Beat the Heat

Somehow I missed it in March of this year, but that is indeed when Metro shared it's plan called "Operation Cool Breeze" in a press release, a maintenance plan to inspect and overhaul all the air conditioning in Metro's fleet.

Given the recent temps, "Operation Cool Breeze" and the "Hot Car"seem to be very heated topics lately, but I can't say I'm surprised. Did people really believe Metro would fix something just because they mentioned it in a press release? Maybe their public relations team deserves a raise because I'm pretty sure regular riders are not so easily fooled.

I actually don't always mind a hot car, but lately the brutal heat has been too much even for the most tolerant riders.* Which could be why I saw a gentleman pretty much dressed in this outfit yesterday:

{The guy I saw was in a similar outfit, but not a police uniform. He had his shades on,

which just intensified the impact. So awesome it almost made me forget how hot it was.}

*I believe there is such a thing as a tolerant Metro rider. I just don't know any of them.

xoxo -- stay cool!

WARNING: Escalator IN Service

I guess I'm pretty late to the party on this issue, as there is no shortage of video commentary on the subject out there, but it was a direct message I received from a fellow mom and Metro rider that brought the issue to my attention.

PARENT WARNING: if you are taking your child who is wearing Crocs onto the Metro and it happens to be a day when the escalators are actually working, be cautious!
The following excerpt is taken from my friend's email:

"Several of you have asked after her, so I thought I would send you all a note to let you know that my [precious daughter] is fine, and to let you know what amazing teachers and administrators we have.  

En route to [a field trip] today, [daughter's] left Croc got sucked in the escalator down to the Metro.  [Teacher #1] -- thinking and acting quickly -- got her out of harm's way, all the while holding on to another student, ensuring both of their safety.  [Teacher #2] swung into action with latex gloves and first aid kit, cleaned her wound, bandaged her up, and carried her back to school where they talked and read books until we arrived... At the doctor, [my daughter] received an elaborate bandage...her left toe nail is gone and ...she will be on antibiotics for several days.

But while [Teacher #2} was administering to [my daughter] at the Metro station, not one Metro employee stopped to ask if they could help. [Teacher #1] filed a complaint with Metro about their employees' lack of interest in a wounded rider...and...Metro informed her that injuries caused on escalators by Crocs-wearers is a huge issue..."

I feel the need to mention that Metro escalators aren't the only potentially dangerous ones, and Crocs are not the only shoe that could cause an injury. Ok, I mentioned it. Oh, and I also should mention that I believe any Metro worker that sees an injured child and does nothing, deserves to be puked on.

And with our first set of stitches for the summer already under our belt (Princess #1 is doing fine but her forehead lost the battle with the edge of a desk), wanted to pass this along to any other parents that may have missed the numerous reports of this phenomenon.

xoxo - stay safe!

The Metro Life Cycle

It’s always fun for me to do things for the first time with one of the princesses. Especially things that are ordinary to me. It rarely fails in bringing about some level of appreciation for things that I have not considered, or have become jaded to over time. Like riding the metro.

Princess #1 and #2 have now ridden the metro a number of times to take special trips with mommy, but Princess #3 has been impatiently waiting to be “big enough” for her own journey. (To be clear, she could have ridden the metro at any time, I just wasn’t prepared to handle a toddler and the metro at the same time. Not even the most precious observations are worth that kind of headache.)

This past Sunday it was finally her turn. We met up with some friends to wander the Eastern Market, and it really is simple* to get there via metro. Despite the added travel time of one-track running of Orange/Blue lines, it was a successful adventure for us.

[*Note: by simple I mean there is no changing of trains necessary. This is not to be confused with being either faster or easier than driving.]

Sassy Princess #3 -- ready to spend the morning searching for treasures at the market.

{still sporting her stylish, self-inflicted "cropped" bangs from Mother's Day}

I was struck by how her little 3 yo observations summed up the life cycle of most metro experiences: 

“I want to do the ticket! I like these stairs that are moving!”

“I like this train! I like these orange chairs! I want to sit by the window!”

“This train is moving fast! More people are getting on this train with us!”

“What is that smell? I don’t like it.”

“We keep stopping, can we get off yet? Are we there?”

“This carpet is dirty. I can’t see out my window, I don’t like this tunnel.”

“Are we there yet?”

“I can still smell something. I don’t like it. This train is dirty.”

“Are we there yet?”

“This train is loud. Can I lay down?”

“I want to do the ticket! Why are these stairs not moving? Can you make them move?”

“Can we be done with the train now?”

Ahh, how quickly they learn.

 xoxo -- Enjoy the daily adventures!

Some Gifts Keep on Giving

That's how I'm feeling about the Kindle I finally received for Mother's Day. It has completely changed my commute, because now I am forever armed with great distractions. So far, this is all I can remember about the metro characters from the past few weeks:

{Although perhaps #3's square head could represent the man who was literally yelling to someone on the other end of his cell phone, during a call he placed while on the train, "Sir, I will be forced to sue."}

It's been kinda glorious.

xoxo -- Bookworm

Absence Did Not Make Me Grow Fonder.

{and who really says "fond" these days anyway? kind of an awkward word in my opinion}

April was a pretty glorious month, thanks to "Spring break" and some fabulous vacation time off with my family (and many metro-free days). As I contemplate life in between when my next break from commuting arrives, here's a list of 10 things I definitely did NOT miss about the metro:

1. Delays due to: "a situation at Metro Center" or  "smoke on the track" or "a train off-loading at Foggy Bottom" or "fill in the blank with any numerous and frequently occuring excuses for delays"
2. The stairmaster workout from continuously broken escalators
3. Depressing commuter fashions and inappropriate rain gear
4. Blue/Orange line trains operating on a single track
5. Being subjected to the public's personal hygiene issues
6. Treacherously slippery tiles in the entrance/exit and walkways
7. Nearly always inaccurate signs projecting "next train times"
8. "Customers, be advised, this train is out of service. This train is out.of.service."
9. The annoying woman's courtesy voice on loop repeating, "Excuse me, is that your bag?"
10. The $51/week in total fare charges for the experience of it all.

xoxo Happy Spring!