traveling adventures with leah - part deux

today i travelled back to chicago from milwaukee. i really wanted this journey back to be an improvement from the last one. so i bought a ticket, got there an hour early and took amtrak instead of greyhound.

- i sat in a seat by myself (thought things were starting out well).

- we pulled into union station.

**sidenote... after i got off the train, i knew i was going to a party with my internship friend. this party was being thrown by her friend who was launching a new clothing line. at the party you could view their new clothes and order them wholesale.

- get out of union station and peruse a map at a bus stop. a black man approaches me and is very friendly, "it's confusing, isn't it! where ya goin? here, i'll show ya!" there are still people around, so i tentatively follow him, battling the immediate fear i have because he is black and chastising myself because i'm a social worker and i shouldn't give into stereotypes. we walk and i ask questions to find out that he lives in a hotel, has a 3-year old son "so i'm not gonna do anything stupid," and is a "tour guide" for his own "company" where he shows people around the city. i'm growing in suspicion and he mentions that this is how he gets paid. i say "i can't pay you, i have no cash." he promptly tells me where an atm machine is and i say several times "no, i am fine, i don't need you to show me where to go." he's not pleased, but he leaves.

- so... i'm on a street, unsure of where the next bus stop is, unsure of where to go. i don't want to turn around and run into the man again. so i keep walking.

- i find a familiar road and ask a valet guy how to get to my destination. he says he doesn't know, but that he'll ask his cousin (who is conveniently across the street).

- get directed and walk, walk, walk, walk walk... (oh, I have two bags with me this whole time, both are fairly heavy) growing more and more sweaty (just the way i want to enter a clothing line release party... ugh!).

- meet my friend, find the destination, get there, cool down slightly (though i'm very aware of my scent and the layer of sweat on my forehead. i try and play it cool as we talk to the designer... but i just feel incredibly awkward... and feel like everyone can tell!)

- we look around, i see some delicious looking water with mint leaves. i pour myself some of it and gulp it down.

- it is not water, it is a very very strong mojito that i've just gulped on an empty stomach - oh boy, this will be interesting!

- the party continues, i have to exercise extreme self-discipline by not purchasing any of the really cute and comfy clothes...

- my friend and i leave and walk about a mile to the brown train line (it's starting to sprinkle... leah has no umbrella contrary to her first lesson in chicago...).

- i get off the train. it's pouring.

- i get out of the train stop and just miss the bus by 2.3 seconds (i debated chucking my suitcase at the window to make her stop).

- i wait for the next bus. the bus approaches, slows, see my wave and DRIVES BY!!!

- i rip off my clothes, flop on the ground and have a screaming hissy fit...

- i mean, i walk down the street (fully clothed) in the pouring rain. my stomach is growling. i pass by all the cute, delicious, unique chicago restaurants and see a giant sign in subway's window "6-INCH SUBS $2.39".

- i enter. ghetto rap is blaring from the speakers. i order my sandwich and water. the server says "that all?" i debate throwing my suitcase at him and then stealing the chocolate chip cookies. i plop down next to the two other consumers in the restaurant. two african-american guys only reinforcing my stereotyping with their baggy pants and low-toned conversation.

- i leave, hoping the rain has slowed down.

- the rain has gotten worse.

- i wait at the bus stop. i get on the bus. get off at another bus stop and wait in the bus shelter which does nothing to stop the rain coming in at an angle.

- i finally get off at my stop, walk to my apartment. luckily there is a nice guy there and holds the door open for me. i go in, breathe a sigh of relief...

-...and the elevator is broken.

- i walk up six flights of stairs and begin to relate with those cross country runners who pee their pants because they're so physically exhausted... if i had one more flight of stairs to go, i might have actually lost it.

- i ended the day with five hershey's treasures (heath bar and almond).

oh. what. a. day.