When flying back to Chicago the last time I was waiting to board the plane. Unfortunately I was one of the last people on the plane so I didn't have my choice of many seats (southwest does open seating) and had to wait a while to get on the plane. When I was sitting in the airport the woman next to me was stalking out little kids like no one I have ever seen.
Dont get me wrong, when I see a cute kid I will smile at the child or tell their mother their baby is cute. But, this woman took it too the next level. She was an older woman around 45 or so. When the family was sitting around a kids table she said to the father "Your son is so sweet, he is such an adorable child!" The father said thank you and then she continued "He is such a sweet heart, I am so in love with your boy. What a heart breaker! What a gorgeous face. How old is he. He is just too cute! I love his face, hes such a heart breaker" The father smiled kind of awkwardly. He then had to "go to the bathroom" with all of his children.
The next victim to sit down was a father and his daughter. She must had been around 5 or so and she was a cute kid. The woman began again "Oh my gosh, your daughter is so beautiful" The father said thank you and then she began drilling them with questions "She is just gorgeous, so pretty, how old is she, is her mother around, what a gorgeous child, so well built. So pretty, just gorgeous" The father wasnt sure how to respond. She was treating the child like a cross between a cute puppy and a man talking about a Baywatch lifeguard. I am pretty sure this lady wasnt aloud to be within 50 feet of children and she was pretty obnoxious and very creepy.
When they called our seating zone we all went up to the poles telling us where to line up. Fortunately the woman was the last on the plane. I always hate this part of Southwest. Its nerve racking, looking for a seat, and people get so mad when you decide to sit in their middle seat. I always look for the most successful people on the plane and sit by them. I figure if they look successful maybe they are a CEO and are looking to hire an event planner. I will do just about anything to network these days. Well anyways, the seats were pretty picked over so I went to the back of the plane and took a row to myself. The father and the daughter followed. The creeper woman found another set of children to stalk for the 42 minute plane ride. I felt bad for their parents and even more for the children. They didnt know what they were getting themselves into.
The little girl began talking to me and her father was sleeping against the window. She started off pretty harmless but then got personal with questions. She asked where I was going, why I had an umbrella, the kind of questions kids ask. As we were getting off the plane she turns to the old man (he was like 65) in front of me and said "ma'am ma'am is that man your husband!!" this was insulting. First off, he was 3 times my age. Second, no. Third, she had just made things very awkward between the man and me. I quietly said no. Then she looked at the book I was holding. It was Chelsea Handlers "Hello Vodka, are you there, its me Chelsea". The girl starts spelling "V-O-D-K-A.. Vodka! thats what my mommy drinks. Right daddy, mommy loves vodka!" This little brat didnt know when to shut up and she was basically screaming. It was entertainment for the entire back of the plane.
We proceeded to baggage claim and the old grandpa comes up to me and goes "it's pretty funny that girl thought we were married" I responded with a "ha ha hilarious". Then he goes "Hi, I'm Paul." First thing that crossed my mind was I needed to start dressing younger. How did this man (THREE TIMES MY AGE) think I wanted to be hit on. Thank god as he was starting conversation my very noticeable bag came out onto the line and I could get to my train.
On the train this man was clearly not "with it". First his shirt looked like a child's bib. He was sleeping and particles were coming out of his mouth and nose. It was disgusting. A group of children board the train and automatically begin making comments about the man. One of them got their camera phone out and took a picture. The man never woke up but the kids were saying all kinds of things... Kids say the darnedest things...
Monday, June 29, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Paradise by the Dashboard Light
In honor of my fathers birthday yesterday and the fact he told this story totally wrong to everyone, I will reminisce on a story that still haunts me from last summer.
Every Monday my friends and I met up at a restaurant/ bar called Duffies for "Chicago Idol". A friend of our was participating in the singing contest so we would go and cheer her on and then vote for her to make it on to the competition next week. Since I worked later hours than my friends many times I would get off work around 7 pm and meet them out at the restaurant.
One particular Monday I was heading to Duffies and the weather didn't look so great. The storm clouds were rolling in and I wanted to get to the place in time to hear Lindsay sing. Once I got off the brown line I walked a very steady pace to get to the restaurant. It was about 8 blocks from the line so I knew it was a long walk. I was on the phone with someone to make the time pass quicker. I walked quite a distance, maybe 10 blocks or so before I realized that this wasn't the right place. (I was walking the opposite direction I needed to to get to Duffies.) Since I was on the phone I wasn't paying attention to the streets or the landmarks I would usually look for (since I had done this trip many times). I began to turn around and walk back when the rain started.
First, it started off as a light sprinkle. My white shirt couldn't last more than a sprinkle before it was going to be see through so I hoped to get to a place of cover quickly. Of course, this was the one day I forgot my umbrella. My short black skirt began to blow as the rain and wind picked up. The rain kept getting harder and harder. I couldn't find any place to retreat to and I was getting soaked. Pretty soon the sprinkle turned into a near hurricane and I was 18 blocks from my location. Of all times I couldn't find a taxi either!
I continued to walk, rain falling so hard it felt like it was piercing my skin. I witnessed two trees fall and saw so much lightening I thought I would get hit for sure by one of its strikes. The rain was not letting up. This is like one of those storms that you think, omg I have never seen rain like that before, and I was in the middle of it. After about 6 or 7 blocks (which felt like 16 or 17 blocks) I finally got a cab. I only had 5 dollars on me so I told the driver to take me as far as 5 dollars could get me. At this point I couldn't just turn around and go home because I did not want to be on an elevated train with as much lightening as their was and 5 dollars was not getting me home.
