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[Plug] Re: I got to the platform about 30 seconds after the last train was schedualed to depart.
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Next time, remind him he can call me and I will rescue him.
Silly. :P
Date sent: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 02:08:03 -0500 (EST)
From: Darxus <darxus@Op.Net>
To: plug@lists.nothinbut.net
Subject: I got to the platform about 30 seconds after the last train was
schedualed to depart.
>
> When I said that folks were welcome to hang out after the official 9pm end
> of the meeting, I was indeed serious.
>
> Unfortunately, the clock the last few of us were going by was about 15
> minutes slow.
>
> This was realized at about 11:45. My last train home leaves at 11:55.
>
> It's about 9 blocks, and a bunch of stairs, from the IQ Group.
>
> I'm very out of shape.. I do no regular physical activity.
>
> It SUCKED.
>
> By the time I got to the stairs down to Market East station, I could not
> feel my legs below the knee.
>
> As I went down the stairs, I held on to the railing for dear life, not at
> all confident my legs would get me safely to the bottom. Thinking back,
> I feel rather fortunate to have survived.
>
> I think I got to the top of the stairs to the train platform at about
> 11:54 -- the display that usually shows train arrival times not only did
> not show my train, but was, in fact, off.
>
> Moment of panic.
>
> Keep going.
>
> Hmm, people on the platform.
>
> Either they're all stupid and waiting for a train that isn't coming, or
> has already come, or may yet come.
>
> Get down to the platform -- septa clock says about 11:55:30 -- 30 seconds
> after the train is scheduled to depart.
>
> Studied the monitor display things more thoroughly -- the one that usually
> shows my train is still off down on the platform -- the display on track
> 1. The display on track 2, however, blinked up a message saying all
> trains which usually board on track 1 will board on track 2. That message
> goes away... next train to arrive is mine... at 11:55. Okay, now did it
> already come & go, & they forgot to clear it, or is it still coming ?
>
> "Next train to board on track 2, 11:55 Lansdale local" (my train!!)
>
> A minute later, my train pulls up, on track one (they announced it wrong,
> the display was correct)
>
> During this time -- from about 11:55:30, until a while after the train
> pulled off (with me very thankfully on it), I got to realize I wasn't sure
> if I was going to throw up. I did not feel well.
>
> It's still slightly painful to take a deep breath.
>
> So I get back to my house... I can't get the door open.
>
> My parents are home.
>
> I ring the door bell. Some more. I knock. Some more. Check all the
> doors on the house to make sure none were left open. knock/ring....
> pound.
>
> Pound some more.
>
> And some more.
>
> Keep in mind now, it's REALLY FREAKING COLD AND MY BODY IS *NOT* HAPPY
> WITH ME.
>
> And I want my warm bed or I'm really going to have to kill people.
>
> Finally the door is opened.. they let me in my house... I briefly explain
> the suffering I've been though, and disappear into my room.
>
> I get to my computer. I see these IRC messages from my girlfriend:
>
> brat.
> wake up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
> dammit.
> what does it take to wake you up when i'm feeling lonely??
>
> Argh. I attempt to respond:
>
> hello ?
> I was 30 seconds late for the last train out of philly
> when I got home, the button pad thing wouldn't open the garage door, so I
> pounded on the front door for like, 15 minutes in the cold until somebody finally opened it
> I was, unfortunately, NOT asleep
>
> I can only assume that by the time I attempted to respond, she was asleep,
> because I got no responce. Do I deserve this ? Do I try not to scream ?
>
>
> I hope you read down this far, becaus other than needing to rant, I really
> wanted to say I really enjoyed the conversations from 9pm until I left --
> which is usually the case for me -- I enjoy the unofficial gathering &
> discussing that goes on after the official part of the meeting, which is
> why I will continue to, whenever possible, invite people to hang out after
> the meeting.
>
> BUT YOU'RE ALL LEAVING BY 11:30 IF I HAVE TO DRAG YOU OUT BEATEN AND
> BLOODY. So I can catch my train.
>
> Were the discussions worth the agony ? NO. But the discussions plus the
> lesson, may possibly have been.
>
>
> Okay, now the reason I enjoy the discussions. I go to PLUG meetings to
> learn, to teach, and to socialize. I have no desire to push Linux as an
> operating system, only to increase it's use, and the salaries of Linux
> consultants. But I like linux, and the contribution I feel I can make
> best is to attempt to nourish the culture surrounding it.
>
> So if it can be arranged, I incourage you to plan on not leaving exactly
> at 9pm next time.
>
>
> Who was it that said they had a digital camera ? Can you bring it next
> time ? Anybody object to having their picture taken & put on a plug
> members page ?
>
> Also, if you need somebody to webhost your resume, there's a guy who's
> name I've forgotten (which is no surprise to me) who is willing to host
> it.
>
>
> A talk on emacs is planned for February. January is currently scheduled
> as a "Round Table Discussion" until we find a speaker.
>
> __________________________________________________________________
> PGP fingerprint = 03 5B 9B A0 16 33 91 2F A5 77 BC EE 43 71 98 D4
> darxus@op.net / http://www.op.net/~darxus
> Find the next largest prime, be famous:
> http://www.mersenne.org/prime.htm
>
>
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19107715/icq
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