Chicago: Totally hands-free!!!

Its a pretty small company, no one has company cars not even the partners. So I doubt that option would fly, but I'm going to try to talk to one of them about my options later this week. Unfortunately it was in my job description to have a license and a vehicle to attend project meetings, visit with clients, site visits, etc. I would so love to just be able to take the train and be done with it all, but obviously not.

The only semi-reasonable idea I've had so far is driving in on Monday morning and leaving my car there all week while I take the train back and forth. But, since my fiancee needs the car sometimes during the week nights, this may not fly either.

why don't you get them to sign up to zipcar or one of the other fleets, which you could use for meetings (and company then gets bonus points for being more eco friendly?)

Ah. Part of your job description tangles things a bit. I retract my earlier statement. :(

If you relocate, we will have a Thirsty Thursday sometime out at Bennigan's in Northfield.

Thats a great idea colette, but I don't know if there are very many locations out here in the northern burbs that would make that program worthwhile for us.

Anyway, sorry to hog thie thread this morning. I'm just a little freaked out about what I'm going to do. I hate that I'm in a position where I need to make this kind of decision about just getting to/from work every day!

Oh... what kenan said.

How about a different route to work?

I've been trying alternate routes over the past year or so, but theres just really no good, quick way to get from the city to the North suburbs. All the side roads get so snarled up with the traffic lights every quarter mile.

Green Bay Road?

I was thinking more like taking Irving Park or something west to 294 and then coming in from that side. (assuming jvc works somewhere between there and the Edens)

Yeah I do Dan, that might be an idea. But 294 is under construction right now too.

Green Bay is really, really slow... but it will probably be a little quicker that what the Edens will be once they shut down lanes.

I'm listening to something that seems to be the French version of Cypress Hill: "Passe Passe Le Oinj"

A manager at my work got transferred to Naperville. She lives in Wrigleyvill and has no car, so she takes the Red to the Brown to the Metra. Since she gets off work after the last train departs she will stay with friends, family, and co-workers for 3 or 4 days.

I don't think I would do it.

looks like I-GO goes further north than zipcar. not being stupid, but does your office have lots of parking? seriously, both car clubs are advertising for new locations. i would call them and ask if your company could offer a spot or two for cars. you'd get priority maybe, and other people in the area could use them as well. i wouldn't be surprised if the construction could mean a big opportunity for people in the same situation...

i really wanted to see allá -- i like what i heard on their myspace page but did not make it to the show on friday.

Allá is really great. I saw them at South Union Arts last summer. Sort of psychedelic orchestral pop with beautiful female vocals. They've been working on their album for something like five or six years, though, it's ridiculous. I heard some demos in 2003, after they went to Sweden to record a string section.

Tell me more about Alla. Where are they from?

I mean, what kind of "world music" do they play?

Amanda said they were from Chicago.

Hmmm, I think I'll bring that up with our building manager Colette. Thats a good idea, if I can get it to go anywhere.

xp - whoa. es tiempo indeed. i knew you would like them!

they play sort of stereolab-ish, os mutantes-y orchestrated psychedelic pop from what i can tell. i like!

1. amputate your arms and legs
2. call bosses and tell them you are physically unable to drive in to work and you need to work from home
3. if they fire you, sue them for discrimination

people, don't be afraid of the "world music" festival -- it's not a bunch of old bald white men in dashikis sitting around playing bongos. it's music from around the world!

Let's face it, physical handicaps are a big scam.

i should have said "old, balding, ponytailed white men"

balding and ponytailed?

like bald up top but still a ponytail in the back, I guess

OH YEAH -- you know the type. holding on to their remaining hair by growing it reeeeeeeeeeeal long and ponytailing.

How well dressed do you need to be at all of these meetings? Is riding a bike feasible (at least until winter comes)? I've seen lots of folks roll up their dress pants & pedal along. I have no idea what the distance is or whether you have to pick clients up or whatever. I think using zipcar or i-go would be great if that works. otherwise, i think i would seriously consider moving. granted, i have no clue as to where you live or work or anything of that nature.

I would be tempted to try and flip my ponytail up over my baldspot, like a forward combover.

Yeah, the drummer, Jorge, also plays in M1dstat3s, which is how I know them, since the lead singer of that band engineered our EP (he was also the one who played us the Alla demos four years ago). You can also find Jorge at the seafood counter of the Whole Foods on Ashland.

Also jonviachicago, you don't need to apologize for "hogging the thread" -- I still feel bad for making you feel last week like you never wanted to meet any of us.

Oh interesting, gr@ant reyn0lds, really neat graphic-novel type guy (cartoonist? illustrator? what do you call them) and nice guy to boot, also works that seafood counter.

Haha no worries, I still want to meet you all. Just no drama plz. I think I was just more surprised that there was any drama because you all seem to be pretty cool, laid back types.

Hi.

Wassup.

Word.

http://www.feyaccompli.com/images/Mary%20J%20Blige%20-%20No%20More%20Drama.jpeg

world music = Tim Robbins in High Fidelity

World music that I actively listen to:

old reggae/ska/rocksteady/dub
Ethiopiques
Fela Kuti and similar afropop
Daft Punk

would you be happier if they called the the Chicago International Music Festival?

that's probably more accurate, although from the program it looks like there are some cheezy fusion groups playing. you'll have that. but there's good stuff too!

Ethiopiques are the best.

Way to get a tattoo, Jesse.

I had fun listening to some of the world music fest clips here. It especially made me interested in balkan music.

THANKS JORDAN YOU TOO

I love many different kinds of Latin music (both trad and modern), Ethiopian jazz/funk, some eastern-jazz fusion stuff and all sorts of European folk, traditional or modern. I don't think UK folk counts as "world music" but that's probably my favorite. I have some Korean rock. I like I saw that movie Gypsy Caravan and EVEN THOUGH it was definitely a movie intended for NPR listeners, I enjoyed it anyway. I like the world's music, I guess.

I dunno if this qualifies as "world music" but it rules
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/35/Journey_in_Satchidananda_(Alice_Coltrane).jpg

"I like I saw"
My finest moment

I like Balkan music. It's cool seeing people folk dance in 7.

This is but one reason why I like emusic -- there is a lot of interesting stuff on there that I would never find/hear otherwise. Also they have tons of Fania releases.

I need more education on world music. I really like African music from what I can tell, but I don't know if I'm able to narrow it down to a more specific region/country.

Yeah, plus most of the "African" music I listen to is pretty heavily influenced by Western music. I like all the highlife stuff I've heard, some pretty awesome guitar on there.

I end up hearing most non-western music on the radio, although I've got some Brazilian, African, Cuban, and Indian cds that I'm into (mostly drumming-centric stuff).

For African stuff I basically have various afrobeat records + some West African drumming things (Drummers of Burundi = A+).