marta musings...

so I've become quite the public transportation guru lately... well, not really, but I ride it to and from work every day so I've picked up on a few random things.

first, let me explain the MARTA situation... as I've shared DJ and I are so fortunate because we can carpool to work together [aka we get to use the HOV thank the LORD]. we make the horrendous commute about 45 minutes to Atlanta [aka inside-the-perimeter] DJ drops me off at the MARTA stop that's like two miles from his office, I ride around five stops and walk a few blocks to my office - then in the evenings same thing except reversed (funny how that works out, hah). so that's around ten train trips a week for me (except when DJ is sweet and comes and picks me up from work... AKA when it's dark outside and I tell him he has no choice ask nicely).  now a lot of people I know are sketched out by the MARTA (yes, it can be sketchy at times but I've never not felt safe - I just play it extra safe and choose not to ride it at night by myself).

here are my tips for an enjoyable MARTA/train/public transportation experience:

• avoid eye contact [I hate when strangers talk to me]
• always, always, ALWAYS wear headphones... this one took me awhile since I'm usually reading on my kindle. then one day I realized it makes it even harder for people to try and make conversation when you can pretend you can't hear them
• when you do listen to music put your iPhone/iPod/mp3 player on shuffle... it makes the train ride so much more entertaining [exert from yesterdays playlist: fat boy slim, enchanted soundtrack, phish, the killers, ben folds, eminem... tell me that's not amazing?!]
• feel free to also listen to your music while walking down the street from the train station to your destination in a big city - it helps me attempt to bring to reality my dream of my life being a disney musical. [don't judge, it could happen]
• almost every morning without fail 5 different people are hacking up their lungs on the train: hand sanitizer... lots of it. hold your breath if possible.
• don't eat on the train [did you not read the last one - everyone is coughing and sneezing, you don't want to open your mouth more than necessary]
• walk with a purpose - there is nothing more annoying than lazily walking down the stairs to find the train doors closing in your face
• if there is a pregnant woman that gets on the train and you're sitting, GET UP -- it baffles me how many people don't do this [don't worry, I hardly ever sit so this has never happened when I was sitting or trust me I would]
• don't be an a-hole and put your bag down as a seatholder... especially when there are 20 people standing because there are no seats - this goes along with the last one - be a decent human being, come on.
• avoid eye contact. it's a big one, it needed to be mentioned twice.
• perfect the art of taking a picture with your cell phone inconspicously... I still haven't mastered this one but it's a must - you never know what you're going to see... especially when comic-con is in town -- 

I almost got a good one of this zombie/anime/I have no clue what she was but she was a trip. 

also, yes I was sitting on this train ride - no there were no pregnant women standing.

do you ride public transportation?

what are your helpful tips?