Friday, June 20, 2008
Olive Garden + the mall
Tonight, Erin and I went up to the Olive Garden for dinner. Turns out it's not really that far from where we live (about 3.5 miles). We got in without a wait and loaded up on breadsticks and salads... so much so that we barely ate half of our entrees. Very good. The only time we get Olive Garden is when we go to the 'burbs or we go home to Springfield, so it's a treat. : )After dinner, we went to the mall that is right by the Olive Garden. I think it's the Lincolnwood Mall or something like that. That's another thing we don't get to go to unless we are in the 'burbs or in Springfield. I found a few things and now that I know that it's so close by, I may be making a few more trips there.
Ready for the weekend
I'm really glad it's Friday. I think if this week went on any longer, I'd be bald from pulling all my hair out.
More random stuff for a Friday...
* I had to move my car this morning because I parked in a spot overnight that had to be vacated by 8am. When I came back from moving my car, I picked up the mail. Addressed to me was something from the City of Chicago. Thinking it was my city sticker, I opened it... hello bright orange... hello parking ticket... good-bye $50.
A few weeks ago, I had the remnants of a ticket on my car with nothing else telling me what the ticket was for or how much to pay. This is the second time this has happened... the first time, I did not have a ticket, someone was just playing a prank on me and stuck a partial ticket on my car. This time, I actually did have a ticket and someone was playing a prank, I guess, by taking away the ticket info part off my car. Real funny people, those West-Loopers.
The ticket was for street cleaning in Matt's neighborhood. And, by the way, I looked up the street cleaning schedule and they weren't even supposed to be cleaning that street on that day according to the website. Oh well.
* I decided to take the Metra to work today since it's faster than driving (and cheaper these days). I walked to the bus stop and wouldn't you know it... I just missed the bus to the Metra station. I was waiting for the next bus to come, which should have been less than 10 minutes, but the bus was late and it ended up being 20 minutes. I could have walked to the Metra station in that amount of time! But once I had already waited, I thought it would be silly to start walking and risk missing the bus between stops.
The bus finally comes and I get about a block from the Metra stop and I see the train pulling away... yep, just missed it, too. The woman next to me (who looks like a normal business woman type) starts totally going off and cussing. I'm thinking... geesh, I'm sure there's another one coming in 10 minutes, chill out lady. Nope... not the case. That would be the last train for 50 minutes. FIFTY minutes. I found this out after I got off the bus and went up and read the schedule. That explains why no one else was up at the train stop.
I got back on the next bus and headed to the red line stop and took the el downtown. I got off at the wrong stop and had to backtrack a block. This was seriously the longest commute ever! I think it took over an hour and a half by the time I actually got into my office. UGH!
* Today for lunch, I met up with Amit. We always go to Giordano's for their individual lunch pizzas. He just got back from a trip to France and Portugal, so he was telling me all about it. A friend of his got married in Paris and they had a reception on a boat on the River Seine... how cool is that!
Ok, back to work. Countdown to the weekend... 3 hours...
More random stuff for a Friday...
* I had to move my car this morning because I parked in a spot overnight that had to be vacated by 8am. When I came back from moving my car, I picked up the mail. Addressed to me was something from the City of Chicago. Thinking it was my city sticker, I opened it... hello bright orange... hello parking ticket... good-bye $50.
A few weeks ago, I had the remnants of a ticket on my car with nothing else telling me what the ticket was for or how much to pay. This is the second time this has happened... the first time, I did not have a ticket, someone was just playing a prank on me and stuck a partial ticket on my car. This time, I actually did have a ticket and someone was playing a prank, I guess, by taking away the ticket info part off my car. Real funny people, those West-Loopers.
The ticket was for street cleaning in Matt's neighborhood. And, by the way, I looked up the street cleaning schedule and they weren't even supposed to be cleaning that street on that day according to the website. Oh well.
* I decided to take the Metra to work today since it's faster than driving (and cheaper these days). I walked to the bus stop and wouldn't you know it... I just missed the bus to the Metra station. I was waiting for the next bus to come, which should have been less than 10 minutes, but the bus was late and it ended up being 20 minutes. I could have walked to the Metra station in that amount of time! But once I had already waited, I thought it would be silly to start walking and risk missing the bus between stops.
