T22:42:00.000-07:00

Originally, I was going to write a detailed witty description of each of these blogs, but I decided that the writers themselves might do a better job. The descriptions below are from each blog's "about me" section. So please take a peek and hopefully you will enjoy them as much as I do.

Apothecary Fox

"Apothecary Fox is the outlet for my lifestyle and design passions, and most importantly my love for all things handmade.
I sincerely hope you like what you find here, as it is put together with a whole lot of love.
I love Letterpress Prints, Home Accessories, Kitchen Gadgets, Jewellery, Bedlinen (oh, how much do I LOVE bedding!), Furniture, Handbags...I think you probably get the picture. I want to celebrate and share the talents of independent artisans, as well as cheer for the bigger gals and guys who just get it so right!

I like pretty...in all kinds of things. Colour is a passion and you will quickly understand that Pink and Green are at the top of the list. Vintage inspires me, florals send me into a spin and don't even get me started on stripes!
Born in Boston, raised in Vermont and the Borders of Scotland, independent (historically single!), fiercely loyal, child free (that pic is of me, on a Swan Boat in the Common) but devoted to my nephews and niece (what a bonus Aunt-hood is!) and very very passionate about surrounding myself with beautiful things. I love girly, but would never describe myself as a girly girl. I admire and respect those who can work with their own hands to create unique and amazing things, and am frustrated that I do not have the patience to do the same.

Apothecary Fox is a little like therapy, giving an injection of colour, charm, delight and beauty to my life. A place where you can visit and somehow everything has a rosy glow. I hope you find that here too, or I will have to give you a stronger prescription!"

A Cup of Kiez

"Hello, we are Julie and Kerstin, two English sisters living in the same neighbourhood in Berlin-Schöneberg. We´d like to invite you in to a Cup of Kiez – so take a seat, relax and enjoy our unique blend of homelife, design, stories, people and places that inspire and motivate us to live life more creatively."

Admiral and Tea

"Hello!
My name is Caitlin and I am an art history student living in Southern Ontario, Canada. I love photography, traveling, design, magazines, reading, fashion, vintage, and interesting finds. This blog is a place where I post about fashion, stylish and affordable outfits, and my photography.
The name "Admiral and Tea" was concocted after endless brainstorming and hilarious late night conversations with my family. Admiral is taken from my favourite restaurant Admiral Risty, in California, and I just think that it is a really cool word. I love tea, and it sounded good with Admiral! :) "

Happy Serendipity

"What a serendipity that you’ve found my blog.
This blog here is my personal outcome of ideas and inspiration, a bunch of nice finds from all over the place, tutorials of crafty things, a peek into my life.
I like to sew things but actually more craving the process than the outcome. I’m interested in crafting so I try something new every now and then. I love my iPhone and my Nikon so stay tuned for fun apps and eye candy pictures. I need books more than water so once in a while I’ll write about my favorite book. My always beloved city Frankfurt (Germany) where I live has great spots which I will tell you about, too!
All things I do I do for fun and most of the times I just start and see what will happen. Mostly it’s chaos where I end up But you will see for yourself."

Carrots and Kids

"Hello! My name's Deb and I like to grow things - veggies, flowers and children. This blog's mostly about gardening at home, on my allotment and at the school gardening club I run. It's also a little bit about family life, coffee, photography, books and trying to be crafty. I live in the countryside in southern England with my husband, our five children, two dogs and an ancient cat."

Yardage Design

"Hello! I'm Nic ... I love to design, sew and play around with lovely things. I have a passion for beautiful fabric and have decided to have a go at designing and printing my own under the label Yardage Design. My blog is my creative outlet and journal of my adventures making things. Thanks for visiting!"

