I am making a commitment to post on my blog about Chicago for the next 30 days straight--
Get excited : )
love.love.love.
Kate
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Revolving Door Etiquette
I thought there were unspoken rules about revolving doors, like most social norms. It turns out that people are unaware of revolving door etiquette.
First, you have the people who move too fast in the revolving door, like its funny. Just the other day I watched these punk high school children pushing the doors so quick an older woman heals hit the back of the door and basically pushed her through the circle. Rude.
Rule number 1: Move at a steady, normal pace. Do not push faster in the attempt of embarrassing someone, that's uncalled for.
Second, one person per door. PEOPLE! It is not okay to get in the same compartment as a stranger for a revolving door ride. I don't understand why this isn't understood. Wait your turn, do not try to invade my personal space. Thank you.
Rule number 2: One person per door.
Third, Do not stop revolving doors while in motion. Nothing catches someone off guard more than hitting the front of their face in the door they are walking through. It's not like you need to stop for a break, you're going in a small circle.
Rule number 3: Do not stop a door in motion.
Fourth, parents, watch your children. You see this all the time, parents on their cell phone, children running through the revolving door like they are at Disney World. Come on. We have places to go and we cant get there because your 12 children are running through the revolving doors and not getting out. Get off your cell phone and be a parent. Thank you!
Rule number 4: Just watch your children.
Lastly, give yourself enough time to get in the door and out of the door. We aren't trying to trick you, when the door passes you, step in, when the door passes the next opening, step out. It's like people think they are in a fun house. They are so unsure to step in and step out. I didn't think we needed to spell this out, but apparently we do. Also, don't pause long enough that you miss the door and jump in at the last second, that's just foolish.
Rule number 5: Give yourself plenty of time to get in and out of the revolving door.
For all of you who were unaware of revolving door etiquette, here you go, I have now helped you out.
First, you have the people who move too fast in the revolving door, like its funny. Just the other day I watched these punk high school children pushing the doors so quick an older woman heals hit the back of the door and basically pushed her through the circle. Rude.
Rule number 1: Move at a steady, normal pace. Do not push faster in the attempt of embarrassing someone, that's uncalled for.
Second, one person per door. PEOPLE! It is not okay to get in the same compartment as a stranger for a revolving door ride. I don't understand why this isn't understood. Wait your turn, do not try to invade my personal space. Thank you.
Rule number 2: One person per door.
Third, Do not stop revolving doors while in motion. Nothing catches someone off guard more than hitting the front of their face in the door they are walking through. It's not like you need to stop for a break, you're going in a small circle.
Rule number 3: Do not stop a door in motion.
Fourth, parents, watch your children. You see this all the time, parents on their cell phone, children running through the revolving door like they are at Disney World. Come on. We have places to go and we cant get there because your 12 children are running through the revolving doors and not getting out. Get off your cell phone and be a parent. Thank you!
Rule number 4: Just watch your children.
Lastly, give yourself enough time to get in the door and out of the door. We aren't trying to trick you, when the door passes you, step in, when the door passes the next opening, step out. It's like people think they are in a fun house. They are so unsure to step in and step out. I didn't think we needed to spell this out, but apparently we do. Also, don't pause long enough that you miss the door and jump in at the last second, that's just foolish.
Rule number 5: Give yourself plenty of time to get in and out of the revolving door.
For all of you who were unaware of revolving door etiquette, here you go, I have now helped you out.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Fly Away With Me...
When I am not working, I feel like I spend half my time traveling. From Trains, Planes and Automobiles, its always an adventure. Last week I traveled to Florida for the weekend, and the trip was great, but the trip down and back didn't disappoint either...
So here's my deal with airports, they are ALWAYS on Orange alert. We get it, and they announce it, every 10 minutes (I am all about airport security, but the Orange alert seems to be a bit pointless). Between Caution, we are currently experiencing an orange level to the H1N1 alerts, its amazing people aren't going into panic attacks while waiting to board the plane. For someone who doesn't travel much they must be terrified. Think about it, TERROR! ORANGE ALERT! BE CAREFUL! to: Please be careful, the flu is spreading. To reduce your risk of the flu wash your hands (no shit, Sherlock) and don't sit next to someone with flu like symptoms (which is basically impossible on any airline besides Southwest).
After passing TSA I venture to my gate, and stop at a Starbucks for a water and sandwich... at the register, the sales associate says $15.95... excuse me? $15.95? I ask ,"Sir, are you sure this pre-wrapped sandwich (4 days ago) and this bottle of water is $15.95?" He nods. "Seriously?" (I think he's gotten this before. I start to go off about how ridiculous the cost is, but then stop because I know he didn't set the price, put my sandwich back and sit down at my gate.
