I'm good at writing on misery's tab, but it takes a long train trip to ride on the trails of euphoria. I don't even know which blog this one goes under--urban planning or personal. Let me relate the scene before it fades away. We roll out of Pasa Robles at 5pm heading north toward Salinas. Sunset slipped by under the cover of dusty hills. To the east lies shrubby, pastoral land lined with hills and a pink blue sky. It's a California beauty only viewable by train. The grape vines look maroon in this light; their dormant color blending into the ground. I'm using Nickel Creek's bluegrass to block out rude cell phone conversations and the all-to-frequent public address announcements. Reading Tom Robbins stokes my literary tinder and skews my reality a little. Noah just texted me an said, "technology's so cool". I replied "At least they haven't upgraded the train system yet," and I meant it. Now, I can't wait for high speed rail in 2018 barring war, famine, and incompetence. If it puts an end to the 12 hour trip between LA and Oakland along the coast, I'll be glad I did this trip this Thanksgiving weekend. It's more likely that the next twelve years will improve this line to the point that it's a respectable 8 hours on a new generation of fancy super liner cars. I think the scenery will keep Amtrak in business out here.

As the crepuscules fade away, I plan for the last five hours of the trips sans scenery. Dinner's booked for 6:30, and I've three books, a graduate school application or two, and many hours of German lessons to keep me busy. The beauty in the train is the opportunity to do things you love without succumbing to the normal demons that say go out and socialize or find beauty in the quotidian surrounding at home. This day is a once-in-a-long-while, and I don't have anything to prove to it.