
My kid. As a Jersey mix/Holstein Cow.
I've written about this scam before but this evening's story had a different spin and approach.
So here I is just swinging my purse as I toddle south on Yonge Street (which was my first mistake). I wasn't on a full-on, eyes forward, charge to Union.
Queue the dude in the jeans and leather jacket, with his hair in a neat ponytail, pretending to look lost while occasionally glancing down at a white sheet of a paper.
Opportunity struck for him when there was a lull in the crowd and he noticed me strolling along all by myself. When he caught my eye, he asked, "Excuse me?" I politely smiled and waited for him to ask me directions, possibly with an accent, as he had a tourist-like demeanor.
Instead, in rapid-fire English, he tells me he's just been released from jail... Let me stop here for a second, how does presenting yourself as a felon make me want to help you when really all I want to do is get the hell away from you? Not the best background story.
He continues. He tells me he doesn't want food, or sympathy. He tells me he's Indian - Cherokee, and asks me if I've heard of Orillia. Playing along, I say I'm originally from the States and feign confusion about where Orillia might be. This gets him excited (coz he's thinking, sucker!) He pulls out a birth certificate, telling me that he's really from there, saying it's north of the city and he really wants to get home to see his mother who's real sick 'from the cancer'. I nod.
Then he says, problem is, the person who was to pick him up from 'the pen' didn't show and the only money he has is eight dollars in change (which he digs out to show me).
He tells me he needs 11 more dollars for a train ticket and that he's been walking up and down, from Union and back, trying to come up with the money through the 'kindness of strangers', because, and I quote, "my sister told me yesterday she doesn't think my mother will last through the night" while he conjures up some tears.
Does this guy think I'm stupid? No matter what the back story is, the scam remains the same, do what one can to con people out of money.
So I go in for the kill. Now remember kiddies, this guy is desperate to get home to his mama. If it were me, I'd do anything to see my mom before she died.
"Well," I say. "I'm not one to carry cash but if you walk with me to Union, I'd be happy to buy you a ticket using my credit card so you can see your mom". And I was sincere. If I was wrong and he was legit, I meant it.
He places a hand on my arm and says, "That's too much trouble for you and I don't want to take you away from your evening. I was just hoping for some change and then I'd head down when I have what I need".
Wow, what a shocker ...
So I said, "I have to go there anyway as I'm taking the train, too, so it's no trouble." I pull out my BlackBerry. "Let's call your sister so you can arrange for her to pick you up in Barrie".
This was deliberately put forth by me, as earlier, if you recall, I professed to not knowing where Orillia was, but now I know where Barrie is? He didn't catch on.
Here comes the back-pedaling...
"Oh," he says, flustered. "She, uh, she doesn't drive."
Surely there's someone who can pick you up, I suggest. I don't even let him speak, cutting him off. All I want him to do is profess he's a liar. "Tell you what," I say. "Come home with me and I'll drive you."
This really throws him. He looks at me like I'm crazy. I know he's not prepared to take this further.
I look at my watch and proceed to get a move on.
I tell him good luck with life and walk away. I'm not even out of earshot before I hear, "Excuse me... " as the scam continues.
I discovered a crazy thing the other day. I am a new student up in Peterborough, and I have chosen to travel by GO bus. The only problem is that when I leave later in the day I cannot find a parking spot at the Oshawa GO train station. My only recourse was to park illegally if I wanted to take the bus. I first thought I might get a ticket, but then I thought they would not be so mean.Long story short as I can't re-publish the whole letter without Metroland's permission, sucky baby got a ticket.
Brendon Ramdoo @Candooit83 mentioned you: |
@ThisCrazyTrain #gotrain wknd is special; especially post #billsinTO - drunk guys next to me singing Katy Perry 'teenage dream; they look 35 |
@ThisCrazyTrain tentative deal for now no strike for now |
In reply to… |
The GO workers’ transit union and Metrolinx, the provincial agency that operates GO Transit, was stalled in talks that lasted over night Saturday and all day Sunday, said Ray Doyle, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1587.I'm getting to the GO station early tomorrow. If it's chaotic, I'm turning around and will work from home.