Lattes and Lunges

"Hi My name is Summer I have two little ones…KB and MX who are 1 and 3 respectively =)
I am a full time student and full time momma and lovin’ every crazy minute of it.
I am originally from Southern California, but after following my parents to Georgia in 2004, I met my hubby and we settled down outside of Atlanta. I am desperate to one day live ITP (inside the perimeter, what they call inside Atlanta). But for now this lovely small town will have to do.
I am currently focusing on losing all the baby weight I packed on with both babies. I gained 100 lbs with MX and after losing 85 of it, got knocked up again =) granted we were trying, and gained 60 with KB. A year and 3 months later I have lost 50 lbs of those pregnancy pounds and am going strong. I still have about 25 to go to get to where I was before getting pregnant with MX and really want to lose about 35 total. I am trying to not get hung up on numbers and want to focus on feeling good and being healthy. But I weigh myself every monday to see how I am doing with my weight loss goal.
I am using this blog as an accountability/motivational tool to keep me going and focused on my weight loss. Also to share with everyone just what goes on in the day to day life of a mom/student who is commited to healthy eating and fitness."

Look But Don't Touch

2010-03-17T20:16:00.000-07:00

Today on the train...I was reminded how much I appreciate my personal space. There has been construction on the tracks during the night so in the morning the trains get a little bit off schedule, which leads to busy busy trains.

I had to stand the entire way to work. I tried to read for the first couple of stops but then there were just too many people and not enough space.

On the way home I did get a seat, but the man who sat next to me scratched at his head the entire time. He would scratch for a long while and then look at his hand and then use the other hand to scratch the same spot. I really really hope he didn't have lice.

It is days like this that I consider driving my car again.

Sunday to Sunday in the LBC

2010-03-14T21:11:00.000-07:00

I was talking with some coworkers about better ways to find things that are going on in Long Beach because I can't be everywhere all of the time, right?

One of my coworkers is a scuba diver and informed me about all sorts of things that go on at the Aquarium of the Pacific. This upcoming week on March 20th there will be a whale watching photography cruise! Just today my mom and sister were taking a walk on the coast and saw a whale. I'm sure going out on a boat you'd see a lot more of them. I've lived in Long Beach for a few years now, and I've never been to the Aquarium of the Pacific. Isn't that funny how that happens?

When you go on vacation you make sure to see all the sites and experience as much as you can, but when you live somewhere you take for granted all the amazing places there are right in your backyard. Honestly, I think this regular column will help me to take advantage of those activities!

There is also a beach clean up this Saturday right by my house. It's the easiest thing to do for your community. A group named Community Action Team (CAT) partners up with the Surfrider Foundation to provide trash bags, gloves and refreshments so all you have to do is show up at the beach and go out to pick up trash for a half an hour.

Just imagine what the world would be like if we all appreciated our surroundings and took pride in the places that we call home.

It's in Our Hands

2010-03-11T20:19:00.000-08:00

Today on the train...I sat next to a little boy. His brother and sister were sitting in front of him. None of them could have been older than 12 and yet they were riding the train from Long Beach to South LA, probably to a charter school in the area. Even though I think that it is scary for young children to ride the train by themselves, I give their parent(s) credit for trying to provide them with the best school possible. Long Beach has been known to be lacking in the education department. I actually just used a website called healthycity.org that gives details about all sorts of social services in California and the majority of schools in Long Beach had at least 75% of the children on free or reduced meals, which means that the students are mostly from low income families.

As the children got off of the train, I saw that the young boy that I was sitting next to had a Census 2010 bag. I hope those kids understand just how important they are in the count for the census. Children are the most under counted population country wide. If the kids are not accounted for the state won't receive enough money to provide the services that kids need, like childcare, school, and health clinics.

To make matters worse, Los Angeles is the one of the hardest cities in the country to get an accurate count, and even harder this year because the state is in such terrible debt. Because of all these factors, my work saw the need and contributed $1.23million to help Los Angeles work with the hardest to count populations so that the state can get the federal funding that it needs to provide services and support to all the amazing people that live here.

