2007-02-05 - 7:50 p.m.
Now I'm in the observation deck of the train to Seattle. One thing is true of Amtrak trains--they are really comfortable. Think of it as a stop above a Greyhound but with more freedom than an airplane. There is a ridiculous amount of overhead storage space, leg space, walk-around space, etc. I would highly recommend train travel to people with a few days on their hands, a tight budget, and places to go. I'm not sure about the people on it--like I said, a step about Greyhound buses but Nicole "Red Triangles Are Forever, They Won't Leave in the Night, I've No Fear That They Might" Hampton tells me that really awesome people ride the rails.
There's this one couple that was traveling westbound on the Cleveland-Chicago train with me and you totally know this couple. They're in their late 40s or at least look it--he has long gray hair, wears shorts all the time, has a moustache, and she has a penchant for Lilith Fair skirts, fake fur coats, and fake gold costume jewelry. They kind of freak me out a little. A little a lot.
Another couple I met was in line with me to board the train and we were watching Rachel Ray's Worst Kitchen in America segment to her talk show (which is like, why the crap does Rachel Ray need a talk show? Just cook your freaking food, lady). This one woman on the show was showing off her 'terrible' kitchen, which was this '60s era kitchen with dark orange counters, exposed brick walls, and other '60s era appliances, talking about how awful the whole kitchen was. The woman behind me in line was like, "The only thing awful about that kitchen is that woman standing in it. Jesus, look at all that crap she put on her refrigerator. That's disgusting."
Then I of course had to chime in, "No way, the worst part of the kitchen is that tacky sequined butterfly t-shirt the woman chose to wear on television. She could win some kind of Rachel Ray contest with that monstrosity." Now the woman behind me and I are friends, talking about how we love '60s era colors and design. Together we deem the woman on tv an idiot.
The third person I've "met" is this real dreamboat who I noticed in the departure lounge and whom I was hoping was on the same train as me. He looks like a nicer, slightly better dressed version of me. And yes, not only is he on the same train, but he's also going to Seattle! I was moving some luggage around so I could fit my giganto Rubbermaid container on the stowaway section when I noticed that he needed to put a bag there as well. So I offered the space I cleared, thinking that this was the magic link that would bring us together. He just threw his bag up there, mumbled thanks, and went upstairs to the seats. Beh!
Then I, of course, choose a seat right across the aisle from him so we can catch glances at each other and throw paper planes across the seats that say things like, "Meet me in the 2nd bathroom of Car 117 in 10 minutes!!! :) :) :)" He sees me put my things down on the seat and gives me this look of immediate annoyance. So I gave him some space, hoping that once he saw that was I not only clearly rocking out to some good music (Pernice Brothers, Scissor Sisters) but I was knitting a great sweater. He is completely unimpressed and still resentful of my presence near him.
I'm no longer asking Train Boyfriend to fall in love with me or the multitude of ways that I'm a great person; I just want him to get along with me. When he couldn't find the observation lounge, I pointed it out to him and he slipped out a small, angry thank you. What's the deal, Train Boyfriend? If we're going to live in the same city, we're going to have to learn how to get along with one another.