The driver took me to the location and when I got out of the cab he told me to be careful because he had heard on the radio that they were comparing this storm to a hurricane. Wonderful. Just what I wanted to get caught in. It wasn't letting up either. When I entered the restaurant the man at the door laughed at me. In my face. Literally, laughed at me. He said it looked like I jumped in a pool before I walked in the door. I wasn't as amused as he was. Another waitress handed me a bus towel and said, maybe this would help. I met up with my friends and they were all shocked. I don't think they expected to see me with mascara to my chin, a see through shirt, drenched hair and a pretty sour attitude. I grabbed one of my friends and made her follow me to the bathroom where I attempted to dry off. Not happening. From there, we went to the table and I dealt with a lot of awkward glances, dumb comments and a few too many drinks. Turns out some people found my wet mess of a self amusing and bought me a drink or two.
On the way home the rain was still going on but the trains began running again. I was mad because all of my friends parents called them to see if they were okay. Apparently, Chicago's weather had been all over the news. Well, they were fine! They were dry and weren't the butt of every joke for the last 3 hours. I, on the other hand, was. My parents (who didn't call) needed to know I was okay so I decided to call them and let them know. Unfortunately, I was not in the best state of mind when I called and my 8 minute and 43 second phone call with my dad at 1:30 a.m. consisted of me singing "paradise by the dashboard light" to him and ended with "I'm singing in the rain".
This was not one of my prouder moments, but it is one of my dads favorite stories. Among others, he finds this an appropriate story to repeat to family, friends and coworkers and inappropriate times. I am not to happy that this is the story my dad likes to tell people but it was one I will always remember... the day I was stuck in a hurricane!
Every Monday my friends and I met up at a restaurant/ bar called Duffies for "Chicago Idol". A friend of our was participating in the singing contest so we would go and cheer her on and then vote for her to make it on to the competition next week. Since I worked later hours than my friends many times I would get off work around 7 pm and meet them out at the restaurant.
One particular Monday I was heading to Duffies and the weather didn't look so great. The storm clouds were rolling in and I wanted to get to the place in time to hear Lindsay sing. Once I got off the brown line I walked a very steady pace to get to the restaurant. It was about 8 blocks from the line so I knew it was a long walk. I was on the phone with someone to make the time pass quicker. I walked quite a distance, maybe 10 blocks or so before I realized that this wasn't the right place. (I was walking the opposite direction I needed to to get to Duffies.) Since I was on the phone I wasn't paying attention to the streets or the landmarks I would usually look for (since I had done this trip many times). I began to turn around and walk back when the rain started.
First, it started off as a light sprinkle. My white shirt couldn't last more than a sprinkle before it was going to be see through so I hoped to get to a place of cover quickly. Of course, this was the one day I forgot my umbrella. My short black skirt began to blow as the rain and wind picked up. The rain kept getting harder and harder. I couldn't find any place to retreat to and I was getting soaked. Pretty soon the sprinkle turned into a near hurricane and I was 18 blocks from my location. Of all times I couldn't find a taxi either!
I continued to walk, rain falling so hard it felt like it was piercing my skin. I witnessed two trees fall and saw so much lightening I thought I would get hit for sure by one of its strikes. The rain was not letting up. This is like one of those storms that you think, omg I have never seen rain like that before, and I was in the middle of it. After about 6 or 7 blocks (which felt like 16 or 17 blocks) I finally got a cab. I only had 5 dollars on me so I told the driver to take me as far as 5 dollars could get me. At this point I couldn't just turn around and go home because I did not want to be on an elevated train with as much lightening as their was and 5 dollars was not getting me home.
The driver took me to the location and when I got out of the cab he told me to be careful because he had heard on the radio that they were comparing this storm to a hurricane. Wonderful. Just what I wanted to get caught in. It wasn't letting up either. When I entered the restaurant the man at the door laughed at me. In my face. Literally, laughed at me. He said it looked like I jumped in a pool before I walked in the door. I wasn't as amused as he was. Another waitress handed me a bus towel and said, maybe this would help. I met up with my friends and they were all shocked. I don't think they expected to see me with mascara to my chin, a see through shirt, drenched hair and a pretty sour attitude. I grabbed one of my friends and made her follow me to the bathroom where I attempted to dry off. Not happening. From there, we went to the table and I dealt with a lot of awkward glances, dumb comments and a few too many drinks. Turns out some people found my wet mess of a self amusing and bought me a drink or two.
On the way home the rain was still going on but the trains began running again. I was mad because all of my friends parents called them to see if they were okay. Apparently, Chicago's weather had been all over the news. Well, they were fine! They were dry and weren't the butt of every joke for the last 3 hours. I, on the other hand, was. My parents (who didn't call) needed to know I was okay so I decided to call them and let them know. Unfortunately, I was not in the best state of mind when I called and my 8 minute and 43 second phone call with my dad at 1:30 a.m. consisted of me singing "paradise by the dashboard light" to him and ended with "I'm singing in the rain".