Not Planned

2010-03-09T20:49:00.000-08:00

Today on the train...a young couple sat down in the aisle across from me so I could only see them out of the corner of my eye. I thought they were wearing backpacks, but a few minutes into the ride a baby started to cry. I glanced over as the girl pulled back a blanket to reveal a baby, probably no more than six months old.

The baby caught the sight of who I'm guessing was her dad and smiled big as he talked softly to her. The young mother rocked the baby to keep her calm as she started asking her boyfriend(?) interview questions, obviously prepping him for a job interview.

As young as they were, for that brief moment that I got to see into their lives, the couple seemed to be resilient and supportive of each other. I hope that they know when to ask for help when they need it. I hope that they have access to the resources that will help them succeed. I hope that baby gets the love and affection she requires. I hope he got the job!

Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover

2010-03-04T20:57:00.000-08:00

Today on the train...again not much happened so I'm pulling from things that happened before I started blogging. This one is classic.

I got on the train on my way home from work in a seat next to the window which is always an adventure. You never know who is going to sit next to you. I get out my book and out of the corner of my eye I see a tall man in a heavy trench coat sit down next to me. Mind you it's a warm summer day.

(I prefer seats like this)

Before I go any farther, there is something that you should know about me. I'm afraid of homeless people. Logically, I know sometimes people fall on hard times or are overtaken by addiction and that at the core they are good people. But then I also know that 1/3 of the homeless population are mentally ill. So I guess I'm more scared of the mentally ill people. You just don't know what they'll do.

I'm a little worried that the man sitting next to me is homeless. I try to look at his fingernails to see if they're dirty, which to me could be a sign of homelessness. Then I see him going through a plastic bag. He gets a phone out. Ok, he can't be homeless right?

He proceeds to get on the phone and tells the person on the other line, "Hey, I'm coming to Long Beach. I just got out of County." Yup! County JAIL.

I had to think about that for a second. Would I have preferred the man to be homeless or a recent inmate? Tough question.

Pulling from the Memory Bank

2010-03-02T20:56:00.000-08:00

Today on the train...I was thinking about what to write tonight. Nothing much has happened in the last couple of days, so I decided to pull a story from a few months ago.

I was sitting peacefully in one of my favorite seats, reading a book. It's a seat where I don't have to sit next to anyone. I can get on, open my book, and not look up until my stop. Well at least that is what I can normally do. This day towards the end of my trip I heard a man say "Excuse me, excuse me" and finally I looked up. Surprisingly, he was talking to me.

He continued with "You are the prettiest girl I've seen on this train." Oh no he didn't! Oh yes, he did!
I said thank you, because a compliment is a compliment.
He then went on to ask if I had a boyfriend, which of course I said that I did.
And then he asked "Do you like dark men?"
Stunned that this conversation was still going on, I responded with "I like everybody."
"Well I've been praying for a vanilla queen!"
And that is when the train arrived at my stop.

An older woman who had been watching the exchange walked beside me and said, "It's always nice to get a compliment, no matter who it's coming from."

As uncomfortable as that conversation could have been, it left me with a smile and a story to tell.

Sunday to Sunday in the LBC

2010-02-28T14:54:00.000-08:00

Here are the PUPPIES!!!!!!!!!! There were old dogs, young dogs, dressed up dogs, lazy dogs, big dogs, and tired dogs! Aren't they just adorable? I was on smile overload today. This event keeps getting bigger and bigger. Last year they had around 600 dogs and this year there must have been even more. It's an amazing event for dog lovers.

This year the Bulldog Beauty Contest was at an outdoor shopping center that has a little grassy area with a pond in the middle. I'm sure the people that came to do some weekend shopping and didn't know about the event, were really confused.

The second picture over on the top and the picture in the last row and column is my dog Spike! Isn't he adorable? Next year he'll be 10 and we can enter him in the senior dog beauty contest!

Thanks for reading!

