Drinkin' on the train

So, now that I'm working downtown I take Metra in everyday. Although I really do love driving, especially now that I've got the Golf, I just can't see driving to work - cost wise, I think I'd probably end up paying more for gas every month than my monthly train pass costs, and I don't even want to think about it would cost to park. Timewise it's also pretty good - it's about an hour and a half door to door if I take the express train, which includes the 20 minute walk across the Loop over to Michigan Avenue (yes, I like walking that much). Leaving as early in the morning as I do I'd probably get downtown in the same amount of time driving, but the expressway's always a nightmare during the evening rush - whenever I look out the train window and see the Kennedy backing up I smile and go back to reading my book. :-)

On to explaining my subject line. Now that it's baseball season folks will take the train route I take to work, get off at Irving Park, and catch a bus to Wrigley. I usually miss them on their way to the game but as most games at Wrigley are in the afternoon and let out in the late afternoon/early evening, these people will often be on the train with me on my way home...and most of the time they're drinking. I think the best one so far was the guy last week who was drinking a Mai Tai out of a styrofoam soup container because he ordered it to go and that was the only container the bar had. Anyway, it struck me as odd that these people would be drinking on the train, but the conductors never said anything.

Today I went to work for a little while, and on the train on the way back there was a guy with a can of beer, too. Out of curiosity I consulted Metra's website, which doesn't say anything about not being allowed to drink. Still, I think it's weird. I think that if people rode the El with beer they'd be arrested, or at least the cops would give them a hard time, but not on Metra. Maybe I need to keep a 6 pack in the fridge at work and grab one for the ride home every day. :-)