This was not one of my prouder moments, but it is one of my dads favorite stories. Among others, he finds this an appropriate story to repeat to family, friends and coworkers and inappropriate times. I am not to happy that this is the story my dad likes to tell people but it was one I will always remember... the day I was stuck in a hurricane!
waiting for the train on the way home from duffies (sick of the rain)
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Conversation Starters
As I get to know people in the city its really funny how you meet someone and they always resort back to the same conversation topics. For example, each of my doormen all have a conversation of choice. Between the weather, Cleveland sports and if I have any packages its nearly impossible to break the conversation cycle.
I will say things such as "How are you today?" or "Whats new" and the response is always in the ballpark of their conversation of choice. "Whats new with you today" I ask. "Just trying to enjoy this weather as much as I can!" Great. More weather conversations to get me absolutely no where.
I ask again, "What are your plans for the weekend?". "Just going to watch the CUBS, you know those Indians aren't doing so great". Wonderful.
Its not just in the building. The deli man, the CVS salesperson, the welcome desk at my gym, they all have their own personal conversation spiel. Its like when your at Texas Roadhouse and your sitting a little too close to the hostess stand and you hear every single person who walks to their table be asked the question "Do you come here often" and you know that the person asking has absolutely no interest if you have ever been there or not. In fact, your kind of insulted because they have been asking you the same question for the last three years once a week. I cant talk to one more person about the weather, its just too boring and rather depressing considering Chicago has had the worse summer weather ever this year.
Next person I speak to because of good manners I am just going to pull out a fold up chair from my purse (I carry a rather large purse) and sit down next to them and tell them to tell me their life story. If they mention weather, sports or the headlines of the Chicago tribune I will taser them and say, try again. I am sure this new tactic will be a good way to make friends in a jiffy!
I will say things such as "How are you today?" or "Whats new" and the response is always in the ballpark of their conversation of choice. "Whats new with you today" I ask. "Just trying to enjoy this weather as much as I can!" Great. More weather conversations to get me absolutely no where.
I ask again, "What are your plans for the weekend?". "Just going to watch the CUBS, you know those Indians aren't doing so great". Wonderful.
Its not just in the building. The deli man, the CVS salesperson, the welcome desk at my gym, they all have their own personal conversation spiel. Its like when your at Texas Roadhouse and your sitting a little too close to the hostess stand and you hear every single person who walks to their table be asked the question "Do you come here often" and you know that the person asking has absolutely no interest if you have ever been there or not. In fact, your kind of insulted because they have been asking you the same question for the last three years once a week. I cant talk to one more person about the weather, its just too boring and rather depressing considering Chicago has had the worse summer weather ever this year.
Next person I speak to because of good manners I am just going to pull out a fold up chair from my purse (I carry a rather large purse) and sit down next to them and tell them to tell me their life story. If they mention weather, sports or the headlines of the Chicago tribune I will taser them and say, try again. I am sure this new tactic will be a good way to make friends in a jiffy!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Throw a BROWNIE in with that ten dollars too!
The city is full of all kinds, but lately, the poor camped out at corners have drawn my attention...
Last week a man asked for some "suga"..
Another man asked for some money and when I replied I didnt have any he began yelling at me with some very vulgar language.
On Sunday a duo of a man and woman were sitting near the train performing music such as (I kid you not) The Thong Song and Take Me Home Tonight. The man had been there for a while. the woman walked up to him (requesting the thong song) and they began singing together. They were strangers, in fact, I saw the woman try to get his information to contact him later that night.
The requests aren't the same as they use to be. Last summer I use to walk down the street and be asked for some change. A reasonable request considering they are interested in a cup of coffee or some food. But lately, the requests have changed. For example, a woman tonight asked for $10 and as I walked by the corner bakery she continued to see if I would "throw in a brownie as well". This is a lot to ask of a stranger in my opinion.
As I walked on kind of surprised by how aggressive this woman was trying to get me to go into the corner bakery to buy her a brownie a man walking near me mentioned that earlier in the day he was approached for a $10 bill as well. Apparently the donation request has raised to like 1000 percent.
My favorite story, however, was from my sister Megan when she was in Cleveland. A man held a sign that said "I'll be honest, I just want to buy some beer". I give him credit for his honesty and I assume he was more friendly than the woman hounding us for ten dollars and a brownie!
Last week a man asked for some "suga"..
Another man asked for some money and when I replied I didnt have any he began yelling at me with some very vulgar language.
On Sunday a duo of a man and woman were sitting near the train performing music such as (I kid you not) The Thong Song and Take Me Home Tonight. The man had been there for a while. the woman walked up to him (requesting the thong song) and they began singing together. They were strangers, in fact, I saw the woman try to get his information to contact him later that night.
The requests aren't the same as they use to be. Last summer I use to walk down the street and be asked for some change. A reasonable request considering they are interested in a cup of coffee or some food. But lately, the requests have changed. For example, a woman tonight asked for $10 and as I walked by the corner bakery she continued to see if I would "throw in a brownie as well". This is a lot to ask of a stranger in my opinion.
As I walked on kind of surprised by how aggressive this woman was trying to get me to go into the corner bakery to buy her a brownie a man walking near me mentioned that earlier in the day he was approached for a $10 bill as well. Apparently the donation request has raised to like 1000 percent.
My favorite story, however, was from my sister Megan when she was in Cleveland. A man held a sign that said "I'll be honest, I just want to buy some beer". I give him credit for his honesty and I assume he was more friendly than the woman hounding us for ten dollars and a brownie!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Rain Rain Go Away...
