Today I wake up lots of time late, but enough to finish what I need to do before heading to Union Station for tonight’s train. It’s simple stuff that I want to get done, things that I’d rather not return to tomorrow: dirty dishes, dirty laundry, a full trash can. The chores are simple enough and I’m finished in plenty of time.

There is a 6:03 D6 that will get me there in plenty of time for my 7:00 train. But instead I decide to walk, in order to not have to rely on a bus that might not be on time, therefore raising my stress level. I prefer to travel stress-free, even if it involves the boredom of showing up to the station/airport a little early.

I decide to walk down D St instead of taking the somewhat familiar bus route of C St. The D6 returns down D, but I’m usually taking that at night and I decide that this opposite-direction walk will be more interesting.

The white Scion with the black spoiler and the yellow Mini w/ white roof were parked where they normally are. So was the sun-baked 1979 Mustang Pace Car. What is that huge monstrosity on 12th St? Did it used to be a nunnery or a castle? I assume it’s billion dollar condos now. Scary holiday lawn ornaments on the 1100 block. Italiano Restauranto is hiring, the only place with a help-wanted sign that I noticed. I wonder if they’re hiring wait or kitchen staff? Kitchen staff would be better, to learn the recipes. I’ll have to apply there this weekend.

I get to Union Station, redeem my ticket from the kiosk and get in line to exchange it for a closer destination, as I’m departing Quantico and not Fredericksburg. That $4 credit means a lot in this NuEcon. Plus I saved $1.25 by walking instead of taking the D6. I am a penny-saving fool. I only fear these Poverty Lurks will extend farther into the future than need be. As much as I enjoy beans & rice, I want to eat them when I want to and now when I have to.

Now, an hour after my train was supposed to leave, I’m still sitting at the station, waiting for the 85 Northeast Regional to get in from New York, which is now scheduled to get in at 8:35, almost two hours late. Sigh. I guess delays such as this is why SimCity was ported over to the iPhone, right? I hope Santa isn’t taking a train anywhere tonight because if he is it’s time to dust Rudolph out of the stables and get him in the air.

UPDATE: leaving 2 hours, 8 minutes late for a 50 minute train ride. I’m staying home next year.