I’m writing this from a big MCI intercity coach owned and operated by Vermont Transit. I just got on, at the Bellows Falls train station, and I’m heading to Boston en-route to Logan Airport and Atlanta. This is my report of the bus ride.

Immediately I realize this bus is more comfortable than my car. Not if someone were sitting beside me, but the bus is mostly empty.   more »

An interesting re-working of Amtrak's Florida service was posted by Bruce Richardson, of United Rail Passenger Alliance. My response is below:

Bruce, I liked your re-work of the Florida service in the latest TWAA. I hope somebody is listening.

Anyway I have a couple thoughts of my own to contribute to the scenario:

1. For Montreal service I suggest extending the Palmetto to Montreal instead as it could then roughly follow the schedule of the old Montrealer - but using only one additional trainset. This would give the Montreal service the beneifit of the Vermont ski trade, which is considerable, business to Burlington and Vermont-Florida business. Population along the Adirondack route is pretty sparse north of Albany. At the south end, an overnight Miami section could be added over FEC, making a nice two nights and one day service from Montreal.

2. Looking at the number of trainset required brings up the issue of late trains. If the trains ran more reliably, the service could be run with less trainsets   more »

I’ve been grieving. The full process: denial, bargaining, depression, anger, tears . . . I’ve really been knocked onto the floor. Hard. I lost something very important to me.

So I’ve been thinking about this. What have I lost? Most important of everything was love, receiving it, participating in it. It’s not that someone has stopped loving me, it’s that what’s been lost was the evidence of love and that “being” in it was what I, looking back, most valued.

There’s more to it, which I don’t want to blog about. And there is the whole aspect of giving my love, but I guess that doesn’t feel like a loss in the same way.

I realize that I let that love make me very happy and that I gave it importance.   more »

I ride from Bellows Falls (or Brattleboro) Vermont down to New York or Philadelphia (or DC) a few times a year. (sometimes I take the bus instead). Some of these trips have been to visit a (now ex) girlfriend. Others have been for work or church business of one sort or another.

I went to Chicago a month or so ago via the lake shore - for a rail advocates meeting. A few years ago I went across the country via Lake Shore and California Zephyr. That was to cover a writing assignment. I haven't flown domestically since then. (My driving has all been short-distance, except 2 trips to a friend in Halifax NS - not gracefully rail accessible and one driving trip to Virginia for a writing assignment)

I have traveled in various places by train in Europe (to visit friends and be a touriest). My most recent trip, I wasn't very adventuresome and traveled around London by train on various routes and companies, and ditto for Paris (took the bus in between) and that’s it.

I travel on commuter trains from time to time as well - I was on the MBTA and Metra (Chicago) recently, SEPTA last summer.

It would be nice to travel more, but I can't afford it.   more »

As spring comes, I’m remembering who I am, how I want to live. I wrote down in my journal what is most important to me – not causes, priorities, but my manner of being.

In order:

1. Following spontaneous inspiration
2. Sleep enough, exercise, eat well
3. Romantic relationship
4. Taking care of my own spirit (being happy, quiet time, journaling)
5. Building a team in my work
6. Taking care of my “customers” in work
7. Follow up with people
(   more »