So sometimes I wonder why I am posting all of my embarrassing stories for all my friends and family to see.. but then I guess its better than laughing at myself all the time.
Yesterday was one for the books. Of course it has to do with transportation.. or kind of.. because public transportation may be the worse thing to ever happen to me, let me explain...
It was raining all day yesterday. All day. I get up and decide I am going to run errands, etc. So I get dressed and head out umbrella in hand. First stop, Target. I should had known that this was a bad idea because Target and Chicago dont mix. I head down to the red line stop (underground) and notice that the steps look wet. So I hold on to the banister and still manage to fall down the filthy subway steps.. luckily, I was holding onto the banister so I stopped after about 4 steps. I pull myself up, look around to see if anyone saw this embarrassing fall and step down... fall, AGAIN. Two steps this time. landed on my wrist and left side. Ew. Dirt. Everywhere. Stand Up again and immediately fall again to the bottom of the first flight of steps (on the landing). At this point I was sitting in a puddle of filthy city water and fearing another fall climbed back up to the street and walked home. The rest of the day was devoted to icing my entire left side and doing what I could do online opposed to going out in the city. It doesnt help I was wearing flip flops. mark June 11th as the last time I EVER wear flip flops in the city ever again. bah.
The Steps I fell Down... BAH!
Yesterday was one for the books. Of course it has to do with transportation.. or kind of.. because public transportation may be the worse thing to ever happen to me, let me explain...
It was raining all day yesterday. All day. I get up and decide I am going to run errands, etc. So I get dressed and head out umbrella in hand. First stop, Target. I should had known that this was a bad idea because Target and Chicago dont mix. I head down to the red line stop (underground) and notice that the steps look wet. So I hold on to the banister and still manage to fall down the filthy subway steps.. luckily, I was holding onto the banister so I stopped after about 4 steps. I pull myself up, look around to see if anyone saw this embarrassing fall and step down... fall, AGAIN. Two steps this time. landed on my wrist and left side. Ew. Dirt. Everywhere. Stand Up again and immediately fall again to the bottom of the first flight of steps (on the landing). At this point I was sitting in a puddle of filthy city water and fearing another fall climbed back up to the street and walked home. The rest of the day was devoted to icing my entire left side and doing what I could do online opposed to going out in the city. It doesnt help I was wearing flip flops. mark June 11th as the last time I EVER wear flip flops in the city ever again. bah.
The Steps I fell Down... BAH!Thursday, June 11, 2009
The Metra...
I had my second interview with the non profit that is looking for an event planner.. they asked me back for a third interview so I am really hopeful this is the job!! : ) I dont think I have mentioned that this job is in the suburbs, so I take the train to a bus to the metra (the Illinois version of the Amtrak) out to the suburbs then walk to the location about 15 minutes from the train stop. The town is the most adorable place you have ever seen.. it is like the birth place of the land rovers. I swear, wisteria lane may just have popped right out of this adorable town. However, it isnt as adorable when your running late for a train and in a full out suit...
I had just finished my second interview with the executive director, I looked down at my watch and it was 5:45.. the next train into the city came in 10 minutes, and it was a 12 - 15 minute walk in a suit and heels.. So I began to speed walk in my suit and hustle through the suburbia streets trying to make the train (if I missed it I would have to wait another hour). As I jogged in my suit I looked down to see the back of my foot bleeding all over my new shoes, looks like new shoes for my mini marathon wasn't a good idea.. but I kept "speed walking"... As the train tracks came in sight I saw the RxR lights go on and the little stick that comes down to stop traffic lower and I was a good 5 minutes away... shit.
At this point I was hot and I was going to have to sit in the sun for an hour and wait for the next train.. So I ended up sprinting for this train, running. I kept getting funny looks from people but I didnt care. I didnt want to wait for the next train if I could make this one... running.. tripping.. running.. the train passes me. There are a few people sitting on benches laughing at me and I hear them snickering. I was so upset that I was just about to hit them. But then I looked around, no one got on that train. Everyone was sitting there reading their papers, listening to their iPods.. the train was a freight train. Ha. I was so concerned about getting on a train I didnt realize it wasnt the right train. Turns out, I made it to the stop with 5 minutes to spare and got on the train I wanted to, and only made a fool out of myself in front of about, 30 people.
Once I got on the train I distanced myself from the people at the stop because I think that my scurry to the train stop made a couple of their stomachs hurt they were laughing so hard. There was one booth left open on the car I got on, soon after I learned why that seat was the one left free.. the man sitting behind me had a bad case of some kind of cold/ flu. He was sneezing into his hands snot, for a good 10 minutes straight, cursing in between. He didnt stop, I swear to god.. Achoow... Shit... Achhow.. damn it... SFJSEJFSdfsefAChoooooow.. #$#@% .. you get the picture.... I couldnt help but laugh. He saw me rocking back and forth laughing, but it wasnt as much at him but at my life.
I had just finished my second interview with the executive director, I looked down at my watch and it was 5:45.. the next train into the city came in 10 minutes, and it was a 12 - 15 minute walk in a suit and heels.. So I began to speed walk in my suit and hustle through the suburbia streets trying to make the train (if I missed it I would have to wait another hour). As I jogged in my suit I looked down to see the back of my foot bleeding all over my new shoes, looks like new shoes for my mini marathon wasn't a good idea.. but I kept "speed walking"... As the train tracks came in sight I saw the RxR lights go on and the little stick that comes down to stop traffic lower and I was a good 5 minutes away... shit.
