I.L.L.I.N.O.I.S.

Still in Chicago, which really is windy, and also quite cold (48 today!). In general I'm having a nice time, though. The training course (on the new ECM we'll be required to use for site management starting this summer) is vaguely interesting and my company always does things in style.

The highlights so far include:

• Dinner and murder mystery theater in the Signature Room in the Hancock Building
• Deep dish pizza at Giordano's
• Arriving to O'Hare on time and timing the El perfectly so I didn't even have to wait for a train
• Shopping at Filene's Basement and Nordstrom Rack - I didn't buy anything, but had fun trying on dresses
• a quick stop at The Chicago Public Library

Another day of training and then I'm off to Arkansas for Memorial Day weekend.

What I got for my 5 dollars

One of the reasons that I don't usually come in the office on Friday's is that we have to pay $5 to wear jeans - a donation to one of the non-profits the company I work for supports. I like wearing jeans as much as the next guy, but $5 seems a bit steep.

Of course, at 10:40 am today, I "had to" walk over to Starbucks to buy my once a week latte. The tall soy latte is $3 and some change - I leave the change in the tip jar. That, plus the dollar I gave to the very pleasant homeless guy this morning and I figure I'm breaking even.

On a side note - holy crap, it's gorgeous here today. I love these Spring days in Austin, but it makes me nervous when they happen during SXSW since I'm afraid people won't go home. Seriously, LA-sters, don't move here. (Unless your name rhymes with Maura Briswell - then it's ok).

To Boston and Back

Quick trip to Boston Thursday & Friday for meetings with my team. We mostly meet virtually (since we have 1 in Chicago, 2 in Austin, 1 in DC and 3 in Boston) but try to get some face time every quarter or so. I love everyone I work with, and of course had a great time. The highlight was dinner at Sorrelina - I had an incredible butternut squash ravioli in a fig and brown butter sauce, and sampled some of the out of this world truffled garlic fries. After dinner, we headed over to Bar 10 (conviently located in the hotel where I'd later pour myself into bed). Good times.

On the plane ride home I read most of a really fabulous book called Hunting and Gathering. I've been really loving a lot of books lately (thank you, Scott Westerfeld and Rick Riordan), but I was completely swept up the story of 4 misfits living in Paris. The maudlin singer songwriter mix on my IPod (Sufjan Stevens, Feist, Ben Lee, Elliot Smith and Matt the Electrician) was the perfect accompaniment.

As a side note, I'm slowly telling friends and loved ones that I'm blogging (Hi, Laura!) and John threw a bit of a fit this morning about it because he wants me to keep posting on his blog. That was actually always my intention - this seems like a good spot for more personal stuff, assorted other postings will be at the Backporch. Sometimes I'll duplicate, but will try to keep to a minimum.