The bus finally comes and I get about a block from the Metra stop and I see the train pulling away... yep, just missed it, too. The woman next to me (who looks like a normal business woman type) starts totally going off and cussing. I'm thinking... geesh, I'm sure there's another one coming in 10 minutes, chill out lady. Nope... not the case. That would be the last train for 50 minutes. FIFTY minutes. I found this out after I got off the bus and went up and read the schedule. That explains why no one else was up at the train stop.
I got back on the next bus and headed to the red line stop and took the el downtown. I got off at the wrong stop and had to backtrack a block. This was seriously the longest commute ever! I think it took over an hour and a half by the time I actually got into my office. UGH!
* Today for lunch, I met up with Amit. We always go to Giordano's for their individual lunch pizzas. He just got back from a trip to France and Portugal, so he was telling me all about it. A friend of his got married in Paris and they had a reception on a boat on the River Seine... how cool is that!
Ok, back to work. Countdown to the weekend... 3 hours...
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Thursday
So, it's Thursday and this has been the longest week ever. But, since I really have nothing exciting to tell you, unless it's about the forecasts I've been running all week and how my eyes are crossing from looking at so many tiny numbers... I'll just list a few random notes.
* Today, in my building, a guy got out of the elevator on the floor below me (he works for my same company, but I didn't recognize him). While the doors were still open, the rest of us left in the elevator watched him use his security card to open the door to the floor. The funniest thing was right as he got off the elevator, he let out this HUGE sigh and dropped his head, slumped his body and made a totally dramatic effort to touch his security card to the sensor to unlock the door. It was like he was 5 yrs old and going to the dentist and forcing himself to open the door and go in. I was half expecting him to lie down on the floor and throw a fit or something! I know we've all been there, where the last place on earth you want to be is at work, but this was just comical. I think this dude needs a Friday really soon!
* Yesterday, on my way to work, I passed this girl on the street corner at Washington & Wacker and she had one of those huge signs on her that said "Why lie? I need a job!" and she was handing out resumes like they were coupons to McDonald's or something. Underneath the big sign, she had on a business suit. I heard her asking people "are you hiring?". Interesting approach... I wonder how many emails she got from random freaks that took her resume, though.
* On Monday, I almost forgot about the Bachelorette being on tv. Matt made it back from Indy right as the second half of the show was starting and he reminded me. Actually, he didn't like what I was watching, so he was getting ready to flip around and he saw that the Bachelorette was on tv and said he couldn't believe I wasn't watching it. Me either! I think it's between Jason and Graham as to who she's going to pick. At least, I hope it's not Jeremy. Graham is starting to grow on me more. Next week, she gets to meet the families. I wonder if anyone will pull something like what happened on the Bachelor London Calling... that was a riot. One of the girls hired actors to be her parents when the bachelor came to visit. The "mom" hit on the bachelor and made all kinds of uncomfortable conversation. He was definitely squirming.
* The other day, I got an email from LinkedIn from a guy I dated right after I got out of college in St. Louis... over 10 years ago. He and I dated for like 3 months and it definitely wasn't serious to me. It was a little more serious to him (he was a few years older than me), which is why it didn't last long. Anyway, he sends me this request to be in his LinkedIn network. On a side note, I didn't even realize I was on LinkedIn to tell you the truth and I don't know all that much about it... but basically, I think it's like a professional Facebook. So, you have contacts you can use for business purposes, jobs, networking, etc. ANYWAY, apparently, this guy has been holding quite a grudge against me and our failed relationship, because he writes to me that he thinks I'm "a complete and total bitch", but that he "would still like me to join his professional network" and that "maybe we can get along professionally". Seriously??? Why would I want to join his "network" after that? What kind of person thinks that that is a good lead-in to getting someone to work with you professionally - um yeah, I'll call her a bitch, that'll work? Geesh... must I remind him that we dated for like 3 months over 10 years ago! And what does he need a (pseudo) retirement actuary for anyway? Nothing... except to get something off his chest. I'm half tempted to write him back and say "Feel better now?" or "Hold a grudge much?"... but I'm just going to ignore the whole thing.
Well, that's all I got for now. Back to those tiny numbers.
