I think that education will always be linked to Chicago for me. Though it seems so long ago that I was at Northwestern. It's just funny because now that I am here for IRI training/orientation, it still feels like I have to walk to my classes in freezing weather and study. If you're wondering why I haven't been blogging, it's because I have had virtually no access to the internet. We only have sporadic access during the day for work and then our corporate apartments don't have access. Also, I've been going out almost every night which doesn't leave a whole lot of time to blog or email.
I was a little nervous coming to training. No particular reason except that I have been feeling like I don't seem to be learning these reports fast enough and I thought that I would be behind. I like a lot of the people here and I was pleasantly surprised that most of the people that are here are experienced hires. No one is straight out of undergrad which was nice. Last week, they had a "reception" for us at the IRI headquarters which was a catered dinner at the office. Then, we went out for Lou Malnotti's pizza on Tuesday. On Wednesday, I
organized a group to go to Second City and we had a happy hour on Thursday. I was out until 11 every night and in classes all day. It's been pretty exhausting, so when Friday rolled around, I was pretty 
wiped. I had dinner at my parents, met up with Xochitl for some girl talk since she lives by Midway, and then picked up Edwin at Midway when his flight landed around midnight. On Saturday, we met up with George and the parents for dim sum in Chinatown to celebrate Chinese New Year. Then, we took a quick cat nap and then went to Santiney and Carlos's reception at the 7 10 Lounge for some bowling. We met up with Xochitl, Eddie, and Christopher for some Mexican and then headed out to Howl at the Moon (a dueling piano bar) with my new coworkers.
Sunday would have been more relaxed except that we discovered that our car had been towed. I was feeling really bummed when I found out that my coworker's friend also got towed. Basically, the sign was unclear. I'm gonna need to take photographic proof for you all. It basically says that they will tow your car if there is more than 2 inches of snow between 3AM-7AM. There was no snow, so we thought that we were OK. There was an article posted at the impound lot stating it doesn't matter if there is snow or not. You will get towed. So, basically, the sign should say "No parking 3AM-7AM." It's one of the dumbest things I have ever heard of. Then, we found out that the impound lot is 20 miles away. Luckily, we were meeting Stacy and Ryan for brunch and they offered to give us a ride. Otherwise, we would have had to take a bus and then cabbed it. It probably would have taken all day. So anyway, I didn't feel quite as dumb since it didn't happen to just me. Morale of the story- don't park anywhere that states that they will tow (especially if there is a condition.)
After the towing fiasco, we went out to a brunch place called Hashbrowns near University Village that was tasty, but had bad service. I asked for ketchup twice and never received it, Edwin had to ask for his toast which was supposed to come with his meal, and Stacy asked for ranch dressing that never came. Then, we did a little shopping on Michigan Avenue and went out to Bolingbrook to meet Ryan and Limanna for dinner. It was a busy weekend in Chicago as usual trying to visit everyone. While I'm here, I'm still trying to meet up with Vicki and Santiney again. Time is just flying by. However, I do have a test on Friday and have to fly back to SFO so that I can drive up to Tahoe with Show for the weekend. Yikes, it's gonna be a busy weekend too. Anyway, I'm glad I got the chance to visit and stay in Chicago for an extended period of time. Now if I could only find some time to finish those Thank You cards...
Oh, and I forgot Happy Belated Valentines Day!
I was a little nervous coming to training. No particular reason except that I have been feeling like I don't seem to be learning these reports fast enough and I thought that I would be behind. I like a lot of the people here and I was pleasantly surprised that most of the people that are here are experienced hires. No one is straight out of undergrad which was nice. Last week, they had a "reception" for us at the IRI headquarters which was a catered dinner at the office. Then, we went out for Lou Malnotti's pizza on Tuesday. On Wednesday, I
organized a group to go to Second City and we had a happy hour on Thursday. I was out until 11 every night and in classes all day. It's been pretty exhausting, so when Friday rolled around, I was pretty 
wiped. I had dinner at my parents, met up with Xochitl for some girl talk since she lives by Midway, and then picked up Edwin at Midway when his flight landed around midnight. On Saturday, we met up with George and the parents for dim sum in Chinatown to celebrate Chinese New Year. Then, we took a quick cat nap and then went to Santiney and Carlos's reception at the 7 10 Lounge for some bowling. We met up with Xochitl, Eddie, and Christopher for some Mexican and then headed out to Howl at the Moon (a dueling piano bar) with my new coworkers. 
Sunday would have been more relaxed except that we discovered that our car had been towed. I was feeling really bummed when I found out that my coworker's friend also got towed. Basically, the sign was unclear. I'm gonna need to take photographic proof for you all. It basically says that they will tow your car if there is more than 2 inches of snow between 3AM-7AM. There was no snow, so we thought that we were OK. There was an article posted at the impound lot stating it doesn't matter if there is snow or not. You will get towed. So, basically, the sign should say "No parking 3AM-7AM." It's one of the dumbest things I have ever heard of. Then, we found out that the impound lot is 20 miles away. Luckily, we were meeting Stacy and Ryan for brunch and they offered to give us a ride. Otherwise, we would have had to take a bus and then cabbed it. It probably would have taken all day. So anyway, I didn't feel quite as dumb since it didn't happen to just me. Morale of the story- don't park anywhere that states that they will tow (especially if there is a condition.)
After the towing fiasco, we went out to a brunch place called Hashbrowns near University Village that was tasty, but had bad service. I asked for ketchup twice and never received it, Edwin had to ask for his toast which was supposed to come with his meal, and Stacy asked for ranch dressing that never came. Then, we did a little shopping on Michigan Avenue and went out to Bolingbrook to meet Ryan and Limanna for dinner. It was a busy weekend in Chicago as usual trying to visit everyone. While I'm here, I'm still trying to meet up with Vicki and Santiney again. Time is just flying by. However, I do have a test on Friday and have to fly back to SFO so that I can drive up to Tahoe with Show for the weekend. Yikes, it's gonna be a busy weekend too. Anyway, I'm glad I got the chance to visit and stay in Chicago for an extended period of time. Now if I could only find some time to finish those Thank You cards...
Oh, and I forgot Happy Belated Valentines Day!
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