At this point I was hot and I was going to have to sit in the sun for an hour and wait for the next train.. So I ended up sprinting for this train, running. I kept getting funny looks from people but I didnt care. I didnt want to wait for the next train if I could make this one... running.. tripping.. running.. the train passes me. There are a few people sitting on benches laughing at me and I hear them snickering. I was so upset that I was just about to hit them. But then I looked around, no one got on that train. Everyone was sitting there reading their papers, listening to their iPods.. the train was a freight train. Ha. I was so concerned about getting on a train I didnt realize it wasnt the right train. Turns out, I made it to the stop with 5 minutes to spare and got on the train I wanted to, and only made a fool out of myself in front of about, 30 people.
Once I got on the train I distanced myself from the people at the stop because I think that my scurry to the train stop made a couple of their stomachs hurt they were laughing so hard. There was one booth left open on the car I got on, soon after I learned why that seat was the one left free.. the man sitting behind me had a bad case of some kind of cold/ flu. He was sneezing into his hands snot, for a good 10 minutes straight, cursing in between. He didnt stop, I swear to god.. Achoow... Shit... Achhow.. damn it... SFJSEJFSdfsefAChoooooow.. #$#@% .. you get the picture.... I couldnt help but laugh. He saw me rocking back and forth laughing, but it wasnt as much at him but at my life.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
The B***H at the Bar
For the CAVS Magic game 6 Jessie and Meghan (Hughes) were in town and very excited to watch the Cavs hopefully beat the Magic (we wont talk about that game). We went down the street from my apartment at a very nice bar/ restaurant and got a great table in front of the television. Well if you know my family.. they love the Cavs.. so Jessie was screaming at the television and making all kinds of a scene.. shocking I know.. Well, as you can imagine, this cheering drew some attention to our table and people began coming over to talk to us about the game and just making conversation.
One individual, was not very friendly, and when she found out I was going to be an event planner snapped. We were sitting there after the game when she came over and said "you are going to fail as an event planner, you're never going to make it". Shocked, that someone would be so blunt (and SO WRONG) I turned to her and said.. "excuse me?" and she repeated "You are going to be the worst event planner, your never going to make it. You suck" (Mind you, I have NEVER spoken to this girl before, she over heard my conversation with someone else talking about being an event planner). So I replied something like "excuse me? Who are you and why would you say that"... to make a long story short.. We had a heated conversation for about 10 minutes where it ended with me screaming at her to "WALK AWAY MA"AM, and when I make my first MILLION I will dedicate it to you, the bitch in the bar". She had nothing to say.. so she walked to the bar and sat on a bar stool talking about me until we left.... I usually wouldnt be so rude to someone (or straight up mean) but she attacked me, with no reason, and wouldnt go away..
Some people! It was a very funny story at the time and I may not had been able to give it the humor it deserved in this blog.. but since that encounter, I have seen her on the street, at my fitness center, at the grocery store.. basically everywhere you could imagine. Shes like a bad nightmare that wont go away. This may not be the last story about the wonderful woman that tried to tell me I was going to be a failure without knowing me AT ALL!
There are a lot of nice people in Chicago too so dont judge that this one CRAZY woman is the representation of the citizens of Chicago. Theres a clown in every group. haha.
One individual, was not very friendly, and when she found out I was going to be an event planner snapped. We were sitting there after the game when she came over and said "you are going to fail as an event planner, you're never going to make it". Shocked, that someone would be so blunt (and SO WRONG) I turned to her and said.. "excuse me?" and she repeated "You are going to be the worst event planner, your never going to make it. You suck" (Mind you, I have NEVER spoken to this girl before, she over heard my conversation with someone else talking about being an event planner). So I replied something like "excuse me? Who are you and why would you say that"... to make a long story short.. We had a heated conversation for about 10 minutes where it ended with me screaming at her to "WALK AWAY MA"AM, and when I make my first MILLION I will dedicate it to you, the bitch in the bar". She had nothing to say.. so she walked to the bar and sat on a bar stool talking about me until we left.... I usually wouldnt be so rude to someone (or straight up mean) but she attacked me, with no reason, and wouldnt go away..
Some people! It was a very funny story at the time and I may not had been able to give it the humor it deserved in this blog.. but since that encounter, I have seen her on the street, at my fitness center, at the grocery store.. basically everywhere you could imagine. Shes like a bad nightmare that wont go away. This may not be the last story about the wonderful woman that tried to tell me I was going to be a failure without knowing me AT ALL!
There are a lot of nice people in Chicago too so dont judge that this one CRAZY woman is the representation of the citizens of Chicago. Theres a clown in every group. haha.
The First Time Cooking in the Apartment
The stove in my new apartment is much nicer than the first apartment.. (see pictures below and that should be enough). But of course we still had issues the first time we used it. Living the frugal life of a recent college graduate when Kelly visited we wanted to cook to save money...
We decided to have a Fiesta and make Sangria and Soft Tacos.. but we forgot to buy chips. So we decided to make chips out of the tortillas for the tacos and bake them in the oven... We turned on broil and stuck them in for ten minutes.
