I'm back from my Jersey trip! It's good to be home. I've been more content lately about home life. This is a safe place again, and I can be or do whatever I want here. Although I'm still trapped, the walls aren't crushing me anymore.
The morning I left we woke up late. We were supposed to leave around 5:30, but didn't get up until 6. Asher's phone alarm didn't go off...
Even so, I made it in time for my train. The train to NY Penn station from Jersey was filled with businessmen and women all clutching their computers and reading documents that we supposedly important. It looked just like the school bus for children in which the kids schedule the bus ride as a study hall before class. Although, it was significantly quieter.
I got off at the wrong stop. Only for a second though. Newark and New York sound a lot alike. It doesn't help that both train stations are called Penn Station either. I thought it was odd that not many people were getting off at the stop. I assumed that NYC would be where everyone would have to go (and don't forget that this was at a sickeningly early hour of the day so my thoughts weren't all coherent). I pretty much knew I wasn't supposed to get off as soon as I stood up, but by that time, there was no turning back. When you get to a station like that you can't just stop and contemplate anything either. The train stopped and I moved on like a zombie just like the rest of the rushing crowd.
But I was positive I was in very much the wrong place. Wrong state, even. So, I just casually stepped back on further up the train. You can't understand how thankful I was that I actually noticed I didn't recognize anything.
One of the train attendants asked me for my ticket, which I knew he would and was afraid of. I just had to tell him that I gave it to another attendant already, which was true, but I'm sure he didn't entirely believe me. Awkward moment. But everything was okay. I understand a whole new level of "olympics" now.
While on the train I'm pretty sure I sat next to an author of some kind. Either a writer of novels or a journalist. The second she sat down she began furiously scribbling down thoughts or details on paper. Even with her claiming that seat I sat alone most of the ride back. The woman spent all of her time in the cafe car while it was open. I suspect she was writing back there too, where should could actually observe human interaction.
I managed to finish off Conrad's Fate. I read over half of the book without stopping, and I must warn you that it isn't a brilliant idea to read on a train for that long like you might think. I was plagued by a spikey sort of headache for the next three days.
Out of boredom, and plain silliness, I snapped a photo of a sleeping guy sitting across from me. Hah.
No, I don't suppose that's anything to be proud of. It was entertaining at the time. I kind of wanted to scoot over next to him and snap a photo of the two of us while he slept so I could say, "This is me and the sleeping guy!"
Due to certain cirumstances, I had to use the restroom while on the train. The first trip I didn't. Things like human survival don't effect me all that much (like eating and drinking, which I didn't do for the 15 hour trip down). But, in this case, there was no avoiding it.
TERRIBLE IDEA.
Everyone decided that the stop in Albany was a good chance to be refreshed, but apparently the toilets don't flush when the train is shut off. BAD. There was absolutely NOTHING that was going to convince me to go in that room, so I waited until the train started again and was well on it's way to the next stop. Even with the train running again and the toilets un-bombed, it was the worst experience I've had in a long time.
Don't do it. Ever. EVER.
Mom and I went to Friendly's for some eats when I finally reached my stop. I'm sure I talked her ears into a coma because it was the first time in several weeks that I'd been alone with her. That was definatly fun. I saw Joe in the resturant too. Hah. It's always when you go far away from home that you see people you know. Like in Pennsylvania. Weird, isn't it? I crashed their table for a while and got to chat with him and his dad and brother for a bit. Fun, fun. And, I still owe him cookies for bailing out of driving everyone to the movies. (>!,1iy69y1?!)
On the way home we saw a family of racoons crossing the road. So cute!
I didn't get photos of them, but I did take a few in Jersey, so here you go. (Sorry, they're boring photos)
I found someone at the train station the other day...
-Lisa
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