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On Thursday, the trip from Baltimore to NYC on the Chinatown Bus was relaxing. I sprawled across three seats and would have napped if I could sleep on moving vehicles. The lights didn't work, but all was fine otherwise - we got there in just shy of three hours. Not bad for $20.

The trip back today, however, wasn't as smooth. Each seat was filled, and the bus was stuffy and smelly. I get claustrophobic easily, and felt it badly this trip; having the window seat didn't help matters. The bus was set to leave at 4pm and didn't start going until 4:30, then traffic made the usual three-hour trip a four hour one. Luckily, the lights worked and I read 200 pages of this month's book club selection for the English teachers at my school - Causasia by Danzy Senna. Even with the earlier problems, it's still not bad to get from NYC to Baltimore for $20.

It's good to be back. The quiz for tomorrow is written, and I'm going to bed now. Unbelievably and unfortunately, I have to wait tables tomorrow night. I doubt if anyone will come, as it's Halloween in Fell's Point and I doubt the Halloween crowd mixes too much with the fine dining crowd. I'm scheduled for four days this week. I'm composing a letter to the boss about working me too much because as my friend Neil - who I can speak to better than I can anyone - told me on Saturday over beers on the Lower East Side, "You're working yourself into the ground, Epiph." I am. I need to stop.

I'm going to school as Charlie Brown tomorrow. I will be a very scruffy Charlie Brown if I don't find my razor by that point.