City of the Big Shoulders

[days_unfolding]

Woke up a couple of different times, but got up a little before my alarm. Took a leisurely time getting myself together. Ate breakfast (a Pop Tart) and lunch (my leftover peanut butter sandwich) and checked out of the hotel. I told them about the faucet. I was kind of hoping that they'd comp me lunch because of it but no dice. Found the bus stop. Made it to Union Station.

Chicago people are nice. I don't know where big cities get such a bad rep. People were thanking the bus driver. (I did too.) When I went to New York many years ago, people were nice there too.

But Chicago drivers are the worst. The nice Midwestern people turn into demons in a car. I hate driving in Chicago and I refuse to drive downtown. I was impressed by the bus driver weaving in and out of traffic.

I always loved Michigan Avenue because you had ladies in fur coats (back when that was a thing) and homeless people and tourists walking on the same street. Taking the bus is a democratic enterprise too because no one wants to drive downtown. You had a lady with a designer bag and kids and one downstate person with lots of luggage (me). I was enjoying the drive downtown and I gawked at the buildings. Downtown Chicago is very nice.

I remember when my goal was to get a job at a library in Chicago. How different my life would have been. But I'll be happy to live in Champaign when I get there.

Now I'm in Union Station. I enjoy people watching here too. I have lots of time to kill, but I brought Italian to study (done).

I knocked over my soda and spilled some of it on the floor. I looked for an Amtrak person to get someone to clean it up, but couldn't find one. So I mopped it up with my pajamas. Whatever works :)

I was reading about Buy Nothing groups, and there's one in Champaign. You have to live there to join though. Bummer.

Got hungry and ate a very expensive burger and fries at McDonalds in the station. It was quiet and I got a nice seat though. A little girl outside the window was waving at me and I waved back.

On the train. We were making good time until right after the stop before mine when we stopped for two trains to go by. We got in almost an hour late.

The girls are happy that I'm back. My lap has been busy.

Talked to Mom. She's been having digestive issues. A handyman that helps her sometimes has kind of adopted her and is helping her with the yard. Her surgery is coming up soon. One more pre-surgery test and then the surgery.

I've decided to skip Italian tomorrow and sleep in. I think that I need the sleep.