As we wait to board a TSA agent is at our gate, they make an announcement that they will be doing random searches before boarding the plane. As a woman gets pulled to the side I watch the agent. She walks up to him and places her bag on the table, and he looks her up and down, up and down. Ew. This is hardly a professional, if anything, someone should be protecting her from him. He then proceeds to say "As much as I would like to inspect you, and I would, its against company policy. I will have to watch as she examineees you." This poor woman. She's being sexually assaulted by a TSA agent.
Once we board the plane I find my seat, next to this delightful British man. We chat it up about the weather (an obvious topic of conversation) and his 5 homes. The OVERLY happy airplane staff interrupts, 3 times. Can I get you anything, anything at all? He must be VIP because I have never witnessed such a happy and overly helpful person. He orders two glasses of wine, one for him, and one for me. Which we continued to do the entire 2 hr and 55 min plane ride. This old man was trying to out drink me! It was hilarious (and riding on an airplane had never been so fun!). By the time I landed in Florida I was ready for a relaxing vacation, and that poor old man was ready for a nap!
So here's my deal with airports, they are ALWAYS on Orange alert. We get it, and they announce it, every 10 minutes (I am all about airport security, but the Orange alert seems to be a bit pointless). Between Caution, we are currently experiencing an orange level to the H1N1 alerts, its amazing people aren't going into panic attacks while waiting to board the plane. For someone who doesn't travel much they must be terrified. Think about it, TERROR! ORANGE ALERT! BE CAREFUL! to: Please be careful, the flu is spreading. To reduce your risk of the flu wash your hands (no shit, Sherlock) and don't sit next to someone with flu like symptoms (which is basically impossible on any airline besides Southwest).
After passing TSA I venture to my gate, and stop at a Starbucks for a water and sandwich... at the register, the sales associate says $15.95... excuse me? $15.95? I ask ,"Sir, are you sure this pre-wrapped sandwich (4 days ago) and this bottle of water is $15.95?" He nods. "Seriously?" (I think he's gotten this before. I start to go off about how ridiculous the cost is, but then stop because I know he didn't set the price, put my sandwich back and sit down at my gate.
As we wait to board a TSA agent is at our gate, they make an announcement that they will be doing random searches before boarding the plane. As a woman gets pulled to the side I watch the agent. She walks up to him and places her bag on the table, and he looks her up and down, up and down. Ew. This is hardly a professional, if anything, someone should be protecting her from him. He then proceeds to say "As much as I would like to inspect you, and I would, its against company policy. I will have to watch as she examineees you." This poor woman. She's being sexually assaulted by a TSA agent.
Once we board the plane I find my seat, next to this delightful British man. We chat it up about the weather (an obvious topic of conversation) and his 5 homes. The OVERLY happy airplane staff interrupts, 3 times. Can I get you anything, anything at all? He must be VIP because I have never witnessed such a happy and overly helpful person. He orders two glasses of wine, one for him, and one for me. Which we continued to do the entire 2 hr and 55 min plane ride. This old man was trying to out drink me! It was hilarious (and riding on an airplane had never been so fun!). By the time I landed in Florida I was ready for a relaxing vacation, and that poor old man was ready for a nap!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
The Out of Control Visitors
When you read the title of this blog, you could assume a lot of things... crazy college friends, party animals, my sisters... but I bet you didn't assume the out of control visitors would in fact, be my mother and her best friend Amy.
Amy and mom decided to drive out to Chicago to enjoy Christmas in the city, and it was an adventure right from the start. I worked Friday and they were suppose to get into Chicago right around the time I was getting off of work... three hours later, they arrived. It begins with a frantic phone call.. "KATIE! We're out of gas and we can't find a gas station!" I ask where they were and they were about three blocks from a BP station. I direct them to the station, and they get lost. "Did you turn right" I ask. They yell "WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF GAS, OH MY GOSH!" Great. Apparently, my instruction to "Turn right" wasn't clear in their crazy states of mind.
Driving in Chicago on a Friday is bad enough, but being nervous, and afraid of running out of gas doesn't help. Mom kept repeating, "I've never had my gas light on, I've never had my gas light on" and Amy kept saying "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh". They must have seen the entire city in the time it took them to find a gas station (and they passed 3 gas stations on their way to the one they finally stopped at). From the north side to the south loop they saw it all.. Michigan Avenue, the loop, Mil. Park, Cellular Field, Willis Tower, you name it, they passed it. They were literally two blocks from the gas station when they "accidentally" got on the freeway. Luckily, they got off and found a station (that I was trying to originally get them to).