* Today, in my building, a guy got out of the elevator on the floor below me (he works for my same company, but I didn't recognize him). While the doors were still open, the rest of us left in the elevator watched him use his security card to open the door to the floor. The funniest thing was right as he got off the elevator, he let out this HUGE sigh and dropped his head, slumped his body and made a totally dramatic effort to touch his security card to the sensor to unlock the door. It was like he was 5 yrs old and going to the dentist and forcing himself to open the door and go in. I was half expecting him to lie down on the floor and throw a fit or something! I know we've all been there, where the last place on earth you want to be is at work, but this was just comical. I think this dude needs a Friday really soon!
* Yesterday, on my way to work, I passed this girl on the street corner at Washington & Wacker and she had one of those huge signs on her that said "Why lie? I need a job!" and she was handing out resumes like they were coupons to McDonald's or something. Underneath the big sign, she had on a business suit. I heard her asking people "are you hiring?". Interesting approach... I wonder how many emails she got from random freaks that took her resume, though.
* On Monday, I almost forgot about the Bachelorette being on tv. Matt made it back from Indy right as the second half of the show was starting and he reminded me. Actually, he didn't like what I was watching, so he was getting ready to flip around and he saw that the Bachelorette was on tv and said he couldn't believe I wasn't watching it. Me either! I think it's between Jason and Graham as to who she's going to pick. At least, I hope it's not Jeremy. Graham is starting to grow on me more. Next week, she gets to meet the families. I wonder if anyone will pull something like what happened on the Bachelor London Calling... that was a riot. One of the girls hired actors to be her parents when the bachelor came to visit. The "mom" hit on the bachelor and made all kinds of uncomfortable conversation. He was definitely squirming.
* The other day, I got an email from LinkedIn from a guy I dated right after I got out of college in St. Louis... over 10 years ago. He and I dated for like 3 months and it definitely wasn't serious to me. It was a little more serious to him (he was a few years older than me), which is why it didn't last long. Anyway, he sends me this request to be in his LinkedIn network. On a side note, I didn't even realize I was on LinkedIn to tell you the truth and I don't know all that much about it... but basically, I think it's like a professional Facebook. So, you have contacts you can use for business purposes, jobs, networking, etc. ANYWAY, apparently, this guy has been holding quite a grudge against me and our failed relationship, because he writes to me that he thinks I'm "a complete and total bitch", but that he "would still like me to join his professional network" and that "maybe we can get along professionally". Seriously??? Why would I want to join his "network" after that? What kind of person thinks that that is a good lead-in to getting someone to work with you professionally - um yeah, I'll call her a bitch, that'll work? Geesh... must I remind him that we dated for like 3 months over 10 years ago! And what does he need a (pseudo) retirement actuary for anyway? Nothing... except to get something off his chest. I'm half tempted to write him back and say "Feel better now?" or "Hold a grudge much?"... but I'm just going to ignore the whole thing.
Well, that's all I got for now. Back to those tiny numbers.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Jam packed
My weekend felt more like four days than just a couple... even though it was really relaxing and nice to get away from the city, it seems like we were constantly busy.
On Friday night, I met up with Erin and we went to the nail salon by our house and got manicures/pedicures and then hit the Daily Bar & Grill for dinner. I ordered a total comfort food dinner, so after the combination of mani/pedi (which on it's own always puts me to sleep) and the big dinner... I was really wiped out!
On Saturday morning, I got up early(-ish) and drove to Peru, Indiana to meet up with Matt. I went straight to the Bontragers' house. They had made an awesome lunch, which was great because I was totally starving. After lunch, we headed to the Peru Municipal Golf Course. This is where Matt worked throughout high school and on his college summer breaks.
We played 9 holes of golf... my goal was to get under 10 on a hole. Yep, I'm pretty awful. I almost did it on the last hole, but of course, Matt gave me a "pep talk" right before my putt and it totally made me choke. So, alas... another 10.
A couple of action shots
After the golf, we headed back to the Bontragers' to clean up and got on the road to Indianapolis. We stopped off in Kokomo at Elder-Beerman to pick up a gift for Ruby Jane. Matt found some good deals on summer clothes (my mom would be proud). We found a cute little frog outfit and a green summer dress with a hat for Ruby. The hat looked super cute on her... but I think she was more impressed with the box! : )
A couple other pics that Jenn took.
