WARNING: This post is NOT subway-related. Read at your own risk.

Today, my horoscope, which I usually always think is right to some degree, or at the very least predicting the future for me, told me something unsual this morning. It said something about checking my lists twice to make sure I get everything done, which I always do because I'm pretty sure that I'm OCD, but it also said, cryptically, "Kids might be pretty distracting." WTF?! What does that mean? I know that I am not currently with child so what is my horoscope trying to say? Maybe I'll get into a discussion about children today? Maybe I'll find out someone that I know is pregnant? Or, gasp, maybe I'll get stuck watching someone's terribly annoying children today? I'm not quite sure what my horoscope is trying to tell me, but maybe I'd better re-think my plans to venture outside today . . . .

Song of the moment: "One," but not the one just by U2 - the one with U2 and Mary J. Pure genius.

It is an unspoken rule among NYC commuters, especially during rush-hour, that the stairs leading into and out of a subway station should have 2 lanes of traffic. Even if there isn't a bar separating the two lanes, we expect others to be smart enough to know that the rule still applies. This is why it REALLY PISSES ME OFF when herds of people treat the stairway as one lane of traffic and don't let people trying to go the other way get through.

One particular instances that comes to mind is a few months back when my boyfriend and I were trying to catch the subway somewhere and as we were headed down the stairs to catch the train that just approached, a herd of commuters got off that same subway and headed up the kinda-narrow subway, allowing us no space to get down. What to do? Let the commuters pass and wait to catch the next train? Or, charge through the crowd and stick your arm in the closing door forcing it to open up and let you on? Well, naturally, I chose the later. I charged through the crowd, pushing and shoving and cursing the whole way down. But, after my brave and particularly frustrating decent, I noticed that I was alone and, unfortunately, had to let the train go. All that work for nothing! What happened? Well, my boyfriend decided to wait at the top of the stairs for the crowd to pass and then come down. Why? Because he's CRAZY! Well, that and he said that apparently it's also a rule in situations like this (with a narrow staircase) to let the big crowd get up (or down) the stairs and the few people trying to get through the other way are supposed to wait. I think this rule is stupid. Just because I'm one person, doesn't meant that I don't have somehwere to be, ya know? I mean, in this particular instance I don't think I was in a terrible rush, but that's not the point!

I believe that there should always be two lanes of traffic in a subway station. What do YOU think?

p.s. I have no clue who the guy in the picture is, but he sure does look HAPPY, doesn't he? In fact, he looks suspiciously too happy to be in the subway station. Anyway, it was the best photo I could find on Google that illustrates just what this post is all about.

I know this is a subway-related blog and all, but I didn't ride the subway today. And I probably won't ride it tomorrow either. So, I'm going to blog about something non-subway related. I hope that doesn't offend you, and if it does, I'm sorry. I promise to come up with some subway-related posts soon.

Anyway, did anyone catch "The Soup" on E! tonight? If so, was it just me, or were you rolling-on-the-floor-with-tears-in-your-eyes laughing throughout the show? If you haven't seen it, check out this hysterical clip.

That's right, Subway Gal has returned from her fun trip to Ocean City, MD. Miss me? Of course you did! Well, now I'm back. And, I'm a bit disappointed because only 16 people took my last poll, which means I failed to meet my goal of at least 20 people. But I will not be deterred that easily. I'm trying again! I've posted a new poll so TAKE IT. Or else! Thanks :)

Song of the moment: Mr. Big, "To Be With You." Why? Simply because this is an early 90s classic and you know it. And because it's what just came on my Adult Top 40 station.

I eOk, so I know that I already said my goodbye for the week, but I just found this story about the MTA and subway stations that, as a respected (HA-HA) transit blogger, it is my duty to report.

The headline of the story in yesterday's New York Times is weak - it's so obvious it's embarrassing that one of the best newspapers couldn't come up with something more clever to say - but it actually discusses some good ideas being proposed to fix subway stations. GASP!!!! Fix subway stations??? Unheard of! How exciting!