When they finally got to their hotel (around 9:30PM) I met them and we went to dinner. As I walked into the hotel I asked the bellman if he had seen two crazy blonde's, and he replied "Oh I have, about twenty minutes ago" without a doubt in my mind, he was talking about Mom and Amy. When we walked out he said, "so you found the crazy blonde's, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.." and he was probably right.
Riding in a cab with Amy and Mom was probably my favorite part. They would ask so many questions and kept saying "we saw that, we saw that", after all, they probably did on their 3 hours they were lost in the city trying to get to my apartment (did I mention I live about 5 minutes from the freeway?). They would also tip the drivers WAY too much.. I couldn't understand their logic to give the cab driver a $10 tip for our $5 cab ride. Every time Mom saw a semi she would compare it to the U-haul we drove to Chicago earlier in the summer when I was moving in... although I didn't see the similarity between an 18 wheeler and our U-haul she swears they were the same size.
On Saturday Night Amy and Mom said "Take us out! We're ready for a party on the town!" and that's an understatement. We started our night at The Signature Room. It was a beautiful view between the lights and Christmas decorations. We started the night off right with Martinis.. and little did I know at that point we would finish the night with those as well. Mom and Amy aren't drinkers, especially not martini drinkers, which made for an interesting night and lots of great stories...
I decided we could use a walk from the Signature Room to our restaurant, so we strolled a brisk 8 blocks to dinner. It was not only cold, but they were feeling their drinks from The Signature Room. At one point Amy's heel got stuck in the sidewalk and the two of them just laughed as Amy almost wiped out... "It's okay, leave me here, I'll be fine, I'll make friends with the bums". They also tried to set me up with the 4'11" foreign waiter...
Amy and mom decided to drive out to Chicago to enjoy Christmas in the city, and it was an adventure right from the start. I worked Friday and they were suppose to get into Chicago right around the time I was getting off of work... three hours later, they arrived. It begins with a frantic phone call.. "KATIE! We're out of gas and we can't find a gas station!" I ask where they were and they were about three blocks from a BP station. I direct them to the station, and they get lost. "Did you turn right" I ask. They yell "WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF GAS, OH MY GOSH!" Great. Apparently, my instruction to "Turn right" wasn't clear in their crazy states of mind.
Driving in Chicago on a Friday is bad enough, but being nervous, and afraid of running out of gas doesn't help. Mom kept repeating, "I've never had my gas light on, I've never had my gas light on" and Amy kept saying "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh". They must have seen the entire city in the time it took them to find a gas station (and they passed 3 gas stations on their way to the one they finally stopped at). From the north side to the south loop they saw it all.. Michigan Avenue, the loop, Mil. Park, Cellular Field, Willis Tower, you name it, they passed it. They were literally two blocks from the gas station when they "accidentally" got on the freeway. Luckily, they got off and found a station (that I was trying to originally get them to).
When they finally got to their hotel (around 9:30PM) I met them and we went to dinner. As I walked into the hotel I asked the bellman if he had seen two crazy blonde's, and he replied "Oh I have, about twenty minutes ago" without a doubt in my mind, he was talking about Mom and Amy. When we walked out he said, "so you found the crazy blonde's, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.." and he was probably right.
Riding in a cab with Amy and Mom was probably my favorite part. They would ask so many questions and kept saying "we saw that, we saw that", after all, they probably did on their 3 hours they were lost in the city trying to get to my apartment (did I mention I live about 5 minutes from the freeway?). They would also tip the drivers WAY too much.. I couldn't understand their logic to give the cab driver a $10 tip for our $5 cab ride. Every time Mom saw a semi she would compare it to the U-haul we drove to Chicago earlier in the summer when I was moving in... although I didn't see the similarity between an 18 wheeler and our U-haul she swears they were the same size.
On Saturday Night Amy and Mom said "Take us out! We're ready for a party on the town!" and that's an understatement. We started our night at The Signature Room. It was a beautiful view between the lights and Christmas decorations. We started the night off right with Martinis.. and little did I know at that point we would finish the night with those as well. Mom and Amy aren't drinkers, especially not martini drinkers, which made for an interesting night and lots of great stories...
I decided we could use a walk from the Signature Room to our restaurant, so we strolled a brisk 8 blocks to dinner. It was not only cold, but they were feeling their drinks from The Signature Room. At one point Amy's heel got stuck in the sidewalk and the two of them just laughed as Amy almost wiped out... "It's okay, leave me here, I'll be fine, I'll make friends with the bums". They also tried to set me up with the 4'11" foreign waiter...
