The sweaty, sweaty Blue Line.

Not the bar, which can be charming. The actual Blue Line was ridiculously hot and sweaty this morning, and it wasn't even all that hot out.

Still, with the price of gas topping $4 in places ($3.69 with purchase of carwash at Snappy's on Western was the best we saw Sunday), and parking topping $14/day in the Loop, the CTA is a bargain at $1.75.

Just know going in that you're going to be crammed into a hot, crowded train car and covered in sweat, of which maybe 20% will be yours.

Also, you're going to be like 20 minutes late for work, regardless of when you leave your house. Whether you catch the train at 8:25 or 8:50, you're rolling into your office at 9:20. It's as if the CTA operators have orders to arrive at Clark & Lake no earlier than 9:05 AM.

*** We are being delayed, waiting for signals ahead. We expect to be moving shortly. ***

The Blue Line also presents two pretty unique challenges for its everyday riders - First, it's the line that connects the city to O'Hare, so there are always 2 or 3 passengers with a hilarious amount of luggage, either on their way to catch a flight or on their way home. (These passengers are either worried about missing their flight due to the aforementioned signal delays, or exhausted after a flight, lugging 3 suitcases, and wondering when they're ever going to get to their stop. Either way, give them as much room as they need.)

Secondly, the Blue Line is one of the only train lines to feature the "old-timey" split doors that fold into the car and into the standing passengers' space, which is usually a huge annoyance but is sometimes hilarious, such as when a passenger isn't paying attention and gets smacked from behind.

Despite its idiosyncracies, and disgusting commutes like this morning's, the Blue Line is still the best way to get from Bucktown to the Loop or O'Hare. Now if they'd just finish this track improvement project so we can go faster than 5 MPH.