Grief Griefing!

That was one of the worst commuting experiences of recent memory. The ride back home earlier tonight was an absolute disaster. While waiting for the E train on the 34th Street platform, there was the usual rush-hour infestation of people piling into the station. The problem is that the E wasn’t coming. People kept coming, like a freaking swarm of insects at twilight, but there was no relief. There wasn’t even an E train within sight. Then they announced over the loudspeaker that there was a stalled E, and trains were “running at slower speeds.” The ever-growing crowd became unbearable. I switched to the A (express) track, then back to the local. Eventually I got onto a packed C train (just when I was about to head back for the A) and took it one stop to 42nd Street. From there I could be seen darting past others, weaving and slicing my way through the crowd, through the underpass to Times Square, where I boarded a 7 express train. That train, too, had delays, but at least those were tolerable. Then when we arrived in Flushing and I walked to the Q44 bus stop, I saw that I wasn’t the only one with that brilliant idea. There were far too many people there, and I had to wait for the next bus. If it was good weather, this whole ordeal would have been horrible. But it was raining; the weather [stunk]. I’m still upset about it now, many hours after the nightmare ended. Overall grade: F

Long ago I made the following observation: People from the Northeast are - generally speaking - nervous, in a hurry, rushing from place to place. In contrast, people from Southern California are laid-back and “chilled out.” Coincidence? I think not. It’s all about the weather. Let’s be honest, the weather in New York stinks. In the summer it’s too hot and humid; winters are brutally cold. In L.A. it’s always sunny, so naturally it puts you in a good mood. I think that’s pshat.

So, what should I write about today? Should I discuss my commute and mention that I got a seat on the E train for the second consecutive morning? Should I perhaps mention that for one more day I am the Interim Interim Director of Compensation & Benefits? (Question: Dwight would be proud.) Or should I talk about how that blizzard is out of control so far, and it’s a good thing weathermen make all that money? Hmm. Not sure. OK, it’s finally snowing.

I hate extremely hot weather. I absolutely do not enjoy hundred-degree days with humidity that can melt faces from heads. Sure, I’d like it to be 72 degrees and sunny all the time, even if it’s boring. However, if it had to be one extreme, I’d choose extremely hot. This frigid weather, with blasts of icy air, is too much for me. I know you can put on layers when it’s cold - blah blah blah. I CAN’T TAKE THIS FREEZING WEATHER, DARN IT!