Monday, December 07, 2009
Snow.. Snow.. Snow
Today was the first snow fall in Chicago. Some may get excited that snow is here, personally, it makes me sick to my stomach. I hate snow.. I hate, hate, hate snow.
In honor of this discusting white stuff on the ground, all the reasons I hate snow (in no particular order):
Reasons why I hate snow:
-How gross it looks on the side of the road when its all black and brown and dirty.
-The way people drive when they see snow
-How it messes up your hair just enough to throw it off the rest of the day
-The fact you have to shovel it
-The fact most people dont shovel it and then you are walking through piles of snow
-The salt that people lay on the ground that stains boots, jeans, and pant legs
-The ice that hides under the snow (I hate ice MORE than snow)
-The fact I fall at least three times every winter
-The bruises I get from falling
-The embarassment I 'laugh' off from falling
-Two words... black ice.
-Scraping ice off your car
-Being cold from snow
-Travel plans being canceled because of snow
-Frost bite
-Cars getting stuck in snow piles (happened to me last year)
-The way the ground looks destroyed after the snow goes away (mud)
I think it's safe to say.. I hate snow.
In honor of this discusting white stuff on the ground, all the reasons I hate snow (in no particular order):
Reasons why I hate snow:
-How gross it looks on the side of the road when its all black and brown and dirty.
-The way people drive when they see snow
-How it messes up your hair just enough to throw it off the rest of the day
-The fact you have to shovel it
-The fact most people dont shovel it and then you are walking through piles of snow
-The salt that people lay on the ground that stains boots, jeans, and pant legs
-The ice that hides under the snow (I hate ice MORE than snow)
-The fact I fall at least three times every winter
-The bruises I get from falling
-The embarassment I 'laugh' off from falling
-Two words... black ice.
-Scraping ice off your car
-Being cold from snow
-Travel plans being canceled because of snow
-Frost bite
-Cars getting stuck in snow piles (happened to me last year)
-The way the ground looks destroyed after the snow goes away (mud)
I think it's safe to say.. I hate snow.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Holiday Shopping
So I had the weekend off and decided to do a little holiday shopping. I decide the mile would be the best place to do this considering the variety of stores. I started at some of the boutiques north but they didn't have what I was looking for. Let me tell you.. Michigan Avenue, on a Saturday, a week before Thanksgiving, IS A NIGHTMARE! I couldn't even get around. I literally ran into people. It was like we were at a concert and everyone was trying to get to the front of the stage. Shoving and pushing, babies crying, annoying bells ringing. I think the most annoying thing about tourists is they walk so slow. Everything is "remarkable" and they take pictures of EVERYTHING. We will be walking.. walking.. walking.. run into the back of someones jacket because they stopped IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SIDEWALK on a busy day to take a picture of a building. Besides their speed, they are also very ignorant. They have their large maps out (some holding them backwards) and looking at it "well Chicago ends at the Drake so we have no where else to go". Um, excuse me... no. Tourist Chicago ends at the Drake, real Chicago is much bigger. Its hilarious.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
It's a small world...
So I know Chicago is large and everything, but it's AMAZING how many people you run into.
Just yesterday I was driving and almost hit (literally, in my car) a friend from High School walking in the street.
And I was walking home last week when my favorite sales associate at Macy's (on State Street) walked right past me.
Later that night I was taking a walk with a "Mount" sweatshirt on. Someone screamed, "Mount? Mount Union?!" and I answered "Yes"! They shouted back "GO RAIDERS".
Last month I was in the grocery store when I ran into two people I met earlier in the day at the boutique I work at.
I have ran into countless people at bars and restaurants as well! : )
So regardless of the size of Chicago, it's still a small world : )
Just yesterday I was driving and almost hit (literally, in my car) a friend from High School walking in the street.
And I was walking home last week when my favorite sales associate at Macy's (on State Street) walked right past me.
Later that night I was taking a walk with a "Mount" sweatshirt on. Someone screamed, "Mount? Mount Union?!" and I answered "Yes"! They shouted back "GO RAIDERS".
Last month I was in the grocery store when I ran into two people I met earlier in the day at the boutique I work at.
I have ran into countless people at bars and restaurants as well! : )
So regardless of the size of Chicago, it's still a small world : )
Swine... achuuu. I mean.. flu.
So it is after many days that I publish this post.. Right after my 23rd birthday I began coming down with a cold.. or what I thought was a cold. I wont go into all of the disgusting details of what I have been through this week, because I do not believe anyone wants to read that.. but I have never been so sick in my entire life and during this time have experienced a new side of Chicago...
