My MARTA morning...

7:55 - realize it's really time to get boogying; have not yet put on makeup - whoops!

8:00 - leave for Marta with purse, book, coffee

8:06 - arrive; buy $4 ticket

8:12 - 8:10 train arrives

See that quite a few people in my neighborhood either walk to this station or park (free).

It's almost standing room only.

The train doesn't seem to have AC. I'm wearing a skirt and short sleeves but still have a little "glistening" action going on.

Observing more white collar professionals on this ride compared to when I go to the airport. Man to my left appears to be studying and making notes on a building plan splayed across his lap. Woman to my right looks like she's reviewing a meeting agenda.

Lots of people get off at the GA State station. I make a note to self that we ought to market our proximity to Marta when we list our in-law suite/apt on Craigslist.

8:21 - we arrive at Five Points; time to change trains

8:21 and 30 seconds - Score! My connecting train is just about to pull away but it's doors are still open.

8:22 - train is so full I can barely find a place to stand. Wish I had put my makeup on at home or on the last train.

8:27 - enough people get off at the Civic Center (?) that I'm able to sit down.

8:29 - 8:31 - I get strange looks as I put on concealer, blush and bronzer. Sure natural light is best for applying makeup - but being underground on a transit train while applying can't have THAT different of results. I decide to wait until i get to the office to do eyeshadow and eyeliner.

8:37 - we arrive at the Buckhead station. My train car is now about half full.

8:40 - maybe I do have time to put on eye shadow and eyeliner afterall.

Two girls are talking across the train about their latest love conquests. The girl in the red shirt doesn't believe the boy she met the other night actually owns his own place. She thinks it's his mama's place. This is mildly amusing.

8:43 - whoops. Almost miss my stop: exit the train

Walk across the parking lot, thinking this wasn't so bad afterall. Grateful I didn't have to take a bus to or from the stations

8:49 - walk into my building, realizing my Marta commute time today is equal to my car commute yesterday.

8: 50 - gaze at my reflection in the in the mirrored elevator doors; hair is frizzier than usual but the trip was worth it.

Next up: the ride home...

One Line, Two Line, Red Line, Blue Line (MARTA Adventure Time)

I've lived in Atlanta almost five years. While I've ridden the train to the airport or occasional concerts, I've never used MARTA (the Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) to get to work.

That changes tomorrow. 

Love my new job... not always loving the commute. Sometimes it's 25 minutes in the morning, sometimes it's 50. Same thing in the afternoons. There's no great way to get from our house to the office. So I figure that riding MARTA (one line to Five Points, then transferring to another line to get to my office) is worth a shot. Maybe I can read or listen to some tunes. 

BTW, could MARTA not get the url www.marta.com or www.marta.org? The web address is www.itsmarta.com — which is just about as ghetto as how miniscule its reach is or how goofy its iPhone app is (it's a flat, non-interactive map of train stations).

Wish me luck!

p.s. Emily, any words of wisdom since you're a veteran to-work MARTA rider and all?

Going Away Present (Mmmmmemories)

When I arrived at my last day of work with my former company (this past Friday), I had a curious gift waiting for me on my chair. With scribbly writing said, "from Scott."

"What's so awesome about this gift?" you ask?

Well, Scott and I happened to be the same age and have a class together at The University of Georgia. And most anyone (not ME, of course!) who was in our class spent a few more nights than they would like to admit at...

Uptown Lounge.

The joke was that their standards were so low that you could have a handwritten note from your mom that said, "My daughter is 21," and they would allow you into the establishment. 

A few years ago, Scott and some friends made these Uptown Lounge Alumni Association shirts as a joke. Boy am I glad he had a leftover size small — I am going to wear this thing with a mix of extreme pride and shame.

p.s. To BJ the stocky bouncer from Uptown Lounge, if you're out there, Scott & Co. have a size XXL for you if you would like it. 

Translate Me This:

Hey Katy, Beck, so last night. What about the Democrat uppermost are not expected, but that mightwork, but I will call you when I am done and will I'd like to talk to you bye. 

(Rachel's voicemail via Google Voice)

Three Seasons Porch

(Aside from the pollen count) now is the perfect time to enjoy our screened in porch — and we haven't really had good furniture to help us enjoy it!

Dan talked one of the managers at Intown Ace Hardware (Decatur) into giving us a 30% discount on this set because it was the last one left and also the display. We're pumped about having morning coffee, newspaper reading time, post-work beers and dinners out here. (And there's still room for the cornhole game to the right). Score!!

It's six pieces plus a coffee table (not pictured). Furniture is Living Accents (by White Tiger Furniture).

If There Were a "Worst Logo in America" bracket...

I'm sure this one would be in the championship game.

I've been wanting to snap a picture of this atrocious logo (located on I-85 Northbound just past the North Druid Hills exit) for years. When a Chamblee-Tucker pileup clogged the interstate yesterday, I had my chance!

I mean, really... what is going on here? I see WAY too many words and abbreviations, a too-small-to-read organization name, a skirt made out of As and a head that's reminiscent of a Candy Land character.

Time for a makeover, Fulton Atlanta Community Action Authority.

Efficient Advertising Kudos to... the US Postal Service?

Smart and inexpensive use of resources, United States Postal Service!

I consider myself "reminded."

Ed Hardy's Douchey-ness Spreads to Spamming Blogs

When I scrolled to the bottom of this Creative Loafing food blog post, I saw something that made me roll my eyes and think, "you guys suck!"

It appears that Ed Hardy's marketeers have moved on from partnering with Jon Gosselin and have begun spamming high traffic blogs.

Lame!