When the buzzard rang we took our "chips" out of the oven along with a huge cloud of smoke. The chips were burnt like charcol and the result made the fire alarm go off. The problem... I couldnt figure out how to get the windows open and we couldnt get the alarm off... Please, picture this: Kelly running around with a tray of ash, me running around trying to make air to turn the alarm off, the entire apartment smokey and both of us completely afraid that the entire building was going to evacuate. We ended up sticking the cookie sheet in the bathroom and turned on water.. and it worked, but we will never make chips ever again, thats for sure! : )
We decided to have a Fiesta and make Sangria and Soft Tacos.. but we forgot to buy chips. So we decided to make chips out of the tortillas for the tacos and bake them in the oven... We turned on broil and stuck them in for ten minutes.
When the buzzard rang we took our "chips" out of the oven along with a huge cloud of smoke. The chips were burnt like charcol and the result made the fire alarm go off. The problem... I couldnt figure out how to get the windows open and we couldnt get the alarm off... Please, picture this: Kelly running around with a tray of ash, me running around trying to make air to turn the alarm off, the entire apartment smokey and both of us completely afraid that the entire building was going to evacuate. We ended up sticking the cookie sheet in the bathroom and turned on water.. and it worked, but we will never make chips ever again, thats for sure! : )
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Target Trips
Everyone knows I love chicago, but some things are just much more difficult living in the city then in Ohio.. for example, Target shopping trips. My love for Target hasn't changed and especially moving into a new place Target stops are essential. The closest Target is about 8 stops down the red line.. so after my furniture finally arrived I realized I needed somethings like a rug.. lamp.. hangers for pictures, etc.
Getting to Target isn't difficult, jump on the red line, walk a quarter of a mile up a hill and your there. The issue is the trip home.. with bags. On my first trip to the store since my move I went there with the idea I needed to only get the essentials. That turned into a rug and three large bags full of "essentials". The red line is underground so I knew that I would not be able to get down to the train easily, so for some god unknown reason I decided it wouldnt be that long of a walk to a train stop with an escalator (about 15 blocks down the street). I began walking (in a dress, of course) down Clark Street to State Street to get to a more convenient train stop. Well this was easier said then done. The wind was blowing so I was trying to hold my dress down, the rug was awkward so I kept having to adjust it in my arms and the bags were breaking as I walked. I was a sight for sore eyes and realized my essentials were not worth it but it isnt like I could do anything about it now. I couldnt stop for a cab either because I was walking against traffic so I would have had to cross the street and by then my items would have probably spilled all over an intersection.
Well to make a long story short.. I walked to a busy intersection, hailed a cab (against my will because I am trying to be frugal) and got back to my apartment. Wellllll, once I got into my apartment I laid the rug out and it was too small. It looked ridiculous. absurd actually. So I rolled it back up and took it back to the store. As if it wasnt bad enough with the smaller rug I repeated this torture of walking down Clark Street with a larger rug (thinking it would be easier because I didnt have the bags). This time I didnt mind getting in a cab right away because I knew how awful it was the first time back from Target.
The rug looks nice but next time I may wait till someone is in town with a car before I go to Target again...
Getting to Target isn't difficult, jump on the red line, walk a quarter of a mile up a hill and your there. The issue is the trip home.. with bags. On my first trip to the store since my move I went there with the idea I needed to only get the essentials. That turned into a rug and three large bags full of "essentials". The red line is underground so I knew that I would not be able to get down to the train easily, so for some god unknown reason I decided it wouldnt be that long of a walk to a train stop with an escalator (about 15 blocks down the street). I began walking (in a dress, of course) down Clark Street to State Street to get to a more convenient train stop. Well this was easier said then done. The wind was blowing so I was trying to hold my dress down, the rug was awkward so I kept having to adjust it in my arms and the bags were breaking as I walked. I was a sight for sore eyes and realized my essentials were not worth it but it isnt like I could do anything about it now. I couldnt stop for a cab either because I was walking against traffic so I would have had to cross the street and by then my items would have probably spilled all over an intersection.
Well to make a long story short.. I walked to a busy intersection, hailed a cab (against my will because I am trying to be frugal) and got back to my apartment. Wellllll, once I got into my apartment I laid the rug out and it was too small. It looked ridiculous. absurd actually. So I rolled it back up and took it back to the store. As if it wasnt bad enough with the smaller rug I repeated this torture of walking down Clark Street with a larger rug (thinking it would be easier because I didnt have the bags). This time I didnt mind getting in a cab right away because I knew how awful it was the first time back from Target.
The rug looks nice but next time I may wait till someone is in town with a car before I go to Target again...
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Public Transportation
As some of you know, I sold my car after graduation to a friend... so I am relying on public transportation to get around the city. Although this is a good move for gas, parking and insurance with public transportation comes stories... soooo many stories...
First off, I was a little rusty getting back into the swing of riding the El and buses.. I did it all last summer but over the past year forgot some things. And there is no one better to tell you this then my poor friend Kelly. She came out to Chicago over Memorial day to visit and not only did I not have any furniture but she also had to deal with me constantly taking us to the wrong place or getting detoured because of traffic. We would get off on the stop I swore was the right one.. then we would walk 12 blocks and get to where I thought we origninally were... but she was a sport and put up with me. Even when I was frustrated. It was def. an adventure. When she was out here we were all over the city.. we were in river north, gold coast, lincoln park, lakeview, west loop, south loop, wicker park, buck town, greek town.. everywhere.
