Chicag'

Yep, so Sumeep and myself managed to catch a plane over to Illinois to check out what was going down in Chicago.  In February.  So, not much.

Despite the cold that punished us as we walked the streets, I had quite a nice time.  The city looked pretty sketchy from our subway vantage point coming in from O'Hare, but once we walked downtown from our hostel in Greektown (hostel name: The Parthenon) things brightened up.  The buildings are kinda neat, and so is the El, as long as it doesn't kill you with sparks as you pass underneath. I doubt it's possible. ... but, I'll still cringe when it goes overhead.

Basically, our strategy was to see the city in between Starbucks/Dunkin' Donuts stops.  In there, we walked along the shorefront, visited Millenium Park and the bean (best idea EVER making that thing, except for maybe the price of it), did up the Art Institute (yes, I did see Nighthawks, but almost got run over by a rampaging horde of children with their chairs in the process) and the Cultural Center (although I couldn't get Sarabia/Xul Solar off the brain in there), visited the lovely (and wonderfully free) Garfield Conservatory, and went up the Sears Tower, where I was pleasantly greeted by two Obama cut-outs, which I of course took pictures with.  (See Figure A, above.) 

In other excitement, I discovered Sumeep's love of water fountains and gift shops, how utterly ghetto Chicago's subway system is, and REdiscovered the deliciousness of bread and cheese.  I whipped out that particular lunch at the Auto Show amidst the fudge, deep dish pizza and hot dog stands and was promptly stared at.  Well maybe I didn't get stared at, but my food most certainly did. Ah, how good does it feel to stand out.  Cheeeeeeese...

My CS contacts ultimately all flaked out on me, but 'tis the spirit of the surfers, so we just rolled with it and made new ones via skating Thursday night at Millennium Park. Sumeep was a great sport and let me fly around the rink for a couple hours before we feasted on pizza, beer and, in my case, an awesome cookie and ice cream dessert.

We emerged without making any real souvenir purchases outside postcards although I did eye the "Yes We Can" shirts/mugs with the intention of getting Jeannine an inspirational present. :)  

Not real happy with the amount of work (none) gotten done this week, but having seen Joce and Dam, vegging out with banana bread, and going to Chicago, all in all it wasn't too bad. 

Cannot wait till next weekend, when I promise, I'll get ahead on all my schoolwork.... and go to Jonathan's fuck-you-comps party, and have possibly a first date?!?

Bring it on, week.