Through Good Times and Bad

2010-02-23T18:01:00.001-08:00

Image originally uploaded by Kharied

Today on the train...well actually last Friday, but I'm trying to stick to my new posting schedule of Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday.

Anyways, this post is going to start out a little hairy, but I promise the ending will be well worth it.

As I descended into the train station there was a train just leaving that was PACKED, and people were still standing on the platform. Automatically I already know that something has happened to slow down the train schedule. Even during rush hour, Los Angeles still isn't a train city, so only on rare occasions are the trains completely full.

I get on the next train, with no problem, and even get my preferred seat, but the train is running slower than normal. Finally the conductor tells us that there has been an accident on the tracks so all of the trains are only using one track. We come up to the station nearest the accident and there are tons of people on the platform that proceed to pile onto our train. It was like those pictures you see of trains in Japan, packed in like sardines. There are only two options for people in this situation, become annoyed or become friendly. Luckily all the people I was around were the friendly sort.

But unfortunately, it appeared the "accident" was that someone was hit by the train. I've heard that the line that I take is the most dangerous in the country, mostly because the majority of it is street level and people just test their luck way too often.

Moving on to a happier story. There was an African-American mother with a four year old son and a one year old son in a stroller. A few stops after they got on an Indian family got on with an older son about the same age and a younger daughter in a stroller. As soon as the little girl's stroller pulled up next to the little boy, he popped his head up and smiled a big ole smile! The little girl was tentative but proceeded to smile back just as big.

The little boy put out his hand and she reached out hers and they held hands like that for a few stops. It was so sweet! It really captured everyone's attention and I saw smiles on faces all around.

It was a polarizing ride. One moment I'm imagining a family mourning the loss of a loved one and the next moment joy and friendship is being made.

Sunday to Sunday in the LBC

2010-02-21T16:49:00.000-08:00

This week is one that I look forward to every year! Once it's over, I can't wait for the next year to come. Next Sunday is the 6th Annual Bulldog Beauty Contest put on by Haute Dogs. Here are some pictures from past years

I know I'm biased because I have a bulldog, but those guys are just too adorable! I don't enter my dog Spike in the contest but we bring him along to make friends with all the other dogs that come out.

There is a contest for senior dogs of all breeds, English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, and Pugs. It really is just a fun filled day of cuteness.

I remember the first time that I came upon the event. My boyfriend and I were entertaining a friend from out of town and we were spotting Bulldogs all over the place. I knew there had to be some thing going on, so we asked and started to follow the crowd. There were 100's of dogs in this little park! My mouth dropped and I couldn't help but smile the entire time.

I know not all people are dog lovers, but for me, these little (and sometimes not so little) guys can make my day a happy one. I'll post some pics after the event next Sunday, Feb 28th for all to enjoy.

Sunday in the LBC

2010-02-14T18:54:00.000-08:00

Image originally uploaded by Pat Henson

I've decided that I am going to bring some consistency to my blog. Every Sunday I will post about interesting things either going on soon in Long Beach or fun things to do in Long Beach. You see this still connects to my blog's title "Today on the Train" because the train stops in Long Beach....

This week I want to talk about some great places to eat. I don't think many people think about Long Beach as a destination for great food, but over the few years that I've lived here I've found quite a few great places that really are hidden gems.

This January my boyfriend and I decided to try something new. You know get out of the chain restaurant rut. We looked to yelp.com to help and found At Last Cafe. It is a little hole in the wall restaurant. There are about six tables total and you can see all the cooking going on in the kitchen. That doesn't take away from the deliciousness that is delivered to you though.

The food is classified as "American (New)". So there is pot roast, pork chops, meat loaf and such on the menu. I am a mac and cheese enthusiast and At Last Cafe has an amazing version. The breadcrumbs on top really set the tone.

I could tell that this place was relished within the neighborhood. While we were eating someone called to see if there were any available tables and they came in about 10 minutes later. There was also a small group that seemed to make a habit of going to the Cafe as they knew the Chef and seemed to already know what they wanted to eat.

