Subvert!, or I Want to be a Locomotive Engineer

I'm looking out my bedroom window at five railroad tracks -- five highly trafficked railroad tracks. My new apartment overlooks the tracks, and over the last couple of days of being here, I've realized two things:

1. I want to be a locomotive engineer.

Unfortunately, after extensively researching (i.e. googling) the profession of locomotive engineer, I've realized that I'm not qualified. You have to have tons of experience in the other professions with the railroad. Like what, you ask? Like "rail yard engineers," "railroad conductors," "railroad brake operators," or "hostlers." Plus, to be a locomotive engineer, as the title implies, you have to have comprehensive knowledge of the mechanics of the engine itself. Rules me out COMPLETELY, as I don't even know how a car engine works.

Basically, I just wanted to leisurely ride throughout the continental U.S. and Canada on the "backroads," so to speak. I mean, you see some really cool areas by railroad. I know because I took Amtrak from NYC to outside of Philadelphia one time. I've also thought about being a trucker, but interstates are no fun, and there's a certain stigma that goes along with being a lady trucker, I think.

2. Graffiti is a form of high art.

I've watched train after train go by (It's better than television.) and on the last one, a Union Pacific carrying scrap metal, I saw some of the most amazing graffiti I've ever seen. And I've lived in the Lower East Side. (Okay, technically I lived in the East Village, but the LES sounds cooler and more hardcore.) I'm not talking tags -- I'm talking complete Japanimation characters or other caricatures, and beautiful, colorful word art -- DIVE, BASHAROK, and my favorite: SUBVERT!

Subvert. What an amazing word to use in graffiti. So relevant. So... poetic.

Now, I'm not advocating vandalism. But is it really vandalism when it's beautiful, or when it says something meaningful, or when it makes a girl's day by watching it pass by?

This reminds me of a street artist (although he uses chalk or tape a lot of the time) in Manhattan that I loved. He goes by De La Vega (his name is James De La Vega) and he writes inspiring (if not a little cheesy) messages like, "Become Your Dream," or "The Game of Capitalism Breeds Dishonest Men," or "Remember, the Devil was Once a Beautiful Angel," or my personal favorite "Be Mindful Even When the Mind is Full."

I've totally strayed from the original topic(s) at hand. What was my thesis?

Point is, I love trains -- even at 2AM when they're blowing their whistles. It's in the blood, I guess. My great-grandfather worked for Southern Railways most of his life.

And I love graffiti.

And I'm in a place where I can enjoy both. Life is good, my friends.