| April 4, 2003 | The Party Car |
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About an hour ago I entered my apartment building and I walked into the elevator along with my neighbor. We were both coming home after at the conclusion of our day's at work. "I don't always carry half full bottles of beer in my gym bag," I said when he looked down at my half open duffle bag and noticed the Pete's Wicked Ale poking out between my sports bra and my running shoes. "I've just come from the party car!" He just looked at me quixotically. This evening -- after spending the past two years riding caltrain round-trip from San Francisco down to Silicon Valley almost every day -- I found out about the "party car," which apparently has been in existence for the past 8 years. Tonight I left work on the 5p.m. shuttle from Yahoo campus to the Sunnyvale caltrain station. I never usually leave as early as 5 p.m., but now that I'm starting work at 6a.m., I'm making an effort to leave on the 5 p.m. shuttle. So anyway, on the shuttle, everyone's all rowdy and talkative 'cause it's Friday (usually everyone's pretty quiet), and I meet this girl Jen, and she goes, "So, are we all getting on the party car?" "Ummm, what's the party car?" I asked. "On the 81 north train the front-most car is the party car. People bring beer and snacks and they play music and it's a party car. They even have a website," she said, "partycar.com" "What?! I didn't know you could drink on the Caltrain?!" I exclaimed, somewhat shocked. I had never seen anyone imbibing on the train before. Everyone on the Caltrain -- myself included -- always reads the newspaper, types on their laptop, or sends emails on their Blackberry and/or Palm. People don't often talk with the others around them, and no one ever has a flask, beers, or a bottle of wine... "I must experience this party car," I said to Jen, still doubting its existence. At the Sunnyvale station, we boarded the train in the front car. Jen told me that most of the party car peeps get on around Palo Alto. Sure enough, people boarded and started cracking open beers, and within five minutes they asked us, "Hey, do you ladies want a beer?" Jen and I met all the party car peeps and drank a few beers, and I hafta tell you, the hour-long train ride went by really fast. If you take the caltrain, I highly recommend you try out the party car. You won't be disapointed. Next time I'm bringing beer and snacks to share. The message of the story, dear readers, is never let the work-week get you down. There is often an unexpected party car somewhere on the horizon, just waiting to be discovered... The party car has even inspired some phat rhymes from its many attendees. It really doesn't surprise me. The artist behind this one, breaks it down about why the party car is far uperior to driving in your ass up the 101 freeway home to the city: driving on the 101: Mack truck on your rear head on collision traffic frustration mortal fear flirting with death stewing about some thoughtless ass getting cut off by a stupid jerk death wish insanity CHP ticker getting flipped off being stuck in a rubber-neck delay scream and shout breaking down with a car riding in the party car: joining in our weekly cheer ale vs. lager decision friendly conversation Tecate beer TGIF relaxing with Harp and Bass winding down from a hard week at work beer buzz serenity Schlitz Malt Liquor tying one on getting home the partycar way Guiness Stout fortifying with vitamin R Labels: commute, sanfrancisco, sf, siliconvalley, work posted by Jess Barron @ 8:26 PM 
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