Anyway, one of the ideas being proposed in a study that the MTA's advocacy org (I know, I didn't know such a thing existed either) conducted is a type of Adopt-a-Subway program. I know, you're thinking, who, in their right mind, would want to adopt an NYC subway station? It's the equivalent of new parents deciding that instead of adopting a new, healthy baby, they would adopt an 80-year-old homeless man with a broken hip and one arm. But then again, I doubt anyone thought the Adopt-a-Highway program would be a success, and now look at all the signs we see about people and companies adopting highways. So, it just might work! I expect that we will see changes in 2028.

Yes, it's true, I am going on another vaca, and this time I am headed to Ocean City, MD for a week of beach and boardwalk fun with my boyfriend. We are leaving tomorrow morning and won't be back until the following Friday. You're sad, I know, but I'll be back before you know it! And, I'll bring you back a souvenir! Well, actually, I won't, but hearing that when I was younger used to make me feel better when my parents were out of town, or just at work for the today - I guess I was a bit of a spoiled brat, if you can believe it!

Anyway, while I am gone, leave me some comments about your interesting/funny/scary transportation stories and take my poll, if you haven't already, plllllllllllllease.

This morning on the 7 train I glanced up and saw an ad for attorneys Trolman, Glaser & Lichtman, who don't think you should settle for less! Now, is it just me or would you never ever work with an attorney whose cheesey ad you saw plastered all over the subway? Call me crazy, but three old men, who are supposedly good attorneys and therefore should have no trouble finding clients, putting themselves in an ad in ridiculous poses for their own firm does not exactly inspire confidence. Good, in-demand lawyers should be waaaaaaaaay too busy to spend their time at a photo shoot for their ad. Right?? Either way, I don't think that I could take someone named Trolman very seriously.

However, there was one particular ad on the subway today that caught my attention. It was an ad for Be Kanye pills or something that will make you more like Kanye West. It looked like a legitimate ad, but there was no way at all that it could be. The ad directed you to visit www.bekanyenow.com for more information and, because my curiosity got the better of me, I did just that as soon as I got home today - guess the ad was effective! I thought it was pretty clever. To find out how to be more like Kanye, check out the site here!

And last, but not least, I would like to give a shout-out to the 7 train. I don't normally ride this train, but as I mentioned, I did today and I was very impressed! And, as someone who is not easily impressed by the MTA, this is a very good thing. I realized today that the 7 trains are super fast! Case in point - earlier today I had gotten off at the wrong stop, and as soon as I made the super-quick trek back to the platform so that I could get back on the next train, there was another train waiting! Amazing.

Song of the moment: "Stronger," by none other than Kanye himself.

Happy Monday!! Well, maybe not for you because you're working, but I'm not so it's happy for me! :)

Anyway, thanks for taking my last poll! Almost 20 people took it, which is a new record, and it showed me that most of you would consider dating someone you met on the subway, train, bus, etc. For the one person that did meet someone while riding public transportation and it didn't work out, I'm sorry, but do you wanna tell us about it? We're nosy and we love hearing crazy stories, especially when they aren't about us!

As you will see, I posted a new poll today, so I hope you check it out and take it. My goal is to get more than 20 people to take this one, so encourage your friends!

Good News! The MTA is aware of the disgustingness (yes, I am aware that is not a word) of subway stations.

Bad News. They aren't going to do a
damn thing about it

So, today is Saturday and I was gonna go out and visit friends but then stuff happened and the weather was bad; like black sky, rain and thunder bad; so I decided to change my plans. I decided it was going to be a CHILL-AX day consisting of me in my fave sweatpants in front of the TV watching a movie marathon that begins with "Reality Bites." Then, all of a sudden, the sky cleared up and the sun came out. So, I put down my way-too-sweet mojito, closed the blinds and resumed watching my marathon.

Reason I'm telling you this? In case you are checking out my blog today, I want to let you know the reason for no subway-related post today.

Song of the moment: "Stay" by Lisa Loeb because that was like the main song in "Reality Bites," right?