It's so great to find little places that really serve the neighborhood. The food is great, the price is right, and the atmosphere just makes you feel comfortable.

The chef also does catering with JM Chef Catering. So if anyone is ever in Long Beach and needs a great place to eat, check out At Last Cafe. If you're going for dinner, make sure to call ahead and see if there is a table available.

Enjoy!

Special Needs

2010-02-11T09:40:00.000-08:00

Image originally uploaded by Julpi

Today on the train...there was a special needs man standing in the open area where the doors are. About half way through my ride he asked, to no one in particular, where to catch red line. A man that I questioned even sitting next to responded. His posture was very standoffish and he looked a little scruffy. But he continued to chat with the special needs man all the way to the stop, making sure that he was going the right way.

Once again the train people surprised me. For a city that is known for being very isolating because we all live in our cars, we sure do open up when given the opportunity on the train.

Teacher in All Forms

2010-02-10T20:36:00.001-08:00

Image originally uploaded by Temari 09

Today on the train...I saw an old Asian woman connect with a young Asian woman. The young woman asked to sit next to the older woman, who then politely moved her things off of the seat next to her. As the train ride went on the old woman began to fall asleep and almost dropped the items that were on her lap. The young woman scooted over and told the woman in broken English, "you can put your things here if you need to." The old woman replied in broken English as well with "thank you".

The young woman sparked up a conversation asking how long the old woman had been riding the train. She said that she had seen the old woman years ago and recognized her that day.

It was interesting to see the two women share knowing that they didn't have much in common besides their continent of origin, riding the train and being immigrants. I really enjoy watching people learn from each other and from each other's differences.

Speaking of learning, my sister recently started a blog A Day in the Life of a Substitute Teacher. She is an unemployed teacher that lost her job during the last round of layoffs in the Los Angeles Unified School District. I am learning a lot from her about patience, tenacity, and creativity. She is making the most of a bad situation and doing what she can to keep herself busy and searching for alternate routes at finding work. She even opened an etsy.com shop Cowans Creations to try to bring in some money with her spare time hobby. I can't wait for her to get back into the classroom so that she can teach the children those important characteristics for life.

Please take a minute to go over and read some of her posts!

Extend a Helping Hand

2010-01-27T21:04:00.000-08:00

Originally uploaded by Artiii

Today on the train...A young mother got on the train with a stroller. She stood in the open area by the door and after a few minutes she knelt down and put her head down on the front of the stroller, seeming exhausted or overwhelmed. A woman sitting closest to her turned and asked if she were alright.

I was really surprised, and impressed that someone would take the time to make sure a stranger was ok emotionally.

The young mother said that she was trying to quit smoking so that she could be healthy for her child and keep her child healthy but that she really felt like she needed a cigarette because she was so stressed out. The woman sitting next to her sympathized and said that wanting to smoke must be even harder because she knows that it's bad for her.

It was a touching moment. And then it was gone.

Let's hope that a stranger's sincere words helped that young mother resist temptation for just a little longer.

Seeing in a Different Light

2010-01-12T20:21:00.001-08:00

Image originally uploaded by

sensesmaybenumbed

Today on the train...I was reminded about several things that I've seen that I just wouldn't expect to see.

The train drives by an assisted living home just before a station. One day in particular the train was slowing down to stop at the station, and some curtains were open in an upper window. What was I lucky enough to see? A old man's bare ass. Yup! I wished that I had someone else on the train with me that I knew because that could have been a great burst out laughing moment.

On many occasions I've seen stray dogs roaming the busy streets and my heart aches. I am an animal lover for sure. Sometimes I wish I could stop the train and go catch the dogs. Well, one day I didn't have to get off the train. A dog had gotten onto the station platform and as our train doors opened he climbed right on. He moseyed down the aisle and just as the doors were getting ready to close a man commanded it to get out. Even though he was a lost pup, it put a smile on my face.

