LA's Public Transportation - The Metro Rail
Yes, LA does have a railway system. I used the metro line this morning to go to work. I took the Gold Line to the Red Line and exited at the fourth stop. (for all my stalkers out there) The trains are actually pretty clean and the seats are pretty comfortable. Unlike New York and Japan though, Los Angeles doesn't have a machine that scans your ticket when you enter or leave a station. You instead have a receipt you must show if (and this is a small if) a METRO officer asks you to show proof you bought a ticket.
Call me pessimistic, but I know people are riding these trains for free. The officer checked once today, but I heard from my coworker they really don't check usually. And if you DO get caught without a ticket, I'm sure all that happens is they make you get off the train at the next station. But in all honesty, you could just very well go to the next station and continue your free riding spree all over again.
As the Gold Line ends at Union Station, everyone gets off because they either want to go to Union Station or they need to transfer to the Red Line. The security guards ask everyone to show their tickets before they enter this main station and this is lame because:
1) If Union Station was your destination and you get caught without a ticket, you'll be forced to leave the station... But that was what you were going to do anyway. (slap on the wrist that hurts)
2) You could very well just show the officers a ticket from a different day and you will without a doubt get away with it. These officers don't scrutinize the tickets at such a busy station. (for my freeloaders out there)
All in all though, it's a decent attempt by the city of Angels at public transportation and I'm glad for this service because I get to avoid the traffic AND I also get to conserve the precious gas in my car. If you haven't tried the Metro and you're in the LA area, try it. You might like it.
For your future reference, a one day ticket is $3.00 and a one-way ticket is $1.25.
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Weekend Recap
On Friday, I went out with Linda and Nela to the Sunset Room where Stacey hooked us up (again). Thanks Stace! I saw some random people from UCSD that night. It was strange but good seeing them. It was also good drinking again. I can now officially declare that I am a cheap date. That's good because before when it came to liquor, I used to be a high maintenance trick to myself. hahaha
Linda, Nela, Stacey
Stace and Me
From Red to Pale, Bottom to Top
Saturday was a relaxing day spent doing errands and kicking it with the Missus. I went to go see Troy that evening, which was entertaining but not as great as I was expecting it to be. I still don't consider it to be a waste of money. It's just a tad bit long so if you haven't worked our your azz, you better do so before you sit through this flick.
Sunday I got the chance to hang out with the fam and some high school friends at night. I also bumped into one of my coworkers at a restuarant. Talk about random. Then, last night I got to catch up with Nancy, my homegirl I haven't seen in over two months. We went to the Italian Kitchen in Old Town Pasadena, which had some pretty dayamn good lasagne. Nancy, if you're reading this, I had a good time kicking it with you.
Nancy & me
Good times, good times.
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Today's eye candy is model and actress, Joanna Krupa. Dayang this girl is like 0.3 lead... FINE!!! Alright that was lame, but then again so is your dog's right hind leg. Ms. Krupa is featured in the June 2004 issue of Stuff Magazine. If you haven't fed your eyes recently, buy the issue and do so... over and over again.