We missed No Pants Subway Ride Day

[No Elephants]

Sorry, I let DU2 down.

I like posting about notable calendar dates, but I have been more remiss this year so far than usual.

I posted about MLK Day, but nothing else in January, except that I mentioned that Chinese New Year began January 31. (It's a two-week celebration, so you can still partake.)

Of course, Groundhog's Day was February 2 and Phil saw his shadow, so six more weeks of winter. (I feel as though Boston has already had six months of winter and, as I type, we are expecting more snow.)


But, maybe the most fun calendar event that I neglected to mention so far this year was No Pants Subway Ride Day.

Two things:

First, by "Pants" they mean trousers. Do wear undies, which are pretty much mandatory on the subway if you are omitting trousers, at least on this side of the pond. (England is one of the nations that participates, but, there, it's known as No Trousers Day because there "pants" means underwear and only underwear--a good policy, IMO, so there is no ambiguity.)

Second, No Pants Subway Ride Day is not to be confused with No Pants Day, which is observed on the first Friday in May and again means no trousers.

Now, at this link is everything you never knew you wanted to know about No Pants Subway Ride Day, including some videos of the trouserless subway riders.

http://improveverywhere.com/missions/the-no-pants-subway-ride/


What a world!


While I am on calendar matters, I remind you that Valentine's Day is February 14. Card, flwrs, champagne, romantic music, cosy dinner, your very best hugs and smooches, or whatever need to be ready soon, so get on it! I will tolerate no last minute offerings, especially the kind you buy at the convenience store or gas station!


St. Valentine was a Roman saint about whom nothing is known except his name and date of death, February 14. If celebrating the death of a sainted Italian (I assume) martyred man doesn't say, "I love you, sugar lips" what does?

If you want to impress your sweetheart with all you know about Valentine's Day, you can start reading up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Valentine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine%27s_Day

[Enthusiast]

1. That's interesting.

No-pants or no trousers doesn't sound very appealing here today.

We had major ice and snow dumpage. We are so glad to even still have power. My wife took off in the little car after shoveling it out. But when she attempted to turn around she got stuck. I was on the front porch watching her a couple of blocks down the street. She went to the house where she was stuck and borrowed their snow shovel. After a few shovels full, she was free. But she elected to ride with her co-worker that has a four wheel drive jeep. She parked her car on the front street headed the wrong way. Her sweet co-worker will pick her up any day, but my wife is independent minded. She called me saying she made it to work.

So no-pants is not a good idea.

And guess what. I have never rode on a subway or train-like device of any kind. We do have trains here but they are now few and far between and they only carry coal and chemicals.

I'm just a spoil sport.

[No Elephants]

2. I used to ride the NY subway every day, but always fully dressed.

Then, I rode Boston's MBTA (formerly MTA, as in Get poor Charlie off the MTA), but again, always fully dressed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7Jw_v3F_Q0

Unlike the NY subway, which is always underground, some of the MBTA trains are hybrids, subway trains for part of their routes, and street cars for the balance.




(An MBTA train, above ground)


It takes more courage and confidence than I have ever had, or ever will have, to observe No Pants Subway Ride Day. Still, I can appreciate the spirit.

But, it's not today anyway. I don't know what the whether was like on No Pants Subway Ride Day 2014, but I hope it was warmer.


Sorry Mrs. Enthusiast had so many problems. Since I don't drive, my major problem is hoping that I don't slip and fall. Did that in a NY blizzard about two weeks before my rather large wedding and broke my wrist. Scrubbed my cast with scouring powder the night before because I wanted to be sure it was sparkling white for the wedding. Just what every little girl dreams of for her wedding.

[Enthusiast]

3. That's terrible about your

broken wrist wedding. I'm sure you were a beautiful bride in spite of the cast.

That is my great fear—falling. If I would break a hip there is no hope of it healing as the femoral heads are dead. Well, one is now artificial. Still, I will ride a motorcycle around a little bit, not far. I have fallen over twice at near zero speed with no ill effects. Motorcycles are clearly addictive. I should sell mine. I need the money. But, cannot imagine not having them.

When I go outside in the snow or ice I have tall boots with a very aggressive tread and the clamp on traction thingies. But shoveling snow is completely out of the question. I used to be an enthusiastic snow shoveler. I found it to be invigorating.

Columbus Ohio used to have the electric street cars/train cars similar to the ones in your picture. They were in common use when I was a youngster. But I never had a ride in one. Columbus was the big city to us, about 60 miles away.

My wife spun her tires trying to free herself of the parking space this morning. She backed up and gave it another try. She got out. Whew. Her co-worker had a dead battery this AM.

[No Elephants]

4. It's just as well to leave shoveling to someone younger.

Getting married in a cast wasn't so bad then because it was winter and the vogue then was a long sleeve dress. The emergency room had given me a huge cast, practically up to my neck with the circumference of a soccer ball, almost.

After a week, I went to my own doctor to see if I couldn't get a cast that would allow me to put my arm in a sleeve, instead of a sling. He gave me a slimmer one that stopped at the elbow. Trouble was, it was totally invisible, except for the part below the cuff of my sleeve. You'd be amazed how many men suddenly grabbed my hand and shook it like they were glad handing King Kong.

Thank you. After my father and I walked down the aisle, my father lifted my veil, kissed me and handed me to my fiance. And as he took me to the altar, he said I looked beautiful. So, I felt beautiful.