Starting work, getting used to a commute and working out the exact amount of time to get ready in the morning has been fun!
I have now got my routine down to a tee – so much so, if I have my hair already straightened I can be in the shower at 7.55am and still have a relaxing start to the day. If I am out the door by 8.37am on the microwave clock, I’ll be on the ‘good’ train. The good train on the 7 is the one AFTER the one that is normally packed and always running late. The good one has the same MTA worker who does the same announcements about checking backpacks while sounding half asleep. This is my favourite train. First or second carriage, middle door usually. Perfect!
I actually am exactly in the middle of two subway stations – so I get on at the one ‘further’ back in the morning so I nearly always get a seat and as I can get the first carriage of the train easier at this station, so that when I get off at Grand Central I am right near the exit escalator. I then jump off at the ‘first’ one on the way home so I can check my mailbox.
This is the view that I get from my station ‘spot’ where I stand in the morning –
Getting on the 4 or 5 express to Wall Street is somewhat more adventurous as it is ALWAYS a packed train. I have a 50/50 chance of a seat after the 14th Street stop and have had some luck with getting a seat at Grand Central. Even though it is an express route, due to train traffic or if we get ‘held by the dispatcher’ at the station, the trip can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes. It is just one of those lines. But I have never waited more than 3 minutes for a train on this line… yet! Amazing. I will always be grateful for that. 🙂