Categorized in Observation
Tags: books, goatee, jenny cruise, john grisham, leadbelly, lee child, paulo coelho, red hot chilli peppers, scar tissue, terry brooks, underworld, warren buffett
On the train today, someone tried to block us in, sarcastically using a train warning sticker that says “Keep clear of moving doors”.
Moving doors sticker blocking doors
Categorized in Observation
Tags: doors, sticker, vandal
On the train today, I received an SMS from an unknown number. It says exactly:
“Eb sorry i skitzd it at you. U know i dnt mean wot i say. Your the only one that listns to my storys and my problems i thankyou for that. My bestie shit head who takes ten years to get ready hehe lol. Think bout cumin on sat shal b fun sit in the spa al nit? Haha. Anyway loveyou x bffl“
Now that is one intriguing message. I wonder what happened between these two best-friends-for-life (bffl).
What made the sender “skitz” (get angry) at Eb? Not sure what “My bestie shit head who takes ten years to get ready” means but it must be funny cause it deserved a “hehe” and a “lol” (laughing out loud).
The sender doesn’t mean whatever she said to Eb but certainly means what she writes her in this SMS.
And how come she doesn’t have Eb’s number saved in her phone book?
It’s amazing how much we rely on technology these days. And what happens now? Eb didn’t receive the message but the sender probably doesn’t realise. So that’s one best-friendship gone down the drain. It’s just because the buttons on a mobile phone are too unusable and error prone and mobile numbers are what they are, hard-to-remember long numbers.
That’s where I try to save the day. I replied with the following message:
“Hi i think you sent me a msg by mistake. Good luck with eb i’m sure she/he understands. and enjoy the spa on sat. Take it easy.“
Categorized in Train Story
Tags: bffl, skitz, skitzd, sms, spa, story
On the train today, I looked at the view. When you take the same train everyday, it’s so easy to take the nice views for granted. But I still remember how excited I was the first time I caught the train over the harbour bridge.
View from the train
It’s a pity some of the windows are too scratched though.
City skyline through train
Categorized in 2622
Tags: bridge, harbour, scratched, vandal, view
On the train today, a big bellied man was pulling out filthy lint from his belly button with his finger!
He was on an almost empty carriage and my carriage stopped exactly beside it. So he was just sitting there across my window with his unbuttoned shirt digging deep into his belly button.
He mustn’t have realised anyone was watching that close. It’s a good thing for you that I wasn’t quick enough to take a photo. But the image is stuck there in my head. No dinner for me tonight.
Categorized in Observation
Tags: belly, belly button, disgusting, filth, lint
On the train today, I feel safer. The asian lady sitting next to me is praying the rosary. I wonder what she is praying for. That the train gets there safely and on time? It inspired me to say a prayer too.
Lady praying the rosary
I often see people praying on the train, reading the bible or the koran. So train time must be a good time to catch up with your spirituality… until you are interrupted by some loud and horny R’n'B mobile phone ring tone.
To the rosary lady, I sincerely hope all your prayers are heard, including the ones about the train being safely on time.
Categorized in 2622
Tags: loud, phone, prayer, ring-tone, rosary, spirituality
On the train today, a couple increases their chances of getting a seat by using this trick. I call it the split-and-conquer trick. The man goes in from one door of the carriage and the lady goes in from the other. Then they start walking towards each other. The first who finds an empty double seat sits there on the outer side to block anyone else from wanting to sit on the inside. This gives time while the other half gets through. I must say these are a very experienced couple.
Categorized in Observation
Tags: split-and-conquer, tricks-of-the-train
On the train today, ‘Moops’ is everywhere. And not just today. And not just on this train. I’ve been seeing the ‘Moops’ signature engraved on any engravable surface since I started taking the train.
It has a very distinctive design. Always zig-zag-engraved; The top of the ‘M’ barely a curve; A mouth underneath the double o’s to form a smiley face on the same baseline; And the top part of the ‘S’ double as high as the bottom part.
Moops engraving
And I’ve always wondered… what is ‘Moops’? or who is ‘Moops’? Is there a gang of ‘Moops’? And would one be called a ‘Moop’? If google cannot define ‘moops’, then ‘Moops’ does not exist. Or does it?
According to the Urban Dictionary, it has two possible definitions:
1) Misprinted word in Trivial Pursuit of Seinfeld episode which is actually Moors. George says to the bubble-boy “It’s not the Moors, it’s the Moops!“
2) Term used as slang in some parts of Great Britain. “Moops” or a “Moop” originated from a comical act in many northern industrial towns. Later used to express group of comical or crazy people in jest.
I don’t think train ‘Moops’ refers to any of this, other than perhaps the “crazy people” part.
Another Moops engraving
If you have any information about ‘Moops’, please zig-zag-engrave a comment below
Yet more Moops engravings
Categorized in Observation
Tags: crazy, google, graffiti, moop, moops, seinfeld, vandal
On the train today, there is some hope for humanity. A middle aged lady complemented a girl on her new short haircut. These two don’t know each other, other than being on the same train every now and then.
The girl is part of a loud hip group of friends that have been catching the train together since ever. The middle aged lady also has been catching the train with her friend since I remember, both Italian background cause they do say a few words in Italian when they think no one else is understanding. And of course they also can’t keep their volume to a low.
I have heard so many stories from these people about their families, their furniture, their problems, their joys, their big nights out, their work and their colleagues, the gossip and the back stabbings. It’s so much better than watching a reality TV show.
Anyways back to the haircut, which cost $130 in the city. The Italian lady asked the girl if she was happy with it. She wasn’t at first but now she likes it. Italian lady said she thought so. She must have observed the girl’s mood over the past few days. Italian lady also has short hair. The girl said she now wants to shave her hair in exchange for charity sponsorships. Very brave of her. I’ll sponsor that.
Italian lady also asked what happened to another girl that used to be with the same group of friends. I was wondering the same thing. She even referred to her by name. It turns out she moved to the city. She’s still in the gang though, and that’s where they crash after a big night out.
Two generations talking to each other randomly and casually on the train. There is hope.
UncategorizedCategorized in
Tags: charity, conversation, gossip, haircut, hip-group, hope, italian, italian-ladies, loud
On the train today, 3 friends are going fishing. I’m not sure where exactly you can go fishing by train. It does not matter. Everyone else was going to work, but not these 3 rugged-looking men.
They aren’t wearing nice clothes. They can’t afford to drive and I’m sure they can’t afford a boat either. They are just carrying the most basic of fishing tackle. But they look happier than everyone else on the train.
Man going fishing by train
Oh how I wish I was going fishing today!
Categorized in Observation
Tags: fishing
