So, for the 3rd week in a row, I decided to take part in Axon hunting. (For those not familiar with this, it's part of the I Love Bees ARG. This Quick Start guide can bring you up to speed, while the Netninja Bee Log can keep you updated on current events.) Here's a list of today's events, compiled after the fact, with some times filled in with receipts that were in my pocket. Some other times are approximate.

11:30 AM - Bolted out the door running. In my haste, I completely forgot to take people's cell phone numbers with me, and in fact didn't even look up -where- in Union Station I was supposed to go. Oops.
11:55 - As I pulled into Glenmont's Park and Ride garage, I found a sign stating that the parking payment could only be made via a SmarTrip card. This gave me pause, but I had already skipped class to do this, so I pressed on.
12:01 PM - Once again, being in a big hurry, I buy a farecard using the machine that accepted credit cards. I forget to multiply the value read off the chart by two, so I end up with exact fare for one-way only.
12:12 - En route, the train stops for a few minutes. I took this moment to try to call INCyr (the only number I had, only because it was still in my outgoing log from last week's axon attempt), but didn't get an answer. I seriously doubted I would make it to the station in time for the axons at this point.
12:16 - Apparently, there is a speed limit imposed when a train passes through a construction area. I'm not opposed to that, unless I'm in a hurry.
12:29 - One whole minute before the meeting time. I bolted like a madman up the escalator and into the station.
12:31 - Not knowing where I had to go, a look at the directory map was in order. Since I recall the meeting place was near a car rental place, I looked for that, and found two listings which were conveniently next to each other. So, off I went running in that direction.
12:33 - Just in time, I meet up with most of the Signal Corps. Some quick introductions are made while we wait for phones to go off. A few people using the phones are also redirected to other phones.
12:40 - The large bank of phones we were watching start going off, one by one. Every phone answered was a recording, and everyone except me made their call go hot. Mine refused to acknowledge that I was responding to the question correctly, and dumped me out >.>
12:52 - The phones seem to have all rung, so a large group of us went off to eat. Naturally, I went with the food-bound people. =p
12:58 - In need of cash, I find it convenient there's a Chevy Chase ATM nearby. I walk over there with a couple other people...
1:00 - Okay, not so convenient. Turns out the buttons alongside the screen were broken, making the machine completely unusable. We had to walk over to another (not Chevy Chase) ATM.
1:05 - I finally decide on something to eat. I order a hot dog with bacon and fries combo at Frank 'n Stein.
1:06 - They call THAT bacon?
1:35 - Wrapping up a lively conversation on why not to use Windows, we went on our separate ways here. It was fun! Though I had managed to lose track of time, and was running behind schedule...
1:40 - I have to go WHERE to get a SmarTrip card?!
1:43 - Reluctantly, I hop on the Red line in the opposite direction, to go to Metro Center. I wanted to phone in to work, but my cell phone didn't have any signal. I only had signal when we were on the second floor of Union Station answering phones.
1:50 - Arrived at Metro Center. Naturally, I walked to one end of the station to ask where to get a SmarTrip card, to be told that I needed to go to the sales office on the opposite end.
1:56 - Lines suck.
1:58 - Yay, a new piece of plastic to add to the collection. Being done, I ran back to the other end of Metro Center to catch an eastbound Red line train.
2:02 - Oops, I got on a train that was going to stop at Silver Spring rather than go all the way back to Glenmont. Not much harm done since I was going in that direction anyways, but annoying...
2:11 - After the train passes Union Station, I finally regain cell phone signal for the first time since leaving the payphones. The now long overdue call to work is placed while I have the chance.
2:20 - Once again, I find the construction speed limit annoying.
2:26 - Is it RAINING now?
2:45 - After some Exitfare and SmarTrip recharge fun, I finally escape the Metro system. Walked off to my car and headed to work. I was only an hour late too >.>

That was pretty much it. I made it to work at 3pm, when I should have been there at 2. So, I stayed longer to make up for that -and- the hour I needed to make up from yesterday. So, now I'm pretty tired.

I took a photo and a video at the payphone site, but I'll deal with that a bit later.