Chicago: Become Familiar with its Distinctive Neighborhoods

Ben Tausig's puzzle here is really good.

I'm guessing that's the same as his Reader puzzle, in which case I'm going to save it for the el this evening.

The holiday train is fine. But the Blessed Train is the BEST train.

I joined the Y yesterday. I'm a little apprehensive 'cause it was totally crowded and cramped in the gym afterwork, but my last gym was run by Xtian fundamentalists folks, so at least I'm not supporting evil.

Also it's way cheaper.

but my last gym was run by Xtian fundamentalists folks, so at least I'm not supporting evil.

what does the c in ymca stand for again?

Yeah, but it's not so Christian these days, right? They probably wouldn't refuse to support an AIDs walk?

Jordan, there's no need to feel down.
I say, Jordan, pick yourself off the ground.

Jordan, are you listening to me?
I said, Jordan, what do you want to be
I said, Jordan, you can make real your dreams,
but you've got to know this one thing.

No man, does it all by himself
I said, Jordan, put your pride on the shelf
And just go there, to the Y.M.C.A.
I'm sure they can help you today

LOLghter.

Quiet up in hurr.

lol @ ymca

i'm going to a corny-looking chain fondue restaurant tonight!

y'all gon' make me lose my mind, up in hurr, up in hurr

y'all gon' make me go all out, up in hurr, up in hurr

i couldn't think what song that was at first, but finally i remembered it was DMX - Party Up

It went past the Clark/Lake elevated platform

I WORK RIGHT THERE IN THAT BUILDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've never seen the holiday train and this makes me sad.

WERE YOU WORKING ON WEDNESDAY MORNING LAST WEEK BECUZ I WAS TOTALLY RIGHT THERE OUTSIDE??!?!?!?!?!?!

YES. Well, as of 8:30 I was.

I see the holiday train a lot. I have seen one at least 4 times in 3 years.

i want to see it but i guess it doesn't make sense to have it running during the rush hour if there's going to be a bunch of screaming kids on it.

This building has everything. A train station, a Taco Bell, a Dress Barn... EVERYTHING.

xp Jesse stole all my holiday train views. Selfish.

In 2005, the Holiday Train derailed.

I keep forgetting that you work in that building, Jenny. We're like two blocks away from each other. Lunch at Cosi sometime?

xpost ahahahahaha

does anyone work near adams and wells?

Yes, John, that would be lovely. Why don't I send you my workplace contact information and then you can contact me at my workplace with regard to lunch at Cosi sometime. They have a tasty cobb salad, although it's not really a cobb salad since it's lacking eggs and something else that I can't remember.

I am really into cobb salads these days.

jenny is basically saying "have your people call my people, we'll do lunch"?

She's such a lawyer.

Cobb salad just reminds me of this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=5ULYWaUZMLA

I don't have people. I don't even have an office! But this is the nicest cubicle I've ever occupied, and they gave me an ergonomic keyboard, so I do feel like a valued member of the organization.

Also, if you work as a cook for the county hospital system for 23 years, you will make as much as I do here.

jenny, has your work led to anyone being imprisoned yet?

Not that I am aware of, but I may be partially responsible for the levying of fines or penalties.

Okay friends. Back to work. TTFN!

The veggie muffaletta sandwich at Cosi is A+++ (probably not "authentic" muffaletta but it is tasty).

I just had a Quesadilla Explosion (TM) salad at Chili's.

gross

I miss Bojangles.

I'm actually not a fan of their muffaletta. It's too salty or something*. My old standby is the caprese, which they call a TBM.

*This could just be the location I get it at. I used to not like Cosi very much because their bread was too salty, but then someone assured me that the one I was going to (this was back when I worked at Michigan/Jackson) was notorious for oversalting their bread. I started going to the one across from the Art Institute, and voila, so much better.

The Quesadilla XXXPLOSION (TM) was actually pretty tasty. It's basically a salad that has some tortilla strips in it and a tangy sauce and then you get quesadillas on the side.

i had shrimp bisque and a salad for lunch

I had Kr-brand spicy sweet potato soup (feat. coconut milk and peas) and a banana and a tiny sliver of leftover pumpkin pie.

Essentially: mush. But tasty mush.

K-ZA-DILLLLA XXXXXPPPLLLOOOOOOSSSIIIOOOOOONNN (TM)

i did not have a megarita or an awesome blossom

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/twentieth_century_fox/office_space/_group_photos/jennifer_aniston7.jpg

one of my ex-gfs worked at TGI Friday's and had to wear actual items of flair

actual flair

A muffaletta is not authentic at all if it is VEGGIE. How is that even possible? You need the additional saltiness of pork products.

I said before, it's a SALT SANDWICH.

it has lots of olives

and i don't give a crap if it's authentic, it is tasty as a mothra

from the cta regarding the holiday train:

The train operates approximately from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on several Saturdays, and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on select weekdays (schedules for each individual line will vary), and will make stops at all stations along the respective routes.

quesadilla xxxplosion all over your face, all over the place