Riding CTA also comes with an interesting variety of people. I have learned to give a good mean mug when appropriate and how to use my attitude to get "creepers" to back off. One of my favorite stories is from last summer, week 7 of being in the city. I had fallen off the bus earlier that week while talking the phone on my way to work (not an easy fall either because the bus almost ran over my leg as it drove off and left me on the curb). I had this older gentleman trying to start a conversation with me multiple times, I did not want to talk. He continued.. I repeated that I was not interested in talking.. so on, so on. Anyways.. He got off at the same stop I did and as I stepped off grabbed my hips.. wrong... wrong wrong wrong. I turned around and yelled at him. He said it was because he didnt want me to fall in my heals (which was funny because I had fallen earlier that week) but I told him I would rather fall then have him hold on to me. He finally got the hint and left me alone. At the time it wasnt funny but I can laugh about it now.. thank goodness.
Well that was 2008, and things havent changed in 2009. Just yesterday I was on the bus and it was a long day because I had to take the Metra into the suburbs. As I sat down another man sat down across from me with a cranyon and a pad of paper. He mumbled something to me and I asked what, and he said something about drawing me.. Once I realized he was using his cranyon to draw my face I politely told him I didnt want to be drawn. He continued. So I told him again, "Sir. I do not want you to draw my face on your piece of paper". (I swear this stuff always happens to me) So he gave me horns and continued to draw me on his paper. So I called my sister Jessie to block my face with my phone. He was still drawing.. so obnoxious... so I said for a THIRD time.. "SIR STOP DRAWING ME". and got off at the next stop and then walked home.. I am not sure how that picture turned out but the last time I looked at it he had a maroon version of what was suppose to me on a piece of paper with horns. Gotta love public transportation...
I think that the major reason I did not want this interesting man to draw me was I was afraid once he did he would try to charge me for it. Some people will do anything in the city to get money out of you and I was afraid that when he was mumbling something to me that it would come out that I owed him 20 dollars or something. It reminded me of one time last summer on the El. My friends and I were on the train after a day at the beach. This man came up to us and was trying to be all charming calling us beautiful and wanting to play a game with a piece of paper and three cups. He had a magazine on his lap and put the paper under a cup and then moved them around. He asked us to show him a dollar, which my friend did. Then when she guessed the right cup he gave her a dollar back. They repeated this game two or three times the dollar amount getting higher every time.. $1, $2, $5 and she was making some money. So the last time he said $20 and she pulled $20 out. He held it as he moved the cups. Although we knew which cup the paper was under he slid it out as he collected the $20. Pocketed her money and jumped off the train. She was so mad he tricked her. We should had known when he pulled out a huge bundle of cash from his pocket that he won this game more than lost.. which explains why I didnt want to be drawn..
The stories could go on but I want to save something for later.
Regardless, I rest my case that public transit is always an adventure.
First off, I was a little rusty getting back into the swing of riding the El and buses.. I did it all last summer but over the past year forgot some things. And there is no one better to tell you this then my poor friend Kelly. She came out to Chicago over Memorial day to visit and not only did I not have any furniture but she also had to deal with me constantly taking us to the wrong place or getting detoured because of traffic. We would get off on the stop I swore was the right one.. then we would walk 12 blocks and get to where I thought we origninally were... but she was a sport and put up with me. Even when I was frustrated. It was def. an adventure. When she was out here we were all over the city.. we were in river north, gold coast, lincoln park, lakeview, west loop, south loop, wicker park, buck town, greek town.. everywhere.
Riding CTA also comes with an interesting variety of people. I have learned to give a good mean mug when appropriate and how to use my attitude to get "creepers" to back off. One of my favorite stories is from last summer, week 7 of being in the city. I had fallen off the bus earlier that week while talking the phone on my way to work (not an easy fall either because the bus almost ran over my leg as it drove off and left me on the curb). I had this older gentleman trying to start a conversation with me multiple times, I did not want to talk. He continued.. I repeated that I was not interested in talking.. so on, so on. Anyways.. He got off at the same stop I did and as I stepped off grabbed my hips.. wrong... wrong wrong wrong. I turned around and yelled at him. He said it was because he didnt want me to fall in my heals (which was funny because I had fallen earlier that week) but I told him I would rather fall then have him hold on to me. He finally got the hint and left me alone. At the time it wasnt funny but I can laugh about it now.. thank goodness.
Well that was 2008, and things havent changed in 2009. Just yesterday I was on the bus and it was a long day because I had to take the Metra into the suburbs. As I sat down another man sat down across from me with a cranyon and a pad of paper. He mumbled something to me and I asked what, and he said something about drawing me.. Once I realized he was using his cranyon to draw my face I politely told him I didnt want to be drawn. He continued. So I told him again, "Sir. I do not want you to draw my face on your piece of paper". (I swear this stuff always happens to me) So he gave me horns and continued to draw me on his paper. So I called my sister Jessie to block my face with my phone. He was still drawing.. so obnoxious... so I said for a THIRD time.. "SIR STOP DRAWING ME". and got off at the next stop and then walked home.. I am not sure how that picture turned out but the last time I looked at it he had a maroon version of what was suppose to me on a piece of paper with horns. Gotta love public transportation...
