A Little Bit of Lactic Acid Does a Body Good

I rode a large portion of the Lake Shore Path today on my commuter. It was a bit difficult because there was a really nasty side wind that cut across the lake. Normally I don't mind side winds, but because this one was coming off the lake I had almost no proctection from it for the entirety of the ride. It was probably good for me though, because I got a hell of a workout, and now I'm pretty much dead.

I made it up to about Fullerton and then turned back and stopped at Navy Pier on my way to Hyde Park. Navy Pier was bustling with people. Tourists. The type of people who stop in front of you to take a picture, and then you almost hit them. The type who doesn't know how to steer a bike on the Lake Shore Path and you almost collide with them. Small Children. Old People.

I guess I get a little bit of road rage when I'm riding my bike. I'm so used to riding in the middle of nowhere, farmland, where you don't see a person for miles. When I get out on the Lake Shore Path and there are thousands of people doing every sort of sport imaginable, I guess I get a little impatient. I nearly hit a girl who was riding an old bike and texting. While that was on purpose. There were also groups of families riding along that I yelled MOVE OVER at on several occasions. I'm probably the asshole biker that everyone complains about.

At Navy Pier I bought a lemon ice. It was amazing. I was going to get those cinnamon roasted cashews that you can only find on the street in New York, the fair, and Navy Pier. But then I saw the lemon ice and I was sold. Now I really want the nuts. Damn.

I probably won't get out on the Lake Shore Path again this year. My bike goes home on Friday, and between now and then I have a ridiculous amount of things to do.

But then when I get home I get to reunite with my baby (aka my Scott road bike) and then maybe I'll actually get to ride it outside (for the first time EVER).

Until then, hot legs workout?

Orange dans le Tour

Sweet blog I just found. It's in French though...

But seriously, it has great behind the Tour de France features... an industry I would love to work in someday. I think I would be very good at logistics and planning of a three week event. I've even considered sending a resume to Chicago 2016 on several occasions, but have to decided to wait until I hear if they get the nod or not.

Orange dans le Tour

Big Gray Plastic Tubs

So the goal for the weekend is to move all of this:







...into those 15 gallon (or whatever) gray plastic tubs that you buy from Target. Its gonna be a bitch, let me tell you. Especially because I'm pretty sure 6 tubs won't do it, and I'm too afraid to ride the Green Line to Target (because of the derailment yesterday). Should make for an interesting weekend.

Last Day At My First Big Kid Job

Today was my last day the the 3rd Ward Alderman's Office. It was supposed to be a nice relaxing day, with a lunch in my honor... and then the Green Line derailed and we had to do damage control on the phones the whole time (because they cut the power to the whole neighborhood, and people were pissed... and the press wanted a statement from the Alderman).

Aside from the drama, I really enj0yed my time at the Alderman's Office. It was almost like a real desk job. I had my own desk, a computer, and a telephone. Ok, I had to share it with like three other people, but still.

I learned a lot of important things working for the Alderman. I got a new perspective on the South Side Community, and I learned the ins and outs of Chicago Power Politics. I also got to help bust a few prostitution rings.

I learned a few life skills too. I had my first real boss, one that demanded a lot from me (and scared the hell out of me). I was most certainly the bottom of the food chain, and had to work my way up to gain the respect of my co-workers (my first desk was in the hallway, no computer, no phone). I went from being the file bitch to the go to girl for all things computer. And I met a lot of cool people that I probably wouldn't have met normally.

I don't know if I'll go back to working at the 3rd Ward when I return from Paris. I do know, for sure, that I do not want to work in Chicago Politics. Those Daley's... damn, they've got this city wrapped around their fingers (and that's why shit like the Green Line derailing happens in the first place).

For now, I'm more or less unemployed until the first day of Camp (June 16th!), although I do have some meetings before then. Just means I'm going to get real poor, real fast.

Leaving Chicago

School finishes on the 13th of June for me. Friday the 13th. It's still three weeks out, but with an early move out date (June 6th) and finals, time is running short. That said I've begun to realize that I've only got a three weeks left in Chicago, and little time to enjoy the city. So here is a little list of a few of the things that I would like to try (trrry) to do while I'm still here, seeing as once I leave I won't be back for at least 9 months.

-Goose Island Brewery (great restaurant!)
-Shop the Magnificent Mile one more time (maybe not buy anything though)
-Salonica (cheap yummy breakfast)
-Cafe Korea (best homemade noodles in HP)
-Bike the Lake Shore Path (especially before my bike goes home soon)
-Dinner with Aunt and Uncle
-Get a French Visa (ok I HAVE to do this, but still)

That's it I guess. Might as well keep it short because I am only going to have time to do anything of this for one weekend, and that's a lot of restaurants for two days ;-)

NYC Day 6 Pictures

Central Park.
I woke up really early to go for a walk in Central Park. It was a beautiful morning, and the park was incredible.

Central Park Castle.
I found this is in the middle of Central Park. I climbed to the top later, it was really cool. I don't know why it was just tucked away in the park, but it was really cool to check out.

French Embassy.
I just randomly came upon this while walking back to my hotel from Central Park. I think it's a bit nicer than the Armenian one, no?

Chinatown Steal.
Bartered for this fake D&G in Chinatown. I like it a lot. Emily was killing it because she speaks Chinese and she was doing all her business in Chinese, and they were very impressed so I think they gave us a better deal. Maybe not, I don't know.

Brooklyn Bridge.
We came upon this cool photo-op when we came up form the subway, at this point it was pouring a little bit. Oh well.

Hotel.
The Hyatt, which you can see the sign for in the background, was our hotel. Check out the part of town we got to stay in.... for free. Nice huh?

*That is all I've got to share right now, if I find anything else I'll add it. On a similar note, there is no video for Day Six because I got home late that night and just wanted to go to sleep.*

NYC Day 5 Pictures

UNICEF Staff
Angela Wharton (Rapporteur), Parsa Sobhani (Chair) and I (Director) before committee started hanging out in the UN Building.

Presiding over UNICEF in the UN.
First, check out where we are. AMAZING. Behind us are the booths for the interpreters, and in the middle is where the transcribers sit. It was a pretty cool facility, and I'm glad we got to use it for committee. I'm on the left doing my director duties (reading/editing resolutions), Parsa is in the middle being chair, and Angela is on the right doing her thing (passing notes).

The Interpreter?
All of the booths for the interpreters. Impressive, no? On a slightly different note, I was in a movie. Well, I might be. The people who produced Mad Hot Ballroom and Spellbound were filming a documentary of our conference. I was on camera a few times, so we'll see if I make the cut. This is only the second film (after the Interpreter) to be filmed in the UN building.

Dinner in Bryant Park.
For the last night, this was absolutely perfect.

We Survived the Creeper '08
This was taken as the police pretty much made us wait in the lobby while they dealt with a creeper that followed us from 52nd and Broadway, through two subway rides, to our hotel at 42nd and Lexington. We survived the creeper in the end, and this photo documents it.