Yesterday, I stumbled upon this article announcing that the MTA has a budget crisis (like everyone and every company lately - Thanks, Mr. Bush!) and to help amend it, the MTA is planning to not only cut jobs, but also subway lines, thereby making the already crowded trains and slow service, even more crowded and slower.

Ride the M, Z, G or W line? Well, your SOL because the MTA is expected to get rid of the W and Z lines, and cut service on the G and M lines. However, I'm sure you are all happy to know that this does not affect me personally, but still, it sucks.

They haven't announced it yet, but I'm sure we will be getting another fare hike soon too - Crowded trains? Slow service? Of course it makes sense to raise prices!! Sigh . . .

An update on what exactly will be happening is expected tomorrow. Stay tuned! (and hope for the best)

Happy Humpday!

This morning, I journeyed home on the LIRR to spend some quality time (Quality time meaning my mom the hairdresser dying my hair and then shopping with my mom and sis before I allowed my dad to drive me all the way back to Queens later in the day.) with the fam on LI. I waited in the Forest Hills LIRR station and when the train finally arrived, a few minutes late, only one door would open. Everyone was looking around all confused and I ran up to the one open door and got aboard, because even though the rest of the doors would eventually open, I didn't want to risk it. I guess around this point the conductors started noticing a problem and I saw two of them starting to manually open and close the doors. They were actually taking way too long and at this point I thought I might miss my train that I need to transfer to at Jamaica. So, as the large, balding, pale conductor was walking towards me, I asked if the other trains will wait for us at Jamaica if we are late, because I was in serious danger of missing my transfer. "We aren't transferring," he gruffly replied. WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT? I checked the schedule the night before and I was sure that I could pick up the Ronkonkoma train in Jamaica eight minutes after my train was scheduled to arrive. At this point I started to panic because I have no idea where this train would take me or how I would get home because when I tried to call my family, no one answered the phone. But then I heard the same conductor announce to the train, "Next stop Jamaica!" WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT? Didn't the same a**hole just rudely tell me that this train wasn't making a transfer at Jamaica? When I spotted him again I thought I'd try to clear up the situation. "Hi," I said. "I just heard the announcement that we are going to Jamaica, but you told me the train wouldn't be stopping there to transfer." "Yes, I made the announcement," he said, "and we aren't connecting with any trains at Jamaica." "But," I tried again, "I checked the schedule and it said I could catch the Ronkonkoma train at Jamaica." He replied rudely saying something along the lines of, "too bad." To this, I shouted out, "Thanks for you help. I'm calling your supervisor!!!!" "Go ahead," the fat, bald moron called back at me, with a stupid smirk on his face and his arms wide open in what I assume was supposed to be a threatening manner. I was flabbergasted (isn't that a fun word?). I couldn't believe this was happening.

When we arrived at Jamaica I ran up to a station manager and asked when the next train to Ronkonkoma was. She replied, "Next on this track." "WHAT?!?!?!," I asked in shocked annoyance. "NEXT ON THIS TRACK!," a very annoyed young man standing behind me shouted back at me.

Anyway, as you can imagine, I was livid at this point and asked not one, but two LIRR workers for the LIRR main phone number, so I could call and complain of course, and wouldn't you know, neither one knew. Lucky for me, a nearby passenger had the number and gave it to me. I called, but unfortunately I must wait until morning to complain, and complain I will. Justice will be served!

LIRR = Completely Incompetent