Sometimes, I love Chicago
I think I am using up my quota of fun for the year in one weekend. I worked Monday and Tuesday, and then Wednesday and Thursday I had sales training classes in Cicero, which happens to be just a hop, skip and a jump away from the city. Aarti's friend Jan is in town from Germany this week visiting, so I decided to hang out with them a bit. I think this was his first time to Chicago, so they were/are trying to fit as much in as possible.
On Wednesday, I went to Aarti's after work, and we drove around the city a little (in rush hour traffic... I wouldn't recommend it). We stopped and got tickets to I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at Hot Tix for half-price. Then we went down and took a tiny visit to Buckingham Fountain, then to pick up Smita from work. We had dinner at Giordano's, then headed up to the Royal George Theatre for the play. It was a TINY theatre, with actual chairs set up to sit in. We were in the fourth row, and it was quite a cute and amusing show. We laughed a lot. I ended up getting home LATE LATE LATE.
I had four hours of sleep before I had to get up and be out the door to pick up one of my coworkers (as in that we were in the same training class, not as in we work together on a regular basis) to take him to training. We ended up getting there a bit late, because we didn't take the expressway. Oops. All said and done, I was on the road for nearly two hours in the morning. 6:45 until 8:35. Yuck. But that's okay.
After work on Thursday, I met up with Aarti and Jan again. This time, we got tickets for Tony and Tina's Wedding. Emily met us at Piper's Alley. The show was not how I expected it to be, but was enjoyable just the same. It was as if we actually WERE at Tony and Tina's wedding. We started out in the bar, milling around. The other guests, the photographer, the wedding party, everyone was there. Then we headed into the chapel for the ceremony. Sister Teri taught us a song to sing, and Tony and Tina got married. Not without a few interesting events, though. After the ceremony, we headed to Vinnie Black's reception hall for the reception. We were served a traditional Italian meal buffet-style (which really was some pretty bad pasta and some not-so-good champagne, but it was all in fun). We danced a LOT, there was more family drama, it was a good time. We had the wedding cake (also not top-quality *g*), and then one of Tina's bridesmaids was proposed to by one of the groomsmen as we were heading out the door. Very cute.
Afterwards, Aarti, Jan and I headed to the Green Mill, a jazz club... on the north side? We took the L, so I'm not sure *exactly* where it was. It was VERY cool, though. Aarti and I were carded, and Jan was not. He found that very amusing.
Today, we are going to Oak Park for a little self-guided tour of the nice houses, and possibly to the John Hancock Building. I'm not sure what else we'll do, but it's guaranteed to be more fun than working today! I'm definitely glad to have a Friday off. I have to work tomorrow, but that's okay. Heehee.