My cab driver last night was checking his email from his computer while driving. He literally had a computer on his lap while driving through the streets of Chicago. He had one of those verizon cards where you get internet literally everywhere.
I told him the new stat I heard how texting while driving is 3 times more dangerous than drinking and driving. He said "mmmhhhmm" while pulling up a youtube video from his computer... so I asked him what was so important in his email that he had to check it while driving me home. He ignored me and put the computer down..
Then we got to talking about why Old town is called old town and why Lincoln Park is called Lincoln Park.. since we didnt know he went to his computer, while driving, and googled it. Almost hit a crosswalk full of people. Thats when I decided it was a nice night and I would walk the rest of the way home...
Monday, July 27, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
mmm mmm dog biscuits!
Besides working at the nonprofit as their events coordinator I am also working at a Wedding Boutique assisting with weddings and helping out at the shop. At work today we had a sidewalk sale. Being the new girl, my job was to sit outside with the sale and make sure no one walked away with anything. It was a beautiful day and lots of people came by. You see three things in the West loop on a Saturday.. couples, babies and dogs. I would say 97% of the people I saw had at least one of these. Chicago is a very, very dog friendly city. People take their dogs to restaurants, into stores, they are everywhere. We set out a dog bowl and jar of dog biscuits for the puppies to stop on their walk. One woman walked by and got two biscuits out. Her dog was a puppy and couldnt bite into an entire biscuit by herself. So the owner bit the biscuit, with her own mouth. Not only did she split the biscuit with her mouth, she ate half and gave her dog the other half! It was so unexpected my jaw dropped. She continued to do the same with the other biscuit. Now, I have grown up with dogs my entire life, and never, NEVER, would I consider sharing food with my dogs. The best part... she came back again and got another biscuit to split with her dog! BAH!!!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Moped?!
I am seriously considering a moped.
Seriously.
Here are the thoughts behind my decision..
-I could get around the city in a jiffy.
-They make really cute pink ones and I could wear a white helmet with it.
-Its a moped (how cool).
-I wouldnt have to pay for parking because the people I see with mopeds just park them on the sidewalk (perk!).
-I don't think mopeds take gas.. double perk. : )
-I could park my moped in the burbs and then I wouldnt have to walk 15 minutes to work.
-Less blisters on my toes... less needed pedicures... saving instant money.
-I cant afford a car.. but could maybe swing a moped.
-Think of the stories that would come out of having a moped.
Thoughts?!
Seriously.
Here are the thoughts behind my decision..
-I could get around the city in a jiffy.
-They make really cute pink ones and I could wear a white helmet with it.
-Its a moped (how cool).
-I wouldnt have to pay for parking because the people I see with mopeds just park them on the sidewalk (perk!).
-I don't think mopeds take gas.. double perk. : )
-I could park my moped in the burbs and then I wouldnt have to walk 15 minutes to work.
-Less blisters on my toes... less needed pedicures... saving instant money.
-I cant afford a car.. but could maybe swing a moped.
-Think of the stories that would come out of having a moped.
Thoughts?!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Wedding Planner
After work one day I was on my way home for the weekend. I was dressed in a black dress with a strand of pearls and a big white flower (my favorite). Running into the store to pick up a new book the woman at the sales counter looked at me and asked why I was dressed so nice (for the airport, I assume). I explained I was at work and came straight to the airport. She looked at me and said "You look like you would be a wedding planner" and I squealed "I am!!". It made me very happy that someone guessed my profession : ) Looks like its meant to be!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Dry Cleaning!
I am not all that familiar with dry cleaning prices because I have gone to the same one in Westlake for forever. So it was to my surprise when I went to pick up my 6 articles of clothing this afternoon and the bill was over $100! The woman did not speak very good English. I asked her, three times, what she was trying to say, she finally pronounced, in broke english, "$120"! The best part.. my sorority pin was on one of the pieces and she charged me for it back! I am livid! Maybe this is a normal price but I think its crazy to charge that much for dry cleaning. In my opinion, I was scammed. I will now export dry cleaning to a reasonable location.. even if it's WESTLAKE!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Appropriate Changing Tables & Violent Muscle Spasms
Back from Cleveland and the people watching continues. It isn't even like I look for these hilarious things that I see on a daily basis, they just happen to me. Today two funny things happened and I thought, well I guess I am writing an entry tonight!