Ruby and me
And Ruby in her outfit we bought her
We hung out with Ryan & Jen and Pat & Courtney on Sat night. Ryan grilled out chicken and Jen made mac-n-cheese and salad... all very good. We sat outside by the firepit drinking and chatting after dinner until we were all falling asleep. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pics of all of us from the night.
On Sunday, we got up and again sat outside and enjoyed the nice sunny weather. Matt and I decided to do a little shopping in Indianapolis before heading back to Peru. We went to Clay Terrace and grabbed lunch at Red Robin. They have free refills on steak fries... interesting concept, but our sandwiches were so huge, we barely finished the fries on our plates. After that, we walked around the outdoor mall and stopped in a few shops. Matt found some more shorts and I found some shoes... because I don't have enough already! I swear... I'm beginning to give Imelda Marcos a run for her money.
After the shopping, we went back to Peru... quickest trip ever (it helped that I totally passed out between Kokomo and Peru).
Again, we went to the golf course to play a few more holes. This time, I actually got a few 9's, but no 8's. It's a slow process.
Matt played a hole with his old JV b-ball coach/math teacher and his golf coach.
We played a few more holes with his golf coach and then the lightening started and the sky turned a nice shade of black... time to call it a day.
We ordered a pizza from Pizza King and went back to the Bontragers' for the night. There was a crazy storm with tons of high winds and rain. I was worried the windows were going to break in! This is why I decided to stay in Indy for the night instead of driving back to Chicago. I came back this morning (Monday) instead.
Happy (belated) Father's Day to all the dads out there! : )
And especially to my dad!
Thanks for putting up with me... I'm sure a few of those gray hairs are my fault! : )
On Friday night, I met up with Erin and we went to the nail salon by our house and got manicures/pedicures and then hit the Daily Bar & Grill for dinner. I ordered a total comfort food dinner, so after the combination of mani/pedi (which on it's own always puts me to sleep) and the big dinner... I was really wiped out!
On Saturday morning, I got up early(-ish) and drove to Peru, Indiana to meet up with Matt. I went straight to the Bontragers' house. They had made an awesome lunch, which was great because I was totally starving. After lunch, we headed to the Peru Municipal Golf Course. This is where Matt worked throughout high school and on his college summer breaks.
We played 9 holes of golf... my goal was to get under 10 on a hole. Yep, I'm pretty awful. I almost did it on the last hole, but of course, Matt gave me a "pep talk" right before my putt and it totally made me choke. So, alas... another 10.
A couple of action shots
After the golf, we headed back to the Bontragers' to clean up and got on the road to Indianapolis. We stopped off in Kokomo at Elder-Beerman to pick up a gift for Ruby Jane. Matt found some good deals on summer clothes (my mom would be proud). We found a cute little frog outfit and a green summer dress with a hat for Ruby. The hat looked super cute on her... but I think she was more impressed with the box! : )
A couple other pics that Jenn took.
Ruby and me
And Ruby in her outfit we bought her
We hung out with Ryan & Jen and Pat & Courtney on Sat night. Ryan grilled out chicken and Jen made mac-n-cheese and salad... all very good. We sat outside by the firepit drinking and chatting after dinner until we were all falling asleep. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pics of all of us from the night.
On Sunday, we got up and again sat outside and enjoyed the nice sunny weather. Matt and I decided to do a little shopping in Indianapolis before heading back to Peru. We went to Clay Terrace and grabbed lunch at Red Robin. They have free refills on steak fries... interesting concept, but our sandwiches were so huge, we barely finished the fries on our plates. After that, we walked around the outdoor mall and stopped in a few shops. Matt found some more shorts and I found some shoes... because I don't have enough already! I swear... I'm beginning to give Imelda Marcos a run for her money.
After the shopping, we went back to Peru... quickest trip ever (it helped that I totally passed out between Kokomo and Peru).
Again, we went to the golf course to play a few more holes. This time, I actually got a few 9's, but no 8's. It's a slow process.
Matt played a hole with his old JV b-ball coach/math teacher and his golf coach.
We played a few more holes with his golf coach and then the lightening started and the sky turned a nice shade of black... time to call it a day.
We ordered a pizza from Pizza King and went back to the Bontragers' for the night. There was a crazy storm with tons of high winds and rain. I was worried the windows were going to break in! This is why I decided to stay in Indy for the night instead of driving back to Chicago. I came back this morning (Monday) instead.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Happy Father's Day!