Another situation that kind of surprised me happened just recently. Normally, especially during rush hour, people that are already seated on the train make room for others to sit down. We all know that we're tired and just want to get home. Well, there was a woman sitting on a two seat bench with her computer bag taking up 1/2 of the seat next to her. A young woman came on and politely said "excuse me", which is normally train speak for "make room for me". The woman sitting down didn't budge. She didn't even look up. The young woman said it again, "excuse me". She had the same polite tone, and still nothing. I know the feeling of not wanting to sit next to strangers, but come on. Some times you just have to suck it up. This young woman wasn't even sketchy looking. I would understand if she smelled weird or had a bunch of plastic bags with her.

What would you do if you were the woman sitting down?

Thank You for Being a Friend

2009-12-15T20:12:00.000-08:00

Image originally uploaded by Rakka

With the cold weather of winter upon us (I know it's California, so it's not that cold, but still) I do not envy the people that don't have a place to call home. There is an elderly man that has been living in the parking structure at the train station for a couple weeks. He sleeps on the concrete in a little section on the very bottom level of the structure where cars can't park. Sometimes he's awake when I pull in to park and he's dancing around. Maybe he's getting his morning dose of exercise.

Last week we had a "storm" that brought some low temperatures and rain for several days. During that time when I arrived at the structure in the morning and left that night the homeless man was curled up in the same position. After a day and 1/2 I started to get worried. All he had to warm himself with were the clothes on his back and one gray blanket (hopefully a wool one). I started to worry that he had gotten too cold in the night and passed away.

When I got home I brought it up with my unruly boyfriend, who quickly suggested that I poke the man with a stick and yell loudly "Hey mister!!!!!!!!! Are you dead?" I know, I know, inappropriate. I would never do such a thing.

What I did decide to do was call the transit sheriff if the man hadn't changed position the next day. The next morning he was exactly how he was before. I got a funny feeling in my stomach. That would just be a terrible way to die. I called the sheriff when I got to work and asked that they just check on him. I was anxious to leave the structure that night, not knowing what I would find.

I never expected to find the man in the same spot, but this time laying propped up on his side drinking out of a large green bottle. I was thankful that he hadn't passed away. Perhaps he was just sleeping in longer because he was drinking heavily in order to stay warm and pass out into a deep sleep.

I'm just one human being looking out for another. Rose, you've got your Dorothy looking out for you.

Silence Is Golden, Or Is It?

2009-12-08T16:41:00.000-08:00

Originally uploaded by TEB471959

Recently I remembered a trip on the train that was slightly traumatic. There was a whole group of women sitting towards the back of the caboose just chatting away. There must have been at least six different conversations going on at the same time. Everyone talking to everyone.

They talked like that for the majority of the ride, until a scream came from the caboose that was attached behind us. All of the women stopped talking and called out "stop the train! stop the train! A baby is stuck in the door!" My heart stopped. It seemed like everyone on the train stopped and tried to see what was going on. Someone alerted the driver through the intercom system, but because the people were so panicked he didn't really understand what was going on and replied "Once I leave the station I can't stop." But finally he understood what was going on stopped the train, got out and investigated.

It turned out that no baby was stuck in the door. What had happened was a little boy got on the train but his mother who was following behind didn't make it on. The little boy had screamed when he realized that his mother wasn't behind him. Lucky for him the train hadn't pulled completely away from the station and the driver opened the doors in order mother and child to be reunited.

As soon as everything was all right, the hen house continued to chatter, but this time talking about how they would never let their child get that far ahead of them when trains were around and how you have to keep your kids close.

2009-11-22T18:16:00.000-08:00

Picture originally uploaded by Christopher Chan

I got on the train hoping for a nice calm ride home because I had some work reading to do and needed to concentrate. Unfortunately, there was a young couple that felt the need to connect with a man and a woman sitting near me. The young couple told the story of their long day and how many trains and buses they took to get where they were. You could tell that the man and woman didn't know what to do. The stories were semi entertaining, but how do you get away from a extra friendly stranger? Especially when they don't mean any harm.

