Next thing you know, I'll be pounding my fists on the table

So my brother and I are slowly realizing that fate-dictated provision that YOU TURN INTO YOUR PARENTS. Hey, my parents are cool. I'm just not entirely convinced that what I'm "turning into" is the best parts of each of them.

You can decide for yourself below.

Submitting comments to CalTrain on the web after a 3 hour trip home:

[Drop down menu for "nature of comment"] "On Time Performance" [Just because there was no listing for YOUR TRAIN SERVICE IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND THE DAMN CARS DON'T EVEN HAVE HEATING]

Comments: I regret to inform you this is about more than just "on time performance".

In the course of this evening, I have:

-been passed over at the Atherton stop
-been transported to Redwood City by shuttle, only to be passed over at the Redwood City stop. -forced to wait for the next train, scheduled 80 minutes later, which arrived EVEN LATER for some unexplained reason.
-moved once because of noisy teenage girls on cell phone
-moved 2nd time to escape the COLD AIR coming out of the vents
-arrived at 4th and King almost 10 minutes late.
-Searching for comment forms at the station, I only find bright pink forms intead--which state that fares are going up AGAIN.

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING.

Ok, I've vented my laundry list. If you'll just allow me to elaborate a bit, I'll be on my way.

Place: Redwood City Station
Time: 7:28 pm on a Wednesday
What: Shuttle from Atherton arrives, with NO TRAINS in station. "No Crossing" Bell starts ringing; SOUTHBOUND train arrives. Simultaneously NORTHBOUND train arrives, under cover of dark of night and the already present, loud Southbound train. Next thing I know, both trains are pulling out of the station. WHEN WAS MY CHANCE TO CATCH THE NORTHBOUND TRAIN? DO THEY REALLY NEED TO LEAVE THE STATION AT EXACTLY THE SAME TIME?

There was NO WAY for me to know the Northbound train was even there.

If fares are due to increase again, I do hope the service on CalTrain will improve beyond mediocre. I have many associates also using your poor services; please don't underestimate our power for grass roots mobilization.

Background on headline: the thing about being a Democrat is that most of my friends and my parents' friends are Democrats too. So usually dinnertime discussions consisted of everybody generally agreeing and shaking their head at the atrocities of our presidential administrations. (Except during Clinton, when we were shaking our head for a slightly different reason. Cigars does not an atrocity make.)

Nevertheless, there have been times during family dinners and the like, when, to make a point, my father might take to banging the table for point emphasis. Man, when mild mannered Uncle Chuck starts making the silverware shake, hey! watch out.
-It's probably cuz of those damn S&L sneaks.
-Or that blasted-good-natured Ronnie! He's a B-list actor for go'ness sakes!

In similar fashion, when some kind of customer service was as lame for my dad as it was for me tonight, he might get right mighty mad.

• "You SAY you'll be here at 8:45. Where are you?!?"
• "You SAY you service the Atherton station. Oh! Only on weekends?? Is THAT why fares went up?"

Dude. I'm gonna have to have ice cream to feel better now. Bah Humbug for sure!