“We’re running out of time,” Doyle said as he waited for Metrolinx’s final offer on Sunday evening.
Metrolinx expects that people who take the bus will have to find another ride on Monday, said spokeswoman Vasie Papadopoulos in an email.
Although GO Trains will still run as scheduled, there will be no additional train service to accommodate the bus passengers should a strike occur. About 37,000 passengers use GO Bus weekly.
Train station parking lots are expected to be crowded.
“We understand that a labour disruption will be disruptive to our passengers and the travelling public. We will work to try and minimize the inconvenience,” Papadopoulos said.
I was on the 18:13 from Union tonight (Sunday). As usual there were departure door donkeys. The train arrived and the doors on the correct platform opened and the wrong platform did not. The Triple Ds were scrambling for the stairs. As they were about half way down the stairs, the departure doors suddenly opened and the Triple Ds raced back up to get on the train. They were complaining about the doors not opening.
I just laughed and laughed.
So this morning, before the bare-assed crack of Dawn, I boarded my usual train and sat in my usual section. Not long after I was settled and the train rolling, I noticed a quartet of biddies on the train who were having volume problems.
After I put in the earphones and started listening to my aural entertainment, I could still hear them. Well, one in particular. Nice oxblood boots, but a horrible voice. And someone that has an opinion about everything. Which everyone on the train heard.
I started praying to Jeebus that it is a day-tripper event that these biddies were heading to and that they do not understand that everyone at that hour craves quiet. These quiet cars cannot come soon enough.
Anyhoodles, I got my revenge. By Union she placed her one bag that sat on her lap into the aisle, next to another bag she had there. No one tried to tuck them under the seats. I walked up beside them so that when the train stopped and people moved, I would be in position. I rushed to stop some Twinkie from jumping the seat to stand in front of me. This is important! I have a mission!
I kicked the bag (aka purse). I hooked my foot to it and when I walked, it came along with me. Then I kicked it into the quad behind her.
She probably never even noticed. She was too enraptured with her conversation about measurements.
Made me feel better. And fingers crossed she doesn't come back.
The union representing most of York Region’s bus drivers is warning commuters to start planning an alternative ride on Monday.Full story
Drivers for Miller Transit and First Transit are expecting to receive an offer Tuesday from their employers and then to vote Wednesday and Thursday on whether to accept it.
But the union is not optimistic the offer will be enough to avoid a strike set for midnight Sunday.
Drivers will vote on the offer whether or not the union bargaining committee recommends it, said Ray Doyle, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1587.
“We are anticipating they’re going to turn it down,” he said.
A 26-year-old Milton woman was arrested Saturday at the Bradford GO station lot for being drunk in a public place.This woman was from Milton. That's a long bike ride home when you've gotten on the wrong train. And on the wrong corridor. Just a presumption. At least she wasn't trying to steal and a car and drive.
South Simcoe Police attended the GO Station Lot on Holland Street East in Bradford for a report of an intoxicated female stealing a bike.
Police arrived on scene to find she had fallen from the bike and appeared disheveled and struggled to get up off the ground with minor injuries.
A strong odour of alcohol was prevalent on her breath and she exhibited signs of extreme intoxication.
Passengers at the Clarkson GO station in Mississauga say their platform is dangerously overcrowded and their train ride uncomfortable now that the 7:58am trip fills up in Oakville.- Toronto Star
The latest sketches of the Weston station show that GO commuters will have to walk an extra 250 feet (76 metres) across the ARL platform to access their trains, said Sullivan. That’s in addition to a longer walk to the station for many commuters because the Weston GO stop is being moved south of its current location on John St. to the south side of Lawrence Ave. W.- NDP MP Mike Sullivan
“In the winter it will turn a lot of people into drivers.”