Archive | January, 2010

Chicago: Am I the only person…

20 Jan

…who experiences “sea legs” after crossing one of Chicago’s bridges on foot while a bus drives over it? (It bobs and sways enough that I feel like I’m walking on a trampoline afterward.)

…who looks at ice floating down the river, sees it as a game of Frogger and starts mentally selecting the chunks of ice I think would support me to get across if I needed to?

Dinner?

…who wonders if the pigeons that stand a bit too close to Chicago’s Eternal Flame when warming themselves ever stand there too long and become roasted chicken for the homeless?

…who finds it odd how empty the downtown streets are around 6pm on a weeknight? I’ve never seen another city where so many people routinely get off work at 5pm on the dot. I thought that was a myth of the 50s.

…who doesn’t understand why homeless people stay in Chicago when they could panhandle in warmer climates?

Is it me or the eggs? Be honest.

19 Jan

I know everyone thinks salespeople just wine and dine clients, that our lives are an endless schmooze-fest of extravagant meals, golf scrambles and executive boxes at sporting venues. Maybe I’m the exception, but I’ve never worked for a company where that was part of the package. (Perhaps because I really don’t consider myself a salesperson and wouldn’t be attracted to a company that wanted me to play the part?)

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Travel Notebook: Chicago in January

19 Jan

I travel a lot for work. Usually I slide in on a Monday morning and peel out Wednesday or Thursday afternoons. This week I arrived in Chicago a day early so I could visit my college roommate, Karen before all hell broke loose on the work-front.

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Recession: #FAIL

18 Jan

I doubt I need to remind anyone that we’re in the throes of a recession. There are reminders everywhere you turn.

In my office, we used to celebrate birthdays or anniversaries with lunch for the team and a birthday cake from the German deli downstairs. This year, we buy one cupcake for the honoree and the rest of us circle like pack dogs, drooling enviously. Sometimes I go all-out and dedicate my Facebook Status to the person for the day because – hey, I’m generous like that!

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Confirmed: I am 12 years old

17 Jan

Either I’m losing my hearing, or my immaturity has reached new lows.

I’m at National Airport in DC, getting ready to head to Chicago to work for the week. When I went through security, I was pulled aside to have a wand thrust into my backpack to check for chemicals. I guess this is what happens when terrorists try to ignite their crotches: my bag stuffed with Jelly Bellies suddenly seems threatening. Or maybe they thought I was mentally challenged drug smuggler who had hundreds of tablets stuffed in a baggie in plain sight.

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