Long story short, by the third day of feeling sick I admitted myself into the hospital. I crawled out of my infected apartment down the elevator and asked my doorman to get me a cab. He must have thought I was a total Hot Mess. First, I was wearing sweat pants (I never wear sweat pants in public, I). I looked like a real, real disaster. I had my black raider sweat pants on, pink tennis shoes, a baseball cap with my glasses and was as pale as a ghost. I fell into the cab and told the driver Northwestern Hospital, ER. The cab driver immediately shut the window from the front of the cab to the back of the cab. Apparently, I looked contagious and he didn't want to catch this (I don't blame him).
When I got to the hospital it was filled of pathetic looking people like myself. I went to the front desk and some perky front desk attendant asked "HI! How Can I help you!". I responded "drugs". I gave her my information and sat in the filled waiting room. I heard my name called and it was this cute man nurse.. of course I get the cute man.. and I am going to have to tell him all of the disgusting things I have been feeling the last three days. How do you make mucus and vomiting not sound gross. I try to skim the details of my sickness but he asked too many questions. Once we finished he handed me a yellow mask and asked me to wear it over my face. I told him, "oh.. great, I am going to look like Michael Jackson". He didn't find this funny. No sense of humor... bummer. I am guessing my 103 temp and hacking didn't help..
I sit back down for what feels like forever. I kept myself busy by watching the steam fill my glasses every time I exhaled, thanks to my MJ mask. Its the little things.. It was actually quite funny, here we are, in the ER, and still I get judged. Every time I cough every single eye turns to me and they give me the death stare, like I was getting them sick and they were there for fun.A family sitting across from me completely amazed me. The father was sick, and they brought SEVEN people with them to the ER, including three children. The kids had no sense of boundaries or manners. During the time I sat in the waiting room the children managed to step on every scale, sit in EVERY chair, purchase multiple bags of chips, drop them on the floor, and smash them in the carpet. Then walk away. Someone would go meet with the nurses, and the kids would walk in the room like it was their closest relative (and yet, no relation). The nurses kept sending them back to their parents, who didn't even acknowledge the kids awful behavior.
When they finally called me to my room they didn't just call my name but five others.. and made us all walk to our rooms together. This amazed me. I was pretty weak and could have passed out at any minute and they asked us to walk through a hospital. The hospital was PACKED. When we got to the room they just read your last name and said your room. It was unreal.I stayed in the ER most of the evening.
Thankfully my mom and Megan came out and took care of me the rest of the week. There were so many cases of swine flu in Chicago they werent even testing for it, they just treated everyone as if they had it. So I will never know, but I am convinced I had it considering how sick I was.For those of you who havent gotten your flu shots, take it from me, you should.
Long story short, by the third day of feeling sick I admitted myself into the hospital. I crawled out of my infected apartment down the elevator and asked my doorman to get me a cab. He must have thought I was a total Hot Mess. First, I was wearing sweat pants (I never wear sweat pants in public, I). I looked like a real, real disaster. I had my black raider sweat pants on, pink tennis shoes, a baseball cap with my glasses and was as pale as a ghost. I fell into the cab and told the driver Northwestern Hospital, ER. The cab driver immediately shut the window from the front of the cab to the back of the cab. Apparently, I looked contagious and he didn't want to catch this (I don't blame him).
When I got to the hospital it was filled of pathetic looking people like myself. I went to the front desk and some perky front desk attendant asked "HI! How Can I help you!". I responded "drugs". I gave her my information and sat in the filled waiting room. I heard my name called and it was this cute man nurse.. of course I get the cute man.. and I am going to have to tell him all of the disgusting things I have been feeling the last three days. How do you make mucus and vomiting not sound gross. I try to skim the details of my sickness but he asked too many questions. Once we finished he handed me a yellow mask and asked me to wear it over my face. I told him, "oh.. great, I am going to look like Michael Jackson". He didn't find this funny. No sense of humor... bummer. I am guessing my 103 temp and hacking didn't help..
I sit back down for what feels like forever. I kept myself busy by watching the steam fill my glasses every time I exhaled, thanks to my MJ mask. Its the little things.. It was actually quite funny, here we are, in the ER, and still I get judged. Every time I cough every single eye turns to me and they give me the death stare, like I was getting them sick and they were there for fun.A family sitting across from me completely amazed me. The father was sick, and they brought SEVEN people with them to the ER, including three children. The kids had no sense of boundaries or manners. During the time I sat in the waiting room the children managed to step on every scale, sit in EVERY chair, purchase multiple bags of chips, drop them on the floor, and smash them in the carpet. Then walk away. Someone would go meet with the nurses, and the kids would walk in the room like it was their closest relative (and yet, no relation). The nurses kept sending them back to their parents, who didn't even acknowledge the kids awful behavior.