First of all, it is very hard to find a public bathroom in downtown Chicago. Every public place has signs that say "NO PUBLIC RESTROOM" and they seriously enforce it. Some restaurants have keys but you have to make a purchase to get the key. Anyways, this can be a slight inconvenience if you are out in the city and need to use a restroom. My point was proven today as I walked near a Corner Bakery. I decided to stop to get a diet coke on my way home from work and as I turn the corner I notice a baby lying on a table outside. This mother decides that instead of finding a bathroom with a changing station she could change her daughters diaper on the tables outside the corner bakery. She had the baby lying (naked) on the table placed outside the restaurant for guests to eat. I begin to feel ill as I witness this. I have sat at tables outside thousands of times and never thought that I could be placing my food or purse where a baby's bottom and dirty diapers sat moments earlier. This is seriously disturbing. What was more disturbing was when I left the restaurant someone was sitting at the same table eating their dinner. BAH!
The second story was just bizarre. I was on the bus on my way home (right after the corner bakery). This man sat down next to me, I was sitting in the row with three seats and there was a woman in the far seat. The man who sat down was doing some kind of muscle strengthening or had some weird spasms because every 30 seconds or go he would push his legs out and then squeeze them together. Because the seats were tight the pushing would force the other girl and I into the walls of the bus. It was weird.
First of all, it is very hard to find a public bathroom in downtown Chicago. Every public place has signs that say "NO PUBLIC RESTROOM" and they seriously enforce it. Some restaurants have keys but you have to make a purchase to get the key. Anyways, this can be a slight inconvenience if you are out in the city and need to use a restroom. My point was proven today as I walked near a Corner Bakery. I decided to stop to get a diet coke on my way home from work and as I turn the corner I notice a baby lying on a table outside. This mother decides that instead of finding a bathroom with a changing station she could change her daughters diaper on the tables outside the corner bakery. She had the baby lying (naked) on the table placed outside the restaurant for guests to eat. I begin to feel ill as I witness this. I have sat at tables outside thousands of times and never thought that I could be placing my food or purse where a baby's bottom and dirty diapers sat moments earlier. This is seriously disturbing. What was more disturbing was when I left the restaurant someone was sitting at the same table eating their dinner. BAH!
The second story was just bizarre. I was on the bus on my way home (right after the corner bakery). This man sat down next to me, I was sitting in the row with three seats and there was a woman in the far seat. The man who sat down was doing some kind of muscle strengthening or had some weird spasms because every 30 seconds or go he would push his legs out and then squeeze them together. Because the seats were tight the pushing would force the other girl and I into the walls of the bus. It was weird.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Ribs Anyone?
Quick story..
Today. On the bus. This man comes and sits down next to this very put together business woman. They were on the other side of the isle from me. He is a little grungy. but hey, I don't judge. Anyways, He starts moving around and I watch him from the corner of my eye. I see him pull this plastic zip lock bag from his pocket. Something absolutely disgusting was in the bag, God knows what at this point. It was brown and took some kind of sticky liquid texture, it filled the bag.
I turn to watch a little more... (mind you the woman he was sitting next to looked like she was about to gag and completely lose it) The man is trying to get the bag open while feeling for something in the brown liquid. Sick. All of a sudden I notice him pull out some ribs! He was trying to eat his lunch. Mind you, no napkins, no drinks, just a bag, his fingers and some ribs. He separates the one rib from the rest and drops them in the bag as he starts to munch on the rib. Disgusting. The woman got up and left the bus (I don't think it was her stop). He continues to eat this rib.. and when hes done with it places the bone in his lap. His fingers are completely drenched in rib sauce. He attempts to open the bag again, with his teeth. As he does this sauce lands all over his lap. He pulls the ribs out, grabs onto one with his teeth, separates it and drops the rest in the bag. Continues enjoying his lunch... When I finally got off the bus he was on rib 4. My recommendation, if you are going to have left overs from the 4th enjoy them at a kitchen table.. or anywhere but the bus.
