i hate commuting.

8:23 am : give up battle with hair in the sickly half-light infiltrating apartment; stuff it into a hat and bolt out the door.

8:28 am: arrive at subway stop. discover that there is no manhattan bound Q service.

8:29 am: discover that there is no manhattan-bound service full stop--and that includes the F, B, N, R, M and Q trains. the person at the booth suggests that we catch a bus.

8:34 am: the sound of a train rattling into the station alerts the herd; we hurry down to catch what appears to be the last train out of brooklyn.

8:37 am: the train pauses for breath en route to the next station. which is atlantic avenue.

8:49 am: the train arrives at atlantic avenue. we're instructed to decamp and find another damn train.

8:59 am: i muscle my way on to a 3 train, promptly finding myself with my face jammed into someone's chest and more hands than i care to recall snaking around me, effectively pinioning me to the pole. i breathe carefully, willing myself not to have a claustrophobic fit.

9:04 am: we discover that the 3 train has decided to cruise along lexington avenue; it hasn't turned into a 4 train per se--it's still a 3 train, just going on the 4 line. clearly, i'm missing the subtle nuances that highlight the difference.

9:23 am: we pull into the station at wall street. i get cuffed in the jaw by the briefcase of an icebox in pinstripes, who's clearly decided that the best way to get around me is to go through me, and he very nearly knocks me over. i snarl at him on his way out. he and his piles of money and sense of entitlement just tell me i should have gotten out of his way.

9:27 am: we pull into the brooklyn bridge station.

9:42 am: we pull out of the brooklyn bridge station.

9:48 am: we arrive at union square. i struggle out of the train so that i might catch a local. again, working hard not to have a claustrophobic fit.

9: 55 am: the local train arrives.

9:59 am: i emerge back into the overworld, cursing every living thing that walks upon it, being sure to focus heavily on the MTA. the day is off to a glorious motherfucking start. sometimes i really hate this city.