CTA "El" riders experienced their first major delay of the new year Monday morning when an interlocking problem in the Loop caused a backup that lasted for hours. While delays always suck, especially major ones, there are still ways for passengers to make the experience more pleasant and even fun for themselves in the confines of their train. Here are some fun things for you to do during a CTA delay.
Make friends Being stuck in a gridlock on your way to work is a great time to make friends with the people sitting or standing around you. Start off with an opening line such as "Quite a delay, huh?" Your sharp wit and astute observational skills will endear you to your fellow commuters and they will look forward to forming a long-lasting friendship that will last until they get off at their stop and run the hell away from you.
Talk to that cute person on the train You always see him or her taking the same train as you in the morning but can't work up the courage to introduce yourself. What better time than now? Now that they're basically trapped on the train, they'll be forced to talk to you if you strike up conversation. With all that time on the train, the two of you are bound to make a connection. Either that or you'll get maced.
Complain about how the seats are uncomfortable Squirm around in your chair and audibly express discomfort with your seating position, then start talking about how the seats are in dire need of an upgrade. The people around you who have been standing for an hour will certainly appreciate your airing of grievances.
Get some work done Nevermind, don't do that. This article is about fun things to do on the train, not exacerbating your misery.
Play "Train Golf" Ask if anyone in your train has an orange, grapefruit or other spherical object in their possession. Then, make a course on the train by setting a tee and a "hole" in which you have to roll that object in as few rolls as possible. Fewest strokes to get the hole wins! You can also make the game more challenging by setting rules and penalty strokes for hitting designated "hazards" such as poles, people's legs, or that dog that looks like it's about to bite someone's hand off. And even though the CTA doesn't allow gambling, no one will tell if you and your opponent throw down a few bucks on your game.
Sing songs You know what would really ameliorate everyone's commute? The sounds of your angelic voice. But don't hog the spotlight for yourself; encourage everyone to get involved by starting sing-alongs! Whether it's an old standby like "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall," Disney songs, or something more contemporary like Afroman's "Colt 45," the sound of singing is sure to lift everyone's spirits.
Reflect on the things for which you're grateful All this free time on the train should give you some time to gather your thoughts and be thankful for the things you take for granted. Like the fact that if you had to drive to work, your commute would be this terrible EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.