Today. On the bus. This man comes and sits down next to this very put together business woman. They were on the other side of the isle from me. He is a little grungy. but hey, I don't judge. Anyways, He starts moving around and I watch him from the corner of my eye. I see him pull this plastic zip lock bag from his pocket. Something absolutely disgusting was in the bag, God knows what at this point. It was brown and took some kind of sticky liquid texture, it filled the bag.
I turn to watch a little more... (mind you the woman he was sitting next to looked like she was about to gag and completely lose it) The man is trying to get the bag open while feeling for something in the brown liquid. Sick. All of a sudden I notice him pull out some ribs! He was trying to eat his lunch. Mind you, no napkins, no drinks, just a bag, his fingers and some ribs. He separates the one rib from the rest and drops them in the bag as he starts to munch on the rib. Disgusting. The woman got up and left the bus (I don't think it was her stop). He continues to eat this rib.. and when hes done with it places the bone in his lap. His fingers are completely drenched in rib sauce. He attempts to open the bag again, with his teeth. As he does this sauce lands all over his lap. He pulls the ribs out, grabs onto one with his teeth, separates it and drops the rest in the bag. Continues enjoying his lunch... When I finally got off the bus he was on rib 4. My recommendation, if you are going to have left overs from the 4th enjoy them at a kitchen table.. or anywhere but the bus.
The Difference between the big screen and the real world
A lot of movies taken place in Chicago have been on the tv lately.. but I have noticed that there is a major difference between real world Chicago and the fictional city that they display.
1.. The Media has two versions of Chicago: La La Land or Crime Chicago. There is no happy medium. Some versions show Chicago as the most pleasant, safest place ever, others show it as if you step out your door you will be raped, murdered or framed. Both of these versions happen to be false.
2.. The weather! It is always so pleasant when filmed. Even when its winter, the weather is bearable.. this happens to be FALSE.
3.. City Traffic: I think its pretty funny that whenever someone wants a cab they are always directly there for them at their disposal and when they want to take part in a high speed chase there is never traffic.
4.. Have you ever noticed that the only people on the streets in Chicago are pretty people that look like moviestars? Not many homeless' are featured on the big screen streets.
5.. The El isn't a scary place dispite what you may see in While You Were Sleeping (he was robbed and pushed onto the tracks) and if it was the EL attendants sure as hell would not jump out to save anyone..
6.. and for those who love the television show ER.. the hospital its meant to take place at is way out in the west loop but they always show it in the middle of the city. Hate to burst your bubble.
Regardless.. its a great city and everyone should visit it for themselves instead of watching it in the movies.. I have a couch you may sleep on.. :)
Here are some movies that take place in Chicago:
My Best Friend's Wedding
The Break Up
Chicago (Go Figure)
Ferris Buellers Day Off
The Blue's Brothers
While You Were Sleeping
Ground Hog Day
Home Alone (1 and 2)
etc..etc..etc..
1.. The Media has two versions of Chicago: La La Land or Crime Chicago. There is no happy medium. Some versions show Chicago as the most pleasant, safest place ever, others show it as if you step out your door you will be raped, murdered or framed. Both of these versions happen to be false.
2.. The weather! It is always so pleasant when filmed. Even when its winter, the weather is bearable.. this happens to be FALSE.
3.. City Traffic: I think its pretty funny that whenever someone wants a cab they are always directly there for them at their disposal and when they want to take part in a high speed chase there is never traffic.
4.. Have you ever noticed that the only people on the streets in Chicago are pretty people that look like moviestars? Not many homeless' are featured on the big screen streets.
5.. The El isn't a scary place dispite what you may see in While You Were Sleeping (he was robbed and pushed onto the tracks) and if it was the EL attendants sure as hell would not jump out to save anyone..
6.. and for those who love the television show ER.. the hospital its meant to take place at is way out in the west loop but they always show it in the middle of the city. Hate to burst your bubble.
Regardless.. its a great city and everyone should visit it for themselves instead of watching it in the movies.. I have a couch you may sleep on.. :)
Here are some movies that take place in Chicago:
My Best Friend's Wedding
The Break Up
Chicago (Go Figure)
Ferris Buellers Day Off
The Blue's Brothers
While You Were Sleeping
Ground Hog Day
Home Alone (1 and 2)
etc..etc..etc..
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