When they finally called me to my room they didn't just call my name but five others.. and made us all walk to our rooms together. This amazed me. I was pretty weak and could have passed out at any minute and they asked us to walk through a hospital. The hospital was PACKED. When we got to the room they just read your last name and said your room. It was unreal.I stayed in the ER most of the evening.
Thankfully my mom and Megan came out and took care of me the rest of the week. There were so many cases of swine flu in Chicago they werent even testing for it, they just treated everyone as if they had it. So I will never know, but I am convinced I had it considering how sick I was.For those of you who havent gotten your flu shots, take it from me, you should.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Rotary Run for Wellness House
I started working at Wellness House in July and on October 18th had my first event.. the Rotary Run for Wellness House. We had over 2,000 runners and raised over $200,000 for Rotary sponsored events and people affected by cancer. It was a great first event! : ) We had a 5K and 3K run, a 5K walk and a 10 step walk!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
The Chicago Marathon
I love a lot of things about Chicago, but now I have something I really HATE about Chicago... and that would be the Chicago Marathon. I should warn you before you read this, I am not exactly laughing about this yet so maybe I should hold off before I blog... oh well.
I had to work at the boutique this weekend. I work 11 - 7 on Saturday and 11 - 5 on Sunday. On Saturday I left my apartment at 10:50 and got to work before 11. This gives you a pretty good idea how long it usually takes me to get to work. I knew the Chicago Marathon was going on this morning, so I left for work at 10:15 to give me extra time. Since I am the only one in the boutique on the weekends if I am not there the shop isnt open.
Anyways, I leave for work and I notice that the streets near me arent closed. At first I think I should stop at a starbucks and get a drink before work since I left SO early, but I decide I will get it closer to the boutique. Traffic was really light down LaSalle, more than ever. I think this is bizarre being a Sunday but keep on driving. I turn down Madison (where the boutique is on) and make it over 90 when I see about a million runners and a closed road. I had to do a U-turn on the bridge and turn around. Shit. This was fun... if I only knew at this time that the U-turn would be the easiest part of my drive...
I turn around and decide I will go a few blocks south and enter from the south opposed to the east. I drive around and every where I go the street is closed at some point. I literally could not find a way to get to work. At this point it was 10:45. I had been trying to get to work for 30 minutes, it was unreal. It was like driving in a maze because the streets were closed all over and you would literally go in circles.
Closer to eleven I go to call my boss to tell her I wasnt going to be on time because I couldnt get to work. While calling her I look in my rear view mirror and noticed cop lights. Shit. I pull over in front of a fire station. Two cops approach my car (real jerks) and tell me I was pulled over for making a right hand turn on red while talking on my cell phone. Apparently, there was a sign, I didnt even notice the light was red but I wasnt going to tell them that. I hand them my licences and tell them when they are done writing me a ticket I would like them to help me find a way to work.
They laugh at me when I tell them the address and told me there was no way I was getting there anytime soon, it was basically impossible. I snarl. They go back to their cop car and I am thinking of all those news reports of poor children in South Chicago and all these important things these cops could be doing to make Chicago a better place. Surely, pulling me over for trying to get to work was not making the cut.
The cops took my licences. They handed me a $135 ticket and a pile of papers. They took my brand new Illinois licences that I struggled to get in the first place (I should REALLY blog about that nightmare). So at this point I am stuck in a huge line of traffic, late for work, and in the ghetto. Wonderful. I was stuck infront of a Catholic church for at least an hour because I was in the same place when the 11:00 bells rang and when the 12:00 bells rang. During this time, I saw two cross dressers, two fender benders and a man beat his son with the sons belt (they were in the car in front of me). I believe I found an area in Chicago I do NOT want to move to next June..
At 12:30 I make it through the second intersection in an hour and a half, and I get stopped in the middle of the intersection because of the line of traffic. Of course, I sat there for 3 light changes. At one point a cop turned his lights on behind me. Wonderful. What was this cop going to do to me, I was literally stuck (and I DIDNT have a license thanks to his partners). He ended up leaving and didn't give me my second ticket for the day.
After more wrong turns and a few hundred U-turns I made it to work.. at 12:45. Almost two hours late, quarter tank of gas, one traffic ticket and a splitting head ache.
