Yesterday I took a much needed vacation from the office, and joined the two online marketing guys at the Hilton on Michigan for the Search Engine Strategies conference. I attended the conference sessions last year, but at $800 a day per person, we took a break from it this year. Instead, we opted for the Exhibition Hall which has around 40 vendors set up hawking their search engine marketing/optimization/web development products and wares. For someone [read: me] who is obsessed with this avenue of e-commerce, it was a rather exciting day. We strolled around the room, striking up conversations, exchanging business cards, talking business and possible future conference calls.
Despite all the fun, it only took around 2.5 hours. Suddenly I found myself standing outside the Hilton waving goodbye to my co-workers, and realizing that I had another free day on my hands. There was no way that I was about to drive 35 minutes to the office at that point, and especially since a winter snowstorm was heading our way.
I leisurely strolled north on Michigan Avenue, ducked into the Art Institute, browsed through the gift shop. I absolutely love art museum gift shops. I could spend a ridiculous amount of time pouring over books on Dali, Monet, Degas, van Gogh, Velazquez. The shops themselves are always so saturated with color, and make me feel warm and cozy, as if I’m reading at book at home with slippers and a mug of tea.
I was about to go through the museum but then thought that I should perhaps try to meet up with someone for lunch, especially since I’m never downtown on a weekday like that. I ended up cabbing it over to South Canal Street (have you ever been over there? The area made me feel kind of leery at first) to Northern Trust to meet Brian for lunch.
One trip to Panera and one hour later I was bracing myself against the cold, walking to the red line.
As I said goodbye to Brian and continued walking past Northern Trust, I happened to see a sign on the grass that boldly proclaimed: “NO SMOKING PAST THIS SIGN”. Lo and behold a frazzled looking woman sat 5 yards past the sign, puffing away. It was just so comical to me. I oftentimes get these urges to take pictures in certain situations, or rather just have this knack of seeing possible picture opportunities at random times, and this was one of them. It would have made a great black and white card – you know, the ones that are just blank inside and the picture speaks for itself. Who doesn’t love cards like that?
Fifteen minutes into my walk I was on Jackson passing the Chicago Board of Trade. The Financial District is such a rush, even if you’re just walking through. Traders and stock brokers in their peacoats, shiny shoes and briefcases darted in and out of the building, carrying their take out or talking on the phone. I wished I could walk into the building with a purpose and just see what it’s all about. It was also in front of the CBT that I experienced the girl-on-girl once over.
As everyone knows people are always looking at others, analyzing, judging, staring, etc. It’s human nature, and there’s nothing wrong with it. However, most girls can attest to the fact that humans of the female persuasion are constantly checking out other girls. It doesn’t mean anything sexual or creepy, but girls will look at other girls and think “Wow, maybe I should think about doing my hair like that” or “Where did she get those boots?” etc. It’s a simple and natural thing. That’s why more often that not you’ll see two complete female strangers complimenting each other on some physical material item, haircut, or lipstick color. We compliment because we obviously think it will be polite and nice to acknowledge, but more so mainly because we want to know where you got said item.
That being said, I experienced the stare down from a vivacious looking blond woman who looked to be about 23 or 24. As I passed the CBT among the hustle and bustle, she literally looked at me and gave me the up and down one and a half times. It was really obvious, and I just looked at her the entire time. I would have smiled if she did, but I wasn’t so lucky.
Whenever a girl is on the receiving end of the girl-on-girl once over, it gives the receiver an instant ego boost (note: this works in reverse if we know we aren’t wearing makeup, haven’t yet showered, are wearing mismatched clothes, or generally already feel crappy about being seen in public that day). I was fresh faced and had a pep in my step, and it felt good. Wow, I kind of sound conceited. Oh well.
After some time I got back to my apartment and waited for the snow flurries to start. I thought I should do my due diligence and attempt to get some work done from home. I tried the remote desktop log-in that was given to me by IT, only to find that it wouldn’t allow me access. I then realized my computer at work was still logged in and that’s why I couldn’t get on. Whoops, guess no working for me after all.
I put on my pajamas, took a nap, read a book. Watched the snow start to fall, and turn into a white, foggy looking curtain around the skyscrapers. Thought about how much I didn’t want to go to work tomorrow (today).
I had some time to think yesterday and I rediscovered my love and hatred for the following things:
Love:
1) lemon water
2) men who wait for women to exit the elevator first
3) knee-high boots
4) baked potato soup
5) strangers who wish you a “Merry Christmas”
6) peacoats
7) men’s flannel pajama pants
8) Lean Cuisine dinners
9) The big beautiful Christmas tree in my apartment building’s lobby
10) the fact that our online marketing manager just offered to give me his PS2, one controller, and all of his games for free. SCORE.
Hate:
1) The Alicia Key’s song “No One”. If I hear this song again I may need to go on suicide watch. Every time I turn on the radio it’s on. I then switch stations and it’s halfway through the song on there, too. HELP.
2) That I can no longer use the women's bathroom at work that is to my immediate left. A furry centipede that is lightning-fast lives in there. When you turn on the bathroom light this monstrous creature darts out all clever-like, biding his time and waiting until you leave. That's when he scampers back in and hides in the drain (or so I think). I'm not going to take any chances.
It seems that my hate list is short, but they both require a lot of negative energy.
It’s snowing like crazy right now with big, fluffy flakes. It’s kind of exciting, and definitely fun to watch. Maybe today won’t be so bad.
In other news I am going on a date tomorrow night (first date with said guy mind you). Interesting, interesting.
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