METRO thinking about that CREAM

With my brother in town visiting for the next couple of weeks because our mom just received a long-awaited (12 years!) kidney transplant, we've been all over the place. Between visiting our mom at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and showing him around, we've made many trips all over Washington, DC, many just on the fly. And whenever you're traveling as such, sometimes you forget to grab a few dollars for the unexpected.

When I first moved here that meant knowing which METRO stations were near ATM machines. But now, though the service fee is still one of the most greediest ideas ever thought up, having the ATMs in the METRO rail stations has been a huge convenience.

Apparently I'm not the only one who has been using the new service. METRO has been generating a few extra dollars themselves off the ATMs and are now looking at testing out more retail at some of the stations.

I'm completely for the concept, but I will hold onto my endorsement until after I see what ideas they have with the test pilot program. Metro Station and Gallery Place/Chinatown are two stations I (and thousands of others) frequent regularly that may get some test retail. I'm hoping we're not talking about mini flea market setups. Since it's going in the free areas, I'm envisioning a bunch of tables set up like vendors at a trade show, hawking goods at me rushing to the hospital.

I can hear the Cingular and SprintNextel salespeople harassing riders the way they do at the mall. Or someone offering to give me a free quick facial, or a table full of imposter sunglasses and knockoff sports caps.

At least one thing they got right already: no foods and drinks.

The comforts of METRO worth it?

I remember when I visited New York last fall. I rode their subway system just about everywhere I went and was amazed at the extent of the system. It goes everywhere, all the time, with regular and express routes and it's affordable. And when I say everywhere, I mean everywhere.

But one thing was missing. I really didn't know what it was until I read this article in the Post the other day. There's just something comfortable about riding Washington, DC's METRO. It's the millions of dollars spent just on the comfort.

Whenever I get in a conversation about METRO, I tend to hear people make suggestions about spending money here and there and where to save it. More cars. More often. More stations.

When I asked about the money spent on the comfort, some of my friends said they could do without the carpets and cushions if that money was spent somewhere else that would improve the system.

I have to disagree. I feel whether the money went somewhere else or not, there will always be something everyone wishes more money was spent on. The only difference is how less comfy the ride would become as people complained about METRO. The article mentioned how the carpet absorbs the sounds of shoes and heels on the floor. I'm for that. And the cushions sure came in handy when I used to ride from Eastern Market station to Shady Grove every day.

I'm for the carpet and cushions. I just wish they'd change the color. In the article, someone mentioned the affects of those colors on people. I agree. I feel the colors need to be anything but those drabby colors. As a matter of fact, retile the stations from that orangish/brown tile.

Find cheaper gas in Washington, DC

Visit GasBuddy.com and enter your ZIP code to find the best priced gas in your area. I'm a METRO rider, so this link does me no good. Hopefully it helps you save a few pennies.

Marion Barry's minor fender bender

Can you imagine a 70-year-old in traffic school? A former four-term mayor who seems to stay in the news, but not necessarily for all the right reasons? Well, it's possible, but hopefully D.C. Council member Marion Barry only has to deal with the $50 ticket for a minor late-night accident.