I think that the major reason I did not want this interesting man to draw me was I was afraid once he did he would try to charge me for it. Some people will do anything in the city to get money out of you and I was afraid that when he was mumbling something to me that it would come out that I owed him 20 dollars or something. It reminded me of one time last summer on the El. My friends and I were on the train after a day at the beach. This man came up to us and was trying to be all charming calling us beautiful and wanting to play a game with a piece of paper and three cups. He had a magazine on his lap and put the paper under a cup and then moved them around. He asked us to show him a dollar, which my friend did. Then when she guessed the right cup he gave her a dollar back. They repeated this game two or three times the dollar amount getting higher every time.. $1, $2, $5 and she was making some money. So the last time he said $20 and she pulled $20 out. He held it as he moved the cups. Although we knew which cup the paper was under he slid it out as he collected the $20. Pocketed her money and jumped off the train. She was so mad he tricked her. We should had known when he pulled out a huge bundle of cash from his pocket that he won this game more than lost.. which explains why I didnt want to be drawn..
The stories could go on but I want to save something for later.
Regardless, I rest my case that public transit is always an adventure.
Interviews and Job Applications
I think I have applied for every job in this city.. twice. I have had a few interview and am hopeful I found a job soon! : ) Second interview is next week (cross your fingers!!) I am enjoying being here but really want to start working... I will keep everyone updated!!
Sleeping on the floor... but the wonderful furniture is here now : )
So the move, as I said below has been an adventure.. and my apartment is starting to really feel like my own. That doesnt mean that it was easy. Mom, Jessie, Megan and I went furniture shopping at this great store down State Street.. and I got some beautiful furniture.. but it didnt come for 10 days after I ordered it... so for my first ten days in my apartment I was sleeping on the floor!!! Ah! I even had my best friend Kelly come to visit and she slept on an air mattress while I slept on the floor. It got old pretty quick, but its all worth it because my beautiful furniture is here now!! : ) 
The BIG move.. twice!
So I have been in the city for a little over two weeks.. I graduated on Saturday, May 9th and by Monday I had moved my stuff to Chicago with my mom. In April Jessie and I flew to Chicago to find an apartment. We used an apartment agency and found this place in Lincoln park/ Lakeview.
The apartment I liked was rented below me and I took another one in the building. When my mom and I drove my stuff out to the apartment the Monday after graduation the apartment was less than what we expected. The trip in general was hell. We rented a U-haul and drove from Westlake to Chicago. The trip out to Chicago was fine because we were on 90 the entire way but when we got here it was awful driving the truck in the city. We would be going down a road and got 20 inches from the el track and realize that we were higher than the bridge and had to back up (on a Chicago street) and turn around. After about an hour of trying to find a track we could get under we parked the car, got the key and went to the apartment building. The apartment was awful. The smell in the hall way smelled like sewage and vomit with a touch of a nursing home. The door to the apartment was kicked in and two of the three keys didn’t work. The carpet was filthy and the so was the rest of the apartment. You could hardly see out of the windows. The bed room had these HUGE closets but when I opened the door it fell on top of me (it was like a heavy 10 foot door). Inside the closet was an air conditioner and a hole in the ceiling like 3 feet wide. Gross. The bathroom may had been the worse. There was mold growing around the bath tub and the cabinet door fell off when I opened the vanity. The worst part was the mouse trap I found under the sink. I DON’T DO MICE. They are one of the top 5 things that bother me the most. I see a rodent and my skin creeps. I hate mice. Ew. Ew. It makes me sick just thinking about it. As you can imagine the kitchen wasn’t much to brag about. The stove looked unusable and Gas was definitely leaking from the apartment. I could go on but I don’t think its necessary. Its pretty understandable that the apartment was less than livable.
Pictures of the First Apartment on Cambridge.. But they dont give justice to the grossness that existed:
I was trying to make the best of the apartment (because I was going to be there the next year) but my mom was not going to let me stay there. When Jessie and I looked at the building the realtor who took us in there was making a big deal of the little things and played off of our emotions “This is such a great location, you aren’t going to find better for your price range, look at these HUGE closets, oh my gosh, this is a steal” she made us believe that we couldn’t find a better place so we might as well like that one. And it worked. When we went in the other people hadn’t moved out either so it was hard to notice the hole in the closet or the traps under the sink because we weren’t going to go through their stuff.
Anyways, we broke that lease (thank god my dad took care of that) and my mom and I went apartment hunting once again. This time using a different agency. We had a much better experience and settled for a studio opposed to a one bedroom. I am in a much more beautiful place that is livable. We wanted security, a high rise, clean and a good location. The realtor (Steve) took us to 6 or 7 apartments. I fell in love with an apartment in a building on Lincoln Park West (I really wanted to be in Lincoln park) But once again it was rented beneath me (you have to be very quick in Chicago with apartments). So I settled for my second pick which was very nice.
My current apartment is on the gold coast. It is actually a better pick than the Lincoln park apartment. I love the location but wish there were more young people in the area (although there are a lot).
So it was quite an adventure getting out here.. the closet space is tight.. very tight.. but the second apartment is much more nicer and I am very happppy : ) Special shout out to my family for helping me get out of the awful mess I was in... : )
The idea behind the blog..
So I began this blog for two reasons.. One, because my good friend Stephanie Morris begged me to after many text messages and calls with hilarious stories about my times in Chicago. The second is so I remember my stories out of college.. and share them with loved ones : ) Some of the information may be boring but others will be hilarious.. and, well, thats my life. So anyways, I will post some new information on here every once and a while and I hope people enjoy!!
xoxo
Kate
xoxo
Kate
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