I think its official, I hate the logistics of the Chicago Marathon.
I had to work at the boutique this weekend. I work 11 - 7 on Saturday and 11 - 5 on Sunday. On Saturday I left my apartment at 10:50 and got to work before 11. This gives you a pretty good idea how long it usually takes me to get to work. I knew the Chicago Marathon was going on this morning, so I left for work at 10:15 to give me extra time. Since I am the only one in the boutique on the weekends if I am not there the shop isnt open.
Anyways, I leave for work and I notice that the streets near me arent closed. At first I think I should stop at a starbucks and get a drink before work since I left SO early, but I decide I will get it closer to the boutique. Traffic was really light down LaSalle, more than ever. I think this is bizarre being a Sunday but keep on driving. I turn down Madison (where the boutique is on) and make it over 90 when I see about a million runners and a closed road. I had to do a U-turn on the bridge and turn around. Shit. This was fun... if I only knew at this time that the U-turn would be the easiest part of my drive...
I turn around and decide I will go a few blocks south and enter from the south opposed to the east. I drive around and every where I go the street is closed at some point. I literally could not find a way to get to work. At this point it was 10:45. I had been trying to get to work for 30 minutes, it was unreal. It was like driving in a maze because the streets were closed all over and you would literally go in circles.
Closer to eleven I go to call my boss to tell her I wasnt going to be on time because I couldnt get to work. While calling her I look in my rear view mirror and noticed cop lights. Shit. I pull over in front of a fire station. Two cops approach my car (real jerks) and tell me I was pulled over for making a right hand turn on red while talking on my cell phone. Apparently, there was a sign, I didnt even notice the light was red but I wasnt going to tell them that. I hand them my licences and tell them when they are done writing me a ticket I would like them to help me find a way to work.
They laugh at me when I tell them the address and told me there was no way I was getting there anytime soon, it was basically impossible. I snarl. They go back to their cop car and I am thinking of all those news reports of poor children in South Chicago and all these important things these cops could be doing to make Chicago a better place. Surely, pulling me over for trying to get to work was not making the cut.
The cops took my licences. They handed me a $135 ticket and a pile of papers. They took my brand new Illinois licences that I struggled to get in the first place (I should REALLY blog about that nightmare). So at this point I am stuck in a huge line of traffic, late for work, and in the ghetto. Wonderful. I was stuck infront of a Catholic church for at least an hour because I was in the same place when the 11:00 bells rang and when the 12:00 bells rang. During this time, I saw two cross dressers, two fender benders and a man beat his son with the sons belt (they were in the car in front of me). I believe I found an area in Chicago I do NOT want to move to next June..
At 12:30 I make it through the second intersection in an hour and a half, and I get stopped in the middle of the intersection because of the line of traffic. Of course, I sat there for 3 light changes. At one point a cop turned his lights on behind me. Wonderful. What was this cop going to do to me, I was literally stuck (and I DIDNT have a license thanks to his partners). He ended up leaving and didn't give me my second ticket for the day.
After more wrong turns and a few hundred U-turns I made it to work.. at 12:45. Almost two hours late, quarter tank of gas, one traffic ticket and a splitting head ache.
I think its official, I hate the logistics of the Chicago Marathon.
Starting now on, packing LIGHT
So I went last weekend for Mount Union's homecoming : ) It was lots of fun, but as usual, I packed a lot of stuff. I had my largest suit case, my lap top, my shoe bag, some necessary bags from shopping at Crocker Park, and a few other things. I pulled into my building and parked on the top level of the parking garage. This usually isnt a problem because I can take the elevator to my floor. I decide being late I want to take EVERYTHING in one trip. So I figure this out. Put the coat on, pull the suit case and put 4 bags in one arm, 5 in the other. You would think I had just gotten back from a month in Europe, not a weekend in Alliance. I could hardly get through the door with so many bags on both sides of me while pulling a 75 pound suit case. I finally get to the elevator (which felt like FOREVER) when I realize its not working that evening. Of course its not. From there I had two options, to put some stuff back in my car or to carry all this stuff down three flights of stairs to get to the regular elevators. I was debating leaving some stuff in the stair case and come back for it but because of my hysteric fear of mice and other rodents I decided against it. Oh, my, gosh, I pray to God my building doesn't watch the videos of the staircases, because you should have seen me trying to get down three flights of stairs with all these bags. At one point I missed a step and landed in front of the door with half my bags under me and half on top of me. By the time I got to my apt. I was so irritated I left my bags on the floor and I have yet to do anything with them a week later, for now on I am packing light or waiting to see if the elevator works before I make that mistake again!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
"Please drive safely"
Near the intersection where I work there are two lanes and a turning lane for each of the four way stops. Sometimes there are 12 cars stopped at once trying to figure out who is suppose to go next. Needless to say, its a nightmare to drive through. Today, on my way to work a woman was literally STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION wearing a shirt that says "please drive safely" while dodging cars. I swear, in the 4 minutes near the stop I think that I saw her jump out of 4 cars ways. My question, why put yourself in that situation?! She was literally causing accidents, not preventing them. It makes NO sense!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Maybe if my building was ORANGE
So not many things surprise me anymore. But this did...