Happy (belated) Father's Day to all the dads out there! : )
And especially to my dad!
Thanks for putting up with me... I'm sure a few of those gray hairs are my fault! : )
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Slacker
I'm slacking on blogging lately... not that you are missing much, though.
Let's see... Monday, I watched The Bachelorette. She had a big melt-down and kicked off some guys. I felt bad for Fred (the lawyer from Chicago), but I agree she shouldn't lead him on and keep him around. He's too nice of a guy to do that to. I can't believe Twilley is still around. Maybe she's got a thing for him. Who knows. He is quite a character to watch, though. I'm still leaning towards Jason (the single dad). Other than that, I'm not too impressed. Graham is ok, but he seems like he would be a little high maintenance as a boyfriend, if you ask me. We'll see how everything unfolds.
Tuesday, Matt & I tried out the new sushi restaurant in his 'hood, Kudo Sushi. It was ok. I liked the rolls I picked out - one was like a little baked crab casserole wrapped in seaweed and pretty tasty. The other was spicy tuna, which was deccent, but nothing spectacular. Matt said the pieces of fish he got were smaller than other places we've gone and not all that impressive. So, it looks like we'll be sticking to Izumi and my favorite strawberry roll!
Last night, I cooked dinner for Matt since he was working late. I made this garlic chicken and pasta type casserole thing... some sort of Campbell's soup recipe. Matt wasn't all that impressed. Neither was I, really. It was edible, but we both thought it wouldn't be something I should make again. : ( Then, we watched Top Chef - Stephanie won - yay! I definitely liked her the best - judging by personality, I guess... it's not like I actually tasted any of her food and thought she was a superior chef or something. But, speaking of tasting her food, Michelle tells me Stephanie is already working on opening a restaurant here in Chicago, so we may get a chance after all. : )
Today is Matt's "Friday". He's heading to Peru, Indiana tonight for a long weekend to play some golf and enjoy some time off. I'm meeting up with him on Saturday and we're going to visit his friend Ryan, Ryan's wife Jen and their baby Ruby Jane in Indianapolis. I may play a short game of golf myself while I'm there... at least until Matt or myself gets frustrated enough to throw in the towel and be done with it.
Let's see... Monday, I watched The Bachelorette. She had a big melt-down and kicked off some guys. I felt bad for Fred (the lawyer from Chicago), but I agree she shouldn't lead him on and keep him around. He's too nice of a guy to do that to. I can't believe Twilley is still around. Maybe she's got a thing for him. Who knows. He is quite a character to watch, though. I'm still leaning towards Jason (the single dad). Other than that, I'm not too impressed. Graham is ok, but he seems like he would be a little high maintenance as a boyfriend, if you ask me. We'll see how everything unfolds.
Tuesday, Matt & I tried out the new sushi restaurant in his 'hood, Kudo Sushi. It was ok. I liked the rolls I picked out - one was like a little baked crab casserole wrapped in seaweed and pretty tasty. The other was spicy tuna, which was deccent, but nothing spectacular. Matt said the pieces of fish he got were smaller than other places we've gone and not all that impressive. So, it looks like we'll be sticking to Izumi and my favorite strawberry roll!
Last night, I cooked dinner for Matt since he was working late. I made this garlic chicken and pasta type casserole thing... some sort of Campbell's soup recipe. Matt wasn't all that impressed. Neither was I, really. It was edible, but we both thought it wouldn't be something I should make again. : ( Then, we watched Top Chef - Stephanie won - yay! I definitely liked her the best - judging by personality, I guess... it's not like I actually tasted any of her food and thought she was a superior chef or something. But, speaking of tasting her food, Michelle tells me Stephanie is already working on opening a restaurant here in Chicago, so we may get a chance after all. : )
Today is Matt's "Friday". He's heading to Peru, Indiana tonight for a long weekend to play some golf and enjoy some time off. I'm meeting up with him on Saturday and we're going to visit his friend Ryan, Ryan's wife Jen and their baby Ruby Jane in Indianapolis. I may play a short game of golf myself while I'm there... at least until Matt or myself gets frustrated enough to throw in the towel and be done with it.
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