Chicago!

Soooo, I've been procrastinating on this post because I'm ashamed that I only managed to take about 10 pictures of my trip. Most of the photoging was done by the birthday girl and she has yet to share. Some of them may not be suitable for internet consumption. I'm just saying. Here's how it went down...

Flew out of the local airport...granted, its only about a 5 hour drive to Chicago but I felt like being a frivolous sack of poo. My friend, we shall call her Chipmunk*, can't drive because of an eye thing so flying seemed the way to go. Chipmunk and I made it there in one piece and after a harrowing taxi excursion made it to our other friend, we shall call her Noodles*, at her office. Noodles thought that it would be brilliant to bribe the receptionist to call security on us. She feigned knowledge of Noodles' existence and Chipmunk and I were borderline panicking. At the last minute Noodles appeared cackling. Receptionist gets 1 cool point for going along and not cracking a smile once.

After not getting snacks on the plane, Chipmunk and I ran across 6 lanes of traffic to get McDonald's. Icky man held open the door for Chipmunk and then offered to give her a ride to wherever she wanted to go. One can only imagine where icky people take Chipmunks.

We promptly packed up Noodles and went to an 80's music thingy clear across town. I was able to see how aggressive Noodles' driving has become as well as learn all about Chicago rush hour. We managed to miss the first two bands because of traffic. We did, however, get to see Joan Jett, REO Speedwagon, ZZ Top, and how much beer 60 bucks will get 3 grown women at a concert. Not much, surprisingly. It was the first utterance of the weekend motto "Oh fuck it, we're on vacation". Ended up leaving the concert a little early because amazingly, Chicago really is the windy city...the freezing, windy city.

Next day, the three of us decide to do some major damage at the mall. Decide to get lunch first to curb the "I feel so cute in this, I must buy it" factor. Ate at a hugenormous salad bar place called Sweet Tomatoes. We need one in Iowa. They're fabulous. I ate my own weight in pasta salad and kalamata olives. The remaining time at the mall was a blur of clothes, shoes, and pedicure. When we made it back to Noodles' place, her boyfriend had made us dinner and margaritas (I have thus accepted him into the family). Afterward was spent wandering around the Edison Park bars and meeting the natives. Most of them seem to be male. It was abnormal, but not necessarily in a bad way. Good time was had by all.

Next day, sleep till noon. "Sleep" being used loosely as neighbor has yappy dog with an early wakeup call. Get around and go to the beach. Noodles:tan. Chipmunk:tan. Em:Albino. I stuck out on the beach like a giant beacon of sparkly white light. Spent most of the day with my face covered taking a nap. I did remember to wear sunscreen...except I have funny little sunburn lines on my stomach and hips where the sunscreen didn't reach when I was applying it sitting up (stupid stupid stupid!). Lesson learned. Add it to my collection of utterly ridiculous tanlines. Noodles got scorched...all hail mighty sunscreen.

Postbeach, I felt like I was starting to get sick. Headache, sinuses, achy...unpleasant. We got all dolled up and made our way to Wrigleyville. Let the record show that we were running late for the train and ended up having to run to catch it...in 4 inch heels. I have the blisters to prove it (say it with me, stupid stupid stupid! but cute...). I felt like hell all night and had little motivation to buy 12 dollar drinks so we ended up calling it an earlyish night. Noodles and Chipmunk were mildly peeved but I think they're over it now.

Next day, sleep til noon. Had aspired to go to a cubs game but it started at 1 something and we were moving at a snails pace. Ended up going downtown and wandering around the Field Museum and Millenium Park (behold the shiny giant bean). Had a relaxing dinner and then realized that we were running late for the train. Again. This time we had to run about 2 blocks but I was smart enough to be wearing flip flops. Chipmunk made it back with about 5 minutes to pack and get to the airport before her flight left. I had a later flight so it wasn't nearly as bad.

My flight had about a half hour delay because apparently they decided to send the tarmac people home and there was no one to wheel us away from the walkway thinger 20 feet. It was chaos watching the little dudes in golf carts figure out who was sposed to be taking care of it. I wished I had a squirt gun so I could soak one of them until they just shut up and did it. Ended up getting in super late. Woke Chipmunk up where she was waiting at the airport and we made it home after a punchy drive.

Great trip, hardly any pictures to prove it, still tired, still have half my stuff in the suitcase, spent too much money, don't regret any of it.

*Chipmunk gets her name because on occasion she makes a goofy little chattery noise and acts hyper like said creature (I call her Chipmunk to her face, no worries). Noodles gets her name because at any point in time you will find her eating pasta. I think she ate spaghetti for breakfast at least twice while I was there, god bless her carb loving heart. I wonder what kind of name they would give me...if Sarcastic Bitch weren't so obvious...