The entire trip the couple talked about their different adventures. The young woman would laugh so hard at her boyfriend's stories, which she had obviously heard before. You could tell they really enjoyed each other and they enjoyed sharing all of this with strangers.

I pretended to be reading because I didn't want to have to engage in the conversation. I like to be nice, but I honestly would have preferred a quiet ride. At one point I sneezed and both the young man and woman quickly said "bless you". So of course I looked up and said thank you, immediately going back to reading.

They did tell a story that sounds awfully similar to the crazies I see on a regular basis. They came across a "woman" that day that was putting on clear lip gloss ear to ear, then wiping it all over "her" face, continuing to put it in "her" hair and then using it as lotion on "her" legs.

Their adventure added to my adventure. Thanks for sharing kids.

2009-11-11T20:20:00.000-08:00

Picture originally uploaded by xcode

Today on the train...it started with a compliment. There was a man and a woman sitting behind me that didn't know each other before sitting next to each other. She said "hmmm boy, you smellllll gooood." Which was true, his cologne was pretty nice. It's refreshing when people on the train actually care about how they smell.

They went on to talk about the book he was reading on how to be a better father, brother, son, etc and about the church she went to with a female African (as in from Africa) pastor who wrote books that just made her religion completely make sense. Midway through the conversation they introduced themselves.

I was so impressed by the subjects they went on to talk about. Things that I've always been told not to bring up if you don't know people's opinions (i.e. politics & religion) but they talked and somehow were able to have a completely nice conversation and explain their points of view.

It was pretty impressive. A conversation that I first thought was going to be a pick up line, turned into a sharing and learning session. These are the experiences I wouldn't be able to experience if I was driving to work isolating myself in traffic.

2009-11-09T20:28:00.000-08:00

Picture originally uploaded by Jeff Kubina

Pardon my absence from my daily stories. I had to drive to work several times last week. Anyways, the story for today starts at the station. I was walking down the stairs in the parking structure, when I got a whiff of a terrible smell. As I turned the corner of the flight of stairs I got to see what was releasing such an overbearing aroma. WARNING: this is distasteful and not for the faint of heart. There was a dribbling of liquid fecal matter down the whole flight of stairs and a final puddle on the final stair.

I know, disgusting. Now, take into consideration that there are a few homeless people that "live" around the station. I've heard that a good portion of the homeless population are addicted to drugs. I also have heard that crack can give you the poops. So my first thought is that a drug addicted homeless person smoked some crack and seeing that there are no 24hr public bathrooms, decided to take a seat on the stairs that a couple hundred people use daily. I can't even imagine being that person.

There was a homeless woman on the train this morning. She rides the train on a regular basis singing a little ditty and then going up and down the aisles asking for spare change. She's different than most of the homeless people I see. She dresses in men's clothes, and talks like a little girl. I've often wondered what happened to her when she was young to make her voice stop maturing and then later cause her to be homeless. Sometimes she's in a retched mood so that when the people on the train don't give her any change she spouts out insults and continues to talk to herself until the next stop. But when people give her some money she says in the sweetest little girl voice "God bless you."

Crossing Lines

2009-11-03T21:36:00.000-08:00

Picture originally uploaded by daveblume

Today on the train...for the most part the ride was nice and easy. I was able to read through my work stuff and even start a new book. Midway through chapter one I was distracted by two men sitting in the seat beside me. An older Asian man with a thick accent started a conversation with a young African-American man sitting next to him about the music book that the young man is going through. The book was a bunch of music with the piano keys on top showing where the notes would be played.

They had an whole conversation about how the old man knew how to play the piano and how hard or easy the music is to play. It was so interesting to watch these two people, who would normally not have any contact within their worlds, for this short glimpse connecting.