As many people know visiting cities (or living in them) cab drivers don't have the best record as being careful or cautious drivers. Just the other day I was walking outside my building when I saw a cab swerve, and go FULL speed into my apartment building. People inside the building compared it to an earthquake. From the outside it looked liked something out of a movie. All I know, based on the drivers I have had in the city I am pretty sure I probably had this driver at one point this summer and I was just more lucky.
Note to drivers, if you see large, 24 story buildings, they dont move easily and shouldnt be ignored.
As many people know visiting cities (or living in them) cab drivers don't have the best record as being careful or cautious drivers. Just the other day I was walking outside my building when I saw a cab swerve, and go FULL speed into my apartment building. People inside the building compared it to an earthquake. From the outside it looked liked something out of a movie. All I know, based on the drivers I have had in the city I am pretty sure I probably had this driver at one point this summer and I was just more lucky.
Note to drivers, if you see large, 24 story buildings, they dont move easily and shouldnt be ignored.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Space is moneyyy
So, being in this city with a car has taught me a lot about where money is. If I ever have kids, I am not going to encourage them to be a doctor, or a lawyer, or a successful CEO, I am going to encourage them to build tall cement garages. Space is money people. Parking is a rarity and when you do park, you spend big bucks for that 2 hour spot in the low maintance garage. I think the most rediculous parking fee I have seen so far is $53 for 6 hours, and thats one spot, in one BIG garage. So learn from my empty wallet and find some space, and build a garage : ).
Sunday, September 13, 2009
GET ME A BOWL!
A few weeks ago I was working a two day wedding, the first night was the Indian part and the second part was the Jewish part. The couple were ridiculously unorganized and forgot half the materials for the Indian ceremony. Being one of the wedding planners, they came to me and said "we need a bowl". The only instructions I was given.
They needed this bowl fast, because the ceremony was to begin in about 15 minutes. So I run into the kitchen and tell the kitchen staff I need a bowl, quickly. They give me a small glass bowl. I take it to the officiant, and he screams "NO! BIGGER!". So I go back into the kitchen and get another bowl. I bring it back to them and they yell louder, "NO! This is for A CEREMONY! PRETTIER!" I wanted to tell them beggars shouldnt be choosers, but I bit my lip. I still dont know what this bowl is for, I even asked and they didnt tell me. So I find a nice size black bowl. I bring it back to them and a friend of the bride tells me it will work. So I leave it on the ceremony stage and walk away, as I turn my back I hear the mother of the bride scream at me NO BLACK! NO BLACK! NO BLACK! So I turn to her and shes holding the bowl almost shaking she is so angry. From her anger, I guess black isnt a good sign in the Indian traditions.
Long story short, and 7 trips into the kitchen later, we had to wrap a chaffing dish in foil. Classy, I know. The bowl was used to wash everyones feet in the ceremony. I just hope they didnt use the dish later that night at dinner...
They needed this bowl fast, because the ceremony was to begin in about 15 minutes. So I run into the kitchen and tell the kitchen staff I need a bowl, quickly. They give me a small glass bowl. I take it to the officiant, and he screams "NO! BIGGER!". So I go back into the kitchen and get another bowl. I bring it back to them and they yell louder, "NO! This is for A CEREMONY! PRETTIER!" I wanted to tell them beggars shouldnt be choosers, but I bit my lip. I still dont know what this bowl is for, I even asked and they didnt tell me. So I find a nice size black bowl. I bring it back to them and a friend of the bride tells me it will work. So I leave it on the ceremony stage and walk away, as I turn my back I hear the mother of the bride scream at me NO BLACK! NO BLACK! NO BLACK! So I turn to her and shes holding the bowl almost shaking she is so angry. From her anger, I guess black isnt a good sign in the Indian traditions.
Long story short, and 7 trips into the kitchen later, we had to wrap a chaffing dish in foil. Classy, I know. The bowl was used to wash everyones feet in the ceremony. I just hope they didnt use the dish later that night at dinner...
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