The simple act of witnessing that put a good shade over the rest of the day.

This Just Keeps Getting Better and Better

2009-11-02T20:28:00.000-08:00

Picture originally uploaded by the superrash

Today on the train....I was going to tell you about a crazy old lady harassing a young African American man, telling him to guess how old she was while he laughed nervously. I didn't turn around to look at the woman, but by her voice I'd guess about 65. She was 49.

But instead I have a better story. Three stops from my station, the train slams on its brakes. My first thought was that we hit someone. Luckily it wasn't that bad. There was a car accident on the tracks, not involving any trains, but one of the cars hit the electric pole that gives power to the trains. The driver came on telling us that he first had to wait for his supervisor to arrive at the scene and then they would a) wait for the tow truck to remove the totaled cars or b) have the train go back to the previous stop. What stop would that be? Oh yea, Compton station.

I immediately get on the phone to call the boyfriend I update him with my situation and ask if he can pick me up at Compton Station. At which point he reminds me that his car is in the shop. I don't freak out too much, I have a friend in mind and also Metro is going to provide some buses. But really, I'd like to get home as soon as possible.

I call my backup plan (aka best friend Es) and he agrees to come get me. The train takes about twenty minutes to decide to go back to the previous station. When I get out it's like another universe. There are people every where, business people just trying to get home, residents of the area just wanting the business people out of their way, and entrepreneurs. We're the first train to arrive since the blockage and there are already men selling their bus tokens for 100% more than they are worth.

I walk over to a well lit fast food place to wait for good friend Es and as soon as I reach the parking lot I notice that there is a vicious gangsta girl fight going on. Three girls kicking the crap out of one girl. All of us out of place business people are watching, not evening thinking about going to break it up, even as the underdog is getting her head slammed into the cement. And sirens are going off, fire trucks are whirling down the street and the cop cars are on each street corner. Where am I? Oh yea, Compton.

To add insult to injury, I gave good friend Es the wrong street so it took him a little longer for him to get to me. But in my defense I don't frequent the Compton area much and all I had on me was a little laminated map that is really more for the Los Angeles freeway system than the Metro lines.

Let's hope Tuesday brings less exciting stories.

A Glimpse into a Life Not My Own

2009-11-01T18:02:00.001-08:00

picture originally uploaded by [ henning ]

Taking the train, metro, subway, is an experience, an adventure, more so in some cities. I live in Los Angeles county and take the metro to work. I don't want to say which line because some of these stories might be personal ones. But just know that I go through some "interesting" parts of town. I'll try to keep the stories to what happens that day, but if there is a "slow" day on the train I'll pull from my archives of entertaining stories. My coworkers, friends, family and boyfriend have been enjoying them for the past year.

The first story is a sad one, at least to me. This summer I was sitting behind two women. One was telling the other that her sister's boyfriend had been shot and killed in front of their house and now she doesn't let her kids play outside. It was a story people hear in the movies. I had never heard with my own ears that people really get killed in front of people's houses.

That might sound naive but I remembered all the days of summer that I spent playing in the front yard with my sister. We could have the greatest time just rolling around in a refrigerator box. I felt bad for the woman's kids that would never get to know that kind of fun. And I felt bad for the mother that had to worry like that about the safety of her children. I won't even go off about the lack of exercise the kids will get or how their TV and video game time will increase because of the safety issue.

I knew of a program called Summer Night Lights that was put together by the mayor's office. It was a program focused on under-served communities and bringing life back to those communities. There were whole staffs dedicated to keeping activities going in parks around housing project . They would have basketball tournaments, child care at the play ground, arts and crafts, etc. And most of all they brought back the light to the community. Because of this program violence was down, homicide was down, and community togetherness was up.

I wish that I would have spoken up and told the mother about this opportunity. It just wasn't appropriate, I shouldn't have been eavesdropping. But you'll find that most of my stories from the train are because I overheard a conversation or saw something someone didn't expect me to see.